Bacolod City
When we went to Bohol last August, Pareng Nasty said he has a friend in Bacolod City who may be able to accommodate us if we ever go there. We thought it'd be nice to go during the Masskara Festival, this is a Mardi Gras like celebration in Bacolod every October. Sherwin encountered really high plane fares for the climax of the festival which is the weekend of October 17, so we ended up booking the weekend before.
We flew via Philippine Air Lines in their new NAIA Terminal 2. Our flight to Bacolod on October 10 took about an hour and was pretty uneventful. We left Manila at around 4:30 pm and we arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport on schedule.
Elsie de la Cura, a friend of the Marcelo family was already there with her van and her driver. It took us about 45 minutes to get to her place from the airport. She owns a a recruitment agency called EA International Placement & General Services. She lives in this three story structure in Bacolod. Her office is in the ground floor as well an Internet Cafe. The second floor has a small function room where they hold review classes for their potential recruits and the bedrooms are located on the top floor.
Elsie's staff treated us like royalty, cooking for us and stuff. After dinner we passed the time by playing pekwa.
Saturday, Elsie took us to "The Mansion". It's basically the ruins of the huge house of a Negros sugar baron. From what the tour guide was saying, during WWII, the rebels found out it was going to be used as a headquarters of sort by the Japanese so they decided to burn it down. It took the hardwood floors a few days to burn after they were soaked in oil.
And then it was off to the sights in Bacolod.
Sunday, Elsie took us to the only air conditioned church in Bacolod. It's located next to a Chinese School. Some of the ladies who did prayer for the faithful during the mass said it in Chinese.
Afterwards we went to a mountain town called Salvador Benedicto. Elsie was going to take us to the vacation retreat of the town mayor but he was gone for the day when we arrived. It was still worth it because the view on the way was breathtaking.
The vacation compound of the mayor was huge and it was full of trees including a durian tree and this plant with some weird yellow flowers that look like decorative plastic fruits of some kind.
After we were offered some refreshments, we proceeded to check out a nearby sight to behold, the Malatan-og Falls. When we got there we were mobbed by a group of vendors hawking all kinds of snacks being produced in the area.
On the way back to Bacolod, we went to the market to buy some pasalubong of authentic snacks from a store called Bong-Bong's and the ladies bought a bunch of dried fish called danguit. They were selling some fairly cheap seafood but it's too much trouble to carry with us.
We found out the famous grilled chicken called Mang Inasal (which is similar, but not quite to El Pollo Loco), originated from Bacolod. They supposedly only use native chicken as opposed to commercially raised chicken. I think they have franchises all over the Philippines now including SM Malls. There's also a small pizzeria on the street corner where Elsie lives which is owned by a Swiss guy and they have this thin crust pizza that's to die for.
Our flight back to Manila Monday wasn't till almost 9 at night so we figured we still have time to visit this place called Mambukal famous for its seven (count them, 7!) water falls. The catch - to be able to see them, one has to hike up a mountain. Unfortunately it rained that morning and they say it gets to be too slippery on the way up so we postponed the trip till our next visit. Elsie instead, took us to the city hall to pay the mayor of Bacolod, Evelio (Bing) Leonardia, a visit. For some reason, whether because of her line of business or what, Elsie seems to know all of the politicians in the area. I have to mention that the mayor of Bacolod City is a good friend of Manny Pacquiao. I haven't noticed, but he's the one who raises his belt every time Pacquiao wins a championship bout.
Afterwards they did more shopping and finally after dinner it was time to go. Elsie (and her staff) was just great and was so gracious all through our stay. Thanks a bunch Elsie!
We flew via Philippine Air Lines in their new NAIA Terminal 2. Our flight to Bacolod on October 10 took about an hour and was pretty uneventful. We left Manila at around 4:30 pm and we arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport on schedule.
Elsie de la Cura, a friend of the Marcelo family was already there with her van and her driver. It took us about 45 minutes to get to her place from the airport. She owns a a recruitment agency called EA International Placement & General Services. She lives in this three story structure in Bacolod. Her office is in the ground floor as well an Internet Cafe. The second floor has a small function room where they hold review classes for their potential recruits and the bedrooms are located on the top floor.
Elsie's staff treated us like royalty, cooking for us and stuff. After dinner we passed the time by playing pekwa.
Saturday, Elsie took us to "The Mansion". It's basically the ruins of the huge house of a Negros sugar baron. From what the tour guide was saying, during WWII, the rebels found out it was going to be used as a headquarters of sort by the Japanese so they decided to burn it down. It took the hardwood floors a few days to burn after they were soaked in oil.
And then it was off to the sights in Bacolod.
Sunday, Elsie took us to the only air conditioned church in Bacolod. It's located next to a Chinese School. Some of the ladies who did prayer for the faithful during the mass said it in Chinese.
Afterwards we went to a mountain town called Salvador Benedicto. Elsie was going to take us to the vacation retreat of the town mayor but he was gone for the day when we arrived. It was still worth it because the view on the way was breathtaking.
The vacation compound of the mayor was huge and it was full of trees including a durian tree and this plant with some weird yellow flowers that look like decorative plastic fruits of some kind.
After we were offered some refreshments, we proceeded to check out a nearby sight to behold, the Malatan-og Falls. When we got there we were mobbed by a group of vendors hawking all kinds of snacks being produced in the area.
On the way back to Bacolod, we went to the market to buy some pasalubong of authentic snacks from a store called Bong-Bong's and the ladies bought a bunch of dried fish called danguit. They were selling some fairly cheap seafood but it's too much trouble to carry with us.
We found out the famous grilled chicken called Mang Inasal (which is similar, but not quite to El Pollo Loco), originated from Bacolod. They supposedly only use native chicken as opposed to commercially raised chicken. I think they have franchises all over the Philippines now including SM Malls. There's also a small pizzeria on the street corner where Elsie lives which is owned by a Swiss guy and they have this thin crust pizza that's to die for.
Our flight back to Manila Monday wasn't till almost 9 at night so we figured we still have time to visit this place called Mambukal famous for its seven (count them, 7!) water falls. The catch - to be able to see them, one has to hike up a mountain. Unfortunately it rained that morning and they say it gets to be too slippery on the way up so we postponed the trip till our next visit. Elsie instead, took us to the city hall to pay the mayor of Bacolod, Evelio (Bing) Leonardia, a visit. For some reason, whether because of her line of business or what, Elsie seems to know all of the politicians in the area. I have to mention that the mayor of Bacolod City is a good friend of Manny Pacquiao. I haven't noticed, but he's the one who raises his belt every time Pacquiao wins a championship bout.
Afterwards they did more shopping and finally after dinner it was time to go. Elsie (and her staff) was just great and was so gracious all through our stay. Thanks a bunch Elsie!
posted by reyjay @ 11:48 AM
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