Negros Occidental | Silay Ancestral Houses, The Ruins And Mambukal Resort

I arrived early morning at the Bacolod-Silay airport. The excitement in me is immeasurable to finally land in the province which is a stone away from my hometown Iloilo. I have no problem communicating with the locals because i’m an Ilonggo. I boarded a multi-cab bound for Silay but I ended up at Bacolod City north terminal. I’m supposed to explore Silay City first before heading to Bacolod but as always my itinerary was not followed.

My first stop is the provincial capitol of Negros Occidental. Negrenses starts their day in the capitol grounds doing physical exercises like jogging, stretching and brisk walking. The design of the provincial capitol is elegant with a huge man-made lagoon in front of it. A national historical landmark designed by Juan Arellano.

I took some pictures while roaming around. Eager to explore more of the city has to offer i walked a few more blocks from the capitol grounds and i saw a tapsi stall. I ordered a tocilog for my breakfast. It was delightful meal to fill my stomach for a day long adventure

After breakfast I proceeded to the old Bacolod City Hall and the San Diego cathedral. Scattered rain shower were on and off during my visit in the province that made me stay for while. I'm standing in the façade of a bank in front of the city hall waiting for the rain to subside.

Bacolod City is quite similar to Iloilo City and other urban centers in the country. Colorful jeepney and taxi are roaming everywhere in the busy street. Banks, restaurants and commercial establishment are in every corner.

Some minutes have passed and the rain subside I boarded a jeep bound to terminal were buses going to Silay City. The city has numerous well-preserved ancestral houses. The Balay Negrense and the Hofilena Museum were among the old houses along Cinco de Noviembre street. I keep on walking and ended up to the national highway were i made quick stopover at Maria Golez Ancestral House(RCBC Bank) , Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, San Diego Cathedral and the Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House (Ideal Bakery). Spending some hours of exploring the historical city i dine at the Ideal Bakery. I ordered egg pie, pineapple pie and piaya.

From Silay I headed to The Ruins in Talisay City. The picturesque structure of neo-roman grand mansion is stunning. This is the gift of Don Mariano Lacson, a sugar baron, to Maria Braga, the love of his life. The mansion is burned during the US-Japan war and only the skeletal were remained. It is located in vast area surrounded by sugarcane plantations.

It’s been a fun-filled day and I took a rest at Bacolod Pension along 11th St.

On my second day I joined the Negrenses in their morning exercises before heading to the town of Murcia to experience adventure and to see the beauty of nature of Mambukal Resort. It is located at the foothills of Mt. Kanlaon and famous for its seven waterfalls. Outdoor enthusiasts would love the resort. There you can trek the mountain and explore numerous waterfalls.

After exploring the wonders of Mambukal I went back to Bacolod City. I have my lunch at the Manokan Country and tasted their famous chicken inasal. kanamit guid ah! I bought some piayaya in the nearby pasalubong shop.

I’m supposed to go straight to the bus terminal bound for Dumaguete City but i decided to stay for another night and opt to travel early morning the next day! I spend that night at Ong Bun Pension House. I have a great two days stay in Negros Occidental.

This part of my Negros+Siquijor Trip series

Negros Occidental | Negros Oriental | Siquijor

Aklan | A Day In The World's Famous Boracay Island

A postcard-sized tropical paradise. The world’s famous Boracay Island is located in Malay, Aklan. It is just seven kilometers long, and less than a kilometer wide at its narrowest point. 

The white beach is composed of three sections. the northernmost section – Station 1 – has the widest beachfront. This has the best (and most expensive) resorts and hotels. The center of white beach is Station 2. people come here to eat, shop, and party. If you’re looking for a quieter area, then Station 3, the southernmost section, is for you.

how to get there

Fly from Manila/Cebu to Caticlan airport in Panay Island.

There are also many flights to Kalibo, travel time is 1 1/2 hours by bus to Caticlan.  

The western part of the strong republic nautical highway (SRNH) passes through Caticlan, with car ferries from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro docking at the Caticlan Jetty Port. Several bus companies operate provincial bus routes from Manila which pass through Caticlan via the SRNH.

2GO, the largest ferry company in the Philippines, offers regular overnight passenger and cargo service between Batangas City and Caticlan.

A 30 minute boat ride from the Caticlan Jetty Port brings you to Boracay Island.

Kalinga | Whang Od : The Oldest Tribal Tattoo Artist

Whang Od at the age of 94 is the remaining "mambabatok" or tattoo artist of Kalinga. She resides in the remote village of Buscalan and belongs to the Butbut tribe.

My friend Weng wanted to meet and be inked by Apo Wang Od. Together with Romer we push through this trip without any concrete plan. I only have information on how to get there. Some travel blogs do have tricky information.

We agreed to meet at Victory terminal in Kamias. The long queue of passengers in the terminal welcomes us. Weng uses her charm and we found ourselves on board the bus bound to Tabuk. Only one seat is available and Weng occupy it. Romer and I sit on the aisle.

It was a long a trip that Romer and I slept on the aisle good thing we had a sleeping bag with us.

We are too early for the departure schedule of the mini bus bound to Bontoc. We had a breakfast at a carenderia then boarded a bus on a top load. It was a 4 hours of a roller coaster ride. We alighted at the Brgy. Bugnay. We asked locals for direction to Buscalan. We trek uphill to the village where Apo Whang Od resides.

The Buscalan village is scenic with array of rice terraces. There is also a waterfall.

One of the well kept art of Kalinga is the way of making tattoo called "pagbabatok". This is one of a kind art because it depicts culture and tradition that spans for a thousand years. Tattoo is used as a right of passage for women and a symbol of courage and valor for men.

Using the traditional hand tapping method, Whang Od mixes her ink in a coconut bowl using soot and water to create a thick, dark pigmentation. using a siit (orange thorn needle) attached to a bamboo stick, Whang Od takes another bamboo stick to tap and hammer the needle into the skin. Often times, a wooden stencil would be used for more intricate and complex patterns.

As this method is hand based, the process is much more painful than what the western world has adopted as standard practice; though the exclusivity of the knowledge and privileged application of such a tattoo makes the practice less fashion and more ornamental and identifiable as a status symbol.

We reached Buscalan at around 2pm.We also meet this young couple. We asked them if we could stay in their house in case Wang Od house can't accommodate us.

These young couples were so accommodating. They have two children named Natasha and Nataniel.

It's a different world wandering around the village. Black boars were roaming around. We got back to Wang Od house then Weng and Romer inked by this legendary icon.

Past noon we go back to Bugnay and waited a bus to Bontoc. We took the Bontoc-Baguio-Manila route.

Today, Whang Od tattoos out of necessity. She uses the money to buy pigs and hens to feed her village. She loves the visitors and finds solace and meaning in her artistry.

How to get there:

Buscalan Village in Tinglayan, Kalinga

1. via Tabuk City Kalinga

manila to tabuk - bus (victory liner in kamias )10 hrs/700pesos

tabuk to bugnay(tinglayan) - bus bound to bontoc etd-8am / 4 hrs/150 pesos

bugnay to buscalan- hike for 1 hour or ride a habal-habal-50pesos

2. via Bontoc 

manila to bontoc -bus
bontoc to bugnay -bus/jeep bound to tabuk/120 pesos
bugnay to buscalan- hike for 1 hour or ride a habal-habal-50pesos

3. via Baguio City

manila to baguio -bus
baguio to bontoc-bus 6 hrs /170pesos
bontoc to bugnay -bus/jeep bound to tabuk 2 hrs/120pesos
bugnay to buscalan- hike for 1 hour or ride a habal-habal-50pesos

4. via Tuguegarao City

manila to tuguegarao - bus
tuguegarao to tabuk -van
tabuk to bugnay(tinglayan) - bus bound to bontoc etd-8am / 4 hrs/150 pesos
bugnay to buscalan- hike for 1 hour or ride a habal-habal-50pesos

Special thanks to Rome Romer and Weng Bulaon for the photos!

Benguet | The Challenging Luzon 312

I got an invitation from my hiking buddy to climb the top three highest peak of Luzon. Without hesitation i accepted it and I'm up for the challenge.

Together with Racky, Gilda and Cecil we departed manila at around 10 pm bound to Baguio City.

Mt. Timbac

day 1: Mt Timbac traverse > Mt Pulag Akiki trail til Eddet river.

groupie-me, cecile,mariz,racky,gilda,gerald and joey

Mt. Pulag

day 2: Eddet river > Mt Pulag summit traverse to Tawangan trail.

Mt. Tabayoc

day 3: Mt Tabayoc: to peak 1 > summit (viewdeck) then backtrail.

this is our itinerary:

day 0:

1000 etd manila to baguio

day 1: mt. timbak traverse to mt. pulag akiki jump off

0400 eta manila participants

0630 etd ride bus going to km. 54 timbak jump off

1000 eta timbak jump off

1100 mt. timbak summit

1130 early lunch/sidetrip timbak mummy 

1300 start trek

1800 kabayan central/dinner "secure van" to akiki jump off

1900 eta akiki jump off

2100 eddet river/ lights off

day 2: mt. pulag via akiki-tawangan day hike

0600 start trek from eddet river.

1200 eta mt. pulag summit

1300 etd summit to tabayoc via tawangan trail (lunch along the trail)

2100 eta brgy. tawangan/lights off

day 3: mt. tabayoc

0600 wake up call and prepare breakfast

0700 etd brgy. tawangan

1100 eta lake tabeyo  and register (secure guide for tabayoc)/lunch

1200 start trekking

1430 mt. tabayoc summit

1500 start descent

1600 back at lake tabeyo

Special thanks to Gilda Tarlit and Racky Bernardo for the photos and to Sir Gerald Ternola for inviting me to this climb! :)