Blogs from Bacolod, Negros, Philippines, Asia

For someone who has a full time job like me, it is always a privilege to be able to have a long vacation (1 week). So why not enjoy the chance and spend it in one of the happiest place in the Philippines known as the "City of Smiles" (also with sweetest dialect tone)...touchdown Bacolod City. Bacolod City is the capital of Negros Occidental located on the West part of Visayas. Travel time may vary depending on your mode of transportation if by plane (from Manila- 45 minutes to 1 hour) if by vessel (From Manila Port: 18-23 hours). Upon arrival I was welcomed by the gloomy weather. Kinda disappointing that the weather forecast for the coming days will be rainy and stormy But of course the weather will not served as a hindrance as I ... read more

MassKara Festival 2013 Held every 3rd week of October, Bacolod City stands true to its slogan "City of Smiles". As many schools and barangays (local political units) within the city dance and sway to the beat with streetdancers wearing smiling masks and make an already festive occasion more carnival-ish. I brought my family here on this October weekend, with hopes that adult and teen tastes will converge in celebrating this most-awaited festival. A Mardi Gras of sorts, Philippine version. Resiliency characterizes the Filipino spirit and this character manifests itself in full splendor here. After all, Masskara was conceived at a time when Bacolodnons, or Bacoleños, or Bacolodians -- whatever and however the residents are called -- were struggling with near despair over the decline in world sugar prices, aggravated by the sinking of MV Don Juan ... read more

Took me two months to write about my first backpacking trip to Bacolod in Negros- alone..With two months of planning and three months mustering courage to do it, everything went smoothly as a breeze... img=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIH6h5IGzIw/TskjpiC3LCI/AAAAAAAAABM/EmrH... read more

Located in Rizal Street in Bacolod, just few steps away from SM City is a Dining experience for every chicken lovers and not so chicken eaters. If you want to try the authentic Inasal at its best taste and best price it is the place to be. Be ready for a gastronomical indulgence and battle with the finest of them all, inalsal, the grilled chickens of Bacolod. Ranging from 35-65 pesos per stick depending on the chicken size and parts youl enjoy dinner with sides of talaba and other choice of seafoods. Don’t forget to try chicken oil to your rice and for best tasting experience, use bare hands for eating. Don’t worry, there are lavatories for hand washings. For ... read more

Greetings from the Philippines! We are in an internet cafe in a mall. Malling is a huge Filipino pastime, it's pretty funny. img=http://images.maricelsuarez.multiply.com/image/17/photos/30/500x500/12/Fear%20Factor.jpg?et=0d%2BwqbQD7%2BKXXbppMBA1qw&nmid=100476234 Recently, Noah, Tito Tin, and I spent 3 days on this small island of Lacawon. It was really beautiful and isolated from most everything else. Half the time, we were the only guests to the islands. We walked around it quite a bit and talked to some native children of the island. At night we went crab catching on the beaches, digging crabs out of their holes and chasing them along the shore. During the day we found what we thought were clear jellyfish, and they were EVERYWHERE!! We soon found out that they were called "ice-ice", but later the native children told us they were "mata-mata" (in Alongo) or in English "eyes-eyes ... read more