Bacolod is known for its much celebrated “MassKara Festival”
happening annually during the month of October.
It is one of the most anticipated festive events in the
country. MassKara came from two words; “Mass” which means “many” and “Kara”
which is the Spanish translation of “face”.
MassKara Festival started in the 1980s. It rose during the
period of economic depression and tragedy. It was when the prices of sugar were
as its lowest, and it was also the time when Don Juan, a passenger vessel sank,
losing the lives of 700 Negrenses.
For Bacolones, this festival of smiles, is a celebration of
gratitude for the abundance that life has brought them and a declaration that
they can get through anything, no matter how hard the situation can be.
But this doesn’t mean that there is nothing more the
province can offer on other months of the year. In fact, being the progressive
province that it is, Bacolod is a home for food lovers, history enthusiasts and
beach bums.
True enough to its brand as the City of Smiles, Bacolod did
not fail to put a sweet curve on my face during my recent 3-day stay.
Day 1
2:45 ETD
Domestic Airport
The day of my flight fell on a
Friday. My travel companions were already in Bacolod since Monday, attending
the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, an annual seminar for veterinarians,
of which I had no business, I am a no-vet, thus leaving me with
no other option than to fly solo. This would be my first time to travel on air
alone. I must admit this scared me a little bit, but I was more thrilled with
the thought of being alone, going to places I want to go, deciding on the
things I want to do, the food I want to eat, the time I want to leave, experience
the totality of it for at least one afternoon, while my friends were still
inside L’Fishers Hotel’s function rooms listening to well known speakers like
Francis Kong.
No offense meant to my travel
buddies, they were a great a company, but I’ve been daring myself on travelling
alone, and somehow this experience gave me a taste of it.
3:45 ETA Silay
Airport
It took just an hour to reach Silay
airport. The terminal was big and beautiful, giving a feel on what to expect of
the region.
There were vans outside the airport
offering direct ride to Bacolod. But I didn’t want to go there just yet. I made
an exit on the main gates of terminal, walked towards the row of tricycle and
asked for El Ideal Bakery.
4:15 El Ideal
Bakery
Tricycle fare from airport to El
Ideal is Php 100, that is if you are to ride alone, but if you are patient to
wait for some commuters, like what I did, you could have it for Php 20.
And in less than 5 minutes, I was
in the oldest bakery of Negros.
El Ideal doesn’t have the feel of a
grand restaurant, it’s just simple dining place located along Rizal Street in
Silay. Built in the 1920s by Cesar
Lacson Locsin, and serving their first recipes up to this day, El Ideal has been more than a bakery, it is
an institution, a cultural heritage in itself.
To spare me from much thinking and
not to feel sorry about the wrong choice I could make after, I asked the waiter
what’s the specialty of the house is. And yes, it is La Paz Batchoy.
The sight of the hot La Paz Batchoy
got me more excited, as it was served on my table. El Ideal offers a big
serving with load of “sahog”, making it hard for me to finish the whole bowl.
Running for almost a century now,
El Ideal has sustained its reputation on serving sumptuous yet affordable food,
classic Ilonggo cookies, accommodating servers and well-maintained restaurant.
Still it is one of the favorite dining places among the locals and tourists
alike.
5:00 The Ruins
After spending some minutes in El
Ideal, I took a jeep going to Pepsi Bottling Company, as advised by a local. I
was planning to see the beauty of The Ruins, considered as the Taj Mahal of
Negros.
It was a-15-peso-15-minute ride to
Pepsi, from there, across the street, was a tricycle terminal. They charged Php
30 fare to the Ruins.
From the busy commercial area, to a
residential subdivision, down to a vast sugar plantation in Talisay city rests
the fascinating historical structure known as The Ruins.
I was captivated by the beauty
before me. It took my breath away. Seeing The Ruins in all its splendor brought
me to a different dimension.
The Ruins was the largest structure
ever built in Negros on that time. It is said that, “The structure of The
Ruins is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque columns”. It was built in the 1900s by Don Mariano Ledesma
Lacson, a sugar baron, in memory of his beloved first wife, Dona Maria Braga, a
Portuguese from Macau.
Every column of the mansion had the
initials of Don Mariano and Don Maria.
So as not to be used as the
headquarters by the Japanese during the World War II, the mansion was burned
down by the United Stated Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and Filipino
guerillas.
It was 2008 when this architectural
structure was opened to the public, and for more than 100 years after it was
built, The Ruins stands elegant and proud, a timeless beauty.
There was an entrance fee of Php
60. It is open daily from 8am to 8pm. There’s also a café, store and a mini
golf course. The place can also be rented for special occasions like weddings.
8:00 Checked in
at Pension house
I did not notice right away the text
messages and incoming calls from my friend due to my fascination over The
Ruins. It was already dark when I left the complex taking a trike (Php30) and a
jeepney (Php7) going to L’ Fisher Hotel where the PVMA convention was being
held. I just met with my friends for a while then headed to a pension house.
There are lots of cheap
accommodations in Bacolod. Good thing about the place I stayed in is that they
have a 12-hour rate, which was ideal for me that time, since we were planning
to start our next day at 4 am.
9:00 Dinner at
BLC Chicken Inasal
After checking in, I just put my
baggage down, took a taxi, and went ahead to my client’s restaurant, BLC
Chicken Inasal. Yes, what a small world right. I have a client in Bacolod, and
she’s a client owning a restaurant in Bacolod with 3 branches.
What could be better than to end
the day with a live band, a good chat with a client and a delectable chicken
inasal for free.
And by the way, when Ilonggos say
their Inasal is by far different, believe them.
THE RUINS
Contact No. 0917-832-6003
E-mail: lacson_mansion@yahoo.com.ph
EL IDEAL BAKERY
118 Rizal Street
Silay City, Negros Occidental
Silay City, Negros Occidental
Contact No. (6334)
495 4430
L’FISHERS HOTEL
14th Lacson St., Bacolod City
Negros Occidental
14th Lacson St., Bacolod City
Negros Occidental
Contact No. +6334-4333731-39
CIRCLE INN
Lopez Jaena – Malaspina Streets, Capitol Shopping Center
Bacolod City
Contact Nos. +63-34-709-9111 / +63-34-709-9009
+63-917-445-9972
E-Mail: bacolod@circleinnph.com
