Destination Diary: Bacolod

After that tiresome but enjoyable road trip with the gang, we woke up the next day rested and recharged. The last time I was in Sugarlandia was in 1999, and my memories of the place were rather faded spare for a park which I can’t quite point out, and summer memories spent with my cousins and uncles. Naturally, it was time for the locals to show us around.

Like it’s monicker Sugarland, the city is associated with sugarcanes, and of course, an endless array of popular desserts, pasalubong and the famous chicken inasal which C and I don’t mind getting heaps of servings of. Here’s my quick guide to exploring this beautiful city and my advice is to savor the food, enjoy the sights and make friends for keeps. Because as they say, life is definitely sweeter in Bacolod.

Visit The Ruins at Talisay 

Look at the details of the Italian-style architecture. The Ruins is an ancestral home mansion of the wealthy sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. The home was built in the early 1900s for his Portuguese wife. She passed away during the birth of their eleventh child. The home is situated in a 440-hectare plantation in Talisay, Negros Occidental. It was burned down by the guerillas during the Second World War to prevent the Japanese forces from using it as a headquarters. It burnt down to its current state for three days.

Popularly called the Taj Mahal of Negros, it is a tourist attraction today and is a popular event place for pre-nuptial shoots and weddings. It is said that egg whites were mixed with the cement so that it can withstand the tests of time.

Today there is a café and lemonade stand nearby, as well as a fountain and wishing well. A souvenir shop operates downstairs, and portraits of the family is still in display.

Taste Authentic Chicken Inasal in Manukan Country But Approach the Talaba With Caution 

In Manukan Country, we got a taste of the authentic Chicken Inasal which originated in Bacolod. And as they say, for a taste of the real thing, one has to go to the source. There’s a long queue outside, as tables are easily filled by regular patrons, moreso if it’s the weekend because families populate the area. Luckily, our companions knew where to reserve and whom to talk to. There were other dishes on the table but of coure, the most star of the show is none other than the Chicken Inasal.

I always go for the thigh, I like my chicken like that. I have to say that getting a taste of the authentic version is mouth-watering and a cross off the bucket list already.  The best way to enjoy Chicken Inasal is by pouring the oil on the garlic-adorned hot, white rice and then slowly peeling off a piece of the chicken thigh. Then, use one’s hands to top it on the rice and finally deposit in wide mouth and enjoy the festival that’s going on in the tastebuds.

Here, I learned the words “namit gid” which means, so delicious. Not bad for a late lunch and our first day exploring Bacolod.

Well, what I didn’t enjoy is the talaba. It gave me an embarrassing scenario and I threw up shortly after we arrived in the gates of P’s home. It’s been a while since I ate talaba and I think after that, I’m not going to go near it again. 

Take A Dip in Mambukal Hot Springs

I have to admit that this was a gem and a valid reason to go back to Bacolod when the opportunity presents itself. This is one of the highlights of the trip because of nature and a priceless experience of dipping in hot sulfur springs and with fruit bats flying overhead.

Mambukal is a resort in Murcia, the town where P’s mom grew up. We even passed by the street where her home was in. it’s a charming old town which shows off the leisurely, simple life. But the main attraction is the sulfur hot springs in the mountain resort that constantly attract nature lovers at a steady pace.

Visitors can picnic around the springs and buy plants of different varieties that are for sale right at the parking lot.

Go early where it’s not so crowded and if you can, go to the Japanese Ofaru to experience the sulfuric hot springs that’s great for the skin. From a distance, you can easily see the steam from the springs. And take lots of photos too. Changing rooms are clean and well-maintained, food and drinks are allowed as long as you leave the place the same way you found it. 

Try Your Luck in Casino Filipino

If you’re of legal age and are feeling lucky, you can enter Casino Filipino and see where your chips take you. As long as you are dressed appropriately, you can easily take your chances.

Although small, the casino already has digitized slot machines that are easy to manipulate, taking bills and automating increments, and also churning out electronic tickets precisely. Of course, when it comes to gambling, it takes a lot of self-control to know when to stop and when to go on. Someone was lucky on the first night and won a small fortune, which led us to an island visit. As for me, I wasn’t lucky in that department, but I did pick up a few inspirations for short stories to write.  

Here’s a mild warning, the drinks are free but the juices and coffee are sugar loaded lol. Take a break from the slot machines and grab a bite outside the hotel, there’s a café there and it’s better to have a snack al fresco by the avenue. 

Feed the Fishes in Front of the Provincial Hall

One time we woke up late and thought of going to the mall, do a little walking around. B thought that we could try feeding the tilapias in front of the Provincial Hall, which according to P, was actually being harvested and fed to inmates in the local prison. The management thought that it was a good strategy to sell the fish pellets at Php 10 per pack and let visitors feed the fishes anytime they felt like it. We thought it was a pretty valid mindless thing to do before heading on to the mall. A few pointing out here and there about what life in Bacolod really is like, and we went on our way.

Breakfast at D'Horizon on the way to San Carlos City and A View of  Malatan-og Falls

Here’s what I also didn’t know about going on a road trip to San Carlos City. The highlights of this side trip are a hearty breakfast, buying succulents as well as getting a peak of Malatan-og Falls.

D’Horizon is a small, humble café at the side of the road that offers barako coffee and the popular “silog” meals for breakfast. There’s also suman to choose from. But what’s not to miss is the view that’s just great for early morning, fresh air breakfast.

There’s also a lot of healthy honey-fried banana chips along the way, and who would have thought that there will also be mini rice terraces to spot. We didn’t get to stay long though because it started to drizzle. 

There is a viewing deck that happens to give a good view of Malatan-og Falls, but is also the pit stop for those who want to buy plants. With a quick survey, I was able to purchase some Graptoveria Debbie and flowering sedum. I now proudly call them my Bacolod Tribe lol.

Stay Overnight in Lakawon Island

If you can, pay a visit to Lakawon Island.  Go aboard Tawhai, the floating bar that’s anchored in the middle of the ocean and try to sit on the sand along the beach while the sun sets. This is how I started my New Year’s Day. Even if my mind was full of questions, at least I got to immerse myself in the beauty of this modern island paradise.

It’s one of the well-kept secrets of Negros and I honestly won’t get tired of it. It’s more of a family island rather than a party island escape, and I found out that being surrounded by cerulean waters is a good form of therapy by itself. 

The island operates on a cashless scheme, meaning each group will be issued a preloaded card and it can be used for accommodations, meals and drinks in the island. It’s pretty convenient and saves the hassle of bringing a wallet around when your hands are wet. In the meantime, watch out for a full feature on our experience in Lakawon Island. 

The Anatomy of a Road Trip

The Anatomy Of A Road Trip

The evening of our office audit, I left Zamboanga as the vehicle sped towards Dapitan. With my cousin B taking up the driver’s wheel, C by my side and friends, I experienced a twenty-hour trip from one island to the next, and making it through a mountain range finally arriving in Bacolod.

In general I was just really grateful to experience Bacolod and see what it’s like to ply the route that my cousin frequently takes and got to note the stories of the sugarcane plantations that can be seen at the side of the road. It has a sinister tone to it but I’d like to write a short story about it someday.

 As for what makes a memorable road trip in my opinion, here’s the breakdown of one for the books. 

We took B's Nissan Terra for a drive

A comfortable and spacious vehicle

It was a perfect time to go for a test drive. My cousin B went on this route many times and with different vehicles, but I think it’s the first time for the Nissan Terra. It was absolutely a breeze to be cruising along the beauty of the island of Negros and with a spacious and smooth drive like the Terra, there was a lot of space for our bags and for six people all in all. The back had foldable seats for reclining to make space for our luggage, because C and I both agreed ahead of time to bring luggage, and I always bring an extra backpack, then our friends also brought their respective duffel bags.

To illustrate, our route was to leave from Zamboanga by 8:00 in the evening then arrive by 3:00 AM in Dapitan to catch the boat that will cross all the way to Dumaguete, arriving at around 8:00 AM for breakfast and then resume, passing by Mabinay, Bago City and then arrive in Bacolod by 5:00 PM. Do take note that there are security checks before boarding the barge and that passengers are required to submit their baggage through x-rays and also wait at the terminal before boarding.

With a continuous playlist of acoustic tracks, we made it, with occasional stops for food, especially for breakfast and lunch of course. 

Enjoying the scenery on the way: Church at the Municipality of Hinigaran

A capable driver and a spare driver

We were quite confident with our company in case B couldn’t continue driving because the trip alone was about 20 hours long. But at least we had two more spare drivers who were experienced on highway drives and long-haul trips. C knows the route to Dapitan by heart and R also knew Negros because of countless times visiting. Thankfully nothing happened that required us to switch drivers during our journey on the road.

Another plus with this arrangement is that our designated, capable driver also had a few stories to share about the sugarcane plantations (read: blood sacrifice for a bountiful harvest) but that’s just some eerie bedtime story, (or so at least I think).

Snacks and water

Nobody gets hungry in Negros especially if there are a lot of street side vendors selling fruits and all sorts of snacks on the way. Of course, I brought water and snacks on hand to endure the trip. Dried fruit and mixed trail with nuts sometimes does the job.

Necessary pitstops

Here’s where breakfast, lunch and dinner come in, as well as bathroom breaks. Luckily we had no issues with any of these. Dumaguete alone has a handful of places offering affordable meals and to freshen up before resuming the trip.

On the way to Bacolod as we were nearing, we had a taste of the famous KBL, a spicy stew that’s best paired with white rice. It’s also known as Kansi, Baboy at Langka, and is a good comfort food during rainy days. 

A destination that makes it all worthwhile

There’s supposed to be a storm coming in, but we made it all in perfect timing. I received a call from my father shortly after we arrived in Bacolod where we were staying in P’s home, asking where we were because my parents were worried about the storm coming in, which would mean that we were going to be stranded if we didn’t get to cross Dapitan to Dumaguete.

However, we made it in good time and it was a good experience for us to be able to make that trip and to end 2018 in  P’s hometown. The plan was to immerse ourselves in Bacolod as we took a break from work and greeted 2019 energized and full of hope.

The next day would be another day in Sugarlandia with plans to visit its attractions. It was one of the long but rewarding road trips that will be catalogued in my memory and taught me that the best that a road trip can be is spontaneous and made with good company.

Disclaimer: This post is in no way sponsored by Nissan Philippines, Inc. or its affiliates. All inputs are based on my experiences during the travel described. 

Postcards From Pamucutan: Raisie’s Tips For Writing Postcards (The Virtual Ones At Least)

Before I share with you how I write my postcards, let me first explain to you how I send them.

It started with my friend A who proposed that we keep in touch through old-fashioned pen and paper. I willingly agreed being the pen and paper junkie that I am. But we feared that our letters would take weeks to arrive through the Post Office and utilizing other express couriers would hurt the budget. And so we maintained writing letters mostly about catching up and sent them through scanning the letters and uploading them through FB messenger.

For the first couple of letters, I wrote on good, old-fashioned stationery and envelope. I also used Project Life cards once. But I thought of designing my own postcards and printing them out and have used them ever since- at least for A because I still write J the usual letters. These postcards I’ve sent over I collectively called Postcards From Pamucutan. I’m compiling them for when until A pays a visit back home.

I was doing a bit of research before writing this post and I found Charles Simic’s post on The Lost Art of Postcard Writing. I’d really like for you to read it and I promise there’s an interesting sample there.

So now that’s out of the way, I have a few tips to share with you.

1. Choose a postcard with a design full of character 

We all know the regular touristy-postcards which is common here in the Philippines but believe me, the unique designs are the ones that can make your recipient react unexpectedly. These are the more memorable ones too. 

2. Write on scratch paper/ start a draft

Begin a draft on scratch paper. If your penmanship is small or if you are comfortable with a .3mm pen, you can write long sentences or until three paragraphs of two sentences each. If you have big-spaced penmanship, you can adjust your message when you transfer it on your postcard. Also keep it neat and clean! 

3. On the writing style 

This is what makes your postcard quite unique, and it’s your personal message to the recipient. The most basic ones are of course, the weather, what you did, etc. But if there’s one piece of advice I can share with you, it’s going to be write the way you speak. There are times when I can hear my friends from their letters and it makes me miss them so much more. So this is your chance to pop, let your writing style speak! 

4. Don't forget the address 

Even if I’m sending my postcard virtually, I still like to see my postcard filled up and complete (even if it means I made the address up LOL) such as calling A’s apartment Hitler’s Tower. But if you’re sending them by post, make sure the address is complete.

 5. As for stamps

I have to admit that I’ve eliminated this portion because I send my postcards to A virtually. But I still like to try to send him a postcard just to see how long it will take, and for him to keep the postcard and the stamp. But because I am a person obsessed with all the writing accessories and stationery, I am now looking for washi and sticker flakes with stamps especially the vintage designs. 

Here’s a hint, if you can’t find whimsical and quirky postcards, you can design your own and print them out yourself. I might introduce the tools I have to you if you’re interested. 

My friends and I have started combining the analogue method of writing to each other in lieu of the instant-messenger chats and this is how we make the old-school and the modern meet.

Do you have any tips on writing postcards you’d like to share? Don’t be shy and leave me a comment! 

Destination Diary: Cagayan de Oro

We sort of have a hangover from CDO. We’re even talking about going back before the year ends. I mean, CDO is always there but still seems so far away. CDO is always our second home, because there’s family left and right, it’s safe and I know the city very well. There are always grandmothers, aunts, cousins and uncles happy to see us, sometimes invitations for lunch, dinner and whatnot never end.

I don’t kid when I say that the City of Golden Friendship can take pride in food (hello, cowboy country), sweet smiles and courteous people. Besides, CDO is like a touchdown for steak, ham, baby back ribs, scrumptious desserts and salads.

When we were kids there were always places to roam around in; my childhood had so many stories involving being chased by geese in some uncle’s farm, mishaps on a relative’s lawn, being peed on by an orangutan while seeing the circus, and so on. Every single time we’re in town, something funny is bound to happen. But we keep coming back, for as long as there’s family and food involved. 

 

If On A Road Trip, Enjoy Lechon By The Seaside In Timoga, Iligan

One advantage of going on a road trip is having full control of time and deciding which stops to take. By the long stretch of Iligan’s seaside in Timoga, there are restaurants selling lechon by the kilo, fish and stews. Here’s where we pull up in time for lunch, dig into grilled fish and puso (steamed rice wrapped in coconut leaves) and eat with our hands. If only one can indulge in a siesta after such a hearty lunch by the seaside, but there’s still miles to cover before finally arriving in….

…S&R, Where Else?

Because my parents have a membership card and the giant pizza is not to be missed, the shopping can be either the first order of business or not. You know I’m always into ice cream but I’m very much aware that I can’t take the freezer home.

Mommy strikes a pose but my Dad's thoughts are obviously elsewhere

Seven Seas Waterpark

Just passing by the parking lot, we already heard screams coming from the park and C and I glanced at each other. But we were there to enjoy the place, so we went on to see what it’s like to experience Seven Seas Waterpark with a splash.

C had stories to tell after trying out that insane capsule drop and the four-story slide. Yes, let me repeat that: four stories. I can personally only tolerate the kiddie pool but for the braver ones, you can go on ahead and jump off. The park has a café, restaurant and lots of picnic tables surrounding the pools and slides, the environment is clean. It’s best to be early and to maximize the time in Seven Seas.

High Ridge Restaurant

It takes guts to get to high ridge in a car, I’ll tell you that. Because the road is steep and there's no concrete yet!

But one can be rewarded with good food and a view of the city at sunset in High Ridge Restaurant. It’s a place to enjoy some quiet family time, have some blueberry cheesecake (C’s all-time favorite) and then look through the coin-operated binoculars with a 5-peso coin.

Don't mind these guys, they aren't even drunk.... 

Bigby’s Baby Back Ribs

I can say that C has good eyesight because he spotted Bigby’s from a distance, and we’ve gone back to Bigby’s for lunch ever since. I have to admit that it’s love at first sight for me with baby back ribs and make it a point to enjoy it every time we’re in CDO. It’s like an unwritten obligation to allow yourself to indulge in this helping of baby back ribs, and it feels like a holiday.

Divine Mercy Hills

Fresh from the island paradise of Camiguin, we headed on to Divine Mercy Hills and to join the many Catholic devotees in prayer of the huge Sacred Heart of Jesus in El Salvador. There were processions left and right, and it was a solemn afternoon for all.

Looking back, it seems like all we did in CDO was eat.

But I have no regrets. We caught up with family, took a break from work and then went on to experience Camiguin.

Right now, CDO is still in our subconscious, we’re thinking of going back but trying to find the right time because despite all of the things that we did the last time we were there, I still want C to experience the adrenaline-rush side of CDO and to visit Bukidnon. 

Well, knowing my family, we’re a bunch of indecisive people who just might be enabled one way or the other. Ciao!