Panaad Park: Touring Negros Occidental in a Day, Going South This Time Part 2

ISABELA  -  Isabela was known before as a part of Binalbagan when the Spaniard arrived to the island of Negros. The place was once inhabited by native people with full of tattoos in the body called “Pintados”.

MOISES PADILLA -  Moises Padilla was a former barrio of Isabela a neighboring town and its original name was Mgallon and later became Moises Padilla when it declared it as a town.   The name of the town was changed after the death Mr. Moises Padilla a mayoralty candidate who was tortured and killed by assassins of a certain prominent family in Negros Island due to political reasons. 

Panaad Park: Touring Negros Occidental in a Day, Going South This Time Part1

Now that we're done with all the cities and municipalities on the northern part of Negros Occidental it's time to move down to the south.  Sit back, relax and enjoy.

BAGO CITY  -  the top rice producer in the province and is home to industries like the Maao Sugar Central, Viva Mineral water bottling plant, Ginebra San Miguel distilled products and the Alter Trade muscovado mill.

PULUPANDAN  - derived its name from the vernacular phrase “pulo sang pandan”, meaning “isle of pandan”, due to the wild forest of palms in the town during the early days before it became a bustling seaport. 

Panaad Park: Touring Negros Occidental in a Day, Going East

Now that we're done with the cities and municipalities on the northern part of Negros Occidental, lets proceed to the two municipalites and one city on the eastern part.

MURCIA   -  Convergence of the North and South and where East meets West. Murcia is home to the province’s flagship tourism attraction, the scenic and romantic Mambukal Summer Resort., the Bacolod Golf and Country Club, the Tanduay Distillery  and PNOC Geothermal Power Plant.

DON SALVADOR BENEDICTO  -  Located at the center of the mountains of northern Negros Occidental.  Tagged as the "Little Baguio of Negros Occidental" because of the cool weather and the beautiful pine trees that lined the main road.

Panaad Park: Touring Negros Occidental in a Day, Going North Part 2

MANAPLA  -  known for the Cartwheel church and the delicious Capulso Puto Manapla.  The town got its name from the wife of the capitan, fondly and respectfully called by the residents as Manang Pula.  Later, the Manang Pula as name of the town was shortened to Manapla, the name carried on until now.

CADIZ CITY  -  dried fish capital of Negros Occidental  and the famous tourist attraction, Lakawon Island Resort.

Panaad Park: Touring Negros Occidental in a Day, Going North Part 1

Every year, the Panaad sa Negros Festival is always flocked by both local and international tourists to witness the week long celebration of  the "Mother of All Festivals".  Aside from the food and the activities lined up for the whole celebration, one of the reason that people purposely flock the Panaad Festival are the booths of different towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
I took the liberty to take photos of all the booths and what's in store for the visitors. To all Negrosanons on the other side of the planet, I hope these photos can make you feel like you've have been here celebrating the festival with us.

Let me start from my very own city, Bacolod City, then we''ll head north.  Okay?  Enjoy as I tour you around the Panaad Park.


BACOLOD CITY - dubbed as the City of Smile, the capital city of Negros Occidental, home of the Masskara Festival and the famous Chicken Inasal (grilled chicken).
The Balay Bacolodnon sa Panaad booth is a fusion of the old and new Bacolod., with the plaza gazebo and bandstand as icon of the city's old world charm and the New Government Center as symbol of the modern City of Bacolod surging ahead.

This giant mask greets the visitors on the entrance of Bacolod booth.

Save Sum-ag River Movement Dinner for a Cause

     Last Friday I had a chance to witnessed a spectacular showcase of talents from the teachers and staff of Sum-ag Elementary School as they entertained those who have attended the dinner for a cause held by the school. Save Sum-ag River Movement Dinner for a Cause is a fund raising drive of the school to aid The Knowledge Channel Program in their quest to restore the Sum-ag River.
     The night kicked off with a prayer from the students of SES then followed by a speech from the Vice Mayor of Bacolod Jude Thaddeus. A short overhead projector presentation of mission and vision of Save Sum-ag River Movement and the rest of the evening with special numbers of the SES teachers and staff.

Chess board cake for her hubby

     I wanted to thank Marikoy of mareeyah.com/ako for giving a chance to be a part of surprising her husband last Valentines day.  A week before Valentines I received a message from her asking if I can make a cake to surprise her husband for V-day. I said yes. She didn't have anything for the design so I asked her what does her husband likes to do or favorite things to do. She told me that he likes cars and loves to play chess too so she came up with an idea of a chess board cake with a black king and white queen in the center and hearts on the opposite sides. 

     It's just a plain chocolate cake with buttercream icing covered with white marshmallow fondant. My boyfriend was the one who gave me the idea on how to make the king and queen chess piece. I don't know where he got the idea but I was thankful to him cause he made it easy for me to do. Instead of putting a cross on the king, I suggested that we make little crowns for the head.

     On Valentines day, I personally delivered this cake to her husband as what I promised her.  I've know Marikoy since high school, we were classmate but hadn't got the chance to meet her husband during their wedding cause I was not able to attend it due to a flu.  I got  in Talisay around 11 in the morning and I sent a message to her husband telling him that I was waiting at the guard house with a surprise from his wife. Her husband was so kind that he even asked me to have lunch with him but I politely said no because I was in a hurry to go back to Bacolod. 

     You can check out Marikoy's blog http://mareeyah.com/ako/ for the wonderful write up she posted about the cake. 

My Valentine Treats

     If you would ask me how did I celebrated my Valentines day, I would say very very very busy. My boyfriend and I didn't have our date, instead we had dinner at home with my family and my brother's girlfriend which everybody enjoyed.
     A week before the hearts day I was busy making red chocolate heart lollipops for the children of Sum-ag Elementary School and several orders of chocolate cakes. And on Valentines Day, I delivered them all myself =)
     It was tiring but I had fun and I think I lost a few pounds after walking and skipping lunch but gained twice after a sumptuous and gastronomic dinner.

     I called it Project Lollipop. Since chocolates cakes are quite not affordable, i thought of something that even elementary students can afford to have one. I was thinking of chocolate lollipops for Valentines day. I bought a heart with a rose plastic mould, plastic lollipop sticks, plastic wrapper, red metallic ribbon and a few red chocolate bars.

AFC Challenge Cup 2011, Philippines Azkals Go Win Fight!

     Last February 9 I was given a chance to witness this once in a lifetime event held in the Panaad Stadium here in the city of Bacolod. The AFC Challenge Cup of the Philippine Azkals against Mongolia's Blue Wolf. Ruel was nagging me since that morning to go with them and watch the game but I insisted of not going because I have to finish my lollipop orders for Friday of the same week. After several hours of nagging, I decided to watch the football game with them. It was 5:30 in the afternoon when I arrived at the Panaad Stadium. The place was jammed pack with football fanatics from different places of the country excited for the game to start.

     Other people would do or exchange anything to have this ticket to watch the football game and it took Ruel four hours to convince me to watch the game with them. But I never regret it cause I enjoyed and had fun.

The Philippines Azkals team warming up for the game.

More Photos from Bacolaodiat 2011

Chinese lanterns lighted and adorned the Lacson street and North Capitol Road.

Bacolod Celebrated 6th Bacolaodiat Festval; Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!

     Bacolod City welcomes the Year of the Rabbit with a street party as we celebrated the 6th Bacolaodiat Festival.  Bacolaodiat comes from the words Bacolod and Laodiat a Chinese word which means "to celebrate".  It is celebrated every Chinese new year, a festivity that showcases our Chinese brothers' custom and belief mixed with the Filipino culture.  Very unique to all the Chinese new year being celebrated around the world.

The event is usually held on the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and the street of Lacson.  The street are decorated with red Chinese lanterns and scattered on the streets and the park are giant Chinese zodiac animals.

Photos from Canon Shoot and Run 2010 Photo Challenge

Theme 1:  Beauty of Bacolod
We went around Bacolod's famous spots to shoot; the New Government Center and Provincial Capitol Lagoon

The newest seat of the government of the people of Bacolod City.

Shoot & Run 2010: A Photo Challenge by Canon dHUB

     Canon Digital Hub in SM City Bacolod held Shoot & Run photo challenge earlier today as it turned one year.  The contest was open to all professional or amateur photographers and I was lucky to be one of the participants.

     The event started at 12:00 noon with the registration of the participants. Audrey Rose of lagawan , Ruel of Surimi Goes To and Chino was already there when I arrived. We were given Canon T-shirts and ID to be worn during the competition. There were three categories given: Beauty of Bacolod, Cultural or Spiritual, Fashion in Motion and the bonus category SM Eco Bag.  On each category, we were given one and half hour to take photos including the download time. We can take photos anywhere we want provided we have to check in before the time ends and have the best photo downloaded as your entry for that specific category.  We have to be back on time or else we will miss the announcement for the next category. One  winner for each category will receive a Canon Pixma MP497 printer. Snacks and energy drinks were provided to the participants as well. Pretty neat huh.

Bewitching in SM City-Bacolod

     "Witches Brewing and Magical Spells" was this years Halloween theme which was held in SM City Bacolod last October 31.  Children ages four to twelve dressed as witches and wizards were treated an afternoon of trick or treating from the different shops in the mall. Not only that they get to go home with free goodies but three kids with the most creative, scariest and funniest costume will win Php3,000 worth of gift certificate.
     Since I was a kid I always wanted to experience Halloween. It's not commonly celebrated here in Bacolod but some malls or company are starting to make them a yearly celebration. I wish next year there would Halloween costume party for grown ups too.