Masskara 2009 Schedule of Activities

Bacolod Tourist Destination: The Ruins

A rather new, but actually very ‘old’, Bacolod tourist site is The Ruins. Situated amongst the farmlands in Talisay City, this heritage site is fast become a very popular Bacolod tourist attraction.

The structure of The Ruins is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque columns, having a very close semblance to the façade of Carnegie Hall in New York City. In New England, they often were homes to ship’s captains. A belvedere on the 2nd floor, facing west, affords a beautiful view of the sunset in a glassed-in sunroom with bay windows.

The Belvedere

The view from the Belvedere at twilight

A brief history of the Bacolod Ruins

The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948) and was home to his unmarried children with his first wife, Maria Braga Lacson (+1911), a Portuguese from Macau. The mansion was the largest residential structure ever built at that time and had in it one of the finest furniture, chinaware, and decorative items, as the father of Maria Braga was a captain of a ship that sailed across Europe and Asia and would cart with him these items. One of their daughters maintained a beautiful garden of lilies in and around the 4-tiered fountain fronting the mansion, all brought in from abroad.

Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson

One of the sons supervised the construction of the mansion making certain that the A-grade mixture of concrete and its pouring was precisely followed. The mansion met its sad fate in the early part of World War II when the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters in the Philippines, burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters. It took days of inferno to bring down the roof and the 2-inch wooden floors.


To this day, the structure still stands tall amidst sugar plantations and continues to awe both local and foreign tourists. Truly, a picture-perfect backdrop and a magnificent sight to see.


How The Ruins became a tourist destination

After literally being in ruins and practically abandoned, the mansion was left to the elements for several years. It wasn’t until last year, when some of the Lacson great grandchildren who inherited the land where The Ruins sits, decided to develop it. They fixed the surroundings and put up a café where they serve tapas, pasta, beef and lamb dishes and more. They also serve ice cold beer and wine.

View of the Garden

Since they opened last year, a lot of tourists and locals visit this tourist site which is so close to Bacolod. It is only about a 15-minute drive from the center of Bacolod City. It also a favorite venue for photo shoots as the remaining structure and its unique architecture and design details serve as a beautiful and magnificent backdrop.

The fountain and garden which has become a venue for events

The Bacolod Ruins, or Talisay Ruins as it is also called by some, has been a popular venue for Bacolod weddings, special events and parties. The most recent addition to this tourist spot is a mini-golf within the grounds of the site. The owners are continuously developing the area and adding new stuff to do so it will remain a top tourist attraction. Even for the Bacolod and Talisay residents and locals, it has become a place for family bonding activities and fun.


How to get to The Ruins

Option 1: Take the turn at Honda Cars in Talisay City towards the mountains. It’s a 2.4km stretch of farm road from the national highway. (You’ll need an off-road or SUV because the roads are rather rough and unpaved)

Option 2: Take the turn at the PEPSI bottling plant in Bata Subdivision towards the mountains. Enter the narrow road leading to Rose Lawn Memorial Garden, then, turn right and navigate the main road of Goldcrest and Octagon Villages. This will lead you all the way to The Ruins. (Follow the signs going to The Ruins starting from the road you turn into at the Pepsi plant corner)

Bacolod Ruins - One of the World's 12 Most Fascinating Ruins

Talisay City, the next city beside Bacolod and a mere 15-minute drive from the center of Bacolod, features a mansion built by a sugar magnate at the turn of the last century that not once, but twice, was destroyed in the 2nd World War in order to prevent Japanese forces from using it.

Read more about the 12 of the World's Most Fascinating Ruins at this link:
http://www.oddee.com/item_96671.aspx

Resort Review: Punta Bulata Resort and Spa

Just 2 ½ hours from Bacolod City is a tranquil resort with white sand beaches and clear calm waters. This is Punta Bulata Resort and Spa.

White sand beach

I went there last year for the first time with my boyfriend and we had such a great time.

The trip south of Negros is beautiful. On the way there you pass endless sugar cane fields and lots of greenery. At some point along the zigzag road in Cauayan approaching the resort is a series of hills and cliffs with a fantastic view overlooking the sea and a few islands nearby.

Upon arriving at the resort, we were greeted by a warm and friendly staff. They made us feel at home right away!

Clear and clean waters

We arrived mid-day and after a delicious lunch, we took an afternoon nap or ‘siesta’. The place is so relaxing and beautiful that it calms and soothes you. I felt like all my cares and concerns were so far away and I only had this idyllic beach resort to enjoy.

Later in the afternoon, we took a dip in the resort’s swimming pool and enjoyed our snack and cocktails while watching the beautiful sunset.

The resort swimming pool

The beautiful sunset

In the evening, I tried their resort spa services. I had a 1-hour body massage which was a combination of traditional Filipino hilot therapy and Swedish massage with a few stretching. The spa also has a sauna and hot tub.

That was a great way to end the day and I slept soundly in our cottage. Punta Bulata has hotel rooms that are well designed with an asian inspired theme. Their cottages and villages have native and Filipino themes.

The hotel rooms

The next day we went to the nearby Danjugan island where we went snorkeling. We also visited the marine sanctuary where there were a multitude of reef fishes and corals. We had good visibility. The area is also great for diving. Danjugan island is a marine reserve and wildlife sanctuary. It is surrounded by coral reefs and has 5 lagoons.

One of the blue lagoons

Danjugan Island

If you plan to visit this beautiful resort and beach destination, spend at least 2 nights and 3 days at Punta Bulata White Beach Resort and Spa. Any less would just be too short.


How to get there:

By Private Car
Punta Bulata is located in Barangay Elihan, Cauayan Municipality, Negros Occidental, Philippines, bordering Sipalay City. It is 158 km. south of Bacolod City. Getting to the resort by car takes approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours. There are several road signs by the highway that will guide you there. From the city center (Provincial Capitol Building) of Bacolod, travel southwards, taking the national highway. A few meters after the 154 km. marker by the road, make a right turn into a side road. Travel 4 km. down this road until you reach Punta Bulata Resort.

(please note that the 4km side road is unpaved. Small cars are capable of taking this road but it is still recommended that you take an AUV, van, or SUV for a more comfortable ride.)

By Public Bus
Ceres Liner has several trips throughout the day that may take you southbound towards Punta Bulata. Take the bus headed to Hinobaan or Bayawan. Busses depart every 30 minutes from 6:00 am to 7:30 pm from the Ceres Lines Bus Terminal in Bacolod City. There is only one air-conditioned bus which departs at 4:00 pm. You must get off at Barangay Road., Cartagena since the bus cannot take you directly to the resort. Board a tricycle and ask the tricycle driver to take you to Punta Bulata Resort.

From Manila or Cebu
There are 3 major airlines that have multiple daily flights from Manila or Cebu to Bacolod City. Click to access their respective websites:

Philippine Airlines
Cebu Pacific
Air Philippines

For more info, visit Punta Bulata's website, click here.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Bacolod

Why Bacolod is a TOP destination

1. Greatly improved accessibility through an airport that connects to the city to Manila 8 times daily through 3 major airlines and a seaport for large cargo and passenger vessels in addition to the fast sea crafts cruising the waters between Iloilo and Bacolod.
2. Upbeat local economy and unlimited opportunities for trade and investments because the city is home to a high percentage of the Philippines' top 20 corporations;
3. Intensified initiatives towards agri-based diversification like the production of food items, mucovado sugar, organic fertilizers, light farm equipment and home décor;
4. Acclaimed as the Most Business Friendly City in the Philippines in 2007 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
5. Inexpensive cost of doing business with numerous amenities, facilities and available opportunities;
6. Effective maintenance of clean and green surroundings as evidenced by a HALL OF FAME AWARD as the Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines.
7. Low percentage of illegal settlers.
8. Now considered as the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing hub of Western Visayas with the presence of 8 major call centers.
9. Strong involvement and partnership between the government and various private stakeholders plus that legendary hospitality and cuisine that make Bacolod City an ideal place to visit, to work in and much more to live in this lifetime.
10. A stable peace and order condition where incidence of crime is low, there is high police visibility and a crime solution of 97%.

The Provincial Capitol Building - a Bacolod City landmark

How to Get to Bacolod


 BY AIR-The city is only 55 minutes from and to Manila, serviced by the country's 3 major airlines - Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines, with four round trip flights daily.


From Cebu City, Bacolod is only 30 minutes away, with 3 round trips daily through Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
 The New Bacolod-Silay Airport of International Standard is 20 minutes to and from the Bacolod downtown.


The Bacolod Silay Airport

BY SEA-Bacolod is normally a 20-hour cruise to and from Manila aboard world-class vessels; 55 minutes to and from Iloilo on fast seacrafts. The Banago and BREDCO ports are the vessels entry point.


BY SEA AND LAND- The 18-hour travel time to and from Manila via land and sea transport is now possible through RORO (Roll On Roll Off) vessels traversing through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway using the ports of Iloilo, Caticlan in Aklan, Roxas in Mindoro and Batangas in the Province of Batangas.

Source: www.bacolodcity.gov.ph

Bacolod City - Best Place to Live in the Philippines

Bacolod City is the capital and largest highly urbanized mid-size Philippine city of the province of Negros Occidental. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is notable for its MassKara Festival held during October. Known for being a relatively friendly city, it bears the nickname "City of Smiles" and the "Football City of the Philippines". Bacolod City recently topped a survey by MoneySense Magazine as the "Best Place to Live in the Philippines".

A Brief History
The city's name is derived from the Hiligaynon word bakolod – meaning "stonehill" – since the settlement was founded in 1770 on a stony, hilly area, now the district of Granada.
Due to Muslim raids in 1787, Bacolod was transferred towards the shoreline. The old site was called Da-an Banwa, meaning "old town".

In 1894, by order of Governor General Claveria, through Negros Island Governor Manuel Valdevieso Morquecho, Bacolod was made the capital of the Province of Negros. Bernardino de los Santos became the first gobernadorcillo and Fray Julian Gonzaga the first parish priest.

The success of the revolution in Bacolod was attributed to the low morale of the local Spanish detachment, due to its defeat in Panay and Luzon and to the psychological warfare waged by Generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta. In 1897, a battle in Bacolod was fought at Matab-ang River. A year later, on November 5, 1898, the Negrense "Revolucionarios," armed with knives, bolos, spears, and rifle-like nipa stems, and pieces of sawali or amakan mounted on carts, captured the convento where Coronel Isidro de Castro y Cisneros, well-armed cazadores and platoons of civil guards, surrendered. Two days later, on the 7th, most of the revolutionary army gathered together to establish a Provisional Junta and to confirm the elections of Aniceto Lacson as president, Juan Araneta as war-delegate, as well as the other officials.

On March 1899, the American forces led by Colonel James G. Smith occupied Bacolod, the revolutionary capital of the Provisional Republic of Negros.

By virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 326, enacted by the National Assembly, Bacolod was made a chartered city on October 19, 1938.

In World War II, Bacolod City was occupied by Japanese forces on May 21, 1942. The Japanese commanding general seized the Mariano Ramos Ancestral House, home of the first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod, which served as the seat of power and a watchtower over city. The city was liberated by joint Filipino and American forces on May 29, 1945. It took time to rebuild Bacolod after liberation. The city's public markets and slaughterhouses were rebuilt during the administration of former mayor Vicente Remitio from 1947 to 1949.

Location
Bacolod City is located on the northwestern coast of the Province of Negros Occidental. It is bounded on the northwest by the town of Talisay; on the east by the City of Silay; on the east and southwest by the town of Murcia; on the southwest by the City of Bago; and in the west by the Guimaras Strait. The global location of Bacolod City is 10 degrees, 40 minutes 40 seconds - north and 122 degrees 54 minutes 25 seconds - east with Bacolod Public Plaza as the benchmark.

Bacolod has a total land area of 16,145 hectares, including straits and bodies of water and the 124 hectare reclamation area; and is composed of 61 barangay (villages) and 639 purok (smaller units composing a village). It is accessible by sea through the ports of Banago; the BREDCO Port in the Reclamation Area, and the port of Pulupandan. By air, it is accessible through the Bacolod Airport, which is approximately three (3) (four is counting from the Lagoon) kilometers away from the center of the city.

Bacolod is ideally located on a level area, slightly sloping as it extends toward the sea with an average slope of 0.9 percent for the city proper and between 3 to 5 percent for the suburbs. The altitude is 32.8 feet or 10.0 meters above sea level with the Bacolod City Public Plaza as the benchmark. Bacolod has two pronounced seasons, wet and dry. The rainy season starts from May to January of the following year with heavy rains occurring during the months of August and September. Dry season starts from the month of February until the last week of April.

Source: Wikipedia

Bacolod Night Life: Mu Shu

I often visit Mu Shu Asian Restaurant and Lounge, usually to dine out with my family or to meet up and hang out with my friends.

I love their food, especially the Java Spareribs and Hainanese Chicken which goes perfect with their mixed fried rice. They also have Mu Shu pork dishes like Glazed Pork Spareribs, Crispy Garlic Spareribs, Pork Satay and more!

If we’re not dining at Mu Shu, we usually go there after dinner to chill out and enjoy the Bacolod night life. Since it opened, Mu Shu is the popular hang out and party place in Bacolod City, especially for the younger crowd.

Mu Shu serves a diverse choice of cocktails and drinks. I especially like their Strawberry Margarita which you can order by the glass or by the pitcher. For group or barkada gimmicks, their cocktails like the Mango Margarita, Purple Ninja and Kamikaze, which they serve in a pitcher, are perfect.

Drinks and cocktails would go well with pica pica. I would recommend their mozzarella cheese sticks served with a very delicious dip! They also have a dimsum platter which is very filling and appetizing. If you want to try something new and different, Mu Shu serves pizza with a twist! True to their Asian theme, they offer Hoisin Pork Pizza, Beef Teriyaki Pizza, Chicken Curry Pizza and more. It’s not your typical Italian Pizza but it tastes very good!

So the next time you’re in Bacolod and would like to eat Asian food or sample the Bacolod night life, go to Mu Shu for a total experience. It’s usually the first stop for a night out, with other Bacolod bars and clubs nearby. It’s located just off Lacson Street, Bacolod’s main road, where all the action is. Mu Shu is more like a lounge than a bar though. But during weekends and especially when there’s a party or a special event, it dims it lights and transforms into a club-like venue where a DJ spins the hottest dance tracks and people just dance and have fun.




Mu Shu Asian Restaurant and Lounge
20th Lacson Street, 
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Philippines 6100

Phone: +63(34)435-0972
http://www.mushubacolod.com/