Out of 7,107 islands, how could anyone resist traveling in the
magnificent landscape within one's reach. Join us as we try
to unmask the Philippines, one city at a time.
Food, people, scenes and day-to-day stories - tara na, tawid tayo!
January 09, 2009 (Friday) Sinulog 2008 Kick Off
Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
At the heart of Bacolod City lies the famous Christmas Village. We were first looking for a huge display, with flickering lights or even a swarm of people, but then a bystander pointed us towards a humble door with a simple Christmas decor and lights on top. As we knocked, the usher told us the house rules and led us to the real Christmas Village – a miniature Christmas Village display.
Thousands of authentic miniature sets all owned by Bamboo S. Tonugbanua, a Fine Arts Professor at La Consolacion College. He has been displaying these little wonders for 10 years, having Ms. Rio Diaz as one of his pioneer visitors in his village. He designs the scenes, plans what goes where and even chats with all visitors as they enter his display room.
It’s simply just one big winter wonderland. With Victorian Houses, candy cane factories, Santa’s toy factory, skiing parks and tons of snow, you’ll simply get lost in the whole yuletide feeling as each small figure radiates with a Christmas-y spark. Sir Bamboo also grouped all houses & scenarios together in villages named such as Santa’s Village, Dickens, Victorian, Swiss and New England village. Of course, viewing is free but any donations made will be given to the LCC Free Night High School, the artist’s favorite charity.
So if you happen to drop by the Christmas Village this yuletide season, try to look out for the following scenarios/figures/structures:
1. The stained glass chapel situated on top of a snowy hill – the artist’s personal fave.
2. The boat rentals by the fort - Dave’s pick.
3. The boy riding his bike with his dad catching it on video.
4. The grand ma and grand pa sitting on a bench outside their house - Gia’s choice.
5. 3 camp fire sites glowing on snow.
The display opens at 6:30 PM every night and Sir Bamboo really welcomes all viewers or guests. Picture taking is actually not allowed so we managed to ask him a few shots for the blog. The entire experience is again so surreal that you simply have to see it for yourself. Drop by the Christmas Village and revive the Christmas spirit in the child in you.
Tawidtayo now goes south to Bacolod’s neighboring city. Hailing its name from the “bago-bago” shrub, Bago City is known for its rich heritage and its natural tourist spots. For only less than P20, it only took us 20 minutes to arrive in Bago’s city proper. Then, it finally hit us. We didn’t know where to start the trip. So we head on to what is really visible in Bago City – The Coliseum.
It is named as Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum, after its longest running City Mayor ever since the birth of the city. Suddenly, we saw a set of white footsteps fronting the monument of the great Negrense leader, Juan Araneta. After five minutes of arguing of whether to follow or not, the footsteps led around the Coliseum into the City Hall. Its entrance adorned with luscious vines and a Spanish memorabilia of November 5, 1989, the day Araneta emerged victorious in his struggle for freedom from the Spaniards. Thus, the people commemorate their annual fiesta every 5th day of November.
The next set of footsteps led to the St. John the Baptist Parish Church, passing by the City Water Tower and the park. By this time we were already curious about the footsteps, both in a relieved way and in an eerie way. Soon, it led us to a house. Just a common looking house but with footsteps right at its gate. A tricycle driver told us that it was the Mayor’s house. And so we continue our journey following the footsteps.
It led us to Bantayan Park, a reclaimed piece of land with a funny signage advising as to when to evacuate. Further on, we went to Balay ni Tan Juan, the preserved house of the famous Kapitan of Bago back in its pueblo days. Finishing off the tour of the footsteps, we head to the most famous foodie spot in the city Nelwen (or Nil-win as the Manong stated) which served home-style cuisine with great refreshments and tasty pastries. As for relaxation, we headed to Humberto’s Farm Resort thru a P30 tricycle ride and saw the river dividing Bago City into two.
So whoever said that cities down south are more laid back may be correct but then Bago City certainly screams rich of its historical heritage and tightly knit dwellers. Click photo for more pictures.
After 12 months of living up to her title as MassKara Queen 2007, we tapped Rosario for an in depth look into her life as Bacolod’s Princess and even the Region’s Ms. Tourism for the same year. Join us as we take a wild turn into see Rosario from different angle after the life-changing pageant.
Life with a crown is a bit difficult. From her simple beginnings, she literally had to learn how to put on her face every time she needs to go out for gatherings. Being in the limelight was a huge contrast to her low-profile status before the title. Yes, the pageant opened many opportunities for Rosario and even more exposure as offered by local publishings and TV show appearances.
One incident we remember happened while dinning at one of the fastfood chains in SM one a Saturday afternoon with Rosario. As we finished our meal, an aged woman came to our table to confirm if she is indeed seeing the MQ. Rosario smiled and soon was posing for a picture with the lady along with her grandson and the other members of their family (who claimed to be related to the Sales clan). Of course, many people were staring at the scenario and were whispering to each other “Te, siya gid to ya eh.”
Upon asking Rosario, she cherished the small things that all add up to the whole experience of a year as the MQ. She chuckles remembering how one of her brother’s classmates wrote a composition about her in class as part of his school work. One thing though never changed: Rosan is still as humble as before. Now, she expects a quieter life as the newly crowned MQ takes the center stage but hopes to have touched the lives of Bacolodnons in her own little way.
The weekend celebration started with a bang as street dancers equipped with flashing lights and ecstatic moves. 5 groups danced along Lacson Street but then the crowd squeezed them in making it impossible to move. What was funny in our part was joining the dancers and dodging the “line people” trying to keep spectators out of the way. The street party then after was fun, mixing the upper and lower classes of the city into a huge bash of Bacolodnons simply after plain, clean fun. =) Click photo for more pictures.
The Negros Showroom has been for years a medium of exposure for both local & international markets thirsty for pure Negrense art. In lieu of the Masskara celebration, they have produced beautiful handcrafted masks of different shapes and sizes. The artworks are by Vito in collaboration with the Association of Negros Producers.
Be it in full size or only big enough to cover half of the face, the masks are frosted with vibrant 
textured paint, colorful beads and laces, sparkling glitters ang even eye-catching feathers. They have done a whole line of the enchanting masks, now up for display at the lobby of the shop. Also featured are the semi-transparent molded masks bejeweled with stones and crystals which screams of the simple elegance feel of the Showroom. All masks are for sale and ideal not only for decorations but also for pasalubongs and authentic Bacolodnon gifts.
Another thing that blew us away in their shop were the balls spread across the masks. They come in different sizes & the patterns embossed inside varied from small flower prints to intricate dried leaves array. But of course, Masskara is about the many faces of Bacolod, party on!
Getting there: Take a north-bound jeepney from the downtown area (Bata-Libertad or Mandalagan-Libertad) and head to Lacson Street. It’s just across PNB Lacson, beside Chicken Deli and the fast food belt. Click photo for more pictures.
Roaming around the malls, we visited two exhibits depicting the resourcefulness and creativity of Bacolodnons in relation with the Masskara Festival. Both were Mask Making Contests but then each with its own catchy twist and theme.
The first one was at Robinson, Abs-Cbn sponsored the 12th Masskara Village at Robinsons Place (beside Bongbongs). It opened just before we arrived so we had a chance to watch the actual taping of MagTV on their mask making episode. The masks displayed each tell a different side of Masskara and Bacolod
itself. Some show the grandeur of life here, some highlight the
pollution affecting the city’s future and others told about vibrance, transparency and div
ersity.
At the other side of the metro,the LCC Arfiens sponsored another Masskara Exhibit at SM south wing situated outside the movie theaters. The main theme of the mask making contest was to relive the history behind the festival and its real essence. Most entries used mixed media, ranging from sculpted wood to plastics and even sea shells. As we tried to take pictures of each mask, Mr.Jeffrey. Montano explained to us his intricate mask made of old wood with scenes from the sinking of Don Juan ship triggering the start of the city’s fiesta. After a great chat with him, we bumped into Mr. Nune Alvarado, one of the pioneers in Negrense art. It turns out that his children also had entries there. Of course, who could resist? Another snapshot moment must.
So head down to the malls and celebrate Masskara! In the, er, air conditioned type that is - if you are not up for the sun, sweat and spending, this is certainly perfect for you. Click photo for more pictures.
