I live in what is known as the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines – the province of Negros Occidental. I grew up in such a way that the sugar mill was my playground. I breathed the whiff of caramelized sugar during milling season. I was attuned to the noise the heavy types of machinery make. …
Living in the Philippine capital for 20 years, the closest thing I have come to apprising myself on the latest about home (home is Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental) that has tangible evidence of progress are the products I see at the Negros Trade Fair that is held yearly in Metro Manila. …
As progress and development continue in the Philippines, the onslaught on the natural environment has also been going on for years. The combination of climate change and man-made disasters have created a huge dent in our ecosystem. The country’s forest cover of 27 million hectares was reduced to 7.2 million hectares (2011 statistics) over the …
Read more “Tree planting at Upper Caliban-Imbang Watershed; Adopt an Animal at NFEFI-BCC”
We travel for different reasons and purposes. Traveling is an activity that encompasses a lot of things that it’s even harder now to box it in just one kind. The constant debate and comparison between a “tourist” and “traveler” had always been interesting but my personal take on this, which has been echoed by several …
With all the restaurants and food outlets sprouting all throughout Bacolod, it is no big surprise to find global brands, like the Kenny Rogers Roasters, finding its way in the City of Smiles. After all, just utter Bacolod and food instantly comes to mind. Travelers who come to Bacolod find their checklist of must-dos full …
As July ushers in, the rainy season has arrived in this part of the globe. Being in the tropics, where it’s warm and sunshiny all year round, and in an archipelago, where sea travel is a common mode of transport, the heavy rains and typhoons are not welcome visitors especially to beach lovers and travel …
Different kinds of travels demand different kinds of needs, such as your accommodation, for instance. Business trips often take a whole day of meetings and conferences and it is appropriate if your stay is in a business or luxury hotel, where these activities happen and where there are facilities that can cater to your official needs. …
Since I got home in 2014, I never had the opportunity to go out for a swim, especially on the beach. I miss my travel buddies with whom I constantly plan our yearly excursions. We make it a point to travel each year to one destination within the Philippines and one destination abroad. Alas, with …
“This is not just a fashion show. We want to showcase local products and local talent. We hope that through Nouveaulution, people will come to Bacolod City for fashion. It’s what we call fashion tourism.” These are the words of Nouveau Management owner Kez Pedroza during the press launch of Fashion Nouveaulution. It’s a new …
A traveler’s pair of feet is a necessity in one’s quest for exploration. I love to feel the coarse sand under my feet as I walk barefoot at a beach. I feel the stones and the water current massage my feet when I hiked the falls of Baler, Quezon. I stretch my foot muscles whenever I …
It was a satisfying Independence Day celebration for me this year. It seemed that it was a day that granted me freedom from hunger, to be specific. I might not be in nearby Iloilo City, a sea away from my hometown Bacolod, where the President of the Republic commemorated the event; nor was I in Kawit, …
There’s a new gourmet experience in town. Bacolod, known for its good food, has a new dining adventure to offer to both locals and visitors alike. It’s an open-air-dining-beneath-the-stars kind of night that makes eating more fun and alive. Metro Manila has many Mercato-type dining places. Even when I stayed overnight at MNL Hostel, there …
Sipping a hot soup of beef with rice noodles, cilantro and mint, I can’t help but allow a bowl of pho to transport me to the time when I was exploring the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, trying their local cuisine, and getting to familiarize the city that we have come to know as Saigon. …
We were at the terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport when a lady ran after my niece and grabbed her hand. Surprised, my niece turned, who was walking in front of me. The lady asked, “Where did you buy your J.Co Donuts?” My niece was still taken aback and didn’t respond. I quipped, …
I’ve got friends who happen to visit Bacolod City recently. Of course, the first question always is “where is a nice place to eat?” I blurt out several names of restaurants, depending on their preferred food. But I also get questions about what would be the best “pasalubong” from my city. Well, I certainly have …