Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Province - Compiled Threads

[kyle@1008]

«« Silay City History Page »»


Silay was founded as a town in 1760. In 1896, it became a leading sugar producing town because of the Horno Economico (sugar mill) introduced by a French who became a Silaynon, Yves Leopold Germain Gaston.

The Philippine flag was first raised in Silay in the afternoon of November 5, 1898 when the Spanish soldiers surrendered to the hacienda laborers and landowner who attacked the garrison.

Silay in the past was known as the "Paris of Negros" and the "cultural and intellectual hub of Negros" because of Silaynons love for knowledge and works of arts. It became a chartered city on June 12, 1957 by virtue of Republic Act 1621.

On June 7, 2003, Silay City became the first and only Local Government Unit in the whole Philippines to hold a referendum through the People's Initiative approving the 2003 Annual Executive Budget.



Today Silay is one of the 25 tourist destination in the Philippines. It is the seat of arts, culture and eco-tourism in Western Visayas.

[kyle@1008]

and here are the pics

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/simbahan.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay7.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay6.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay5.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay3.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay2.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay1.jpg

[kyle@1008]

silay's famous son

Leandro V. Locsin
Architecture (1990)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/locsin.jpg
Leandro V. Locsin, architect, has reshaped the urban landscape with a distinctive architecture reflective of Philippine Art and Culture. He believes that the true Philippine Architecture is "the product of two great streams of culture, the oriental and the occidental... to produce a new object of profound harmony." It is this synthesis that underlies all his works, with his achievements in concrete reflecting his mastery of space and scale. Every Locsin Building is an original, and identifiable as a Locsin with themes of floating volume, the duality of light and heavy, buoyant and massive running in his major works. From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75 residences and 88 buildings, including 11 churches and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal building.

Locsin's largest single work is the Istana Nurul Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, which has a floor area of 2.2 million square feet. The CCP Complex itself is a virtual Locsin Complex with all five buildings designed by him -- the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite and The Westin Hotel.

[Sinjin P.]

Did I see this thread @ Samahan? :?

[kyle@1008]

and here's more....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/train.jpg

note: this trains are 150 years old and they are still operational....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/battlefield_from_shrine.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/tokaido_se.jpg

[kyle@1008]

Did I see this thread @ Samahan? :?

yes, mike... sorry made a mistake... I profusely apologize :bash:

[Sinjin P.]

Yeah, when I read it at Samahan, I had in mind that it was more appropriate to have it in the main Philippine Forums page since it's not a personal thread. Anyway, just ask a mod to close the one in Samahan?!? Am I right, I'll try to PM thomasian, he's OL now.

[kyle@1008]

New women of Bacolod
By Inquirer News Service

NEGRENSE women are the quintessential southern belles of lore and vintage LVN movies. They were to the hacienda born, with a silver spoon of muscovado in their mouths. They move with the languid hauteur of the rich who, as Fitzgerald said, are different from you and me. Right? Nothing could be more wrong. Yes, they are graciosa, as only an Ilongga can be, but they are no different from their cosmopolitan sisters who are tough and driven and ambitious. The more privileged among them also feel noblesse obliged to make a difference in the lives of the people around them, while enriching their own.

Lyn Besa Gamboa is the doyenne of culture in Western Negros, and if anyone dares to contest that, or aspire for the title, he or she should be prepared for the thankless job of nurturing the arts and culture of Negros, which is not a funding priority of the local government and other philistine people calloused by difficult economic times. (Gretchen Cojuangco, although a great supporter of the arts, has been heard to dismiss the archness of it all, saying, "Ano'ng culture-culture? I'm just a jardinera.")

Lyn likewise has little patience with the elitism connected with arts and culture. "I only want to keep the arts and culture of Negros alive for generations to come," she says. "People are more cohesive and richer for their traditions and history." In everything she's done, she has always involved the people, especially children. When she transformed the Gaston ancestral house in Silay into the Balay Negrense, she got schoolchildren to cut the grass in the yard and polish the floors in the house. Balay Negrense, a re-creation of the sugar-baron lifestyle of yesteryears, is today a landmark in Negros.

More recently, Lyn, now familiar with the enthusiasm of schoolchildren, put up the Museo Pambata in Sagay, north of Bacolod. "It's a beautiful little interactive museum for youngsters," she says. Her crowning glory, however, has got to be The Negros Museum, now relocated to the Old Agricultural Building along Gatuslao Street, which sports (upon her insistence) the six Roman columns that were the distinguishing features of its former site at the nearby Capitol building, as well as a museum shop, a coffee shop and bigger function rooms.

Lyn has always counted on the help of Cristina Montelibano, a true-blue Bacoleña, who's as low-key as Lyn is eternally keyed up. These days Lyn wants to revive the delicacies of the manuglibud, the itinerant vendor who carried on a bilao balanced on her head such delicious merienda fare as piaya, lumpia, suman, ibus mais, salab, puto lanzon and others, favored by the mahjongeras and panginggeras at the turn of the century. Lyn has no intention of reviving the afternoon mahjong and card games, only the native delicacies, now a dying industry in the barrios. She believes these delicacies can improve the earnings of the locals and attract to their communities guests and visitors who crave traditional fare.

She herself will be launching her own deli food named Savor de Silay, initially offering classy bottled jaleya de tomate, marmelada de cebolla, and salsa manga (her version of the salsa monja, the comfort food of the old Spanish nuns). "My children keep scolding me for giving away all my recipes," she says. Now she's branding them and expects to launch them on November 12 at the Dasmariñas Clubhouse, with the dishes of chef Ed Quimson especially using her products.

A stalwart among women in travel, Lyn will assume the chairmanship of the International Federation of Women Travel Organizations in January 2004. Her bragging rights: She will be the first from the Asia-Pacific region to hold this post in the 34-year history of the federation, which is based in Torremolinos, Spain.

So, why is Lyn, a Tarlaqueña married to the Gamboas of Silay, doing all this for Negros? "Because, whether they like it or not, I am a Negrense. And also because it's a burning need for me to put Negros on the map, and it is now." Lyn has a sharp tongue, which rankles some people in Bacolod, but they will admit that she gets things done.

Likewise working to put Negros on the tourism map, in her own dynamic way, is Ruth Minerva Cruz, vice president of the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel, the first hotel there to address the needs of the conventions market soon after the 1989 earthquake that struck down the big hotels in Baguio. Since then, Bacolod, eventually boosted by more rooms in new hotels of all sizes, has been strengthening its position as the "alternative" conventions destination, after Manila, Angeles, Cebu.

When she was called home by her family to take up the management of the hotel, Ruth was then living and studying in Europe, mastering the German and French languages in Gottingen, Frankfurt, in Freiburg in the Black Forest and in Nantes, northwest of Paris, with the dream of becoming an interpreter, hopefully at the United Nations, or at a multinational corporation. But family duties beckoned.

The manager's post is distributed on a round-robin scheme among the investors' families. It apparently has not worked: The hotel is now floated on the market, for the right price.
Knowledgeable people are saying that if Ruth had been allowed to run the hotel by herself, it would have been going great guns, considering that it's the only hotel in Bacolod with a capacious conference hall and space for small ground-level industrial exhibitions and garden shows.

Ruth has not let up in her efforts to make Bacolod a meetings destination. Through Attain (Alliance of Travel Trade Associations in Negros), organized by the managers of the five big hotels in Bacolod, events are continually being created to draw people from the region and beyond. She's also been active, through Attain, in training and professionalizing tour operators and tour guides in Bacolod -- "Tourists, especially Germans, are very specific in their questions about Bacolod's sugar industry, which tour guides are not knowledgeable about" -- and in raising greater awareness among people in the barangays on the tourist potential of their charming, rustic communities.

Realizing that the hotel has now become too small for the meetings market, the Cruz family built the 24-room Prominence Inn, a bed-and-breakfast type that fits the Philippine setting well. More recently, Ruth opened The Quiet Place in Bago City, a 20-minute drive from downtown Bacolod, situated in a ricefield bowl cleared for cottages and gardens accommodating 30 to 40 people for small, quiet seminars, and soon a spa offering herbal massage and healing (lutay). It is a pioneering agri-tourism project, now popular with student groups and locals, and let everyone know that Ruth is running it herself this time.

Millie Kilayko has been a leading light in the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) since it was born in a time of great distress in Negros Occidental, when world sugar prices plummeted and government took control of sugar trading. That awful time saw 84 percent of Negrenses living below the poverty line and 60 percent of their children languishing in malnutrition. "Many people left the province to seek greener pastures elsewhere," recalls Millie, "and many others ran to the hills to embrace ideologies which promised a better life after violent change."

A handful of Negrenses, mostly housewives, sought better alternatives. Coming from seminars in Manila on starting a kitchen or backyard business with certain crafts and skills, the women shared their knowledge with wives of farm workers. They had to be very inventive, as western Negros did not have a tradition of crafts they could call their own, like the Ifugaos and Maranaos have with their weaving and woodcarving. This gave rise to the ANP.

Millie gave ANP a larger vision and a more professional stance. Under her presidency, the ANP implemented the projects of then President Ramos's National Economic Enterprise Development. "In partnership with DTI, among others, we helped handicraft producers in the 20 poorest provinces," she says. "Many times I could not believe what I was doing-riding public buses with chickens and pigs through the mountains, going to remote areas where government troops and rebels were clashing."

Many of the entrepreneurs coming from these poor areas have gone on to participate in big trade shows. "My greatest joy is when they come to me and boast to me about their sales figures-and I find that their figures exceed my own!"

In 2000, the 12th anniversary of ANP, Millie worked for the creation of the Negros Island Inc. (NII), with the ANP holding majority ownership and the balance of shares of stock available to individual producers and other Negrenses invited as investors. "In an era of global competitiveness, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs like us will find it increasingly difficult to compete in the international market and join expensive trade shows if we continue to do things as individuals." The 2002 European show organized by NII on a collective basis proved her point: "Buyers were standing in line for their turn at our 54-square-meter booth. They liked the idea of having to deal with only one company to commit the quality, production and delivery of the goods."

Since ANP has other priorities to serve, Millie and two friends have offered to buy majority ownership of NII and run it like a business outfit, with ANP still holding some shares of stocks. Millie also announces that ANP will be opening its showroom in Manila -- "a dream for ANP members for the past 10 years" -- this month, at 2205 Zobel Street, San Miguel Village, Makati. "The showroom offers not only Negrense products but the best of the islands," Millie says.

These days, Millie, together with a partner, is into horticulture and the production of ceramic home accessories, called Poetry in Clay, for export. Their latest venture is the Garden Center, a restaurant amidst blooms and foliage in the heart of the city. Will she ever stop coming up with new projects or new ventures? "I guess not," she says. "As long as there's an opportunity to create one more job, to bring in one more tourist, and to earn one more peso or dollar to help our economy in a little way."

Joy S.Valdez is the incumbent mayor of Bacolod City, the first elected woman mayor in the city's history. She also happens to be an outsider (tapik, in the derogatory word of the Bacolodnons), the daughter of a cardiologist from Pangasinan, who's married into a family of schoolteachers from Pontevedra. Her husband is presently the DOTC undersecretary.

"You cannot imagine the odds against me when I first joined Bacolod politics," she says. "Bacolod is a very feudal society; I simply didn't belong." But like Lyn Gamboa, Joy Valdez had her heart in the best for Bacolod, although it didn't help at first that family and friends sternly warned her that "politics is a dirty game at puro lalake ang kasama mo (you'll be in the company of men).'' From being the first woman councilor in Bacolod during the term of Mayor Alfredo Montelibano to vice mayor and then mayor, she has became the icon of a growing feminist group in that city.

Joy, before she joined politics, had worked as voluntary worker and consultant of the World Health Organization (WHO) in its program to "demystify" rehabilitation, especially in its work for children with disabilities. "WHO realized that it worked better in the Philippine situation to deal with children with disabilities at home by teaching their parents to handle them than to commit the children to an institution," she explains. Her ability to work in different communities and deal with people from all walks of life was "probably my greatest strength when I joined politics," she says.

This, together with a woman's unfailing intuition for what people need and aspire for and coupled with the compassion and will to do something about it, is what Joy as a woman is bringing to Bacolod's feudal politics. And she's doing it very well indeed. The Asian Institute of Management has named Bacolod "The Most Livable City" in the country, and the Clean and Green Program has catapulted it to the Hall of Fame for winning the environmental contest three years in a row. Her administration has also been rated excellent by a local productivity performance test in the areas of economic and social services and environmental protection.

[kyle@1008]

Yeah, when I read it at Samahan, I had in mind that it was more appropriate to have it in the main Philippine Forums page since it's not a personal thread. Anyway, just ask a mod to close the one in Samahan?!? Am I right, I'll try to PM thomasian, he's OL now.

thanks man.... :cheers:

[kyle@1008]

Silay once dubbed as "the Paris of Negros" by writer Beth Day Romulo has reiterated its commitment through the sincere dedication of the local administration to pursue cultural development especially to the less fortunate children in the community.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/kse1.jpg

In 1992, when the former Honorable City Mayor Edwin D. Velez became the local chief executive, he had a vision for the youth. He saw that young artists could serve as a perfect medium for the promotion of the City of Silay, while pursuing a thrust towards artistic excellence.



The Kabataang Silay Ensemble started as a group of 36 elementary students (Grade III - Grade VI) who had successfully hurdled auditions conducted by the cultural staff. Currently, the City of Silay holds a summer arts and sports awareness program (Dagyang Bakasyon sa Arte kag Isports ng Batang Pinoy sang Silay). Now on its 8th year, the activity offers for free subject areas in arts and sports. Art courses are on painting and handicraft, cartooning and sketching, folk dance, rondalla playing and rock band playing. Sports courses are in swimming, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, badminton and football.



After a month long training, children who display great potential for skills development are integrated in the City's year-round training programs. Thus, folk dance workshoppers undergo auditions for pre-membership status in the Kabataang Silay Ensemble (KSE). A three-month screening and accreditation process is conducted by the KSE staff. This procedure is similarly done for the rondalla program. As it is, all performances of the KSE requires the accompaniment of live rondalla music.



Now on its 10th year, since 1993, the Kabataang Silay had been active in the promotion not only of the City of Silay, but also of traditional Filipino folk dances and music.



KSE has served as an effective component for tourism promotions and youth development. Earning the title "Young Cultural Ambassadors", these children has traveled extensively within the country and abroad to exhibit and display the rich cultural heritage of Silay as the premier cultural and arts center in the province of Negros Occidental.



The group has also participated in international festivals. They represented the Philippines to the 2nd Asian Children's Folklore Festival in Guandong, China in August, 2000 (see the pics...). A year after, they took part in the 2001 Aberdeen International Youth Festival (pictures here...) held in Aberdeen, Scotland.

[kyle@1008]

SILAY: THE PARIS OF NEGROS

MANILA, By Tina H. Lapres - (9th Prize Winner, Philippine STAR Travel Now Essay Writing Contest, co-sponsored by Philippine Tourism Authority, Sun Village Boracay Resort and Smart Communications)

Barely 14 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, or a mere 15-minute drive from Bacolod, lies the city of Silay. Dubbed in the 1920s as the "Paris of Negros," Silay has always been the acknowledged cultural and intellectual seat of the province, a distinction that persists up to now and which its officials and residents help to perpetuate.

Oldtimers love to talk about the old Silay, of how performers from Europe would come to perform in the town instead of Bacolod. Of how the strong voice of the Italian tenors would seemingly break the window panes. Our late father, during the last years of his life, would recall with undisguised pleasure how he and our mother would deposit the older children with our grandmother so they could watch the opera in the evening. Even in his old age, he remembered how the visiting Europeans would pick up and smoke the cigars discarded by the landed Silaynons.

From our father’s account, as well as those of the surviving members of that past generation, almost every house had a piano or a violin or both. The electronic age was ages away and entertainment for the family came from these musical instruments. This passion for music and the arts gave Silay – and the Philippines – its first international star: Conchita Gaston, the mezzo soprano who in the post-war years performed in major operas in Europe. Ms. Gaston was reportedly the first Filipina to cut a record in America. Up until her passing, she was a revered figure in her city of birth.

In later years, Silay would produce a National Artist for Architecture: the late Lindy Locsin who designed the palace of the Prince of Brunei, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine International Convention Center, and many other impressive buildings along Ayala Avenue in Makati.

Driving to Silay from Bacolod City, one notices that the four-lane highway suddenly narrows down to form a bottleneck as he enters the city. Soon enough, one gets a glimpse of the old houses and buildings that line this portion of the highway, or Rizal Street, which traverses the center of the city. Later, one learns that the continued existence of these structures is mostly credited to a motley group of Silaynons who had the sense of history to work against their destruction in the 1970s.

Fully convinced that these houses and buildings, as well as the other ancestral houses in the city, were worth fighting for, the nucleus of what was to become the Silay Heritage Foundation went around getting signatures and effectively putting a stop to the ongoing street-widening project of the government. It is a testament to the foresight of these men and women that these landmarks were spared from destruction in the name of progress. Today, these ancestral houses and buildings form part of the charms of the city, attracting foreign and domestic visitors.

In recent years, two of these ancestral houses have been turned into lifestyle museums that give a glimpse of what life was like for the so-called sugar barons of old: the Balay Negrense on Cinco de Noviembre Street, and the Don Bernardino-Ysabel Jalandoni House Museum on the northernmost end of Rizal Street.

Balay Negrense was home to Don Victor Gaston, eldest son of Yves Germaine Leopold Gaston, the Frenchman who came and settled in a place called Buen Retiro in Silay during the latter part of the 19th century. Yves Gaston, who previously worked as a technician in a sugar farm in Batangas, was largely credited with the development of the sugar industry in Northern Negros. Perhaps it is also safe to say that it was this older Gaston and his descendants who imbued the then pueblo of Silay with the unmistakable French flavor, giving rise to the Paris of Negros tag.

In the 1980s, when Negros Occidental suffered from its worst economic crisis, the Gaston house was deserted and left to the elements. For many years it remained unoccupied and neglected, its sorry state resulting in stories about it being haunted. Now restored to its former glory with the help of the Department of Tourism, the century-old Gaston mansion, now called Balay Negrense, is being run by the Negros Cultural Foundation.

The first to be declared a National Historical Landmark in the City of Silay by the National Historical Institute on November 6, 1993, the two-storey residence of the late Don Bernardino and Ysabel Jalandoni is typical of the opulent houses of the early 20th century. Built in 1908, the well-preserved house was constructed with materials meant to last a lifetime, with the hardwood coming from faraway Mindoro.

Although one cannot see the resemblance, the design of the house is said to have been influenced by the native nipa hut. Its steel-trayed ceiling, on the other hand, was molded in Hamburg, Germany. Run by the Silay Heritage Foundation, a non-government organization, the Pink Museum, as the Jalandoni House is sometimes referred to by locals, occasionally serves as the venue for cultural, educational and artistic activities for Silaynons.

Just a short walking distance from Balay Negrense is another ancestral house that is similarly identified with the NHI marker. Owned by the late Manuel and Hilda Hofileña, this family abode was opened much earlier to the public, its main attraction being the private art and antique collection of son Ramon. Probably the biggest and most interesting in the province, Ramon’s collection includes works of contemporary artists as well as masters, among them Luna, Rizal, Amorsolo, Manansala, and Abueva.

An avid art connoisseur, Ramon Hofileña used to bring art exhibits to this city, perpetuating in the process the image of Silay as the center of the arts. He also conducted printmaking workshops for the young in the family house, with the hope of discovering yet another artist. A visit to Ramon’s collection, and with him providing the annotation, can be very educational, and never fails to impress visitors.

These three notable houses – Balay Negrense, the Bernardino Jalandoni house-museum, and the Hofilena ancestral house cum art gallery – have been featured in glossy magazines and lifestyle sections of major papers. Along with the 30 or so ancestral houses of varying designs and architecture, they have earned for Silay the unofficial tag as Museum City.

Some sectors may lament what they consider as obstruction to progress, but these vintage structures are attracting visitors to the city. They have also, in the words of a National Historical Institute official, given Silay the "soul" that is sadly lacking in many modern cities.

In contrast to, or perhaps complementing the ancestral houses, the San Diego Pro-Cathedral must be one of the most beautiful modern churches in the province. Built in 1925 and designed by an Italian, its domed architecture resembles that of the basilicas of Rome. Like the old award-winning plaza that in the 1970s was sacrificed in the name of beautification, the Pro-Cathedral evokes images of Europe and its old-world charm.

Another tourist come-on of Silay, though of a different kind, are the "dragons" of the Hawaiian-Philippine Company, one of the 15 sugar mills that can be found in the province. Used to transport sugarcanes as well as bags of sugar, these vintage steam locomotives are among the oldest remaining steam locomotives in the world. Railway enthusiasts from Australia, Japan, and Europe, have visited this sugar company in their desire to see the Baldwins and Alcos, to photograph them as they perform their task during the milling season, and most importantly, to experience a ride on one of them.

Other sugar mills are also hosts to these huge machines, although they have mostly been replaced in sugar operations by diesel-fueled locomotives for economic reasons.

Remarkable as they are, the ancestral houses, art collection and museum pieces are not Silay’s only tourist attractions. Thirty-two kilometers east of the city is Patag Valley, which in the last remaining months of World War 11, was the last stronghold of the Japanese Imperial Forces. For this reason, Japanese – as well as American – war veterans make sentimental journeys to this historic place. These memorial tours peaked in the late ’70s and early ’80s when then Tourism Secretary Jose Aspiras institutionalized the Reunion for Peace. The project encouraged former enemies to come together and to visit scenes of battle where comrades lost their lives.

Today, Patag is more than just a historical site. Surrounded by mountains and blessed with a year-round cool climate, the valley with its hidden waterfalls and scenic beauty has been declared an ecotourism zone. Some local entrepreneurs have started building resorts in the area and it continues to be a favorite campsite for young scouts and plain nature lovers.

Known for its excellent food and pastries, Silay is a veritable gourmet paradise, a place where cooking and eating is an art to be savored and enjoyed. Here, family recipes are treasured and guarded like some valuable heirloom, to be brought out and served on special occasions.

It is said that piaya, probably the most in-demand take-home item or pasalubong, originated from Silay. So with the fresh lumpia ubod the city is also known for. The fame has so spread that sellers elsewhere, to convince an undecided customer, would claim that their goods came from Silay.

A visit to Silay will not be complete without a stop at El Ideal Bakery & Refreshment. Located just a few meters from the public plaza, El Ideal has built a reputation for producing excellent pastries, pies and breads. It seems this bakery had always been there, and it does not only count on visitors or tourists for business. Silaynons, as well as other Negrenses driving to the northern towns of Negros Occidental, invariably stop there for their favorites. Depending on the time of day, and the number of buyers who have come before, one will find freshly-baked pies, chocolate and cassava cakes, puddings, panara, empanada, piaya, an asssortment of cookies and the chewy meringue.

For the really famished, there is the nourishing batchoy and arroz caldo, or the halo-halo to beat the summer heat. Standouts among the bakery products, as far as visitors are concerned, are El Ideal’s buko and guapple pies, the last an original recipe of the bakery.

Established by the late Alice Villanueva family in 1920, the fame of El Ideal has reached other shores. Sometime in the 1980s, the British Broadcasting Corporation did a documentary film on Food and Eating Habits Around the World. Somehow the crew found its way to Silay and El Ideal was fortunate to have been included in that documentary, with the BBC crew filming the making of guapple tarts. The docu was later shown in the United Kingdom and in other Asian countries.

Another proof that Silay is indeed the place to be for food-lovers is the proliferation of the so-called manuglibod or sweet-sellers. These women – and a few men – go around carrying flat native baskets on their heads filled with all sorts of pastries and goodies. In the old days when there were just a few of them, the manuglibud would go around the town, calling out to the housewives and mothers who were mostly home in those days. Untying the katsa or white cloth that they knot around the basket, children would then be made to choose from the variety of offerings from the well-stocked kalalaw or bilao.

Today, the Silay sellers do not confine their selling to their hometown. In the morning one sees them gathered in a place near the public market, waiting for their suppliers to deliver their orders. From there they take the jeepneys to Bacolod and proceed to their respective "territories": a subdivision, a commercial bank, a school, or the Capitol, where they have become a familiar sight.

Like the El Ideal, the sweet sellers of Silay were also immortalized in that BBC documentary. So with the Hofileña ancestral house. They have also been featured in glossy magazines and travel articles. To be sure, more TV producers and filmmakers came after BBC to capture this aspect of Silay lifestyle. Cultural and historical landmarks, lifestyle museums, ecotourism sites, good food. These things, plus its proximity to the capital city, have drawn Filipino and foreign travelers to Silay. Convention time in Bacolod would invariably find Balay Negrense, Jalandoni House-Museum and the Hofilena ancestral house, swarming with the participants on a pre- or post-convention tours. El Ideal’s products are also gobbled up in minutes.

Fortunately for Silay and its people, the local government sees what tourism can contribute to the economy, and have responded positively to the call of the times. A tourism and a cultural office are now in place to take care of tourism-related activities. There is the Kabataang Silay Ensemble and Rondalla, a school-based group of dancers and musicians who have earned honors here and abroad. Dubbed the Young Ambassadors of Silay, they contribute to the image of Silay as seat of culture with the excellence of their performance. To ensure its continuity, the city government conducts a one-month workshop every summer to prepare replacements for the graduating members.

Like the rest of the province, the city has developed its own festival called Kansilay which spices up the annual fiesta in November.

Local entrepreneurs, like Aquilles Baldevia, have ventured into the hotel and restaurant business, providing much-needed facilities for those who want to imbibe the special ambience of the city by actually living in it, if only for a few days. Last summer Baldevia opened his latest project – a resort near the sea complete with a regular-sized swimming pool, picnic sheds, and cottages for overnight visitors.

In a few more years, an airport of international standard is expected to rise in Silay. This will – hopefully – enable the city to live up to its new title. Not anymore as the Paris of Negros or the Museum City, but to its 21st century distinction bestowed by the Department of Tourism: One of The 25 Top Tourist Destinations in the Philippines.

[kyle@1008]

The artist who soared

First posted 02:03am (Mla time) Jan 03, 2005
By Yasmin Doctor
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page C1 of the January 3, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/lif_2-artist.jpg
AFTER many years of enchanting us with his old Hispanic houses, the artist bids us farewell.

Lino Severino Jr. passed away on Dec. 7 after a battle with brain cancer. The 72-year-old artist, who became known for his depiction of ancestral homes, seemed to have had a premonition of his departure: just a week earlier, he had a reunion with two of his close friends, artists Romulo Olazo and Edgar Doctor.

Severino, who used to be a pilot before he pursued a career in the arts, has flown to heaven.

His dreams of flying planes and handling a paintbrush started in his childhood during the '40s. As a child growing up in Silay, he became fascinated with flying and devoted much of his time painting accurate copies of flying machines.

After graduating from high school, the young Severino entered the Philippine Air Force. Soon, he was flying his very own fighter jet.

Years later, the ex-Air Force pilot would fly domestic and international flights for Philippine Airlines

(PAL). He even became a private pilot for the Philippine National Bank afterwards.

But he joined his love of flying with art. While still in PAL, he took classes in painting.

In 1975, Severino joined the annual art competition of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP). He became a finalist.

During the mid '70s, Severino, together with Olazo and Doctor, would go to Binangonan every Thursday and spend the rest of the day there painting on the spot with National Artist Vicente Manansala.

In 1986, Severino joined the AAP competition again and was honorable mention. He was a member of the AAP, Saturday Group and other artist groups.

His artworks were exhibited abroad in Chile, People's Republic of China, the United States and France.

Severino's passion was to let people feel the stories of the past through his canvass. His artworks speak of a language no longer understood in this fast-paced world. Yet, he was able to capture a moment from another time like a photographer.

Adding poetry to his pictures, Severino was able to make his art bleed with longing and solitude, but keeping restraint. His neatly-lined planks of wood and intricate grillwork next to broken capiz windows complemented his sullen colors.

His art was filled with nostalgia. And just like any pilot, Severino was able to transport this bygone-era to our time and succeeded.

He was not only a painter and a pilot, but a historian.

And even if he is gone, Severino will always be remembered as the man who brought life to the past. His art will touch the hearts of younger generations and his memory will never fade.

[kyle@1008]

Restoring old homes

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay.jpg
In Negros Occidental, a few minutes away by from bacolod, heirs of wealthy landowners have banded together to preserve their old mansions and to make these ancestral houses available for public viewing at a minimal cost of 30 pesos.

This joint effort is best demonstrated in Silay City, about 14 kilometers from Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental. The Silay Heritage Foundation is in charge of restoring and preserving ancestral houses, and promoting significant insights into the history and legacy of the lifestyle of the Silaynons. It has up to 31 ancestral houses now all considered national landmarks.

I recently visited two museums, the Bernardino Ysabel Jalandoni House and the Balay Negrense (Victor Gaston House), where curator-guides explain the intricacies of these opulent hundred-year-old residences. In structure, the two-story Jalandoni House is similar to old houses in Manila’s Spanish-era "walled city" of Intramuros, in the northern town of Vigan, and in Laguna province. The ground floor, for example, serves as the "parking space" for carriages and storage room for crops.

What makes Silay’s old mansions different was the lifestyle of its residents. In its heyday, Silay was known as the "Paris of Negros." The señoritas and señoritos would regularly visit Europe for vacation and shopping, and brought home various ornaments and furniture for the house. No wonder one can find things such as a 19th century wash stand, ceramic pitcher, and basin from Europe, Luis Quince Style table lamp of baccarat crystal, and embossed steel trayed ceilings molded in Germany.

Also displayed are the gowns and jewelry that came all the way from Paris, where the favorite couturiers of the moneyed hacenderas were. Apparently, for entertainment of the hacenderos, performing artists from Europe would arrive in ships that docked at the 1.7-kilometer Silay Pier, then the longest in Asia. (Silay was the capital of Negros Occidental before the pier was transferred to Bacolod City).

What would strike some people today as amusing was how old-style and aloof the parents were from their children and how the males were separated from the females. At the Balay Negrense, for instance, the boys’ rooms are located on the first floor and the girls’ rooms on the second floor. Segregation is also evident in the main stairway that leads into the dining room. Midway, it forks into two -- the left side for the males, the right side for the females.

At the dining table, the kids stayed at the separate round tables so that they didn’t disturb their parents while eating. When there were guests, the children were not to be seen in the "sala" [living room]. That’s why the children’s rooms have connecting doors so they can move from one room to the next and chat among themselves, in hush-hush voices

[kyle@1008]

and a few more pics of silay

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay19.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay13.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay05.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay03.jpg

[kyle@1008]

driving through the plantations....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/jan2004-photo7.jpg

[manileño]

and a few more pics of silay

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay03.jpg



I like this pic a lot. Very "New Orleans"..
this is both Spanish and French (creole) architecture, no? Really nice.

[kyle@1008]

«« Patag Page »»


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/patag20view.jpg


The maiden mountains of Patag in Silay City are among the world’s age-old treasures. Naturally decorated with diverse forms of life, like the indigenous tree species, giant ferns, wild flowers in bloom, plus hundreds of gushing rivers. Patag is considered as one of the few remaining forest stands in the Island of Negros. Encompassing 1,330 hectares of forest lands, rolling hills and lush vegetation in the terrain, the entire area comprises the North Negros Forest Reserve, which is among the province’s 4.77 percent remaining cover.



Patag is world-famous for its historical significance. During the World War II, its virgin forests served as the last stronghold of the Japanese Imperial Army in Negros Island. More than a hundred families of Japanese soldiers and civilians walked long hours, all the way from Guimbalaon to Patag, braving rains from above and rains from high-caliber artilleries of the allied forces, to take refuge in the forest. Thousands of Japanese were killed in the battle, others died of epidemic disease especially the wives and children.



When the war was drawing towards its end and after months of hiding and resistance, Japanese survivors of the World War and their Filipino families surrendered in May 1945.



Residents claim to have found remains of the Japanese soldiers in shallow graves. War equipment and artifacts are scattered all over the area. A remarkable reminder of the ferocity of war. . . a manifestation of the patriotism of unsung Japanese heroes who shed blood for the Land of the Rising Sun.



Countless man-made caves and foxholes used as hide-out during air raids have also been found everywhere in the forests. Even until now.



In 1959, a decade and a half after the war, a Rest Settlement for tuberculosis patients was constructed through the efforts of Senator Jose Locsin, a native of Silay City. Situated near the site of the Japanese Cemetery, the hospital was operated in 1961 as rehabilitation center for some TB patients until 1970. Immediately after the patients were returned to their homes, the center accommodated some 25 mentally-ill patients from Manila who were under rehabilitation.



A year after, the operation stopped due to lack of financial support from the government. The Rest Settlement in Patag was the first provincial rehabilitation center of the national government. It housed patients from Negros and neighboring islands.



Presently, the dilapidated hospital building serves as accommodation center for visitors who come to take a glimpse of Patag’s historical contribution through well-preserved caves and dug-outs, and war artifacts kept therein. . . or mountain lovers who take time out to trek the last frontiers.



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/hospital.jpg

The old Hospital in Patag



Unknown to many, Patag is not only rich in historical value and famous for its mountain peaks. It features several natural scenic spots distinct from the rest, only found in the midst of Patag’s wilderness.



A few kilometers away from the hospital is the giant Pulang Tubig Waterfall that drops 80 meters from atop, a powerful shower of cold water affluently distributed to rivers and creeks. Old folks believe that blood of Japanese soldiers killed during the war oozed from the peak of Pulang Tubig that descended along the waterflow. Another version tells that slightly red colors in the river stones are caused by the sulfuric reaction. The legendary Pulang Tubig, however, is all-white and crystal-clear. There is one living fact about the waterfall; the glorious sight of stout, bubbling overflow of water oozing from the highest elicits a truly surprising reaction from the visitors – of a profound feeling.



In the mountains of Patag lie hundreds of waterfalls some are naturally hidden in unexplored rainforest. Frequently visited are the waterfalls of Malisbog and Dumalabdab, an hour-less walk from the old hospital.



Gifted with countless springs, cold, hot and miraculous, these water sources have multiple uses for the residents as well as transients. Of the sixteen discovered springs, two are thermal, three are acidic or vinegar-tasting and three more springs are believed to have cured minor illness and skin disorders.



An aerial view from the Sirab peak, where an intense heat and drought in the lowlands burned of old growth trees in 1987, is the Sulfatara, with steam of hot water, an eight hour walk from the barangay proper. The crater spews fire on occasion. Another sulphur deposit nearer to the poblacion is the Sulfatara Gamay, only a five-hour hike.



Few meters away from the site of Sulfatara main are natural rock formations the local folks call, Pandong Bato. These gigantic boulders are well-arranged sheds made of rocks that can shelter 20 people. It is said that pre-historic upheaval caused these boulders to roll and fall into their present positions.



Certainly among the finest sceneries in the tranquil jungle of Patag is the overwhelming Tinagong Dagat. It is embraced by the luscious, flourishing trees and shrubs, fully-carpeted with mosses comparable to the soft, comforting cushions. This famous attraction, according to scientists, was once a volcano which erupted in the 18th century. It sometimes raises to as high as three feet but there are instances when water ebbs and becomes dry for a season. This hidden natural pool is enveloped with mysteries awaiting to be unfold. In this truly charming paradise, one can only fill his eyes and heart up to the limit.



The enigmatic tale of Patag is further manifested by the enchanting natural basin called Kawa-Kawa where waters stays during summer and dries up in the rainy season. Encircled by tall pines and native trees, the natural basin is half a hectare wide and measures even up to eight meters deep.



Like the sky cables in other countries, Patag is so far the only upland area with a modest skyline to boast which helps transport local folks and visitors from one mountain to the other in a matter of seconds. There are two manually operated skylines, once used to transport logs in the ‘70s. The breathtaking skyline ride, for mountain trekkers, is a 25-second experience of thrill and excitement. . . a lifetime chance to soar height.



Another distinction exclusively found in Patag is the endangered wildlife almost nearing extinction. Among the diminishing species housed in the forest are the Philippine Spotted Deer, endemic only in Negros and Panay, the Bleeding Heart Pigeon, the Visayan Warty Pig, indigenous and dipterocarp trees plus a long list of native birds.



The existence of these endangered species could have become a lifeless picture landed in the pages of history with the massive devastation of Negros forest in the recent years.



The alarming scenario of forest denudation in the whole world, however, did not totally transform Patag into oblivion. It was not exempted though, from the hands of treacherous elements in the society. Logging concession in Patag began in the later part of 1950s and took a halt in the’90s. Patag has nevertheless maintained a large portion of its primary growth trees and virgin forests. With nature’s natural process of regeneration, it is still a beautiful sight to behold.



Without the local folks’ deeper realization of the situation and the sense of responsibility to safeguard the natural habitat, Patag could have been just a view of deserted, brown valleys in the far east of Silay.



These barefoot vanguards of Patag forests are indeed instrumental in promotion and advocating for environmental protection in the area and nearby localities.



Even residents themselves are living testimonies of their dreadful contribution to kill the environment – logging, wild hunting, kaingin system and charcoal-making. The massive campaign to end the global disaster and the after-effects of the act have awakened their consciousness and made them active frontliners for environmental protection.



Nestled in the lap of mountain ranges, the community of Patag maintains a conventional, non-artificial lifestyle. Rustic Barangay Patag is Silay City’s farthest and newest barangay yet closest to the hearts of nature-loving Silaynons in the urban. Its all-year round cool temperature and the warmth of about 2,870 people make up the ambience of an ideal community in a native yet carefree living society.



Patag is a home away from home. But the local folks, hard-working as they are, have only their genuine hospitality and heart-warming smiles to give. Nonetheless, they offer a legacy – a Filipino tradition.



Residents largely depend on farming as their major source of livelihood. Through the Stewardship Contract of the government, farmers till their own lands in a sustainable environment-friendly way. These cooperative members practice the methods of Sustainable Agriculture – the Sloping Land Agriculture Technique, production of organic fertilizers and integrated farming. One of the waterfalls was converted into a dam by the government to irrigate the farmlands of some 200 farmers. They also engage in other forms of livelihood to augment the family income.



In fact, Barangay Patag is enlisted in the priorities of the local government. Construction and improvement of the irrigation system and potable water are among the recent programs provided to residents. Community health coordinators are frequently visiting the areas for a regular health monitoring.



Aside from the natural attraction Patag, the City of Silay also takes pride of the well-preserved ancestral houses, architectural structures, cultural presentations and world-class delicacies. Above all – the generosity and hospitality of Silaynons.



Silay City and Patag epitomize a truly remarkable destination. A journey to the past, a journey to the origin of creation.



Patag today will still be the same tomorrow. San alteration, for it has the sympathy and love of its people – the guardians of the earth.



A reason the present generation should be proud of. For they bequeath to their children the greatest wealth in the world.

[kyle@1008]

I like this pic a lot. Very "New Orleans"..
this is both Spanish and French (creole) architecture, no? Really nice.

silay has a lot of french and spanish immigrants,...I guess this influenced the people's taste in it...what is so nice is the fact that most of the ancestral homes are still homes, with people living in them ,... so it's like breathing in history

[kyle@1008]

as a reminder lang: I thought it would be wise to place silay on a different thread away from the bacolod and negros one, because of its importance and distinction..
its position for being one of two museum cities in the country,.. for being one of the top 25 destinations, as well as being negros' second city...

technically silay is part of the greater bacolod area..... but it does deserve to stand on it's own thank you...

[tigidig14]

silay's famous son

Leandro V. Locsin
Architecture (1990)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/locsin.jpg
Leandro V. Locsin, architect, has reshaped the urban landscape with a distinctive architecture reflective of Philippine Art and Culture. He believes that the true Philippine Architecture is "the product of two great streams of culture, the oriental and the occidental... to produce a new object of profound harmony." It is this synthesis that underlies all his works, with his achievements in concrete reflecting his mastery of space and scale. Every Locsin Building is an original, and identifiable as a Locsin with themes of floating volume, the duality of light and heavy, buoyant and massive running in his major works. From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75 residences and 88 buildings, including 11 churches and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal building.

Locsin's largest single work is the Istana Nurul Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, which has a floor area of 2.2 million square feet. The CCP Complex itself is a virtual Locsin Complex with all five buildings designed by him -- the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite and The Westin Hotel.

nice to know :)

[tigidig14]

ala-vigan pala yung silay, mabisita nga pag-uwi. sandali, magkalapit ba sila ng bacolod, just wondering :D

[kyle@1008]

its north of bacolod , 30 mins or more

[kyle@1008]

here's additional pics...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay14.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay08.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay04.jpg

[drfeelgood17]

here's additional pics...



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay04.jpg

I like this house - very grand and elegant! Looks like one of the houses of pre-Katrina New Orleans! :)

[kyle@1008]

additional pics pa.....

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay10.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay11.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay12.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay15.jpg

[kyle@1008]

I like this house - very grand and elegant! Looks like one of the houses of pre-Katrina New Orleans! :)

maybe silay could be the vieux carre of the phils? :)

[Lili]

All I can say is --- beautiful! (sigh)

[kyle@1008]

bump... Im gonna keep this thread alive...

[kyle@1008]

and here are the pics...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay20kathedrale.jpg
this one is interesting, it's a photo of a dunkin donuts...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/ances3.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/casa20hofilena2C20silay2C20negros.jpg

[kyle@1008]

IN SILAY CITY
Youth center, classroom
building turned over
The Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries Incorporated and the Southern Negros Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries turned over a Youth Center building, and a P1.1-million two-classroom building to the Silay City government, recently.

Silay Mayor Carlo Gamban and the officers and members of the federations led the ribbon-cutting and turnover ceremonies where Gamban thanked Mr. and Mrs. Brigido Onglingkuan, and Robert and Charlie Yu for the donations, a press release from the Silay government said.

The structures will be called the Youth Development Center located at Hofileña Subdivision, Barangay Mambulac, in Silay, Negros Occidental.

Enrique Chua, chairman of the Welfare Committee of the FFCCCII, said the school building is part of their "Operation Barrio Schools" nationwide project.

Onglingkuan donated an additional P50,000 in cash to the youth while Lucy Ponce, a director of the Southern Negros Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, pledged to donate chairs to the center.

Meanwhile, the Silay Sanggunian passed a resolution adopting Brigido Onglingkuan as an "adopted son of the city" and thanked the FFCCCIII and the Southern Negros Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, for their donations, the press release said.

Present at the ceremony officiated by Fr. Eusebio Manaay were Carlos Javellana, board member and president emeritus of the Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; all officers of both federations; Maridel Gamban; Vice Mayor Jay Jalandoni; Councilors Mario Torres, Warlito Go, Mario Gamboa, and Marie June Pavillar; and city tourism officer Ver Pacete, the press release added.*

[Askal82]

I like this pic a lot. Very "New Orleans"..
this is both Spanish and French (creole) architecture, no? Really nice.

I have to agree, it does look like youre in New Orleans. Sana hindi rin below sea level ang Silay city. :eek2:

[sugarboy]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/casa20hofilena2C20silay2C20negros.jpg


@kyle, may you do the honors of telling our friends what lies within the walls of the Hofilena house....

[kyle@1008]

oh yes .... the hofilena house owned by the late manuel and hilda hofilena the the place houses the province's most prominent art collection by the couple's son Ramon,.. among his collection are the works of such artists as Luna, Rizal, Amorsolo, Manansala, and Abueva

[kyle@1008]

Silay City gears for economic zone
By Roberto L. Bacasong

* Mayor Gamban says Silay has so many investment opportunities that need to be developed and given priority

SILAY CITY -- To attract more investors and to improve the economic development plan of the Silaynons, Silay City Mayor Carlo V. Gamban is pushing for the establishment of an economic zone here.

In a dialogue held Friday, attended by the landowners, city officials, among others, Gamban believes that the economic zone will improve and bring progress to the city.

"I believe the proposed project will attract local and foreign investors to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs), giving livelihood assistance, among others," Gamban said.

The mayor said Silay has so many investment opportunities that need to be developed and given priority.

In a presentation made by Nathaniel von Einsiedel of Concep, it indicated that Silay was declared by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the 20 tourist destinations in country. This is because of its 31 ancestral houses, two of which were converted into museums.

Meanwhile, Willy Ortaliz, deputy director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), said the economic zone in Silay will help the city in terms of the investment opportunity. In his presentation, Ortaliz cited that based on the Philippine Labor Statistics, about 3.423 million or 10 percent of the country's population are unemployed, 4.628 million or 76 percent of the country's population are employed, and 33.675 million Filipino workers as of October 2002.

"Peza's mission is to contribute to the accelerated creation of employment and other economic opportunity, particularly in the countryside, and growth and diversification of exports, by encouraging and supporting investments in the development and operation of viable, world class and environmental friendly economic zones," noted Ortaliz.

The proposed economic zone said Gamban will be at the vicinity of the new Airport with international standards in Barangay Bagtic here.

To date, there are 73 accredited economic zones in the country. In Negros Occidental, the economic zones are situated in Palampas and Punao in San Carlos City (25-hectare), and in Barangay Patic, Pulupandan with 57-hectare.

In Negros Oriental, namely, the Bais City Economic Zone (104 hectares.), Polo City Special Economic Zone (280 hectares), and Federal IT Park (1.06 hectares) in Sacsac, Bacong town.

"The people who owns the land will be ones who will benefit most once their area will be converted to an economic zone. The local government unit here should cooperate in order to come up a unified stand on the kind economic zone to be established," said Ortaliz.

He said economic zones are selected areas which are highly developed or which have the potential to be developed into agro-industrial, industrial, tourist and recreational, and or commercial, banking, investment and financial centers.

"A very important feature of economic zones is that portions of their areas may be designated as export processing zones, or areas outside the customs territory to enable export-producer operations inside them to import machinery and equipment, and raw materials.

Moreover, Ortaliz noted that the local government unit plays a very critical role in attracting local and foreign investors.

He encouraged the Silay city officials, especially its local chief executive to have a group effort by putting up a corporation before the economic zone will be put up.

Silay is 14.30 kilometers away from Bacolod, this city is famous for its artists and cultural shows. It is considered as the Paris of Negros. This city is the second town in Negros to become a city on June 12, 1957, through the efforts of late senator Jose C. Locsin, late representative Jose Puey and Representative Carlos Hilado, as well as Mayor Romulo Golez.

[sugarboy]

oh yes .... the hofilena house owned by the late manuel and hilda hofilena the the place houses the province's most prominent art collection by the couple's son Ramon,.. among his collection are the works of such artists as Luna, Rizal, Amorsolo, Manansala, and Abueva

the Rizal in the Hofilena collection are drawings when he was still a student in Ateneo.

the Hofilena house is also a Historic Site with its own official marker issued by the Republic.

[c0kelitr0]

@kyle, may you do the honors of telling our friends what lies within the walls of the Hofilena house....

i wonder if my aunt's husband who lives in jaro is related to the hofileñas of silay...

[sugarboy]

^ they're surely related coke. remember, most of the well known families in negros were really offspring of the ilonggos from iloilo who migrated to negros at the turn of the century.

[c0kelitr0]

^^ well, maybe hehe, if they have something in common, that's lots of dough :D

[kyle@1008]

the iron dinosaurs of hawaiian phil sugarmill of silay city...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/4Pa312503.jpg
During the milling season from October to April, visits can be arranged to view old steam engines still chugging to and from the mills. The most interesting locomotives or iron dinosaurs as railway enthusiasts would call them, are operated by Hawaiian Philippines Company in Silay City. Central Azucarera de la Carlota in La Carlota City, Victorias Milling Company or VICMICO in Victorias City. Contact sugar mill company through your hotel.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/4Pa312478.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/4Pa312469.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/4Pa312432.jpg

[kyle@1008]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/1945432-Travel_Picture-Silay_City.jpg

a street in silay...

[Selene_21]

:D that is so beautiful!! I've heard about Silay, but I didn't expect that,mukhang New Orleans talaga, new place too add to my visit list.

[kyle@1008]

more pics...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/2.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/3.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/4.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/5.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

^^Wonderful pics! :okay: Good that the city government was able to preserve the ancestral homes. BTW, is Silay a UNESCO Heritage site?

[drfeelgood17]

^^ I don't think it is, Sinjin, but it judging from the pics, it definitely deserves UNESCO status!

[Animo]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay04.jpg

I like this one too and also they need to fix the city hall abit. :)

[rustyboi]

wow!! Beautiful!! never seen such beautiful ancestral homes in my life! at least in photos! hehe

cant believe they're well preserved :okay:

[drfeelgood17]

^^Just as grand as Vigan, and less "ruined" if I may say so....

[El Bajopontino]

This city doesn´t have hispanic arquitecture, I think.

[sugbuanon]

wow cool architecture.. the pics remind me of carcar here in cebu..

[Askal82]

^^ It's a blend of Hispanic and French architechture. I agree that the houses look a little New Orleans.

[Hawayano]

kyle@1008:

thanks for the pics of the Silay houses! They really look so unspoiled and as close to historic authenticity as possible; let's just hope that their owners keep up the maintenance and care of these rare Visayan beauties! Does Silay have a historic preservation ordnance or tax break for those owners who do keep the old city architecture alive?

[kyle@1008]

^^ let me put a little history here Silay used to be the cultural and economic center of negros occidental before Bacolod... it was largely built by the sugar barons , and their descendants still live there... way back during the 1970's there was a move to buid a highway thru the main downtown of silay,... but the homeowners went up in arms and protested the destruction of most of the ancestral houses, is this foresight that allowed them to preserve this structures....the houses are maintained mostly by their owners who chose to live there and some donated their homes as museums.... they are watche by the Crossing Negros Cultural Foundation.... Silay is also considered to be one of two museum cities in the phils... the other one being Vigan,,... as of writing Silay's bid for Unesco is still pending...

[kyle@1008]

Silay joins Rizal Day
celebration tomorrow
The Silay City government in Negros Occidental is joining in the celebration of the 109th death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal on the theme "Si Rizal: Noon, Ngayon at Bukas," tomorrow, a press release from the city government said yesterday.

A wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Rizal monument at the public plaza will be held tomorrow after the 6 a.m. Mass to be participated in by non-government organizations and various national offices.

Guest speakers will be Mayor Carlo Gamban and Councilors Mario Torres and Marie June Castro. Gerle Sulmaca will give a narration of the martyrdom of Rizal, the hero's poem will be recited by Charles Justin Hilado, and cultural numbers will be presented by the Kabataang Silay Ensemble. Master of ceremonies will be Silay Tourism officer Ver Pacete.

Certificates of recognition will be given to the 13 top Silaynons and organizations in 2005. They are FIDE Master Sander Severino who won five gold medals in chess during the recent 3rd ASEAN Para Games; senior girl scout Jemalyn Pastoral - Chief Girl Scout Medal national awardee; Doña Monserrat Lopez Memorial High School for its Brigada Eskwela 2005; Sonny Boy Jaro - Philippine lightweight champion; Kabataang Silay Ensemble - National Music Contest for Young Artists Rondalla regional champion and third place winner in the national competition; Maureen Penetrante - 23rd Southeast Asian Games RP volleyball team member that won a bronze medal; Ramon Hofileña - for running the Negros cultural tour for 33 consecutive years; Kabuhi Group founder Monserrat Gamboa Araneta - posthumous award; Silay Public Market - regional winner, Cleanest Public Market Comfort Room contest; Silay City Health Office - Sentrong Sigla II regional awardee and second place winner, REDCOP regional level; Rachel Pabalate - second place, REDCOP regional level; Councilor Mario Torres - Provincial Councilors' League awardee; and SPO1 Dante Victor Escorpion - one of the three outstanding policemen of Negros Occidental. Awards will also be given by the Viva Parol Festival 2005 committee to the barangay and school winners in the Most Artistic, Most Creative, Best Lighted Lantern contest, judged by Segundo Jesus Cabulcar Jr., Dr. Ronald Baldonado, and Fr. Jude Serfino, the press release added.*

[kyle@1008]

This city doesn´t have hispanic arquitecture, I think.

not purely,... it tends to be more on the creole side... thanks to french influences...

[Sinjin P.]

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8a.jpghttp://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8b.jpghttp://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8c.jpg
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8d.jpghttp://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8e.jpghttp://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index8f.jpg

Welcome to the 3rd Thread of the Bacolod City and Negros Island Thread Series!


Welcome to Bacolod City - the Cleanest and Greenest and the Most Livable City in the Philippines. The capital of the Province of Negros Occidental which is the Sugarbowl of the Philippines. Bacolod City serves as the entrance of the sugar-rich cities and towns of the Province. Visitor's facilities abound, modern means of in-land transport can take guests for business or leisure to any point in the island of Negros.

Bacolod will charm you with the genuine warmth and hospitality of her people in harmony with their lilting melodious accent. The Bacoleños will delight you with food and cuisine that is as vigorous yet as subtle as the legendary Ilonggo gentility and taste for the good life.

Kari Kamo sa Bacolod!

Why Bacolod is your destination


A Stable peace and order condition where incidence of crime is low, there is high police visibility and a crime solution of 97%.


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.


Low percentage of illegal settlers.


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;


Intensified initiatives towards agri-based diversification like the production of food items, muscovado sugar, organic fertilizers, light farm equipment and home decor;


Inexpensive cost of doing business with numerous amenities, facilities and available opportunities;


A systematic traffic planning that offers the luxury of driving through wide roads in a highly urbanized center;


Greatly improved accessibility through an airport that connects the city to Manila 6 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.


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 and much more to live in this lifetime.

[Sinjin P.]

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index1k.jpg
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/index1p.jpg
CLEANEST AND GREENEST HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY,
MOST COMPETITIVE & LIVABLE MID-SIZED CITY AND
HOME OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS MASSKARA FESTIVAL.



http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon26.jpgLOCATION. BACOLOD CITY is in the north-western coast of the Province of Negros Occidental which is in the Visayan Islands, Philippines. It is bounded in the north west by the cities of Talisay; in the north east by Silay and Victorias; in the east and south west by the town of Murcia; in the south west by the City of Bago; and in the west by Guimaras Strait.
It has the total land area of 16,171,007 hectares or 161.45 sq. km excluding straits and bodies of water. It is accessible by sea through the ports of Banago, the Reclamation area and the port of Pulupandan.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon19.jpg GETTING THERE. Some 300 statute miles from Manila, the main gateway and capital of the country, Bacolod is only 55-minute flight by plane or a 20-hour leisurely cruise on board any of the luxury vessels of Negros Navigation and WG&A Super Ferry. From Cebu City, Bacolod is a mere 20-minute flight. For the more adventurous traveller, Bacolod is a 7-hour land and sea travel through scenic areas of northern Negros to Cebu City or vice versa.
The Bacolod airport is approximately four (4) kilometers away from the city proper.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon20.jpg CLIMATE. Bacolod City has 2 pronounced seasons, wet and dry. The rainy season starts from May to January with heavy rains occurring during the months of August and September. Dry season starts from the month of February up to the last week of April. December and January are the coldest months while April is the warmest.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon21.jpg POPULATION.The National Statistics Office (NSO) revealed that the city population has reached 429,076 as of year 2000 survey. Bacolod City population comprises approximately 25% of the total population of the Province of Negros Occidental.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon22.jpg LANGUAGE/DIALECTS. Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) is the major dialect spoken in Bacolod City. English and Tagalog are also widely spoken and understood especially in the urban areas.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon23.jpg CURRENCY/CREDIT CARDS.Most foreign currencies can be changed in the banks. Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops, and restaurants.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon24.jpg COMMUNICATION FACILITIES. International direct dialing, telex, facsimile, world-wide express delivery, postal service and telegraph service are available. Cellular phones are widely used. Pagers, info calls, email, and internets are also available.

ELECTRICITY. Most areas are supplied with 220 volts and 110 volts, 60 cycles. A plug with 2 flat prongs is the norm, but pack a universal adaptor to be safe.

WATER. Water is potable. Bottled mineral water is available in supermarkets, groceries, hotels, restaurants and in almost all eating establishments.

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/icon25.jpg GETTING AROUND.
Modern air-conditioned taxis are numerous in the city. Public utility jeepneys are common modes of transport within the city. There are four (4) major jeepneys routes: Banago-Libertad, Mandalagan-Libertad, Bata-Libertad, Shopping-Libertad routes.
Buses and jeepneys provide service for intertown travel. Car rental services are available with rates depending on the vehicle used and distance traveled. Information for car rental services are available at most hotels' front desk.

[Sinjin P.]

B A C O L O D
Most Competitive Mid-sized City

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/livabl2.jpg

Fresh from the baptism of being in the Hall of Fame as the "Cleanest and Greenest Highlyluzuriaga-araneta sts, bacolod city Urbanized City in the Philippines", the City of Bacolod has recently catapulted into another national reputation. This time, in the realm of economic competitiveness.
This Capital City of the Sugarlandia is proud today as the "Most Competitive Mid-sized City in the Philippines" after she earned 6.62 points in the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2003 which was conducted to 50 cities nationwide.
Bestowed to her by the Asian Institute of Management in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry, Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The Asia Foundation, German Technical Cooperation, International Labor Organization, and various leading educational institutions in the country, the said title was based on various "competitiveness drivers" such as: Infrastructure Adequacy and Quality, Cost of Doing Business, Dynamism of the Local Economy, Human Resource and Training, Linkages and Accessibility, Responsiveness of Local Governance, and Quality of Life.
Among the 13 mid-sized cities, Bacolod City ranked FIRST, earning 6.46 points, in "Infrastructure Adequacy and Quality" which indicates that the city has sufficient physical, technological, and knowledge support services that are required in transacting business such as: road infrastructure, telecommunications, production factors and transport systems. This criterion includes the number of banks, road density, vehicle density, number of internet service providers, well-managed road network and traffic, road clearance during peak hours, reliability of electric power services, abundance of water supply, easy connection of telephone lines from other service providers, adequate cellular phone signals, reliability of internet service providers, and adequate garbage management.
In the same group of cities, Bacolod City also ranked FIRST in the "Quality of Life" after receiving a score of 7.04 points. This criterion which determine the quality of environment and life in the city is based on the incidence of theft per 100,000 population, incidence of murder per 100,000 population, hospital beds per 100,000 population, life expectancy at birth, cleanliness of roads and public open spaces, adequacy of rest and recreational facilities, conduciveness of the security environment to businesses.
Bacolod City got 7.36 points thus ranked FIRST in "Human Resources and Training" which measures the capacity of the city's population to build and take advantage of opportunity in the locality. This criterion measures number of tertiary education institutions, number of vocational institutions, skilled labor availability, easily trainable workforce, appropriate academic programs for local industry, adequate IT training programs, eagerness of workers to skill development, importance of investing in skills development, availability of training programs organized by schools and industry partners, expectation on workers performance, constructive labor-management relations, availability of businesses that allows on-the-job trainees, effective management of workers, link between job satisfaction and worker productivity, if poor labor practices are discouraged in the city, and strong worker suggestion on business operations.
Bacolod City ranked SECOND in terms of "Dynamism of the Local Economy" and "Responsiveness of the Local Government Unit" after earning a score of 6.58 points and 6.18 points, respectively.
The "Dynamism of the Local Economy" criterion indicates the capability of the city to attract and foster inward investments. It includes the measurement of the number of household income, local inflation rate, percentage of top 200 corporations, population versus fast food chain locators, market size, consumer price index, vibrancy of tourism sector, expectation in business revenue, business access to financing, and conduciveness of regulatory environment to business.
The "Responsiveness of the Local Government Unit" criterion suggests that the city has the ability to respond to systematic and short-lived issues with a well-grounded and focused vision. This considers the percentage of Internal Revenue Allotment to the local revenue, simplicity and efficiency of processing business permit, transparency of the local government, fairness in the administration of justice, relationships of policies and regulations to business needs, holding of regular public forums, appropriateness of development plan to business needs, reasonability and and flexibility of land use plan, involvement of the city in the development of the human resources, and effectiveness of assistance to displaced workers.
Bacolod City did not fair well only in the criterion of "Linkages and Accessibility" which indicates the ability of the city to transport goods and services. The references for this criterion are the location and the time of transporting the raw materials, location of international entry and exit points, availability of business support services, extent and benefits of business collaboration in the city, and the extent of services of the national government agencies.
Based upon the over-all result of the above-said survey criteria, the strength of the City of Bacolod is in the existence of more vocational institutions, higher vehicle density, negligible incidence of theft per 100,000 population, negligible incidence of murder per 100,000 population, average rent of commercial space, average installation cost of new telephone lines, adequate signals of cellular phones, reliability of internet service providers, business allowing on-the-job training for students, and skills training and development program.
The survey result also shows that Bacolod City has an average household income, market size, road density, percentage of IRA to local revenue, hospital beds per 100,000 population, and less worries of business on human resource.
However, according to the survey, Bacolod City needs to improve in the following areas: cost of power for industrial use, number of banks, life expectancy at birth, and the number of internet service providers.

[chymera00]

PHOTOS HERE

(Wait...uploading 52 photos)
wow .... 52 photos of Negros... I'm all excited and everything

[eazyboy]

at least hindi newspaper ang dating!!! nice thread!!!

[chymera00]

at least hindi newspaper ang dating!!! nice thread!!!
You are pathetic ...

[eazyboy]

ows, im pathetic for saying this thread is nice? u cant have it all in one package dearie!!! hehehe

ang may sili sa bunganga ang naaanghangan.

bakit chy? natamaan ka ba sa previous statement ko?

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y I

Provincial Capitol Building / Provincial Park and Lagoon
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler13.jpg

Panaad Park and Stadium
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler14.jpg

Supercat Fast Ferry, BREDCO Port, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler15.jpg

Manokan Country, Reclamation Area, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler16.jpg

Group K Entertainment
Tangub, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler67.jpg

La Consolacion College
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler18.jpg

Gaisano City Mall
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler19.jpg

Bacolod Airport
Singcang, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg74.jpg

Negros Navigation
Banago Port, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg75.jpg

Philippine National Bank
Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg76.jpg

Bacolod City Hall
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler23.jpg

BS Aquino Drive, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler24.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y II

Pahanocoy Pottery
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler29.jpg

Casino Filipino Hotel
Goldenfields Commercial Complex, Singcang, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg77.jpg

Sugarland Hotel
Singcang, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg78.jpg

Bethany Court Town House, Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler32.jpg

Negros Museum
South Capitol Road, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg79.jpg

Robinson's Place
Mandalagan, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg80.jpg

Palmas del Mar - Village & Beach Club
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler39.jpg

Coca Cola Bottling Company, Mansilingan, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler40.jpg

Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler45.jpg

Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club Inc.
Barangay Bata, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg92.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y III

San Miguel Beer Brewery, Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler47.jpg

L' Fisher Hotel, Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler48.jpg

Luzuriaga Street, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler53.jpg

Bargain Square Mall, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler54.jpg

Barquillos making
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler55.jpg

Luzuriaga - Araneta Streets, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler56.jpg

Bacolod Plaza Bandstand and Gazebo - Right at the Center of Bacolod Public Plaza, the bandstand was constructed in 1927 to complement to weekend cultural activities of the early Bacoleños. Names of world-famous composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner circle the sides of the roofing, attesting to the early Bacolodnon's familiarity with European Culture.
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler57.jpg

Bells of San Sebastian - The centennial bells of San Sebastian were brought down from their place in the belfry and mounted at the right side of the churchyard in 1976, the 100th year anniversary of the Cathedral. Large Bell donated 1866 by Fr. Mariano Avila , Bacolod Parish Priest (1963-1871). Small Bell installed 1890 by Fr. Mariano Ferrero, Recollect Parish Priest of Bacolod.
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler59.jpg

Top Harbor International, Inc.
Reclamation Area, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg81.jpg

Bob's Restaurant
BS Aquino North Drive, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg82.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y IV

The Palisades Subdivision, S. Gonzaga Avenue, Brgy, Estefania, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg10.jpg

Land Bank of the Philippines
Gatuslao St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg83.jpg

Plaza Mart City Mall, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg12.jpg

Limmans Centre, Luzuriaga-Araneta Sts., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg13.jpg

BCG Computers, Lopez Jaena St., Bacolod City.
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg66.jpg

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Pharmacy Laboratory / Medical Arts Building
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg67.jpg

Circle Inn - Lopez Jaena St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg68.jpg

Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg69.jpg

Centroplex Mall, Gonzaga St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg70.jpg

Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Inc.
South Capitol Road, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg84.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y V

Dr. Pablo O Torre Memorial Hospital
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg72.jpg

Forest and Native Products -Bacolod Central Market
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg73.jpg

Development Bank of the Philippines
Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg85.jpg

St. John's Institute
Hilado St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg86.jpg

La Consolacion College - HRM & TOURISM CENTER
Quezon Avenue, Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg87.jpg

Celine Homes
Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/galler20.jpg

Lopues Mandalagan
Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg88.jpg

BO's Coffee Club
Piazza Sorrento, Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg89.jpg

Krua Thai, Authentic Thai Cuisine
Piazza Sorrento, Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg90.jpg

Piazza Sorrento
Lacson St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg91.jpg

[chymera00]

cool ... thanks for posting the photos sinjin.... that really made my SSC day

[Sinjin P.]

P H O T O G A L L E R Y VI

Masskara Festival
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska1.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska2.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska3.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska4.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska5.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska6.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska7.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska8.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska9.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska10.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska11.pg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska12.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska13.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska14.jpg

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/masska50.jpg

[eazyboy]

ok sinjin.. para sayo!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Sinjin P.]

^^ Please do not bash yourselves here. :)
It's bad to have a bashfest to start the New Year. :D
That might ruin the best thread I've ever done (IMO) :colgate:

[chymera00]

^^ Please do not bash yourselves here. :)
It's a bad to have a bashfest to start the New Year. :D
That might ruin the best thread I've ever done (IMO) :colgate:
^^ oo nga ... don't try to pissoff Sinjin, or you'll be banned! (unofficially, hehe)

[eazyboy]

and thread II is yes.. unofficially closed... unofficial pa rin.

[sugarboy]

Got my degree several years ago. Why so curious? Planning to ask one of the instructors at LCC about me aren't you? They all know me. But if you do find out, please do not mention my name here AGAIN. Only thing I did was heat up this forum a bit. I did mention that I am currently residing outside the P.I. I am working for a design firm in the Gulf. Do you still have a residence in Bacolod?

Just wondering if we knew each other beforehand. You know how small LCC is. No I don't have any plans of asking any of the instructors. I've been so out of touch with LCC for some time. Pangamigo lang bala haw, basi pa lang kilal-anay ta. But if I didn't know you, don't worry, I wouldn't go out of my way to find out who you are. Really.

Your discussions with the other forumers are your own. If you notice, I just pop in once in awhile. So if you heated up this forum, then that's fine with me. On my end, I just try to balance out the different points of view among all the guys here. Most of the guys here are young ones so I don't mind the enthusiastic volley of ideas.

I missed your post that you reside outside the P.I. Good to know you're out in the Gulf as many LCCians are. Maayo gid man Archi sang LCC diba?

Re your question, yes, I still have residences in Bacolod. Butch Alisbo even built one of them.

Happy New Year da to!

[c0kelitr0]

St. John's Institute
Hilado St., Bacolod City
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/jpg86.jpg

what do most people call this school again? it was like in chinese?

[Kaiser]

Congrats to Bacolod City and Negros Island for its 3rd thread:cheers2::cheers2::cheers2:

[Kaiser]

wow! silay is really a beautiful city

[Dinho]

Thanks for the assurance. You did mention my name when you were "talking" with Coke a few days back. LCC is indeed one of the best schools in the Philippine Islands... Probably the best outside Metro Manila. Our building is very embarrassing though!!! Sir R. Alisbo was one of my instructors and a very good one at that. LCC has very good instructors. When were you with LCC? There are three of us from the same school here where I'm working. As far as I know there are only 3 of us from LCC in this country.

Just wondering if we knew each other beforehand. You know how small LCC is. No I don't have any plans of asking any of the instructors. I've been so out of touch with LCC for some time. Pangamigo lang bala haw, basi pa lang kilal-anay ta. But if I didn't know you, don't worry, I wouldn't go out of my way to find out who you are. Really.

Your discussions with the other forumers are your own. If you notice, I just pop in once in awhile. So if you heated up this forum, then that's fine with me. On my end, I just try to balance out the different points of view among all the guys here. Most of the guys here are young ones so I don't mind the enthusiastic volley of ideas.

I missed your post that you reside outside the P.I. Good to know you're out in the Gulf as many LCCians are. Maayo gid man Archi sang LCC diba?

Re your question, yes, I still have residences in Bacolod. Butch Alisbo even built one of them.

Happy New Year da to!

[KulasKusgan]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/silay6.jpg


kapatid ni bachelor express & rural transit.

[Dinho]

Sinjin, Thanks so much for the good pictures you had posted. It's a balm to my homesickness. Could you also post pictures of Lopue's South, Gaisano City San Carlos, Gaisano City Kabankalan, houses at Ayala Northpoint, Windsor, the Yanson's new palace, Capitolville, Sta. Clara, McDonald's Lacson (I believe McDonalds Lacson is the biggest outside Metro Manila), Renderings of the new SM City, Robinsons South, Lopue's Hinigaran (that is if they've built it already), Lady of Mercy Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, Sanitarium Hospital, Restos in Metro Bacolod?

I hope that the Coleman's would repaint Group K soon in pure white. Blue paint doesn't do it justice. It looked nice when it was all white several years back.

Please verify for me if Ayala has decided to start construction on their mall at Talisay City. I heard some talk that SM bought TASIMICO. Is that true? Are they also planning to put up a mall there. Maybe that is why they are building a relatively small one at the reclamation area.

I really, really hope and pray that BCPH won't be bought by the City Hall. It is designed to be a hotel. It only needs better management and additional rooms as Bacolod doesn't have enough when over 2000 people converge in Bacolod for a convention. It would be great if an international chain purchases it. Its location is a bit off but with new businesses popping up nearby, it would eventually pick up more business. I remember that SM had a supermarket there and it was doing good business. Sad thing that the management was not very good so it closed down eventually.

I've also heard that a new hotel will be constructed at Rizal-Lacson. Is this true? Has work started yet?

Kyle, please give me a list of the hotels in Metro Bacolod with their respective number of rooms and Hall capacities.

Thanks

[fundraiser]

dont take this negatively but oh my, bacolod loooks like cebu na ata ah, ganda, and clean. i thought my eyes are fooling me but your robinsons looks like gaisano country mall, maybe because of the color scheme, pati piazza sorento and lopues looks like cebu's BTC and crossroads, galeng!!! hope to visit your city someday. the pics evidently shows that bacolod is the most livable and most competitive mid-sized city!

[slerz]

dont take this negatively but oh my, bacolod loooks like cebu na ata ah, ganda, and clean. i thought my eyes are fooling me but your robinsons looks like gaisano country mall, maybe because of the color scheme, pati piazza sorento and lopues looks like cebu's BTC and crossroads, galeng!!! hope to visit your city someday. the pics evidently shows that bacolod is the most livable and most competitive mid-sized city!

oi, fundraiser.. naunahan mo nanaman ako...
I was supposed to say that Bacolod and Cebu ay walang pinagkakaiba, very vibrant with those pics... Akala ko walang wala ang Bacolod coz of that comments of TJ ata un? Pero sa pics, whoala! Bacolod is Big... Kaya pala sikat na sikat ang Bacolod.

[sugarboy]

Thanks for the assurance. You did mention my name when you were "talking" with Coke a few days back. LCC is indeed one of the best schools in the Philippine Islands... Probably the best outside Metro Manila. Our building is very embarrassing though!!! Sir R. Alisbo was one of my instructors and a very good one at that. LCC has very good instructors. When were you with LCC? There are three of us from the same school here where I'm working. As far as I know there are only 3 of us from LCC in this country.

When was I with LCC?...wow that was a long time ago! That was about the time Butch Alisbo was Governor of Arfien, tapos he became President of the SSG. Fine Arts ko `ya pero balo ka naman, small town ang LCC. In my time, I was the first Governor sang Arfien nga indi Archi. Ambot lang if there ever was any other Fine Arts guy who became an Arfien Governor.

Hambali bala mga migo mo magpost didto sa Ilonggo Network. Basi pa lang mapanipon naton iban nga mga taga-LCC.

[Dinho]

Thanks Sinjin, So who bagged the award during the years 2004 & 2005? Please tell us how Bacolod fared. I wouldn't trade our good quality of life for 37% more income in any other part of the country.

B A C O L O D
Most Competitive Mid-sized City

http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/livabl2.jpg

Fresh from the baptism of being in the Hall of Fame as the "Cleanest and Greenest Highlyluzuriaga-araneta sts, bacolod city Urbanized City in the Philippines", the City of Bacolod has recently catapulted into another national reputation. This time, in the realm of economic competitiveness.
This Capital City of the Sugarlandia is proud today as the "Most Competitive Mid-sized City in the Philippines" after she earned 6.62 points in the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2003 which was conducted to 50 cities nationwide.
Bestowed to her by the Asian Institute of Management in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry, Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The Asia Foundation, German Technical Cooperation, International Labor Organization, and various leading educational institutions in the country, the said title was based on various "competitiveness drivers" such as: Infrastructure Adequacy and Quality, Cost of Doing Business, Dynamism of the Local Economy, Human Resource and Training, Linkages and Accessibility, Responsiveness of Local Governance, and Quality of Life.
Among the 13 mid-sized cities, Bacolod City ranked FIRST, earning 6.46 points, in "Infrastructure Adequacy and Quality" which indicates that the city has sufficient physical, technological, and knowledge support services that are required in transacting business such as: road infrastructure, telecommunications, production factors and transport systems. This criterion includes the number of banks, road density, vehicle density, number of internet service providers, well-managed road network and traffic, road clearance during peak hours, reliability of electric power services, abundance of water supply, easy connection of telephone lines from other service providers, adequate cellular phone signals, reliability of internet service providers, and adequate garbage management.
In the same group of cities, Bacolod City also ranked FIRST in the "Quality of Life" after receiving a score of 7.04 points.
Bacolod City got 7.36 points thus ranked FIRST in "Human Resources and Training" which measures the capacity of the city's population to build and take advantage of opportunity in the locality.
Bacolod City ranked SECOND in terms of "Dynamism of the Local Economy" and "Responsiveness of the Local Government Unit" after earning a score of 6.58 points and 6.18 points, respectively.
The "Dynamism of the Local Economy" criterion indicates the capability of the city to attract and foster inward investments. It includes the measurement of the number of household income, local inflation rate, percentage of top 200 corporations, population versus fast food chain locators, market size, consumer price index, vibrancy of tourism sector, expectation in business revenue, business access to financing, and conduciveness of regulatory environment to business.
Based upon the over-all result of the above-said survey criteria, the strength of the City of Bacolod is in the existence of more vocational institutions, higher vehicle density, negligible incidence of theft per 100,000 population, negligible incidence of murder per 100,000 population, average rent of commercial space, average installation cost of new telephone lines, adequate signals of cellular phones, reliability of internet service providers, business allowing on-the-job training for students, and skills training and development program.
The survey result also shows that Bacolod City has an average household income, market size, road density, percentage of IRA to local revenue, hospital beds per 100,000 population, and less worries of business on human resource.
However, according to the survey, Bacolod City needs to improve in the following areas: cost of power for industrial use, number of banks, life expectancy at birth, and the number of internet service providers.

[TJ]

This is great if this kind of progress goes on for a decade we will surely surpass iloilo and absorb silay and talisay and become a metropolis. But despite this progress i believe a lot better things could have been done and achieved if not for our stupid politicians and government's mismanagement of funds which delay's our overall progress. I think bacolod could do even better next year if we do things the right way and disregard imaginations of grandure and spend the funds in much necessesary development.

In the present times so far i havent yet seen a leader in our government or in our city who do things without coveting fame and admits truth and deals with it without fearing disgrace. Whose only thought is of his country and it's people and do service with no self interest, recongition, fame and wealth. So far they have been all opposites of what i have said they are greedy, power hungry and amongst all they are despised and not to be trusted.

To add they are incapable of running this country they have missed many opportunities and advantages for this country and this advatages and opportunities has shifted to our neighbors we should have been us.

[TJ]

Also i have noticed some are saying boracay is related to iloilo economy... I think there is some relation but only slight coz if boracay is directly involvled in iloilo's tourism then why not cities nearing boracay is benefiting as much as iloilo? duhh??

There is an airport in aklan in which would be just as expensive or even more expensive if you spend an overnight stay in iloilo (shoppings, hotels and restaurants) which makes more sense if your coming as far from cebu.

I think the sprouting of highrise hotels in iloilo is more buisness convention related coz there are lots of foreign nationals investing in iloilo (Also sometime ago the entire high rise hotel in small ville was occupied by foreign investors partcipating in the golf tournament sort of thing mainly koreans, taiwanese and hknesse).

In the case of our situation in bacolod there is the sipalay beaches which i think could also be a big tourist attraction if it becomes well developed. And until there is no southern airport down below there all people flying in outside the island must pass directly here in bacolod.

[sugarboy]

This is great if this kind of progress goes on for a decade we will surely surpass iloilo and absorb silay and talisay and become a metropolis. But despite this progress i believe a lot better things could have been done and achieved if not for our stupid politicians and government's mismanagement of funds which delay's our overall progress. I think bacolod could do even better next year if we do things the right way and disregard imaginations of grandure and spend the funds in much necessesary development.

In the present times so far i havent yet seen a leader in our government or in our city who do things without coveting fame and admits truth and deals with it without fearing disgrace. Whose only thought is of his country and it's people and do service with no self interest, recongition, fame and wealth. So far they have been all opposites of what i have said they are greedy, power hungry and amongst all they are despised and not to be trusted.

To add they are incapable of running this country they have missed many opportunities and advantages for this country and this advatages and opportunities has shifted to our neighbors we should have been us.


TJ, ikaw ang pag-asa sang Bacolod. Just finish your studies and run for office. Ako `ya, I will vote for you. Honest.

Happy new year `to! :)

[daks2003]

I was laughing with eazyboy's post here..i dunno if he really wants to glorify bacolod or he just want to pit iloilo vs cebu...but i dont want to go into that trap...again, the progress of bacolod is important to me and our business. We are doing business in several cities in the Philippines so I have an idea of their competitiveness. Our assessment is that at this moment, the purchasing power of Iloilo is higher than bacolod. The middle class of Iloilo is so huge and if you talk about the middle class, it is what you call the consumer class. These are not just spectators in the economy, they consume and they are savers in the banking industry. Moneywise, Iloilo is still a powerhouse, a little giant starting to wake up. You can call me bias here but that's my assessment in our experience in doing business in both cities. But, i must admit, Bacolod has the big advantage in the management of their local govt. The local govt officials of bacolod and negros are more visionaries than that of Iloilo's. Iloilo City and Province still reeks of traditional politics.

[sugarboy]

I was laughing with eazyboy's post here..i dunno if he really wants to glorify bacolod or he just want to pit iloilo vs cebu...but i dont want to go into that trap...again, the progress of bacolod is important to me and our business. We are doing business in several cities in the Philippines so I have an idea of their competitiveness. Our assessment is that at this moment, the purchasing power of Iloilo is higher than bacolod. The middle class of Iloilo is so huge and if you talk about the middle class, it is what you call the consumer class. These are not just spectators in the economy, they consume and they are savers in the banking industry. Moneywise, Iloilo is still a powerhouse, a little giant starting to wake up. You can call me bias here but that's my assessment in our experience in doing business in both cities. But, i must admit, Bacolod has the big advantage in the management of their local govt. The local govt officials of bacolod and negros are more visionaries than that of Iloilo's. Iloilo City and Province still reeks of traditional politics.

Tuod ka daks? Sa imo ya visionaries ang mga leaders sang Bacolod kag Negros? Wow, thanks! Suno iya sa kay migo ta TJ, mga stupid na kuno sila eh. Happy new year lang dira! :)

[daks2003]

kumparar mo lang sa mayor sang iloilo kag sa gov sang iloilo ah hehehe we have a lot of trapo's here in iloilo...recently nagpa into naman sila sa PECO and PPC...so we have no choice but balik na naman as one of the most expensive electricity in the Philippines and Asia hehehe

Happy New year man sugarboy!

Tuod ka daks? Sa imo ya visionaries ang mga leaders sang Bacolod kag Negros? Wow, thanks! Suno iya sa kay migo ta TJ, mga stupid na kuno sila eh. Happy new year lang dira! :)

[rustyboi]

:applause: :applause: :applause:
Amazing Bacolod City! :okay:
Congratulations on your third thread! The city has so much to offer, keep it up!

[TJ]

Tuod ka daks? Sa imo ya visionaries ang mga leaders sang Bacolod kag Negros? Wow, thanks! Suno iya sa kay migo ta TJ, mga stupid na kuno sila eh. Happy new year lang dira! :)

Our leaders are visionaries indeed they are trying to build 350 million city hall amidst the growing poverty and lacking of infrastructure of our city thats truly genius. :bash:

If u take a look around the city specialy in the suburd area's ang mga dalan mga lubak2x na and in rural areas of the city some villages and puroks there have are no paved roads which makes it hard for the people in rainy days. The housing project the city provides currently is not enough there are still thousands needing more. As far as i know only the squater's area in capitol and some inner city squatter dweelings are the only ones that have been relocated and given housing which is only a small percentage of the overall city squatters population and they are bragging so much about it already.

Yet so far there are thousands more outside the urban area in the suburbs and city limits which are in dire situation. Why not build something that can be related to help them like paving dirt roads and more housing projects why this new expensive city hall (when we already have one) is to be built?? This vision means nothing to them just another useless landmark truly it is a genius idea at work.

I have said this many times u already have a watch you could instead buy shoes for your feet or jacket and things you don't yet have. Yet you buy another watch and replace the other which is genius.

If u talk about 350 million thats big so check the downtown area not enough traffic lights no overpasses. And in gaisano city they should construct a pedestrian overpass there coz the traffic is just so sick. We have only one city health office which is not enough we need at least two more one in the north and south of the city limits.

And to add most city ordinances are not being implemented anymore coz there is not enough funds yet there they wanna build a 350 million city hall. duhh?? isnt it genius??? :eek2:

[rustyboi]

i have a map right here with me. it's a philippine map and i see so many cities in Negros Occidental! i see Bacolod city and a good number of cities next to it: Talisay City, Silay City, Victorias City then there's Cadiz City. i counted 13 cities all in Negros Occidental! that's a lot! so much potential to become a "metropolis" in the future. :okay:

[Dinho]

I was laughing with eazyboy's post here..i dunno if he really wants to glorify bacolod or he just want to pit iloilo vs cebu...but i dont want to go into that trap...again, the progress of bacolod is important to me and our business. We are doing business in several cities in the Philippines so I have an idea of their competitiveness. Our assessment is that at this moment, the purchasing power of Iloilo is higher than bacolod. The middle class of Iloilo is so huge and if you talk about the middle class, it is what you call the consumer class. These are not just spectators in the economy, they consume and they are savers in the banking industry. Moneywise, Iloilo is still a powerhouse, a little giant starting to wake up. You can call me bias here but that's my assessment in our experience in doing business in both cities. But, i must admit, Bacolod has the big advantage in the management of their local govt. The local govt officials of bacolod and negros are more visionaries than that of Iloilo's. Iloilo City and Province still reeks of traditional politics.

I beg to differ!!! Eazyboy was just asking people from Iloilo to stop harping about their city's glorious past and that if they wish to brag about their city, they should do so in their own thread. Anyway, I agree with you about Iloilo's having a big middle class population, thanks to OFW's. Bacolod's disadvantage is that on the surface, the city seems to be made up of the upper class and the lower class only. But then, the upper class is quite big compared to other cities in the P.I. That is probably the reason why there are so many triple A class neighborhoods in Metro Bacolod such as: Ayala Northpoint, Capitolville, Sta. Clara, Windsor, Villa Valderrama, etc. But I said that it was on the surface only because Bacolod already has a sizable middle class coming from the industrious lower class and from the upper class.

Saving money is important but it can cause the economy to go stagnant. Alan Greenspan even discourages Americans from saving money in banks. He even went to the extent of lowering the interest rates to spur the economy. Bacolod is dynamic because its people know how to spend (a lot do not spend wisely though - too bad!) Who would want to set up shop in a place where people don't spend money? Bacolod's economy is powered by people who know how to "Live and let live". If we all started saving, we'd end up with a stagnant economy. The important thing we need to learn is that we Negrenses start investing wisely so that we can expand our businesses beyond our shores.

Its too bad already that NN has moved its main office to Iloilo. I hope they will come back to Bacolod soon as it is where they belong. Several businesses in Bacolod are already ripe for expansion to other cities. Bob's for one should be able to open branches outside Negros Island as it has already saturated the city. Ceres is another business which should be able to expand into bus manufacturing as they already cover a wide swathe over the Central and Southern Philippines.

[daks2003]

If that's how you interpret eazyboys post..fine..i interpret it otherwise. Anyway, we have our own interpretations and so as our assessments regarding competitiveness between cities.

Saving money is important and its very important in a third world economy like ours. You can not just compare a first world economy like the US to the local economy of bacolod or iloilo. The US is a first world consumer economy. They consume everything, including debts from car loans to credit card bills. Of course, debts are not really a problem in the US if you have a job and everybody knows that finding a job in the US is much easier. Saving is not a priority in a first world consumer economy but not in a third world economy like ours. Our local banks need money to make money. How could they extend loans to projects if they have no funds to provide? How could you spend money if you dont have it in the first place? Its easier to spend if you have something saved in your pocket, right?? I would rather set up a shop where people have money in banks than in a place where people dont have money at all. Its easier to encourage people to buy things if they have money to spend.

Btw, i think there are a some bacolod businesses that have set up branches in iloilo...MO2 Bar is one.

I beg to differ!!! Eazyboy was just asking people from Iloilo to stop harping about their city's glorious past and that if they wish to brag about their city, they should do so in their own thread. Anyway, I agree with you about Iloilo's having a big middle class population, thanks to OFW's. Bacolod disadvantage is that at the surface, the city seems to be made up of the upper class and the lower class only. But then, the upper class is quite big compared to other cities in the P.I. That is probably the reason why there are so many triple A class neighborhoods in Metro Bacolod such as: Ayala Northpoint, Capitolville, Sta. Clara, Windsor, Villa Valderrama, etc. But I said that it was on the surface only because Bacolod already has a sizable middle class coming from the industrious lower class and from the upper class.

Saving money is important but it can cause the economy to go stagnant. Alan Greenspan even discourages Americans from saving money in banks. He even went to the extent of lowering the interest rates to spur the economy. Bacolod is dynamic because its people know how to spend (a lot do not spend wisely though - too bad!) Who would want to set up shop in a place where people don't spend money? Bacolod's economy is powered by people who know how to "Live and let live". If we all started saving, we'd end up with a stagnant economy. The important thing we need to is that we Negrenses start investing wisely so that we can expand our businesses beyond our shores.

Its too bad already that NN has moved its main office to Iloilo. I hope they will come back to Bacolod soon as it is where they belong. Several businesses in Bacolod are already ripe for expansion to other cities. Bob's for one should be able to open branches outside Negros Island as it has already saturated the city. Ceres is another business which should be able to expand into bus manufacturing as they already cover a wide swathe over the Central and Southern Philippines.

[Weina]

Hi my fellow Ilonggos!

First let me admit here that this is my first time to visit this thread about Negros & Bacolod. And please allow me to introduce also myself here. I am a Fil-Taiwanese and my family is situated in Iloilo, Bacolod, Victorias & Silay. I still have house in Iloilo, although I have a house in Taiwan also and apartment in China and am currently working here in China also. From time to time I also visit Philippines. Sounds complicated, huh? Anyway forget about it, my point here is or just want to say that I am very Ilonggo & very Negrense too. So I have to admit here that if you say something bad to Iloilo & Negros that will hurt me so please people here let's choose our words in this thread. I beg you to be sensitive enough. I read and post in Iloilo thread there and I can't see any sarcasm thing going on in there or did i missed it only? If there is, mind if you quote here para batuhin natin. We Ilonggos are peace loving people and that should be mirrored here in this thread di ba? So please lets stick to the rules. No sarcasm.

Before I wouldn't believe that there's this really intense competition thing going on between Iloilo & Negros. Now i still don't want to. I don't believe in the sense that it shouldn't exist in the first place. I hope that we just leave to our politicians the bickerings and ungentlemanly competitions. We have lots of reasons not to engage in this very uncomfortable situation. First, people in Iloilo & Negros are almost all Ilonggos, and the people are almost related too. Unless of course the people in Negros would deny this fact and history that we are related. Second, we all belong to Western Visayas region. So why compete? Why not cooperate instead so we can have this strong Western Visayas region. This competition thing for me is just like competing with your brothers & sisters, family & relatives. the result , if not two strong economy, will be two losers. Laughingstock of other regions. Why let the other places have reason to laugh at us? Is it worth? I think no! So people here stop some sarcastic words here, you're not only tarnishing this thread but you are hurting your brothers & sisters also. Why not let this thread exist in it's real purpose i.e. to share information & updates of Negros only. I think it is not hard for us since we are I believe are matured, professional & responsible individuals. If you're not then go on with your sarcasm there, I'll just request the moderator to close this thread, right moderator?

And one more thing, I'd just like to comment on Dinho's post:

Saving money is important but it can cause the economy to go stagnant. Alan Greenspan even discourages Americans from saving money in banks. He even went to the extent of lowering the interest rates to spur the economy.

Why Filipinos are poor is because we don't know how to save unlike Chinese. For chinese your income should be divided into 70% savings & 30 percent expenses. In short we should save more than spend. I still believe that this is supposed to be what every Filipinos should do. I think saving is not really in our vocabulary. We just know how to spend and enjoy but don't know how to save. This is i think typical of a filipino family when I was still in the Philippines and in fact even here in abroad Filipinos, I am mostly talking of OFW's really don't know how to save. There are exceptions of course. But wether we like it or not we belong to countries with the lowest savings. And this is not good news. You see rainy days will always come so we must be always prepared. With financial security there's this dignity always attached. And by the way, don't be fooled by Greenspan of encouraging the Americans not to save, the Americans are now reaping their tolls of having low savings.

Its too bad already that NN has moved its main office to Iloilo. I hope they will come back to Bacolod soon as it is where they belong.

It's not bad business aside since the firm could still grow in Iloilo. Business must always be practical & self centered for it to continue to survive. I'd rather see it transferring to any other places than seeing it go close & bankrupt. So changing location does not really matter as long as it will grow and multiply. It still can help Ilonggos anyway. What Negros should do I think is to continue enticing other investors to come. Let's look for more and forget the lost ones.

Thanks & happy, peaceful posting here in Negros & Bacolod thread!

[Sinjin P.]

^^ On the other hand, saving may seem useless because as time goes by, the value of your savings depreciates and in situations like this wherein our end is unpredictable.

[kyle@1008]

. Bob's for one should be able to open branches outside Negros Island as it has already saturated the city. Ceres is another business which should be able to expand into bus manufacturing as they already cover a wide swathe over the Central and Southern Philippines.

thank you for saying that.....!!! right sugarboy..., :)

[kyle@1008]

^^ On the other hand, saving may seem useless because as time goes by, the value of your savings depreciates and in situations like this wherein our end is unpredictable.

Saving is only good for the individual but not for the economy as a whole...
let me explain during the 1950's japan was in dire strait.... the japanese were supersavers... how is this bad?? I'll expound, banks earn money thru loans,.. no loans no money, no income.... savings become a burden due to interest... plus products won't have a strong market bacause people ain't buying their saving... so in order to remedy this the government lowered interest rates... but that didn't work,... so they lowered it again and again and again... but still no response... so in order to survive... they turned outward and sold outside the nation this feuled their growth,.. but fastworward 1990... they went on a downward spiral ... why? due to the fact that they lacked indipendence... whenever their trading market suffered they suffer... so china begun it's growth..... china by contrast lacked japan's 30,000 dollar per capita income... but with one twist they had more than a billion people,... and a vast market for products they can exploit.... *bow

[kyle@1008]

oh and by the way boys and girls do behave ...

[Dinho]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/hatonson/ayalanorthpoint2.jpg

Found this picture on the net over a year ago. I think it may have been taken about two years ago as there are not yet that many houses at Ayala. Picture shows what is left of the gap between Talisay City and Bacolod City. It takes me about 8 minutes to get to Robinson's from my place just to the lower left side of this photograph. Silay City is less than 15 minutes away with no traffic (at 145 km/h fastest I would dare).

The upper part of the image shows Bata (I am not very sure) one of the more densely populated sector of the city.

Below the picture (not visible) is where people are saying SM is planning to put up a mall for the northern suburbs. Can anybody verify whether this is true.

On the right side of the picture (still not visible) is where Ayala is planning to put up their mall. Can anybody please tell us when it will be built. Next to the Ayala Mall site is Windsor's commercial area which is still vacant as of the time I left 2 years ago. The big building you see on the right side is the grocery section of the unfinished Uniwide Harbor City Mall. Immediately before the Ayala property is the Honda Auto Dealership which is already on the Talisay side.

[sugarboy]

...Why Filipinos are poor is because we don't know how to save unlike Chinese. For chinese your income should be divided into 70% savings & 30 percent expenses. In short we should save more than spend. I still believe that this is supposed to be what every Filipinos should do. I think saving is not really in our vocabulary. We just know how to spend and enjoy but don't know how to save. This is i think typical of a filipino family when I was still in the Philippines and in fact even here in abroad Filipinos, I am mostly talking of OFW's really don't know how to save. There are exceptions of course. But wether we like it or not we belong to countries with the lowest savings. And this is not good news. You see rainy days will always come so we must be always prepared. With financial security there's this dignity always attached. And by the way, don't be fooled by Greenspan of encouraging the Americans not to save, the Americans are now reaping their tolls of having low savings......

agree gid ko ya sa imo weina. people should learn how to save. saving does not necessarily mean that one automatically puts his/her money in a bank account. there are many other investment vehicles nowadays which are tantamount to savings. problema sa mga kalabanan kay indi na kabalo mag-save, tapos ang understanding pa sang savings, kitid kaayo. it's as if the equation is savings=bank account.

mga taga negros especially need to learn how to save. and of course, prior to that, they also need to learn how to work harder in order to generate the funds to save.

[Sinjin P.]

^^ So the roads are really that wide and free that you could speed up to 145kph?

[sugarboy]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/hatonson/ayalanorthpoint2.jpg

Found this picture on the net over a year ago. I think it may have been taken about two years ago as there are not yet that many houses at Ayala. Picture shows what is left of the gap between Talisay City and Bacolod City. It takes me about 8 minutes to get to Robinson's from my place just to the lower left side of this photograph. Silay City is less than 15 minutes away with no traffic (at 145 km/h fastest I would dare).

The upper part of the image shows Bata (I am not very sure) one of the more densely populated sector of the city.

Below the picture (not visible) is where people are saying SM is planning to put up a mall for the northern suburbs. Can anybody verify whether this is true.

On the right side of the picture (still not visible) is where Ayala is planning to put up their mall. Can anybody please tell us when it will be built. Next to the Ayala Mall site is Windsor's commercial area which is still vacant as of the time I left 2 years ago. The big building you see on the right side is the grocery section of the unfinished Uniwide Harbor City Mall. Immediately before the Ayala property is the Honda Auto Dealership which is already on the Talisay side.


nice foto dinho. diba you mentioned that you were from windsor? diin ka da nayon?

[Askal82]

Why Filipinos are poor is because we don't know how to save unlike Chinese. For chinese your income should be divided into 70% savings & 30 percent expenses. In short we should save more than spend. I still believe that this is supposed to be what every Filipinos should do. I think saving is not really in our vocabulary. We just know how to spend and enjoy but don't know how to save. This is i think typical of a filipino family when I was still in the Philippines and in fact even here in abroad Filipinos, I am mostly talking of OFW's really don't know how to save. There are exceptions of course. But wether we like it or not we belong to countries with the lowest savings. And this is not good news. You see rainy days will always come so we must be always prepared. With financial security there's this dignity always attached. And by the way, don't be fooled by Greenspan of encouraging the Americans not to save, the Americans are now reaping their tolls of having low savings.

Actually, savings doesn't necesarilly mean that you put it in the bank. Savings are idle cash/assets that isn't productive (inflation plus the time value of money) because you can make the best out of it by means of investments. There are many ways to invest and you have to be acquainted for each risks and rewards that can come along the way. In most companies, the cash and cash equivalents aren't usually the biggest items in their financial statements because they invest excess cash in the form of tangile properties (land, equipments, plant, machineries, inventories) - in order to be more productive by increasing effectiveness and efficiency in order to increase future cash inflows or intangible ones (bonds, stocks of other companies, etc...) in order have a good liquidity and solvency position at present and in the future.

[Dinho]

^^ So the roads are really that wide and free that you could speed up to 145kph?

Yup, you could speed up on the highway around 10pm to 5:30am only though. Traffic is medium to heavy the rest of the day.

Sugarboy, We are already on Ph 2 of the subdivision because Ph 1 is almost sold out and we could not find a property of 700 sq.m. in area on Ph 1. Ph 2 (Cambridge) was originally intended to be a separate subdivision that will cater to the middle class but due to market demand, they had to consolidate the two subdivisions. All new construction on Ph2 are about 200 sq.m. (F.A.) and up. You could still see about five small 50 sq.m. model homes that they built about a decade ago for the middle class but some of these houses are being extended to over double its original size.The proper name for the Windsor is Town & Country Negros. Too long and not a good name really. They should just shorten its name to Windsor or something a bit more elegant.

Now that I've answered your query, do tell me where your house is in Metro Bacolod.

[sugarboy]

yep. i know about the merge of windsor and cambridge. would you believe me if i told you that i was the one who named the streets of the entire project?

anyway, just played with your photo just for fun.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/Slide2.jpg

i no longer live in bacolod but i still have my place at sta. clara executive village. this was not the one built by butch alisbo. that one is in bata.

damo, pa ko trivia sang town & country sa tuod lang :)

[Sinjin P.]

^^ I'm sorry, I'm not a Negrense (is that right?) I'm from Cebu. ;)

[TJ]

I don't believe that if your chinese your are more thrifty and if your filipino your an overspender. That's abosolutley streotyping and racial profiling. Actually i know lots of poor chinese people, there are just as many poor chinese are there are rich. I guess it doesnt matter what kind of race you belong to, what i think matter is the experience and the way of life and culture the individual has gone through that led him/her to be thrifty or to be an overspender.

Most chinese here are immigtants from china they lived hard lives back there in the communist regime and when they arrived here life was a liittle bit laid back people are more squandorous and they took advantage of that by keepng their back breaking pace of hard work as if they were still in china but instead here they were making money and lots of it.

Also back then chinese have various strategies that are not known to the west even here in SE asia like in buisness the application of art of the war which was used by the founder of jollibe to compete against the arriving foreign fastfoods chains like mcdonalds etc...

The point is if your filipino or watever race you are it doesnt matter it's the enviroment and cultures you grew up in that molds you not your blood.

Also to add to japans success japan has over a hudred not to mention even a millenium of steady education which the people are tought to be loyal even at the end of wwII the people never rebelled. They have roots in bushido the hagakure the way of the samurai which i also admire also musashi's book of the five rings in which they adopted it's concepts into buisness and formed corporations called zaibatzu's demanding absolute loyalty to their workers. According to kaizen strategy the employess or workers are the most important part of the buinness and customers only the second. I think we should learn more on the japanese and chinese philosophy and apply it. I find them more suitable and understandable than western strategies and i think westerners are adopting this too.

[TJ]

Also i have seen this that most people tend to be more lax and laidback when they accumulated and decent amount of wealth and investment like some ofw's retiring after only just 5 years of work coz they already got what they wanted and this shows up the lowest class of workers to the very elite. I think we should keep going if even if we reached are goals and we should not put limits on what we can achieve.

Like bruce lee said in the teachings of jeet kune do "if you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."

Development is continuous. Japanese terms it kaizen. You are not only confined in this limit and there is always some rooms to improve. Do not limit yourself. Make kaizen as a habit thats what my uncle and his friends from japan used to school me, to think of things to develop first and so what happens after that is that i can eventually anticipate failures before it occurs. But i admit sometimes the lazy human nature of pleasing your self first before work always gets in the way and im not able to take advantage of certain events. But i never give up i still resume on my goals that is one of the virtues of japanese philosophy according to ryoma sakomoto a japanese samurai who eventually became the founder of mitsubishi company that no matter what failure you have gone through u should never give up on your goals and your commitment even in death coz that is the way of the samurai.

[kyle@1008]

Yup, you could speed up on the highway around 10pm to 5:30am only though. Traffic is medium to heavy the rest of the day.

Sugarboy, We are already on Ph 2 of the subdivision because Ph 1 is almost sold out and we could not find a property of 700 sq.m. in area on Ph 1. Ph 2 (Cambridge) was originally intended to be a separate subdivision that will cater to the middle class but due to market demand, they had to consolidate the two subdivisions. All new construction on Ph2 are about 200 sq.m. (F.A.) and up. You could still see about five small 50 sq.m. model homes that they built about a decade ago for the middle class but some of these houses are being extended to over double its original size.The proper name for the Windsor is Town & Country Negros. Too long and not a good name really. They should just shorten its name to Windsor or something a bit more elegant.

Now that I've answered your query, do tell me where your house is in Metro Bacolod.

why didn't you inquire sa plantazionne?? they have a program wherin you can combine lots if you want.... plus its just across windsor and its an Ayala devt.

btw,... neigbor mo sina Jennilyn guanzon??

[kyle@1008]

^^ ceres is the mother company.... the yansons own it...

[sugarboy]

why didn't you inquire sa plantazionne?? they have a program wherin you can combine lots if you want.... plus its just across windsor and its an Ayala devt.

btw,... neigbor mo sina Jennilyn guanzon??

i find the ayala projects in negros very pretentious. honestly. i think the ayala projects in negros are perfect for all the wannabees... those who are out to prove themselves to the rest of negros that they have arrived. opinion ko lang ina. sa imo abe dinho?

for those who aren't out to prove anything, capitolville, sta. clara, villa valderrama and town & country are just fine. :)

[rustyboi]

hi bacolod people, does anybody has a skyline photo of bacolod and nearby cities? :D i was hoping to find one ;) thanks!

[sugarboy]

Also i have seen this that most people tend to be more lax and laidback when they accumulated and decent amount of wealth and investment like some ofw's retiring after only just 5 years of work coz they already got what they wanted and this shows up the lowest class of workers to the very elite. I think we should keep going if even if we reached are goals and we should not put limits on what we can achieve.

Like bruce lee said in the teachings of jeet kune do "if you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."

Development is continuous. Japanese terms it kaizen. You are not only confined in this limit and there is always some rooms to improve. Do not limit yourself. Make kaizen as a habit thats what my uncle and his friends from japan used to school me, to think of things to develop first and so what happens after that is that i can eventually anticipate failures before it occurs. But i admit sometimes the lazy human nature of pleasing your self first before work always gets in the way and im not able to take advantage of certain events. But i never give up i still resume on my goals that is one of the virtues of japanese philosophy according to ryoma sakomoto a japanese samurai who eventually became the founder of mitsubishi company that no matter what failure you have gone through u should never give up on your goals and your commitment even in death coz that is the way of the samurai.


Maayo ni TJ. Development is indeed continuous. I for one do not believe in full retirement and resting on one's laurels. Semi-retirement ok pa. I left my job last April pero padayon gyapon transaksyon diri kag didto. Although not in a frenetic pace as when I was still employed.

Anhon ta na ya kay kalabanan nga taga-Negros: One day millionaire, forever sustener. :)

[c0kelitr0]

^^ So the roads are really that wide and free that you could speed up to 145kph?

damn yes: wide, smooth and free...the highway is also one of the most beautiful...trees on both sides and wild yellow flowers in the center island...

i like bacolod's roads more than cebu's...well-asphalted, wide and smooth...

[c0kelitr0]

@dinho, i thought SM City Bacolod will be in the reclamation area near the port?

[c0kelitr0]

i find the ayala projects in negros very pretentious. honestly. i think the ayala projects in negros are perfect for all the wannabees... those who are out to prove themselves to the rest of negros that they have arrived. opinion ko lang ina. sa imo abe dinho?

for those who aren't out to prove anything, capitolville, sta. clara, villa valderrama and town & country are just fine. :)

i agree, i find ayala north pointe so "pour nouveau riche" hehe. but i don't know if some old rich families have move there?

[c0kelitr0]

A visit to Silay is never complete without having a taste of El Ideal's treats hehe. :drool:

recommended: Guapple Pie! ...and err...Dinuguan+Puto :D

[sugarboy]

i agree, i find ayala north pointe so "pour nouveau riche" hehe. but i don't know if some old rich families have move there?

@cokelitro, you have DBF blood flowing in you to discern something like that. there are some old families who have moved into ayala too but note, long before they moved into ayala, they were already in sta. clara or capitolville to begin with.

look at manny lacson. he owns sta. clara. he owned the vast land which was sold to ayala for north point and plantazionne. have you actually seen where he resides in sta. clara?

this is why for me sta. clara executive is an ideal place to live in. a closed community of about 7 blocks and no more than 90 houses. the houses almost look the same though distinct in its own way. average cut, 150 to 240 LA.
some opted to get 2 lots running to a max of 500 sqm. but that's just about it. the atmosphere is cozy and there hardly is any pretense among the neighbors who are generally old friends from the bacolod of twenty to thirty years ago. perhaps the only odd guy there is someone who claims to be jose pidal.

plantazionne! :lol: sheeeesh! since when were negrenses affiliated to italy? kung france pwede pa siguro because of the gastons.

:rofl:

[c0kelitr0]

what's DBF blood? hehe

[daks2003]

Saving is not only limited to cash in banks or in a baul per se. Yes, it could be in a form of investments. But saving should start in "cash in banks". Like I said before, how could you spend if you dont have it. How could you invest your money in properties or in stocks if you dont have the money in the first place.

Businesses would set up shops in places where money exists.

[Dinho]

_____

[Dinho]

We could have been able to afford 1 lot at Ayala Northpoint with a 200 sq.m. basic house on it. My mom wouldn't hear of it though as she says the place is for the elite. I do know several old Negrense families at Ayala. The old Negrense families actually have some of the bigger houses in the village. There are several Chinese businessmen there as well but they have the smaller houses. The ones who are actually building the biggest houses are those who married wealthy westerners. A good thing really as they are injecting new blood to the populace and the economy as well. I hope more of them would settle down in Metro Bacolod. The good thing about us Negrense is that we know how to socialize no matter where we come from.

Ayala Plantazionne? Nah, too new a place and too close to the river. There has never been a major typhoon since the two developers started work developing the three communities. We do not know how the river would act during a rainy typhoon. That is the main reason why we opted for Windsor.

Mom actually wanted to settle at Manville Royale but we voted it out since it is too far from the shopping and business areas. We lived at Sta. Clara for a while back in the mid 80's. It is a good neighborhood. I am glad we lived there for a while because I really enjoyed taking long bike rides and Lopue's was very near if I wanted to buy some toys.

Speaking of Lopue's, I saw a new picture of Lopue's MAndalagan. Did they tear down or completely renovate the whole place? I hope they did. The ceiling at the Mezzanine is really low and I saw some careless people banging their heads on some of the beams.

I find Sta. Clara Executive Village too small and crowded. I like to take long walks on a different area each day. Windsor is like over 2 km. long so I have plenty of space to explore each day. And the dogs are all locked inside the gates so you need not fear getting chased by them. I did get chased one time though when some dog broke free when a car was going into the carport. The guard was very quick to draw his firearm when he saw the dog running after me. Good thing the maid was able to grab the dog by its collar otherwise it would have been shot. You should have seen the face of the maid when the guard started pointing his firearm towards the dog.

[kyle@1008]

what's DBF blood? hehe

De buena familia.... :)

[kyle@1008]

. The ones who are actually building the biggest houses are those who married wealthy westerners. A good thing really as they are injecting new blood to the populace and the economy as well. I hope more of them would settle down in Metro Bacolod. The good thing about us Negrense is that we know how to socialize no matter where we come from.

Ayala Plantazionne? Nah, too new a place and too close to the river. There has never been a major typhoon since the two developers started work developing the three communities. We do not know how the river would act during a rainy typhoon. That is the main reason why we opted for Windsor.

.

Speaking of Lopue's, I saw a new picture of Lopue's MAndalagan. Did they tear down or completely renovate the whole place? I hope they did. The ceiling at the Mezzanine is really low and I saw some careless people banging their heads on some of the beams.

.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/jpg88.jpg

no dinho they extended the place... this area is in front of the gasoline station and it is aptly named Xtensionne,... its the bar and restaurant area of Lopue's manda,... it also has an art gallery in the second floor... sort of a hang out place...

Oh btw, what I noticed is the foreigners tend to reside in airport subdivision in the south ,... near palmas del mar...

Ayala northpoint,... is currently attracting the old rich,.. so Talisay is now absorbing a big number of bacolod's upper bracket... but , just to point out , the wealthiest denizens of Negros are still scattered in Silay,.. or their old ancestral homes,... for example are the Ledesmas of San Carlos,... the Guanzons in kabankalan,.. Danding Cojuangco and the Oppens at pontevedra et. al.

[Dinho]

Saving is not only limited to cash in banks or in a baul per se. Yes, it could be in a form of investments. But saving should start in "cash in banks". Like I said before, how could you spend if you dont have it. How could you invest your money in properties or in stocks if you dont have the money in the first place.

Businesses would set up shops in places where money exists.

I did say that savings is also important but so is spending if we want to have a dynamic economy. We have to be very "conscientious" when we spend money. Everytime I buy something I always think of where the money would eventually end up. Like when I buy clothes and shoes I try to make it a point not to buy anything made in China. I know for a fact that there are hardly Filipinos working in mainland China. If I buy something from China it means I am actually draining our local economy. Now if I buy something made in the USA, the money will eventually trickle back into our economy because the Americans do not discriminate against the Filipino people (of course there are policies and limits) and these filipinos in turn send money home or invest here.

Now talking about savings, there are so many ways to invest and you must weigh the risks with each investment type. Savings in the bank is good if you want to be liquid but there is a risk that the bank might get closed, suffer a bank run and only 100k of each account is insured. Bank savings do not provide you enough protection against inflation and exchange rate fluctuation though. Insurance is also a good way to invest especially if you are a breadwinner. Stocks, sad to say most companies in our stock market is too volatile and do yield good returns. I don't understand much about mutual funds. Investing in land is good because it is not likely to suffer much depreciation. The important thing is balance. You need to have bank saving, insurance, properties and other forms of investments for you to cope with changing seasons.

[c0kelitr0]

De buena familia.... :)

nyaks...no! my family's a failure actually... wasted all the blood and sweat of our ancestors...we are the weakest link of our clan.

[TJ]

i like bacolod's roads more than cebu's...well-asphalted, wide and smooth...

well today road budgets have been cut the highway project south of bacolod hasnt been maintained for lets say nearly 4 years already and the wide highway being built is barely only a kilometer long after nearly 4 years of construction. The roads and highways are a pile rocks and dirt. Why don't you take a look in Tangub. It has been already 4 years since the construction began and they plan make that highway all the way to kanbangkalan. In their current pace maybe a hundred years is not even enough to reach kabangkalan... And you know it is such a heartwarming feeling to see 3 or 4 construction workers with only few equipments, one shovel and 3 bags of cement like they are just building a small fishpond instead of a highway spaning hundreds of kilometers coz most of the time no one is working there 7 days a week. How niceee and the southern highway is rotting away into a dirtroad specially in tangub all the way to bago city some taxi's wont even take you there coz of the severe road condition.

[kyle@1008]

nyaks...no! my family's a failure actually... wasted all the blood and sweat of our ancestors...we are the weakest link of our clan.

then get some DBF pregnant...... :naughty: .... I'm sure yer BF won't mind...

[kyle@1008]

^^ your making me hungry coke.....

[lewdsaint]

Negros Occidental officials dispute gov't data

Editor's Note: Published on page A19 of the Dec. 12, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental officials have disputed a National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) report placing their province 27th in the list of 44 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

The ranking of Negros Occidental was identified in a report by Presentacion Penpillo of the NSCB in Western Visayas during the meeting on Dec. 7 of the Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council at the Capitol here.

The report also showed Capiz 11th among the poorest provinces, Aklan 39th and Antique 41st.

Penpillo said the ranking was based on a report released by the NSCB in 2003.

When Negros Occidental mayors questioned how the NSCB came up with its findings, Penpillo said the figure was based on data they gathered at the municipal and city levels.

Gov. Joseph Marañon said he found the data outdated and unreflective of the progress in social services made over four years.

"The data used for ranking Negros Occidental in No. 27 was from 2000 and 2001, and we are now entering 2006 so it does not reflect the present situation," Marañon said.

"We have implemented a lot programs to address malnutrition and poverty," he added.

Marañon said he asked Penpillo for a more current report on the poverty situation so the provincial government could address the problem properly.

Carla P. Gomez, PDI Visayas Bureau

[sugarboy]

...Now talking about savings, there are so many ways to invest and you must weigh the risks with each investment type. Savings in the bank is good if you want to be liquid but there is a risk that the bank might get closed, suffer a bank run and only 100k of each account is insured. Bank savings do not provide you enough protection against inflation and exchange rate fluctuation though. Insurance is also a good way to invest especially if you are a breadwinner. Stocks, sad to say most companies in our stock market is too volatile and do yield good returns. I don't understand much about mutual funds. Investing in land is good because it is not likely to suffer much depreciation. The important thing is balance. You need to have bank saving, insurance, properties and other forms of investments for you to cope with changing seasons.

To avoid the risks of bank runs, bank with HSBC. Sa imo be dinho? Bisan matumba ang Pilipinas, you can still withdraw your money there in the Gulf. hehehe.

Sa stocks, well, I can't be watching that every single day so let's leave that to the fund managers whose core competency is such. Which is why...re, mutual funds, maayo gid na siya. May i-recommend ko sa imo nga fund in case you come back here. You can choose whether it be in US$ or PhP.

Also, I believe that insurance policies nowadays are more sensitive to the changing needs of people. I'm amazed at the different types of policies offered nowadays. They are spectacular in terms of protection and investment! In my mind, I'm thinking, "How come they never came up with that kind of plan before?". Daw suya ko gani coz the old plans are way too inferior to what they offer nowadays.

Tsakto ka gid noy, balance gid.

By the way, I bumped into your batchmate Joben Infante a few days ago.

[Sinjin P.]

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
City sets up one-stop-shop for renewal of biz permits
By Roberto L. Bacasong

THE Permits and Licensing Division of the City of Bacolod will start Wednesday the One-Stop Shop for the yearly renewal of business permits at the Bays Center.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in an interview, said he started the one-stop shop during his first term in 1995. This was later followed by those who succeeded him in office.

Leonardia believes that the facility will help ease the processing of permits by business owners.

Meanwhile, Licensing Officer Ardis Jaculina, in a separate interview, said the one-stop shop will determine the economic climate of the City.

She added that securing a business permit is a pre-requisite to starting a business.

To avoid penalties and criminal charges, she also said, business owners should secure their operating permits at the soonest possible time.

Jaculina said the cost of business permits depend on the type and scale of an enterprise.

She also said a German-based organization has granted the City P285,000 worth of software and training.

Jaculina said the German Technical Cooperation (GTC) will help them in their collection.

"First the applicants should pay at the City Treasurer's Office. After which, they can proceed to the City Mayor's Office," she explained.

Next, the applicant goes to the City Planning and Development Office, the City Health Office, the Office of the Building Official, the City Tourism Office and the City Veterinary Office. They are also to make payments to their respective villages.

"All the encoding and payments for the business permits will be done at the Bays Center," Jaculina said.

In terms of collections, Jaculina said, last year's collection increased by P2.2 million when compared to 2004.

She is confident that it will even increase this year.

[lewdsaint]

Child labor in Negros not 'alarming' but increasing
By Ryan B. Lachica

NOT alarming but increasing, clarified Department of Social Welfare and Development on the conflicting report of child labor in Negros Occidental.

Governor Joseph Marañon took exception to a the report of the International Labor Organization (ILO) disclosing that 4,477 children (aged five to 17) are engaged in child labor.

Rosene Depa, project coordinator of Christian Children's Fund (CCF), said Negros Occidental ranked sixth in child labor cases.

She added ILO tapped CCF together with World Vision, Educational Research Development Assistance Foundation Inc., and Plan International to come up with the study to help the government address the increasing situation of child labor in Negros.

The town of Binalbagan topped in the ILO survey with 2,599 cases that included Barangays Bagroy - 221; Bi-ao - 907; Marina - 231; and Payao - 1240.

La Carlota City ranked second with 1,619 recorded cases particularly in Barangays Balabag - 197; Cubay - 481; La Grania - 620; and Nagasi - 321.

In Bacolod City, some 259 children are already working to bring food to the family table.

"There are many reasons why child labor in Negros is visible. One reason is the failure in the education system," CCF's Depa said.

Children, especially in the mountainous areas, are forced to work because schools are remote in their areas.

"The demand for child workers is increasing. Children prefer to work and help their family than go on with their studies," said Depa.

ILO's report, however, was contrary to the report of DSWD Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City released also last week.

Joel Galicia, DWSD Region 6 assistant director, said based on their latest survey, although Neg.Occ ranked No.1 in child labor cases in Western Visayas, yet the figure was only 1,680 cases.

DSWD report also said that Hinigaran, Murcia, Sagay and La Castellana were the areas having the most number of cases and not Binalbagan, La Carlota and Bacolod.

Marañon, however, said that DWSD report is believable compared to ILO.

He said ILO doesn't know whom to interview and what to interview.

Earlier, Negros officials led by Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco cried unfair over the documentary report of ABS-CBN's Magandang Gabi Bayan on Negros' child labor cases.

Zayco said the documentary was biased because the subjects were only selected. Child labor does not exist in Negros alone, he added.

He also stressed that the ones featured in MGB were only classified as isolated cases in the province.

Women with disabilities

Meanwhile, Soliman said women with disabilities are having triple burden: first, being discriminated, second, being women and third, being handicapped.

The DSWD secretary then appealed to public to give equality and respect to women with disability.

She also noted that there are women with disability, mostly mentally-ill that are being kept for quite so long by their relatives.

Women trafficking

She also said cases of women trafficking all over the country have become alarming.

Women are illegally transported to other Asian countries such as Malaysia to work in karaoke bars and beerhouses as commercial sex workers or guest relation officers, she added.

[sugarboy]

...I find Sta. Clara Executive Village too small and crowded....

I wouldn't blame you. To some it would feel that way, especially since you grew up in Sta. Clara main. Anyway, small and crowded can also constitute coziness. I like it that way...cozy.

If long walks were the order of the day, that wouldn't be a problem with me. I can drive up to Windsor and perhaps join you walking your dogs Dinho. Para sa akon ya, between Ayala and T&C...T&C ko gyapon a. Am sure you'd agree.

Pero sa tuod lang, long before Windsor and Cambridge were merged, perde gid ta ya tanan sa Swiso nga si Lattman (did I spell it right?). He had access via Windsor gate and Cambridge gate. :okay:

[Dinho]

Sad to hear about that TJ. I thought they had finished the road by now. How about the road to San Carlos via Mabinay? When I drove through that area from Cebu, I scraped the bottom of the car a few times but it seemed that they were working on the road at a fast rate.

[Dinho]

Sugarboy,

You are right about that. He has gates on both sides of the two communities. But a lot of people nowadays have gates on both the front and back of their property. I don't have a dog yet but would love to get one when I get back. It really is a nice place in the afternoon with many people out for a walk.

I dunno who Joben Infante is. I think he is either ahead or behind my batch. Some of my batchmates are already working in the North America. Funny thing is I was the first one to get a visa among my classmates but the BIG GUY ABOVE was leading me to the Gulf instead. Had to follow orders. And now I realize why He wanted me here first. It would have been harder helping the less fortunate classmates if I got a job there due to all the restrictions.

Been asking about SM Talisay and Ayala Mall at Northpoint several times already. Would you know about it? Do try helping BCPH find a better buyer than the City HAll. You just might end up getting a very big commission. I really hope that they would build a new City Hall at the geographic center of the city to spur new growth there. Sorry to disagree with you on this one TJ. A new City Hall at a new area could be one major factor in developing a new area. Land should cost very cheap at the area I am suggesting but it would mean that they have to make new roads and parks.

[kyle@1008]

^^ SM city is a go at BREDCO,... Ayala Center my friend,...is up and coming,.from the grapevfine it won't be at Talisay but at bacolod...

[sugarboy]

Ok so indi mo gali batch si Joben. He was one of the Arfien Governors mid 90s.

Ok. Read between the lines na lang ako. Your family has stake in BCPH/Luxur and we're trying to sell it. Sure, let's try to find a buyer. But it's gonna take a lot of cooking. The purchase of Cebu Plaza by the Marco Polo group had to be backed with a considerable stake by Metrobank. Sige lang, storyahan ta na lang sa Private Messages. Send me a PM on what you have in mind and how much we're shooting for.

[kyle@1008]

Bright forecast for
Negros economy in '06
BUT UNIFED WANTS LEDESMA TO RESIGN
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Officials yesterday were optimistic about the economy of Negros Occidental in 2006 with high millgate sugar prices, but expect Sugar Regulatory Administrator James Ledesma to face a delicate balancing act in protecting the interests of both producers and consumers.

Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc., yesterday reiterated his call for Ledesma to resign for failing to consult the sugar industry before lifting the allocation of 20 percent of the sugar produced in the Philippines as reserve, causing millgate prices to dip in the last week of December.

Ledesma should fulfill his wish to be the "happiest person" by resigning from the SRA, Lamata said.

Lamata insisted that there was no such gentleman's agreement that Ledesma would lift the "C" allocation if millgate prices of sugar went beyond P1,000 per Lkg, what was agreed on was if prices plunged below P900 the "C" program would put in place.

Ledesma said that if the prices of sugar go up he would let it seek its level in the market, Lamata said.

Ledesma's claim that he lifted the "C" allocation to fulfill his mandate of ensuring that prices remain reasonably profitable to producers and fare to consumers is not true, Lamata said, because the retail prices had not gone down and the millgate prices dropped.

Ledesma did not protect the consumers or the producers, but the traders, Lamata claimed.

If Ledesma had consulted the Philippine Sugar Alliance it would have recommended that he convert all existing sugar in reserve to "B" or domestic sugar, then wait for the reaction of the market, Lamata said.

If millgate prices still did not go down, then Ledesma could have then reduced the reserve allocation from 20 to 10 percent then observed the market again, and if the market still did not react that is when he should have scrapped the "C" allocation, Lamata said.

Ledesma yesterday maintained that he was secure in his justification for lifting the "C" allocation to prevent retail prices from going up at the expense of the consumers.

He said he removed the reserve allocation because the projected rate in increase of this crop year's sugar production is relatively slower than expected due to weather delays in harvest and milling operations. On the other hand, the sugar demand was unexpectedly higher for the month of December, he said.

Ledesma said millgate sugar prices of P1,002 per Lkg at the end of 2005 was a good price, and the next two weeks will bear out the effect of his move.

Millgate prices of P950 to P980 per Lkg are still okay, he said.

He said what is bad is if prices go below P950 Lkg that would prompt him to restore the "C" or reserve allocation.

Ledesma predicts a record year for sugar prices in 2006.

A sugar supply shortage is expected in 2006 that is predicted to keep domestic millgate prices high.

With a possible sugar shortage Ledesma is faced with a delicate balancing act of ensuring that producers enjoy prices commensurate to the supply situation while ensuring that the consumers do not suffer from high retail prices, Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela said.

In 2006, Coscolluela said, businessmen must learn to focus on business and forget politics to ensure that the gross domestic product goes up.

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday was also optimistic that the Philippine economy will take off in 2006.

We will also enjoy good sugar prices as long as the supply and demand are well managed, he said.

As of now sugar prices are very attractive, I just want to remind our producers not to forget the labor force, the governor said.*CPG

[kyle@1008]

Bacolod business
tax take up P2.2M
The Bacolod City government collected P177.8 million in business taxes in 2005, surpassing by P2.2 million its 2004 figures of only P175.5 million, records of the Office of the City Treasurer show.

In January last year, it posted a total collection of P60.406 million; February, P16.456 million; March, P6.618 million; April, P21.727 million; May, P4.838 million; June, P4.838 million; July, P21.568 million; August, P5.641 million; September, P5.848; October, P20.761 million; November, P3.753 million; and December, P4.792 million.

Records further show that revenues in 2001 totalled P130.201 million; 2002, P144.582 million; and 2003, P156.157 million. '

Collections are at their highest in January when business establishments renew their permits business tax, miscellaneous tax, regulatory and licensing fees and other business taxes.*CGS

[kyle@1008]

hi bacolod people, does anybody has a skyline photo of bacolod and nearby cities? :D i was hoping to find one ;) thanks!

Ill be bringing the other cities of Negros in a while Rusty... :)

[rustyboi]

^^looking forward to that! Thanks a bunch :D

[kyle@1008]

Since Quizmaster was kind enough to show us everything bout bacolod I'll handle the rest to the best of my abilities,... oh and as all you may know Silay city has a separate thread.... I'll start with Sagay... the Garden City

CITY : SAGAY
PROVINCE : NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
REGION : VI
FORMER NAME & SITES : ARGUELLES and then PUEBLO DE MAGALLANES
1860- “Arguelles” settlement site at Bulanon river
1870- “Pueblo de Magallanes” settlement site at
Brgy. Old Sagay


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CREATION

Founded in 1860 by Teniente Francisco Rodriguez and Basilio Cordova in the mouth of the river known today as Bulanon River, this place was called Arguelles. Later, by the order of the Spanish Governor, the town proper was transferred to the Old Sagay site known as Pueblo de Magallanes.

In 1906, during the administration of the second President Quintin Katalbas, the name of the town was officially changed to Sagay. The name was taken from the semi-spherical shell called “sigay.”

After World War II, the seat of government was transferred to the present site, Dalusan, because of its accessibility to land transportation.

In 1995, the Hon. Congressman of the 2nd District Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. authored House Bill No. 6543- An Act Converting the Municipality of Sagay in the Province of Negros Occidental into a component City to be known as the City of Sagay. In June 11, 1996, His Excellency Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 8192, which gave birth to the City of Sagay.


24 BARANGGAYS
1. Brgy. Andres Bonifacio 13. Brgy. Molocaboc
2. Brgy. Bato 14. Brgy. Old Sagay
3. Brgy. Baviera 15. Brgy. Paraiso
4. Brgy. Bulanon 16. Brgy. Plaridel
5. Brgy. Colonia Divina 17. Brgy. Poblacion I
6. Brgy. Cpo. Himoga-an 18. Brgy. Poblacion II
7. Brgy. General Luna 19. Brgy. Puey
8. Brgy. Fabrica 20. Brgy. Rizal
9. Brgy. Himoga-an Baybay 21. Brgy. Sewahon 1
10. Brgy. Lopez Jaena 22. Brgy Taba-ao
11. Brgy. Malubon 23. Brgy. Tadlong
12. Brgy. Maquiling 24. Brgy. Vito
LOCATION

The 66th city in the Philippines, Sagay straddles a good portion of the Northernmost tip of the island of Negros. Located at the latitude of 10 degrees 53 minutes and 50.52 seconds and longitude of 123 degrees, 24 minutes and 52.75 seconds. It is bounded in the North by Asuncion Pass and Visayan sea; West by Cities of Cadiz and Silay; East by the City of Escalante and Municipality of Toboso; South by the City of Talisay and Municipality of Calatrava. It is approximately 84 kms. from Bacolod City which is the Provincial Capital.

TRANSPORTATION

Ports = 2 (Old Sagay Port & Vito Port)

TOTAL LENGTH OF ROADWAY
TOTAL LENGTH CONCRETE ASPHALT GRAVEL/EARTH
National Road - 60.00 kms. 27.00 kms 16.00 kms. 7.10 kms.
Prov’l Road - 35.90 kms. 3.60 kms 0.00 km 32.30 kms
City Road - 11.40 kms. 8.60 kms. 0.30 km. 2.50 kms.
Brgy. Roads - 242.63 kms 29.10 kms 0.02 km 213.51 kms
Total - 349.93 kms 68.30 kms 16.32 kms. 255.41 kms

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LAND USE

Agricultural - 26,688.5590
Industrial - 96.0873
Commercial - 47.1750
Mineral - 167.9800
Residential - 440.7959
Parks/Open Space
Gov’t/Edu./
Others - 2,670.9070
Religious - 145.7062

FOREST RESOURCES

A total of 193 hectares forest area of which 68 hectares is mossy forest and 125 hectares are classified as second growth.

WEATHER

Season in Sagay is not very pronounced; relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

HYDROLOGY

Rivers of Sagay: Himoga-an River, Bulanon River, Pacul River, Hamticon River and Tan-ao River. The largest and the longest among the five rivers is Himoga-an River with the average width of 90 meters and approximate length of 60 kilometers while the shortest is Bulanon river that runs about 19 kilometers before it goes out into the sea.

POPULATION (NSO Data)

1903 - 8,311
1975 - 95,421
1918 - 17,752
1939 - 53,767
1948 - 67,152
1960 - 71,335
1970 - 79,702
1980 - 99,118
1990 - 112,700
1995 - 128,374
2000 - 129,765

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POPULATION DENSITY

1995 - 389 persons/sq. km.
2000 - 393 persons/sq. km

Literacy rate - 92 %

College : (NONESCOST)- Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology
(TUP) -Technological University of the Philippines -Sagay Branch
Ateneo de Sagay

High School : 16 Schools (Private and Public, including)
1. Sagay Nat’l. Hs
2. SNHS Bulanon ext.
3. Sagay Night HS
4. Bato NHS
5. *Colonia Divina Integrated Sch.
6. BNHS Campo Bago Ext.
7. Vito NHS
8. *Molocaboc Integrated Sch.
9. Eusebio Lopez Integrated School
10. *S.V. Aguilar Integrated Sch.
11. S.V.A.I.S. Sewahon Ext.
12. *Himoga-an Baybay Integrated Sch
13. Holy Trinity Academy
14. Emmanuel Christian Academy
15. Abounding Life Academy
16. Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST)-high school

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ANNUAL INCOME:

1994 = *P 37,813,497.82
1995 = *P 44,343,343.54
1996 = *P 53,436,565.11
1997 = P195,940,482.77
1998 = P231,045,173.35
1999 = P 262,537,667.37
2000 = P 312,505,790.86
2001 = P 295,609,213.45
2002 = P 274,610,504.17
2003 = P 298,940,368.61
RELIGIONS

Roman Catholic, Protestants, Islam, Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, Alaph Divine Temple, Pagtulun-an (Dios nga Amahan), Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventist

DIALECT

- Ilonggo, Cebuano, English & Tagalog

LABOR FORCE & EMPLOYMENT (1998)

Labor force (Economically Active Pop.-15 yrs. & over) - 60.20 %
In the Labor Force - 71.34 %
Not in the Labor Force - 28.66 %

ELECTRICITY

VRESCO and Barangay Operated Electric Power System in Molocaboc Island.

INDUSTRIES


A. 2 Sugar Centrals
Sagay Central Inc.
Lopez Sugar Corp.
B. 1 Iceplant
Sagay Ice Plant
C. 1 Bagasse Textboard Factory
Sagay Diversified Industries, Inc
D. 8 Lime quarries
E.12 Rice and Corn mills
F. Livestocks, garments & metal Working
G. Fishing
89 Hulbot-hulbot operators
534 motorized banca
797 non-motorized fishing
BANKING

- Rural Bank of Sagay, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Land Bank of the Philippines

BUSINESS

- 1,030 Commercial Establishments
- 7 Planters Association

[Sinjin P.]

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[Sinjin P.]

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Manila - Bacolod
By Air
One could take Domestic flights from Manila to Bacolod at NAIA (NinoyAquino International
Airport) serviced by PAL (Philippine Airlines), Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. Daily Flights
available.
By Sea
Going to Bacolod is easy. WG&A SuperFerry and Negros Navigation can take you to Bacolod
with regular shipping schedules.

Bacolod - Sagay
By Land
Sagay is approximately a two-hour drive by private car from Bacolod
City. Public utility vehicles regularly plying the northern Negros highway
pass by this newly-chartered city in the north.

[kyle@1008]

^^ haha.... your good quizmaster,....

[Sinjin P.]

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The name Sagay was inspired by these delicate, yellow, pearly, semi-spherical shell called
'Sigay'. Visit our City and experience Sagay's Sea, Sun and Sights. Know where to go, where
to stay and where to dine.

Sagay City, the “Garden City of the North,” has so much to showcase to its visitors.
The charm of its destinations, sand and water, exotic cuisine are tempting invitations . . .

We have every reason to invite tourists to experience our SEA, SAND and SIGHTS at
Carbin Reef, a marine sanctuary with its unique sandbar, clear water and virtually clean
environment.

[Sinjin P.]

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http://www.sagay-city.com.ph/images/smrpic1.gifBRIEF HISTORY

Sagay City is considered one of the major fishing grounds in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines; it is bounded in the north by the Visayan sea, a portion of the country known for vast marine resources.
Man’s wanton abuse of Sagay’s marine environment resulted to massive destruction in the area, sometime in the late 1970’s, the town mayor of Sagay initiated the conservation and management of the dying coral reefs with the help of the technical expertise of Silliman University Marine Laboratory In the 1980s, a marine sanctuary was established in Carbin Reef and was formally proclaimed as a protected area through a municipal ordinance and was extended to Panal, Maca and the fringing reefs of Molocaboc islands.

In 1995, the passage of Presidential Proclamation 592 declaring approximately 32,000 hectares of Sagay’s Territorial Waters as Protected Seascape under the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act was a major milestone for the fishing communities.

Among the salient activities of the program are resource management (mangrove reforestation, resource surveys and assessment, fish catch data gathering and monitoring of red tide occurrence), social development (community organizing, conduct related seminar workshops and 'pulong-pulong', provide micro-lending on alternative livelihood schemes and introduced sustainable fishing methods) and law enforcement (bantay dagat force).

In recognition of the program’s endeavor, a prestigious national award giving body, Gawad Galing Pook selected Sagay Marine Reserve as one of the ten innovative program initiated by an LGU in 1997 in the marine conservation and protection program.

In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act. No. 9106 otherwise known as the Sagay Marine Law which bestowed concrete mechanism for the program's sustainability.

Authored and introduced by Negros Occidental 2nd District Congressman and forerunner of this program since the 1970s, Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. during the 2nd Regular Session of Congress, the Law establishes about 32,000 hectares of island barangays and coastal waters and reefs in Sagay as marine protected area, "to enable the reefs to regenerate and reestablish the stock of marine life."

[Sinjin P.]

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Museo sang Bata sa Negros, the first hands-on and interactive children's museum in Negros opened its door last July 11, 2004 at the Old Municipal Buiding in Sagay City with CEO and President of Museo Pambata Nina Lim Yuson as guest of Honor and speaker.

"This is envisioned to be a premiere children's hands-on and interactive museum that will awaken and stimulate the creative and intellectual potential of Negrense children, " says Mrs. Sonia Marañon-Sarrosa, the president of Museo sang Bata sa Negros Foundation, Inc. (MBNFI).

The museum has two main permament interactive exhibits featuring the highly acclaimed Cinco de Noviembre and the Hampangan of Mara Montelibano. The children will also enjoy varied activities at the museum such as arts anmd crafts, activities and workshops, storytelling, performances, puppet shows, filmshowings, educational talks and activities and literacy programs.

The Board of Trustees of the Museo sang Bata sa Negros Foundation, Inc. are Eusebio Lopez, Chairman Sonia M. Sarrosa, President Lyn B. Gamboa, Vice President Marilou S. Jalandoni, Treasurer Merle M. Severino, Assistant Treasurer Lourdes L. Escalante, Secretary Susan M. Javelosa, Assistant Secretary Leo Rafael M. Cueva, Corazon G. Escario, Mildred L. Garay, Anna P. Lacson, Aida L. Marañon and Alicia Barcelona. Governor Joseph Marañon has been elected as honorary chairman of the foundation. Ms. Lilibeth Lao is presently the director of the museum.

[sugarboy]

.... It would have been harder helping the less fortunate classmates if I got a job there due to all the restrictions.....

Damo man ko dira tani gusto buligan. I guess that's why I liked being in LCC so much. Everyday would always be a day with both feet on the ground. Maayo man tani makastorya ta isa ka programa on that note.

[Sinjin P.]

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This very church was established during the religious administration or Recollect Friars in the mid - 1850’s. Devotees flock to the Shrine of San Vicente de Ferrer at Brgy. Vito every Friday as part of their religious promise.

[Sinjin P.]

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Balay Kauswagan, the fastly becoming convention center of Northern Negros, symbolizes the commitment of the City Government of Sagay through the leadership of former Mayor now Governor Joseph G. Marañon and Mayor Fortunato S. Javelosa, in the total development of the people.

This center is the venue for seminars, skills training, art
exhibits, trade fair, etc. Through these activities, it is
hoped that the physical, social, cultural, political and
spiritual aspects of man will be enhanced and attain its
full potential.

Balay Kauswagan, the first and only of its kind, will serve not
only the Sagaynons but the people of Northern Negros
as well.

Balay Kauswagan is also a showcase of Sagay's key
attractions like the Marine Sanctuary, its beautiful, flora
and fauna, food and handicrafts through paintings and art
objects that decorate the center.

ROOM RATES

Private Room ---------------- Php 500.00
Suite Room ---------------- Php 1500.00
Conference Room ---------------- Php 1000.00
Function Room ---------------- Php 2000.00
Social Hall ---------------- Php 3000.00
Big Pool ---------------- Php 4000.00 whole day
Small Pool ---------------- Php 2000.00 whole day
Entrance
Adult - Php 50/head
Kids(13 & below) - Php 25/head

[Sinjin P.]

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Negros Occidental First Lady Mrs. Aida L. Marañon, Dra. Marilyn D. Marañon, Mrs. Sonia M. Sarrosa, Mrs. Shirley Javelosa, Mrs. Marnie Lobaton, Mayor Fortunato S. Javelosa and Vice Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva together with other guests and officials lead the initial opening of Sagay City Garden, Park and Living Tree Museum.

Set in a one hectare lot located at the city's new government center, this project is being spearheaded by Sagay Ladies Circle headed by Sagay City First Lady Mrs. Susan M. Javelosa in joint efforts with the City Government of Sagay.

Mayor Fortunato S. Javelosa lauded the effort of Sagay Ladies Circle for dreaming and implementing such a huge project. He further give his support for the completion of the project.

Mrs. Javelosa saiod this is the organization's humble way of supporting the thrust of the City Government, in making Sagay the Garden City of the North. She said that the reason of holding an initial opening is to present to the people and the donors what has been done so far.

Mrs. Sonia M. Sarrosa stressed that the success lies in the leadership and the ability of the people to unite. She said "this project reflect such leadership and unity of the City Government of Sagay and the Sagay Ladies Circle."

Sagay Ladies Circle Vice President Mrs. Anabelle Lobaton also narrated the history of the organization and the details of the project. She likewise acknowledged those who donated and helped out.

Included in the plan is the living tree museum area which will be composed of exotic fruit and non exotic fruit bearing trees, the flower section, the meditation area, lagoon, green house4 and nursery, and others.

Other organizations who participated in the planting are the Sagay Teachers Association of Retirees and Catholic Women's League - Sagay City Chapter.

[Sinjin P.]

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Balay Kauswagan, the fastly becoming convention center of Northern Negros, symbolizes the commitment of the City Government of Sagay through the leadership of former Mayor now Governor Joseph G. Marañon and Mayor Fortunato S. Javelosa, in the total development of the people.

This center is the venue for seminars, skills training, art exhibits, trade fair, etc. Through these activities, it is hoped that the physical, social, cultural, political and spiritual aspects of man will be enhanced and attain its full potential.

Balay Kauswagan, the first and only of its kind, will serve not only the Sagaynons but the people of Northern Negros as well.

Balay Kauswagan is also a showcase of Sagay's key attractions like the Marine Sanctuary, its beautiful, flora and fauna, food and handicrafts through paintings and art objects that decorate the center.

[Weina]

dasig ah 2nd page pa lang kahapon sang nag post ko subong in the 5th page na...

@Sinjin: I think your concern about savings has been answered here already so no need to answer you. Thanks to Sugarboy, Askal & Daks

@TJ:
I don't believe that if your chinese your are more thrifty and if your filipino your an overspender. That's abosolutley streotyping and racial profiling. Actually i know lots of poor chinese people, there are just as many poor chinese are there are rich. I guess it doesnt matter what kind of race you belong to, what i think matter is the experience and the way of life and culture the individual has gone through that led him/her to be thrifty or to be an overspender.

We know for sure that aside from the Jews, Chinese is also known about being thrifty. And yes of course there are poor chinese but try comparing the poor chinese to poor Filipino and you'll see what I mean. Just imagine the chinese population, in China alone there are already billions, how about if you include Taiwan, Singapore, etc. they are also chinese countries. If you do your math yes there are millions of poor chinese but compared to ours it's still a lot lower. Anyway, my point here is we have to accept reality, there are still a lot of poor people in the Philippines. Maybe you cannot find it in your neighbourhoods but i'm sure they are scattered in the whole regions of the Philippines. Maybe it's too selfish to say, but really I don't mind the poor in other countries, am too darn tired of thinking fo them. I just care more about there in the Philippines. How I wish that there will be a time when our country's economy will improved and become stable. When this time comes, I think we will be the one hiring overseas workers from other countries. I am also fed up of foreigners stereotyping and racial profiling the Filipinos as the servant & maids of the world. Although i am not one but what's the difference anyway I still consider myself a Filipino and anything said about Filipinos will always be reflected on me.


Most chinese here are immigtants from china they lived hard lives back there in the communist regime and when they arrived here life was a liittle bit laid back people are more squandorous and they took advantage of that by keepng their back breaking pace of hard work as if they were still in china but instead here they were making money and lots of it.

another good quality worth emulating, hard work plus money wise attittude.

Also back then chinese have various strategies that are not known to the west even here in SE asia like in buisness the application of art of the war which was used by the founder of jollibe to compete against the arriving foreign fastfoods chains like mcdonalds etc...

you see another succesful chinese here...

The point is if your filipino or watever race you are it doesnt matter it's the enviroment and cultures you grew up in that molds you not your blood.

^He is also in the Philippine environment but he made it because he is Chinese. Business naturally runs on their blood but of course there are always exceptions to the rules. I don't like to appear here like gratifying the Chinese because I disliked many of their ways too. However, there are so many things to learn from them especially when it comes to money matters.

Also to add to japans success japan has over a hudred not to mention even a millenium of steady education which the people are tought to be loyal even at the end of wwII the people never rebelled. They have roots in bushido the hagakure the way of the samurai which i also admire also musashi's book of the five rings in which they adopted it's concepts into buisness and formed corporations called zaibatzu's demanding absolute loyalty to their workers. According to kaizen strategy the employess or workers are the most important part of the buinness and customers only the second. I think we should learn more on the japanese and chinese philosophy and apply it. I find them more suitable and understandable than western strategies and i think westerners are adopting this too.

the best thing we should do is to emulate the good of others and learn from their mistakes.

[Sinjin P.]

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To rediscover the past of ILCO Train No. 7 fondly called by many as ‘siete’ brings silhouette memories even at the sound of her siren especially to those who have shared their lives with her.

Colin Garratt, author of the book, Iron Dinosaurs considered Train No. 7 as the “world’s most incredible steam survivor” and even proclaiming her a ‘portrait of a dinosaur’ at the date his book was published in 1976.

‘Siete’ is a 3 feet, 6 inches gauge 4-cylinder compound 0-6-6-0 mallet that was built in 1925 by Locomotive Baldwin Works in Philadelphia, U.S.A. Her body is ornated with green livery lined in red, her eight-wheel bogie tender was done in black with bold letters painted ‘INSULAR LUMBER CO.’

Most of those who experienced ‘siete’ says “she is a ghost who refuses to die.” After her birth in 1925, she served exhaustively somewhere in America believed to be hauling lumber and later was declared ‘retired.” Somehow she managed to arrive in 1930’s at Insular Lumber Co., in Brgy. Fabrica managed then by Harvie Pope, an Englishman. Soon enough she was revived by a team of talented mechanics at the local workshop then headed by Mr. William Allen while the railroad lines by Carlos Orleans.

During her hiatus with ILCO, she hauls thirty-two cars weighing 30 tons with boiler pressure of 280 lbs per square inch and was acclaimed to be the most powerful steam engine in Negros Island. She practically travel at least 21 miles everyday from “Maaslud” passing track to the sawmill site in Fabrica compound. “Siete” was instrumental in steering millions of dollars to ILCO, making it the world’s largest hardwood lumber company at that time and has provided jobs to the locals.

There were many accounts of disasters that were recollected by one that will forever remain in the minds of Fabricañans was the fatal accident in Piyok bridge. “In September 1957, fifty people were killed when four log cars broke away from the rear of a loaded train coming down from ‘Maaslud.’ Once the split had been notices, the brakemen signaled the driver to stop; this he did on a high trestle bridge. But when the breakaway cars caught up, they were travelling at high speed and, striking the train they knocked it down into a ravine far below. Most of the dead were passengers illicitly riding on the logs.”*
Also, another significant story about this 75-ton steam locomotive was the disaster that occurred one night after heavy rains. “She started off a huge landslide into a completely irretrievable position in a river bed far below. The mallet had to be dismantled where she lay and the pieces hauled back up to track level by wincing ropes.”*

More than four decades of serving ILCO as the main work-horse in hauling logs, the management decided to transfer its operations to Hinoba-an. But No. 7 was left in Sagay and was sold to Sagay Central Inc. in 1975 together with some other rolling stocks. Nevertheless, she served the said company in such a short stint because of the railway’s incapacity to carry her. After a year or so, she slumbered in the junkyard of the central’s compound for twenty long, silent years. Knowing the significance of Siete to the people of Sagay, particularly to the Fabricañans, Edgar and Sonia Sarrosa purchased the legendary steam locomotive.

For their love and affection to Sagay and so that the memories of siete will be perpetually relived, Edgar and Sonia Sarrosa and children, donated the

Upon her arrival at the city plaza sometime in November of the same year, she was in total disarray and was profusely rusted. After months of assiduous restoration work by the General Services Office headed then by Apolinario P. Malundo Jr. and through its mechanical shop general foreman Reynaldo Oreta, Siete now stands majestically at the city public plaza, attracting every tourist and passersby.

[Sinjin P.]

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This festival is the City's way of preserving the heritage of her people. The gentle, joyful and hardworking Sagaynon whose name God chose to be symbolized by this humble spherical shell which dances as it allows the roaring waves to toss it to shore and pulls it back to the sea in ritual merrymaking.

Historically, Sagay derived her name from a semi-spherical shell, "Sigay" which abounds in many islets and shores of the City. The abundant marine resources continue to provide to this day sustainable economic benefits to her people.

The dynamism of the Sagaynons is the City's assurance of riding high above the waves of change in this new millennium. Sinigay is an expression of art and culture of the hardworking and God-fearing Sagaynons displayed and exhibited during the annual Sinigayan Festival as an eloquent assertion of thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings showered on the past year.

It is a native dance evolving out of the once religious rituals of our forefathers carried out through the ages and enriched by then intermingling of diverse Filipino customs and traditions, now gradually developing as a typically Sagaynon culture.

[Sinjin P.]

That's just about it for Sagay City. Next up is San Carlos City. ;)

[Sinjin P.]

Hataw
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/hataw.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/lagoon.jpg
Located in Sitio Katingal-an, Barangay Buluangan, owned by the Ledesma Family. About 12 kilometers from the city proper. Of the 10.4 hectares land area, 5 hectares with a 7 meter depth is a man-made lagoon & the rest planted to various trees which serves as a sanctuary for birds and animals.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/lagoon/Lagoon6_366.jpg

Mt. Kanlaon
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/kanlaon.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/peoplespark.jpg
Originally a garbage dumpsite, it took a bold decision on the part of the local government unit to allocate an amount close to a hundred million pesos and turned the place into a realization of a long time dream, the own park.

The conversion of the reclamation area into People's Park is backed by Resolution Number 255 passed by the Sanggunian Panlungsod on November 14, 1996.

Last July 1 of 2003, phase 1 of the park was completed and opened to the public in time of the City's 43rd Charter Day celebration. Construction of Phase II is on-going, including the fresh-water swimming pool which could be ready for the public in time for the Pintaflores Festival.

Features includes fresh & sea-water swimming pools, marina, children's playground, kiosks, festival area, promenades, picnic areas, sports areas & other typical features of a modern park.

The place has been a favorite hang-out for those who simply want to enjoy a quite afternoon while watching sail boats slowly inching their way against the back-draft of the setting sun. Wedding receptions and other social gatherings are made romantic and meaningful under a canopy of stars.

Like a beautiful butterfly breaking from its chrysalis, the 18-hectare San Carlos City People's Park promises of beauty and splendor when it completes its metamorphosis from a revolting garbage dumpsite into a scenic and enchanting tourist destination in Negros Island, a recreation of nature and its most artistic form.

Once an eye-sore, the former garbage dumpsite-turned reclamation-turned tourist park is now an eyeful. No visit to San Carlos City is complete without a view of the park.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/peoplespark/pp7_366.jpg

Pedicab
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pedicab.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

Pintabata Festival
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pintabata.jpg

Pintaflores Festival
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pintaflores.jpg

Pintalawas
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pintalawas.jpg

SCCFC Balik-Laro
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/sccfcbaliklaro.jpg

Acacia Playground
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/acacia.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

Miss San Carlos 2004
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/missscc2004.jpg

Gaisano City San Carlos
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/gaisanocitysancarlos.jpg

Pawikan
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pawikan.jpg

Lite Ferry
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/ferry.jpg

Pumpboat
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/pumpboat.jpg

[kyle@1008]

Well on with the show.... bow ako kay quizmaster...
presenting kabankalan city
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/logo1.jpg

Model of Growth

First-time visitors in Kabankalan City are usually impressed to see the rapid developments in this formerly bustling municipality now transformed into an even more vibrant gateway in southern Negros .

The steady growth of Kabankalan City has been significant in many respects –economy, education, industries, transportation and local governance.

An impressive landmark to all these developments, now a tourist attraction in the city, is the imposing new city hall. It is a clear indication that areas in southern Negros are keeping themselves very competitive amid an economy undergoing the tests of political instability and discouraging trends in global and national business.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/fountain.jpg
Just like any city or municipality in southern Negros , Kabankalan has its share of various problems to contend with. But under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Pedro “Bebing” Zayco, Jr., those problems are promptly addressed to with the way the local leadership, civic organizations and non-governmental organizations are sharing resources and expertise for their city to etch its mark in the efforts toward a better quality of life.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/museum09.jpg
Kabankalan has now become a shining example of how countryside development has been translated from the semantic of planners to a functional reality – the city is now a model of growth, serving as an inspiration for other southern communities to also push for excellence.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/plaza.jpg
Municipality/City: CITY OF KABANKALAN

Region REGION VI (Western Visayas) Code 060000000
Province NEGROS OCCIDENTAL Code 064500000
Municipality/City CITY OF KABANKALAN
Code 064515000
Income Classification: 2nd Class Registered Voters (2004): 87,305
Rural/Urban: Partially Urban
District: 6th


Barangays (Number: 32)
Name Code Rural/ Urban
Bantayan 064515001 Rural
Binicuil 064515002 Urban
Camansi 064515003 Rural
Camingawan 064515004 Rural
Camugao 064515005 Urban
Carol-an 064515006 Rural
Daan Banua 064515007 Rural
Hilamonan 064515008 Rural
Inapoy 064515009 Rural
Linao 064515010 Rural
Locotan 064515011 Rural
Magballo 064515012 Rural
Oringao 064515013 Rural
Orong 064515014 Rural
Pinaguinpinan 064515015 Rural
Barangay 5 (Pob.) 064515016 Urban
Barangay 6 (Pob.) 064515017 Urban
Barangay 7 (Pob.) 064515018 Urban
Barangay 8 (Pob.) 064515019 Urban
Barangay 9 (Pob.) 064515020 Urban
Barangay 1 (Pob.) 064515021 Urban
Barangay 2 (Pob.) 064515023 Urban
Barangay 3 (Pob.) 064515024 Urban
Barangay 4 (Pob.) 064515025 Urban
Salong 064515026 Rural
Tabugon 064515027 Rural
Tagoc 064515028 Rural
Talubangi 064515029 Urban
Tampalon 064515030 Rural
Tan-Awan 064515031 Rural
Tapi 064515032 Rural
Tagukon 064515033 -

[Sinjin P.]

Koi
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/koi.JPG

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/gpa_bfp.jpg
What was primarily conceived as a project designed to answer a pressing needs of residents of Barangay Buluangan, the Buluangan Fishport project turned out to be more than just a local activity. It brought national fame and one (1) unit ambulance to the city.

This locally funded Fishport project brought the name of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental into the national limelight as one of the top 20 outstanding programs in the country in the 1994-1995 Galing Pook Awards sponsored by the Asian Institute of Management and the Local Government Academy due to its socio-economic and environmental impact to the Buluangan community. The ambulance came later as a prize for winning the award.

The project which cost the city government P3.75 million from its general fund was undertaken by the city government. It has a 204 lineal meter concrete and modern facility where economic growth convenience and safety of the fishermen are the prime consideration in its construction.

The fishport is provided with lighting facilities, railings, concrete steps and shed housed. With this modern docking facility, residents of Brgy. Buluangan who depend on fishing for their daily living are able to increase their income and improve their standard of living.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/ggpbfp1.jpg
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/ggpbfp2.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/gpa_dsk.jpg
"Daan sa Kaunlaran" road project (locally known as the 'P70-million' road) is a locally funded 42 km. road network that spans across tough mountain terrains up to the boundary of Don Salvador Benedicto linking five of the city's eight mountain barangays to the city proper.

It's more than just a farm-to-market road, a fitting answer to the needs of the city's rich agricultural barangays.

It facilitated the extension of basic services like health, education, technical assistance and others to the mountain folks.

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/ggpdsk1.jpg
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/ggpdsk3.gif

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/sipaway.jpg
Situated in the eastern part of the city, geographically known as Refugio Island. Travel time is 10-15 minutes by pumpboat to Dapdap wharf in Barangay San Juan and 20-25 minutes to Barangay Ermita. Land is approximately 391.9 hectares of coral stones and white silica sands.

The island has century-old Balete tree, Basilia white sand beach resort, Whispering Palms Island Resort, Lopez beach house for snorkeling & scuba diving, a private wharf and recreation center, and a huge public swimming pool.

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/pics/sipaway.gif
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/sipaway_us.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/cathedral.jpg
Became a Parish on 1895 and was constructed on 1891 during the term of Fr. Pedro Chivite, OAR. Present Bishop is Msgr. Jose Fuerte Advincula, DD. It became a Diocese on February 10, 1988 covering the Municipality of Manapla, Negros Occidental to La Libertad of Negros Oriental.

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/cathedral_185.jpg

[slerz]

Bacolod is Grand :okay:

[Sinjin P.]

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/alinsyawan.jpg
Situated in Sitio Aglolo-od, Barangay Palampas, this city. About 35 minutes by private vehicles, 1 hour or less by public conveyance (jeepney/ motorcab), fares about P7.00 to Pamahawan and P15.00 to the falls. From the city to the falls is about 7 kilometers passing Hacienda Euzcara, Hacienda Neguri, Pamahawan, Hacienda Vasconia going to Sitio Aglolo-od.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/alinsyawanfalls.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/codcod.jpg
Situated at the foot of the Kanla-on Volcano within the boundary of Barangay Codcod. Approxi- mately 1 hour travel time and about 30 kilometers from the city proper. The area is the granary of agri-products. Rice and vegetables are planted in a stair-like paddies that depicts stairway to heaven or terraces.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/pics/ss/riceterraces.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/grotto1.jpg
Located in Barangay Rizal. Owned and managed by the Eusebio and Cui Families. Just 5-10 minutes away from the city proper. Features are life-size religious icons depicting the 14 stations of the cross and the miraculous image of Our Lady of Lourdes at the grotto. Travel distance is about 2.5 kilometers.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/grotto.jpg

http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/peebles.jpg
Located in Barangay Buluangan and is about 20 minutes or 16 kilometers away from the city proper. It features volleyball court, large cottage for 150 PAX and small cottages for 10 PAX with toilets. Entrance fee per head is charged when entering this 1.5-hectare resort.
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/visitors/pics/peebles_366.jpg

Community Center
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/algers.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

Whale Shark
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/whaleshark.jpg

Century Old Balete
http://www.sancarloscity.gov.ph/about/pics/balete.jpg

[Sinjin P.]

@Slerz: The photos I recently posted are from San Carlos City.

[kyle@1008]

^^ that's just three... out of thirteen cities... lemme see, so far the only one presented has been bacolod, sagay and san carlos....... and sort of kabankalan...

[kyle@1008]

well... more on kabankalan city , negros occidental...

A city museum in the making

It has been City Mayor Pedro P. Zayco, Jr.'s dream to have a museum in the city. This dream is now turning into reality.

The city is lucky to have already an existing building suitable for this proposed museum. It's not actually a new building but the former city hall ideally located in front of the city plaza. This building built in 1933 had been vacant for quite sometime when all the offices were transferred to the new city hall in Brgy. Talubangi.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/kabankalan2.jpg

But life has again been lately restored in the temporarily abandoned building after Mayor Zayco decided for the Information and Tourism office to occupy the building. The mayor wants the museum to be under the supervision of tourism. The transfer was an initial step towards this plan.

The former city hall is now a landmark in the city with its American colonial design and was built with durable hard wood. It's wide windows of Capiz shell and ornate ceiling
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/kabankalan1.jpg
designs will be restored to its original state. The second floor of this building will be converted into a display area and will be provided by dividers and display racks while the ground floor will house the information office.

What is encouraging for this proposed museum according to tourism chief Vir Gerongani is the positive and spontaneous response from the public especially the young people.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/kabankalan3.jpg

When the people learned that a museum will be set up in the city many express a desire to donate their art pieces. Even the artists in the city are encouraged to form an organization confident the museum can give them assistance in their projects.

This early, the tourism office is already getting art donations from some of the residents and surprisingly the first donors are from the younger

generation. Our big thanks to Dave Zayco Tajanlangit, a young artist, who donated his abstract oil painting of Madonna and Child and oil on canvas painting of old jars.

Dave also donated three sculpted figures. A life-size clay sculpture of a squatting native in tribal attire and a terra-cotta figures of a sweepstakes vendor and a “katutubo” in ethnic attire.



Our thanks too to Keeney Jose Tañez of this city for his religious paintings which now adorn the walls of the tourism lobby.

President of Kabankalan Senior Citizen Association Rodolfo Garaygay also donated an antique mortar and pestle more than half-a-century old and a primitive corn grinder rarely seen these days.

These gestures from the city residents are good signs of their willingness to be a part of this art center that

will showcase the rich cutural heritage of Kabankalan. Our tourism office is now ready to accept donations of old art pieces, heirlooms, old pictures, etc. from the residents that can be displayed in our museum. These items will be properly labeled to identify donors.

[kyle@1008]

Oh and just to inform everyone this is the list of the cities in Negros occidental and their corresponding income category and ,....

BACOLOD CITY (Capital)
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 1st Class

BAGO CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 1st Class

CADIZ CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 1st Class

CITY OF ESCALANTE
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 5th Class*

CITY OF HIMAMAYLAN
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL -

CITY OF KABANKALAN
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 2nd Class
LA CARLOTA CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 3rd Class

SAGAY CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 2nd Class

SAN CARLOS CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 1st Class

SILAY CITY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 2nd Class

CITY OF SIPALAY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 5th Class*

CITY OF TALISAY
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 5th Class

CITY OF VICTORIAS
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 5th Class

:)

[Sinjin P.]

^^ :applause: For the Negrenses!

----

7000th post :cheers:

[kyle@1008]

here are a few photos I took of bacolod a few months ago...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/capitolatsunset.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/bacolodskyline.jpg

[kyle@1008]

^^ sorry if it's a little pixill8d

[chymera00]

do you guys have pics of Lopuez East or other Lopuezes in Bacolod?

[slerz]

@Slerz: The photos I recently posted are from San Carlos City.

ah ic, so I may say San Carlos City is grand :D

[slerz]

here are a few photos I took of bacolod a few months ago...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/capitolatsunset.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/bacolodskyline.jpg

oh! thanks @Kyle...
nice watercolor sketch :applause:

[tigidig14]

i cant see the san carlos pics anyway theres an island across over there called sipaway, were we stayed for a night. my mom said she was her classmate back in early 18th century. But they have the niciest port i have ever seen anywhere in pnas, seems like they copied "i thinK, not sure," the new quaipo version where mayor atienza remade. im very suprise, cleanliest city, i have ever been in pnas, huh, :)

[Dinho]

Sinjin & Kyle, Thanks for the San Carlos pictures. Just wondering, which side of Gaisano City San Carlos was this picture taken from? Last time I was there, Jollibee was at the front and is very visible from the main highway. I was also asking last time if the Gokongwei consortium is still planning to put up a Robinson's next to Gaisano City. Also wondering if you could provide us a list of hotels in San Carlos with the corresponding no. of rooms.

About Sagay, how may rooms does Balay KAuswagan have and what is the capacity of its function rooms?

[Philite]

a city with almost 500.000 people and zero skyscrapers its a dissapointment to me

[Dinho]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/hatonson/sipalay.jpg

Vacation homes in Sipalay.

[Dinho]

Philite, where are you originally from? Iloilo? Eindhoven, Germany is too far from the P.I. Washington D.C. doesn't have any skyscrapers, but it still is a beautiful city. Bacolod doesn't need any skyscrapers to prove its worth.

[Dinho]

Also i have noticed some are saying boracay is related to iloilo economy... I think there is some relation but only slight coz if boracay is directly involvled in iloilo's tourism then why not cities nearing boracay is benefiting as much as iloilo? duhh??

There is an airport in aklan in which would be just as expensive or even more expensive if you spend an overnight stay in iloilo (shoppings, hotels and restaurants) which makes more sense if your coming as far from cebu.

I think the sprouting of highrise hotels in iloilo is more buisness convention related coz there are lots of foreign nationals investing in iloilo (Also sometime ago the entire high rise hotel in small ville was occupied by foreign investors partcipating in the golf tournament sort of thing mainly koreans, taiwanese and hknesse).

In the case of our situation in bacolod there is the sipalay beaches which i think could also be a big tourist attraction if it becomes well developed. And until there is no southern airport down below there all people flying in outside the island must pass directly here in bacolod.

I said most people pass by Iloilo because it is the only sizable city in Panay Island. Most tourists want to maximize their trip and are not very much concerned with the additional expenses. What is there to see in Aklan and Capiz other than Boracay anyway?

You mentioned that Iloilo has high rise hotels already. I disagree because a building could only be considered a highrise if it is around 20 storeys high. Both Iloilo and Bacolod's tallest buildings are about 10 storeys high. So stop harping about Iloilo having taller buildings. Besides, a city does not really need to have skyscrapers if the land is not too expensive.

[slerz]

20 storeys? sobra naman taas ng sandard na yan, 15 storeys nga talagang highrise na yan... I think a building is considered highrise with a minimum floor of ten...

[sugarboy]

The clubhouse at Town & Country Negros. I don't think I will ever see a better photo of the clubhouse than this. This is classic.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/avenidalasalle/Skyscrapers/53745577.jpg

[daks2003]

hehehe


20 storeys? sobra naman taas ng sandard na yan, 15 storeys nga talagang highrise na yan... I think a building is considered highrise with a minimum floor of ten...

[cyrusal]

a city with almost 500.000 people and zero skyscrapers its a dissapointment to me

it doesn't necessarily depend on the population

[blueguy]

Sugarboy,

You are right about that. He has gates on both sides of the two communities. But a lot of people nowadays have gates on both the front and back of their property. I don't have a dog yet but would love to get one when I get back. It really is a nice place in the afternoon with many people out for a walk.

I dunno who Joben Infante is. I think he is either ahead or behind my batch. Some of my batchmates are already working in the North America. Funny thing is I was the first one to get a visa among my classmates but the BIG GUY ABOVE was leading me to the Gulf instead. Had to follow orders. And now I realize why He wanted me here first. It would have been harder helping the less fortunate classmates if I got a job there due to all the restrictions.

Been asking about SM Talisay and Ayala Mall at Northpoint several times already. Would you know about it? Do try helping BCPH find a better buyer than the City HAll. You just might end up getting a very big commission. I really hope that they would build a new City Hall at the geographic center of the city to spur new growth there. Sorry to disagree with you on this one TJ. A new City Hall at a new area could be one major factor in developing a new area. Land should cost very cheap at the area I am suggesting but it would mean that they have to make new roads and parks.



Sorry to tell you but there's no SM Talisay, in fact SM City Bacolod is right at the reclamation area, the one being fenced right now...it will be a two storey mall with two buildings separated by a road...its an SM mall like you have never seen before but smaller compared to SM City Iloilo, a lot bigger than SM Delgado...and the shops are high end lines, there will be two bridges linking the two buildings...There's no Ayala Mall in Talisay because considering the market of Bacolod, it cannot sustain market for other malls...look at what happened to Robinsons Metro Bacolod... There's a bigger chance that Ayala will build a mall in Iloilo City... right at the back of SM City Iloilo, the old airport...

The city hall of Bacolod will be transferred to Bacolod Convention Plaza, because the owners are selling it.

[kiretoce]

This is my first visit here on Thread III and I'm speechless! :eek2: (good thing I'm typing instead of talking. :lol: )

All the photos are wonderful and makes me yearn to go back to Bacolod and Negros for a visit. I never really appreciated it while I was there, now with all these great things happening to the city and the province gets me itching to catch the next available flight out! :okay:

[kiretoce]

a city with almost 500.000 people and zero skyscrapers its a dissapointment to me

You can't judge a city by the mere lack of skyscrapers present.

[cyrusal]

You can't judge a city by the mere lack of skyscrapers present.

yup! you have a point there... but for me. i easily get attracted to a city with skyscrapers on it no matter what city it is :)

when i was small, i never considered a city without tall buildings on it because my idea of a city is represented by a skyline

[daks2003]

Van, I have a gut feeling that you are very much connected with SM. The design of SM Bacolod, is it similar to SM Bicutan or SM Sucat? Bicutan and Sucat(aside abi sa mega) are the two other SM Malls I know that have link bridges between two bldgs.


Sorry to tell you but there's no SM Talisay, in fact SM City Bacolod is right at the reclamation area, the one being fenced right now...it will be a two storey mall with two buildings separated by a road...its an SM mall like you have never seen before but smaller compared to SM City Iloilo, a lot bigger than SM Delgado...and the shops are high end lines, there will be two bridges linking the two buildings...There's no Ayala Mall in Talisay because considering the market of Bacolod, it cannot sustain market for other malls...look at what happened to Robinsons Metro Bacolod... There's a bigger chance that Ayala will build a mall in Iloilo City... right at the back of SM City Iloilo, the old airport...

The city hall of Bacolod will be transferred to Bacolod Convention Plaza, because the owners are selling it.

[kiretoce]

yup! you have a point there... but for me. i easily get attracted to a city with skyscrapers on it no matter what city it is :)

when i was small, i never considered a city without tall buildings on it because my idea of a city is represented by a skyline

There are varying degrees of urbanization with cities, you have the highly urbanized city with shoulder-to-shoulder buildings, suburban cities with structures a little bit spread out mixed in with residential areas, and the rural cities with huge tracts of land surrounding the CBD that are mostly for agricultural purposes.

[Dinho]

Sorry to tell you but there's no SM Talisay, in fact SM City Bacolod is right at the reclamation area, the one being fenced right now...it will be a two storey mall with two buildings separated by a road...its an SM mall like you have never seen before but smaller compared to SM City Iloilo, a lot bigger than SM Delgado...and the shops are high end lines, there will be two bridges linking the two buildings...There's no Ayala Mall in Talisay because considering the market of Bacolod, it cannot sustain market for other malls...look at what happened to Robinsons Metro Bacolod... There's a bigger chance that Ayala will build a mall in Iloilo City... right at the back of SM City Iloilo, the old airport...

The city hall of Bacolod will be transferred to Bacolod Convention Plaza, because the owners are selling it.

The problem with Robinson's Metro, Lopue's South is not related to the economy of Bacolod nor is it about the capability of Metro Bacolod to support big malls. The problem with the place is that it is in the wrong place with not enough facilities. The place is surrounded by one of the less dense areas of Bacolod because it is quite close to the airport. Building a skybridge/overpass at Robinson's Metro Bacolod would probably solve the problem as there are always a lot of people waiting at the airport before and after flights. I think Robinson's would have been better off building a big extension at the main Bacolod mall as I notice that there is not a vacant space for new shops 2 years ago. Another problem with Robinson's Metro is that it is too close to 2 shopping centers and it didn't seem to have sufficient parking.

Lopue's South is also suffering a bit because of its location and to worsen its situation, the place was designed with a long driveway. The mall is not even visible from the highway. To date, it is the most remote and least visible mall in Bacolod. I loved to go there because the place was not crowded and it has a very big parking area. It is designed more like a mall in America's suburbs.

Gaisano City doesn't seem to have problems because it is accessible to pedestrians - its main market. It has enough attractions/facilities to attract other people and it has a sprawling parking lot and basement parking to top it off. The pictures of Gaisano City Bacolod & San Carlos are actually very deceiving because the place is quite long and "L" shaped.

Do not say that Bacolod cannot sustain an Ayala Mall. I think it is the other way around. Bacolod is more apt to support the ritzier malls, restos, stores because it has a bigger upper class population. In fact, it might be SM that will suffer because the Negrense population lacks a strong lower middle class and middle class which is the target of SM.

[Sinjin P.]

Sorry to tell you but there's no SM Talisay, in fact SM City Bacolod is right at the reclamation area, the one being fenced right now...it will be a two storey mall with two buildings separated by a road...its an SM mall like you have never seen before but smaller compared to SM City Iloilo, a lot bigger than SM Delgado...and the shops are high end lines, there will be two bridges linking the two buildings...There's no Ayala Mall in Talisay because considering the market of Bacolod, it cannot sustain market for other malls...look at what happened to Robinsons Metro Bacolod... There's a bigger chance that Ayala will build a mall in Iloilo City... right at the back of SM City Iloilo, the old airport...

The city hall of Bacolod will be transferred to Bacolod Convention Plaza, because the owners are selling it.

There are a lot of SM Malls with two buildings linked by an elevated walkway (SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM Megamall, SM North to name some)

Ayala Malls will sprout in Iloilo and Bacolod respectively but Ayala Land's priority to build a mall on at present is Bacolod. ;)

[Dinho]

There are a lot of SM Malls with two buildings linked by an elevated walkway (SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM Megamall, SM North to name some)

Ayala Malls will sprout in Iloilo and Bacolod respectively but Ayala Land's priority to build a mall on at present is Bacolod. ;)

Thanks for the information Sinjin. It was evident that a lot of people from across the strait are trying to put down Bacolod. How soon are they building it? I still do hope they'll build it in Talisay instead of Bacolod as Talisay doesn't have a big mall yet and because that is where most of Ayala Mall's main market segment will be living at anyway.

[Sinjin P.]

^^ Basically, Ayala Malls aren't too high end as most think. (It's just Greenbelt having to high-end shops and some at Ayala Alabang Town Center). Ayala Center Cebu now even targets Classes A-E, even Glorietta, Pavillion Mall and even more at Market! Market!

[Dinho]

^^ Basically, Ayala Malls aren't too high end as most think. (It's just Greenbelt having to high-end shops and some at Ayala Alabang Town Center). Ayala Center Cebu now even targets Classes A-E, even Glorietta, Pavillion Mall and even more at Market! Market!

That is true in the sense that Rockwell Center is more high end. I loved that place. It is not crowded and the interiors are well designed. But because Bacolod is a small city by asian standards, we will just have to content ourselves with Ayala when it comes. If it is placed in Downtown Bacolod, it will be attracting the wrong crowd who do not have as much money to spend anyway. When are they planning to start construction work anyway?

[Sinjin P.]

^^ Ayala Malls are one of the best mall chains in the world so you should never say that "we will just have to content ourselves with Ayala". lol. ;)

[blueguy]

Thanks for the information Sinjin. It was evident that a lot of people from across the strait are trying to put down Bacolod. How soon are they building it? I still do hope they'll build it in Talisay instead of Bacolod as Talisay doesn't have a big mall yet and because that is where most of Ayala Mall's main market segment will be living at anyway.


I am not really trying to put down Bacolod, my parents are from Negros and most of my relatives....but I know it because I work in the business...we cannot just say that by putting a bridge across the airport and Robinsons Metro Bacolod can already sustain a market, Maybe Robinsons overcalculated the situation,...and it does not necessarily mean that if Ayala has a land in the area they will automatically build a mall... There are a lot of statistical data that are required for one place to be able to sustain such. And it does not necessarily mean that if Bacolod has more rich people it will automatically sustain a business... Remember that the market of Iloilo malls is not Iloilo alone, there are other provinces which sustains businesses in Iloilo, including Bacolod of course...The reason why market in Iloilo is steady is because of the narrow gap between the rich and the poor... farmers in Iloilo own their land and in Negros it is either the rich who owns it with their haciendas...The farmers do not depend on sugar alone, they tend to maximize utilization of their farmlands...and that is what some farmers in Negros are now doing changing the habit...just what my grandmother is doing right now....It is not really an issue of us in Iloilo trying to pull you down...we also owe a lot from you...I am just trying to give my views...and if I guess SM City Bacolod will open on Oct... i hope you will patronize it because the mall will be differenet from what you have seen before...

I apologize if I said something wrong...

[blueguy]

Van, I have a gut feeling that you are very much connected with SM. The design of SM Bacolod, is it similar to SM Bicutan or SM Sucat? Bicutan and Sucat(aside abi sa mega) are the two other SM Malls I know that have link bridges between two bldgs.

Nope secret lang a...para ma surprise lang kamo pag open ya sa Oct...tapos pakilala lang ko sa inyo sa mall...

[daks2003]

hehehe i think i know you van hehehe ti may reserba ka na nga space sa amon? hehehe musta lang gle kay bro mo sa ATO bacolod hehehe ara ka na gle da sa bacolod project subong? hehehe

Nope secret lang a...para ma surprise lang kamo pag open ya sa Oct...tapos pakilala lang ko sa inyo sa mall...

[sugarboy]

abaw daw maayo kay naga damo na di mga ilonggo sa ini nga thread. maayong aga lang dira sa inyo tanan!

[blueguy]

hehehe i think i know you van hehehe ti may reserba ka na nga space sa amon? hehehe musta lang gle kay bro mo sa ATO bacolod hehehe ara ka na gle da sa bacolod project subong? hehehe


pagtapos na ang mall siguro...sin o ni gani a?

[TJ]

I said most people pass by Iloilo because it is the only sizable city in Panay Island. Most tourists want to maximize their trip and are not very much concerned with the additional expenses. What is there to see in Aklan and Capiz other than Boracay anyway?

You mentioned that Iloilo has high rise hotels already. I disagree because a building could only be considered a highrise if it is around 20 storeys high. Both Iloilo and Bacolod's tallest buildings are about 10 storeys high. So stop harping about Iloilo having taller buildings. Besides, a city does not really need to have skyscrapers if the land is not too expensive.


Yeah maybe your right about iloilo and boracay but if you have more sense and decide why would i waste money in iloilo if i can only fly directly to aklan... not mention avoiding the hellish bus ride.

Iloilo has more taller hotels like the days and the one in smallville plus many more in the city proper..... And buildings there are definitly bigger and taller because the city is more compact which make the land value even higher.

[TJ]

it doesn't necessarily depend on the population

Have u seen boston it has population the same as bacolod yet look at all the skyscraperrrrsss!!!!! :eek2: woooww!!!!

[TJ]

The problem with Robinson's Metro, Lopue's South is not related to the economy of Bacolod nor is it about the capability of Metro Bacolod to support big malls. The problem with the place is that it is in the wrong place with not enough facilities. The place is surrounded by one of the less dense areas of Bacolod because it is quite close to the airport. Building a skybridge/overpass at Robinson's Metro Bacolod would probably solve the problem as there are always a lot of people waiting at the airport before and after flights. I think Robinson's would have been better off building a big extension at the main Bacolod mall as I notice that there is not a vacant space for new shops 2 years ago. Another problem with Robinson's Metro is that it is too close to 2 shopping centers and it didn't seem to have sufficient parking.

Lopue's South is also suffering a bit because of its location and to worsen its situation, the place was designed with a long driveway. The mall is not even visible from the highway. To date, it is the most remote and least visible mall in Bacolod. I loved to go there because the place was not crowded and it has a very big parking area. It is designed more like a mall in America's suburbs.

Gaisano City doesn't seem to have problems because it is accessible to pedestrians - its main market. It has enough attractions/facilities to attract other people and it has a sprawling parking lot and basement parking to top it off. The pictures of Gaisano City Bacolod & San Carlos are actually very deceiving because the place is quite long and "L" shaped.

Do not say that Bacolod cannot sustain an Ayala Mall. I think it is the other way around. Bacolod is more apt to support the ritzier malls, restos, stores because it has a bigger upper class population. In fact, it might be SM that will suffer because the Negrense population lacks a strong lower middle class and middle class which is the target of SM.

THat mall is hopeless it has more chance of making profit if it were a hotel... but i think this building is a hopeless case a product of wrong expectations and economic surveys on the city.

[TJ]

I am not really trying to put down Bacolod, my parents are from Negros and most of my relatives....but I know it because I work in the business...we cannot just say that by putting a bridge across the airport and Robinsons Metro Bacolod can already sustain a market, Maybe Robinsons overcalculated the situation,...and it does not necessarily mean that if Ayala has a land in the area they will automatically build a mall... There are a lot of statistical data that are required for one place to be able to sustain such. And it does not necessarily mean that if Bacolod has more rich people it will automatically sustain a business... Remember that the market of Iloilo malls is not Iloilo alone, there are other provinces which sustains businesses in Iloilo, including Bacolod of course...The reason why market in Iloilo is steady is because of the narrow gap between the rich and the poor... farmers in Iloilo own their land and in Negros it is either the rich who owns it with their haciendas...The farmers do not depend on sugar alone, they tend to maximize utilization of their farmlands...and that is what some farmers in Negros are now doing changing the habit...just what my grandmother is doing right now....It is not really an issue of us in Iloilo trying to pull you down...we also owe a lot from you...I am just trying to give my views...and if I guess SM City Bacolod will open on Oct... i hope you will patronize it because the mall will be differenet from what you have seen before...

I apologize if I said something wrong...


There is nothing wrong about what you said and everthing you said was true it just some people here just cannot accept that and the fact that we lag far behind iloilo.

Also your right about saying a city of 500,000 without skycrappers is a disapointment to say the only city in the philippines to have true skyscrapers is mertro manila i think cebu is not even in the list of cities with true skyscrapers.

[TJ]

correction about about robinson metro bacolod i guess it is not hopeless at all the location was perfect for the population of the southren part will flock there.. it is just the mall wasnt big enough to attract people... even if you put that mall in the reclamation area people still wont go there because it is so small...if they expand and triple the size of that mall it will surely be able to attract consumers and you know filipinos like us always have this urge to go at big malls and spend more than what they need compared if they are just in a small or medium sized mall which is boring.

[TJ]

Correction again.... yeeeyyy!!!! cebu has been finaly added to cities with skyscrapers it has one qualified structure still u/c above 90m it is "Park City Central Hotel" (34fl, u/c)

cebu city is ranked 373rd city with most skyscrapers.

check it out cebu is in 373rd ranking while manila is 14th :) : http://homepages.ipact.nl/~egram/skylines.html

[slerz]

There is nothing wrong about what you said and everthing you said was true it just some people here just cannot accept that and the fact that we lag far behind iloilo.

Also your right about saying a city of 500,000 without skycrappers is a disapointment to say the only city in the philippines to have true skyscrapers is mertro manila i think cebu is not even in the list of cities with true skyscrapers.

you're right, Cebu doesn't have skyscrapers yet but once the 40 storey Crown Regency which was added 4 floors from it's original 36 floors will be topped off, Cebu will already have a skyscraper then it will be followed by two more 40 storeys tower II and III. Sana Davao will have a skyscraper too para balance ang Pilipinas.

[TJ]

40 stroeys woooww thats niceee!!!! im gonna visit cebu once it is completed i always have this passion for skyscrapers... thats why im in skyscraper city. lolz

Im hoping the econmoy will be better like in the late booming 60's and early 70's to have bacolod and iloilo will sprung some chain of skyscrapers too...

[TJ]

You can't judge a city by the mere lack of skyscrapers present.

your in skyscrapercity so expect to judged by the number of your highrise...

[slerz]

40 stroeys woooww thats niceee!!!! im gonna visit cebu once it is completed i always have this passion for skyscrapers... thats why im in skyscraper city. lolz

Im hoping the econmoy will be better like in the late booming 60's and early 70's to have bacolod and iloilo will sprung some chain of skyscrapers too...

pwede ka rin visit ngayon, kahit papano meron na din namang highrise dito but the highest is only 25 storeys nga lang as of the moment coz The Crown Regency ay u/c pa nasa ika 12th floor pa lang pero pagtiyagaan mo nalang... :D

Ako din, I'm fascinated with skyscrapers pero sana ang mga taong kagaya natin ay nakatira sa ciudad na napakaraming skyscrapers pero ala tayong magagawa, nandito tayo sa Pilipinas outside Manila pero kahit papano papunta na rin tayo don unti unti ... ;)

[c0kelitr0]

^^ remember many european cities don't have skyscrapers as well... it's better to have well-designed low-rise structures than tall concrete blocks!!

[slerz]

yup European cities are very beautiful coz of their architectural designed buildings but my passion goes to skyscrapers, I like skyscrapers much than low rise structures. It's just a matter of interests ;)

[c0kelitr0]

but do you think Bacolod needs such structures right now? will negrenses be willing to live in high-rise condominiums? is there enough demand for office space to require high-rises?

bacolod is huge in land area...and people prefer to live in a fenced and gated houses with gardens. even the poor dreams of such a house...i have yet to meet a poor family who dreams of living in Upper East Side :D Beverly Hills or Palm Beach is more like it...

bacolod's roads are free of traffic jams...a drive from one end to the other takes only a few minutes. so even if you live in the south and go to office in the north, it's not inconvenient a commute.

with these things in mind, there's really no need to live in a small area of high-rises where you can live in one building and goes to office next-door.

and of course, no mayor here would want to scatter such towering edifices everywhere. it would be better to build towers in a centralized district...

not so long ago, bacolod did dream of a CBD...it was even published in newspapers...but now, there's really no such demand...

Davao with over a million population doesn't even have a decent high-rise.

how about demands for office space? bacolod is pretty much an agri-commercial city so there's a little chance of building office towers.

how about demands for hotels? it would require millions of tourists a year before hotels would think of expanding...and would hotel developers expand vertically? is land so expensive in bacolod these days?

[sugarboy]

i agree with you coke. to begin with, bacolod doesn't have a clear strategy on how to market itself. so why build the hotels and resorts if the people aren't enticed to come.

i think bacolod has to revisit the CEI (conventions, exhibitions, incentives) strategy. it's still a central destination as opposed to davao which is further south.

[blueguy]

Hi guys just want to ask some facts about Bacolod City...
- What jeepney/bus/van routes pass the Bacolod Plaza (Libertad) ?.
- How far are the following barangays from the reclamation area (proposed location of SM City Bacolod)
1. Villamonte
2. Singcang
3. Taculing
4. Mansilingan
5. BanagoHope you could give the infos. Thanks!!!

[drfeelgood17]

^^ What's guapple pie, btw? I'll go with the puto, but minus the dinuguan! :)

[manileño]

maybe guayabas + manzanas :)

[Dinho]

TJ, Another factor why Bacolod doesn't have skyscrapers yet is because our city is right on the flight path of the airplane. Until the new airport at Silay-Talisay is operational and the old airport is decommissioned, Bacolod will not have any highrises. You must also remember that the more expensive lots in Bacolod is in Downtown which is too close to the airport and which means that though there is a pressure to go up, property owners are not allowed to do so for the safety of incoming and outgoing aircraft.

As for tall hotels, it is true that hotels in Iloilo are taller than those in Bacolod. While we may not have tall hotels in Bacolod, Dumaguete has them because of the pressure to build upwards. Dumaguete has roughly the same land area as Iloilo City. Dumaguete's airport is also positioned differently and does not hamper the height of buildings at the downtown. I believe Dumaguete will be able to have medium rise hotels (8-15 storeys) soon because of the density of the city. I think they already have a 6 or 7 storey hotel at the boulevard area while the tallest in Bacolod is only 4 storeys high.

Another thing TJ, the height of the hotel is not that much important as compared to its rating and capacity. Still Iloilo has an advantage there because of the recent upgrading and expansion of the Sarabia Hotel. I hope it'll change soon because Bacolod has a higher occupancy rate than Iloilo as of the past few years.

[ashton]

"Do not say that Bacolod cannot sustain an Ayala Mall. I think it is the other way around. Bacolod is more apt to support the ritzier malls, restos, stores because it has a bigger upper class population. In fact, it might be SM that will suffer because the Negrense population lacks a strong lower middle class and middle class which is the target of SM."


wow. I really like this statement/paragraph, it's challenging. hehe. I hope Henry Sy can read this and see what his reactions are :)

[kyle@1008]

Sugar prices hold
amid tight supply
BY CALAR GOMEZ
Millgate prices of "B" or domestic sugar held above P1,000 per Lkg on bidding yesterday allaying fears of sugar producers that the removal of the "C" or reserve allocation would cause it to fall.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator James Ledesma yesterday said prices stayed above P1,000 per Lkg for all sugar, "so there was really no cause for all that noise."

Ledesma had removed the "C" allocation late last month because of the tightness of the domestic sugar supply in the market that has caused millgate sugar prices to reach P1,030 per Lkg and above causing fears that this would cause retail sugar prices to go up.

Ledesma pointed out that his mandate is to ensure that prices stay reasonably profitable to producers and fair to consumers.

"It looks like James is right after all. The significant drop in expected production this crop year will maintain prices at P1,000 per bag even without the C," Francis Treñas, president of the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., said yesterday.

"James must have seen figures that we did not see - a very realistic and significant drop in production this crop year," he said.

In Panay prices of B sugar yesterday ranged from P1,005 to 1,030.50 and A or US market sugar from P1,020 to 1,037.44, Treñas said.

Reynaldo Bantug, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, said "the P10 to P25 (per Lkg) decrease in most mills is a healthy correction considering there is no more C. The P5 increase (per Lkg) for VMC indicates strong demand for refined. Planters should be more than happy with today's bidding."

Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugar Producers, also said the prices of sugar were holding above P1,000 yesterday and he hopes the trend continues,

At Hawaiian Philippines in Silay City, A sugar sold at P1,036 and B at P1,048, while at Victorias "A" sold at P1,055 and B at P1,022, Rojas said.

Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, who has called for Ledesma's resignation for failing to consult the producers on the removal of the "C" allocation, yesterday said his advise to the planters is not to sell their sugar below P1,000 per Lkg.

"This is all manipulation, they should go quedan financing," he said.*CPG

[boybleauXx]

but do you think Bacolod needs such structures right now? will negrenses be willing to live in high-rise condominiums? is there enough demand for office space to require high-rises?

bacolod is huge in land area...and people prefer to live in a fenced and gated houses with gardens. even the poor dreams of such a house...i have yet to meet a poor family who dreams of living in Upper East Side :D Beverly Hills or Palm Beach is more like it...

bacolod's roads are free of traffic jams...a drive from one end to the other takes only a few minutes. so even if you live in the south and go to office in the north, it's not inconvenient a commute.

with these things in mind, there's really no need to live in a small area of high-rises where you can live in one building and goes to office next-door.

and of course, no mayor here would want to scatter such towering edifices everywhere. it would be better to build towers in a centralized district...

not so long ago, bacolod did dream of a CBD...it was even published in newspapers...but now, there's really no such demand...

Davao with over a million population doesn't even have a decent high-rise.

how about demands for office space? bacolod is pretty much an agri-commercial city so there's a little chance of building office towers.

how about demands for hotels? it would require millions of tourists a year before hotels would think of expanding...and would hotel developers expand vertically? is land so expensive in bacolod these days?

I definitely agree.

Building of high rises is strongly influenced primarily by SPACE.

Going through this website emporis it can be noted that most high rises are in areas where theres the most limited available land and space.

Hong Kong is a territory of islands and hemed in towards the north by mountains...so the theres no more space to go sideways but up.

In Tokyo and Osaka.....while the race to go up is on due to limited land.....going down has been ongoing for the past 10 years. There are now subcities in Tokyo where buildings have 6 to 7 floors underground.!!

Here in our good old Pinas.... I would strongly predict that Cebu will have the tallest skyscrapers in the next 15 years. this is strongly influenced by its geography....hemmed in by mountains in the north and by the sea towards the east and south. This the reason why North Reclamation area was conceptualized and the new SRP. Once these areas are filled and occupied...there will be no more space but to go higher and higher.

of course other factors such as land costs......the higher the per squre metr price...the lesser the lot area (tendency).....the lesser the land area......the greater propensity to go UP to maximize space.

and lastly DEMAND.

is there an existing surging demand for space in high rises?....the law of supply and demand is the language in real estate business.

[ashton]

^^^ OMG!!! you're a genius!

[slerz]

WoW! oo nga, nice predictions... mag dilang anghel ka sana of your ststement about Cebu @boybleauXx :D

[boybleauXx]

slerz

mao gyud...ayaw sige tinagalog dinha.' bisdak pod ning dako uy...taga Butuan man ko :cheers:

BOOMING BUTUAN (URL=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=273209)

[slerz]

pero wa man go'y term nga "dilang anghel" sa bisaya o pariha ra tingali :D

[Sinjin P.]

^@Boybleau: Are you and economist? ;)

[boybleauXx]

sinjin

I am not an economist....just a plain Pinoy practicalist :)


BOOMING BUTUAN (URL=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=273209)

[Sinjin P.]

^Correct! Pareho pala tayo (lol. Assuming ko noh? )

[boybleauXx]

Mao gyud. :)

Its not bad to dream....we Pinoys ma Butuanon, Cebuano, Bacoleno, Ilonggo, Dabawenyo etc etc. must dream...and better aspire

But lets not allow our feet off the ground.

Lets all get to work shall we :) :cheers:

[slerz]

yup, we should dream positive things for our country and for our fellow Filipinomen...
not dream to destroy other cities dreams like what that Mayor of Makati is attempting over Cebu...

[boybleauXx]

dont mind him.

ana man jud na.....gina bato ang mannga na daghan ug bunga!

got it :)

[slerz]

yup, got it pero nganong batoon pa man nila atong mga bunga nga mas daghan naman silag nakuha nga bunga, angay man gani nga silay atong batoon (kanang ma sentro jud iyang agtang:D) kay sila ma'y mas dagha'g bunga pero unsaon man nga mga buotan man ta :rock:... basta bahala nang Ginoo nils... :D

[blueguy]

correction about about robinson metro bacolod i guess it is not hopeless at all the location was perfect for the population of the southren part will flock there.. it is just the mall wasnt big enough to attract people... even if you put that mall in the reclamation area people still wont go there because it is so small...if they expand and triple the size of that mall it will surely be able to attract consumers and you know filipinos like us always have this urge to go at big malls and spend more than what they need compared if they are just in a small or medium sized mall which is boring.

Yes TJ you're correct...although size isnt really a major factor. What Robinsons lack is a keen sense of knowing who and what their market is for a specific place. As for SM, zoning along with good tenant mix is very important. When you go to SM, you go there because everything is already inside. And that what makes SM different. You have never heard of an SM closing down. SM City Bacolod sits on an area of about 21 hectares of reclamed land.

Have you ever been to Glorietta lately?, the mall is not as clean as it was before...it is beginning to look like another "old mall"

Bacolod indeed has a good number of middle class, and that is what SM is geared towards to: Catering to the class "A" market of the city. You should have seen SM City Davao and you will see high end shops there like La Coste Chaussier and La Coste Apparel, Naturalizer, Guess and Baby Guess and soon Marks and Spencer and Starbucks...Their department store is very "high end". But the thing is Davao is such a big city and the market of the mall is not only Davao City but other neighboring provinces with rich "Muslims"... That is why SM sometimes have to adapt with the "local taste and situation."

[blueguy]

"Do not say that Bacolod cannot sustain an Ayala Mall. I think it is the other way around. Bacolod is more apt to support the ritzier malls, restos, stores because it has a bigger upper class population. In fact, it might be SM that will suffer because the Negrense population lacks a strong lower middle class and middle class which is the target of SM."


wow. I really like this statement/paragraph, it's challenging. hehe. I hope Henry Sy can read this and see what his reactions are :)

We'll just find out when SM City Bacolod opens in time for the Masskara Festival this October. Anyway I've posted a query in this forum, but someone deleted it... We'll just have an eyeball this October...and i hope you will welcome me there... hehehe

[kyle@1008]

^^ if bacolod woud sustain an SM.... it would be a purely "metro" bacolod market... it won't depend on the rest of negros ... take note that Kabankalan , Sagay, Victorias , Cadiz and San Carlos have their own independent shopping centers... bacolod would have to stand on it's own to sustain SM... aside from the fact that half the province faces Cebu... Negros occidental is a big province...with several epi- centers central negros would be SM's target market...

[blueguy]

^^ if bacolod woud sustain an SM.... it would be a purely "metro" bacolod market... it won't depend on the rest of negros ... take note that Kabankalan , Sagay, Victorias , Cadiz and San Carlos have their own independent shopping centers... bacolod would have to stand on it's own to sustain SM... aside from the fact that half the province faces Cebu... Negros occidental is a big province...with several epi- centers central negros would be SM's target market...

The "metro bacolod" market is already its assured market. But take note that in SM Iloilo, even people from as far as Aklan visits the mall and even Bacolod. Majority class "A" market of SM Iloilo comes from Bacolod. In Davao, people from as far as Cotabato and Zamboanga are regular customers of the mall. The mall will have transportation terminal like what other SM mall has. So, it will surely entice more customers to visit it other than the usual marketing strategies. Like what SM Iloilo did...Have you seen posters of SM Iloilo in Bacolod or radio and TV commercials during sale? Do you think other malls spends time and money for it? They dont...and SM does it...

[kyle@1008]

Sorry to tell you but there's no SM Talisay, in fact SM City Bacolod is right at the reclamation area, the one being fenced right now...it will be a two storey mall with two buildings separated by a road...its an SM mall like you have never seen before but smaller compared to SM City Iloilo, a lot bigger than SM Delgado...and the shops are high end lines, there will be two bridges linking the two buildings...There's no Ayala Mall in Talisay because considering the market of Bacolod, it cannot sustain market for other malls...look at what happened to Robinsons Metro Bacolod... There's a bigger chance that Ayala will build a mall in Iloilo City... right at the back of SM City Iloilo, the old airport...

The city hall of Bacolod will be transferred to Bacolod Convention Plaza, because the owners are selling it.

Ayala is prioritizng bacolod Van,... my friend saw the plans already,... and it's not In talisay... city hall is not gonna be transferred to convention and the Lizareses offerd it to city hall,.. they ain't selling it yet... where are you people getting all these info anyway...please do try to confirm things first...I'm getting tired of seeing misdimeanors in posting... :colgate:

[kyle@1008]

The "metro bacolod" market is already its assured market. But take note that in SM Iloilo, even people from as far as Aklan visits the mall and even Bacolod. Majority class "A" market of SM Iloilo comes from Bacolod. In Davao, people from as far as Cotabato and Zamboanga are regular customers of the mall. The mall will have transportation terminal like what other SM mall has. So, it will surely entice more customers to visit it other than the usual marketing strategies. Like what SM Iloilo did...Have you seen posters of SM Iloilo in Bacolod or radio and TV commercials during sale? Do you think other malls spends time and money for it? They dont...and SM does it...

of course it will.... the reclamation area already has a transpo terminal ready built already near manukan,... but the central negros market will be it's main market.... people from other cities won't come in droves... Bacolod would sustain it's own... this SM can't be expected to draw the southern market from kabankalan , which has a Lopue's and Gaisano or from the north which has it's own range of gaisano's and lopue's and not to mention cebu within the same equi distance...:cheers:

[daks2003]

Van, when you conduct your market study, what methods are you using to determine that a certain market would prefer high end stores or not? Are you relying on your own(SM's) perception or do you go down in the locale and ask people if they prefer or they can afford a certain "luxury" you plan to offer?


Yes TJ you're correct...although size isnt really a major factor. What Robinsons lack is a keen sense of knowing who and what their market is for a specific place. As for SM, zoning along with good tenant mix is very important. When you go to SM, you go there because everything is already inside. And that what makes SM different. You have never heard of an SM closing down. SM City Bacolod sits on an area of about 21 hectares of reclamed land.

Have you ever been to Glorietta lately?, the mall is not as clean as it was before...it is beginning to look like another "old mall"

Bacolod indeed has a good number of middle class, and that is what SM is geared towards to: Catering to the class "A" market of the city. You should have seen SM City Davao and you will see high end shops there like La Coste Chaussier and La Coste Apparel, Naturalizer, Guess and Baby Guess and soon Marks and Spencer and Starbucks...Their department store is very "high end". But the thing is Davao is such a big city and the market of the mall is not only Davao City but other neighboring provinces with rich "Muslims"... That is why SM sometimes have to adapt with the "local taste and situation."

[JudeD]

Residential skyscrapers being built in Negros Occidental is a very unlikely scenario any time soon. Just look out the window driving from Bacolod to either Silay or Dumaguete, you're greeted by expanse after expanse of mostly-empty subdivisions, the handiwork of landowners converting their agricultural lands to residential lots (in spite of the lack of demand) in order to shirk the agrarian reform law. Other provinces may also be guilty of the same offence to differing extents, but this phenomenon is really at its worst in Negros Occidental. I dunno about you guys, but I find all these idle, misused lands a sad, ridiculous, infuriating sight.

[kyle@1008]

^^ I've seen that work JudeD I handled an FGD once in Murcia,... land is being converted and the saccadas are being evicted off the land.. It is as you say a way to escape land reform... bacolod has too much a surplus of subdivisions to sustain highrise conduminums... but,.. there's one being constructed in front of Robinson's mall, it's already at the fourth floor, I don't know how tall will it be... I just find it wierd...

[kyle@1008]

and additional info on ayala's investments on Negros...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/project_anp.jpg



The premiere residential address in Negros, Ayala North Point is a community following the village concept with a central core that will house retail establishments, a civic center and a school. Designed to work with its environment rather than altering it, Ayala North Point rises in harmony with its natural surroundings like river gorges and verdant fields.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/biking220250x310.jpg

Ayala North Point (ANP) is the first Ayala subdivision in Western Visayas in the tradition of Ayala's fully integrated communities in Makati, Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna and Cebu. The Ayala North Point's development masterplan envisions a fully integrated community following the village concept.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/kyle_Lark/project1.jpg

The development will house retail establishments, civic center, and a school. Connected by a 30-meter wide main avenue, the different villages will be catering to various income groups.

Features & Amenities
30-meter wide main road
Sewage treatment plant
Underground utilities for power, cable & telephone lines
Well-secured community
Adequate water supply & excellent drainage facilities
Landscaped entrance with guard house
Landscaped parks & playgrounds
Tree-lined walkways
Clubhouse
Swimming pool
Indoor-multi purpose court
Tennis courts

[daks2003]

I just hope the business community in Iloilo and Panay doesnt read this coz SM will have a lot of explaining to do. You have to define what SM meant of "class A". Is it the economic class or the type of goods SM defines as "luxury". hehehe Also, it could backfire on you, meaning the majority of the class A market of Iloilo doesnt shop at SM.


The "metro bacolod" market is already its assured market. But take note that in SM Iloilo, even people from as far as Aklan visits the mall and even Bacolod. Majority class "A" market of SM Iloilo comes from Bacolod. In Davao, people from as far as Cotabato and Zamboanga are regular customers of the mall. The mall will have transportation terminal like what other SM mall has. So, it will surely entice more customers to visit it other than the usual marketing strategies. Like what SM Iloilo did...Have you seen posters of SM Iloilo in Bacolod or radio and TV commercials during sale? Do you think other malls spends time and money for it? They dont...and SM does it...

[kyle@1008]

Oh and by the way I'd like to share this lang Negros Occidental was once a Republic...
a real republic albeit a short lived one separate from the Philippine republic in malolos..
so technically it was independent.....

“Republica de Negros”
“In this plaza of Bago was proclaimed the
Republica de Negros by the Revolutionary
Forces led by general Juan Anacleto Araneta,
5 November, 1898. Witnessed by Anaias
Diokno, representative of the Central Revolutionary
Government. This Republic acknowledge
The authority of the First Philippine
Republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.”

[ashton]

So SM in Cebu should be somewhat considered 'high end' as we have those branded shops mentioned below ... :) (except for Lacoste)


Yes TJ you're correct...although size isnt really a major factor. What Robinsons lack is a keen sense of knowing who and what their market is for a specific place. As for SM, zoning along with good tenant mix is very important. When you go to SM, you go there because everything is already inside. And that what makes SM different. You have never heard of an SM closing down. SM City Bacolod sits on an area of about 21 hectares of reclamed land.

Have you ever been to Glorietta lately?, the mall is not as clean as it was before...it is beginning to look like another "old mall"

Bacolod indeed has a good number of middle class, and that is what SM is geared towards to: Catering to the class "A" market of the city. You should have seen SM City Davao and you will see high end shops there like La Coste Chaussier and La Coste Apparel, Naturalizer, Guess and Baby Guess and soon Marks and Spencer and Starbucks...Their department store is very "high end". But the thing is Davao is such a big city and the market of the mall is not only Davao City but other neighboring provinces with rich "Muslims"... That is why SM sometimes have to adapt with the "local taste and situation."

[ashton]

oww, i thought it's the other way around, my ex Negrense gf always told me. :(


"Majority class "A" market of SM Iloilo comes from Bacolod."

i mean class A market will shop in Bacolod. :)