I always love traveling to Negros especially on a road trip for this island has plenty of wonderful scenerios from its wide sugarcane plantations to lush mountains. As a freelance writer, you can surely get many things to feature and write. And just this month, we traveled again for my brother’s wedding in Kabankalan City. The city has progressed a lot since I last visited it some 5 years ago and one of my discoveries was Zaycoland Resort and Hotel.

I love this vintage car..

If you are traveling to the city or planning to have a stop-over, this is a good place to stay. Strategically located in the middle of Bacolod City and Dumaguete, it is nice to stay in Zaycoland for a night’s rest before continuing your road trip. I also heard that many residents of Kabankalan are now living overseas, so if you prefer to spend your vacation in the city aside from holidays to Orlando perhaps, then check in to Zaycoland Resort and Hotel.

their pool....

The resort is quite simple, no extra frills in their amenities and facilities. They have facilities that is just right for a good stay like internet access, pool, restaurant just like any resort for holidays in Orlando. But what I like about this place which prompted me to feature it here is how warm they were to us. It was like staying in a home-stay rather than a plain resort.

The resort's restaurant

While sleeping, we woke up in a sauna-like temperature and it turned out that there was something wrong with their AC. We called them and it was amazing that their maintenance crew was awake ( fully!) and tried to fix it. We never waited for a long time since they let us transfer to another room—bigger and better! Yipee!

To sum it all, I wish to stay in Zaycoland Resort and Hotel in one of our future trips in Negros particularly when I’m on an assignment as a freelance writer. For more information and photos, visit their website. Click here!

This year, summer seemed to have come early with the occurrence of the El Niño that left many places in the country not just with a very hot temperature but shortage in water. And it was a relief when we decided to spend some family time in Mambukal Resort a day after my brother’s wedding in Negros.

Mambukal's relaxing Lagoon

This government-run resort in the town of Murcia was literally our oasis as it was filled with water with lush and virgin forest. Frankly speaking, this resort doesn’t seem like a government-run resort as it is well maintained and clean (sorry but I’m just being honest ). And as a freelance writer, this is a great place to feature in this blog. This place is something that we should be proud of even to international tourists who might be interested in spending some time in the country aside from taking New York City Breaks.

My boys having fun in the Dipping Pool

The resort has many pools like the children’s pool but my favorite was the dipping pool filled with its relaxing hot water from one of its hot springs. The water was hotter than the ones in Camiguin and it was sad that I can’t dip my whole body due to my pregnancy. I just have to settle dipping my legs and watching my boys having fun in the pool. I also saw some Americans having a good time in the pool obviously coming  from their New York City Breaks.

Pool Entrance fee- 50 for adults and 20 for kids...

The dipping pool reminds of the Japanese onsen or hot baths as it is placed in a natural setting of tall tress with bats flying above. Yes, Mambukal resort is home to some endangered species of Philippine bats also known as the flying foxes.

they are not fruits but bats hanging...

Not far from the dipping pool is the sulfur spring which we failed to visit since we arrived a little bit late. But my sister who came early said it was really hot with some parts of the pool boiling and sulfur was a little bit pungent. Too bad, it could have been a chance to naturally treat some skin problems of mine.lol!

I still need to visit Mambukal Resort again to fully visit and experience this lovely natural attraction in Negros. I wish to fully dip in that hot dipping pool, check out the sulfur spring and climb all the way to the waterfalls. So for your summer destination, travel to Bacolod which is the gateway to Mambukal Resort.

Here are some photos from our Mambukal trip:

Ishiwata Bath House. Newly renovated but first built in 1920s

Don't know if there are really butterflies in there..

Massage, facial, pedicure and manicure...

so relaxing

Bacolod City is not only the “City of Smile” but the city of chicken inasal where there are many restaurants specializing in this local cuisine as well as those sold along the streets. Inasal means, “grilled” in Ilonggo and comes from the Spanish word “asar“.  If you happen to be in this city, never miss eating their own chicken inasal.

Like the usual Filipino way of grilling meat, chicken inasal is grilled marinated chicken cuts from thighs (“paa”), breasts (“pecho”) and even its tail or preening gland ( chicken butt?) that is known as “iwi”. The marinade used is made of condiments from soy sauce, vinegar along with herbs and spices; of course, they have their secret ingredients for their marinade. Chicken cuts are then skewered in bamboo sticks before grilling over charcoal.

The traditional way of eating inasal is by hand as it is served with hot rice wrapped in banana leaves. With the juicy chicken inasal and smell of the banana leaves – who needs an appetizer? You are also served with calamansi ( local Philippine lemon) along with their soy sauce and vinegar for you to dip the meat. But with its flavorful chicken inasal, you can simply dig in to this sumptous feast.

In Bacolod City, the famous places to eat chicken inasal are Chicken House and Manokan Country. They have many branches in the city and  you can definitely spot one while you are touring around the city. Better yet, you can ask the taxi driver to drop you off to the best place to east chicken inasal in Bacolod.

Photo by: Ace Francisco

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Ancestral Homes in Silay City

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Taste an Angel with Diwal

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When we speak of  ancestral homes in the Philippines, we always think of Vigan in Ilocos which is no doubt a place that will bring you back to the Spanish times. But with my own ignorance, I overlooked a neighboring city where I lived that is also famous and known for its ancestral homes – Silay City.

Every blog and article will always mention that this city lying very close to Bacolod City in Negros Occidental is the “Paris of Negros”. With more than 31 delcared heritage homes, this is an Eden for those who are interested of our local heritage.  With this, Silay has more declared ancestral heritage homes throughout the country. Of the 31 heritage homes, only you can visit at least two which are open to the public like the Balay Negrense and the Berdardino Jalandoni Museum.Even there local Tourism Office is literally housed in an ancestral home, fondly referred as the “Green House”.

We tried to see all 31 of them and we wish we had a “map” of all the ancestral homes. It is very easy to locate them, since it follows the traditional status quo during the Spanish times these homes are located very close to the town square or plaza and parish church.

Ancestral homes are not new to me and living in Iloilo City specifically in Jaro district where old houses thrived with modern buildings, I was still very much in awe with the ancestral houses in Silay City. Its main “feature” is that they are located close to each other making this city a great venue for walking tours. Until now, I’m longing to go back to Silay with its laidback, carefree and still has the elegant touch of living their everyday life.

Photos by: Ace Francisco

But in between those main agenda, I have included these Things to Do in Silay and Talisay City:

1.  Sip the hottest native coffee ( this way I can enjoy my conversation with someone).

2. Eat breakfast outside of our pension house before the break of dawn..in the town square perhaps?

3. Walking cardio exercise along the sugarcane plantation going to The Ruins.

4. Gaze at The Ruins as the orange rays of the sun illuminate it.

5. Eat the famous Guapple Pie of El Ideal Bakery in Silay City.

6. Give a boring on-the-spot History lesson to the photographer on “The Rise and Fall of the Sugar Industry in Negros” as we traverse the 2.4 kilometer rough road going to The Ruins.

7. Getting lost while commuting.

8. Feel or see some ghosts or any paranormal beings in the ancestral houses.

9. Roam around Silay City late at night until we can hear the cocks singing their morning songs.

10. Take photos, have great conversations and write some interesting tales.

But I love Negros Occidental not just for its grandeur as a sugar depot and home to some of the country’s most riches and affluent families but to what its nature has to offer. There are many adjectives to describe each place we saw while on the road but if I were to choose one, the word is scenic.

Here are some of the interesting places that will leave you awed. And as a freelance writer, I can’t wait to write them in my blog.

Overlooking the mountains of San Carlos City

The Panoramic View of San Carlos City.

We traveled uphill to reach high altitude which will make you open your windows to feel the fresh air. We often stop at Jilla’s Cafe for that aromatic native coffee.

Rice Terraces just outside San Carlos City

Who said you have to go to the Moutain Province in Luzon to see the Rice Terraces?

Finally, the local farmers took advantage of the abundant irrigation system to yield their crops. Years ago, there were only few terraces but now, viola! I wonderful site! This is only a few kilometers away from the town center of San Carlos City.

The falls is more visible during rainy days..

Malatan-og Falls

It was very sunny that time so the waterfalls was not that visible. Still it is a refreshing site and worth a few shots. You can see this if you are in Don Salvador Benedicto.

One street lined with sweet-smelling pine trees!

My favorite sight in Negros Occidental!

More than a kilometer of spiny pine trees, who needs to go to Bagiou?

This is still in the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto  and because of this, the town won an award from the DPWH.

A must see!

So, the next time you want to visit Iloilo, Boracay or Cebu; skip the plane or ship. Take a land trip instead! For those who don’t have their own vehicle, a V-Hire or Ceres Bus pass through this route.

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