Alabang 2015| Staycation in Parque Espana

happened on Nov. 17-19, 2015

 

Due to APEC event, the kids have a week long vacation and we employees have two days off.  Upon learning this, my eyes twinkled with delight and tinkled my laptop quick and went to Agoda website for hotel booking for a nearby staycation.  As early as September of this year, our half dozen family was already booked.  I also invited my dear friend L who is living nearby to join us.  Once she agreed, I promptly booked them for a room.
 

 

My initial plan is for an Oakwood staycation since I fell in love with this place when we held my eldest daughter's debut there last January.  When I checked the price, it will cost me P24,000 for 2 nights and as much as I love it here, I can't with my limited budget (over quota already for all the travels I had this year).  Thankfully, I found this residential hotel in Agoda.  I searched for blog reviews and convinced that it is ok to give it a try and we have never been in Alabang area so it's a great choice, plus the price is just half of Oakwood's.

 

APEC has its advantage and disadvantage.  For one, it will bring good economic future for our country.  The worst part though is the heavy traffic it created for us working and living here in the metro.  My friend was stuck in Makati for almost 8 hours so she was able to arrive in the hotel at early dawn next day.  We were not able to spend the first night with her as previously planned.

It's a miracle that our travel to Alabang is a breeze though.  I can't believe that this is Nagtahan bridge.  In less than an hour, we are in Alabang already.  Since check-in time is at 2:00PM, we had our lunch first in S&R.  But since we are already in this place, I can't forego of doing my grocery.

Is this really Nagtahan bridge on a Tuesday???

Bacolod 2015 Trip| Affordable Accomodations

happened on Sept. 18-21, 2015

 

 

For our four days stay in Negros, I booked our hotels through Agoda.  It's way cheaper to book in advance.  I booked for Go Hotel and GT Hotel.  We were supposed to stay a night in Mambukal so I have two hotels booked but when we were there, I had a change of plan and just had a day tour in Mambukal so I just extended our stay in Go Hotel.  I still  booked through Agoda for this extension because it is still cheaper to book online and I don't understand why.

 

 

arggg.. those telecom cables

Our first two nights were spent in Go Hotel for only P1,959.00 and a night in GT hotel for P1555.50, with complimentary breakfast for two. 

Bacolod 2015 Trip| Last Day Tour

happened on Sept. 21, 2015

Our last stop for this trip are the town attractions beginning with the Provincial Capitol, the Lagoon Park, Negros showroom and Negros National Museum.

the Provincial Capitol

There's nothing much to see in this area.  The lagoon is big but with dirty water though there are fishes in it.  They could have properly maintain this one.

Completing this trip before leaving Bacolod, we headed to the Museum for our last stop.  Museums are a great venue in learning history and culture.  It's Negros history this time.  Entrance fee is P100.00.  It's quite pricey so I'm expecting a nice museum here.

Bacolod 2015 Trip| It's Definitely a Food Haven

happened on September 2015

Being the sugar bowl of the Philippines, you are assured of the wide array of desserts being offered in Bacolod.  There are coffee shops, bakeries and cafes in any corner in downtown.  However, being situated near the coastline, Bacolod also offers a variety of fresh and affordable seafood.
 

yummy and affordable macaron

Every person who had been here will surely suggest that you must not forget to try all the foods being offered here.  So I came prepared with a list of "must visit" restaurants and cafes but unfortunately our time is not enough to complete the list so we just chose the famous ones.

Bacolod 2015 Trip| Our Scary Adventure in Mambukal Resort

happened on Sept. 19, 2015

Putting some adventure on our trip, I included this place to our 4 days Negros itinerary.

 

at the entrance

Mambukal is a resort owned and managed by the local government.  It's over 23.6 hectares of land and lies 1,200 ft above sea level and serves as a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon.  It was originally developed by a Japanese architect, Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927 as a bath house and picnic garden.  Today, it houses man made swimming pools, sulfur hot springs, accommodations, picnic grounds, wall climbing and zip lining, boating lagoon and the famous seven falls. (information taken from their official website)

 

We rode a cab from our hotel to the bus terminal.  I'm quite surprise to see that it's not a bus but a non air conditioned mini bus type.  One thing for sure, it'll be one hell of a trip.

 

our limousine

For about one hour we endured the bumpy and windy road.  My hair is over my face the whole trip.  The only consolation we got is seeing long stretch of sugar cane plantation. 

 

The mini bus stopped right in front of the reception of the resort.  From here, you have to pay the entrance fee.  Here's a reference for the fees. After paying, the adventure begins by walking to different attractions.

 

there's a fee for everything

 Let's begin with the journey using this map. 

 

huge is an under statement

Bacolod 2015 Trip| The Ruins, Talisay City

happened on Sept. 18, 2015



surviving war and withstanding the test of time

We just left our things in the hotel and after a quick freshen up, we commuted going to the famous "Talisay Ruins" or Talisay's Taj Mahal.  From Go Hotel, ride a jeepney bound for Bata-Libertad route, stop at Rose Lagoon before Pepsi plant, ride a tricycle.  We have asked the tricycle driver for a round trip for a sure service going back.  Round trip costs Php200.00.  He waited for us for about 3 hours.  Entrance fee for this attraction is Php95.00 per person (keeps on increasing every year I think).

 

 

Bacolod 2015 Trip| San Diego Pro-Cathedral Church

happened on Sept. 18, 2015

You must not leave Silay City without visiting this church.  Why?  It's because this is the only pro-cathedral church outside of Manila City.  This also the only church in Negros featuring a cupola or dome.

 

It was formerly known as San Diego Parish Church or St. Didacus Parish Church in the early 20th century.  Its Patron Saint is San Diego de Alcala.
 

This Roman Catholic Church was designed by an Italian architect - Lucio Bernasconi thus, it resembles St. Peter's Church in Vatican City.  Construction was completed in 1927.
 

The church lay-out is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a cupola or dome rising forty meters above the nave.

 

 

 

It's easy to spot this church since it's located along Rizal St., adjacent to old houses. (source Wikipedia)

Bacolod 2015 Trip| Bernardino Jalandoni Museum

happened on Sept. 18, 2015

The last heritage home that we visited before going to Bacolod City is the Bernardino Jalandoni Museum.  This home is easy to see since it's located along Rizal St., near the church and beside the public market.

 

a scale model of the home (sorry I don't have a shot of the whole house)

It is also called the "Pink House" since it is painted in pink.  Its design depicts the typical nipa hut but on a larger scale.  Its structure is made of the local hard iron wood or locally known as "balayong" and had withstood the test of time.

 

even the terrace is pink