Bacolod 2012 – Mimay’s Graduation

@our favorite manokan resto — Aida’s

Finally! After 5 years, Mimay is now graduating. I can still remember the reason why she transferred to Bacolod with me in 2007. This trip is not like he other trips that we had in Bacolod. This one is kinda relaxed and focused on the graduation instead.

what we had @ Bob’s Courtyard…

Our flight to Bacolod was delayed. Instead of arriving at 8pm, we arrived at around 10:30pm. From Bacolod – Silay Airport, we directly went to Courtyard where Mimay and her friends are waiting for us. Just in time for an event for Bogsbrew, we had dinner while he band was playing and of course we got ourselves a couple of bottles of beer.

Malling and foodtrip

The following day, we took Jeeko for a city familiarization tour (lol). We went to Robinsons and SM to get some stuff and fill in our stomachs at Aida’s in  Manokan Country. I didn’t let Jeeko miss the tasting of my favorite Cab gelato.

quick food @ diners’ hub… in fairness!!

We were staying at Xaver’s Apartment and since we don’t have time to cook, we often eat out and Diners’ Hub is our easiest food source. Jermaine arrive in Bacolod on our second day and this is when he also gave Mimay her graduation gift, an Iphone4S.

pichoor.. pichoor…

We would be attending both  baccalaureate and graduation rites of Mimay.

iphone pics

pichoors with mimay…

We had our dinner at Bar21 and dessert at Calea.

1st batch of food… lol

graduation dinner @Bar 21

After resting, we went to Guimaras for our family celebration. Please check this blog for our Guimaras Adventure.

watching kuya while he is making our pizza…

Before heading back to Manila, we dropped by Greeno’s Pizza for lunch.

Greeno’s big sized pizza

Pataan Falls

view while driving to Pataan Falls…

I’ve had my stint in Bacolod for work and I definitely explored the place and places around it. One of favorite place to visit is Pataan Mountain Resort.

Pataan Mountain Resort is located in Sitio Pataan, Bago City. There are several ways to get to this place via public or private transportation. I have always visited the place using private transportation since it’s hard to get a ride going up the resort. Going to the town where it is situated is easy but the climb to PNOC road is a bit of a hassle.

• via Murcia ,before Mambukal –  turn right to  Sitio Manghumay – turn left as soon as you reach the end of the road (you should be in Bago City by this time and have experienced several slopes on your way ) – follow the road to PNOC
• via Bago City, from Bacolod  – head South until you reach Bago City – turn left to Crossing Mining – head to Ma-ao Public Market – go straight until y0u reach Kipot Falls (you should pass by Buenos Aires Mountain Resort Signage) – turn right and follow the road to PNOC
• via Murcia, before turning left leading to Murcia Public Market – go straight until you reach Bago City – turn left (intersection with Bago City Outpost), this is the road from Cr0ssing Mining –  head to Ma-ao Public Market – go straight until y0u reach Kipot Falls (you should pass by Buenos Aires Mountain Resort Signage) – turn right and follow the road to PNOC

on our way up…

The first time I went to Pataan, I had to ask my sister for a landmark. I remember her  telling me that we need to take the right turn after Kipot Falls and it’s going to be a tough ride since it is a rough road. We did what she told us to do and have made a joke out of it.  — “rough road? no way it’s no road!”.

see what happens? this is the reason why we left Angel in Bacolod 🙂

from kuppa breakfast to Pataan Mountain Resort…

From that time on, I can stay that the road and the resort have definitely improved. From few cottages to overnight cabins, Pataan is getting ready for more tourists to visit the place.

before we go in 🙂

the adiks @ Pataan…

resting @ Pataan’s Pavillion…

Pataan Falls

Pataan Mountain Resort has pool too…

picture taken from our room…

Aside from the picturesque view in and from the resort, adventurous visitors would not pass on checking out the falls itself.  Compared to Mambukal, the hike to the falls in Pataans is easier. It is just one unlike the seven falls hike offered by Mambukal. The pathway is already developed too. Swimming is not very well enjoyed in the falls area but be ready to be wet because of water splash. Back massage is also one option you can enjoy 🙂 Don’t panic, there is a swimming pool inside the resort.

Picture taken from the cooking area…

For family outings and team buildings, you can bring you food inside cooked or you can cook it yourself. Paluto is also available, either you bring the ingredients or ask for their menu.

cottages..

Picture taken from the pathway err walkway…

I really love the water in the resort, being cold an fresh, it always help me to relieve stress from work. Considering that the people I go with are also my workmates, the place is so peaceful that it helped me forget all my work problems.

unforgettable people 🙂

Heads up, there is corkage for drinks 😀

City of Smiles Revisited

Bacolod 2011 – Familia Adik on the Loose <<< Click on the link to check slideshow

my favorite inasal.. Aida’s Manokan…

Finally! After rebooking my flight four times, I was able to set off to the City of Smiles. Initially, this was planned to be a 7 – day family escapade but due to changes of schedule and my transfer to Cebu, some of my brothers were not able to join and I had to do several rebookings.

My family arrived in Bacolod 2 days ahead of me. Boarding a Cebu – Bacolod flight, I arrived on November 10, 2011. It was and early morning flight and I remember dropping by the office before I left. I was able to catch a cab in front of Ayala Center Cebu and as soon as I arrived at airport, I was already looking for food. Believe it or not, the only store open is Dunkin’ Donuts. While waiting for my flight, I had my usual ham and cheese bunwich and water.

Since Mimay transferred apartment, I was nor sure whether to meet up with them or go straight to her place. From Bacolod- Silay airport, i opted to ride a shuttle and be dropped at Robinson’s place instead of getting a cab. Shuttle service is only Php150.00 from Airport to Bacolod compared to Php500.00 for a cab. From Robinsons’ I decided to take the cab since I am not sure of what public transportation to take to get to Villamonte.

Finally, I saw my papa waiting for me at the gate of Xaver’s Apartment. Breakfast is served and we are off to our exploration.

DAY 1 : We first head off to Robinsons’ place. We went around for a while and looked into antique furnitures. I also looked for fiorgelatto and I was disappointed to learn that the store no longer exists. We also had our arcade time before lunch. As expected, I told them that I want to eat inasal for lunch. We head off to Manokan Country and dined at Aida’s Manukan. Atlast, after almost two years I was able to taste the best inasal! I ordered batokolon (gizzards) and paa (legs). After lunch, we went to SM City Bacolod, just a few meters away from Manokan Country and did our grocery for our day 2 get away.

after lunch @ Aida’s

DAY 2: We agreed to have an overnight stay at Mambukal Mountain Resort and leave early on Day 2. From Villamonte we took a cab to Libertad, where we rode a bus going to Murcia – Mambukal. You won’t be lost via public transportation since Mambukal Resort is the last stop. On a private vehicle, it may only take you 45 minutes to get to Mambukal but since it’s a public transpo, spare about an hour and a half or two (depending on the number of pick ups and stops the bus may have). After paying our entrance fee and selecting our cabin for our overnight, we stayed by the swimming pool cottage until check -in time (2PM). The cabin we chose is good for 6 pax at Php1800. After securing our things, we had a stroll and took pictures. We visited the dipping pool (but did not dipped.. hehehe), hot sulfur, wall climbing and slide for life areas, lake, butterfly garden and bath houses. Mimay arrived just before dinner.

yes! we are in…

where we are staying for night… just in front of the big pool…

it’s not pure sulfur… don’t worry…

pick your choice…

DAY 3: We were up very early on our 2nd day in Mambukal. Being the kitchen master, I prepared breakfast while my sister Janers kept on taking pictures of Mamamia and Papapicolino. After breakfast, we had a walk and finally dipped in the dipping pool. For Php 50.00, we were able to enjoy the hot and therapeutic ala – spa sulfur pool. We headed for more walk and picture taking. The bats didn’t fail us as we’ve seen them flying around like birds do. We had a quick lunch and headed back to Bacolod. I met with some friends at Kuppa and of course indulged in my ever favorite Wimpy Burger. Mimay took us to Pope John Paul II Tower in reclamation area. It’s a 6 floor building near SM City Bacolod which was built to stand as memorial of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Bacolod in 1981. There are a lot of pictures and memorabila of PJPII. From downtown Bacolod, we decided to have dinner at Cookies and Crumbs. This is just in front of the Government Center which we wanted to visit before we end the day.

ready for our morning walk…

we thought they were birds.. yep! they are bats!!!

just before we climb the stairs…

Pope John Paul II Tower @ Reclamation Area…

Government Center at night

DAY 4: My last day it is. We started the day with a visit to Carmelites Monastery. I was hoping to get some chips (caramel flavored hosts) but it was not available. After praying and feeling inner peace, we headed off for lunch to Greeno’s Pizzaria at 6th Street. If i remembered correctly, it is also the day of Pacquiao Vs. Marquez bout. We ordered the larges pizza they offer, 3 towers of iced tea and enjoy. We headed back to the apartment after, had some rest and headed back to Cebu.

before lunch….

it’s really big!

The 4- day vacation I had is just what I needed to a week long client visit back in Cebu.

I really love Bacolod, as a matter of fact, we are again booked to visit the city of smiles in March 2012.

Bacolod – Negros

Bacolod <<< click link to check out the slide show

I decided to transfer to Bacolod in 2007 because of work. It was only after a week of staying in Bacolod that i learned that I am already in Negros.

My first stop was The Luxur Place,my home for my first 2 weeks. Impressive to know that I will be in staying in a hotel, but not really, finding out that the hotel is the entrace of TP.

I’ve moved into several apartments in 3 years, 5 to be exact. Lumer, Javellana Apartment 1 and 2, then in Taculing and finally in Mountain View.

Aside from my apartment hopping, I’ve been to several places in Negros. Places that may be far from Bacolod City but places that are really nice!

• Cadiz – Lakawon Island Resort
• Sagay – (just a road trip)
• Manapla – (just for the puto)
• Victoria City – (just a road trip)
• Talisay City – Nature’s Park
• Silay City – Balaring Seafood Restaurants
• Bago City – Buenos Aires Mountain Resort and Pataan Mountain Resort
• Murcia – Mambukal Mountain Resort
• Hinigaran – Canonoy’s Beach
• Kabangkalan – Sinulog Festival and Zaycoland Resort & Hotel
• Dumaguete – Kidnap Day 1 (a very long roadtrip from Bacolod to Dumaguete and back in 1 day)

If I’m not home, here are the places you may want to check to find me (and why) :

• Secrets – beer all you can for Php75.oo just along Magsaysay Ave. in front of Sea Oil (after San Antonio Abad Parish)
• Manokan Country – Aida’s Chicken Inasal along reclamation area (near SM City). One of the 1st inasal houses in Bacolod (now open Makati Branch).
• Bob’s Coffee and Pastries -from coffee to pasta and rice, local food to delicatessen and gelato to cakes, here is where you would want to splurge. Main branch is along Lacson St. ( now open Makati Branch)
• Calea – I am not into sweets but if we are talking about cheesecake, carrot cake, strawberry shortcake and chocolate cake I am all on it. (along Lacson St. or visit Robinson’s)
• Bascon Cafe – buffet lunch? Here is where you want to go. (along Lacson St.)
• Bar 21 – lots of good food to choose from
• Taste Station -Yep! it’s a drinking station. (along Lacson St., La Salle/ Redemptorist Church)
• Sorrento – Pepe’s pesto/ crust chicken
• Lord Byron’s @ homesite – the best baby back ribs!
• Aboy’s – fine Filipino foods
• Sugarland and Planta – for breakfast buffet!!
• Kuppa – cofi, pasta, salpicao, gelato and wimpy burger!!
• Pendy’s – for dinuguan and mushroom burger (or was that cheese burger??)
• Italia – chicken parmegiana!!!
• Saning’s – parpilla and kansi during lunch time (along Ramos St.)
• Ting- ting’s – all about filipino native food and Piolo Pascual( Amen!)
• Imay’s – crab rice galore
• Sheryn’s – where i get my Kansi..
• KGB – consumable 2500 for videoke, food and drinks
• Cafe Breizh – crepes, crepes and more crepes!
• Luxur Place – where I get my daily dose of Adobosilog, brewed cofee and pancakes with bacon!
• Mabuhay Coffee – a coffee shop in Libertad.. shhhhh ( the place is not sosyal) hehehe..
• Super Batchoy House -The best batchoy I’ve ever tasted (along Locsin St. in Downtown Bacolod)

I’ve moved back to Manila in 2009 and definitely will back in Bacolod!!!