Negros Occidental - Silay City (Part 2)

Since we have a limited time to visit Negros, we maximize our time. Our itinerary brought us straight from the airport to Silay's downtown.

Silay City is located 16km North from Bacolod. The City is where life is sweeter. In Silay, the past comes alive in the architecture and fine craftsmanship of its ancestral homes. It is sugar that made Silay one of the richest towns in the country and the sugar barons or hacienderos spared no expense in the construction and furnishing of their homes. Silay earned the title as "the Seat of Arts, Culture and Eco-trourism in Western Visayas".

Silay City was founded in 1760 and was at the forefront of sugar production at the turn of 20th century. Built between the late 19th century and the pre-war years, 29 surviving ancestral houses were identified by the National Historical Commission as national treasure. Silay is a living Museum. It is my favorite amongst other town in Negros Occidental.

The Balay Negrense (Don Victor Gaston Ancestral House)

Since no one explained to us the history of the house, I just mirrored a brief history of the house from wikipedia.

The Balay Negrense was originally the ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, a son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston is credited as one of the pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in this portion of the Philippine archipelago. A native of Normandy in France, he married Filipina from Batangas where he initially began experimenting with sugar production before relocating to Negros.

The house is of the type called bahay na bato, literally "house of stone", however, reflecting American colonial influences, the lower storey is not constructed of stone but of concrete. The foundation posts are made out of trunks of the balayong tree, a local hardwood; the floorboards are of the same material. The house's upper storey is constructed of wood topped with a roof of galvanized iron instead of tile.

How to get there: From Silay City Public Plaza, ride a tricycle or walk to Cinco de Noviembre St. cor. Zuelueta St.

Address: Cinco de Noviembre, Silay City

Museum Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday, closed on Monday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Entrance Fee: Php40 (US$0.90)

Photos of Balay Negrense

Hofileña Ancestral House

The Hofileña house was the first ancestral house opened to the public in 1962. Located a few meters from Balay Negrese on a nondescript neigborhood on Cinco de Noviembre St. Let Mr. Ramon Hofileña, the son of the original owner and the unofficial first Filipino bikini model, fascinates you to the story behind in every pieces you can find the house. He is the untiring and the most passionate preserver of Negros Occidental's cultural heritage. The house is a massive depository of artworks. When you entered the house, you can see the 200-year-old piano belonging to Sir Mon great-grandmother sits innocently on the living room. Also on the first floor, potteries, authentic period pieces,furniture,miniature dolls, and photographs of the first owner of Negros Navigation and so other original pieces.

When you go upstairs, you can see one of the Philippine's finest and rarest art collections. Works of Manansala, which I am proud of carrying the same surname :), Juan Luna, Amorsolo, Hidaldo and Jose Rizal are displayed on the wall. If Mr. Mon said he talked to much and consuming your time and ask you if you wanted him to stop, don't stop him because he has so much interesting stories to tell about the life of those artists. One particular interest among the featured painters is the unknown artist to many, Conrado Judith. Even in google you can not find any article about this artist but Mr. Hofileña can tell you more about him. Conrado Judith died of tuberculosis at 34, befitting the life of the starving artist. His abstract impresionist pieces made the cover of international publications and won prizes overseas.

The house's gem is over 70, once he is no longer around to provide these great tours and share these interesting stories, he says he is adamant in training a successor like the one who toured us at the first part of the tour in the house. However, finding like Mr. Hofileña of such caliber to tell its stories from generation to generation is a challenge.

Trivia:

Did you know that Rey PJ Abellana, the father of Carla Abellana, is a grandson of Mr. Ramon Hofileña? His mother is a sister of Mr. Mon who's also an artist, a singer.

Mr. Ramon Hofileña is conducting an Annual Cultural tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO), the longest-running cultural tour in the world, all Saturdays of December except holidays.

How to get there: From Balay Negrense, walk towards North of Cinco de Noviembre St. It's only a few meters away from Negrense

Address: Cinco de Noviembre, Silay City

For appointment please call 034 4954561

Entrance Fee: Php40 (US$0.90)

Photos of Hofilena Heritage House

Don Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House (Pink House)

The house was first owned by Don Bernardino and Doña Ysabel Jalandoni. It was completed in the year 1908. Although grand scale and strong in its construction, its design follows the typical Philippine Nipa Hut. The exisiting wooden structures are the same hardwood that the couple had originally shipped from faraway Mindoro. Most of the embosed tin ceiling trays on the second floor are the very ones imported then from even more remote Hamburg, Germany. Its wooden transoms done in "callado" or cut out style, using elaborated visual aesthetics and function. The creative use of glass, "capiz" shells, steel grills, wooden louvers and panels foe windows continues to maximize light, ventilation and security today as it has since it was designed a century ago.

In 1993, the National Historical Institute recognized it as the first museum and heritage house in Silay City. The heirs, Mr. & Mrs. Antonio J. Montinola ahve entrusted its care to the Silay Heritage Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization.

How to get there: From Hofileña House, Cinco de Noviembre St., walk towards East of Burgos St. until you get to the National Rd., Rizal St. across the street you can already see the Jalandoni house also known as the "Pink House"

Address: Rizal St., Silay City 6116

Museum Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday, closed on Monday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Entrance Fee: Php25 (US$0.56)

Photos of Bernardino Jalandoni House Museum "Pink House"

The Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala

The Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala lies in the center of Silay City. Designed by Italian architect Lucio Bermasconi in 1920, the cathedral's silver-colored Byzantium dome was inspired by that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Its architectural grandeur and treasury of religions art is testament to the people of Silay's deep faith and religiosity. The ruins of the old church whose foundations date back of the present church and is now an adoration chapel.

Silay is a small town that you can go around by foot. Silay's surviving ancestral houses and old buildings.

Related articles - Negros Occidental - the Journey (part 1),

the Ruins

Blogapalooza! Meeting Business to Bloggers!

I was present at the 1st Blogapalooza held last September 17, 2011 at Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street. It was by invitation only and 150 bloggers were given an invite. Yours truly was one of the lucky bloggers who was given an invitation. Fifty (50) businesses signed in to talked about their respective businesses. The idea of the Blogapalooza was to introduce to the public/readers what was their product is all about.

The presentors were only given 5 minutes each to talk about their products.

I am proud to say that I'm a member of the Blogapalooza community!

The door open at 12:00 o'clock noon. The first 50 bloggers arrived get additional freebies and guess what?! I am one of them!

first 50 bloggers get these, aside from the freebies below

I am an athlete. My first thought was, as an athlete, not all the products presented will be related to what I am doing but I was wrong.

As an athlete, I need to established to have a good core and strong body. Even if its off peak season, you have to maintain your fitness level.

Can you only commit 30 mins of your time in busy schedules? A 30 minute 360 Circuit Training can be equivalent to combined 30 minutes of a typical gym workout and 30 minutes of aerobic workout.

7 free visits and Php1,000.00 GC at 360˚ Complete the circuit

Also, one of the good core workout is the Pole dancing. As you can see in the picture below, the "Polecat" has a perfect toned body muscle. She has a good flexibility of the whole body. Perfect flex of the feet, good for swimming =) For sometime, pole dancing is associated with gentlemen's clubs and strip joints but today pole dancing is a form of arts and crafts. I got 1 free class of my choice between striptease or sensual groove at Polecatsmanila .

Sexy pole cat

In every workout we do, body aches and pain is inevitable. Perhaps you want to try wearing Phiten, I have two. It helps the human body maintain a balanced and relaxed state by influencing, restoring and balancing the flow of bio-electricity in the body.

Phiten necklace

Carboloading is very important for runners and triathletes. You need to have enough energy before the big day. Pizza and pasta are the common food that runners/triathletes eat before the race. I cannot wait to try Papa John's Pizza for my next carboloading.

And how can you recover from the calories and energy you lost during the race? Your muscles need some protein and energy to recover them fast.

Jap-ok!

SIZE-Matters-Sausage-Burgers

I stopped drinking coffee for more than three years now. For my pre race breakfast, I only drink tea or water.

Oh, the stress ball give away was perfect for my therapy. I recently had a bike accident. (from-south-to-north-my-first-taste)

Post race drink

Pre race drink

Did you know that some men and women triathletes and cyclist wax their hair? The reason behind it are (1) you are more aerodynamics (2) when you crash or fall and get bruised, it helps the healing process. no hair to contribute to infection and band-aids peel off much easier (3) keeps you cooler

For your waxing needs go visit Lay Bare.

Travel is unavoidable in the life of runners and triathletes. I myself, traveled abroad just to join marathons and going out of town for our team trainings. A good travel bag or luggage is a must to keep you organize.

SCSM

Tripologie

When travelling, it is easy to have a checklist for your travel needs. If you want to contribute of helping our environment use eco friendly ballpens and pencils like treehugger has. For a pack, you contributes to the restoration of our country's indigement trees through Haribon Foundation.

Eco Friendly give pack

Track your time with baller wrist watch by Freestyle Ballers.

Tri United Matabungkay Triathlon 2011 was held in Lian, Batangas. Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel was the host hotel. It's a 2 hours drive from Manila. Hopefully next Tri United, MBR will sposor my team Endure multisport when they read this, hehehe! =)

50% off

How will you get to your destinations? You need a good spacious vehicle to fit all your things including your equipment, for triathletes, bike.

For Chana, great things comes in small packages. They believe for value for money. Size maybe deceiving but their van is multi-purpose, fuel efficient, environmental friendly, and cargo space and load capacity.

Chana: Great things comes in small packages

Great travel companion

You had a great race day. You want a comfortable changing clothes. Regatta offers casual apparel. Memo and For Me on the other hand has a good find for the post race awarding night.

Colors by Regatta

for me Body spray to smell fresh

Fashion and Art (Happy Fart) where you can also find good clothing. You can also use their facility for photoshoot.

Women have sexy body. The Boudoir Dolls is an all women group of photographers catering specifically to women. They bring out a bit of yourself into each shoot. In every shoot there is a story to tell. It maybe sexy but classy.

(photo credit to BD. model DJ Dianne)

Big K Imaging for your party and event photography services.

Triathlon in our country started to go green. In fact, last Subic Interantional Triathlon last May, 2011 the organizer used all eco friendly materials from loot bags to paper cups.

Treat yourself a good massage with this eco friendly oil treatments and products.

Oryspa products are made from rice bran

Human heart nature

Good Spa after the race

Blue water day spa

For a week break on training, play at Lazer Xtreme! surely you will enjoy it.

I have GCs!

Reward yourself. Treat yourself. Go Shopping! Shopinas is here for your easy, secure shopping.

Who hates Math or English subject?! Bring your child to Galileo learning center to enhance their Math and English.

Who among you still listen to AM drama radio? Seeing tv commercials with voice over? Or watching animation? Creative voices is an audio produstion house established in 2005. To provides recording services at an unparalleled level of quality, technical excellence, maximum convenience, and extremely fast turnaround.

Now, you love what you do. The experience in every event and you want to write about it but your personal computer or your laptop crashed because of the virus. Put avira anti virus to protect your pc, netbook, or laptop so that you have a worry free while working with your blog.

There you go friends! Looking forward to the next Blogapalooza!