The Glory of Negros

I was in the province when one of my colleagues who happens to be from Sipalay, Negros Occidental called and informed me about her incoming trip to her province due on December of 2009. (She was aware I really wanted to go to their place since I saw her sister's picture in one of the beautiful beaches in Sipalay.) I agreed so she booked us for the plane on that very day. After few more weeks, our scheduled flight for the trip came in.

Dec. 28 at around 2:30 pm, we boarded the plane from NAIA Terminal 3.We landed past 3 at the newly constructed/opened airport in Silay where taxi drivers delightedly meet us offering their services to the town proper which is almost an hour away. There were taxis which they filled in (like jeepney ") charging Php 150 per person. 

Mambukal Resort Entrance

It was past 4 when we arrived at the city town proper (market area) where her friend was waiting for us. Their Hello's and kumusta seemed like forever to me since I could already hear my "pet" rumbling inside my stomach. We spent another 30 minutes searching for a carinderia that offered Bacolod specialties. After eating, we went around the city (Bacolod park and the new city hall) and had our time enjoying the different blinking bright lights all over the place like there was no lights in Manila..duh!

The following day, we traveled to Murcia for half an hour where Mambukal Resort is located. There are a lot of things to that can be done here like boating, swimming, slide for life, wall climbing, trekking etc. We decided to challenge each other and trek the 7 falls which tested our endurance. The 2 reached the 4th falls and wanted to stop. I told them to wait for us (with our guide) since I was really determined to see all the falls. According to the people there, there are still falls after the 7th but are not yet open to public since it was not yet developed. When we were about to leave, our guide informed us that there is a cave in the resort.

bats in Mambukal Resort

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

7th falls in Mambukal 

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

Dagat-dagatan is found in the town proper of Sipalay. Some people were enjoying a dip in the water while we took our time walking and appreciating the view of the sun going down. Restaurants and bars are also available nearby. 

Next was Langub beachhttp://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/langub-beach-sipalay.html and then Anhawan Island http://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/anhawan-island.html

After Anhawan, I went to the place of another colleague in Negros Oriental by Ceres Bus. I went alone but I enjoyed the journey. It was like a caterpillar ride but what really made me appreciate was the surrounding and the landscape I saw along the way.

ticket inspection

Mag-Aso Falls, Kabankalan

From Bayawan, Negros Oriental, I traveled back to Negros Occidental going to Kabankalan City to join some friends who will be going to Mag-Aso Falls. This is quite unknown even to some locals. 

a "flowering" PUJ and a habal-habal

The road going to that place was very rough. We waited for PUJ's but to no avail. Folks said only the habal-habal could go up. Luckily, there was a 6th wheeler truck heading up so we beg the driver to hitched us. It was a gravel and sand delivery truck owned by the municipal government. We joined the other people behind the truck and I swear this is one of the worst ride I ever had. I almost left the place where I seated had I  not held the metal attached on the side when the truck bounced off. 

 Finally, after few minutes we arrived at the place. There was a beauty pageant pictorial during our visit the reason why there were a lot of people at that time. It was the search for Ms. Negros 2009.

Mag-Aso falls has several mini falls. It is said that the highest and main falls is 75 ft high which drop into the well carved natural pool. The cascading water is very clear and refreshingly cool.

We walked down and arrived to this falls. It would not be easy going down for people who are afraid of heights-acrophobia. One must really watch out for his own step or else another great attraction will follow.

We waited for the beauty contestants to finish their pictorials and the people crowding the area to leave before my companions had their fresh dip. 
I slipped and had my feet stuck between the white rocks so my shoes got wet. I just settled on enjoying the spots by taking pictures.

We rode this habal-habal
again when we left the falls.

Copper Open Pit Mines, Mina, Sipalay

I was able to see the Copper Open Pit Mine during my stay in Sipalay. I think it is from this mine that Mina got its name, short for "minahan" where the said mine is located. I was so surprised to see such a mine that looks like a lake. I was actually comparing to the mine I saw in Baguio which is very much different to this. I thought mines look almost the same.

As I was told, this mine was owned by the Bernardino's and that year's ago, the people especially the workers enjoyed the benefits which the mining company offered to them. The miners and other workers families were privileged to have 24 hours free water, electricity and transportation. This was also the only place in Negros which had theaters, gymnasium and other amenities for free. 

The company operated for a number of decades until it suddenly stopped operating during the start of year 2000 blaming it to "mismanagement". Privileges stopped as well but the most difficult was that on the part of all the workers wherein they became jobless. They moved to another place were they could start a new life while some stayed and did their best to survive. Houses have been abandoned, buildings were destroyed and the mining itself was in a total wreck. Mina was in a disastrous place at that time.

This was the ground where in the gymnasium and other facilities like the bowling house once stood. For now, the the ground served as a hang-out for drunkards (we saw empty bottles of hard drinks) and a garbage area.

An eroded side of the area due to rain.

I wanted to go down near the pit but I was told it was too dangerous. I asked if no one thought of boating but I was laughed out due to my innocence. Boating is not permitted due to the chemicals mixed with the water. Because the mine was deserted for so long, water filled in the open pit and became stagnant thus it became a "lake". Near this "lake" were the rotten company buildings and rusty parked vehicles used for mining. I was really excited to see these closely but my companions were killing my eagerness always reasoning out that it was dangerous. So, being new to the place I submitted to them.