Bacolod masks I enjoyed every bit of my Bacolod trip in late 2003, moreso because I was able to explore some secret spots in Negros Occidental Our group had an overload of old churches, houses, museums, nature and the best part of all - food! I can't forget Bacolod food. We had a native Filipino meal at Aboy's (ironically owned by a Kapampangan), stocked up on calories with irresistible desserts at Calea, munched on seafood at the turo-turo stalls of Pala-Pala and savored the roasted chicken in Manokan Country. The latter is a whole restaurant ... Continue Reading...

Hofilena ancestral house Have you wondered how the houses of the landed Filipino gentry looked like during the Spanish era? I was leafing through my photo archives and found some valuable pics of my visit to Negros Occidental in 2003, including Bacolod. Next to Vigan in Ilocos Sur, Silay City is the best place in the Philippines to view Spanish-era ancestral houses in their full-splendor. It is laudable that the city has tried its best to preserve the houses which were built between 1880 and 1930. Most have been turned into museums for public viewing ... Continue Reading...