Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

I am proud of #Bantayan Island because it's my mother's hometown. My grandparents and other relatives lived there. We always go there since I was a kid. Everyone says it is the perfect place to #beach bum. It is located in the northern end of Cebu City.

bantayan map

From #Bacolod City, one can ride the Ceres bus at North Terminal airport going to #Cadiz City for the ferry boat or the other way in #Sagay City to ride a pump boat. My mother's family is located in Obo-ob so whenever we go there we stayed at my grandparents house or at times in a resort.

bantayan port

One of the nicest and popular resort there is Santa Fe Beach, cottages got the beach front view, you'll see paradise right away. The beach is so clean, the vast white sand shore and clear waters looked so calming.

Going around the city was easy since the roads were smooth and well paved. There were trees all over and in some areas. The roads were quiet and peaceful, the breeze felt so fresh. #Bantayan is also a fishing village, the different kinds of fish was so cheap, a kilo of fish would cost less than a hundred.

 Bantayan's laid back feel makes it the perfect place to forget about everything, do nothing and relax.

#bantayanisland #beach #philippines #santafe #hometown

Bacolaodiat 2014

Everyone is now excited for the coming Bacolaodiat 2014 in Bacolod City, Philippines. It's #Chinese New Year celebration. It will be on January 30 until February 1. The festival will be on it's 9th year this 2014 year of the Wooden Horse. There are different events every night.  

January 30 ( Thursday)

3 pm          Dazzling Grand Parade - 21st Lacson St. to North Capital Road

4 pm          Street Dance Competition  - Lacson St. 

5 pm          Ribbon Cutting (Chopstick Alley Opening) - North Capital Road

5 - 9 pm     Opening of Bacolaodiat Imperial Grounds - PNB Park

9 pm          Symphony of Lights and Spark, ABS-CBN Kapamilya Caravan - North Capitol Road

11:30 pm    Ceremonial Beating of the Drum - Yuan Thong Temple

January 31 ( Friday )

3 pm          Chinese Alley - North Capital Road

                 Robinsons Chinese Cuisine Cook off - Robinsons Place

4 pm          Canon Photography Contest - Lacson St.

5 - 9 pm     Bacolaodiat Imperial Grounds - PNB park

6 pm          Lantern Dance Competition - Lacson St.

7 pm          Live Band ( Asia Brewery Night ) - North Capitol Road

                 Tsinoy Reunion - Bacolod Pavilion

9 pm          Symphony of Lights and Sparks - North Capitol Road

10 pm         Live Band - North Capitol Road

February 1 ( Saturday )

4 pm         Chopstick Alley - North Capitol Road

                 Parade of Mascots

                 1st Robinsons Chinese Singing Contest - Robinsons Place

5 - 9 pm     Bacolaodiat Imperial Grounds - PNB park

5 pm          GMA Kapuso Night - North Capitol Road

6 pm         St. John's Institute Night - Lacson St

8:30 pm     Awarding and Closing Ceremony - North Capitol Road
9 pm         Symphony of Lights and Sparks - North Capitol Road
10 pm         Live Band - North Capitol Road

Bacolaodiat is from the term "Baco" for Bacolod City and "Lao" a Chinese-Hokian term which means celebration. Come and celebrate with us the Chinese New Year at the North Capitol Road , Lacson Streets and the Bacolod Public Plaza. 

Let's all have a "Pa Keh Lao Diat" which means hundreds families celebrating. See you there. 

Caribbean Waterpark and Resotel in Bacolod City, Philippines

Set in prime location of #Bacolod City is the #Caribbean Waterpark and Resotel. It is exactly located in #Golden Field commercial complex, Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

It has 3 inviting landscape pool with two big water slides and an outdoor Jacuzzi. They also have free private parking and a 24 hour restaurant. There are also picnic tables and chairs for the guest.

These are my friends, we just stayed here for a day to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends.

There are also nipa huts for rent. Guest can also stay overnight for they have air conditioned rooms. You can also celebrate birthdays or events here for they have function halls. And of course, a fully air conditioned #pirate chamber restaurant which is open 24 hours a day. Entrance fee is 120 pesos. 

#Swimming with girlfriends.

So, when you're in Bacolod try to visit Caribbean Waterpark and Resotel and take a dip in their pool or try their foods. For any information or reservation just call the resort phone number 034-709-6059.

Dinagsa 2012 in Cadiz City Philippines

We traveled from the Ceres Liner north terminal in #Bacolod City to #Cadiz. It was an hour and a half bus ride. To enjoy the 38th #Dinagsa Festival in Cadiz City. 

This celebration honors it's patron Saint #Santo Niño de Cadiz every January. It's a week long celebration with the rhythmic beating of drums. Performers are painted in black portraying an "ati" performing rituals and dancing in #celebration of the feast of #Sto. Niño. 

One of the most exciting activity in the festival is #"Lamhitanay" where people are roaming around the streets of #Cadiz to smother and wipe among each other. 

So prepare to get dirty as saying "no" or getting angry at them is sort of an insult, giving a bad vibe to the festivity. Just bring an extra shirt and towels with you. If you don't like this, better stay at home. 

We really had a great time here. We were covered with different colors of #paint and we danced to the beat of the drums. Everyone looks messy and dirty but this is not something we experience often, just once in a year so we just enjoyed this festivity.

Till the next #Dinagsa festival. 

Pandanon Valley Resort in Murcia City

One good and near place in Bacolod City is the Pandanon Valley Resort which is located in Barangay Pandanon Silos, #Murcia and near Don Salvador Benedicto. About one hour outside of Bacolod.

#Pandanon is a #nature resort. It has a beautiful mountain scenery and a clear mountain spring. A great place to take a dip or a swim. There were also wild monkeys but they did not bother us or the guest who goes there.

Entrance fee is 20 pesos for adults and 15 pesos for children. 

Overnight cottages cost 800 pesos to 1,500 pesos

There are also hut cottages for day use. 

We enjoyed the clear flowing river, the very cold pool, the cool ambiance, the hospitable hosts and the nature views all around the resort. 

My youngest sister, Cathy, taking a picture near the pool.

For more detailed information about the resort. You can contact them at 034-434-9463. 

Mag-Aso Falls in Kabankalan City

September 21, 2011 was a blast. We went to #Mag-Aso Falls in #Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental #Philippines. We really had a great time.

Our trip started at 10 in the morning from South Terminal in Bacolod City where we rode a #Ceres Bus going to Kabankalan City via Dumaguete-Mabinay route. The price was 120 for air conditioned bus and 90 pesos for non air conditioned. The bus had a stop over at Kabankalan Bus terminal then we got off at Barangay Oringao old public market in Kabankalan.

Then we rented a motorcycle for 100 pesos, 25 pesos per person to take us to #Mag-Aso Falls. 4 people could fit in one motorcycle.

When we arrived we where welcomed with a sign (shown in the picture above). It's major attractions are it's mini falls and the 75 foot main falls that drop into a clear pool. One can also take a swim in their spring water pool or can take a short walk going down the falls. It was breathtaking.

The rates are as follows as of June 2013

entrance fee : 50 pesos per person

overnight fee: 1,000 pesos good for 2

Additional fee of 200 pesos for excess person (maximum of 4 person per room)

regular cottage: 200 pesos

When we left, there were no means of transportation so we had to walk down the hill. I don't exactly know how many kilometers we had to walk but it was very long and tiring. It was one hell of an adventure. Had so much fun.