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| Cinco De Noviembre Marker, Silay City |
James: Ma, paalis na ako bukas
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| Makati Skyline the morning of July 6 |
I woke up the next morning at 5:30am, I have to be in Terminal 2 before 8:00am as my flight is 8:40am. As usual, I was late. I arrived at T2 around 8:20am, still trying to catch my breath because I was running fast only to learn that the check-in counter is already closed (poor me) I wanted to cry. I’m familiar with this kind of situation because this happened to me a lot of times. I approached an airline officer and good thing, he allowed me to board the plane. Whew! That was one tough move.
Finally, my Php250 starts today! The EXCITEMENT on this journey just drives me crazy. I was observing at the airport, listening to “Ilonggo” conversations. I just realized that I’m on a foreign ground. Calling my ‘charisma’ and ‘adaptability’ to help me on my first day.
I started by asking the cheapest way to go to Silay town proper. I asked the van operators and they are charging me P50 (P150 to Bacolod City). There should be another way, just near the airport’s gate, tricycles are waiting for passenger. The fare? P10 only. You just have to wait for the other 5 passengers (great, I saved P40). I did my first taste of Negros by eating piaya.
It’s hard to tell every detail of my adventures and misadventures, so I think it would be easier if I just do some bullets of the ff:
Silay City
Ancestral houses complex. I did a DIY walking tour using the map given by the tourism office (you should really drop by and get the free map). You would spend about 2hours or more on the walking tour.
Cinco De Noviembre Marker. The marker say, “On this part of Silay stood the drugstore where Negrense Revolutionaries Secretly helped plan the successful revolution against Spanish Colonial forces in November 5, 1898. Hence, this street was named Cinco de Noviembre.” Cool! An insightful dose of history for me, kudos to our Negrense heroes (see the 1st pic above)!
Balay Negrense. This house is among the 29 ancestral houses in Silay that the National Historic Institute had declared as national treasures. This house fuses Spanish and American architecture, made using the Balayong tree trunk as foundation designed and built by Don Victor Gaston around 1898 for his family. Open on Tuesday-Sunday (10:00am-5:00pm). Admission Fee: Adults (P40); Negros Resident (P35); Students and children (P20).
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| click image to see my favorite disciples |
San Diego de Alcala Pro-Cathedral. Designed by Lucio Bernasconi, an Italian architect in 1920, it is famous for its dome is similar to the Basilica of St.Peter in Rome. This most enduring and biggest landmark is a testament to the Silaynon’s deep faith and devotion to God.
Guinhalaran Pottery Village. Too bad it began to rain hard when I arrived here so I wasn’t able to see the potters do the real thing.
Bacolod City
SM City Bacolod. No choice, have to meet someone here.
The New Bacolod City Government Center. I like its architectural design- amazing to look at especially at night with the fountain in front of it. “Sayang, I’m not with ‘someone special’ during that time, romantic pa naman.”
Provincial Capitol of Occidental Negros.
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| Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol & Bacolod City Government Center |
Piaya. Of course! You haven’t been to Bacolod if you will not taste their piaya (look at the pic below).
KBL. Kadios, Baka at Langka (beans, beef and jackfruit) is their version of Tagalog’s “nilagang baboy,” more tasty “namit” (delicious) I should admit. I just ate on a “carinderia” near the school, its cheaper and you enjoy the soup while perspiring.
Deneb A. His a friend from UPLB now based in Bacolod City. He taught me some basics in using DSLR. Thanks for the jeepney fare treats and for accompanying me to tito’s home.
David Reola. At around 2pm I received a text from my mom. She said that she has a cousin in Bacolod. Great, I now have a place to stay. Thanks Tito for the overnight stay and for the dinner.
Carlos Reola and his friend Lyndon. Carlos is my second-cousin, after dinner he toured me to the Municipal Bldg and the Provincial Capitol with his supah fast motorcycle. Thanks for the football jersey dude! I’m sorry but I have to give it to the place where I stayed in Guimaras because I have nothing to give them.
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| First buy, from Bongbong’s store just across the Airport |
may english version pa. dito na nagsisimula tong backapcking P250/day budget.
Woww James, hanep! hanggang ngayon hanga pa rin ako sa back-packing mo. Sa sunod, wag ka mag-solo, try natin Php 500.00 per day kasama ako, 😉
haha, yes dong! galing noh?@pedz, tara, next year mindanao naman pero 500/day naman para mas madami makain at mapuntahan
just started to read your first day!..ang galing! ..sama din ako, hehehe
x'ss: medyo nahilo ako ng konti sa bago mong site, hehehe…
thats a good start! naku, mabibitin ka, day 5 pa lang kasi ako. anyway, thanks! pasensya, medyo inaayos ko pa
ang galing naman! 148.50 lang for a day? hahaha.. di ko kaya yan, sa dami ba namang masarap ng food sa Bacolod and to think na dun ako lumaki hays! Galing mo talaga!!!
I'm also planning an a solo backpacking trip in Negros and Panay this Nov kaya this will be a great help and inspiration. Thanks!
thanks tynz! your comment is a great encouragement. have a nice trip, nami talga sa Negros and Panay island. i want to be back!
Hi! My family and I will go to Bacolod this coming march. I’m making some research about places to go in bacolod city just for 1 day before going back to Manila… I found you site and it seems so helpful! Thanks!
glad it was of help! enjoy your tour in bacolod ana. eat some inasal with barehands ha…
didn’t u have anything for dinner? not particular on day 1, of course. i’d also like to do this sometime – that is if i ever get the time. when’s ur next adventure?
Hi James! Just wanna ask how to go to Guinhalaran Pottery Village from Silay. 🙂
its just a tricycle away, ask the tricycle driver to drop you at the pottery village, its along the way
Hello! can you link me to your first post? How this blog and your journey started? Thanks
this is the first post
but the plan is here: https://journeyingjames.com/2010/07/14-days-solo-backpacking-challenge/
lavet pwede ka na pala model ng piaya
ahaha! magpabayad kaya ako sa bongbong’s?
I miss my Mom’s Homeprovince …
Salamat..i’ve been meaning to find a detailed article about going to silay… thanks..
Sir james, pa-copy nalang ng iti mo, Bukas punta ako bacolod gang tuesday. Thanks sir for sharing your adventure.
how was your trip?