Masskara Costumes 2011

Masskara Festival is held every 3rd weekend of October in Bacolod City. This started in 1980. This was the time when the sugar industry was at its low and tragedy happened in April 1980 when M/V Don Juan sunk where an estimated 700 passengers perished. This also included the incumbent mayor's wife and daughter too. How tragic it could be for all Negrenses.

Bacolod City was already known as the City of Smiles back then. It was then decided by the local artists and local government to hold a festival of smiles. It would also be a good opportunity for the people to rise from their grief and come out as strong and triumphant people inspite of adversities.

Thus, the smiling faces in the masks was used to hide the grief of the people.

The word Masskara was coined from two words. "Mass" meaning a multitude and "kara" a Spanish word for face. Thus, Masskara is a multitude of smiling faces.

Bacolod City's Charter was signed on June 18, 1933 and was inaugurated as a city on October 19, 1938 by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon. Hence, Masskara Festival is celebrated every Charter Day.

Photos shown here were the costumes worn during the streetdance competition held every 3rd Saturday and 3rd Sunday for the School and Barangay Categories, respectively. These photos were on display at Robinsons Place, Bacolod City for judging.

For more details about the Masskara Festival, pls click on this link. http://www.themasskarafestival.com/about-masskara/why-masskara/

To learn more about Bacolod City, pls click on this link: http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/

For details or inquiries regarding tours for Bacolod and Negros, pls email viajenegrense@gmail.com

An Experience at the Grand Royal Spa

One fine Saturday afternoon, we were invited to visit and experience the service of the Grand Royal Spa at the East Block, Bacolod City. I live nearby but haven't had the chance to experience their services. So I accepted the invite and we were graciously received by Ms. Vicky Que, the franchisee and a good friend to mine too.

My friend here is selecting what type of massage she would have.

I was given the hour-long Swedish massage in one of these beds. It was very relaxing, indeed. Having a body massage is always good for our body. It helps in our blood circulation. It is advisable to have a massage every two weeks. So, when you need one, think of Grand Royal Spa. Main branch is located at San Isidro Bldg., 6th St. and the other branch is at 2/F of Villa Angela Arcade, The East Block, Burgos Ext., Bacolod City.

Cooking Demo at the 5th Negros Organic Farmers Festival

The 5th Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival held on December 2-4, 2010 was to celebrate the gains that the local organic food stakeholders and organizers have achieved since the festival started in 2006.

The three-day festival which is considered as the first and the longest running festival of its kind in the country featured cooking demonstrations of organic food by famous Negrense chefs, among others.

One of them was famous restaurateur Margarita Fores,
whose roots come from Bago City and Valladolid.
She prepared 5 recipes in 2 hours.
All from scratch!

Margarita "Gaita" Araneta Fores is the President of food-related ventures like Cibo Inc., Cafe Bola, Pepato, Sostanza Health Line, and Fiori Di M.

Cibo is a restaurant that offers affordable and delicious Italian cuisine. This venture is the fruit of her passion for Italian food. She even went to Florence in 1980 and had two Italian married women teach her about Italian ways and really entangled her with the culture. She studied their language and toured the markets and restaurants. She, together with her siblings, Veanna, Joe, Oye and Bledes, borrowed a million Pesos from their mother, Maria Lourdes Araneta Fores, to open the first Cibo restaurant. It was just a small restaurant between Landmark and Glorietta, with a staff of seven. It was a success that after a year, they were able to pay the money lent by their mom and transferred to a bigger place in Glorietta. They branched out and have 8 branches in Metro Manila: Glorietta 4, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Rockwell, Megastrip A of the SM Megamall, Greenhills, and at the Loop at ABS-CBN.

Marinated tomatoes setting in.

Pappa al Pomodoro
Rustic Tuscan Tomato and Bread Soup

.....and here's the recipe!

Grilled Organic Chicken Breasts & Eggplant with Basil & Peanut Pesto

Grilled Organic Milkfish with Tomatoes, herb Salad & Green Tomato-Pineapple Salsa

Herb Salad

Marinated Organic Tomatoes on Pasta

Chef BJ Uy of Planta Hotel and Business Inn was accompanied by his LCC students, who recently won in a national culinary contest

Asian Rice Pilaf

Fishcake Camote and ube salad

Gazpacho is a cold soup

Soon to be chef Sandy of ICA testing out the green salad with edible flowers.

Chef BJ Uy's Roasted Chicken

Aboy Evaristo peeling off the puso ng saging.

Catholic Churches

St. Joseph, the Worker at VMC Compound
Victorias City, Negros Occ.
mosaic made of broken bottles

St. Joseph the Worker

VMC, Victorias

Adoration Chapel at Queen of Peace

Queen of Peace Parish

San Vicente Ferrer

Brgy. Vito, Sagay City

Adoration Chapel at the Sacred Heart Shrine

Sacred Heart Shrine

San Antonio Abad Parish

Lacson St., Bacolod City

The altar features the 'Risen Christ' done by National Artist Solomon Saprid.

Our Lady of Candles

Pina St., Capitol Heights

Bacolod City

Parish of St. Jude

Alijis, Bacolod City

Triumph of the Holy Cross

Triumph of the Holy Cross

Built in 2001 on the lot donated by Luis Gonzaga & Family.

It is located in Burgos Ext. Camingawan, Bacolod City.

Fr. Mauricio Ferrero, the parish priest who started the construction of the San Sebastian Cathedral. He was also the one who built the road network South and North of Bacolod City.

San Sebastian Cathedral

San Sebastian Cathedral

The construction of the church started under Fr. Mauricio Ferrero in 1876 and made of coral stones from Guimaras Island.