Calling all bloggers in any blog platform to join the First Negros Tourism Blog Contest sponsored by the the Province of Negros Occidental through the Negros Occidental Tourism Center. This is in line with the celebration of the Provincial Tourism Week on September 19-27 with the theme, “Tourism and Biodiversity.”

Below are the mechanics:

• The contest is open to all residents of Negros Occidental aged 15-65 years old.
• Entries should be written in English with a minimum of 500 to a maximum of 1000 words and must speak about Negros tourism, attractions, destinations, festivals or the blogger’s experience.
• Each blogger is only allowed to submit three entries that have not been published online or in print, or copy pasted from other articles.
• Entries should have a link using the Negros Tourism Website (www.negrosoccidentaltourism.com) or should be emailed to tourism_negocc@yahoo.com on or before September 15.

Criteria for judging:

• Content and Organization of Ideas 50%;
• Mastery of English language 20%;
• Writing style and Approaches 20%; and
• Use of pictures and videos 10%;

Winning entries will be published in a local paper and posted on the official Negros Tourism website and will receive P3000, P2000, P1000, for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd placers plus trophy

The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Tourism Center in coordination with the 32 towns and cities will celebrate the Provincial Tourism Week on September 19-27, 2010.

The weeklong celebration is in line with the NEGROS FIRST Development Agenda of Gov. Alfredo G. Maranon, Jr. and Vice  Gov. Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr. under the Tourism Promotion Program, aimed at promoting awareness on the importance of tourism, in terms of cultural, political, economic and social values, among the Negrenses.

Department of Tourism Region 6 Director Edwin G. Trompeta will grace the opening ceremony as guest speaker at the Social Hall, Provincial Capitol Building on September 20.

The Provincial Tourism Week celebration of Negros Occidental has been awarded three times during the Best Tourism Practices Award of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Negros Occidental Tourism Week Schedule of Activities

Theme: Tourism and Biodiversity

September 13- 17 City and Municipal Tourism Week Celebration

September 20, 2010 Monday

7:45am Flag Raising sponsored by the Negros Occidental Tourism Center
Speaker:Hon.Nehemias Dela Cruz
Tourism Quiz for Capitol Employees Prizes at stake will be provided by tourism stakeholders

10:00am Part 1

Opening Program at the Social Hall
Prayer: Provincial Capitol Choir
Acknowledgment of Guest and Participants
Message: Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr.
Guest Speaker: Dir. Edwin G. Trompeta, CESO III
Rationale of the 2nd Provincial Tourism Excellence Awards 2010
Ver Pacete, ATONO President
Awarding of Plaques/Certificates

RECOGNITION OF PARTNERS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
1.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF BARANGAY TOURISM
2.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EMERGING TOURISM ACTIVITY
3.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR’S INITIATIVE ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
4.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE LGU IMPLEMENTATION OF TOURISM REGULATIONS AND FUNCTION
5.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE MOST COOPERATIVE TOURISM OFFICES
6.EXCELLENCE ON PACKAGING NEGROS
7.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR BEST TOURISM OFFICER
8.EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR BEST TOURISM OFFICE
9.Best Tourism Blog(a competition among bloggers in the net on the best tourism feature about Negros Occidental top 3)

Entertainment:
Response of the Best Tourism Officer Awardee

Part 2

Food Festival is in partnership with 32 LGU’s promoting Organic products

the annual food festival is a project of ATONO/all LGU’s to bring delicacies and fruits , lechon plus organic food to share to all participants in promotion of Negrense Food

2:30pm Opening of Photo Exhibit @ SM City Mall
Photo Competition (Professional, Amateur and Students 15 years and below)

September 22, Wednesday

10:30am Tourism Quiz, College level

2:00pm Tourism Quiz, High School Level

September 23 Thursday

10:30am Tourism Quiz, Elementary

2:00pm Tour Guiding Competition
High School Category and
College/Open Category
Photo Contest Awarding

September 24 Friday
8:00–5:00 Tourism Officers and Tourism Staff Day
USLS-LECTURE ON TOURISM

September 25 Saturday International Day for Coastal Clean-up – Bago City

ENVIRONMENTAL TOURISM (this is the 4th year … Capitol employees and tourism stake
holders are encouraged to join us in the coastal clean up with Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines ,tourism officers and members of the media and other private sector groups)

Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod 9th Annual Convention

September 27 World Tourism Day – ‘Tourism Day Sale’
(Participating Tourism Establishments –Gov. to endorse / encourage establishments to offer discounts for tourists)

Source: Negros Occidental Tourism

As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of L’ Fisher Hotel, a wine pairing event for the local media at Ripples Restaurant was co-sponsored last night by Future Trade International (FTI), distributor of wine labels such as Hardy’s and Nederburg.

Never been much of a wine drinker, least of all a wine connoisseur, I was excited to experience a wine pairing and tasting event. Except for myself as a blogger and my friend Anton Manso, fellow forum member of Skyscrapercity, the rest of the guests were Bacolod media bigwigs.

Wine is much appreciated when it is paired with the right food. There are certain foods which are enhanced by a specific wine’s flavor and aroma. Let’s leave it to the expert, Mr. Eric Khan of FTI to choose the perfect wine for what Chef Pancho Bringas prepared for us.

Certainly, a Chef’s canvas is the plate but I have no regrets in consuming Chef Pancho’s masterpieces. The names on the menu are a mouthful but they sure do satisfy the palate. Obviously, I’m not alone since everybody seems to have empty plates.

It must have been the wine or the casual conversations which lead the guests to be quite relaxed. It is in this  circumstance where some people gets to talk more and if you have a keen sense, you will get to hear a lot of gossip. Well, not the gossip you probably want to hear but it’s business gossips I’m referring to. We’re not yet allowed to divulge the information but there are a lot of big developments coming up for Bacolod. That’s certainly a cause for celebration. Let’s drink to that!

Photos courtesy of Anton Manso

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L’ Fisher Hotel in collaboration with the Wedding & Event Planners of Negros, Inc. (WEPON) is holding the Ultimate Wedding & Events Fair at  the Grand La Proa Ballroom of L’ Fisher Hotel. Different wedding & event suppliers in Negros Island gathered in one venue to showcase what they have to offer. The ribbon cutting followed the wine pairing at the Ripples Restaurant.

In the past 20 years of its existence, L’ Fisher Hotel has been one of the favorite venues by Negrenses for weddings and other occasions. Resident Manager, Mr. Robert Balde has been with the hotel for the past 18 years  bear witness to how the Negrenses patronized their hotel. He also enumerated the various developments made such as the L’ Fisher Chalet Tower II, renovation of the interior and the Grand La Proa Ballroom. The hotel facade is also currently undergoing renovation.

The new Marketing Officer, Ms. Imelda Tinsay, who by the way is a big asset to the hotel, invited the guests to sample the various offerings of the hotel in relation to L’ Fisher Hotel 20th anniversary. Imelda’s presentation says it all, why L’ Fisher should be the venue of your most memorable occasion.

Cocktails were served to guests who eagerly waited for the parade of wedding gowns from local designers. The whole La Proa Ballroom was turned into a one-stop shop for weddings and other events.

Photos courtesy of Anton Manso

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The MassKara Festival 2010 music was launched last September 4, 2010 at Robinsons Mall Bacolod. The music was chosen from among those who joined the MassKara music songwriting tilt. The winning composition was by25-year old Bryan Caballero who was awarded P20,000 in cash prize.

Say goodbye to folk music and say hello to a more modern, upbeat music. Caballero’s composition fused techno music with the classic samba rhythm, giving the MassKara music a modern appeal.

The official MassKara music is titled “Kari sa Bacolod: MassKara 2010.”

Listen to the MassKara Festival 2010 Music and tell us whether you like it or not through our poll.

L’ Fisher Hotel will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a lot of events which will surely liven up the whole month of September. L’ Fisher Hotel has been a big part of the Negrense lifestyle from its function rooms, restaurant and hotel rooms. As a proof of their continued excellent service,  L’ Fisher Hotel was awarded by the  Department of Tourism as the Best Hotel in Western Visayas First Class Category in 2009.

The hotel went through renovation last year and it has now a much bigger convention hall, the Grand La Proa Ballroom, which has 1,000 seating capacity. The interior of the hotel also showcases Negrense ingenuity with the use of locally produced furniture and fixtures.

L’ Fisher Chalet Tower II also opened last year offering standard hotel rates at the same quality of service as L’ Fisher Hotel. It is the first hotel in Bacolod to have a swimming pool at the rooftop. It has also a very scenic view of the port area and downtown Bacolod City.

In preparation for the 2010 Masskara Festival and in celebration of its 20th year anniversary, L’ Fisher Hotel is having a facade renovation. Surely, it will be another great design to look forward to and will become another landmark in Bacolod.

Below are the lined up events of L’ Fisher Hotel for the month of September:

The Ultimate Wedding & Events Fair 2010
September 7-9, 2010
New Grand La Proa Ballroom, L’ Fisher Hotel

All You Can Eat Food Festival by Chef Pancho Bringas
Mongolian Nights – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (P299.00)
Soup, Salad, & Past bar – Thursday & Friday Nights (P299.00)
Paella & Sangria Nights – Saturday & Sunday (P399.00)

Saturday Chill with the Sober Club
w/ DJ Lian Zayco & the Patikiros
September 18, 2010, 8:00pm
L’ Fisher Chalet Roofdeck
Unlimited Drink for only P299.00

Dance to the Beat of Spirit of ’67
September 29, 2010 – 9:00pm
Grand La Proa Ballroom
P699 – with Dinner Buffet, P399 – without buffet

Themed Weekend Buffet at Ripples Restaurant w/ Live Entertainment
Thai – September 4 & 5, 2010 (P399.00)
Italian – September 11 & 12, 2010 (P450.00)
Spanish – September 18 & 19, 2010 (P450.00)
American – September 25 & 26, 2010 (P399.00)
Saturday: Dinner (6:00pm to 10:00pm)
Sunday: Lunch (10:00am to 2:00pm)

For more info, visit their website at www.lfisherhotelbacolod.com

SM Savemore East branch will be open to the public on September 17, 2010 at 3:00pm. This is the second branch of SM Savermore in Baclod City with the first branch located at Libertad market. It seems SM is out to conquer the mass market, making convenience shopping accessible outside the mall.

It is interesting to note that SM Savemore will be in a head-to-head competition with Lopue’s East, Bacolod City’s homegrown department store chain. Perhaps feeling the impending competition, Lopue’s East is also renovating its side facing the SM Savemore. As they say, competition is always good for the consumers so we welcome SM Savemore in the East area.

The increase in dengue cases is already very alarming. According to the Department of Health dengue cases rose by 88.8% to 62,503 in the first eight months for this year from 33,102 in the same period last year. Western Visayas has the biggest number of dengue cases recorded with 10,054 cases. There are already 465 died from dengue this year, compared to 350 deaths in 2009.

Dengue has been a perennial problem in the Philippines every time the rainy days arrive.  Dengue or hemorrhagic fever is transmitted to humans through the mosquito Aeges aegypti which thrives in stagnant water. There’s no cure for dengue, you can only treat the symptoms.

In the absence of a clinically recognized cure for dengue, a lot of Filipinos have discovered the effectiveness of  Tawa-Tawa plant (Euphorbia hirta) in increasing platelet counts in dengue patients. Although there’s no study yet to prove its efficacy, more and more  dengue patients who survived the deadly disease by taking Tawa-Tawa tea can testify to its efficacy

.

Finding Tawa-Tawa is not hard since it grows almost anywhere in the Philippines. Dr. Willie T. Ong recommends the following steps on how to prepare the Tawa-Tawa tea:

1. Take 5 whole Tawa Tawa plants;
2. Cut off the roots, then wash and clean;
3. Boil Tawa Tawa in a pot of clean water;
4. Pour the liquid and then let cool;
5. Sip 1 glass 3 to 4 times a day.

Still, prevention is better than cure so clean your surroundings and get rid of containers where the Aeges egypti mosquito may thrive. Also use mosquito repellant lotion to help keep you protected.

Have you tried the Mabukal Resort Slide for Life? Not yet? Well, you are missing a lot. Watch this video if you are not yet convinced to try the Slide for Life. Yes, I’m one of the two shrieking women in the video. Once you get the hang of it, you will actually be looking for a higher and longer slide. I hope Negros will have a zipline soon.

Celebrate 25 years of Negrense ingenuity & resilience at the Negros Trade Fair: Silver Tiangge 25 Years which will be held at the Rockwell Tent, Makati City on September 8-12, 2010. Different products from Negros will be featured, Negrense chefs will showcase local cuisines and there will also be a get-together of sugar industry stakeholders. A coffee table book titled Silver Tiangge: Celebrating 25 Years of the Negros Trade Fair will be launched during the opening.

To those who are familiar with the history of the Association of Negros Producers, it organized during the the sugar crisis of the 80′s when it was taking a great toll on the Negrenses. Fifteen housewives through the challenge and encouragement of then Governor Bitay Lacson, organized themselves. They attended trainings and seminars in different livelihoods and sold their products in what is to become the Negros Trade Fair.

Today, the Negrense entrepreneurs are still faced with challenges and the Negros Trade Fair is a proof of their ingenuity and resilience. Celebrate with them at Rockwell Tent, Makati City!

Schedule of Events at the 25th Negros Trade Fair

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 – Opening Day

- Anniversary Program and Book Launch of the Silver Tiangge: Celebrating 25 Years of the Negros Trade Fair

Thursday, September 9, 2010 – Rockwell Community Day

- Negros Kitchen Symphony featuring Negrense chefs concocting culinary delights using food products marketed at the Negros Trade Fair

- Masskara Night

Friday, September 10, 2010 – Sugar Day

- Sugar Cocktail Night /Pureza Fim Teaser

A get-together of sugar-industry players

Saturday, September 11, 2010 – Business Day

University of St. La Salle Business Forum / Alumnae Night

Sunday – September 12, 2010  9:00am – Holy Mass

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