February is the Arts Month and this year, Bacolod City will host Bacollywood: Cinema Rehiyon 2012, , a National Independent Film and Video Art Festival, a project of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) on February 8-11, 2012.

Bacollywood has featured films in Negros and other provinces in the Visayas since its inception in 2009. It has served as platform for budding film-makers to be featured and a venue for discussions on the different issues in the local independent film industry.

Cinema Rehiyon is a non-competition film festival showcasing the works of film-makers from different regions with films set in their respective regions in their own dialect.  With the joint holding of Bacollywood and Cinema Rehiyon, more independent films will be featured and will be made available to local filmgoers.

The festival starts with the opening of “Killing Time,” a Video Installation on February 7, 6 PM at the Negros Museum.  This will be a first time in Bacolod and the exhibit will feature the works of internationally acknowledged Filipino video artists Tad Ermitaño, Gerry Tan, Kiri Dalena, Bea Camacho, Kaloy Olavides, Yason Banal and Maria Taniguchi. It is curated by Clarissa Chikiamco and open to the public until February 29.  This will be followed the next day by the festival opening on February 8, 9 AM, also at the Negros Museum.

Screenings of the different films will be at the Robinsons Movieworld Cinema 6 on February 8-11. The first day will feature Bacolod short films by directors Peque Gallaga, Carlo Ledesma, Jed Sicangco, Cindy Ballesteros, Junjun Montelibano, EJ Ballesteros, Neil Colanggo, Miguel Cruz, Paolo Lindaya and Michael Varca.  Also to be featured will be more than fifty short films from all over the Philippines.

Full feature films from Luzon, Visayas and Minadanao will also be shown such as BIYERNES, BIYERNES (Cebu), DI INOGON’ NATO (CEBU), ING BABAING MAPAMALIT SIM (Pampanga), SA KANTO NG ULAP AT LUPA (Nueva Vizcaya), BUSONG (Palawan), GAYUMA (Bicol region), LAWAS KAN PINABLI (Pangasinan), etc.

Pureza, the full length documentary film on the Negros sugar industry by Jay Abello will be shown on the last day of the festival, February 11.

Films will also be shown in barangay public venues through Cine de Barrio.  After doing the barangay rounds from December 2011, Cine de Barrio venues for the festival proper will be on Brgy. 19 on Feb. 8, Brgy. Villamonte on Feb. 9, and Brgy. Punta Taytay on Feb. 10, all at 6 PM.  Each cinema and barangay screening will be followed by interaction with the film directors as the festival will be graced by filmmakers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

There’s a wealth of talent in film-making in the regions that has not been getting a lot of attention and support compared to their Manila-based counterparts. As moviegoers, by supporting Bacollywood: Cinema Rehiyon 2012 will be our way of helping our local artists and also learn more about our culture.

For FREE Tickets, please contact the secretariat at 09162173010.

Below is the schedule of activities:

February 7-8, 2012

February 9, 2012

February 10-11, 2012

Pureza: The Story of Negros Sugar is a full-length documentary film dissecting the sugar industry and how it has affected the lives of almost 3 million people in Negros island.

Sugar is the oil that runs the economy of Negros. Negros Occidental alone produces more than half of the total sugar production of the Philippines. Despite the efforts from various sectors to veer away from a monocrop industry,  Negros remained dependent on the sugar industry.

The proverbial image of a Negrense hacendero.

Sugar has been part of the turbulent history of the island where social unrest has been the cause of insurgency in the past. I’m sure most of us has some stereotypical image of the proverbial hacendero (landowner) throwing lavish parties in their palatial mansions while their sacadas toil in the fields. That has been the stigma that Negrenses have to live with for for more than a century.

Pureza refers to the purity of the sugar yield and depends on the different stages in the value chain, from planting to harvesting to milling. It’s an apt title for a documentary which delves  deeper into the historical, cultural and economic aspects of the sugar industry. It looks into the industry not only from the point of view of somebody born into it but also from somebody looking from the outside.

A farm worker planting sugarcane.

The production team were mostly Negrenses/Ilonggo by birth and affinity thus everybody had their own personal story with the sugar industry making the project very personal. Chroma Key technology was used for the Pureza cosplay where they used hundreds of costumes in recreating period scenes retracing the history of sugar in Negros. Animation was also used using the works of Negrense artist Edbon Sevilleno.

The film was produced by Bonfire Productions and Negros Pureza Foundation with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Although you can say this documentary is mostly funded by hacendero money, Director Abello made sure there will be no “sugar coating”.

Here are the production team which made “Pureza: The Story of Negros Sugar”

Executive Producers J. ABELLO, JOEY GASTON
Producers FIONA BORRES, AGNES VILLAR
Director J. ABELLO
Writers JET ORBIDA, CHECCS OSMEÑA
Editor FIONA BORRES
Director of Photography J. ABELLO
Asst. Director LOVELLE BELLOCILLO
Visual FX Supervisor RICHARD FRANCIA
Sound Engineers ALBERT MICHAEL IDIOMA, ALEX TOMBOC
Music PEARLSHA ABUBAKAR
Researchers IHVONIE SEVILLENO, KAT VALENCIA

Cosplay Actors

Oying Osmeña
Milton Dionzon
Mandy Alimon
Eero Martinez
Dante Amaguin

Pureza: The Story of Negros Sugar will be shown on the following dates and venues:

February 7 -  Premiere at SM City Bacolod Cinema 3, Screenings at 6:30pm and 9:00pm – (by invitation only)
February 11 – Robinsons Place Bacolod as part of the Bacollywood: Cinema Rehiyon 2012. Free Screening at 6:00-8:00pm. For Free Tickets, contact the  secretariat at 09162173010.
February 17 – Regular screening at SM City Bacolod (Regular Screenings at 12:00nn, 2:00pm, 4:00pm) Tickets are available at P120.00 at Café Uma (709-9966) or contact 0932-3065277 | 0917-3012878 | 034-708607

Watch the full trailer below:

The Bacolod Capitol Shopping Center is known as the Chinatown of Bacolod City because of the numerous Chinese business establishments in the area. Perhaps, only a few Bacolodnons, especially the younger generations, knew that it is a tragedy which gave birth to Shopping.

In 1955, a big fire gutted the area bounded by Araneta, Gonzaga, Locsin and Luzuriaga which is growing commercial center where most Chinese business establishments were located. The business establishments also doubled as residents so these Chinese were also displaced because of the fire.

Alfredo Montelibano Sr. saw an opportunity to attract the displaced Chinese businessmen so he developed the 27-hectare property north of Bacolod which gave way to the Capitol Shopping Center. Mr. Montelibano also donated a half-hectare property to the Bacolod Chinese Catholic Association where Hua Ming School and church are now located.

The Montelibano family has already transformed what used to be cogonland into Villamonte Subdivision and the upscale Capitolville Subdivision. During the time that the Capitol Shopping Center was being constructed, the exclusive boy’s school La Salle Bacolod and St. Scholastica Academy were already operating not far from Shopping. It’ not surprising then that the area became a prominent commercial center in Bacolod after its completion.

However, through the years, various business establishments re-opened in Bacolod downtown area and big malls opened in the city which took away customers from the Shopping area. Years of neglect have deteriorated most establishments in the Shopping area and even parts of the roads need to be rehabilitated.  Capitol Shopping Center has lost its luster as a business center and no longer attracted investments and only a few new establishments located in the area in recent years.

In the hope of reviving the once prime commercial district, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia recently signed City Ordinance no. 576 naming the Capitol Shopping Center as the Bacolod City Chinatown. The ordinance was authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos and co-authored by Councilor Em Ang stipulated that the city government will appropriate at least P15 million initial funding for the improvement of the infrastructure such as the welcome arch, greening and landscaping as well as road concreting. The city government, through the ordinance, hoped to attract investors by returning up to 70% of the cost of a project that will be put up at the Chinatown Center in the form of tax credits spread over five years.

The revival of the Capitol Shopping as the Bacolod Chinatown was lauded by the Filipino-Chinese Community since the Chinatown has been an important economic, cultural and spiritual hub for the Filipino-Chinese in Bacolod City.

Just like the way the Filipino-Chinese has risen from the ashes of the great fire of 1955, the renewal of interest in the Bacolod Chinatown Center will hopefully give way to the rebirth of the once robust business center.

The Bacolaodiat Festival 2012 will be celebrated on January 20-23 and  this year will be the 7th BacoLaodiat Festival which will usher in the Year of the Dragon with the theme  “A Majestic Spirit in a Challenging Year.”

Bacolaodiat which was coined from Bacolod and Lao Diat (Fookien word for celebration), is Bacolod City’s celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Every year, the Bacolaodiat Festival gets bigger with the support of Filipino-Chinese community. Filipinos have also embraced the celebration since the Chinese culture has a very strong influence us.

Chinese foods will be showcased at the Chopsticks Alley with cooking demo from our local cooking experts such as Chef Sandy Solinap of Verdera and Chef Ronnie Guance of PURO Organic.

The Lantern and Street Dance Competition also gets more exciting every year with more groups joining. Dancers wear colorful Chinese costumes and uses lanterns as they dance to the lively Bacolaodiat theme song.

Last year I wished that the Chinese New Year will be declared a non-working holiday and I’m glad this came true this year. With the declaration of January 23 as a non-working holiday, expect more people to come to the Bacolaodiat festival.

Chines New Year is more fun in Bacolod City so don’t be left behind. Mark your calendar Toto and Inday. Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!

 2012 Bacolaodiat Schedule of Activities

I know this may already be a little late for a review of 2011 but I hope you’ll understand.  I just got married so a little procrastination may be excused. There were a lot of goings-on in 2011 for Negros Occidental and for my personal life as well. It’s been an exciting year and here are some of the news makers in Negros Occidental and some highlights in my blogging and personal life.

Remembering 2011

• Ayala Land won the  bidding for the development of the Capitol Property. Albeit in a very controversial bidding, a lot of people were happy to hear that it was finally awarded to Ayala Land. Even our readers preferred Ayala. Of the 34 readers who joined our online poll, only 3 voted for SM Prime Holdings and 31 voted for Ayala Land.
  

  Ayapa Capitol Civic Center (image from behance.net)

• The Azkals Vs Mongolia Football match for the pre-qualifying playoffs of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup was held in Bacolod City at the Panaad Stadium. It was a momentous event for football fans as the Azkals beat Mongolia and eventually qualified for the finals of the Group A AFC Challenge Cup 2012.
• The Bacolod Charter day was officially changed from October 19 to June 18 through Executive Order 15-A Series of 2011 signed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia last June 9, 2011. However, the celebration of the Masskara festival will still be held every October.
• A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Negros but there was no casualty reported.  The earthquake originated in the Negros Trench and an  Intensity 5 was felt in Kabankalan, Cauayan, Sipalay and Hinoba-an. Those living in the coastal areas evacuated to higher ground for feat of a Tsunami.  Negros is still very lucky.
• I hopped on-board Team Tikim last year through an invitation by Betsy Gazo. It’s been an exciting experience, to say the least. Imagine the food we had to eat and all the calories we had to burn. It’s a tough job really but somebody has to do it.
• I am continually improving my writing and luckily I was able to attend various workshops last year courtesy of the Negros Museum. I learned a lot on memoir writing through Virginia Cu’s Writing from Within workshop and on food writing through Amy Besa’s Food Writing and Food Research workshop.
• It was a star-studded year as well as the Negros Bloggers got invited to press-cons with different celebrities. We got to meet up close and personal with John Lloyd Cruz, Direk Brillante Mendoza and Kapuso Stars.
• The Negros Bloggers and Silay City Government got to co-organize the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards – Visayas wherein ExperienceNegros.com was also one of the finalists in the Best Travel Blog category. I didn’t bring home the award but just to be nominated as among Visaya’s best is already something I am truly proud of.
  

  Negros Bloggers with Mayor Oti Montelibano of Silay City

• Of course, those of you who subscribed to this blog last year already knows the highlight my personal life last year was when I got married. I’m just lucky to have a husband who’s already used to my blogging so this change in my status will not have much impact in my blogging.

What to look forward to in 2012

I have big plans for ExperienceNegros.com which I hope to implement this 2012. I’ve set-up and maintained this blog mostly from my own pocket and although I would want that to change, I don’t see it coming this 2012 yet. But that will not stop me from doing some tweaking to improve and serve more Negrenses, tourists and investors.

• ExperienceNegros.com: Your online guide in traveling, investing & living in Negros Occidental.
  This will be the tagline for this blog starting 2012. Tall order I know but that’s the direction I want for this blog and I will work hard in achieving it. I’ll be doing a lot of redesigning, a lot of tweaking, and a lot of research in 2012. Contributors are very much welcome.

Goals for 2012

• At least 1,000 daily unique visitors by end 0f 2012. I really lost two-thirds of my organic traffic since my site was hacked in September last year and I wish to recover them and gain more. I have several strategies in mind and I hope I can implement them this year. I’m not planning on buying traffic since I want to have readers who enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them.
• At least 6,000 subscribers by end of 2012. I currently have 500+ subscribers and I wish to gain at least 500 subscribers monthly. This is where I will be needing your help. If you love reading my blog, please do encourage your family and friends to subscribe.
• At least 6,000 Facebook likers by end of 2012. I currently have 800+ Facebook likers and I want to have more people like our fanpage so that they will be updated on new posts through Facebook. Please also encourage your friends and family to like ExperienceNegros.com on Facebook.

I believe the Virgen sang Barangay Chapel is one of the most beautiful churches in Negros Ocidental. In fact, I find it so beautiful I got married there.  Located inside Sta. Clara Subdivision, considered as the Forbes Park of Bacolod City, the chapel is quiet, intimate and with no unwanted observers. If you’re planning to get married here, book your wedding date early since we had to book as early as April for our December wedding.

Virgen sg Barangay Chapel Interior

The Virgen sang Barangay Chapel was built in 1983 on a land donated by Antonio Gaston. The chapel was designed by Architect Norman Campos and features shell mosaic done by Ms. Leticia Sia Ledesma.

The centerpiece of the Virgen sang Barangay Chapel is a 9 ft x 21 ft mural mosaic of Virgen sang Barangay made of 95,000 pieces of polished shells done by Ms. Leticia Sia Ledesma. It is said that the image on the mural of the Virgen Sang Barangay floating on clouds over Negros in protection came to Ms. Ledesma in her dream. All 95,000 pieces of polished shells are in their natural color and all are gathered locally from the shores of Negros. It is said that it took 60 men 100 hours to polish the shells.

Virgen sg Barangay Chapel Mural

Look closely at the intricate details of the mural and you’ll surely admire the meticulous hands that painstakingly cut, polished and glued the shells. The minute images of houses, boats and trees are all made of shells.

Close-up of the Virgen sg Barangay Mural (Photo by Maricar Dabao)

The chapel is always part of the longest running cultural tour in the world, the Annual Cultural Tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO) of Ramon Hofileña. If you want to know more about the story behind the chapel and other cultural places in Negros Occidental, join Mon Hofileña’s tour every December.

An imposing chandelier made of 14,000 pieces of  white shells hang at the center of the chapel and glows dramatically when lighted.

Virgen sg Barangay Chapel Chandelier

The Stations of the Cross and images of saints and altar pieces are made of 30,000 shells.

Virgen sg Barangay Chapel Images of Saints

History of the Image of Virgen Sang Barangay

In 1954, Antonio Gaston of Silay, the visionary founder and leader of the Barangay Sang Virgen Organization, had a word with Bacolod Bishop Manuel Yap about an idea of giving the patroness of the Barangay Sang Virgen Organization a purely Filipino look. Bishop Yap approved the idea, but getting the icon painted proved to be difficult. Works from artists from the Salesian order and from graduates of prestigious art schools were not satisfactory.

Several months later, Father Pixner sent Gaston a painting done by Crisogono Domingo, an inmate of Santa Barbara Leprosarium in Iloilo. It is not a painting on a canvass but on a lawanit board. Mr. Domingo was an ordinary house painter. It took one look from Gaston and he knew it was going to be the image of the patroness.

The icon also gained the approval of of Bishop Manuel Yap who canonically blessed and installed the image in the diocese by October 16, 1954. The Bishop acclaimed the painting to be a work of art and inspiration. The original painting was personally blessed by the Blessed Pope John Paul II at the Bishop’s Palace when he visited Bacolod City on February 20, 1981 .

Today, the replica of the Virgen sang Barangay image on a lawanit goes house to house in Barangays where family members pray the rosary for several days before transferring the image to the next house.

I haven’t tried asking at the Diocese of Bacolod if they know where the original painting is now located. God-willing, I’ll try to search for it if only just to admire the work of an ordinary house painter who has inspired one of the most enduring images of the Virgin Mary and one that is truly Filipino.

Post Script: Added January 3, 2012

During the get-together dinner with NITI tour guides, Bambi Borromeo revealed to me that the original image of the Virgen Sang Barangay painted by Crisogono Domingo is at the Virgen Sang Barangay Shrine in Silay City.

Every Christmas, I hear people complaining there’s not enough money for giving gifts and to buy food for Noche Buena. I wonder, isn’t Christmas about the birth of Jesus Christ? He is the gift of the Father to us and He did not ask for anything in return.

The best gifts I think are those given to people who have no means of giving us in return. The homeless, the orphans, the elderlies, and yes, those who were affected by Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao. It doesn’t matter if they’re Christians or not. Jesus said, ‘I tell you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’ (Mattheew 25:40).

I’m not a Grinch but to me, commercialism has gone overboard and made Santa seemed like the reason for looking forward to Christmas especially for children. There’s nothing wrong in instilling the value of generosity to children but I think gifts should be given to people not only because they have been good but because you simply love them. No conditions.

In view of the calamity caused by Typhoon Sendong, I think the more we have to reflect on the true reason why we celebrate Christmas. It’s not about gifts, food, nor parties. It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Many families lost their homes and loved ones and may find it hard to start their life anew. A fellow blogger in Cagayan de Oro City lost three of her four children. I could never imagine the pain she and her family is going through right now.  Should they stop celebrating Christmas? I think the more reason they should celebrate Christmas. It may not be in a jubilant manner but just to thank God for life and to pray for strength to overcome the trials they’re going through. I will also pray for them and share the blessings we received to help them pick up the pieces of their life and start anew.

From my family to yours, have a blessed and meaningful Christmas! No matter what our circumstances in life maybe, let’s not forget whose birthday it is we’re celebrating.

Fresh Start Organics in Silay City is more than just a business. It’s a social enterprise helping hundreds of farmers in Negros Occidental with impacts on consumers’ health, fair trade and environmental conservation.

The organic movement in Negros Occidental started in the 1980s with players from the NGO sector. It gained a stronger support from the provincial governments of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in 2005 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding of the governors Joseph Marañon and George Arnaiz to make Negros Island the Organic Food Bowl of Asia.

With her late grandfather as one of the supporters of the organic movement, I guess it’s no coincidence that Francine Marañon-Uy would herself be involved in organic agriculture. She and husband Ramon “Chin-Chin” Uy, Jr.  started Fresh Start Organic farm in Silay City as a demo farm in 2005 in order to showcase the benefits of their organic fertilizer. Their efforts were met with criticisms since they were then competing with commercial fertilizers which cost P500 per bag while they were selling their organic fertilizer at P300 per bag. Then the cost of commercial fertilizer increased dramatically since it is dependent on the price of oil.  That’s when they confirmed that they are in the right business. Why depend on foreign products when everything you need for farming is available locally?

Today, Fresh Start Organics farm in Silay City has been featured in many agriculture magazines since their farm can be considered a model. Their farm earns more per square meter than a regular sugarcane farm.

Fresh Start Upholds Fair Trade

One of the things I was glad I did was when I introduced an organization of small organic rice farmers I assist in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental to Fresh Start Organics. Fresh Start buys organic rice from various farmer organizations at a premium. They usually agree on a certain price with the farmers even before the rice are harvested.  This way, the farmers already know how much they’re going to earn and that’s usually above the prevailing farm gate prices so the farmers earn more if they sell to Fresh Start than to conventional rice traders.

If the farmers lack capital for inputs, Fresh Start provides them with organic inputs and the payment would be in the form of products during harvest. This way, the farmers no longer need to borrow from loan sharks. They also assist the farmers gain more knowledge on organic agriculture through trainings.

Fresh Start Helps in Environmental Conservation

Fresh Start Organics source their coffee from small organic farmers from Sag-ang in La Castellana and Yubo in La Carlota nurtured by the rich volcanic soil of Mt. Kanlaon. Fresh Start Coffee naturally grows under the shade of dipterocarp trees and do not need chemicals to grow thus the biodiversity in the forest is protected. Each red coffee cherry is hand-picked to select the best quality. The Fresh Start coffee is available in Mt. Kanlaon Premium Blend (Arabica and Robusta) and Negrense Native Organic Coffee (Robusta). I prefer the Mr. Kanlaon Premium Blend because of its rich flavor and aroma.

Chin-Chin believes that as you nourish the soil, it will nourish the plants which in turn nourish the body. As the soil becomes healthier, you will need lesser and lesser inputs. The conventional method on the other hand, gives nutrients to the plants but destroys the natural nutrients and helpful organisms in the soil. As the soil nutrients diminish, more inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are needed.

Fresh Start Encourages Consumers to be Healthy, Inside-Out

Fresh Start Organics produce organic salad greens and herbs, fruits and vegetables, free range chickens and grass fed pigs. Salad greens are harvested, washed, packed in ziplocks and delivered fresh to supermarkets and restaurants.

Fresh Start also has a processed food line using organic and locally sourced ingredients. They have already reached Iloilo, Cebu and Manila market supplying their fresh produce and processed jams to the likes of Gaita Fores of Pepato.

To be healthy inside out, Fresh Start also has a line of personal and home care products. Their soaps are based in virgin coconut oil while their massage oil is based in virgin lemongrass oil produced in Negros Occidental. Their linen and room deodorizers are also based in lemongrass oil and are very affordable.

Fresh Start is Doing Good While Doing Well

I remember once asking Chin-Chin how their business is doing since their price is really competitive. He said they may not profit as much as they could have but it doesn’t matter as long as more small farmers benefit through Fresh Start Organics. He believes it’s an irony that it’s the farmers who work the most in the organic value chain but they remain poor. He wanted to change that and help the farmers earn more since they’re the ones responsible for putting food on our table.

No wonder Chin-Chin and Francine Uy were listed in the Town & Country magazine’s 101 People You Should Meet Right Now.  Their commitment is admirable and their dedication to their advocacy is very contagious. Not all businesses have money as their bottom-line. Fresh Start Organics invested in our small farmers and more than profit, they are now slowly reaping their rewards in terms of healthier consumers, fair trade promotion and biodiversity conservation.

Fresh Start Organics products are available at the Fresh Start Organic and Natural Store at the Robinsons Central Citywalk and at Echostore branches.

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It’s the first night after my wedding night and I can’t sleep. Not for the reason you were probably thinking. It’s just now that I can look back on the days leading to my wedding day and ponder on the things that have happened and those I wished happened. This is going to be a very personal blog post so I hope you bear with me and if you think I’m getting overboard, I wouldn’t mind if you stop reading. But I hope you will not be inclined to unsubscribe from my blog after reading this post.

Getting married is really a big decision to make, one that I did not take lightly. For somebody who is very independent like me, I do not give in to the pressure of getting married just because I have somebody willing to marry me and that I’m way beyond marrying age. If there’s anything I hate most it’s to be coerced into doing something. I do whatever I think is best for me and I will stand by my decision and face the consequences. It’s my life and I believe nobody knows better how to live it than me.

I have a lot of friends coordinating events but I took the difficult path. I decided to take charge of the preparations myself with help from friends. And I’m glad I did. It’s very stressful, and at times it will take away some of the excitement but the process will make you see the people who truly care for you. They are those who will swallow their pride, go out of their way, and sacrifice their time just to make you happy.

I think the reason why people get married only once is because the bride can only survive one wedding preparation. That’s why wedding coordination is very lucrative these days. Seriously, if you are the type of person who is not used to spending long nights and endure a lot of stress, I suggest you hire a professional.

I was glad I chose the perfect Maid of Honor. I don’t know how worse my wedding could have been without her. She kept me sane and put me on track whenever I lose focus. Her family became my instant family as well. I’m also very grateful to my friends who made themselves and their resources available at my request. I could never thank them enough.

I’m glad I was also able to break traditions. Traditions are not etched in stone and if they’re no longer applicable today, why observe? A lot of people were asking me why I will be getting married in Bacolod and not in Iloilo. And I know there were people who asked my Nanay why she agreed on it.

We have this custom that marriage should take place at the bride’s hometown. Initially, during the pamanhikan, we decided to have it in Iloilo but during my initial inquiries to suppliers, I realized it will be difficult for me so I decided to ask my boyfriend that we have it in Bacolod and he agreed. Here, suppliers are just a phone call away and some of them are not just suppliers but are also friends.

Eventually, it’s a decision that will make me see the people that truly love me. My parents did not even ask why. Wherever I decide to have it, they leave the decision to me. It’s my wedding, it’s my call. After that, other voices are just noise I refused to listen to. I was not really surprised to see the same people who were there for me in the past behind my back. They were the sensible ones and the ones I’ve proven time again were there for me in my lowest times.

I don’t know why some of us have this habit that when we learn that a person is getting married instead of saying congratulations and best wishes, say “Baw wala gid gapang-imbitar ba.” I don’t know if this is socially accepted but I think anybody who has a sense of propriety should not say this even jokingly. You’ll only embarrass the person getting married.

Another one is, “Gin imbitar mo tani si so-and-so maski pakulahaw lang.” Is there sense in that? Why invite people and expect them not to come? I only invited through invitations, text and in person, those I wanted and expect to come. There were more I wanted to invite if only our budget permits. I have proven that formal invitation is the least reliable. More people I invited through Facebook and text replied and came even in such a short notice. Others might have thought my formal invitation was a joke that does not even warrant a reply. Do you have to put an RSVP to have people think that you have included them in your list of guests?

It’s now that I truly understand it when they say, “Kadto lang maski wala regalo.” because that’s exactly how I felt. I can always buy material things but a person’s presence on your special day is something no money can buy. But of course I also understand why some people were not able to make it and I’ve taken a mental note of those who moved mountains just to be there.

When you have so much on your mind you tend to forget about the little details until the last minute. I don’t know if there’s a bride who was more stressed than I was. The day before the wedding was when I realized we still had no wedding candles, no gifts for the offertory, and our officiating priest asked to meet us.

The night before our wedding I was still printing and cutting out cards for our grafted fruit trees giveaways and finalizing our missalette. I slept at 10pm and woke up at 1am to do all these. It was only after the wedding that I properly slept.

It doesn’t end there. On the day of our wedding, the groom had diarrhea and fever. He said it was something he ate. Could it be he’s changed his mind? Nah, if there’s somebody who’s at the end of her wits, that’s me, so if there’s some changing of minds that should be me.

I don’t know why I haven’t pre-arranged it with the car rental but I went with the car who picked up my make-up artists and bride’s maids from the pier to their hotel. I was the one who picked up the bouquets from the florist. I was the one who picked up the groom who’s now feeling better from the house and we went together to Nature’s Village where we will be billeted and where our reception will be held.

To add to the series of unfortunate events, there was some mixed up with the van schedule and my make-up artists and bride’s maids arrived late at the resort. Our videographers were at the resort two hours before us. I think they were more stressed than I was. By God’s grace I was in a good mood. I was relaxed and waited patiently to be made up. I was smiling genuinely in front of the camera.

We ended up coming one hour late for my 4pm wedding at Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel. When we met Father Rayman Asoy the day before, he told us “It’s ok if you’re going to be a little late. It’s you’re special day and I don’t want you to be pressured.” Perhaps, he did not expect us to take his word seriously. But I’m glad it’s him we choose as our officiating priest. Other priests might have given us a tongue lashing at our own wedding. I don’t know where he is having a mass at 6pm but I hope it’s not another wedding or that would really make me feel guilty. My Maid of Honor told me after the wedding that there were also bloopers at the Chapel. Well, I’m sure we will be laughing about it later.

Leo Vision was a personal choice to be our videographer. It’s not only because Gary Liza gave me a good package but because I trust Leo Vision to do a good job. And I was not wrong. They did an excellent job! I don’t know how they did it. We were probably their worst client. We are a videographer’s nightmare. We suck at projecting, we’re not the demonstrative type, and we were late!

They only had limited shots because we’re running after time but I think that’s what made the video so beautiful. They had captured us naturally on video. No pretensions. Just us, in our unguarded moments. As what I told Gary, they have perfectly captured the imperfect us and we wouldn’t want it any other way. He or whoever from his staff was very intuitive in choosing the perfect music. I only heard it at our wedding reception when they showed us the Same Day Edit video of our wedding. It’s the male version of A Thousand Years from Twilight: Breaking Dawn OST. No, I’m not a Twilight fan at all.

We chose Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel for our wedding because as somebody who continually blog about Negros, I know part of its history and the story behind its shell mural. I find it not only beautiful but full of character. It’s quiet, very intimate and no unwelcome observers.

Nature’s Village Resort was the best choice for the reception because it’s near the chapel and traffic is not so heavy going North from the flyover. I also find it charming and has a character that matches with the chapel. We missed having a lot of pictures and videos in these two venues but perhaps we can do that on our first anniversary.

Before I end this longer than usual blog post, I’m happy to share with you our wedding video.

When I agreed to be one of the judges in Silay City’s Christmas Village Arko Competition, little did I know that I will be the only non-artist in the group. It was an honor to be in such an esteemed group of judges. Good thing they have no air and made jokes so I was immediately put at ease.

There were two categories to be judged, the Arko ang Angel Competitions. I was with Lee Santiago and Ronnie Baldonado to judge the Arko. We were to judge the 16 entries from the different barangay as to Creativity and Originality (30%), Durability (30%), Visual Impact (30%) and Use of Materials (10%).

Judging 16 entries is not easy and especially since there were a lot of very good entries. In the end, we were glad we have a unanimous decision.

Third Place – Brgy. Hawaiian

Brgy. VI or Hawaiian got the Third Place. Brgy. VI is where the Hawaiian-Philippine Company is located that’s why it was renamed Hawaiian. The theme of their Arko focused on sugarcane milling which is very reflective of their barangay. The Arko is an iron dinosaur or steam locomotive made from acacia leaves painstakingly glued all over the arko. Hawaiian-Philippine is one of the few sugar centrals which still maintains a running steam locomotive using bagasse as fuel. Brgy. Hawaiian’s iron dinosaur Arko is complete with smoke and train horn sound.

Brgy. Hawaiian - Third Place - Silay Christmas Village Arko Competition

Second Place – Brgy. E. Lopez

Brgy. E. Lopez’s entry was made from corn husk meticulously folded and glued on the Arko. What’s amazing was that if you looked closely, the folded corn husks overlapped so closely you won’t see it’s base. The main figure of the Arko was a star with a Nativity scene at the center.

Brgy. E. Lopez - Second Place - Silay Christmas Village Arko Competition

The kids will surely love the Pinocchio figure on the left post and a clown on the right which are both made from empty water and softdrink bottles.

Brgy. E. Lopez - Second Place - Silay Christmas Village Arko Competition

First Place – Brgy. III

The inspiration for Brgy. III’s entry was the first settlement in Silay which was a coastal village named Carubcub. The artist, Silaynon wire sculptor Ian Valladarez, used twisted wires and scallop shells for his creation. You’ll surely admire his artwork especially if you look closely at the minute details.

According to Ian, the three seahorses in the Arko represent the Three Kings and the baby in their pouches represent a rebirth of the meaning of Christmas which is the birth of Jesus Christ which we so often forget because of too much commercialism.

Brgy. III - First Place - Silay Christmas Village Arko Competition

The kids and the kids at heart will enjoy the marbles which roll around the seahorses through a mechanism using gravitational force. I was pretty impressed with the artist who also has a good grasp of science.

Viewers are free to play with the Arko so you are free to inspect the mechanism if you happen to visit the Christmas Village, which I highly recommend you do.

Solo Locsin of Silay Tourism Office, Brgy. III Punong Barangay Efren D. Dequilla, and Ian Valladarez

We had no time to go around the Angel Category entries from the various schools so below is a sneak into some of the entries.

Silay City Christmas Village - Angel Category

The Silay City Christmas Village runs until January 6, 2012 at the Silay Public Plaza. I recommend you find time to bring your family to this display of Silaynon artistry. It’s a cheap way to spend quality time with your family and make your kids happy. Believe me, you’ll be elated too with the colorful display.