Most of Negros Island’s beauty remains hidden from the rest of the country. This boot-shaped island is blessed by nature with fascinating places waiting to be discovere.  Bago City in the Province of Negros Occidental on the Western side of the Island is probably one of those places that when God gifted the mortals with natural treasures, received a lot.

Bago City’s upland area sat at the foot of Mount Kanlaon where it has numerous springs and waterfalls thus the city has several mountain resorts both privately and publicly managed.  One of the government run resorts is the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort which recently reopened after it has undergone renovation for almost a year.

Located near the foot of Mount Kanlaon in Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, Buenos Aires Montain Resort has several accommodation and pool choices for visitors. The resort is less than 45-minute drive from Bacolod City and the roadside view is very idyllic. Unlike most part of Negros Occidental, it is in Bago City where you’ll see a lot of rice fields side by side with sugarcane plantations. Bago City is considered the rice granary of Negros Occidental.

I played tour guide to my cousins from Iloilo when they had a weekend vacation in Negros Occidental a few weeks ago.  My nephews and nieces haven’t been to Mambukal yet, so a day tour of Mambukal is a must. It was a long weekend so most resorts including Mambukal were already fully-booked but we were lucky Buenos Aires has an available room enough for nine people.

Buenos Aires offers various accommodation to choose from. There are picnic huts for daytime visitors and cottages for overnight guests.

My cousin requested somebody to book for us at Buenos Aires earlier. When we arrived at Buenos Aires at half past three was when we learned that we were booked in a non-aircon dormitory because it’s the only room available. However, the kids were complaining of the heat so we decided to request to be transferred to an airconditioned room. Fortunately for us, somebody backed out from a booking so we were moved to one of the newer Family Cottages (P3,500).

The cottage has two aircon rooms, one with two double deck beds and one with a matrimonial bed. It also has a large sala-dining area with a TV, refrigerator, dining table and sink. The bathroom was also spacious. The cottage also has a balcony at the back overlooking a river.  The sound of the water cascading over the rocks is very soothing it will lull you to sleep on a warm afternoon. That’s exactly what we did after a shower under the cool mountain spring water of Buenos Aires.

We brought our own food for dinner but there are also food stalls at the entrance of the resort. The food are mostly home-cooked and there’s Chicken Inasal right off the grill for pulutan.

The following day, the kids and teens had so much fun frolicking at the pool since they had the pool for themselves very early in the morning. I explored the other parts of the resort and was awarded by a beautiful view at the top of the hill where the resort Hostel was located. To the East, the summit of Mounta Kanlaon peeks through the morning mist and to the West, the plains of Bago City.

Although there is not much to do in Buenos Aires unlike Mambukal, it’s a nice place to relax on a weekend. The resort is well maintained, beautifully landscaped, quiet and very accessible from Bacolod City. It was all worth the travel we made.

Going to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort

From Bacolod City, take the Road Star Bus at the Bacolod South Terminal (Sambok) to Ma-ao, Bago City (P40/person). From Ma-ao Public Market, take the tricycle to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort (P150-hire).

There’s also an alternate route going to Buenos Aires from Mambukal Resort in Murcia. If you’re from Mambukal, turn left at crossing going to Sitio Manghumay. There’s a sign that says “going to Pataan” but to make sure you won’t miss it, ask the locals once you reach the army headquarters.  When you reach crossing Sitio Pataan, the road to your left will lead you to Pataan Mountain Resort while the road to your right will lead to Kipot Falls and Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. Follow the road to your right until you reach a crossing to your left with a sign leading to Buenos Aires and Rafael Salas National Park around 6km from crossing Sitio Pataan.

View Going to Bago City via Murcia in a larger map

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort
Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City
Negros Occidental

For Booking & Reservation, contact:
Bago City Tourism Affairs Office
Tel. No.: (034) 461-0540
Telefax: (034) 461-1028
Front Desk:  (0917)301-4251

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort Rates:

Overnight Facilities

Daytime Facilities

More Photos

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Click image to enlarge

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to experience the Babaylan Festival 2011 which was held last February 19, 2011 as the highlight of the 45th Charter Anniversary of Bago City. I have been sick on and off for the past two weeks so I had to give up most of my weekend activities. Fortunately, my photoblogger friend Henry James shared these photos for my readers.

Babaylan Street Dance Competition Winners

• Champion – Group 8 (Ma-ao, Tabunan, Atipulan)
• 1st Runner-up – Group 5 (Alianza, Malingin, Don Jorge Araneta)
• 2nd Runner-up – Group 6 (Calumangan, Dulao, Lag-asan)

Special Awards

• Best in Music – Group 8 (Ma-ao, Tabunan, Atipulan)
• Best in Street Dance – Group 8 (Ma-ao, Tabunan, Atipulan)
• Best in Choreography Group 8 (Ma-ao, Tabunan, Atipulan)
• Best Babaylan – Group 6 (Calumangan, Dulao, Lag-asan)
• Best in Binalaybay – Group 3 (Bagroy, Sagasa, Caridad)
• Best in Costume – Group 2 (Poblacion, Binubuhan, Napoles)

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

photos by henryjames

Bago City is set to hold the highlight of the Babaylan Festival 2011 on February 19, 2011 coinciding with the 45th charter anniversary of the city.

Babaylan Festival was conceived to highlight the Babaylan, a character in pre-Spanish Visayas.  The Babaylan has a very important and powerful role in the community. Although oftentimes portrayed as a woman, a Babaylan can also be a man. He is a doctor, herbalist, artist, medium, adviser, agriculturist and more, all rolled in one very interesting character.

Witness the dances and rituals during the festival highlight. Check out the full 45th Charter Anniversary Schedule below and the parade route. (Click the image to enlarge).

Negros Occidental will be celebrating the 112th Cinco de Noviembre this year and there will be a lot of activities in celebration of what is known as Negros Day. It’s also a non-working holiday in Negros Occidental so it will also be a good time to reacquaint ourselves with what the Negros Revolution is all about through the various festivals and cultural activities.

Silay City

Cinco de Noviembre marker in Silay City, Negros Occidental

• At the Monument

7:30am – Honoring of Heroes
8:30am – Retracing the Steps of the Revolution (March from the Monument to Public Plaza)

• At Plaza Olympia Severino

Hoisting of Philippine Flag (New Flag Pole)
10:00am – Motorcade
- Opening of Exhibit (Sen. Jose C. Locsin Culture and Civic Center)
1:30pm – Drum Corps Competition
5:00pm – Kasaysayan Dance Drama Competition
7:30pm – Fireworks and Live Band

• Adobo Festival and Muscovado Cooking Contest – Balay Negrense, Silay City
  -  The event will gather culinary experts, cooking aficionados and budding chefs who will come up with new tastes for adobo and dishes using muscovado. There will also be an Art Exhibit and Adobo Lunch for P200/person which is consumable.

• Patag Eco-Adventure Endurance Challenge
  - a 34-km run from Cinco de Noviembre marker to Patag Tourism Center

Bago City

• Sigabong sg mga Kanyon Festival

Sericulture, the rearing of silkworm for the production of raw silk,  is a thriving industry in Bago City that supports hundreds of farmers. Because of its potential, Silk is the One Town, One Product (OTOP) of Bago City and the banner OTOP of the Province of Negros Occidental.

The Silkworm Rearing Project in Bago City is managed by Organization for Industrial, Spiritaul and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)- International, an NGO founded and based in Japan but extends help to developing countries mostly in Asia and the Pacific with agriculture as its main thrust.

Farmers from Bago and other neighboring towns rear silkworm whose cocoons are produced into silk yarns which are used as raw material for barong and other products.

The Sericulture project of OISCA was established in 1989 in Murcia, Negros Occidental with just 50 farmers and about 20 hectares of mullberry plantation. In 2008, around 260 farmers benefited from the project with 170 hectares of land utilized for mullberry plantation.

Good results of the initial cocoon production paved the way to the establishment of a Silk Reeling Plant at the OISCA Compound in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City which was inaugurated in 1999.

Around 80% of high quality silk  products are sold to weavers in Aklan and the remaining 20% to Manila dealers. The silk byproducts, pupae and silk of lower quality, were also fully utilized into other products.

Another milestone of the project was the establishment of a Silk Showroom and Weaving Center in 2004 which was inaugurated by no less than President Gloria Arroyo in 2005. Various products made of silk were on display such as barongs, bags, table runners, etc.

Prospects for the industry is still looking up with local demand still unmet. With the continuous support from the private and public sector, the project will continue to help a lot of farmers.

Sources: www.oisca.org, Ang Bagonhon, DTI OTOP-Philippines

Had my grandma not have her hair permed that weekend, we would have not known that Bago City is home to another marvel, the Pataan Mountain Resort. From Kipot Twin Falls, we travelled three (3) kilometers following the road to PNOC (thanks to the locals who gladly gave us directions). Along the way, a lady hailed to hitch a ride with us. Incidentally, she was going to the resort too. Turns out she works for the owner of the resort and her folks work there too. Knowing that, my folks didn’t wait long before they could ask her more questions about the resort. So she gave us a little backgrounder.

It’s owned by a retired police who bought the property in 1998. Many people had showed interest in co-financing the development of the resort but the owner declined them all. Too many cooks spoil the broth, so they say. Instead, they relied on the concerted efforts of family members who contributed to the growth of the property from a simple bahay bakasyunan to a resort ready to accommodate picknickers,backpackers and nature lovers.

The resort has now at least 9 picnic cottages (much like the day cottages at Mambucal, but built with wood) situated near the pool of water from the falls. Big groups can rent the space which doubles up as a canteen, the pavillion or the other bigger structure (restaurant set-up) at the opposite side of the day cottages. Two overnight rooms are available for group accommodations: one good for 6 and the other good for 15. There is a swimming pool which, during our stay, was dominated by kids. From there, you get a good view of the rice terraces in the lowland plus a good view of your parked vehicle, in case you feel like checking on it once in a while. If you think you are too old for the pool or just didn’t want to pay PHP50.00 to get wet, there is the many pools of water from the waterfalls at no extra cost.

And the waterfalls. Wow… it’s a different sight from the ones I’ve seen in Mambukal. It’s wider and covered with greens all over. My folks took a dip in the pool under the waterfalls but didn’t stay long because the water was cold. I would have gone with them had I been in better health during our visit. (poor me huhuhu).

If you want a new mountain resort experience, do check out Pataan Mountain Resort while it’s not yet known to many. The owners didn’t want to advertise so they rely on word of mouth and referrals of satisfied customers who bring friends and relatives along during their next visits. Works for them really, as they feel that they are not yet ready to draw more crowd than they could serve.

Here’s some useful info about the resort:

Pataan Mountain Resort
Location: Sitio Pataan, Brgy. Mailum, Bago City
Contact Numbers: (034) 476-7296, 476-4856, 434-4262

How to Get There:

By Public Transport

By Private Transport

1. From Bacolod City

Bacolod City > Araneta St > Brgy Sum-ag > Crossing Abuanan > Maao Public Market>

2. From Bago City

Bago City > Crossing Mining > Maao Public Market. When you reach the market, you just go straight up following the concrete road til you pass by the signboard to Buenos Aires, then Kipot Twin Falls. No harm in asking locals for directions to be sure (LOL!)

3. Going to Pataan via Murcia – There’s another route which is especially useful if you’re from Mambukal Mountain Resort and want to go to Pataan Mountain Resort. If you’re from Mambukal, turn left at crossing going to Sitio Manghumay. There’s a sign that says “going to Pataan” but to make sure you won’t miss it, ask the locals once you reach the army headquarters.

From Bacolod via Murcia, you turn right when you see the sign before reaching the army headquarters.The road is mostly concrete but there are some areas which are not, but still very passable even for vans. It’s around 5.8km before you reach the sign at crossing Sitio Pataan, Mailum, Bago City. The road to your left will lead you to Pataan Mountain Resort while the road to your right will lead to Kipot Falls and Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. Follow the road to your left for about 3km until you reach Pataan on the left side of the road. It’s around 30minutes from Mambukal to Pataan.
View Going to Pataan via Murcia in a larger map

Useful Travel Tips:

• There are no PUJs passing by the resort so you have to work out your transportation details.
• Bring your own food and drinks, if you can help it. They don’t charge corkage fee except for liquor (I’m not sure about the beer though). And bring only what you can consume so you wouldn’t have to bring them all back home.
• Make reservations in advance. Especially if you plan to stay overnight.
• Be prepared to get wet.
• You can’t get your camera too close to the falls because of the mist so I suggest you bring one with a powerful zoom to get a good close-up of the falls.

Pataan Mountain Resort Fees     

Tropical Cottages and Pavilions

Room Rates

Additional Foam with complete beddings: P100 per person
Tent Rental: P500 per tent

*Bringing of beverages is not allowed. Prices may change without prior notice.

Today, Negrenses celebrate the Al Cinco de Noviembre to commemorate the Negrenses’ uprising against the colonizers on November 5, 1898. The uprising led to the surrender of the Spanish troops in the province and the establishment of the short-lived Cantonal Government of Negros reuniting Negros Occidental and Oriental.

Led by Gen. Juan Araneta from Bago and Gen. Aniceto Lacson from Silay, the rebels, mostly sugarcane workers, marched towards Bacolod armed only with farm implements. The revolutionaries augmented their lightly-armed men with fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of palm fronds and cannons of rolled bamboo mats painted black. Seeing the troops, the Spanish Governor Isidro de Castro surrendered.

The revolutionaries were gallant enough to let the Spanish save face by letting them sign a capitulation that Spanish forces surrendered only after a breath-taking hand-to-hand combat, that, they “fought valiantly and killed many”.

Cinco de Noviembre played a significant role in the history of Negros since it was the day that hacienderos and sugarcane workers fought together in battle. Its commemoration is not only to honor Generals Lacson and Araneta but also the countless sugar workers who remain nameless but are heroes just the same. Through the celebration of Al Cinco de Noviembre, may the ideals of those heroes remain steadfast in the hearts of the Negrenses.

Photo Credit: Negros Occidental Website

Seven cities in Negros Occidental yesterday forged a Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) for the implementation of Streamlining Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Project.  This project is aimed at upgrading their business permits and licensing issuance system, a common backlog in starting a business.

Signing of MOU for Streamlining of Business Permits & Licensing System

Volker Steigerwald, Visayas coordinator of GTZ-SMEDSEP, said that after piloting the project in Bacolod City and Ormoc City , they are now ready to replicate it in other parts of the Visayas. The cities of Bago, Cadiz, Kabankalan, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, and Talisay will replicated the Business Permits and Licensing System which has been proven to considerably cut the processing time for business licensing.

Present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were Mayors Jose Montelibano of Silay, Alfredo Marañon of Sagay, Eugenio Jose Lacson of San Carlos, Pedro Zayco of Talisay and Salvador Escalante who were the signatories in behalf of their respective LGUs. Bago Mayor Ramon Torres and Talisay Vice Mayor Neil Lizares, who was supposed to represent Mayor Eric Saratan, failed to come.

GTZ will provide technical assistance through capacity building by training the LGU personnel. The local government on their part will assign a focal person who will work closely with DTI and GTZ in the implementation of the BPLS Project.