The Mudpack Festival in Murcia, Negros Occidental is a unique festival where it does not involve street dancing found in most Philippine Festivals.  With this year’s slogan “Grow a tree, nurture hope,”  Mudpack Festival once again pays homage to mother nature. The festival aims to heighten environmental awareness not only among Negrenses but to those who visit the festival every year.

Mudpack Festival is held every year at the Mambukal Resort where the multi-colored clay used in the Clay Body Painting Competition can be found. These are actually volcanic clay from Mount Kanlaon and believed to have healing properties since they are rich in minerals.

Negrense artists often converge on this festival because of the various competitions they can join. There’s the body painting competition, poster making, drum beating, dance improvisation, photo competition, among others.

Below are some of the photos taken by Anton Manso.

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Mudpack Festival 2011 Schedule
June 18-19, 2011

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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 longer zipline soon.

2010 Mudpack Festival Schedule
19-20 June 2010

Mudpack Festival of Murcia, Negros Occidental is held every year at Mambukal Mountain Resort. The festival is unique since it is anchored on the harmony of man and nature and environment conservation. Mudpack Festival was conceived by local artists who made use of the multi-colored clay found at Mambukal Mountain Resort for their artworks. The festival has become a venue for artists all over Negros to come together and showcase their respective talents.

The remaining 16,487 hectares of forest cover at the Northern Negros Natural Park are nor protected from commercial logging with Republic Act 3680 imposing a logging ban in the 3rd District of Negros Occiental which comprise the cities of Silay, Talisay and Victorias and two municipalities, E.B. Magalona and Murcia.

President Arroyo signed into law last November 3 House Bill 3680 known as “An Act Imposing a Logging Ban in the Third District of the Province of Negros Occidental” which was authored by Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson seeks to prohibit the cutting down of trees for commercial purposes.

The Northern Negros Natural Park is Negros Occidental’s major watershed area where rare flora and fauna species can be found such as hornbill, bleeding heart pigeon, Visayan warty pig and Philippine spotted deer. Mambukal Resort in Murcia and Gawahon Eco-Park in Victorias City are located inside the Northern Negros Natural Park.

The Mudpack festival is celebrated to pay homage to mother Earth and to nurture its preservation. It is the Negrenses’ way of giving importance to the environment. Through the festival, it is hope to raise the level of awareness of the people on environmental issues.

The 2009 Mudpack Festival drew in huge crowd including foreigners. The Mambukal Mountain Resort was fully-booked weeks before the scheduled Mudpack Festival.

Winners are of the various Mudpack competitions were:

Chants and stunts competition- Tribu Kasanag

Drumbeating  -  Tribu Ilahas

Dance – Tribu Poseidon for the dance category

Mixed Media Art – Kenneth Po

Poster Making- Princess Angie Gardos

Ms. Earth Mudpack – Miss Doanne Stephanie M. Peraren

Here are pictures of the Mudpack Festival courtesy of  Annie May Valdez.

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2009 Mudpack Festival Schedule
20-21 June 2009

Day 1 (Saturday)

Morning

6:30 – 8:00                       Hataw with Ching
8:00                                    Poster Making Competition for Kids (Start)
10:00 – 10:15                  Panawagan
10:15-10:30                    Opening Ceremony
Ms. Earth Flora & Fauna Presentation
10:30 – 12:00                  Chants & Stunts Competition
Drumbeating Competition
Clay Body Painting Competition (Start)
Mixed Media Art Competition (Start)
Photo Competition (Start)

LUNCH BREAK

Afternoon

2:30                                     Clay Body Painting Presentation and Judging
Mixed Media Art Judging
4:00                                    Awarding
6:00 – 8:00                       Ms. Earth – Mambukal Pageant
9:00 up                              San Miguel Night
Band and Dance Party

Day 2 (Sunday)

Morning

9:00 – 10:00                    Holy Mass
10:00 – 10:15                  Panawagan
10:15 – 12:00                   Solo Dance Improvisation Competition
Clay Sculpture Making Competition (Start)

LUNCH BREAK

Afternoon

2:30 – 3:30                       Tribal Dance Competition
Clay Sculpture Judging
3:30 – 4:30                       Awarding

About 30 minutes drive away from Bacolod City lies a picturesque mountain resort managed by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. The Mambukal Mountain Resort located in the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental lies 1,200 feet above sea level and serves as gateway to Mt. Kanlaon.

The resort was originally developed by a Japanese architect named Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927. The resort started as a bath house and picnic garden and has provided cool haven for Negrenses and their guests.

Spread over 23.6 hectares at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon, the Mambukal Mountain Resort boasts of a number of hot sulfur springs. A big mountain stream, fed by several tributaries, descends in a series of seven falls feeding the swimming pools and boating lagoon.

Things to See and Do in Mambukal

To commune with nature, you can camp out at the camping grounds or enjoy a Canopy Walk on the hanging bridges under the lush green forest.

If relaxation is what you’re after,  take a dip at the Ishiwata Bath House originally built by Kokichi Paul Ishiwata in 1927. Relieve your stress after at the Mambukal warm sulfur dipping pool. There’s the boating lagoon which you can enjoy with a group of friends or family. Wade your body aches away at the swimming pool  or you can have a body massage at the Blade Spa.

You can likewise bring children along since they will surely enjoy the butterfly garden and the kiddie pool. Mambukal is also home to 4,000 fruit bats which live freely inside the resort.

For a more physical challenge, there’s Wall Climbing and the Mambukal Slide for Life, the resort’s 200-meter long zip line. For more adventure, one can trek to the seventh falls where your endurance can be tested.

Mambukal Accommodation

Mambukal is ideal for family outings and business conferences. For those on a budget, there’s the Tourist Lodge which offers standard rooms and suites. There are single air conditioned cottages or campsites to choose from as well as picnic sheds for day visitors. There are stalls at the resort serving local dishes at reasonable price so don’t worry about going hungry.

How to Get to Mambukal Resort

Mambukal is a favorite vacation destination of local and foreign tourists since it is very accessible from Bacolod City. The resort is around 30 minutes by private vehicle and 45 minutes by public utility vehicle. From downtown Bacolod, take the “double tire” mini-buses going to Murcia from the Libertad terminal. Fare is less than P50. Double Tires are almost always available from Mambukal going to Bacolod City.

Mambukal Resort Rates

Entrance

Adult – P 30.00
11 years & below – P 10.00
Light Vehicles – P 15.00
Trucks/Buses – P 30.00

Swimming Pools

(Kiddie/Adult Pool/ Mambo Pool, Dipping Pool)
Adult – P 50.00
11 years old and below – P 20.00

Picnic Huts

Big – P 600.00
Small – P 300.00

Activities

Wall Climbing – P 25.00
Slide for Life – P 100.00 – 2 trips
Canopy Walk – P 50.00
Boating – P 30.00 / person
Butterfly Garden – P 20.00 / person

Accommodation Facilities:

LGU Cottage
- P 900.00- Single beds / Matrimonial
- P 1,200.00 – 4 single beds
- P 1,500.00 – 2 single beds and 2 double decks
- P 4,000.00 – 2 bedrooms with Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen

Tourist Lodge
- P 600.00 – Ordinary
- P 750.00 – Deluxe
- P 1,000.00 – Suite
- P 2,000.00 – Exclusive use
Camping – P 30.00 / person

Check In – 2:00PM
Check Out – 12:00 Noon

Tables with 4 Chairs – P 100.00
Additional Foam – P 100.00
Canopy with 1 table and chairs – P 300.00

Transport Service:
Coaster 25-Seater
Urvan 12-Seater

Conference Hall:

• Entirely versatile with audio visual, lighting and meeting equipment for seminar, conferences, and banquets
• The entire hall is divisible into 3 sections and can accommodate up to 400 persons.
• Caterings Service Is Available – with set meals and buffet choices.

For Reservations:

Mambukal Resort Reservation Office
Provincial Capitol Building
Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City
Tel. No. (034) 709-0990 | Telefax (034) 433-8516
Cellphone No. 09082712174
Email: mambukal@negros-occ.gov.ph

Mambukal Resort
Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia
Province of Negros Occidental, Philippines
Tel. No. (034) 7100-800 | Telefax (034) 7100-801