Negros Occidental Named Best Performing Province by DILG
December 20, 2008
The provincial government of Negros Occidental bagged four major awards during the awarding ceremonies of the Pagdayaw Awards 2008 of the Department of Interior and Local Government last December 17, 2008.
Negros Occidental was adjudged as the “Best Performing Province in Western Visayas” and also received three awards out of four categories – “Excellence in Administrative Governance”, “Excellence in Economic Development” and “Excellence in Environmental Management”.
The awards received by the provincial government are the fruits of the labor of the elected officials and the different departments. The programs and projects of the Negros Occidental provincial government are best practices that can be replicated by other provinces in the region.
Other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental also received awards.
City Category:
Bacolod City – Best in Economic Development
San Carlos City – Best Performing City, Excellence in Social Service and Excellence in Administrative Governance
Kabankalan City – Excellence in Local Legislative and Excellence in Environmental Management
Municipal Category:
Hinigaran - Excellence in Economic Development
Pulupandan - Excellence in Environmental Management
Barangay Category:
Delicioso, Ilog and San Antonio, Himamaylan – Best in Lupong Tagapamayapa
Starbucks Bacolod Now Brewing
December 10, 2008
Bacolod woke up with the aroma of Starbucks Bacolod yesterday, December 9. The opening of Starbucks Bacolod has been eagerly anticipated by coffee aficionados in the province.
Starbucks Bacolod is located at 18th corner Lacson St., along Bacolod City’s Tourism Strip. Starbucks Bacolod is the first Starbucks in Western Visayas and hopefully will not be the last.
Starbucks loyal customers will be eager to start filling up their sticker card for the Starbucks planner. I was at Starbucks yesterday with friends and my friend Anton, who was there during the blessing and soft opening, already filled his card halfway.
Starbucks Bacolod is a welcome addition to the growing number of coffee shops in the city. The international brand will surely provide a different coffee experience for coffee lovers in the City of Smiles.
Experience Negros Heritage Through Churches
November 29, 2008
I will be going with friends who were commissioned by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to conduct photo-documentation of Catholic Churches in Western Visayas. Today will be the start for the Negros Occidental leg which will end on Monday, December 1.
I know it will be a grueling three days considering the distance to be covered but I don’t mind. This is a rare opportunity to visit all the municipalities and cities of Negros Occidental.
This is our proposed itinerary:
| Date & Time | Particulars | Remarks |
| 29-Nov | ||
| 7:30 AM | Assembly Time at JD Gen. Luna St. | |
| 7:45 | Departure for Dumangas | |
| 8:30 | RORO to Bacolod | Via Jumalia |
| 10:00 | Bacolod to Bishop’s Palace | |
| 10:30 | Bacolod Churches | Suggested Churches: Cathedral, Hua Ming, Triumph of the Holy Cross, Lupit, ST. Jude, Tangub, Divine Mercy Shrine (Going Bago) |
| 12:00 | Lunch | |
| 1:00 | Bago | We’ll cover as much as we |
| 1:30 | Pulupandan | can of the churches along |
| 2:15 | Valladolid | the highway. |
| 3:00 | San Enrique | |
| 3:45 | Pontevedra | |
| 4:15 | Hinigaran | |
| 5:00 | Binalbagan | |
| 5:30 | Himamaylan | |
| 6:00 | Kabankalan | |
| 8:00 | Sipalay | Overnight at Sipalay Tourism Center |
| 30-Nov | ||
| 5:30 | Rise | |
| 6:00 | Mass/Sipalay Church | |
| 7:00 | Breakfast | |
| 8:00 | Hinobaan | |
| 10:00 | Cauayan | |
| 11:00 | Ilog | |
| 12:00 | Candoni | We’ll cover Candoni if time permits. |
| 2:30 | Isabela | |
| 3:00 | Moises Padilla | |
| 3:30 | La Castellana | |
| 4:00 | La Carlota | |
| 5:30 | Murcia | |
| 6:15 | Don Salvador Benedicto | |
| 7:00 | San Carlos | Overnight at Algers |
| Dec. 1 | ||
| 6:00 | San Carlos | |
| 7:00 | Calatrava | |
| 8:00 | Toboso | |
| 9:00 | Escalante | |
| 10:00 | Sagay City | |
| 11:00 | Cadiz City | |
| 12:00 | Manapla | Including Chapel of the Cartwheels |
| Lunch | ||
| 1:00 | Victorias | Including St. Joseph the Worker Church |
| 2:00 | E.B. Magalona | |
| 3:00 | Silay City | Sidetrip to Heritage Houses |
| 4:00 | Talisay City | Sidetrip to The Ruins |
| 8:00 | RORO to Dumangas | Via Tri Star |
