Biyaherong Beecabelle Goes to Bacolod (Day 5 of 5)

My visit to Bacolod supposedly should last for 3 days only but because I really wanted to see the Masskara Festival, I extended my stay till Sunday in time for the Masskara Festival Street Dancing event.

The Masskara Festival is a festival held in Bacolod every third weekend of October nearest October 19, which is the city's charter anniversary.

According to Wiki, the word "Masskara" means mass (a multitude of people), and the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces). The word is also a pun on maskara, Filipino for "mask" (itself from Spanish máscara), since a prominent feature of the festival are the masks worn by participants, which are always adorned with smiling faces.

I was not quite lucky to witness the street dancing as I need to fly back to Manila in the afternoon. But I was able to take a lot of pictures from the parade.

Here it goes:

Goodbye City of Smiles!

 

Biyaherong Beecabelle Goes to Bacolod (Day 4 of 5)

On my fourth day in Bacolod, I decided to visit the town of Silay which is famous for its museums and old churches.

First Stop, San Diego Pro Cathedral. The only church in Negros Occidental with a dome.

 

the dome

Next stop is the famous Balay Negrense. This is a museum in Silay City showcasing the lifestyle of a late 19th century Negrense sugar baron. It is notable for being the first museum to be established in the province of Negros Occidental.

Here are some of my shots inside the house.

 

 

That's my garden! Hehehe

Next museum is Hofilena Museum. I was not lucky to get inside this museum because it was already lunch time by the time I arrived there.

I think there is still one more house turned into museum that I visited in Silay and it is situated along the main road. But the pictures are in my other drive. :(

I left Silay before 5PM. I knew that I will experience heavy traffic going back to Bacolod as Lacson Street's being closed in preparation for the night street party and Electric Masskara.

Here's how Lacson Street look like during the Saturday event.

 

sobrang daming tao!!!

 

And here are the participants in the Electric Masskara. These kids are so talented.

 

 

 

It was really fun to watch the Bacolodnons showcase their talents! It was one hell of a night party!!!

 

Biyaherong Beecabelle Goes to Bacolod (Day 2 of 5)

It's my second day in Bacolod! I went again in the Manokan Country to grab some breakfast. (Inasal ulit! Hehehe )

Then after breakfast, I went to San Sebastian Cathedral and took these pictures. (Warning: This post is going to be photo heavy)
 

Inside the cathedral

 The altar

Cathedral's façade

I also visited the Negros Occidental Provincial Government -- Bacolod Capitol and Lagoon

This one resembles that of Burnham Park in Baguio except that there are no boats in the lagoon. It's wide and you can see Bacolodnons here jogging, strolling and playing in the playground.

 

I also visited the Negros Museum. Below is a picture of me with the Victoria Milling train replica.

 

 

Since Masskara Festival celebration already started, I went to Jojo Vito Designs Gallery (Maker of the finest Masskara in Bacolod) to check the masks that they have created for the upcoming event.

 

 

You can buy them as souvenirs.

 

My last stop, which is also the highlight of my second day in Bacolod is the visit to the famous 'Taj Mahal of Negros', The Ruins in Talisay City.

 

Selfie selfie 'pag may time! Hehehe

Photo op with the calesa inside the mansion.

Ang ganda ng background ko!

The caretaker told us that The Ruins changes its color to yellow/almost gold during sunset. This is because egg yolks are mixed with the cement that was used to build this mansion. Just imagine how many eggs were used to build this!!!

 

That's it for my very tiring but very sulit Day 2 here in Bacolod. It's indeed a very happy day!