Bais... it is

I had mentioned staying for a while in Bais City in my last blog entry.  This was on October 19 - 24 of 2010. This was during my first trip across the province of Negros as I head back home to Cebu from Iloilo. 

Perhaps thinking that I was not capable of completing the trip back to Cebu and coming out of it in one piece, Ma, Pa and old sister decided to catch up with me in Bais City.

Since then, I had only been to Bais City twice. One is for a short school affair back in fourth year high school. The other one was when I was in grade 3, the first time me and my sister were introduced to our relatives here. Father hailed from this place. The family name is quite common here that I think when I run for a barangay position, I can get a pretty significant vote.. hehehe!

Bais City is a second class city belonging to the province of Oriental Negros.

Bais City Hall

Even as a city, it still maintains a laid back, town feel.

A house along the high way in Bais City.

Bais City Plaza. A huge Christmas Tree will be set up here during the holidays.

San Nicolas de Tolentino Church of Bais City, Oriental Negros

The Bais City Market Complex, which I think is at the moment the tallest structure in the city was and still is being constructed.

On going construction of the Bais City Market Complex.

People of Bais speak Bisaya/Cebuano with an accent and intonation that approximates the speakers in Southern Cebu. They also have Julie's Bakeshop in contrast to Sari-Sari Bakeshop in Hiligaynon territories. hehe!

Bais City is a prime producer of sugar, thus has very large area of sugar cane plantation. But we are staying in the coastal barangay of Okiot, Bais City. From the city center, Okiot can be reached by a tricycle.

Tricycle in Bais City can seat 8 passengers and a driver. Top that!

Since Okiot is a coastal barangay, means of livelihood obviously leans towards fishing.

At the back of Aunt's house near the water well they call "tuong".

Mind you, danggit is not exclusive to Cebu. People here dry them on their rooftops. Other than danggit, they also dry hito. A now growing livelihood here is the cultivation of sea weeds.

Danggit being dried in Okiot, Bais City.

Attractions here in Bais for visitors include the Sand Bar and Dolphin watching. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to try either. Huhu!. Pa, Ma and sister already went to the sand bar before I arrived but they were unable to arrange the dolphin watching. To add more injury, they dismissed the plan to pursue dolphin watching since sister is already going ahead back to Cebu. Huhu! Okay, I won't protest.

Uncle told us that we can go to the boardwalk instead and the mangrove area and perhaps climb the lighthouse and the viewing deck. These places are unpopular even to locals. But nonetheless, okay then we'll be there!

The boardwalk can't be reached by foot so we headed there on a banca packed with our lunch. The banca had to manage areas where the water is shallow.

On board the banca.

Cottages built over the shallow portions of the sea in Okiot, Bais City.

And over there, a structure juts out from the thick mangrove forest.

A cottage at the end of the board walk.

On a rough estimate, the boardwalk is around 300 meters long from the shore.

By the shore is another cottage a-la-gazebo. 

The place is not frequented by people. The structure looked a bit weathered, which gives it a little of a character. Haha! But it would do much if it could be maintained. Good thing, although there's no electricity, there's a toilet.

The boardwalk extends farther into the mangrove forest.

Local bantay-dagats grow and plant mangroves in this area.

Mangrove seedlings ready for transplanting.

Cheezy. Get that? Hehe.

In most cases as I see it, mangroves thrives in intertidal zones that are muddy. However here, the ground is of sand, small stones and broken shells. So it perfectly okay and easy to walk around. Just have to be careful not to land on some shallow holes. 

On a sunny day, the ground appears so white. When you capture it on camera, it would appear as if like your on a temperate forest with snow on the ground and the trees are preparing for spring. Hehe.

This mangrove forest covers quite a large area and there are parts of it that people can access and yet to explore. 

Now this time, from sea level, let us head up to the mountains. 

We headed late in the afternoon to avoid the sun that we had already endured earlier. Again, this is no popular activity tourists/visitors would likely engage in. Even locals don't. Some local children and teens who heard of the plan joined in.

Let's go!

You may find a concrete road at the beginning, but sooner you can only guess where the road was.

Occasionally, you'll meet people, and cows and dogs and houses and a nice house...

A house stands on the edge of the hill. Notice the mangroove
area down below. Btw, the house was for sale. Interested?

and very fantastic views. The locals who were with us didn't even think that it was their place.

Notice the mangrove area. Also, the land you can see farther out is already the southwestern part of the island of Cebu.

The grasses  gives a very nice touch to it..

And sooner, the watch tower was reached.

I really have no idea whether if this is a light house, an observational  or a communications tower. There where no care-takers to ask nor signs.

Before the dark catches up on us, its time to head back down.

So when the tide is high and the sea is rough, then you have somewhere else to go and something else to do while in Bais.

'till then!

:)

The long way home

28 APRIL 2011

I am returning to Cebu from Iloilo. It has become a routine for the last months since I first came to Iloilo in April of 2010.

Most of the time, I go by the sea. Traveling between Cebu and Iloilo by ship takes you 12-14 hrs. Wheew! But you don't have to spend all that time staring out at the open sea. The ship leaves the port of origin around 6-7PM and reaches the port of destination around 8-9AM. So you spend a big chunk of that 12-14 hours snoring on your bunk bed. In my case however, I go for stargazing. Soon as you wake up, you're there.

Well, without question, travelling by air is most convenient. Travel will only be for around 45 minutes. And if you travel with budget air carriers, fare is not that much of a difference. Even with that, I had only traveled to and fro Cebu and Iloilo once. And those were my first and second plane ride experience ever! Haha!

My first ever plane ride. yohoo! (Landing at Mactan-Cebu International Airport)

My first ever plane ride. yohoo! (Takeoff At Iloilo Airport)

But this time, I have decided to return to Cebu from Iloilo via land trip across Negros. I knew that this would be a very long trip. I would have to take a bus, then a ship, then another bus, another ship, and finally a bus just to get to Cebu City.

Although I had already taken this route last semester break, I am still not very familiar with the way. And this time, I wanted to explore it more.

The last time, all I wanted was to arrive at the destination, this time, I wanted to look around and savor the experience. The last time, I took taxi while in Bacolod. Then my family met me in Bais where we stayed for a while with kins. So basically, I was just at the back/passenger seat all along. This time, I want to be at the driver's seat and take the steering wheel. 

So, I am taking risks. Come what may. 

Miag-ao Church. Miag-ao, Iloilo. Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries. This was where my trip started.

I left my place in Miag-ao, Iloilo at 0715. Since I foresaw that this trip would be very long, I planned to leave earlier and set my alarm for 0500 so that I can leave by around 0600. It just did not happen. I took a bus to Iloilo City costing me Php44.00.

An hour later I was at Iloilo City. And since I had not taken breakfast, well, not even coffee, so I had my fill before moving on. 

Iloilo-Guimaras Straight. The port of Iloilo is adjacent to the Jaro River and faces the island of Guimaras 

I was already at the Pier for Bacolod by 0830 and was disappointed knowing that a ship heading for Bacolod had just left. The next ship leaves 1000 and the other at 0950. I took the 0950 though it was more expensive at Php350 for an economy accommodation. The ship left the port of Iloilo at 0958.

By the near end of the movie "Letters to Juliet" and after covering a distance of 24 nautical miles, I landed my feet in the city of Bacolod by 1115.

At the port of Bacolod

Now, which way do I go? I don't know how to go around this city. Well beforehand, seeing this coming, I have downloaded a map of the city on my Android phone. It was the same satellite image that you see in Wikimapia and Google maps.

First stop would be SM City Bacolod. According to the map, SM will just be a few blocks away. By this time, I have imposed a rule upon my self for this trip - no taxis allowed. I am going to walk myself to SM. Which way?.. well, follow the jeepneys. 

After a few minutes, I sighted SM City Bacolod by 1125.

SM City Bacolod. SM is the modern cradle of civilization.. hehe! This is the SM City Bacolod Northwing. 

I went inside SM City Bacolod to have wifi access. I needed to update my map. I also decided to skip lunch. Time over stomach. I needed to take a ship to get across Cebu before it gets dark. 

I had the map updated and the way I read it, the bust terminal is just straight ahead. Judging by the map, it is not that far. Well, I am used to walking. So long as there are no violent gangsters or mad dogs on the street, no distance is too far. So I started to walk. 

In a short while, I got a glimpse of downtown Bacolod City.

Downtown Bacolod City. Oh there's Gaisano and a call-center add.

And happen to pass by the plaza.

Bacolod City Plaza, The gazebo is often used to house a bandstand and inscribed along the sides of the roof are the names of Western classical music composers Beethoven, Wagner, Haydn, and Mozart.

And just across the plaza was the San Sebastian church.

San Sebastian Church, Bacolod City viewed from the plaza. The tents were from the vendors. 

Facade of San Sebastian Church, Bacolod City

Interior of San Sebastian Church, Bacolod City

The sky was getting dark and it started to drizzle. I had to move ahead. I walked and walked but still had no vision of the bus terminal. So I decided to test my people-skills with a random resident of the city. Manang pointed me to go straight ahead and advised me to better take a trisikad/pedicab. Well, I decided that I will also impose 'no-pedicabs allowed' upon myself. If the bus terminal is just straight ahead, then I must walk straight ahead.

By 1240, After walking a few blocks, I saw the terminal at the corner.

Since the bus was still waiting for more passengers before it leaves, I took the opportunity to take a pee break and buy something to drink and eat. I took the bus for Dumaguete that will pass through Mabinay. They said that it is the shortest route. 

By 1257, the bus left the terminal. From Bacolod to Dumaguete, the fare would be at Php300 (airconditioned) and as it was indicated on the ticket, it would cover a distance of 217 kilometers. 

We passed through many towns: Villadollid, La Carlota, Himamaylan in Occidental Negros. There were many towns that I think I missed. Then there was a brief stopover at Kabankalan. Then we proceeded to Mabinay where the roads started to wind around and became steeper. Further, mobile phone signal was zero. As the the road sloped down, Bais City unfolded.

City Hall. Bais City, Oriental Negros

It was already 1732 by the time I reached Bais City and it was getting dark. The port for Cebu is in the next town, Amlan, and the last ship leaves at 1800.

Most roads are under repair. I was now quite sure that I am not going to make it. I reached Amlan by 1815. 

Plan B was to take effect. I was excited more than worried. I am spending the night in Dumaguete.

As a precaution, I had browsed online for possible accommodations  in Dumaguete beforehand should I get to the situation were I am at. I got a mobile phone number of one of the hotels. I sent a message asking if they have the dorm-type accommodation available. It was positive. I want it cheap.. I mean, economical. 

The lady on the seat beside me told me that shes heading to the hospital at Dumaguete City. Since we're heading on the same City and for I assume that hospitals would always be located within the heart of every cities, I got off where she got off. 

It was already dark. From the city plaza, I set off to find the most economical accommodation. Right accross the plaza were hotels but they did not fit my definition of economical. 

I searched for Harrold's, the one I sent a message. Harold's had a reasonable dorm-type accommodation - 6 beds in a room, a fan, wifi, common toilet and bath, that for Php250. Harold's however is at the other end of Silliman. It's a bit far from where fastfoods, carenderias and other establishments abound. 

So I decided to walk around the downtown trying to get a better bargain for accommodation. I saw another hotel. Single bed, fan, wifi, common toilet and bathroom at Php250. On the other corner was  Home Quest Lodge. They had an accommodation with single bed, aircon, wifi, common toilet and bathroom at Php270. I decided to take this one. I think this was a good deal even if later I found out that the wifi is unavailable. At least it had aircon and I don't have to share a room with 5 others.

Home Quest Lodge. I don't know why there's a coconut on the logo.

Home Quest Lodge Accommodation. A room for yourself, beddings, towel and soap

After checking in, I went outside for dinner. I decided not to eat in fast food chains since you can have them in any city. I recalled seeing Dumaguete featured in television with barbeque stands by the boulevard. I walked the boulevard and saw nothing. I decided to head back to Chicken J, a carenderia I passed by.

I just had 1 and a half cup of rice, fish fillet and a complementary soup 

well, McDonald's crispy chicken fillet meal is cheaper.

29 APRIL 2011

The next morning, since checkout time in the lodge is 12noon, I decided to see a bit more of Dumaguete in daylight. 

I first checked out the plaza.

Dumaguete City Plaza

Across the plaza is the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral.

St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Dumaguete City
The oldest stone church in Negros. Built in 1754 - 1776, was reconstructed in 1885. The facade seen today was extended in 1936.

And right beside it is one of Dumaguete's landmark: Campanario de Dumaguete

The Campanario de Dumaguete
The Campanario de Dumaguete was built upon one of the four original massive watchtowers that parish priest Don Jose Manuel Fernandez de Septien built in the 1760s to discourage moros from pillagin the town. The two layers which are now knows as the Belltower or the Campanario were added during the administration of Fray Juan de la Encarnacion in 1967

As I looked around, a girl told me that it is okay to go up. So I did.

It turned out that it has become a practice of many goers to express their sentiments, desires...etc on the  interior of the bell tower.

a few conservative others leave notes instead. I did left one :)

After the Campanario, I headed for Rizal Boulevard. Not only has the boulevard got Rizal's name, the plaza also honors the national hero.

The boulevard is lined with very old acacia trees

Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City
The Rizal Boulevard was built in 1916 and extends 780 meters long. It was named after Jose Rizal who was said to while away a few hours on this stretch of beach long before the boulevard was constructed. The Rizal Boulevard is considered the show window of the City of Dumaguete.

After that, I headed back downtown.

Dumaguete does not have SM yet. Robinsons Place they told me has just been constructed though I did not see it for myself.

And it can't be helped but notice their mode of transportation.

Primary mode of public transport around downtown is with tricycle while motorcycle is the prime mode for private transport.

Girls on motorbikes are not uncommon.

You can rent yourself a motorbike. But I did not rent one, not because I don't have a helmet, for people don't wear helmets, you won't get caught by authorities without a helmet. I did not get one because I don't know how to drive one, not even a bike.. haha!

At the gates of Silliman University, motorbikes also line up.

I did plan to spend college in Silliman. I took and passed their university entrance exam. But I had a change of heart and stayed in Cebu.

The University is named after Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, a retired businessman and philanthropist from Cohoes, New York who gave the initial sum of $10,000 to start the school.

Silliman Hall is the oldest standing American structure in the Philippines. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Stick Style type of architecture that characterize American buildings in the late 19th century. Some of the materials used to build it were salvaged from an old theater in New York

Established in 1901 by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country.

Today, the University comprises ten colleges, four schools, and two institutes, enrolling approximately over 8,700 students from different parts of the Philippines and over 26 foreign countries

It is registered as a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute, and is one of few private higher education institutions in the Philippines that have been granted full autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education.

Aside from an American School, there is also a sizeable number or expats, which I think are most probably retirees now residing in Dumaguete.

I checked out by noon to head back to Cebu. I took a bus and reminded the bus conductor to drop me off at Tandayag wharf.

It turns out that the vessel at Tandayag is under repair. So I went to the adjacent wharf for Maayo Shipping.

At 1338, the ship is already loading in the last cargo while I am buying my ticket. Good thing I was still able to make it. I was the last passenger to get in. Fare is at Php75

At 1420, the ship docked at Oslob in the southern part of the island of Cebu.

From here, it's a 140km-travel to Cebu City which will take around 3 hours. 

I reached the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City by 1810. And since no-taxi rule was still in effect, I took a jeep home.

wheew!

then, Home finally :)