During my Bacolod stay, I always made sure that I attend the morning mass or just visit the Carmelites monastery. It is my way of being grateful for each day that passed and a new bright morning to attend to. It always works to be grateful always..why would not I? A granted prayer request just happened that very early morning! Thank God!
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| The Garden of the Carmelites monastery - Bacolod City
I was left alone on the fourth and last day. Arnie decided to just change her flight to early in the AM to catch up with her birthday celebration with her family. I decided to just continue on the journey as the original flight back to Manila is still 7pm. It is just making the most of what you already have!
After the mass at Carmelites, I immediately proceeded to the remaining itineraries...small walk to the park and municipal hall.
The Capitol Lagoon Park is located at the very heart of the central business district of Bacolod City. The Lagoon is a quick sanctuary to breathe fresh air. They say that the Lagoon is simply at its best in the morning.
That same morning, people of different ages have their physical activities like tai chi and jogging. I also have some small chat with the gardener in charge who happens to once lived in manila.
After breakfast near the park, I went back to the hotel to check out at exactly 10am. It doesn't end there as I still have one courageous act to do...for the first time...going to place I have never been alone...in a city I rarely know. What makes me continue to do so? A big smile and a confident answer from a hotel receptionist made me decide to proceed with joy and peace in my heart...to Silay City!
Thanks to blogs and google map that made it easy for me to travel to Silay City alone without the hassle. Even if I do not understand the Bacolod dialect,, there is just one thing that is common that makes you feel at ease around each other...the Smile!
I arrived in Silay City at 11AM after a 30 minute bus ride from Bacolod city bus terminal. My purpose is to visit the ancestral houses in Silay City and eat a special dessert in the famous El Ideal Bakery.
My first stop is the church of Silay City as I am still thinking where to go first. I have no ancestral houses map and according to the blog I need to go to the tourism office to get the map. There is no signage of the tourism office but I immediately saw the Silay City Hall. I went inside the City Hall to ask for a map of the ancestral houses that I can visit. The City hall personnel was so generous and welcoming enough to accompany me to the tourism office at the other side of the road. The welcome was so warm with their big smiles that radiates thru the heart. I can really feel that I am indeed a special tourist deserving to have a special attention! Thank you Genevieve! It was indeed a pleasure to have met you.
After my Silay City tourism office historical tour, I then proceeded to the only open ancestral house for inside tour...the Balay Negrense. Balay Negrense is the 1897 ancestral house of the Gaston family, one of Negros' pioneering sugar plantation owners. There is a entrance fee for the inside house tour but it is just a minimal fee considering that there is a tour guide that shares a story behind each room and corner of the house.
The Balay Negrense
The Balay Negrense
Silay City - Ancestral Houses, the Church, and El Ideal
After the Balay Negrense ancestral house tour, I took my lunch for another Inasal meal. Then to El ideal for the Guable pie and pasalubong. I still manage to have a picture of the facade of a few more Silay City ancestral houses. I then proceeded to the airport at 3pm to catch my 7pm flight back to Manila. I still feel ill at ease riding a plane in solo but not that night as God gave me an angel who sat beside me, a mother and a baby.
What a wonderful and meaningful trip! Thank you Lord for an enjoyable and safe trip during our Bacolod stay!
;Des
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