July 2015 - Titas de Bacolod

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Behind the Scenes - July 30, 2015 : 27 Years of Shining Moments

Behind the Scenes - July 30, 2015 : 27 Years of Shining Moments
Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion


 It was an evening filled with nostalgia and remembrance when ABS-CBN recently held its “27 Years of Shining Moments” at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

The occasion was to honor the newsmakers of Negros Occidental, who made their mark in the province for the past 27 years. These were the people we often saw on the station's news programs and various talk shows. People who stood out in the crucial pages of our province's recent history.

Old friends and comrades greeted each other with laughter and bear hugs after a long absence. There were 15 honorees and some, who had since passed away, were represented by members of their family.

The first honoree was the late governor Joseph Marañon, who was represented by his wife, Aida. He was remembered for his steadfast political will that resulted in dramatic changes in the province.

Oscar “Dodong” Bascon was awarded for his brilliant contribution to sports in the province; former mayor and Rep. Romeo Guanzon, who was represented by his son, Monju, whose thank you speech quickly turned into a lengthy political endorsement for DILG Secretary Mar Roxas for president, to the amusement of the crowd.

A big surprise was the announcement of General Miguel Coronel's name and an elderly balding gentleman slowly made his way up the stage. There was a collective gasp from the audience as they remembered “Mike” as a robust, macho hunk, who looked so fit in his uniform then. He was honored for his implementation of the Bac-Up police outposts which gave a big boost to the peace and order situation and which was highly praised and appreciated by the locals.

Former Bacolod police chief, Col. Nicolas Torres, was represented by his wife, Elsa, who accepted her late husband's award with tears of pride and joy as it was announced that her husband, who was in prison for years, was exonerated by the Supreme Court after his death.

Bishop Antonio Fortich, popularly known as “Komander Tony”, who had fought long and hard for the poor, was represented by Monsignor Vic Rivas, who revealed some heretofore hidden vignettes of this colorful character.

Other honorees were Dr. Patricio Tan, Ely Santiago, former vice mayor Kenneth Barredo, former mayor and governor Alfredo Montelibano Jr., Atty. Rimatche Parreño, Edith Villanueva, Lito Coscolluela, Bitay Lacson, and Brig. Gen Raymundo Jarque.

Oh, what stories they could tell about the history of NegOcc during their time. Lito wished someone could write this story for future generations. Any takers?

Monday, July 27, 2015

Monday, July 27, 2015

Why S&R Is Going To Be A Big Hit In Bacolod City

Why S&R Is Going To Be A Big Hit In Bacolod City

It was just a matter of time when S&R Membership Shopping would be coming to Bacolod shores.  Looks like it's heading to Negros sooner than we think.

With all the big players coming in to Bacolod, I'm listing down the various reasons why S&R is going to be such a big hit when it comes.


1.  Imported Goods - Negrenses just love the idea of being able to buy stuff that's "Stateside".  With not a care that it actually comes from China, the satisfaction of seeing it stamped with U.S. brands and labels is heaven enough.








2. New York Style Pizza - This will be the bestseller.  If there is any other food which Negrenses enjoy next to chicken inasal and KBL, it must be pizza.  No need to elaborate on this.




3. Southern Style Fried Chicken, Clam Chowder, and Salad - Eat your heart out KFC, this is the real finger lickin' good.  For those who want flasbacks of their visit to San Francisco, Clam Chowder is the treat.  For those who are organic food lovers, you can skip the fried chicken and the cream in the clam chowder and settle for S&R Chicken Caesar's Salad.





4. Green Tea Kitkat - What was once in short supply will now be available in abundance.



5. Unlimited Drinks - Forget the fact that we are pushing for a Coke-free Negros, members will get a kick out of getting unlimited drinks from the dispenser.
 




6. Original Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory in the U.S. - Oh yes, people will go for this despite the PhP1,500...and realize Ging Consing's cheesecake is much, much superior.



More reasons to follow soon.  As it is, I'm sure you get the picture how Negrenses will rave about S&R...until of course we all realize that Lucio Co and friends are having the last laugh doing in the Negrenses over and over again.


Cheers!




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Related Post:



Negros Island was in a woeful state at the eve of the snap elections in 1986.  Negros as a word was synonymous to "Crisis" in those days.  For the longest time, the sugar industry, romanticized by the well-heeled landowners of Negros and Iloilo, was the prima donna of Philippine ......Read More


Saturday, July 25, 2015

Saturday, July 25, 2015

When Negros Island Became Poor : A Blessing In Disguise

When Negros Island Became Poor : A Blessing In Disguise
There was a time when the wealth of Negros Island was legendary.  It was a time when riches were brought about through the vastness of Negros Island's fertile land planted with sugarcane and aided by legislation in America which fortified the steady flow of sugar from the Philippines into the United States. 

Those were the days in the 1930s when life on the island moved in cadence with the gleeful exuberance halfway around the globe in pre-World War 2 America.  This carried on through the years, all the way to the early 1970s with only a disruption during the ravages of the Japanese occupation in the 1940s.

Even today, it is hard to come by an occasion when strangers in Manila would introduce each other in a either a social or business setting wherein when a Negrense intoduces himself as having come from the sock-shaped island, that at least one other person in the conversation would raise an eyebrow.  It always happens.

Despite these stories, most of them fabled yet somewhat strangely not too distant from the truth, there really was a time when Negros Island became poor.  In the cycle of sugar planting, there are two seasons in a year - tiempo muerto (dead season while waiting for the cane to reach maturity), and tiempo galing (milling season when there’s money for everyone due to the agricultural activity).  This time, it was totally tiempo muerto.  World prices for sugar had fallen and the industry was besieged to an oppressive environment under martial law. Negros island’s land lay fallow, with hardly anything planted on tens of thousands of hectares.

The Dead Season seemed the end of the happy-go-lucky days.

In reaction to this extended tiempo muerto, a strange thing happened. The Negros doñas often referred to as "Inday" when referred to by the hired help, gave birth to a movement which brought out the best of Negros Island.

Wives of hacenderos came to Manila, grit their teeth, and learned the rudiments of handicraft-making, quality innovation and design from institutions such as CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions), the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Design Center.

Returning to Negros, the Indays worked side by side with farmers’ wives, teaching them how to fashion trays, bags, place mats and other clever items from indigenous material. Leaves, twigs, barks, grass, bamboo, all became source material.

Overnight, spare space within the large homes of these ladies became workshops in the egalitarian effort to create econmic sustenance for those displaced by the downturn in sugar farming.

From those literal homegrown production lines, the wares produced were brought to Manila at the Ayala carpark behind the Intercon Hotel in 1985 in what was heralded as the first Negros Trade Fair.  The ladies themselves were the tinderas (salesgirls).


Politicians and businessmen alike look forward to the
annual return of the Negros Trade Fair to Makati
The Negros Trade Fair has come a long way since those days of 1985, when the first products of the women’s handiwork went on sale in Metro Manila.  Today, the Negros Trade Fair has become an annual event much anticipated by the public and has become one of the top three annual fairs in Makati.

What started as an all-female group, the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), a nonstock, nonprofit group, and the driving force behind the past 29 Negros Trade Fairs, has proven that there was providence in the season of poverty in the Island.  The movement now provides alternative work for thousands of workers who once had to only depend on sugar farming as a means of income. 

Today, ANP’s 85 members includes a multipurpose cooperative offering opportunities not only to farmers’ wives, but also to out-of-school youth, and the unemployed.  Members can be offered enterprise loans (P150,000 tops) and training, marketing and consultancy services to micro- and small-scale enterprises.

Oh, the providence of poverty.  The silver lining in the midst of the storm. 

Yes, there was a time when Negros Island became poor.  The nice thing about it is that it brought out the deeper riches of Negros Island.  No, not sugar.  Hope, determination, vision, perseverance, camaraderie, and most of all, equality.


www.negrostradefair.com

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Behind the Scenes - July 23, 2015 : A Special Dinner for Cong. Bing

Behind the Scenes - July 23, 2015 : A Special Dinner for Cong. Bing
Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion


Barely a few days after his grand birthday celebration and State of the District Report, Bacolod Rep. Bing Leonardia was again feted with a lavish belated birthday dinner by Dr. Ver Lacson at his residence.

Special guests were the Leonardia family members, who could make it. The house was brightly lit with welcoming lights, and the tables were set with sparkling crystal glasses and fine china with silverware.

When we arrived with former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, we were greeted by our friends, Ninfa and Perla Leonardia, who came with their niece, Dr. Mae Ann de Asis, and nephew Carlo Leonardia. Soon, the place was buzzing with the rest of the clan.

Nena Leonardia came with her family from New York, Peachy and hubby Gino Tadiar, and kids Annika and Gino. The two kids marveled in amazement at the tall brilliantly-decorated Christmas trees that filled up all corners of the house. They couldn't contain their excitement over the early Christmassy ambience of the entire place. Finally, Cong Bing arrived with wife Elsa, daughter Kara, and niece Stephanie Ampil.

The aroma of the delectable dishes on the buffet table was so enticing that we needed no second invitation to fill up our plates. We enjoyed the mouth-watering cuisine spread out before us: succulent prawns in lemon butter sauce, callos, lengua, fish fillet and many more. The dessert was a refreshingly delicious fruit compote, an original concoction of Dr Ver.

The scintillating dinner conversation was so interesting that the guests lingered over coffee, tea and sugarless ice cream. Everyone gathered around the birthday cake as we sang Happy Birthday to a delighted Congressman Bing.*

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Behind the Scenes - July 16, 2015 : Cong Bing's Smashing Birthday

Behind the Scenes - July 16, 2015 : Cong Bing's Smashing Birthday
Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion


Wotta day it was! A crowd of almost a thousand people gathered at Garden Royale, Goldenfields Commercial Complex July 10, to celebrate Congressman Bing Leonardia's birthday, and to listen to his 2015 State of the District Report.

Everyone was excited to hear what the congressman had to say, especially regarding his political plans for 2016.

The huge hall was soon filled wall-to-wall with people: politicians, civic leaders, businessmen, movers and shakers, academe, cosmopolites, barangay folks, clergy, supporters and admirers, as well as Cong Bing's family members. Suddenly, there was an electric charge of excitement and rapturous applause as Cong Bing appeared with his wife Elsa and daughter Cara. People surged towards the well-loved congressman, wishing him a Happy Birthday with a kiss, a handshake, or a great big hug.

In her introduction, Councilor Em Ang praised Cong Bing as “one of the most outstanding mayors this city has ever produced”. She even described him as “gifted with movie star looks”! Everyone agrees with this statement as Cong Bing has not seemed to age at all. He still retains his boyish charm and devastating smile.

We then listened in rapt attention as Cong Bing gave his speech, enumerating his numerous accomplishments, most important of which is the P2.38 billion public works projects that have been completed, or are currently in various stages of implementation in the district. He hopes to hit the P5.68 billion mark before his term ends next year. Congressman Niel Tupas of Iloilo was seen applauding enthusiastically.

The climax of his speech was at the end when he raised both his hands and vigorously announced that “he will be ready in 2016!”, which was greeted by a cacophony of cheers and applause by a euphoric audience.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONG. BING!*

Friday, July 10, 2015

Friday, July 10, 2015

How The MRT Would Look Like If DOTC Signed Up With The Czech Guys

How The MRT Would Look Like If DOTC Signed Up With The Czech Guys
All this talk about Conchita ordering the filing of graft charges against former Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3) General Manager Al Vitangcol III and five incorporators of Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation (PH Trams) in connection with the MRT3 interim maintenance contract gives me a headache.

You ask, 'Why'?.

Well, it's because my nephew and niece recently visited Prague in the Czech Republic and showed me these - pictures of the Czech made carriages which are part of the efficient Prague tramway.

Mind you, you're blood is going to boil when you see these pics of the carriages which ARE COMPATIBLE to the current MRT system we have.

LED Signage at the front indicating route number and destination


Sleek covers for the wheels


Aerodynamic design

Built by tested Czech manufacturers who have provided trams in the capital of Prague for more than 50 years


Highly visible LCD display indicating route number and stops until destination




Nice, `no?




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Thursday, July 9, 2015

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Behind the Scenes - July 9, 2015 : ‘A Fashion Nouveaulution'

Behind the Scenes - July 9, 2015 : ‘A Fashion Nouveaulution'
Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion


 We were invited to witness “Fashion Nouveaulution” recently at Orange Gallery Art District 1 Mandalagan in Bacolod City. The event that began Friday was a 3-day fashion exhibition of talented avant-garde designers from Manila and Iloilo.

Our group, composed of Inday Pefianco, Ging2 Puey, Cecile Smith, Cristina Magbuhos and yours truly, was welcomed by Albert Gomez, marketing in charge, who plied us with refreshing drinks while waiting for the show to start.

The place was soon filled with Bacolod's chichi crowd and media people, including Alex Vergara of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, who came to cover the event.

The young designers for the entire exhibition were John Rufo, Jun G Candelario, Jet Salcedo, Card Arcita, SXY, Jian Lasala, JBee Belediano and Seven Weekends for the vertiginous stilettos featured in the fashion show.

Suddenly, a hush fell on the crowd as the show began with the lighting of the footlights on the ramp as the tall, slim models sashayed onstage in their colorful attire, their reed-slim figures enhanced by the designer's creations.

Black and red seemed to be the favorite colors for the clothes, some of which showed a lot of legs and bare backs. We enjoyed looking at the classic, elegant creations which were shown to perfection by the willowy models, who were dressed in “drop-dead-glam formal wear”. After each set, the designers took a bow as the audience applauded them.

Cocktail canapés were served after the fashion show. Our group decided to end the evening with a delicious late night dinner at Ripples, L'Fisher Hotel.*

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Globe Just Created The Most Disgusting Online Video Portraying Distorted Values

Globe Just Created The Most Disgusting Online Video Portraying Distorted Values
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