Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  The expression on her face was priceless. Linda Yulo looked so shocked that tears were welling up in her eyes when she walked into the room and was greeted by loud shouts and cheers of “Happy Birthday” from her friends and loved ones gathered there.Days before, Linda's kids secretly contacted her close friends, inviting them to a surprise Hawaiian Luau birthday dinner for their mother at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City. They were all sworn...

Warning : Do not read this without tissue paper or a handkerchief in your hand! Throughout the last half of 2015 I have been thinking of how to put down in writing this incident which surely had to be chronicled.  Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.  Now, Christmas has arrived and has set the stage for me to tell the story. I followed this from July 7 when I read it on Ricky Monfort's Facebook wall.  On that day, Ricky posted that a tragedy had struck their...

Bryan Reano, the Briton lumpia and banana turon vendor whose touching story of how he left Paris to be with the love of his life, Rosalinda, passed away in the morning of December 22, 2015. In numerous interviews, Bryan said that the reason why he left his comfortable life in England was really his love for Rosalinda.Rosalinda needs help for Bryan's burial expenses. His body is now in St. Peter's Chapel in Alijis, Bacolod City. Thank you Bryan, for making a mark in this city. You will...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  The Negros Occidental Garden Club put on a grand show during their Christmas party, held recently at the ballroom of the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel. Weeks before the event, club members had been rehearsing diligently with songs and dances for their own presentation. And all their efforts paid off on the night itself as the audience showered them with cheers and rousing applause.The scene of the party was absolute enchantment with Christmas decors...

How the Philippines became a haven that saved 1,200 Jews during the HolocaustManuel Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, and a group of Americans that included future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Freiders, the Jewish-American brothers, became increasingly concerned about the treatment of Jews in Europe during the late 1930s."They had a shared view of the world, they were men who understood what was happening in Europe," said Russ Hodge, co-producer...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  Glamour, glitter and fun were in abundance during the WoW Club celebration of the fourth quarter birthday celebration and Christmas party recently at the Ambience Hall of Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City.The party was in full swing by the time Ging2 Puey and I arrived, with the sound of danceable music setting the mood for a delightful evening. The ladies wowed us all with their stunning holiday attire and jovial mood, making the evening...

Screenshot of Rappler's news item last Jan. 2015 My simple blog post for today :  I hope what happened last year wherein my nephews and nieces got stuck in NAIA will not happen again this year.I sincerely hope that the occurrences and media attention we've seen the past months on our airports are more than enough to raise red flags to the Philippines' most popular air carrier to beef up on staff due to the holidays.  Otherwise, travelers may once again find their sorry selves...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  The invitation to the party was intriguing. It looked like a passport with a boarding pass peeping out of the envelope. Inside was an invitation to a “European Tour” of Remedios “Meding” Orola's 94 th birthday celebration at the Grand Ballroom of Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod.On the night itself, the ballroom was magically transformed by designer Jojo Pastrana into a European-inspired travelogue with huge murals of Paris, London, Vienna, etc....

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  It was a fun-filled evening when the visiting group of 65 graduating Australian high school students of Swan Christian College, Southern Hills Christian College and Ellenbrook Christian College from Perth, Australia, were entertained with a “MassKara Night” by former congressman John Orola in his sprawling backyard garden at Casa Orola, Bacolod recently.The students and around 27 teachers from the three schools arrived in Bacolod a week...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  One of the nicest ladies around town just opened another branch of her optical business in Bacolod and her friends and loyal clientele were there to wish her all the luck in the world.Our good friend, Dr. Rebecca “Dang” Filasol, was greeted with congratulations and good luck on the grand opening of her latest business venture, RG Optical, at the new 888 Chinatown Square Premier Mall of Bacolod. This is in addition to her optical shops in...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  Celebrated Indie film director, Brillante Mendoza, held the launch of two latest sensational Indie films, “Taklub” and “Imbisibol” at SM City Bacolod recently.The Brillante Mendoza film festival and press conference was held at the SMBD main atrium, north wing, and attended by local media, Bacolod's culturati and literati crowd, and film buffs who have seen and admire Brillante's work. The presentation began with pre-show entertainment with...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  This year's Garden Show of the Negros Occidental Garden Club was such a joy to behold. Held recently for 12 days at the provincial Capitol in South Road, Bacolod City, the show attracted a huge number of plant lovers, who marveled over the display of lush tropical foliage.An added joy was the display of exotic orchids blooming in splashes of vibrant colors and various shades of pink, fuchsia, violet, mauve and lavender.The show opened with...

This thing is really getting out of hand.  Laglag Bala as it's commonly called has to be brought out in the open.  So here's the account of my nephew JD who related how he foiled an attempt by the coddled tulisanes at the NAIA 3 to turn him into their next Laglag Bala victim.JD tells us, "I just remembered my pre-departure experience last September 25, 2015.  I just flew in from Hong Kong en route to Bacolod.  I had three (3) bags.  Two (2) for check in and one...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  It certainly was a full week for us. The highlight was the 2 nd Negros Press Club Media Excellence and Rotary Club of Bacolod East Media Lifetime Achievement Awards held at the Social Hall, Provincial Capitol, Bacolod City.The elegant social hall of the provincial Capitol was bathed in lights and the place was buzzing with guests in their formal attire, greeting old friends from way back when. Laughter filled the hall as stories about the...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  “She's so much prettier in person!” whispered the people who were able to come close to famous TV personality, Korina Sanchez Roxas, wife of presidential candidate Mar Roxas.Korina was in Bacolod to deliver Mar's speech during the City's Charter Day program, held at SMX. She explained that Mar couldn't come to deliver his speech as he had to rush to the victims of typhoon Lando, who needed immediate assistance.Up close, Korina is smaller...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  For days, our good friend, Ludy Montilla Lacson, was so busy calling up relatives of the Montilla clan to a dinner recently, to welcome Judy Araneta Roxas' sister, Baby Araneta Fores, who wanted to touch base with family members she had not seen in a long while.Judy wanted to come for dinner but a sudden illness prevented her from travelling, and so Baby came instead.I remember Baby Fores, whom I first met during a dinner hosted by our...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion She stands ramrod straight like a queen with a regal bearing. She has a figure like a young lady of 20, her flawless skin makes her look so many years younger, her impeccable taste in clothes makes her stand out in a crowd. Her aura is the very expression of the vintage charm and gentility of a bygone era.This is Nena de Leon of Bacolod City, our beautiful grand dame, whom everyone so endearingly calls, “Tita Nena”. Her 90 th birthday celebration...

The last time I saw the late National Artist for Architecture, Leandro "Lindy" Locsin was in 1986.  It was at the Maryville Hall of St. Scholastica's Academy in Bacolod where he was playing his heart out in an afternoon mini-concert.  I regret not having brought my Panasonic recorder to immortalize on cassette Lindy's wonderful melodies.  I said to myself, "Oh well, if I can't record his music, there will always be his architecture to admire." I think I spoke too...

Tatler PH cover : Imee at 60 (Disclaimer: This story is just about the wayward media and not about Martial Law)It has been 29 years since they were chased from the palace.  Amid a stream of discoveries regarding the unexplained wealth, more than 70,000 imprisoned, poverty level at 42% and thousands tortured and “salvaged”.And now, instead of justice the son would utter that there was nothing to be sorry for those days of Martial Law, even peddling the canard that if his father...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  It was good news to fans of Mely Gonzales, when she informed them that her Mely's Garden Restaurant is back to its original location at 6 th Street, Bacolod City.And so on a late afternoon recently, a big group of her friends and admirers trooped to the familiar favorite Mely's Garden with its Balinese-style décor. The soft re-opening was soon packed with her friends from the Negros Occidental Garden Club, the Wow Club, members of the Bacolod...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion  It was a special day for Dr. Ver Lacson, when his loving sister, Cora Duterte, arrived from Davao to help him celebrate his birthday recently. On the day itself, the house was all lit up to welcome the guests. The party was in full swing when we arrived with my friends Robert Harland and Ditas Montilla.Special guests were former actor Mandy Ochoa and businessman Stefan Mead from LA. The tables gleamed from the silverware and crystal glasses...

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion Visitors to Bacolod are amazed at our unique Sunshine Boys Club. This was told to me by a gentleman from Manila, whom I met during the joint birthday celebration of the Sunshine Boys, held recently at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel.He was so impressed by the vitality of the club members, who have managed to retain their youthful charms despite their advancing years. He was even more impressed when he saw the “boys” dancing with vim and vigor most...