Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Titas de Bacolod is back!  All the writings of Tita Ivy Visitacion will also be republished here.

Meet The Man Who Helped Marcos Bring Negros Island To Its Knees
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

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 family in the United States.  His Tito Freddie and Tita Maryanne's family, including their grandchildren, were off to visit their Uncle Errol, one hour away from Seattle, Washington.

On the way, the rented van they were riding on was rear-ended and the crash seriously injured their 8-year-old grandson Owen.  Despite several hours of trying to revive him, Owen did not make it.

As the 8-year-old Owen expired, his parents made the decision of donating his organs.  Owen's heart and liver came in time for two needing recipients.  It could be no less than a miracle for those who were to receive them.

In life, Owen was a boy with a big, big heart.  Last year, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, a St. Jude's Hospital commercial came on and his mother, Tami, made a comment that she needed to donate.  Owen turned to his mom and asked, "How much are you going to donate, Mommy?".  His mom said $20. Owen said, "I will donate $20 too"!

What a generous boy!  Thus, it comes as no surprise that even in his passing, Owen gave of himself that others may live.

Owen's mom wrote this a few days after Owen's passing:

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."

At 9:24pm on July 5th, our precious sweet beautiful boy Owen earned his wings and became an angel up in Heaven. Last night, we hugged and kissed him for the last time...until we meet again. To honor his kind, giving and generous soul, Harold and I made the difficult decision to donate his organs. Our amazing little hero saved 2 lives last night with his heart and liver. To save another family from feeling the pain and sadness that we feel is what we needed to start our healing journey.

We are overwhelmed and full of gratitude with the outpouring of love and support from our community. We appreciate all of your phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and messages. We are amazed at the generosity and selflessness of each and every one of you.

We are so proud of our son for everything that he has accomplished in his 8 years of life. We are so blessed and honored to have been chosen to be his parents. Our Gracie Goose, who came out of this tragic accident unscathed, has become such a brave little girl and our "saving grace."

Owen,
Mommy, Daddy and Gracie love you so very much. We will miss you like nobody could imagine. Rest in peace my sweet baby boy. Until we meet again...

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 in a situation wherein their holiday plans may be messed up due to missed flights and excruciating delays.

If one can recall, no less than Lance Gokongwei had to face our legislators early this year due to the mess-up on December 26, 2014.  The Civil Aeronautics Board asked carrier, Cebu Pacific, to explain a lack of counter personnel that led to some passengers being left behind by their flights on that fateful Friday.

Travelers went berzerk not just with the delays but also the switching of assigned gates which were a great inconvenience to the elderly who had to move the entire length of the airport.



 

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 soon.

Lindy passed away on Nov. 15, 1994.  Nevertheless, twenty years later, there are people killing Lindy Locsin.  No, not the National Artist himself.  I'm obviously referring to the diminishing body of work.

The Manadarin Oriental Manila, the Benguet Center, The Hotel InterContinental Manila, were all creations of Leandro V. Locsin.  One is gone, one being demolished and another clearly in the firing line.

The Benguet Center


Sadly, this stately building, The Benguet Center, headquarters of Benguet Mining was demolished last 2011. The property was bought by the “good guys” and they plan to erect 3 twisting buildings in the area.

I remember the time when it was being constructed. Only the San Miguel Corporation was between the old Medical City and the site of Benguet Center. It was made using native araal stone.  Among all the glorious buildings of Leandro Locsin, this is what moves me the most sublime manner.  One has to be a Negrense to feel this.  To see a modern building positioned obliquely and wrapped in stone that only comes from our native island of Negros, is a silent tribute to the what the province can bring.  Araal stone from the sides of the Kanlaon volcano is the reason why the Benguet Center's color was so unique. In form, a mixture of cubism and flowing layers that only Lindy Locsin can imagine.

The remains of the Benguet Center.  Credits to the owner this photo.

It was completed in 1983 and that building represented a vibrant sector in the Philippine economy back then. In fact one of the few vibrant sectors remaining since there was already capital flight by 1983. Only the mining industry and its gold was keeping the country barely afloat. That the building is a testament to the resilience of the Filipino is enough to cherish it. That it is a work of art puts  it as a monument to that spirit is enough to preserve it.

It is now gone and an architect who admired the building so much was reported to have shed tears when he saw the most beloved creation by Locsin himself was being demolished. All we have now are the photos taken when it was still standing. 

As for me, whenever I pass by, I cannot help but wonder what monstrosity will stand in its stead.

Mandarin Oriental Manila


The Mandarin Oriental Manila stands at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue. Its facade no longer has the spotlights at night.  Its lawn has gone from green to brittle brown. No longer will be a hum activity during the Chinese New Year. It is currently being torn down to make way for a new building.

The Mandarin Oriental Manila opened in 1976 just in time for the IMF-WB meeting. But even during its construction, while passing by EDSA, one can see an imposing building being erected.

The Mandarin Oriental Manila was called the “Cultural Center”  of Makati owing to the many and regular cultural activities in the hotel.  Its Chinese New Year celebration was an awaited event, also its Oktoberfest and numerous food festivals.


Personally, the Mandarin Deli is home to one of the best chocolate cakes I have tasted. It was so delicious and so sweet that it gave me a headache whenever I would sink my teeth into it.

The Captain’s Bar was the place where the likes of Kuh Ledesma, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and even Ramon Jacinto performed regularly. Its list of guests included British PM Tony Blair, Neil Armstrong, Tom Cruise, Chuck Norris and Christopher Walken among others.

The Mandarin Oriental Manila also played a part in Philippine History. During the December 1989 coup, the Mandarin was one of the strongpoints of the RAM rebels. In fact, Mandarin not only had celebrities and businessmen as guests but also a battalion of Scout Rangers.  The hotel was one of the three strongpoints by the RAM Rebels and the pockmarks of bullets were visible after that episode.

Mandarin Oriental Manila had its last guest check out on September 2014. The corner is now dark. 


The Hotel InterContinental Manila


The Intercon as it was commonly known was the longest operating chain hotel in the Philippines. It opened its doors on April 11, 1969. A lot of people miss the fact that the Intercon was the first 5 star hotel in Makati.  With 332 rooms, its restaurants such as Prince Albert, Bahia and Cafe Jeepney became part of the Makati landscape.  And who could ever forget "Where Else?", where we swung the night away only to have to leave in a jiffy because of the martial law curfew (unless of course you were billeted for the night).  And speaking of martial law, it was within the confines of Jeepney Cafe, where one could make contrary statements and criticisms against the dictatorship with then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile in hearing distance.

Modest by today’s building standards, it was imposing in 1969. Right across it was the old Rustan’s Department Store, the swankiest department store in the country.

I wonder what it is with Lindy's structures that it figures itself in a coup d'etat.  Another time, it was the 2nd strongpoint of the RAM Rebels during the December 1989 coup attempt that closed down the strategic Makati Business District.  For whatever it's worth, Lindy Locsin's buildings have survived the crossfire of coup d'etats.  Unfortunately, they are all vulnerable to the wrecking ball of "progress".

By December 31, 2015, the Intercon will be closed and will be demolished to make way for another mixed use building complex. Another creation of Lindy Locsin is to be killed, another work of art to be destroyed.

Three works of art. Three monuments to the resilience and best of the Filipino. They say that it is part of progress. But how do we really define progress? Is it just the accumulation of wealth and more money is better? Or is progress to be measured by the ability of a people to construct, erect and preserve the higher aspirations of its people represented by buildings that were created by an artist and participated actively in its development and history? It is time that we decide what is progress and what is retrogression. Once these buildings are gone, they are gone forever and those who remember those buildings will also be gone as mortals. 

I can only say in our native tongue, "Ka nugon gid."

Farewell Lindy.

Over the weekend, I saw a news item about sugar smuggling.  Once again, we are here in this merry-go round.  It has always been this way, spinning perpetually but hardly merry at all.  Fact is, the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP) is “very alarmed” of the dramatic increase in sugar smuggling during past few months. SAP is the biggest group of sugar planters and millers in the country. Mr. Manuel Lamata disclosed that this increase in the smuggling of sugar will be very detrimental to the local sugar industry. This will not only affect the sugar planters and millers but also those whose livelihood are also dependent on the local sugar industry. Aside from industry effects,  the local consumer will be negatively affected.

While some readers may easily disregard this post because they are neither Negrense nor involved with sugar, people just have to keep this going on social media for the rest of the country to understand.  Sugar is not just an "haciendero thing".  It is every Filipino's thing.

How it affects the country

Imported sugar is cheaper. The reason behind this is that the sugar industry in  China and Thailand are highly subsidized by those respective governments, thus, the price does not really reflect its market value and is the reason why it is competitive with regards to Philippine sugar. This affects the demand for locally produced sugar since imported sugar is Php1,100.00 per sack while local sugar is priced at Php2,350.00 per sack.

The detrimental effects to the consumer can be attributed to the fact that imported sugar does not undergo any quality control tests unlike locally produced sugar, thus, the health and safety concerns of the consumer are compromised.

Also, the uncollected tariffs and import duties constitute a loss for government revenue that is needed for basic services to the people.

Increased Smuggling in recent months

In January this year, the Bureau of Customs have seized 189 40 foot containers of smuggled sugar worth Php240,000,000.00 at the Manila International Container Terminal, Cebu port and Cagayan de Oro port. In May another 10 40 foot containers from China  were apprehended worth 13 million pesos. Last August 13, 2015 , the Customs Bureau was able to take  21 40 foot containers of smuggled sugar. The Customs Intelligence Group also netted Php57,000,000.00 of smuggled sugar.

These developments are “very alarming” indeed as lamented by the SAP. The sheer cost and volume of the smuggling activities indicates an increase that is unprecedented.

Pleas for Intervention

The SAP represented by Mr. Lamata has already conveyed the concerns of the sugar industry through a letter to President Benigno Aquino III citing the increase of sugar smuggling these past few months. Also, the issue has already been brought to the attention of former DILG Secretary and now presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas at the Philippine Sugar Technology Convention held recently in Cebu.

Recent Smuggling

In its banner headline on September 20, 2015, the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited the attempt to smuggle sugar by a known close associate of President Aquino. Virginia Torres, former Land Transportation Office attempted to intercede for the release of 64 40 foot containers of sugar imported from Thailand. Said importation is worth Php 100 million and was misdeclared as General Merchandise. The importation did not have the necessary requirements from the Sugar Regulatory Administration. Notwithstanding, the request for the release of the sized containers were not given accommodation by the Bureau of Customs.

Impressions

It is no secret that smuggling continues to be a problem in this country. The government must do its best to enhance its revenue collections so that there will be more funds available for basic services. Also, it must enforce the law no matter who tries to intercede and intervene in smuggling cases. But it is paramount that it also protects the Filipino consumer and Filipino industries as well.

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!

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.

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

One of blessings of social media and the digital age is that publication of an article may not have to take a week or even a day.  There is no press production time to wait for.  The satisfaction of seeing one's literary work is instantaneous by the mere press of a button.  The obvious downside to it though is that in the flurry of churning out that all important post, the devil lurking in the details emerge.

Such is the case of a blog which on the page of it's Managing Editor claims to be "the best food blog according to Google".  Philippine cuisine is enchanting to say the least, simply because of its diversity.  Comprised by multiple regions, the Philippines has so many culinary offerings.  In reviewing these offerings, the least a food blogger or an editor can do is to be adept with the regional origins of Filipino cuisine. 

Take the example of this post recently made wherein Pat-Pat's Kansi of Taboy Servando was referred to as an Ilocano Bulalo soup.  Well, the last time I recall, kansi never changed its place of origin.  It was and always will be an Ilonggo or Negrense dish.  To say that is Ilocano could be tantamount to saying Negrenses staple crop is tobacco.

Research! Research! My dear!  If being adept with the regional origin of Filipino dishes is not one's strength, one should at least be a ruthless editor of his or her own work.