SILAY FOOD FEAST and CINCO DE NOVIEMBRE IN ART

EXPLORING KAON FESTIVAL! 
SILAY FOOD FESTIVAL 2024 at BALAY NEGRENSE

When we went to KAON TA! Silay Food Festival, everything seems relaxed. People were chatting and enjoying great food and drinks from local sources. Well, not only there's acoustic music and songs being belted at a open air event but also the place itself breathes essential history. Just beside the festival is the BALAY NEGRENSE and also the Cinco de Noviembre street.

KAON TA! Sila Food Festival at Balay Negrense in SIlay's Cinco de Noviembre street (VIDEO)

KAON TA! is an event not only just for eating though. Going around the place, you will see art alive. There are local artist selling their crafts as well as kids yearning to have their face painted. There are also Cinco de Noviembre coloring books being sold for P500 and it's limited edition. 

Al Cinco de Noviembre History through Art (VIDEO)

We got to see also a group of antique collectors who also sell rare stuff from Jollibee toys of yesteryears to Spanish era cabinets to obsolete Nokia phones which, by the way, are still working. These guys knew that there is money in a supposedly junk pieces or garbage to some. Memorable scenes included a sorbetero beside a Negrense-pride famous alcoholic drink Don Papa's tropical-themed booth. Ice cream and a spirit-filled beveage doesn't mix but they have one thing in common - a living heritage

Mcdonald's Silay

And speaking of heritage, Silay has great amounts of it and it makes the night in the city romantic. You're like a traveler lost in time. Caught between two timelines. The remnants of past is too strong to ignore.  s you roam around the city in a fiesta week, you'll be amazed how the old Spanish era-structures can still accommodate modern buildings and business such as McDonald's which utilizes one of the buildings beside the Plaza.

Jollibee Silay

Meanwhile, Jollibee Silay designed its store in line with Silay's heritage rules, it's a respect to the living traditions every Silaynon and Negrense knew. Well, when passing in Silay when we were still kids it's like we are traveling to a portal of Spanish rule. Indeed, the romantic and nostalgic feeling you'll feel in Silay gives respect to the now popular line: Silay is the Paris of Negros.

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TRAVEL TIPS

HOW TO GET TO SILAY (From Bacolod)

1. Ride a Bata-Libertad Jeepney that will bring you to Bacolod North Terminal 

2. Options:
You can either Ride a Ceres Bus or a Silay-Bacolod Jeepney 


HOW TO GET BACK TO BACOLOD from SILAY:
- Wait for a Ceres Bus going to Bacolod at a Loading/Unloading Area in Silay 

NIGHT MARKET and FOOD TRUCKS: MEGAWORLD The Upper East

 EXPLORING the NIGHT MARKET and FOOD TRUCKS AT MEGAWORLD THE UPPER EAST (with 3 videos below)

Outdoor night markets are fun and stress-relieving. It's a place and time that you can explore without having to worry about the heat of the sun and workloads back home. Everything seemed relaxed and you'll get to see infectious smiles while you walk along the tent after tent. You'll see people chatting over good food and bonding. That's how this event can turn a seemingly boring weekend into a happy one.  

EXPLORE THE NIGHT MATKER (NIGHT VIDEO)

Years ago, night markets aren't the in-thing in Bacolod. Usually, around 7pm, most people tend to go home already and wanted to spend their nights watching TV, spend the remaining evening with their family, or resting after a day's work. These days when Megaworld The Upper East decided to have weekend night markets on its vicinity, the lifestyle of many Bacolenos changed. 

WATCH a mobile PIZZERIA  cooks a Calzone using a Brick Oven (Video)

Many families wanted to dine out and instead going out to restaurants, they go to night market where smoke, smell and sound are welcoming them. The tasty Bacolod Chicken Inasal like that from JT Manokan is ever present among other street food like Pizzas, tanghulus, burgers, fried chicken, and more.

Not only Megaworld The Upper East started the Night Market craze. It has also introduced a place where people can walk and dine and choose from different local food trucks. One can enjoy coffee, shawarma, and other tasty food with affordable prices and can dine out under the clear night sky. The food trucks has grown that one area of The Upper East is full of people enjoying the night away, with bands playing music or foreigners busking. (WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW)

FOOD TRUCKS at Megaworld The Upper East
rotonda near Lander's Superstore

Indeed, the night market and food trucks did put a vigor in the city where there's a big gap for night time activities. Now, everyone can enjoy alone or with families and still be safe 'til almost midnight. 

LECHON :MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH

 LECHON de LECHE: 
THE PHILIPPINE'S NATIONAL DISH 
AND THE CRISPIEST OF THEM ALL 

The word lechon is actually a loan word from a Spanish term "piglet". And actually, it was the Spanish who introduced this tasty dish that Filipinos come to love and made as a national dish. Despite all regional cuisines winning palates of many Pinoys, still Lechon is the fairest of all.

Video of Roasting lechons for commercial quantity

Lechon is expected to be crispy, crunchy and delicious (with the wow factor at first bite.) In some variants, it should have that lemon grass taste to it that captures your senses at once and eating the inner meat should have that soft melting feeling in your mouth. That oily feeling when that crispy skin lands in your mound is heaven and adding to is the crunchy sound it makes.
Lechon's cooking producer is one of the most painstaking thing for people who wanted to try roasting a big pig. Though the pig is domesticated, it can really go insane when it felt something's amiss. That's why it needs two or more people to ease the challenges of doing this Philippines' Spanish-inspired culinary pride from start to finish. 

The pros slaughter the pig early in the morning because they knew lechon making requires a lot of time. There's a calculated time for each process from cleaning to slicing and putting ingredients and roasting. It should be done before the the occasion starts if there's family event and it should be done much earlier before the lechon seller opens his shop.
Not only that it requires time, but also it requires the proper cooking for the reach desired crispiness and delicious taste by controlling  the charcoal heat.  

And the tradition of having a lechon during fiesta is really a Filipino heritage worth noting. For most fiesta guests, lechon will be the highlight of the host's table. 
But tradition has evolved. Now lechon meat can be bought in kilos. Well, it's the result of economics. 

Some chose to order smaller pigs like the Cebu lechon that is spicier than the classic (original). There are also small lechons with seafood mix.
As a national dish it is not only eaten during fiestas but some families, see to it, that lechon is ever present during Christmas parties, birthdays, anniversaries and more occasions. After all, for the modern Filipinos, having a lechon during occasions, is a symbol of success or a celebration of life.

HELPFUL TIPS for COOKING LECHON:
1. Utilize White Vinegar: This chemical effect of white vinegar on pig's skin can help achieve a perfect crust

2. Achieve Desired Crispiness: To make lechon extra crispy, you can rub eual parts of salt and baking soda on the meat and let it sit for at least 8 hours. This takes out moisture. After this process, rinse off the baking soda with vinegar. 

3. Baste: Baste the lechon using a mixture of milk and soy sauce, this process will make the skin darker in color and flavorful.

Lechon is a slow-roasted pork dish that originated in Spain. The traditional lechon is made with a suckling pig that is 2–6 weeks old, but modern lechon can be made with pigs of various sizes. Aside from the Philippines, lechon is also a cultural  dish favorite in countries like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Portugal (Mostly former spanish colonies)

MASSKARA Street Dance Highlight (with video and results of winners)

 A RESOUNDING SUCCESS?

MASSKARA FESTIVAL DANCE PARADE

Sunday was an exciting day for Bacolod. Foreign and local tourists came in droves to witness the ever-colorful and  energy-filled Bacolod MassKara Festival. The 2024 edition was almost marred by Typhoon Kristine and another Typhoon named Leo. But somehow, luck was with the organizers on this fateful day. So, even me, with camera on hand, went to witness a historic parade in the downtown area of the City of Smiles (see video below) 

Video of the Dance Parade along Araneta St. Bacolod City. 

Of course, it was crowded. Parents were happy to bring their little ones as a bonding, a scene that is symbolic and as old as MassKara Festival itself. In the 80s, when the festival was born. Many flocked to the same area and parents with their little ones were in tow. They were piggybacking so they can see clearly the parade. And those little kids in the 80s are now grandparents or parents themselves and they continue the legacy the event has brought to families who wanted to enjoy and bond.

Foreigners were also enjoying the day full of fun and sun. I saw some foreigners dancing together with the MassKara performers. It means, they feel the cultural heritage and the meaning of the event which actually was created because of the sugar industry crisis and the sinking of M/V Don Juan in the 80s. 
However, perfomers and organizers look forward to the future as they wanted Bacolod to reach the Super City status as the city. Thus, their theme and concept for their dance portray the positive side and what the government had achieved. Like right now, the city is experiencing a massive development in infrastructure and business opportunities, a reality that was impossible to think of in the past.  

As usual the performers have to compete at the street before moving to Paglaum Stadium for the Grand Arena competition. Supporters, sponsors and dancers have to walk along Araneta street through   thousands of crowds are applauding the dances. The competition, which was broadcast live in social media, ended with a spectacular drone light show and fireworks.  

Brgy Granada was declared the CHAMPION. The win marked a second three-peat for Granada after taking the titles in 2022 and 2023 as well as in 2014, 2015, and 2016

RESULTS  of the MASSKARA FESTIVAL 2024 
STREET DANCE AND ARENA COMPETITON

CHAMPION - BARANGAY Granada - 1,000,000

ADDITIONAL PRIZES sa CHAMPION BARANGAY

BINGOPLUS - 50,000

PLAYMAX- 30,000

BELLA EVE WINES SOUTH AUSTRALIA - 15,000

1st Runner-Up – Barangay Bata (P500,000)

2nd Runner-Up – Barangay 12 (P300,000)

SPECIAL AWARDS

TODO na DITO Champion - 100,000 - Barangay Granada

Pillar of MassKara Festival - 10,000 - Segundo Cabalcar Jr.

MINOR AWARDS

Best in Music - 25,000 - Barangay Granada

Best Theme and Concept 25,000 - Barangay Granada

Best Mask and Costume 25,000 - Barangay Granada

BYH Choice Award - 15,000 - Barangay Granada

ELECTRIC MASSKARA FLOAT PARADE (with VIDEO and results of winners)

 

THE GRANDEST MASSKARA 
FESTIVAL FLOAT PARADE

It was a Saturday with clear blue sky. Bacolod was still celebrating MassKara Festival and there was a stark contrast compared to the past few rainy days, when Typhoon Kristine, brought havoc in the city's merriment. There were reports that the organizers will move the parades and street competition to a later schedule because another typhoon (LPA) is at PAGASA's sight and the festivities will be marred with bad weather again.

VIDEO OF THE ELECTRIC MASSKARA FLOAT PARADE

However, that Saturday was different. It was blessed with a sunny disposition and there was excitement in the air once more. The festival's Electric MassKara Float Parade and Eletroika Diva did continue to spread magic (see video below) to street merrymakers.

Alas, people flocked to Megaworld The Upper East and Lopue's East area to witness another historic and grand parade of creativity. Parents with their little kids were already eagerly waiting at Mcdonald's East. At exactly 6 p.m., as the sunset turns into a bluer hue, the first float arrived. These floats were the events sponsors like Jollibee, Cebu Pacific, Bingo Plus and more. The second phase where the beautifully crafted Baranggay. floats that are entries for the Best Float contest and atop of them are the Eletroika Divas (dance competitors). 
However, from among the many amazing works, three stood out with the so-called a Wow Factor:

Electric MassKara Float Champion

Baranggay 29

1st runner-up and Best in Float Design and Designer

Baranggay Pahanocoy

2nd Runner-up

Barangay 17

CONGRATULATIONS ELECTRIC MASSKARA FLOAT WINNERS OF 2024!

 

BAMBOO ROCKS BACOLOD MASSKARA FESTIVAL DESPITE TYPHOON

 

MASSKARA FESTIVAL: RAIN OR SHINE

The MassKara week is almost over but then Typhoon Kristine started to wreak havoc and an LPA, possibly, another Typhoon (to be named Leo) threatens the rest of MassKara weekend. But despite all of these, most people didn't worry and still wanted to enjoy the festivities and one proof is Bamboo's concert at the Bacolod City Government Center last rainy Thursday (see video below)

Belting out songs from his Rivermaya years like Elesi, Mabuhay!, Hinahap-hanap Kita, Bamboo is so glad to see people braivng the rain just to see their The Voice  coach idol. 
However, rain did affect some eating stalls beside the area but still you can feel the Filipino resiliency still unstoppable. Many kiosk are ready for the rain. With smiles on their faces, they do run to protect their food as if it depends on their lives. 

Concertgoers at Bamboo Night 

The Thursday act was challenging compared to the sunny and non-rainyday concerts sponsored by PureGold and BingoPlus the next day. SB19 was the highlight artists of PureGold's MassKaravan wherein a record of 150,000 flocked to Bacolod City Government Center. Kz Tandingan and TJ Monteverde and Piolo Pascual, meanwhile, serenaded concertgoers during the Bingo Plus Night Concert. 

Kym's Grill

The typhoon maybe be harsh to revelers and the peope who do business during MassKara. But actually, through a historical flashback, the origins of the Bacolod MassKara Festival was actually sadder and harsher. It can be traced back to the 1980s when Negros Occidental, considered the sugar bowl of the Philippines, suffered a terrible crisis when its sugar was priced at an all-time low because of alternatives introduced in the market resulting in one of the infamous famines in the country’s history. 

Added to it was the sinking Negros Navigation's MV Don Juan, a tragic ferry accident carrying mostly Negrosanons including those prominent families of Bacolod and most of them are fresh graduates from Manila's universities excited to go home to celebrate. These events overshadowed the usual life of Negrosanons. Many were too s
Local artists with LGU, in the spirit of resiliency, created MassKara  Festival out of these heartbreaking origins. The idea of covering one's face with a smiling mask gave birth to an annual competition that celebrates life despite the hardships.

MassKara Festival and Moonlight

 Another sad event, Covid Pandemic, also inspired the BALIK YUHUM MassKara anthem and bigger celebrations during Mayor Albee Benitez's term. Indeed, it's nice to look at the fireworks every salubong night of the MassKara, a symbol of hope and happiness despite the odds.

Let's enjoy at the Lacson St. this Masskara! 

NETFLIX's OUTSIDE: Loser or winner?

Netflix's OUTSIDE 
Did it Make You More Mad or so Glad?

By George Pontino Jr.

There's a lot of brouhaha over the issue whether the Pinoy flick OUTSIDE (now streaming globally on Netflix) is a bad Zombie movie or a good psychological thriller amidst a Zombie apocaplyse. These rants and reviews came out when people got to finally see the most anticipated Pinoy film marketed as "the first Zombie movie."

CREDIT: NETFLIX

THE PREMISE
For starters, OUTSIDE is about a family trying to outrun a zombie apocalypse while they also face a more sinister threat within. Released just before Halloween (All Saint's Day), the OUTSIDE universe has become a hot topic in social media with questions like: If Outside was not marketed as a zombie film, will you still watch it? (Let's Watch This FB group) which garnered lots of replies, some are transparent and some are not sure if they'll watch it if promoted differently. The film earned fans that they defended the film's premise, that the director made it clear that it's a psychological thriller amidst the backdrop of a spread of a mysterious infection, making the dead undead.  Well, watching the movie, the true horror lies in the family's conflicts and the way they handle survival. The zombies are just there for added scare fest. Without it, it will be just a normal Pinoy drama. Many also praised the "world-class quality" of the flick, story-wise aside cinematography and editing-wise, since the writer was able to make a suspenseful story within an already scary story. 

Well, this is my take on these two divided sides. This is just a sentiment on how zombie die-hard fans should look, from a serious personal vantage point of view, and on how they should embrace the zombie basics -  an apocalyptic world where a massive living dead are spreading out to wipe out humans because, well, they need also food to "live". And usually, to understand how to kill these creatures not usually possessed by evil but infected by a certain disease is hard to grasp. That's why most zombie movies have the notion that aiming for the head is the rule to eliminate any sign of abnormal life from them. And in the movie OUTSIDE, how the characters of movie handled the post-apocalyptic event can be seen as a product of their own confusion because, well, they don't know what's happening, what's causing it and why the dead are still moving and talking. And this utter confusion made their flaws to show. Hence, they are developing psychological disorders as they move on with their lives. They are just human and are too shocked with the sudden events. 

THE ZOMBIE TROPE
Now, if you're a fan of this genre, you should also know a little history of the zombie trope.  George Ramero, the director who explored the possibility of bringing back the dead through infectious diseases had his first Zs walk so slow that our protagonists still have the time to escape or fight. He has even has a talking corpse in The Living Dead - it answers clearly if questioned. Nowadays, with many new creative writers and directors,  zombies can evolve into something different. Some can do parkour and some can even detect you if you pour blood all over your body. Gone are the days that zombie movies used a certain formula. That's why, viewers should open their minds to any kind of new possibilities of Z storytelling. 

CREDIT: HBO THE LAST OF US

BUDGET ISSUE?
Now, going back to OUTSIDE. Many were irked because their expectations weren't met - less zombies and the characters are not exploring any other places and they are locked on in just a small hacienda house (In actuality, the film was shot in three different places in Negros Island Region in the Philippines. The bridge was in La Castellana, the church was shot in Kabankalan and the house was located in Ilog. All these places are in the south of Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occ.) If budget was really an issue, they could have shot it in Manila. Why shot it in a province where they need to move their gears and pay hotels for their actors. The producers believed that shooting in a farmland is breath of fresh air. Buildings and cities burning are usual scenes in zombie films and their treatment for the places they choose are intentional and not by accident.  That's the nice thing about filmmaking, you can trick people's mind and create a small environment by combining different locations which are far apart. As for the trailer, many had high hopes for the movie. Now the problem when one watches a trailer, he or she can get too overly excited, expectations run high. Sometimes it's better to save some excitement because it's only a teaser. That's why the film industry calls it a teaser trailer because the marketing team wants to give a sneak peek to potential viewers. 

CREDIT: TWD Rick Grimess and son

TO TELL OR NOT TELL (ORIGIN STORY)

Now, do we need to know the origin of the outbreak?

Well it's really up to the film's writer to really tell the origin of the zombie infection. Is it necessary or is better not to tell. 

Just like many American Z films, most scriptwriters leave the origins of the outbreak to the imaginative minds of viewers, this is helpful in creating mystery that could help if producers need to make a sequel or a prequel. However, there's one film that really divulged the origin of the infection because it's a must for them to introduce the universe where the zombie post-apocalypse is happening. The Last of Us is one film that shows the cause of the deadly outbreak. With this, gamers and viewers are able to immerse in the world of the game/movie's zombies called the infected (people with Cordysep brain infection). Telling the viewers the origin is also helpful in introducing more evolved form of infected like the clickers.  For one, the concept is based from the real world "ant zombies" controlled by parasites usually found in Indonesian forests. This real concept made a fictitious story solid and makes The Last of Us even scarier. They wanted people to think and ask: WHAT IF? while they are playing or watching the series.

Zombie ant 

OUTSIDE's TWD CONNECTION?
And here's my final take on Outside's family and psycholigcal drama. Remember TWD when it came out? Well, I love how The Mist-director Frank Darabont wrote and directed The Walking Dead when it was released over AMC. He gradually introduced characters. There was drama, lots chasing scenes, gore, lots of walkers and survivor characters. The Season 1 intro even tells you a little backstory of the main casts. However, the direction went from exciting to boring. I slowly  became disinterested with what's become with TWD in Season 2 because the new writers didn't focus on the original survivors' tales. Instead, they added new characters, unnecessary Zombie chase scenes and inner conflicts,  competing factions (communities made up just to cover a whole season) and how the writers poorly gave us a hint on how people can turn into zombies without even bitten or infected - but by just becoming full of rage and thinking negative thoughts. What? The survivors in the TWD universe becomes Walkers themselves just by hate and being paranoid? Well, I see this storyline as a poor innovation on the Zombie trope. This idea was a slap to many zombie fans.
Meanwhile, many original survivors who were introduced in the first season were left in a sorry state, forgotten in the sidelines. Some died in uninteresting fashion thus they are just probably victims of bad writing or poor ratings. The leader Rick Grimes, with all the fateful events he experienced like learning his wife is carrying a child from an affair, was a goner in later episodes. Well, it's okay to make him turn crazy .At least, they tried to tell the viewers that he is just human, very vulnerable. Now here is where I can connect OUTSIDE to the TWD series.
I guess the psychological family drama of TWD might have an influence to the OUTSIDE story premise.
Unlike in the TWD though, the people behind OUTSIDE focused and heavily invested their limited screen time on the characters on how, with a mysterious infection spreading and food becomes scarce, can affect the characters emotions, minds and relationships. Now, adding to the pressure are the past traumas the characters are carrying while the world is collapsing behind them. Everyone is becoming insane and having trust issues.
Now, seems familiar right?  It seems it's inspired by TWD's Rick Grimes sad tale, after all. Now, about the spin-off Fear The Walking Dead? Well, people lost interest despite the many hordes of zombies. 'nuff said.

ZOMBIE HUMOR OR SERIOUSNESS
Sometimes it's nice to have Zombie movies that are filled with humor like the Japanese and Korean ones, and, oh, Zombieland, yes that funny take surviving the zombie apocalypse with a list of survival tips. Yes, these kind of movies are very entertaining to watch because of the humor and fast-paced action. But, sometimes it's great when you get to watch Z flicks with utter seriousness. At least, you'll really feel that the apocalypse isn't a time for laughter, it's always a time to survive. OUTSIDE didn't fail to show us the seriousness of the situation.

OUTSIDE Bridge scene

RUNNING TIME AND A SEQUEL?
The only thing that OUTSIDE editor(s) didn't do is to, at least, cut the running time. Make a tight shorter story because it's too dragging to watch a lengthy drama with emotional effect on the viewer. There's nothing wrong with telling a dramatic story as part of the plot but by shortening it could have given the audience time to breathe.
One one hand, Cinematography is great. Zombie make up are also fantastic. Acting were solid. Lighting effects feel natural.  
In the meantime, the writers kept some stories untold and didn't gave answers to some lingering questions. This is a good idea if they are planning to do a sequel. Well, maybe, if they do, we will probably see more zombies (means more budget from Netflix), the kids grown up making awesome DIY weapons, the older sibling meeting her lady love once again against all odds, the mom has become a bad ass zombie killer too like Madmax's Furiosa amidst a backdrop of "real" post-apocalyptic outside world of the OUTSIDE universe. This will be cool!

It's 8/10 for me.

OUTSIDE is a directed by Carlo Ledesma. The cast are Sid Lucero, Beauty Gonzales, Marco Maza, Aiden Tyler Patdu, Enching Dee, Joel Torre and hordes of Zombies from Visayas.