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 

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!

 

CAMPUESTOHAN AWARDED By GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

 LARGEST ROOSTER BUILDING 

HOW DID CAMPUESTOHAN HIGHLAND RESORT APPLIED AND WON A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS AWARD? (with videos)

In the Philippines, a gigantic rooster building rose in the mountains of Talisay city, just an hour drive from the capital, Bacolod. This giant rooster is the newest attraction of Campuestohan Highland Resort. However, it's  not just a simple tourist destination but a product of a great vision.  Inside are rooms intended to welcome visitors and guests who wanted to sleep overnight in this resort. Imagine that creativity! And now let's get to another story.

New Cock Addition
To add to all of this amazing things the owners are doing, they applied for Guinness World Records to help put their resort not only locally but also in the international map of travel. Called "Manok ni Gwapo Cano Tan", this towering hotel is worth to set a record not only in Asia but in the world. And how did the owners do that? 

Guinness Criteria
It turns out applying and setting for Guinness World of Records is not that easy. Guinness World Records, a global authority on World Record Breaking Achievements, have lists of criteria. One of them is how to record the precise size of the structure using modern surveying techniques. So, the owners rented the services of professional surveyors to map out the big rooster hotel (which was still under construction at the time). 

WATCH: VIDEO OF LASER SURVEY for GUINESS WORLD OF RECORDS

Drone Survey

The engineers used a LIDAR (laser scanner) attached to a DJI drone and let it automatically fly and scan to record it from above, 360 degrees. (see YT video above)
The surveyors from Manila also used other tools to scan the building perimeter and submitted it to the award institution as basis for their judgment - to set it as it is the biggest rooster building or not. 

Awarding Day

On October 19 2024, Saturday, a Guineess World of Records adjudicator declared "Manok ni Cano Gwapo Tan" at Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City as the Largest Rooster Building.

Facing Challenges
Indeed, the sacrifices of those who envisioned and built it, especially the owner Ricardo Cano Tan and his team,  who were braving the rains and hot sunny weather are worth it. Indeed, we can't wait for the book to be published.

CAMPUESTOHAN ACTIVITY GUIDE VIDEO

For Newcomers (About the Resort)

For those who are not yet familiar with the place or still planning to visit it, Campuestohan Highland Resort has many activities ranging from swimming to Bike in the Sky to Slide for Life and more. (See campuestohan Guide video above) The place will also feature the longest slide race that could also be worthy for Guiness World Records.

CAMPUESTOHAN AT NIGHT
(VIRTUAL VIDEO OF LIGHT TUNNELS)

Lights at Night

At night and especially during ber Months and post Christmas, Campuestohan attracts more visitors because of their beautiful night effects like tunnels scattered all around the vicinity. These light effects, ranging from Sci Fi portals to Alien plants, can be experienced through the video above that will give you a virtual tour.

Pinoy Streetfood Overload WALKING TOUR

 Street Food CRAZE in the Philippines
(With YouTube Videos)

Asia is one of continents in the world that has a different street vibe compared to other places. For one, like in Thailand and China, exotic street food abound. The different aroma in the air are so strong that you get easily hungry. Being a tourist, cultural food should be a must on the list in the itinerary. 

Grilled Balut

Street food is a big industry albeit however some see the people behind it, the vendors as nuisance or illegals. However, this thriving economy has become a part of Asian or Filipino culture.

Originally, kanto food is focused on carinderias (food eatery by the road) but now, it has evolved into something mobile. Vendors now show up at any places like parks, townships (like in the Megaworld The Upper East or at the back of Bacolod City Government Center in Bacolod City, and pop-up carts or food trucks.  

On sticks and plastic cups

Now, with these foldable or mobile trucks, people can pay affordable food and enjoy it outdoors or simply, order them as a take away. The only drawback with this kind of business is the weather. When it rains, few customers might show up.

Philippines' street food scene is not focused solely on Pinoy cuisine as a whole but it has become a fusion of cultures, traditions, tastes, cooking and styles. It has evolved so much. 
  Now, you can find  Arabic cuisines like Shawarma, Hummus, Shawarma Rice as well as Chinese ice candy Tanghulu and siomai; Japanese Tempura and Kikiam, Korean's Kimbop and Cordog, Mexican Burritos, Tacos, Nachos, Chimi Changa, Italian's Pizza and there's the Taiwanese Milk Tea too. 

Beef Pares Overload is so trendy now thanks to Paresan queen, Diwata in Manila

And for authentic Filipino traditional street food, there's the tasty and popular Balut, bbq on sticks like the Chicken Inasal,  Beef Pares Overload,

For the kids, there are pancake, cotton candy, choros and popcorn.

 If given the training and support from Government like from DOT (Department of Trade), people especially those who are jobless can embrace this kind of opportunities, giving them hope to start small, but also to dream big. Having a street venture with value, cleanliness and respect customer is an honest work, after all.