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 

Tambayan Restaurants and Coffee at Bacolod's Buri Road (MANDALAGAN)

Buri Road (GM Cordova Avenue): 
From a Lonely Path to a site of Vibrant Progress

  LIFESTYLE  

To many Bacolodnons, Brgy, Mandalagan's famous Buri Road in the 90s was a dark, secluded and lonely road. The only thing that comes to mind about this less known path is that it's a shortcut point to the Lady of Mercy Hospital and Eroreco subd or to the Circumferential Road that also connects to Brgy. Bata. Buri Road was known also for being the road to one of Bacolod's elite subdivisions, the Mountain View Subdivision.
At night, nobody seemed to dare to pass by this area unless it's an emergency situation or if you live within the area. 

  WATCH THIS VIDEO  

However, with the transfer of the Vallacar's Ceres Bus Terminal and other small transportation players to the North Terminal at Bata area plus the opening of the Bacolod-SIlay Airport access road, Buri Road eventually became, not only a shortcut, but one of major arteries for transport traffic in the north of city which helped spawn the rise of business establishments like SME (Small to Medium Enterprises). Nowadays, there are clear signs of massive development in the area - a far cry back decades ago.  

CitiMall Mandalagan is the first major landmark that signals you're already at this road. Driving along, you can find some car wash, resto bars, cafes, subdivisions, grocery stores, water refilling stations, a FastWest gasoline station, laundry hubs, pet shop and more like Tawhai Spa. If you are entering from the circumferential road, the landmark you'll see first is Home Improvement Mandaue Foam and Furniture's showroom.

But what makes Buri Road, a modern stopover and destination are the presence of major property developers and popular local cafes and restaurants. 

First, there's the flagship of Vistaland - Camella Homes Subdivision which dominates other small subdivisions like Estancia Subd. Then beside is the high-rise condo apartment the Camella Manors Olivera and Vistaland's affiliate AllValue establishment which has AllHome (homebuilder depot), All Value Supermarket, Coffee Project, All American (Pizza),  Chicken Deli in its vicinity. 

  WATCH THIS VIDEO  

At the adjacent side, you can find Rockwell's Nara Residences. Just in front of the entrance of this condominium development is The Pavilions at Nara. This lifestyle hub has stores like UCC Cafe Terrace (coffeeshop), Mitsuyado Sei-Men (Japanese Ramen - Tsukemen noodles resto), Coco Ichibanya (Japanese Curry Rice Toppings) diner, Firehook Boulangerie Et Patisserie (Artesan bakery restaurant) and soon Buri Road Coffee.

  WATCH THIS VIDEO  

Meanwhile, local coffee and cake shop Quino's, restaurant Masskara Chicken Inasal, At Ani Building, you can find Steamin' Cup, Romantic Baboy, a Baan Thai Homm (a Resto that offers authentic Thai cuisine), Edibowl, Sizzling Station Mandalagan, Kapehan ni Roney, and Keeka. 

In front of All Value is a marketplace with establishments like Cafe Milan, Taste Station pop up cart, Community Clinic, Two Spot restobar, Carbin Seafood, Wash Buddies laundry station, Aqua Touch Water Refilling Station, Kakao Chicken Korean Grill Restaurant, and Ninik's Kandingan.
 
If you and your friends are in this area of Bacolod and hunters of great tasting food and tambayan, Buri Road  is more than a path but a prime destination that has lots to offer.