First stop is Mambukal Resort, one of the oldest tourist destinations in the province that is rich in natural resources. It lies 1,200 feet above sea level and serves as a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park. This 23.6 hectares resort got 11 overnight cottages, a bath house that is built in 1927 where you can enjoy an old concept of a spa, a food court area, 3 swimming pools (2 of which are filtered pools and a dipping pool) and picnic huts. 

What’s unique about this place is the smell of sulfur while you take a stroll in the resort. There is also a viewing deck where you can see the boiling sulfur spring that is around 50-55 degrees centigrade that goes around 9 feet deep. You can touch the water but only for a short time.  They also have a dipping pool where the boiling sulfur spring water and natural spring water is mixed; a place where people can take a relaxing dip. It is believed to be helpful to the body and is a popular destination among tourists and locals alike.

Bats are one of the permanent residents of the resort. There are around 3,000 bats in the area which they call “the flying foxes.” The resort serves as their sanctuary; not to worry, these bats are friendly.

If you feel like trekking, you can check out their 7 waterfalls or try the canopy walk. There is also a place where you can see the boiling mud that is also a unique feature of the resort. But what fascinates me, is that, we were able to see different kinds of plants and flowers in the area. Some of which are “Camlong” – a cross breed of “Camatis and Talong” (Tomatoes and Eggplant), a plant called Mickey Mouse and Ball Flower.

Bacolod is truly a place of rich culture and history. We were able to visit a number of old historical houses that tells lots of stories. Heritage houses that describe the way of living back in the old days; the kind of architecture and culture the people have.

One of which is the Lizares mansion, where one can see pictures of the past presidents on its walls. Another is the heritage house of Mr. Ramon Ofelenia in Silay.

His house was the only tourist attraction of downtown Silay in the 1960s, the first house in Silay to be open to the public for 30 years. It is also the first house in the area that is still inhabited and was provided with the historical marker. Ramon told us that the oldest part of the house is the stairs, it was hand carved and the wood (made up of malayong) is very hard that even termites cannot eat it. All the furniture is authentic pieces 9created in 1920) and we noticed that the sofa is placed far apart. The reason behind it is that the suitor will have to sit far from the girl he is courting and the children will be asked to play in the middle so that the lovers cannot play with their feet or touch each other. The back of the sofa is intentionally low so that the girl will sit upright. The house is filled with a collection of ceramic china wares, a 3000 year old plate making machine, a library filled with indigenous toys to mention a few. Paintings of Amorsolo, Juan Luna, Fernando Ocampo, Manansala, Arturo Luz, Navarro, Antioco, De Joya are only a few of his collections.

Having the privilege to see these places gives me much joy and pride of being a Filipino and made me see the beauty of the Philippines, it’s culture and the people.