Bacolod News

Hagad: Reclaiming our birthright

ONE of the very positive developments in the “New Politics” front is the number of good, qualified and very sensible individuals who have expressed their intention to run for elective positions come May 2010. Some are even eyeing the highest position of them all, the presidency of the Republic of the Philippines. These include Brother Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Movement, Governor Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, JC de los Reyes of Kapatiran and Nick Perlas of the environment movement. These four gentlemen are neither Don Quixotes foolishly jousting at windmills or run-of-the-mill nobodies desiring to have their names included in the political history books, even if only as clowns. Except for Fr. Ed Panlilio, I have personally talked to and interviewed them and they have their feet more firmly on the ground than those presidentiables who are currently holding positions in government.
Gov. “Among Ed” Panlilio is nationally remembered as the Roman Catholic priest who not only dislodged an incumbent widely known as a warlord in Pampanga who had jueteng and drugs hovering closely around him. Fr. Panlilio also made headlines when, during his first two months in office, his administration earned by way of sand and gravel fees more than what the previous governor generated in practically his entire term as governor. Among Ed also became controversial when he blew the whistle on the P500,000.00 “cash gift” passed around to all governors and local officials during an audience with President Arroyo in Malacañang. Whatever his weaknesses are, bribery and corruption are apparently not among them. Brother Eddie Villanueva is an evangelist whose Jesus is Lord congregation already number in the millions. By no means has an imposing figured, there must be something very good in the way he carries his life if he can convince these millions to trod his path towards God. I have met and talked to his pastors and members of his Church in Bacolod and they are some of the nicest people I know. If they believe in Brother Eddie, he must be quite a guy indeed. JC de los Reyes is probably the youngest among them. Chosen to be the presidential standard bearer of the “Ang Kapatiran Party” a businessman by occupation, a councilor in Olongapo City. I had the chance to listen to his views over dinner last week, and to have his personal background supported by Ang Kapatiran founder Nandy Pacheco and political strategist Eric Manalang, JC de los Reyes also has behind him the basic platform of his party (referred to by them as the Filipinos’ passport to good governance) which makes up the soundest and most Christian approach to government as I have ever seen. I had the privilege of interviewing Nick Perlas in Sky Cable’s talk show “Bottomline”. Already a well-known figure among environmentalists, Nick struck me as a person who knew who he was and where he was going. Like Among Ed, Brother Eddie and JC de los Reyes, he did not have the air of a superstar like most traditional politicians try to project, but he had something much better – an air of sincerity. Only Brother Eddie dared to run for president against the trapos during the 2004 elections. It is an indictment against our present leadership that more and more reformists have decided to throw caution to the winds and run literally on a wing and a prayer. For what is Among Ed, Brother Eddie, JC de los Reyes and Nick Perlas, and what use are the organizations and the moral causes that they stand for if they and good people like them sit by and let the corrupt, the immoral and the malicious run roughshod among us and our nation? Whether they win in the elections or not is not the issue – it is that good people must now move to take over government, to show to the people what good and honest leaders look like, and to reclaim what is our birthright for us. There is no time more appropriate to start than the next election – in 2010.

English to Ilonggo Translation (common Words) Part 2

English - Ilonggo

a. Have a Safe Trip - Maayo na Paglakat
b. Take Care - Halong
c. Please Call Me - Palihog Tawagi Ko
d. It Looks Like Its Going to Rain - Daw Maulan
e. Nice - Nami
f. Very Good - Maayo Gid
g. Definitely - Piho Gid
h. I'm Not Sure - Indi Ko Sigurado
i. Let's Just Wait - Hulaton Ta Lang
j. Not Yet/Not Now - Indi Anay
k. Strong (physically) - Kusog
(senses) - Isog
l. Tell Him/Her - Hambala Siya
m. Make It Fast - Dasiga Be
n. Too Slow - Syado Kahinay
o. Slowly - Hinaya Lang
p. One at A Time - Amat-amat
q. Too Much - Subra na
r. Too Many - Kadamo Gid
s. How Will I Know - Mal-i Ko

HISTORY OF BACOLOD CITY

Bacolod City, situated on the northwestern part of the island of Negros, is bounded by the Guimaras Strait on the west, the municipality of Talisay on the north, the municipality of Murcia on the east, and Bago City on the South.

The City has land area of 156.1 kilometers. In 1970, it had a population of 187,300. It has a cool invigorating climate with abundant rainfall. The majority of the people speak Ilonggo and the rest speak Cebuano.
Bacolod, the "Sugar City in the Philippines," is one of the most progressive and elite cities in the country. Along its highway, sugarcane plantation is a typical scene; coconut and rice are also grown. The people are engaged in livestock, fishing and pottery.
Bacolod was derived from the Ilonggo word "bakolod" meaning "stonehill" since the settlement was founded in 1770 on a stonehill area, now the district of Granada and the former site of the Bacolod Murcia Milling Company.
Due to the Muslin raids in 1787, Bacolod was transferred towards the shorline. The old site was called "Da-an Banwa," meaning old town.
In 1894, by order of Governor General Claveria, through Negros Island Governor Manuel Valdeviseo Morquecho, Bacolod was made the capital of the Province of Negros. Bernardino de los Santos became the first gobernadorcillo and Fray Julian Gonzaga the first parish priest.
The succes of the revolution in Bacolod was attributed to the low morale of the local Spanish detahcment-due to its defeat in Panay and Luzon and to the psychological warfare of Generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta. In 1897, a battle in Bacolod was fought in Matab-ang River. A year later, on November 5, 1898, the Negrense "Revolucionarios," armed with knives, bolos, spears, and rifle-like "nipa" stems, and pieces of "sawali" mounted in carts, captured the convento where Coronel de Castro y Cisneros, well-armed "casadores" and platoons of civil guards, surrendered. Two days later, on the 17th, most of the revolutionary army gathered together to establish a Provisional Junta and to confirm the elections of Aniceto Lacson as president, Juan Araneta as war-delegate, as well as the other officials.
On March 1899, the American forces led by Colonel James G. Smith occupied Bacolod, the revolutionary capital of the Provisional Republic of Negros.
Bacolod City was occupied by the Japanese forces on May 21, 1942. Three years after, it was liberated by the American forces on May 29, 1945.
By virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 326, enacted by the National Assembly, the City of Bacolod was created on June 18, 1938.

Bacolod Public Plaza in 1903

Bacolod Public Plaza in 1923

1930 Bacolod Plaza and Cathedral

The City of Friendly Smiles

Welcome to Bacolod City - the Cleanest and Greenest and the Most Livable City in the Philippines. The capital of the Province of Negros Occidental which is the Sugarbowl of the Philippines. Bacolod City serves as the entrance of the sugar-rich cities and towns of the Province. Visitor�s facilities abound, modern means of in-land transport can take guests for business or leisure to any point in the island of Negros.
Bacolod will charm you with the genuine warmth and hospitality of her people in harmony with their lilting melodious accent. The Bacole�os will delight you with food and cuisine that is as vigorous yet as subtle as the legendary Ilonggo gentility and taste for the good life.

English to Ilonggo Translation (common words) Part 1

English - Ilonggo

a. Good Morning - Maayong Aga
b. Good Evening - Maayong Gab-I
c. Happy - Malipayon
d. I Love You - Palangga Ta Ka
e. I Am Sorry - Pasensya Gid
f. Where Are You Going? - Diin Ka Makadto?
g. What Time Is It? - Ano Oras Na?
g. Where Have You Been? - Diin Ka Halin?
h. When? - San-O?
i. Delicious! - Kanamit!
j. Beautiful - Katahum!
k. What? - Ano?
l. What Did You Do? - Gin Ano Mo?
m. How Much? - Pila?
n. How Long? - Ano Ka Dugay?
o. How Much Is It? - Tag Pila Na?
p. Child - Bata
q. Children - Kabataan
r. Husband - Bana
s. Wife - Asawa

Masskara Festival

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod City has repeatedly represented the country in some major festivals in Asia, notably in the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1998, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, in the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and in the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner-up in the local category - the first award to be given to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of that Japanese festival.

" We Dare you to Enjoy! "

A New Day

WOW! I finally did it. I've been wanting to create my own blog since a century ago, but a lot of questions wanting for an answer seemed to prevent me from making one. It was just a moment ago that I realized, I had the wrong reasons. I was lacking in motivation precisely because I was more interested in the benefits I will get from my blog rather than what benefits the visitors will get. I had to be converted - I had to be unselfish. Yup, " It is better to give than to receive." Yes, I had to share something to the world -