The Wheel and Axle

That’s Siquijor in the backdrop.

I have been to Dumaguete twice before.

The first was in 2010 with Bj and Norlan as we did a twin trip of Dumaguete and Siquijor. In Dumaguete, we stayed in Hotel Nicanor and explored the city to see Rizal Boulevard, Silliman University, and the famed Dumaguete Belfry. We also did a side trip to Lake Balinsasayao, which lies within the municipalities of San Jose, Sibulan, and Valencia and about an hour from Dumaguete. In Siquijor, which deserves a separate article on its own, we stayed in Coco Grove Beach Resort (highly recommended) and went around the island to see Cambugahay Falls, Lazi Church, and the gargantuan and fascinating balete tree.

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Perth Paradise

From Bacolod very early Sunday, we made our way south via a 5-hour bus ride to Sipalay, a coastal city (don’t expect a Manila or even a Bacolod) home to some lovely scenic waters: beaches, lagoons, marshes, and the like. The resorts here are ubiquitous, one after the other.

Hiring a tricycle, we made our way to Tinagong Dagat Resort and the popular Perth Paradise Resort for some sightseeing. Both are open to day tourists who either want to just see the views or do some swimming. Tinagong Dagat’s view of its inland waters is good, but Perth Paradise’s view of islets that are reminiscent of the Bohol Chocolate Hills is spectacular.

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During our transit in Bacolod on Saturday, we also made our way to the popular Ruins in nearby Talisay City. Known as the “Taj Mahal of Negros,” this famous tourist site has a romantic and tragic history behind it.

Built in 1920 by the wealthy sugar plantation haciendero Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, it was meant to be for his first wife, Maria Braga. However, she passed away before the mansion was even completed… and she had been pregnant with their eleventh child at the time of her death.

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Welcome to the City of Smiles!

Next stop on our Negros road trip was Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental and known as The City of Smiles.

We went there on Saturday, coming from Lakawon Island, and checked into Planta Centro Bacolod. It was a last minute hotel choice; we booked it as we were literally getting off the bus. Every other place we tried contacting was fully-booked, from hostels to more upscale places. Nonetheless, Planta was a serendipitous choice, a quaint plantation-themed hotel with reasonable prices and which was quite cozy. Given that Negros is known for sugarcane plantations that stretch back to yesteryear, it helped make us feel the Bacolod spirit even more.

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Lakawon Island in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental is just around 1.5 hours from Bacolod by land (plus a 10-15 minute boat ride). The private island is starting to gain attention because the place is beautful and is fairly accesible. The beach, while not Boracay or Palawan, has some good sand and the waters are fairly clear and lovely.

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Guess who’s turning 71 today even though she doesn’t look her age at all? The incomparable Cher, that’s who! The multi-talented icon has had a long and glorious career, and to date she’s still very much active – musically and socially. (You should be following her Twitter account as she’s a riot, especially when criticizing and throwing shade – emoji abuse, and all – at the despicable Trump, among others.)

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Although Nicky Byrne will always be my favorite Westlifer (and probably favorite person), we must concede that Shane Filan was the lead singer for a reason. Yes, Mark Feehily also had a more… divatastic voice, but Shane’s voice was just the right combination of power and restraint and captivating-ness (I know, I know, not a word).

It’s just a shame that post-Westlife, none of them really hit it big as solo artists. There was some mild success here and there, but nowhere near the behemoth of Westlife at their peak. And yes, despite their inability to breach the US market, they were the biggest boy band of their generation (and after). The reality, I guess, is that Westlife lasted so long that by the time they split up fourteen years later, they were much older, and their demographic had moved on.

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“You will soon find out.”

Two weeks to go in the Philippines!

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It’s IDAHOT once again, that is, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. And like I once said, everyday shoud be IDAHOT because our struggle is everyday.

That said, today is a special day to raise further awareness across the globe about the issues and hatred that the LGTB community continues to face. There has been traction in various legislations as well as social acceptance, but we still have a long way to go.

May 17th is a particularly relevant choice for IDAHOT. It was chosen because this was the day – back in 1990 – that homosexuality was removed by the World Health Organization (WHO) from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

In other words, it was the day that somehow – even though it should have been a given from the onset – validated that we are not a plague upon humanity.

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Happy 51st birthday, Janet Jackson! Despite all the challenges of the past decade or so, you remain to be an icon and a living legend. There are so few of you left, so here’s to more decades for you to design!

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