Negros Occidental Tourism

MOUNTAIN bikers and nature enthusiasts will now have an alternative destination in Negros Occidental with the opening of Melba’s Farm in sitio Masanglad, Barangay Cabatangan in Talisay City.

Located 600 meters above sea level and overlooking Bacolod City and its neighboring communities, Melba’s Farm offers a large variety of activities and has a potential for ecotourism.

The place was developed with the existence of different species of planted forest and fruit trees together with naturally-grown endemic tress that provide a unique atmosphere, their canopy offering a soothing feeling to those who would want to take refuge underneath.

Some of the endemic trees present in the farm are white lauan (Shorea contorta), bagtikan (Parashorea plicata), bBakan (Litsea philippinensis Merr.), kubi (Artocarpus nitidus) and batwan (Garcinia binucao). These native trees have grown favorably inside the farm where they are purposely preserved and allowed to mature to serve and attract wildlife.

Melba’s Farm serves as a potential attraction to visitors who have not seen any of these dipterocarps and learn of their importance and conservation particularly with the global thrust on environmental protection and climate change.

Aside from this, the farm offers an array of delicious fruits for their visitors such as durian, lanzones, jackfruit, coconut and many more, all ready for picking. Various types of bananas also flourish inside, not just for the visitors but also for the local market.

Melba’s Farm is located 15 kilometers from Bacolod via barangay Alangilan where a 2-kilometer dirt road beckons a challenge for mountain bike enthusiasts.

For other visitors, the farm is more accessible by way of a sturdier vehicle such as vans or pick-ups.

Alvin Carranza, owner of Melba’s Farm, said they are continually developing the area to make it more eco-friendly to visitors.
Upcoming features in the farm are organically-grown coffee, a butterfly garden, other medicinal plants, a canopy walk and a relaxing area for meditation and prayer right beside a small creek that passes through it.

Source: Sunstar Bacolod

17th PINTAFLORES FESTIVAL
October 10 – Nov. 5, 2009
FINAL SCHEDULE OF ACTVITIES

Opening of the Trade Fair & Carnival
Oct 10 / 9:00am / SJRI Grounds

2nd Pintaflores Nat’l Invitational U16 Football Tourney
Oct 26-30 / 8:00am-5:00pm / SJRI Football Field

Opening of the 17th Pintaflores Agri Fair
Oct 29 / 9:00am / SJRI Grounds

Senior Citizens & Veterans’ Night
Oct 30 / 7:00pm / City Auditorium

4th Pintaflores Airsoft Competition “Euzkara Raid 3″
Oct 31 - Nov 3 / 8:00am-5:00pm / SJRI Grounds

Vamos! San Carlos! Balikbayan Night
Oct 31 / 7:00pm / City Auditorium

1st Pintaflores Modern Dance Competition
Nov 2 / 8:00pm / City Auditorium

Ganda Ng Agri Beauty Pageant
Nov 2 / 8:00pm / Agri Fair Grounds

1st Pintaflores Women’s Invitational Beach Volley
Nov 3-4 / 8:00am-5:00pm / SJRI Grounds

1st Habichuelas Cooking Fest
Nov 3 / 9:00am / Public Plaza

3rd Invitational Dog Show Competition
Nov 3 / 1:00pm / Agri Fair Grounds

Presidentiables’ Pedicab Race w/ Marc Logan
Nov 3 / 3:00pm

Pintalawas (Bodypainting)
Nov 3 / 7:30pm / City Auditorium

St. Thomas School of Music
Nov 3 / 8:00pm / fronting City Hall

Diana or Pamukaw
Nov 4 / 4:00am

Concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass
Nov 4 / 10:00am / Parish Cathedral

Religious Procession
Nov 4 / 4:30pm

Cultural Night Presentation
Nov 4 / 7:00pm / City Auditorium

Mini concert w/ Nikki Gil, Luke Mijares & Kris Lawrence
Nov 4 / 9:30pm / fronting City Hall

Jamming w/SMB Band
Nov 4 / 10:00pm / fronting City Hall

Pintaflores Festival (Streetdancing)
Nov 5 / 12:00nn

Pintaflores Festival (Ritual Competition)
Nov 5 / 4:00pm / City Auditorium

Band Show with Brownman Revival
Nov 5 / 8:30pm / fronting City Hall

Fireworks Display
Nov 5 / 9:00pm / SJRI Grounds

Pahugyaw sa Pintaflores with SK/SMB Band
Nov 5 / 9:30pm / SJRI Grounds

5 November 2009
Balay Negrense Museum
Silay City , Negros Occidental

Schedule of Activities

More than 350 fun riders from 28 biking clubs participated in the First Tourism Cycling Fun Ride organized by the Provincial Tourism Office in partnership with Med Trek, Armands Bike Solution in cooperation with Melbas Farm and Negros Navigation and the Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occidental and Barangay Alangilan headed by Brgy. Capt. Degie Tanista.

The fun ride from the Provincial Capitol to Barangay Alangilan had a kilometer long of riders driving along  Burgos street early Sunday morning. Trophies were provided by Governor Isidro Zayco and Board Member Patrick Lacson for the winners which was awarded to   the participants such as  Fastest Fun Rider of the year  -Joseph Andrew Espinosa, Highest Team in Attendance- TABA Bikers, Oldest Registered Fun Rider was also given to 69 year old Mr.  Deosimo Abello, and youngest participant is 15 year old  Marc Kisch Cordero of Trinity Christian School.
A fun race was also held  with awards for  Master Riders that  went to Totong Parohinog(first place) , followed by Jonie Las Pena(second place) and Francis Solatorio(third place) .

Not to be outdone were Veteran riders as well with Chopline in first place, Arthur Junio(second place) and Bong Soriano(third place). In the Beginners Open category top three winners were Jun, Dodo and Siopao. Leading the FAT BOY’s awardees were Hector Regalado, ReyArroyo and Romel Sanchez. A special award for the ‘GOAT RIDER’ of the year  was prepared with no takers as the fun riders were indeed fast riders in this event.  Fun riders were provided with ‘butong’ by the organizers after the ride while  Melbas Farm and Negros Navigation gave away tarpaulin bags  for the participants.

Provincial Tourism Officer- Jennylind Cordero said that this program is part of the HEARTS PLUS program of Governor Isidro P. Zayco and in celebration of Provincial Tourism Week for Negros Occidental which was awarded for the third time as the BEST PROVINCIAL TOURISM WEEK CELEBRATION in the Philippines by the Department of Tourism and the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.

Negros Occidental bags nine national tourism awards during the 10th ATOP National Convention Best Tourism Practices Awards Night at General Santos City last Saturday.

The province was awarded the Best Tourism Week trophy . This is the third time the same award was given to Negros Occidental. Ver F. Pacete, tourism officer of Silay City , president of the Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occidental (ATONO) received the award as Most Outstanding Tourism Officer of the Philippines as well.

The event was sponsored by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Secretary Joseph Felix Marie ‘Ace’ Hutchkis Durano handed the trophy to Pacete together with Roselin Merlin, ATOP National President. Negros Occidental received eight other awards— Best Tourism Officers’ Club of the Philippines- Association of Tourism Officers Club of Negros Occidental (ATONO); Best Provincial Tourism Week Celebration; Best Tourism Week Celebration- Escalante City Tourism Week -City Category; First Runner-up Best Tourism Week, Sipalay City (city category) ; Best Tourism Event-Cultural Category, Sigabong Sang Kanyon Festival of Bago City; Best Tourism Event Festival Category, Hugyaw Kansilay Festival of Silay City; and the Province of Negros Occidental has been recognized as ‘One of the Fifteen Tourism Friendly LGU’s in the country’.

Jennylind Cordero, provincial tourism officer, said that this prestigious raking of major national awards in tourism is a manifestation of the overwhelming support of Governor Isidro Zayco , Vice Governor Emilio Yulo , the members of the Provincial Board and the local chief executives in Negros Occidental.
The awardees will present their trophies to Governor Isidro P. Zayco at 11am today at the Provincial Capitol.

Zayco said, that he is extremely happy because of the best efforts of Negros Occidental Tourism Officers spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism Office and the Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occidental (ATONO).

The Negros Occidental delegation was composed of tourism officers from Sipalay, San Carlos, Silay, Sagay, Escalante, La Castellana, Bago, Bacolod City, the Negros Occidental Tourism Office staff , PIO and Public Affairs Office staff with Acting PPDO head Marlin Sanogal.

(Povincial Tourism)