masskara!

what can i say...

my first masskara experience was AWESOME!!!

where to stay?
l fisher - shangri la of bacolod
l fisher chalet - connected to l fisher. my favorite. very good rates!
sugarland - i've heard good reviews. it's not in lacson street where the party is though.
friend's house - everyone has an ilonggo friend. why don't you crash at his/her place? haha.

where to eat?
21 - i've heard the batchoy is really good
chicken house - still the best inasal out there, also order the chicken skin on the side
chicken deli - second to chicken house
trattoria uma - for people looking for a date place in bacolod. go italian!
18th st pala pala seafood grill and restaurant - sizzling squid and baked scallops!
tama plaza - steamed talaba!

where to drink coffee and get dessert?
calea - sugar overload!
l fisher cafe - spanking new, and a strategic place to kill time while waiting for the electric parade
cafe bobs - banana late and grilled ensaymada!
pendys - crappy coffee but half moon, some sort of a custard cake, is a must-try
cafe olio, westown hotel - a quiet relaxing place to hang-out in the plaza vicinity while waiting for the maskarra parade to start

where to drink
21 - ideal place to kick start the night
mushu - republiq of bacolod
pepes - @ sorento complex, the place reminds me of the gimikan in timog
l fisher roofdeck - chillout time!
sibeeria - decades of bacolod, haha
cafe bobs - try bobsbrew! - their local craft beer. i actually took home a six-pack
l fisher lobby - if you just want to relax and enjoy soothing music

where to take pictures (for photography buffs)
balay negrense, silay city - the restored residence of victor fernandez gaston, the father of sugar industry in negros. for 40 pesos, you get to travel back to the 19th century.
the ruins, talisay city - the ruins showcases what is left of the don mariano ledesma lacson ancestral home. best to go there during dusk i think. we went there around lunch time and it was scorching hot.
electric float parade - starts around 7pm at lacson street. check websites for the schedule.
masskara parade - usually around 4pm in the afternoon (saturday and sunday of the masskara weekend). the main reason why i'm in bacolod.

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if you're planning to join the festivities next year, book your flights and hotel reservation as early as april!

happy go lucky people, like me, will find bacolod as a perfect refuge from stressful manila. hope to see you next year!