It was just another ordinary day (or maybe not, since it was my hubby’s birthday). It was a usual 45-minute-or-so trip to Bacolod City (Philippines). Until…
An idea popped into my head. Why not make this trip a memorable one and post a documentary type of an article in a kind of a tribute to a most beloved person in my life?
So here it goes…
February 7, 2017, at 9:15 in the morning, we left the house, together with the eldest daughter for her to arrive at the College where she is currently enrolled as a second year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (following my footsteps it seems), in time for her first period of class at 10:30 am.
After a four-minute walk from the house we reached the highway where two of the City of Victorias landmarks are located: the Victorias Sports and Amusement Center
and the Victorias City Resort.
At 9:22 am, we were finally able to get on a Ceres bus and start today’s memorable trip.
Along the way, I began to take pictures of things or some landmarks that took my fancy to share with everyone for you to see places that most people around here often see and are familiar with.
This province, Negros Occidental, being known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, it, of course, boast hectares and hectares of growing sugarcanes.
Being time for harvesting of such crop, it is not surprising to see wagons of harvested sugarcanes waiting to be sent to the sugar mill.
There are also open fields waiting to be planted with new crops.
Ten minutes later, we reached the town next to us, the town of Enrique B. Magalona, which happens to be a detour from the main highway, having to take a right turn to enter the town proper.
Sixteen minutes later since we took the bus, we arrived at a crossroad, the northern part of Silay City, where there is still evidence of how crops of sugarcanes once reach the sugar mills, that cement tried to cover to accommodate modern modes of transportation.
At 9:43 in the morning we stopped at the Pink House, now the Silay Museum Souvenir Shop, one of the antique houses in Silay City turned into a.museum.
This is just one of the many old houses along the city proper that were preserved and turned into commercial establishments to tempt the tourists to visit and admire the unique and antiquated grandeur of these business establishments.
We passed by Silay City’s San Sebastian Cathedral, adjacent the city plaza (the accompanying picture did not give justice to it, the woe of a photographer trying to take pictures while riding a bus. Huhuhu!).
Two minutes later after the last time check, we passed by a familiar Catholic High School, the St. Theresita’s Academy.
Silay City is also among the cities in Negros known for their good quality pottery products. Once upon a time, you could see lots and lots of them small stores selling such wares but I noticed that nowadays there were only a few of them still in business. Makes one wonder if the pottery industry is slowly dying out because people now are more into the modern method of cooking, using gas stoves and even the more costly electric rice cookers, electric gas range and all that.
Of course, I would not forget to include the popular three balete trees of Silay City as the bus was traversing the road towards the next city which is Talisay City.
I am not sure if the new generation ever heard of the popular folktale connected with these trees. They could ask their elders about it and be prepared for several hair-raising versions of such folktales.
At exactly 9:55 am, we reached the most popular landmark (for me, that is), of Talisay City, the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in their various stages of expansion, to the old building (which was already renovated and painted to its entrance gate up to its continuing construction).
At around 10:02 in rhe morning, exactly forty minutes since we took the bus (five minutes ahead of arrival time expected), we reached the Ceres Liner terminal.
The end…??
Since this is partly a tribute to a birthday celebrant, let’s continue on and see what to expect on his special day out.
At 10:06 am, we rode a jeepney at Jeepney Bay of the Ceres terminal.
Eleven minutes later after taking the jeepney ride, we reached our final destination.
Guess where we are headed to. Malling? Uh-uh… Guess again.
That’s the Land Transportation Satellite Office located inside Robinson’s Place (Bacolod City).
And that’s how many men/drivers who are celebrating their birthdays today, waiting in line for the renewal of their driver license.
Five minutes after entering the medical laboratory clinic adjacent to the LTO, a person trying to renew their license could secure their medical forms (that is, if it is not one of their busy days).
Hmm, I can totally believe this warning.
One hour and twenty-one minutes later, after handing in the medical form, an official receipt was issued signifying that the license is finally renewed. That was already fast for a government office catering to lots of drivers renewing their licenses.
But wait! Where is the actual driver’s license? Alas, they have to wait six months to one year for the actual card to be released.
There are other places that are landmarks of Bacolod City (seen on our way to SM-Bacolod. There is the La Consolacion College.
Also, the Bacolod San Sebastian Cathedral,
and the Bacolod City Plaza.
I could have taken better pictures but this is always the problem of taking pictures on the go. Haist! Please think of it as you passing by the same place in a hurry.
It was an ordinary day made special for an extraordinary guy!
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