My friends arrived in Iloilo past 5AM via Airphil Express. Upon arrival in the airport, the most convenient and cheapest way to go to Iloilo City is through shuttle van services which cost 50 pesos each. The driver can easily drop you off at Jaro Plaza or at SM City Iloilo, which served as their terminal.
In order to get to SuperCat Ferry Terminal in Muelle Loney, we rode a Jaro CPU jeepney, and got off at Plaza Libertad. The terminal is walking distance from the plaza.
We took the round trip promo fare for 520 pesos only. We initially paid 330 pesos, and the remaining 190 pesos was paid on our return trip. You just have to indicate your return date for reservation purposes.
We were early for the 10:30AM trip, so we just stayed in the lounge. There is free Wi-Fi, anyway.
Click HERE for SuperCat's schedule.
Meet my travel companions: Honie and Vince
at the SuperCat ferry terminal in Muelle Loney, Iloilo City
We dozed off the entire trip, and we didn't notice the one-hour travel time from Iloilo to Bacolod. Upon arrival, we rented a tricycle for 20 pesos each, which took us to the pension house (recommended by the driver), Sweet City Captel. We told him we wanted a pension house that is near the plaza, affordable, and within the proximity of the famous tulahans. We only paid 700 pesos for our overnight accommodation (600 pesos for two persons plus 100 pesos for the extra foam). It has the basic A/C, TV, and hot and cold shower.
Tip: accommodations need not be expensive if the main purpose
is only for sleep and safekeeping of personal belongings.
We went to Old Pala-Pala for our lunch. Tulahan is similar to Macapagal Avenue's Dampa. You purchase fresh seafood in the wet market, and have your chosen tulahan (which surrounds the market) cook for you according to your liking. For lunch, we had adobong pusit, calamares, sinigang na hipon, and buttered shrimp. We ordered 1.5L of soft drinks and four cups of rice. All for, more or less, 500 pesos.
The Old Pala-Pala, by the way, is located in North Capitol Road. How to get there? It is walking distance from the plaza, or you may opt to hire a padyak or tricycle.
Aleah's Tulahan at the Old Pala-Pala
Tip No. 1: Trisikad fare of 10 pesos each is already generous. We were initially told by the driver to pay 25 pesos each, but we resisted. Overhearing us, the people from the tulahans scolded the driver. It's bad business to exploit local tourists.
Tip No. 2: There are quite a few upscale tulahans, but we prefer the ones located near the market. It's cheaper, and we wanted to have that genuine, old -school "feel" of eating in original tulahans of Bacolod.
After gathering enough energy from the power lunch, we then proceeded to the town's museum.
The Negros Museum was originally housed at the Provincial Capitol Building. It opened in 1996, but was transferred to its current location (former Agricultural Building) in 2003. Entrance fee is 50 pesos. Unlike other museums I've been to, I highly commend the curator/guide of the Negros Museum for the very interesting tour/lecture.
The museum guide explaining the history of Negros Occidental through the paintings.
Photos of past governors up until the present leadership of Gov. Alfredo Marañon.
We were told that Negros Occidental had their own republic which came into existence
while Philippines was under the Spanish and American sovereignty. It was short-lived, though.
Beside the Negros Museum is the Museum Cafe. Since we already had lunch, we were not able to taste any item from their menu, but basing from the price list, the range is similar to the coffee shops in Manila.
Contacts:
Negros Musem
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
(+6334) 433-4764
(+6334) 708-5080
(+6334) 431-9451
negros_museum96@yahoo.com
Sweet City Captel
Gatuslao St., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
(+6334) 433-5391 / (+6334) 432-2989
capgem_coop@yahoo.com
2Go Travel (formerly SuperCat)
Iloilo ticketing office: (+6334) 508-7227
Bacolod ticketing office: (+6334) 707-7227
Hotline: (+632) 233-7000
scat-customercare@SuperCat.com.ph
Here is the list of entries on our 5-Day Western Visayas Tour:
I. Western Visayas: The 5-Day Itinerary
II. Bacolod City: Negros Museum and the Old Pala-Pala
III. Balay Negrense and the ancestral houses in Silay City
IV. The Ruins in Talisay City
V. Capitol Park and Lagoon
VI. Mambukal Mountain Resort and the Seven Falls
VII. Mambukal Mountain Resort-Hot Spring, Zipline, Kayak
VIII. Guimaras: Guisi Point Lighthouse & theTrappist Monastery
IX. Western Visayas: Summary, Expenses, and Contacts
I. Western Visayas: The 5-Day Itinerary
II. Bacolod City: Negros Museum and the Old Pala-Pala
III. Balay Negrense and the ancestral houses in Silay City
IV. The Ruins in Talisay City
V. Capitol Park and Lagoon
VI. Mambukal Mountain Resort and the Seven Falls
VII. Mambukal Mountain Resort-Hot Spring, Zipline, Kayak
VIII. Guimaras: Guisi Point Lighthouse & theTrappist Monastery
IX. Western Visayas: Summary, Expenses, and Contacts
