Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the festival will kick off on October 1 with daily activities and programs.

Its highlights will be on October 18 to 21.

Information dissemination and awareness about Bacolod’s tourism, economic and investment attractions and potentials, as well as the MassKara street dancing and other activities are being undertaken by the festival organizer, the Silver MassKara Festival Organization, Inc.

The mayor said it is time for Bacoleños to invite their relatives and friends abroad or from other parts of the country to take part in the festival next month especially during the street dancing competitions and parade.

For this year, there will be two festival sites, namely the Bacolod public plaza and the reclamation area, Leonardia said. 

Artists: Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Rico Puno, Joey Ayala, Apo Hiking Society, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, April Boy Regino, Jessa Zaragoza, Paolo Santos, Nina and Rico Blanco of Rivermaya, John Lesaca, and Jong Cuenco

Biyahe Tayo Lyrics:

Ikaw ba’y nalulungkot
Naiinip, nababagot?
Ikaw ba’y napapagod
Araw gabi’y puro kayod?

Buhay mo ba’y walang saysay
Walang sigla, walang kulay?
Bawa’t araw ba’y pareho
Parang walang pagbabago?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Kasama ang pamilya
Barkada at buong grupo
Para mag-enjoy nang todo.

Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Napasyal ka na ba
Sa Intramuros at Luneta
Palawan, Vigan at Batanes
Subic, Baguio at Rice Terraces?

Namasdan mo na ba
Ang mga vinta ng Zamboanga
Bulkang Taal, Bulkang Mayon
Beach ng Boracay at La Union?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Mula Basco hanggang Jolo
Nang makilala ng husto
Ang ating kapwa-Pilipino.

Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

From city to city,
Seven thousand and a hundred plus islas
Sa mahal kong Pilipinas
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao ating puntahan.
Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!

Nasubukan mo na bang
Mag-rapids sa Pagsanjan
Mag-diving sa Anilao
Mag-surfing sa Siargao?

Natikman mo na ba
Ang sisig ng Pampanga
Duriang Davao, Bangus Dagupan
Bicol Express at Lechong Balayan?

Tara na, biyahe tayo,
Nang makatulong kahit pano
Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan
Ng ating mga kababayan.

Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Nakisaya ka na ba
Sa Pahiyas at Masskara
Moriones at Ati-Atihan
Sinulog at Kadayawan?

Namiesta ka na ba
Sa Peñafrancia sa Naga
Umakyat sa Antipolo
Nagsayaw sa Obando?

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.

Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.

Halika, biyahe tayo…
WOW Philippines…

The Philippines, also known as the pearl of the orient, is an archipelago located in southeast Asia. It consists of about 7,000 islands; a little more if it’s low tide. It’s quite hot all year round, and it seems that the heat only dissipates sometimes during the monsoon season or “wet season.” During this time a series of typhoons slam the Philippines with strong rains. Apart from typhoons causing occasional floods, the Philippines also experiences volcanic eruptions every now and then; Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Mayon, and Mt. Taal are some of the more active Philippine volcanoes in the past century. Filipinos are some of the friendliest and most fun-loving bunch of people you’ll ever meet.

However, some of these same people will not think twice to fool, steal, or take advantage of you in some way if they think they can profit from it. Unfortunately, the Philippines is still a third world country for the most part and so the majority of the people are very poor and struggle in their daily lives. The country also has its fair share of litter and pollution. Top of the line sky scrapers can be found in metropolitan areas such as Manila and Cebu, and straw huts are still being used in provincial areas. Food is exceptionally delicious in the Philippines, but most of these are high in fat as is usually the case for great tasting food. Most things in the Philippines are cheaper in price than what you will find in more developed countries.

But Filipino wages are also very cheap. If you plan on visiting in the Philippines you will probably land via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, although an airport can also be found at Clark Air Base and Cebu City. You will probably want to arrange for ground transportation beforehand for taking you to your desired location within the Philippines. Otherwise, you may find yourself getting ripped off by the taxi drivers. One of the first things you will notice when you step out of the airport is the intense heat, the crowds of people and traffic, the manner in which the people drive, the litter and pollution, and the humongous billboards. You will also notice how everyone calls you sir, ma’am, or boss and acts overly polite. Some are being friendly but don’t be fooled, most of the time it’s just a facade to hide their less  resentable intentions. You will be approached by old beggars, young hustlers, and tugging children, so prepare yourself.

Although you may feel sympathetic, I wouldn’t recommend giving them anything as they usually don’t spend it as they should. You will see sari-sari stores everywhere, which are usually small versions of stores you would find in a typical gas station that sells general items. I mentioned the traffic, and I must say that I wouldn’t want to maneuver through the mess of traffic they create in Manila and other urban areas. Even driving (or walking) down rural roads can be dangerous as most drivers make a habit out of fearless passing. Stray dogs, cats, and other animals can be found roaming the streets. I wouldn’t mess with them to avoid getting infected, or hassled by their owner. Produce is usually fine to buy in the Philippines (always wash though).

Fish is  fresh if you go to the open markets early in morning. As far as meat and poultry goes, sanitation isn’t that great so I would just recommend cooking until well done to avoid getting sick. Water doesn’t taste that great either and you may experience a bad case of traveler’s diarrhea after a few days from arrival. You can boil it, buy bottled water (although it’s not guaranteed that the bottled is any different from tap), or just let your intestinal flora adapt to the tap water (especially if you’re staying in the country for a while). “Chicheria” (chips, crackers, etc.) and other processed foods is abundant. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products will be hard to find. Fast food is readily available as McDonald’s, Jollibee (like McDonald’s), Greenwich (like Pizza Hut), and Chow King (Chinese fast food) have infested the place. Food is dirt cheap for the typical foreigner or tourist, even in the local restaurants.

You may have a hard time finding a five star hotel or something that even comes close if you’re staying outside of Manila. Although Filipinos learn quickly and work hard when they need to, a lot of Filipinos are not very professional and can sometimes develop a nasty habit of being lazy. There are lots of beaches in the Philippines, and a lot of the beaches are dirty (in some cases, very dirty). Don’t be surprised to find cans, plastics, diapers, feces, and other types of trash and debris in the water of a non-resort locale (and sometimes even at the resorts). Boracay, Puerto Galera, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu have more tourist-oriented beaches and facilities. If you’re more of a party-goer, Boracay and Cebu would be the perfect place.

If  you’re more in need of some peace, the Puertos would be more your thing. Or why not experience all four yourself and find out? Other tourist hot spots include but are not limited to Baguio (cool weather, rice terraces), Manila (urban frolicking), Zambales (Subic Base and Hundred Islands), Bohol (Chocolate Hills, near Cebu City), and Palawan (spelunking, trekking). Bars are quite common in the Philippines if you’re into bar-hopping, drinking, and go-go dancer amusements. I would always travel with a buddy or two or three, especially if you’re roaming at night or travelling through Muslim infested regions. Mindanao is the Muslim hotspot. You should also watch out for the NPA (New
People’s Army) as they oppose foreign intervention. NPA members and affiliates are all over the Philippines, but especially in the rural areas. So those are who you watch out for… the Muslims, the NPA, and the other NPA (people with no permanent address, hehe). You should also watch out for who you date in the Philippines. STDs are not uncommon, and hookers aren’t either. And sometimes hookers aren’t the gender you expected them to be either. Homosexuals are all over the place there, so don’t be surprised if you meet several and meet some that you thought were women.

But as far as the real Filipina women goes, don’t be surprised if you fall head over heels for one of them (this is considering you didn’t already fall in love with one of the many attractive Chinese flight attendants of China Airlines). Just as anywhere else in the world, Filipinas can be downright gorgeous, downright butt ugly, or just the plain medium blah. But it’s more than skin deep, right? Right. You will also have to take into account that many of the Filipinas hide, lie, manipulate, and have an overwhelming lust for wealth. Oh yes, and don’t be surprised if their loyalty to you is overruled by their loyalty to their family (who, by the way, view you as the golden rooster who can allow their hen to lay their share of golden eggs that they’ve been yearning for all their lives) .

But Filipinas also have a desirable side. They hold traditional values and some actually really do love you (and will continue to exhibit their love for you endlessly). But those are hard to find nowadays anywhere in the world. And please note that the aforementioned Filipina descriptions are purely stereotypical; just as anywhere else in the world, women come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities in the Philippines. You just have to find one that suits your liking. As far as communication goes, English is widely spoken. You may want to invest in a cell phone as the Philippines is the txt capital of the world (even the dirt poor have cell phones). Nursing and IT seems to be the boomers for jobs in the Philippines. Registered nurses are sometimes lucky enough to go abroad, and the IT sector is seeing growth as the US is beginning to realize the profit of outsourcing most IT jobs to lower waged Asian IT professionals. But for the most part, jobs are scant in the Philippines (especially for foreigners) and are usually not desirable (either because of the pay or the nature of the job itself).

Political corruption is rampant, and only the very rich get richer. The rest are left to fend for themselves, hence starvation, poor health, the homeless, and theft are also rampant. Holidays and festivals are wonderful in the Philippines. Filipinos do know how to put on a party. Fiestas are vibrant and the food is always plenty. The Christmas holidays are usually the best celebrations of the year. “Chismis” or gossip is very common. What did you expect? Remember that most of the Filipinos are either homeless, jobless, lazy, or are just plain talkative. So don’t go to bed with multiple women who live in the same neighborhood, because you may end up with one too many rotective fathers chasing you with a machete. Tricycles and jeepneys (old WWII jeeps revamped) are the typical local means of transportation. Always demand your change, you can’t support the whole union. As far as sports goes, basketball, billiards, and boxing are the most popular (and probably in that order). Showbusiness stars are a hit in the Philippines. Actors, singers, sports stars, sitcom hosts, and matinee idols are loved by the Filipinos, who are fanatic about showbusiness and mainstream entertainment.

Filipino movies are not that great compared to international standards. But Filipinos can sing, and karaoke is a popular past time there. Drugs and alcohol are common, and so are corrupt police officials. I’m sure that if it were plotted, statistics would show a direct relationship with average income and moral standard for the Filipinos. As you can see, the Philippines has more than enough flaws to make people to want to leave the country, but despite the detractors, something enchanting about the ambiance of the Pearl of the Orient keeps many coming back, myself included.

About the author:

David Poarch is a freelance writer, a web developer, an avid earner, a hobbying artist, a nutrition and fitness expert, and modern nomad/traveller. His web site Adventures of the Coconuter features his story, work, products, services, articles, and more.

By: Paterno Jr Rebosura for Ohmynews.com

To the chairman of Jung Ang Interventure Corp., a Korean company planning to construct a wellness spa, everything seemed to be in order. The company found a piece of land on a volcanic island in the Philippines, signed an agreement with the local government for joint undertaking, obtained an environmental compliance certificate last year and even received blessings from national tourism officials.  Then, Kim Yoon ordered digging to begin on an access road to the proposed spa. The project was expected to generate 300 jobs.

No one bothered him until early this month, when several islanders protested the “desecration” of the place.

Prodded by a local militant group, the opposition group urged the new provincial governor to stop the project to protect the islanders from possible eviction.

The governor did not want to put blame on local officials who had approved the project. She said a dialogue should be held. The governor herself, however, did not favor a resort on the volcanic island because it was a sanctuary, a unique treasure.

Earlier, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology complained that the project had disturbed their monitoring activities. The agency also repeatedly warned against the project because Taal was an active volcano and the area a permanent danger zone. A level one alert has been in place there since 2005.

For his part, the environment department’s secretary defended the issuing of the environmental compliance certificate for the sake of ecotourism. On Wednesday, however, he suspended the certificate and stopped construction on the Taal Island Spa Resort. He made the decision after personally inspecting the project and talking with residents.

The inspection team discovered five violations of the 27 conditions on which the certificate was issued. The certificate remains suspended until the Korean company complies with all the stipulations.

The secretary also re-called the clearance issued by the protected area management board, pending disclosure of the company’s future plans.

An agreement earlier entered into by the company showed that it was planning to put up a disco, a family KTV (family-oriented karaoke place), an Internet cafe and a sports center on the island.

There is also a plan to build two lifts, each of which will carry 15 viewers from the rim of the volcano, a permanent danger zone, to the lake that is fills the crater.

A company representative admitted that they only have a building permit, having yet to secure clearances and permits from the water board, the volcano agency, the housing and land use regulatory board and the tourism department. The company admitted to the violations and vowed to correct them.

Pia Cayetano of the Senate’s environment and natural resources committee said the sale of the land to the Korean company could be spurious since the volcano is public land.

The claim by local officials that the land was sold by the owner to the Korean company based on a Spanish title was questionable. But the mayor of Talisay town said the lot was acquired by the present owner’s family in 1916, when the island was classified as a hill.

The senator insisted that Taal has always been a volcano, even as early as 1749, when it first erupted. A major eruption occurred in 1911, five years before the title to the “hill” was supposedly acquired. Other records showed that it has also erupted in 1754 and 1878.

The senator added that even if the Spanish title was authentic it should have been re-registered under the Ameridan Torrens title system issued in 1976, which discontinued the Spanish mortgage system.

Digging deeper into the issue reveals that the problem lies not with the Korean developer but with the system of governance in the Philippines.

The lake was once a pristine body of water where fish abounded. Now it is a mess and has a foul odor. The odor is caused by the meal given to the tilapia fish farms.

The local government authorized four villages to put up the fish pens but today almost all the villages along the lake have pens, which make the body of water hazardous to boatmen. The smaller fish farmers have been displaced by the illegal fish pen operators.

Armed guards hired by the fish pen operators sometimes mistake the local fish farmers for thieves, which only complicates the problem.

The mere fact that the government cannot control the presence of illegal fish pens shows that laws are ignored by those who can afford to do so.

The national government and the conservationists should look into issue. For all we know, the Korean company was made into a scapegoat.

Roxas City — City agricultural authorities are coordinating efforts with various concerned government agencies to examine a flush (colony) of unknown species of “giant mushrooms” which has been discovered by a resident of Arnaldo Boulevard at Barangay Baybay here recently.

The examination is aimed to determine if the newly found mushroom is edible and capable of artificial propagation.

The flush or colony of giant mushroom has a cap of about 12 inches crops up in vacant lot covered with thick cogon grass and banana plant in Roxas City, Capiz. (Photo courtesy of cable TV program Budyong Kapehan and Rexam Laguda)

Initial coordination has already been conducted with the Capiz State University (CapSu), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Science and Technology for the identification of the rare mushroom specie.

“The stipe of the mushroom is more or less two inches in diameter and more than 30 times bigger than the normal size of a mushroom stipe usually found in the backyard or farms,” said Roxas City Agriculture Office Chief Salvador Borda.

Borda hinted that the “giant mushrooms” is the banana mushroom variety because such type of mushrooms is usually found beneath banana plants. Commonly, banana mushroom belongs to volvariella volvacea specie.

“The mushroom spores were probably already there,” added Borda. “Its growth was aided by the compost materials around its habitat and by the cold and rainy weather in the area”.

During a local cable television program presentation, TV host Rexam Laguda said one of the “giant mushrooms” weighed nearly two kilograms and measured almost one foot and 10 inches from the tip of its roots to its cap.

The “giant mushroom” flush with varied sizes has been growing for two years on a vacant lot covered with thick cogon grass and banana plant. The flush crops up on a substrate of moist grasses and leaves. (PIA/with reports from Rexam Laguda)