Sugar Tour of Negros

Kyla and Aimee

‘Welcome to the sweetest Province in the Philippines!’ This is what we usually say to visitors on a tour in Negros Occidental. Recently, when everybody were so busy with the festivities,  we drove to the New Bacolod Silay Airport on a rainy morning  to meet about 65 students and teachers of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde together with the Senior Vice President of Pan Pacific Travel, Mr. Robert Dee and Inbound Manager, Ms. Tere Ramones. Local handler for the tour is Bing Bariga of Island Trips Travel.

with the owners of Bong Bongs

Vallacar Transit and Bong Bongs tourist buses were the transportation used for the Export Management Society class tour. We visited the New Government Center for a tour of the people house, then lunch was at Aboy’s Restaurant and we proceeded to La Carlota City for a company tour of Bong Bongs Pasalubong plant where biscocho and piaya are made, everybody had fun for the unlimited food tasting , a presentation was made showing the humble beginnings of Bong Bongs  from a P1,600.00  capital and  120 pieces of  piaya to 44 branches of the pasalubong center now.

and so they tried to 'Pang-us' Tubo

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde's Tour of Negros

The story of sugar will never be complete without  a tour of  Central Azucarera de La Carlota. Luckily, we were allowed to visit the sugar mill, they learned about sugarcane to muscovado, bagasse and many more,  with a free taste of the sugarcane, each student were excited to chew strips of sugarcane and savor it’s sweetness, as I told them it was a chance of a lifetime to ‘pang-us tubo’, they also saw the iron dinosaurs also known as steam locomotives. Dinner was at Wara-Wara and they had fun grilling strips of chicken, beef, pork, shrimps Korean style- this was a no leftover resto and they were so full the time we left the central city walk.

wearing Jojo Vito Mask

They were billeted at Bacolod Pavilion and breakfast was served so early the next day . We went on a tour of the University of Saint La Salle-Bacolod , visited Jojo Vitos for mask making and export business talk and the Association of Negros Producers with sales team  Ms. Jida Hautea and Erico .

Other restaurants visited were  Bascon’s and Chicken Deli, followed by a tour of OISCA Sericulture Farm and Tumandok Arts and Crafts in Bago and the Ruins with Roger as guide. It was a deal with the class to behave and participate in discussions during the tour and the reward was a chance for the whole group to participate and celebrate the Masskara festival at the  Love Dance after a buffet dinner at L’Fisher hotel where Mayor Monico Puentevella met them.

Janeth Joseph, Mike Poblador, Mae Ann Boko and JDC at SMX

The day before they left , they had time to visit at SMX Convention Center with the Bacolod Trade Expo and Conference 2014 , the exhibition hall had displays for the BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE PLAZA a showcase of  souvenir items, dance performances and cultural shows, they also had THE MARKET where arts and crafts and decors, gifts , housewares, Negrense delicacies and pastries, local products from different cities and municipalities and THE CONFERENCES  for business seminars and conferences ,kudos to the success of the event,  headed by organizer  Maricar Dabao of Jovial Media Events and  Thea Jison.

Oliver Alindog and JDC as tour guides and our ANP buddy

With more events and exhibitions coming, the Council of Hospitality and Tourism Students  (CHATS) was organized with the induction of officers held at SMX, Adviser is Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue , hospitality management students has been a great help in conventions and exhibitions here in Bacolod, Atty. John Orola of VMA and Dean Gina Montes with the rest of the school deans were very supportive.

Visitors come to Negros for different reasons, big groups have come for tours, meetings and exhibitions, this is a result of a one island development, one Bacolod and keeping up with Negros FIRST!