The new Bacolod City Hall

Last February 9, I went to Bacolod City, the City of Smiles, to discuss with the City Treasurer the increase in its business tax rates, which is effective this year. My colleagues in the city accompanied me to the Treasurer’s Office at the ground floor of the City Hall. The good Treasurer explained to us the rationale of the increase and informed us that there’s a public hearing about the increase in tax rates at 2:00 PM in the new City Hall. So, the city has currently two city halls.

After eating our lunch, we proceeded to the new City Hall to attend the public hearing. Upon seeing the new City Hall, I was very much impressed with it.

The new City Hall edifice

The flagpole and fountain

The Session Hall

10th Tuna Festival / 40th General Santos City Day

On September 5, 40 years ago, the Municipality of General Santos became the General Santos City. The city is in the province of South Cotabato and located in the southern part of the Philippines. It is known as the Tuna Capital of the country and the Boom Town City of the South.

Ten years ago, the city started commemorating its charterhood with tuna festival. This year, the 10th Tuna Festival in commemoration of the 40th General Santos City Day will be held from August 29 to September 7 with various events and activities.

This year’s festival theme is:

"A decade of fish-tivities and oppor-Tuna-ties".

Among the major events are : FISHFEST SA FISHPORT (a hit among foreigners), Search for Ms. Gensan, Bodyfest Modeling Competition, Fishdance - Mindanao Showdown, the 1st GAGAMBA Fighting Competition, LGU Employees Showcase, the Tunafest Badminton Competition, the Tuna Float Parade, the KARAGATAN AWARDS, the Sashimi Night, the BANCARERA and the National Tuna Congress.

For more details and schedule of activities, please visit Bariles Republic.

Boundary arches

I have traveled a good part of the Philippines. In the island of Luzon, I’ve gone as far as Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte, and Legaspi City, Albay. More often than not, I travel by land. While crossing provincial or town boundaries, I was able to capture some boundary or welcome arches. Here are some of them:

Beating the summer heat

One hot Friday, we planned on going some place to beat the summer heat. River water is definitely cooler than sea water; so we decided to head to a nearby province and looked for a river resort. We found one in Nagcarlan, Laguna. The resort is not one of the best but it could serve our purpose – to beat the summer heat.

I am sharing some pictures of the river:

La Mesa Ecopark

La Mesa Ecopark is located within the metropolis - inside the La Mesa Dam Watershed compound in Novaliches, Quezon City. It is the best place for picnics and relaxation. The park offers other recreations too - such as fishing, boating, swimming, exercising.

Salt water swimming pool


Boating lagoon


Stairs leading to the dam


Amphitheater


Fishing wharf


Picnic ground


Fitness trail


Playground

If you have not been to this park yet, I recommend reserving a day to come and visit and enjoy this one last forest in the metropolis.

San Fabian Beach

At the San Fabian beach, we spent three days during the Holy Week. San Fabian is a third class municipality of the province of Pangasinan, Philippines and is about five hours from Metro Manila. The beach though not comparable to well-known beaches in the Philippines, such as Boracay, Pagudpud, Bantayan Island in Cebu, Bohol for their white sands, is being frequented by the Pangasinenses, visitors from neighboring provinces and from Metro Manila. The sand is black; and the water not pristine clear. Nonetheless, we enjoyed our stay there. We enjoyed not only the sun, sand and but the waves as well.

Map of Pangasinan showing the location of San Fabian
(From Wikipedia)

Dalton Pass Viewpoint

On our way to Isabela, one of our stopovers was the Dalton Pass Viewpoint with Shed. It is located in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya right after the boundary of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. The construction of the viewpoint was completed on December 1, 2000 during the incumbency of Nueva Ecija Governor Honorable Rodolfo Q. Agbayani. I have passed Dalton Pass several times in the past; but, this was the first time I stopped over at the viewpoint.

Nueva Viscaya side

The boundary

Nueva Ecija side