Negros Island
Negros Island, nestled in Western Visayas, is divided into two provinces – Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Bacolod City, the City of Smiles, is the capital of the western province and Dumaguete, the City of Gentle People, is of the east. Mount Kanlaon, the 10th highest peak in the Philippines, sits like a friendly giant near the center dividing the island into two.
Getting There:
During my previous trips to Negros Occ, I either took the the 18-hour ship journey (via Negros Navigation and Superferry) or the 45-minute plane trip (via PAL, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines).
Cebu Pac - Every Juan Can Fly!
Most of the time, I board the ship. The trip is loooong but actually enjoyable if you allow yourself some time for little (mis-)adventures and “jologs” moments. Besides who wouldn’t want to see those sights – islands, leaping fishes, and er, the endless seas and skies!
Boarding ships used to be much cheaper than flying and the ordinary people (like myself, an ordinary prinsesa, LOL!) preferred it. So I meant ‘jologs’, as the things ordinary royalties do like sharing biscuits, pictures, gossips and life stories. Meanwhile, plane passengers have this “don’t bother me, am going to neva-nevaland” raised eyebrows kind of look. Then, they doze off even before they see that frozen, friendly, toothy smile in your face.
Twice I travelled alone. They would have been boring if I had not chatted amiably with other passengers. Then a man just about my father’s age asked for my address in Manila, saying he wanted to marry me and he offered me his many haciendas in Negros. Uhm, maybe I came too friendly?
Of course, there’s always the thought of ships sinking. What with the recent tragedy in ‘Sulperwisyo’ Lines, which they say have floating coffins for ships since the 80’s.
In April 1984, on our trip back to Manila from Negros, my mother wondered why in the middle of the night when most people were fast asleep, the ship’s crew started tossing flowers into the sea. If it were a tradition, they should have asked the passengers to watch, right? Then, a crewmember told her that we were was passing by the area where M/V Don Juan sunk in April 1980. That night was the anniversary of the tragedy.
You have many choices when boarding a ship. There are cabins if you want privacy but quite expensive. The Tatami, an excellent choice, is an aircon hall where mattresses are arranged side by side. The cheapest option is a non-aircon hall that has double deck beds and narrow aisles. It’s where the lively action is if you want to see the rich and colorful pinoy life! Babies shrieking, roosters in boxes crowing, hens cackling, mothers chattering away, air smelling of adobong manok. Adobong manok is of course the wisest ulam to pack because it has long shelf life.
Explore the ship (you have 18 hours to kill anyway). As long as the area doesn’t have the “Unauthorized person, keep out” sign, go ahead enter. It might even take longer because some ships drop passengers first in Iloilo City.
All airlines in Negros Occ now disembark at the new Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City, a vast improvement from the old airport located in Bacolod.
Bacolod Silay International Airport Departure Hall
However, Silay City is another 30-minute drive away from Bacolod. Transportation is difficult. There are no public buses plying the route going to the “international” airport. Laughable ain’t it? Do they expect everyone to own a car?
Of course, the airport is offering free shuttle service but they are scheduled. If you miss your shuttle, the next one won’t come after another two hours! That means you miss your flight as well! Perfect!
Okay then, just take a cab. It will cost you about P 400-600 (yes, depending on the driver, you’re lucky if he’s nice!). By the way, cabs aren’t allowed to pick up passengers from the airport. The rule for cabs is “drop the passengers and go away, we don’t need you here”. I just hope they improve the transportation system soon.
The view is wonderful though, you will pass by sugarcane fields against a backdrop of Negros Occ’s mountain ranges.
Because of the transportation difficulty when disembarking at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, we decided to take the Dumaguete, Negros Or route. We deplaned at the Dumaguete Airport, which is conveniently located in the city proper, and just a few minutes drive away from the Ceres Liner terminal. Via the Ceres bus, it’s another 3-hour drive to Negros Occ.
