TEMPORARY MANOKAN COUNTRY is SPARKLY CLEAN (USHERING TO THE NEW ERA of This ICONIC LANDMARK)

It's about time that the tenants of the original Bacolod Manokan Country agreed to the demolition and renovation of their building.This will finally usher for the rehabilitation of this iconic landmark in the City of Smiles and a new era of the local food tourism. People of Bacolod and Negros as well as tourists will soon eat  Authentic Chicken Inasal in a place with a superb dining experience in the future.

What Happens Next?

SM City Mall Bacolod  built a temporary site (See video below) for the affected tenants. The new site is located just within the mall's vicinity which is just near the SM terminal and NU building, the malls Northwing area. 

WATCH

What Travelers Can Expect 
Tenants like Lion's Park, Aida's, Nena's I, Nena's II and Nena's Beth have stalls in the temporary site. Though small in space, the place lets you experience an open-air dining experience. It's also an access for people wanted to go to the SM North Block, multilevel parking and NU campus But what's important is that the SM management sees to it the area has security and also good hygiene should be maintained. 

Amenities of the Temporary Site
Talking about hygiene, as the area is still new so as the washing area and the toilets. This temporary site is a far cry from the old building that is simply receiving bad negative from reviews locals and tourists as well due to neglect in cleanliness and maintenance. 

Future of Manokan Country 
SM City and the Bacolod Government will build a newer multi-level building that has air-condition, parking spaces and also aesthtic interior with high ceilings. It will be a landmark that locals and foreign tourists will have a comfortable dining experience. and will be assured of maintained cleanliness. The new Manokan Country building will have two BPO towers as well as a bridge to connect SM City Mall itself to it. 

  

UNLI HOT POT iN BACOLOD FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR OR ALL YEAR ROUND?

We were curious to know where's this new Unli Hot Pot Restaurant called Jin Long  that just opened in front of the Bacolod's Yuan Thong Taoist Chinese temple. Indeed, we decided to eat there one Saturday, weeks before the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake. We were on time for lunch.

 AESTHETIC 80s CHINESE VIBE
Aesthetically, the building doesn't really represents Chinese architecture overall. However, the red signage and door handles, golden dragon knockers, give away a hint that indeed we are entering a Chinese resto. Upon entering, there's a nostalgic vibe to the surroundings though as they utilized those cemented air flow wall vents which are popular in the 80s construction in homes and buildings. 

INGREDIENTS GALORE

We were greeted by a pretty and nice receptionist who showed us their menu options and promotions. Upon entering, some diners are already lining up at the freezer to choose their array of veggies, noodles and soy-based food to dip on a solo 'golden' hot pot container. Meats like pork and beef as well as seafoods  like raw squid and shrimp are ordered at the table. Unlike other hot pot or steamboat dining, which uses one big pot, here, each one is given his or her own pot with his own choice of soup.

    

EAT UNLIMITED 
Well, there are  many kinds of soup and lots of sauce to choose from. Just check the video above for our full dining experience. If you're full, there's also ice cream as a dessert that's part of the promo. As this is an eat-all-you-can Chinese restaurant, there are some rules to follow. 

RULES AND LIMITATIONS
One is strictly no sharing and "touched" meat will considered paid. Note that this is not a review blog as each person has his own taste preferences. 

If you wanted a different oriental dining experience with friends or families, do check out the video above  and decide if you're in to this kind of cuisine, too.

HELPFUL INFORMATION for LOCALS and TOURISTS:

JIN LONG HOT POT restaurant

Address: Anahaw Arcade, Anahaw St, Bacolod, 6100 Negros Occidental, NIR, Philippines Asia

Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RMwtC1fZ6Q5Wa1LH6

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/jinlonghotpotph/

MASSKARA Street Dance Highlight (with video and results of winners)

 Sunday was an exciting day for Bacolod. Foreign and local tourists came in droves to witness the ever-colorful and  energy-filled Bacolod MassKara Festival. The 2024 edition was almost marred by Typhoon Kristine and another Typhoon named Leo. But somehow, luck was with the organizers on this fateful day. So, even me, with camera on hand, went to witness a historic parade in the downtown area of the City of Smiles.

Video of the Dance Parade along Araneta St. Bacolod City. 

FAMILY AFFAIR
Of course, it was crowded. Parents were happy to bring their little ones as a bonding, a scene that is symbolic and as old as MassKara Festival itself. In the 80s, when the festival was born. Many flocked to the same area and parents with their little ones were in tow. Many were piggybacking so they can see clearly the parade. For sure, little kids who witnessed the festival in the 80s are now grandparents or parents themselves and they continue the legacy by sharing the fun with their children.

SAD HISTORY-TURNED TOURIST ATTRACTION
Foreigners were also enjoying the day full of fun and sun. I saw some foreigners dancing together with the MassKara performers. It means, they feel the cultural heritage and the meaning of the event which actually was created because of the sugar industry crisis and the sinking of M/V Don Juan in the 80s. 

FUTURE OF THE SUPER CITY
However, perfumers and organizers look forward to the future as they wanted Bacolod to reach the Super City status as the city. Thus, their theme and concept for their dance portray the positive side and what the government had achieved. Like right now, the city is experiencing a massive development in infrastructure and business opportunities, a reality that was impossible to think of in the past.  

USUAL STANCE

As usual the performers have to compete along the  street before moving to Paglaum Stadium for the Grand Arena competition. Supporters, sponsors and dancers have to walk along Araneta Ave. through thousands of crowds filling up the sidewalks and cheering for their favorite entry.

DIGITAL COVERAGE

The competition, which was broadcast live via social media, ended with a spectacular drone light show and fireworks.  

Brgy. Granada was declared the CHAMPION and this year it's another glandslam for the group. The win marked a second three-peat for Granada after taking the titles in 2022 and 2023 as well as in 2014, 2015, and 2016 which is equivalent for two grandslams.

BACOLOD's ELECTRIC MASSKARA FLOAT PARADE 2024 (with results of winners)

It was a Saturday with clear blue sky. Bacolod was still celebrating MassKara Festival and there was a stark contrast compared to the past few rainy days, when Typhoon Kristine, brought havoc in the city's merriment. There were reports that the organizers will move the parades and street competition to a later schedule because another typhoon (LPA) is at PAGASA's sight and the festivities will be marred with bad weather again.

VIDEO OF THE ELECTRIC MASSKARA FLOAT PARADE

SUNSHINY DAY
However, that Saturday was different. It was blessed with a sunny disposition and there was excitement in the air once more. The festival's Electric MassKara Float Parade and Elelectroika Diva did continue to spread magic to street merrymakers.

People flocked to Megaworld The Upper East and Lopue's East area to witness another historic and grand parade of creativity. Parents with their little kids were already eagerly waiting at Mcdonald's East.


READY, LIGHTS ON
At exactly 6 p.m., as the sunset turns into a bluer hue, the first float arrived. People were surprise to see floats sponsors like Jollibee, Cebu Pacific, Bingo Plus and more. The second phase where the beautifully crafted Baranggay floats that are entries for the Best Float contest and atop of th em are the Eletroika Divas (dance competitors). 

However, from among the many amazing works, three stood out with the so-called a Wow Factor.

BAMBOO ROCKS BACOLOD MASSKARA FESTIVAL DESPITE TYPHOON

The MassKara week is almost over but then Typhoon Kristine started to wreak havoc and an LPA, possibly, another Typhoon (to be named Leo) threatens the rest of MassKara weekend. But despite all of these, most people didn't worry and still wanted to enjoy the festivities and one proof is Bamboo's concert at the Bacolod City Government Center last rainy Thursday (see video below)

RIVERMAYA NOSTALGIA
Belting out songs from his Rivermaya years like Elesi, Mabuhay!, Hinahap-hanap Kita, Bamboo is so glad to see people braivng the rain just to see their The Voice  coach idol. 
However, rain did affect some eating stalls beside the area but still you can feel the Filipino resiliency still unstoppable. Many kiosk are ready for the rain. With smiles on their faces, they do run to protect their food as if it depends on their lives. 

Concertgoers at Bamboo Night 

MORE ARTISTS FROM MANILA
The Thursday act was challenging compared to the sunny and non-rainyday concerts sponsored by PureGold and BingoPlus the next day. SB19 was the highlight artists of PureGold's MassKaravan wherein a record of 150,000 flocked to Bacolod City Government Center. Kz Tandingan and TJ Monteverde and Piolo Pascual, meanwhile, serenaded concertgoers during the Bingo Plus Night Concert. 

Kym's Grill

RESILIENCY DESPITE THE RAIN
The typhoon maybe be harsh to revelers and the peope who do business during MassKara. But actually, through a historical flashback, the origins of the Bacolod MassKara Festival was actually sadder and harsher. It can be traced back to the 1980s when Negros Occidental, considered the sugar bowl of the Philippines, suffered a terrible crisis when its sugar was priced at an all-time low because of alternatives introduced in the market resulting in one of the infamous famines in the country’s history. 

SMILE COVERS THE SAD HISTORY 

Added to it was the sinking Negros Navigation's MV Don Juan, a tragic ferry accident carrying mostly Negrosanons including those prominent families of Bacolod and most of them are fresh graduates from Manila's universities excited to go home to celebrate. These events overshadowed the usual life of Negrosanons. 

Local artists with LGU, in the spirit of resiliency, created MassKara  Festival out of these heartbreaking origins. The idea of covering one's face with a smiling mask gave birth to an annual competition that celebrates life despite the hardships.

MassKara Festival and Moonlight

BALIK YUHUM 

Another sad event, Covid Pandemic, also inspired the BALIK YUHUM MassKara anthem and bigger celebrations during Mayor Albee Benitez's term. Indeed, it's nice to look at the fireworks every salubong night of the MassKara, a symbol of hope and happiness despite the odds.

Let's enjoy at the Lacson St. this Masskara!