EuroXtreme Circus Invades Bacolod

Bacolod City is known for its MassKara Festival and happy people. Thus, it's aptly called the City of Smiles for nothing. Every October, fun and revelry fill the streets of this Negros Occidental city. Colorful dancers with smiling mask join in to entertain people from all walks of life. Well, that's indeed life down here in Bacolod.
But in the early of January 2025, a different entertainment was brought to the city's Megaworld The Upper east avenue. 

A TENT OF FUN AND EXCITEMENT
EuroXtreme Circus, fresh from entertaining Cebuanos in SM Seaside last December, pitched up their carnival tent in Megaworld's grounds this time. Chinese New year was just starting when they opened their doors to Negrenses especially Bacolodnons, thus adding colors and excitement to the local lunar festivity of the city called Bacolaodiat Festival. 

ALLIANCE OF NATIONS
Though most of the performers are from Europe, they do have Filipino partners too. The show starts with a march and waving of different flags. It is indeed a unity of different nationalities and merging of different talents. Families trooped rain or shine to have a heart-pounding experience as they watch dazzling performances, fearless stunts and comedic acts. 

STELLAR PERFORMANCES
Aside from the dance of talented European lady dancers in sexy garbs, there were a line of fun, breathtaking stunts and surprises for everyone. Clowns interact with locals by inviting them onstage by dancing or doing acrobatic skits with them live. Difficult stunts are done by expert acrobats and extreme riders, of course, with safety in mind, making guests gasp for breath as they  watch them defying gravity. The night ends with guests are taking photo ops with their favorite performers.
The troupe will be performing until March 2 in Bacolod City and will move to another location.

NIGHT MARKET and FOOD TRUCKS CRAZE: MEGAWORLD The Upper East

 Outdoor night markets are fun and stress-relieving. It's a place and time that you can explore without having to worry about the heat of the sun and workloads back home.  

EXPLORE THE NIGHT MARKER (NIGHT VIDEO)

CHILL UNDER THE STARS
Everything seemed relaxed and you'll get to see infectious smiles while you walk along the tent after tent. You'll see people chatting over good food and bonding. That's how this event can turn a seemingly boring weekend into a happy one.  

NIGHTS BECOME ALIVE
Years ago, night markets aren't the in-thing in Bacolod. Usually, around 7pm, most people tend to go home already and wanted to spend their nights watching TV, spend the remaining evening with their family, or resting after a day's work. These days when Megaworld The Upper East decided to have weekend night markets on its vicinity, the lifestyle of many Bacolenos changed. 

WATCH a mobile PIZZERIA  cooks a Calzone using a Brick Oven (Video)

FOOD FOR THE FAMILIES
Many families wanted to dine out and instead going out to restaurants, they go to night market where smoke, smell and sound are welcoming them. The tasty Bacolod Chicken Inasal like that from JT Manokan is ever present among other street food like pizzas, tanghulus, burgers, fried chicken, and more.

FOOD TRUCKS CRAZE
Not only Megaworld The Upper East started the Night Market craze. It has also introduced a place where people can walk and dine and choose from different local food trucks. One can enjoy coffee, shawarma, and other tasty food with affordable prices and can dine out under the clear night sky. 

MUSIC MIXES WITH AIR
The food trucks has grown that one area of The Upper East is full of people enjoying the night away, with bands playing music or foreigners busking. Indeed, the night market and food trucks did put a vigor in the city where there's a big gap for night time activities. Now, everyone can enjoy alone or with families and still be safe 'til almost midnight. 

DOT Slogan through the Years (HATE and LOVE RELATIONSHIP)

Remember when The Department of Tourism (DOT) unveiled its tourism campaign slogan "LOVE THE PHILIPPINES?" Well, it caused some controversy among Filipinos but the DOT was fast to counter that - by creating a campaign video and posters on how they can use wordplay on the slogan to capture attention. 

Screen grab from the DOT's new 

Love the Philippines  advertisement in YouTube

Biting Backlash However, the video was also met with a massive backlash when a netizen pointed out that some clips were taken from a stock website and worse, one video doesn't represent the Philippines at all but another country. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO for all DOT Slogan through the years

From Fun to Love The I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES replaced the 11-year-old slogan "MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES", a word play on tourism that was also controversial when it was also launched. It caused rants social media platforms, a hate-love relationship among netizens who initially were against it but eventually, many came to love the idea and they realized the slogan has a creative purpose.

Screen grab from the DOT's new Love the Philippines advertisement in YouTube

Tourism Advertising Campaign Indeed, there are many fun activities in the Philippines. The fact that the country is made of thousand of islands with beautiful and scenic tourist spots, one can say that spending time in the Philippines for one's vacation is indeed fun. 

Many tried to explain why they hated it. Even the advertising agency that did the campaign was rocked with the controversies. Is it just that many are harder to please? or many netizens have a valid reason to be angry and critic it.

Fast Recall

WOW Philippines, meanwhile, under Sen. Gordon, was a well-loved slogan as it has a high recall among many locals and foreigners alike. But, of course, it should change after years of usage. 
For you, what's the best slogan among the slogans you've seen and liked?

INSIDE CITI HARDWARE - TANGUB, A HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOP IN THE SOUTH OF BACOLOD

If you are into construction, DIY and Home Improvement, what comes to mind is a gargantuan task of searching for the right materials, equipment, interior ornaments and the like.

THE PAST During the 90s, all you need to do is go to many stores or hardware shops that specializes in different brands and materials.  It takes days for you and your contractor to decide what's the best material with reasonable prices.

ONE STOP SHOP But when CITI Hardware popularized the one-stop-shop hardware, everything changed. This time people can go check what they need and purchase them under one roof. The warehouse offer you almost all you need to build a shelter or furniture. 

WHAT'S INSIDE Inside CITI Hardware is an array of simple to beautifully-designed tiles. They sell a lot of lighting and bathroom fixtures. They do have garden decorations too. If you need a door, they do sell made to install doors from simple to complex design.

PAINT BRANDS
Also inside are many aisle of paint brands for different purpose and the great thing there are people who can electronically mix your paint. Brands like Boysen has a Mix and Match Paint Mixing Station inside and Davies has Computerized Paint Mixing Machine. 

A DEPOT FOR EVERYONE CITI Hardware pioneered this kind of business model and it inspired some companies to do the same. Now you can find many big names in this kind of industry with their own style of depot like Triumph Depot and Wilcon Depot.

TANDUAY RUM FESTIVAL (FOOD PARK WALKING TOUR and MORE)

Go eat! Go drink! Go Drunk! Go Enjoy! But don't sin! The Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival is a merriment that targets not only rum aficionados but also the entire family who want to take a respite and break from life's monotony away from home. 

BCGC TURNS INTO A BAR
Despite the event's title, the Rum Festival actually is a merriment that also targets everyone. The food park Bacolod City Government Center is the hub of the festivity where drinking alcohol isn't a problem.
During this time, different street food kiosks are lined up to tame everyone's gastronomic and alcoholic demands. 

FUN AT THE FOOD PARK
Name it and you have the famous Bacolod Chicken Inasal leading the array of grilled cuisines. With hotdogs to isaw to pork bbq and more, unli rice is up for grabs as well as free soup to complement them. While  those who love talaba (oysters) so much, won't be disappointed as kiosks have those fresh ones, too. Right there and then, after you choose what you desire, it's up for waiting and grilling time before the eating begiins. Well, as the song goes, smoke gets in your eyes, literally.

INSTAGRAMMABLE 
Two giant balloon replicas of Tanduay bottles were installed and  lighted up at the BCGC park grounds while barrels of the famous rum maker adorned the Bacolod letters icon. At the entrance of the food park, there's an Instagrammable wall that greets everyone. The wall is painted with a visual story about Filipino and Bacolod culture, focusing on bayanihan, blue collar job employees seemingly preparing and sharing food and, well, drinking a beverage (which we assume is Tanduay).

POP UP TENTS
Meanwhile, walking around the food park, you get to meet some pretty Tanduay promo models in their red and white dress, duo musicians who plays pop and classic music, friendly security people, and ukay ukay sellers. Of course, as the name suggests, you get to see bartenders inviting you to taste their mixes of alcohol drinks (not for free).

THE FESTIVAL AS A WHOLE
The Bacolod Rum Festival started in 2019 and returned after the pandemic in 2022. Usual activities include, Rum Barrel Painting contest, Flairtending & Mixology Competition, Rum Education Day (Field Trips to Tanduay plant in bacolod), Culinaria Competition, Parade and Street Dance Competition, Motorcade of Tanduay's Ambassadors and Special Guests, Food Park, Music Festival and it usually culminates with a free concert at the BCGC grounds like Ely Buendia of Eraserheads who performed on August 19, 2023. For year 2023, Juan Karlos and Allmost Music will sing their hearts out LIVE at the BCGC where the Rum Festival food park is located.