by Belle

Lucky I am to be part of this Camp Blog 1c because I was given a chance to travel. Coming to the province of Negros is a chance I will treasure in my whole life. This is the first time I ride an airplane, and also the first time to go out of Luzon.

Part of the activities was not only to operate computer but also how to blog and to utilize materials for our output. Thats why we had many discussions. Because of that, I discover another treasure the history, culture, beliefs and arts of Negros. Allow me to share this with you.

BRIEF HISTORY OF NEGROS

Buglas is the old name of Negros. It comes from the Hiligaynon word which means cut-off.The Spaniard called the place Negros. Because they have seen Negritos when they arrived the shore. . Undeniable beauty of Negrense is the product of the three early ethnicities who come to the place – Negritos, Indonesians and Malays.

Even before the coming of the colonizers, Negros was blessed for having the natural and human resources. The vast land of sugarcane, the typical climate suited for farming, and the industrious and patiente people were the reasons why Negros can considered the choosen land. Until now the whole country have been benefitted by such greatness because of the sugar industry.

CULTURE, ARTS AND BELIEFS

Negros is rich in culture, arts, and beliefs. As discussed by Ver Pacete, our resource speaker, culture is the refinement of taste and manners acquired through training and development of the mind. For example, an angry Negrense could express his madness without raising voice.

The old Negrense swere animist . They believed in Kang-Laun. They had faith also to Manaul the spirit of gods. And they had strong belief in forces of nature or phenomena that they could not understand. Like kama-kama, aswang diwata, babaylan and the like. But no matter they still remain religious.

Foods of Negrenses added to richness of the place. They celebrate in style.The most unforgetable dish for me is Inasal. And some mouth watering delicacies like piaya, guava pie and pinasugbo have been favorite of all time by the local and foreign tourists.

Different places in Negros have each own festivity. Like Masskara in Bacolod, Pasalamat in La Carlota, Bailes de Luces in La Castillana, Pinaflores in San Carlos. All the festivals clustered into one -the Panaad Festival.

Negrenses were artistic in nature and sports- lover too. Because mny names have been recognized locally and internationally. National Artist for Architect Leandro Locsin, fashion designer Rafi Totengco, actor Joel Torre an actor. Boxer sons’ Mansueto Velasco are but of their fames.

As a catch basin island is a gift of God. It is still can stand the test of time. A priceless treasure you ought to experience. So come and discover the hidden wealth of Negrense.

The Hidden Treasure of Negrense

by Belle

Lucky I am to be part of this Camp Blog 1c because I was given a chance to travel. Coming to the province of Negros is a chanceI will treasure in my whole life. This is the first time I ride an airplane, and also the first time to go out of Luzon.

Part of the activities was not only to operate computer but also how to blog and to utilize materials for our output. Thats why we had many discussions. Because of that, I discover another treasure the history, culture, beliefs and arts of Negros. Allow me to share this with you.

BRIEF HISTORY OF NEGROS

Buglas is the old name of Negros. It comes from the Hiligaynon word which means cut-off.The Spaniard called the place Negros. Because they have seen Negritos when they arrived the shore. . Undeniable beauty of Negrense is the product of the three early ethnicities who come to the place – Negritos, Indonesians and Malays.

Even before the coming of the colonizers, Negros was blessed for having the natural and human resources. The vast land of sugarcane, the typical climate suited for farming, and the industrious and patiente people were the reasons why Negros can considered the choosen land. Until now the whole country have been benefitted by such greatness because of the sugar industry.

CULTURE, ARTS AND BELIEFS

Negros is rich in culture, arts, and beliefs. As discussed by Ver Pacete, our resource speaker, culture is the refinement of taste and manners acquired through training and development of the mind. For example, an angry Negrense could express his madness without raising voice.

The old Negrense swere animist . They believed in Kang-Laun. They had faith also to Manaul the spirit of gods. And they had strong belief in forces of nature or phenomena that they could not understand. Like kama-kama, aswang diwata, babaylan and the like. But no matter they still remain religious.

Foods of Negrenses added to richness of the place. They celebrate in style.The most unforgetable dish for me is Inasal. And some mouth watering delicacies like piaya, guava pie and pinasugbo have been favorite of all time by the local and foreign tourists.

Different places in Negros have each own festivity. Like Masskara in Bacolod, Pasalamat in La Carlota, Bailes de Luces in La Castillana, Pinaflores in San Carlos. All the festivals clustered into one -the Panaad Festival.

Negrenses were artistic in nature and sports- lover too. Because mny names have been recognized locally and internationally. National Artist for Architect Leandro Locsin, fashion designer Rafi Totengco, actor Joel Torre an actor. Boxer sons’ Mansueto Velasco are but of their fames.

As a catch basin island is a gift of God. It is still can stand the test of time. A priceless treasure you ought to experience. So come and discover the hidden wealth of Negrense.

Pictures from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negros_Occidental/Silay_cityneg

http://www.negros-occ.gov.ph/

I Travel

by: BELLE

Opportunity knocks but once! To travel to one of the most beautiful and richest places in the Philippines is a good privilege that I treasure in my whole life. I thought everything I experienced in the tour was just a dream. But “oh no, it is for real.”

A boot- shaped province of Negros Province collects the memory of its historic part. Despite the challenge of modernization, Negrenses still can manage to adapt. The heritage houses in Silay City have attracted and inspired my imagination like this wooden and cement house of Don Victorino Gaston built around 1898. Some of the antique furniture inside the house were donated by certain concerned citizens. Such sharing mirrors the Negrenses’ good traits. Hopefully, future generation will pass on the unity and cooperation they have inherited.

The Hofileña Ancestral Home in Silay City never cease to amaze me too. Its owner, Mr. Ramon Hofileña, initiated the move to preserve old houses in the so called Paris of Negros. His art collection was n the other part of the house. It was an art gallery of the works of Dr Jose P. Rizal (our national hero) Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Vicente Manansala and other foreign artists whose works are incomparable.

While riding on the bus, we passed through the street where cathedral of San Diego de Alcala can be seen. The church was designed by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi in 1920. Its dome is similar to the Basilica of St Peter in Rome. We went also to Victoria City.I saw the church of St Joseph the Worker which have been described by some typical catholic as “The Angry Christ.” Because of the painting in the altar. I saw the mural of Last Supper at the back of the church. The mural still existing even though it done fifty years ago. The uniqueness of another chapel in Victoria City caught my attention. This chapel was inspired by wheels of cart and roof shaped like “salakot” or the native hat of the farmer. Inside the chapel are coming from indiginous material.

We visited also the Ruins. It is the remains of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson’s mansion. Far from the place I saw the land mark which is the big chimney. The big chimney indicated the past prosperous years in the sugar making industry of Negros. The monument size and grandeur of the ruins reflects the lifestyle of the “hacienderos” in the not-so-distant past. Seeing the beautiful garden and the vast sugarcane field when you are at the top of the stairs add the richness of the place.

Preserving the remains of the past is a trait of the Filipino. It keeps us connected what we were before.

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I prefer the topic “Aeta, the native of Lopez.” Aeta the indeginous people dwell in the town of Lopez, baranggay Villa Espina in particular. During the early times, few Aeta were there to live. It was when Mount Pinatubo erupted some Aeta of Zambales moved to Lopez.

Aeta treated as small community who have been receiving support from Lopez government. The officials of Lopez have been aware about the needs of this group. Because of the needs of Aeta, officials are trying to find help from other institution. The Department of Education under the program of Alternative Learning Schools and in cooperation of ABS-CBN, with the program TREE OF HOPE Aeta started to go for their education.

Aetas even before had their own system of life that remained unchanged for thousands of years. So for them to face what we have at present.

Our community is  aware that Aeta was the origin of the Filipino race. They already have culture, belief and tradition. Aeta are animist. They believe the good and evil spirits such as anito or kama.

They have kamote, ubi and cassava as their basic food. They have no particular big occasion to celebrate because from time to time before they do any activity or work they have a rare preparation as celebration.Now just like other low land people the have rice and viand like vegetables added to their usual food.

Their clothes were made from materials gathered from their place.The young women wear wrap around skirts. Elder women wear bark cloth while elder men wear loin cloths. The old women wear a bark cloth strip which passes between the legs, and attached to a string around the waist. Can you imagine how”s life they had before? But now Aeta adopted the T-shirts, pants and rubber sandals.

Aeta women are known around the country as purveyors of herbal medicines. They used different plants coming from their place. Belief could be the reason why some have been cured by that herbal medicine.

Filipinos are music lover. We cannot deny that even the Aeta have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles -ensembles made of large hanging, suspended or held, boosed/knobbed which act as a drone without any accompanying melodic instrument. If the people concern in Lopez will be able to succes in educating the Aetas, no wonder in the future we could see Aeta using what music offers to us now.

It implies that Aetas are flexible. They could afford to adjust what life offers them.

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