Barangay  Banago was  declared  champion  in  the  32nd MassKara Festival  street  and arena dance competition Sunday night (Oct. 16), besting 14 other groups that competed in the barangay category.

Choreographed by William Bangcaya, Banago also won the special awards for Best in Concept and Best in Live Rhythm.

Headed by barangay captain Arnel Benjamin, Banago’s mask designer was Ronelo Mabilog, while its costume designers were Mabilog and Joseph Ferdinand Silva.

Barangay 17 was first runner-up, Barangay Tangub—second runner-up, Barangay 23—third runner-up, and Barangay Alijis—fourth runner-up.

Choreographed by Frederick Endrada, Barangay 17 was also adjudged Best in Choreography. It was also first runner-up and Best in Choreography last year.

Barangay Alijis, whose mask and costume were designed by Emiljune Bantolo, also won the Best in Costume and Best in Mask awards.

Banago, one of Bacolod’s biggest barangays, will receive P100,000 as cash prize. Barangay 17 will get P75,000; Barangay Tangub—P50,000; Barangay 23—P30,000; and Barangay Alijis—P20,000.

Banago will also get the P20,000 as LBC Prize for Best in Live Rhythm, while the rest of the 14 live bands will get  P2,000 each as consolation prize.

The Best in Live Rhythm is a new award as this is the first time the festival streetdancing used live music.

The Top 3 winners have been invited to perform in Salute to Bacolod program on Oct. 18, 7 pm. at the Bacolod City Government Center.

The awarding of streetdance winners will be on the closing rites on Oct. 19, 6 p.m. at the Bacolod Public Plaza. (PR)

Photos by James Toga

[Show as slideshow]

It’s official.  The Philippine Blog Awards – Visayas will be held in the heritage city of  Silay, Negros Occidental on November 12, 2011. Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano has graciously agreed to host the event in cooperation with the Negros Bloggers led by president, H. James Toga of the Negros Daily Bulletin. The core group had their first of many weekly meetings last Thursday, October 6, 2011 to plan for the activities during the event.

The nominations for this year’s Philippine Blog Awards are extended up to 3PM of October 15, 2011. Acceptance of nominations is extended up to 3PM of October 19, 2011.

For more information and updates, please visit the Negros Bloggers and PBA website. Click on this link to pre-register for PBA-Visayas.

We hope to see you in the event!

Crisostomo Ibarra, the protagonist in Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, leaps from the pages of the incendiary novel and onto the stage in a contemporary dance retelling by Ballet Philippines July 25, 2011 at the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod Gym with 2 shows at 2PM and 6PM.

Artists’ groups of Negros Dance Pull Dance Company and The Performance Laboratory Inc. come together with The  Negros Museum to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal with this rare performance of Ballet Philippines in Bacolod City.

Under the choreography of Paul Alexander Morales (Artistic Director of Ballet Philippines) and music by Jed Balsamo, Crisostomo Ibarra springs to life in a new production about a young man’s struggles to stand tall in his ideals despite the cruel buffets of fate. The dance narration takes the audience inside the psychological world of Ibarra and strips bare this epic story that underscores the continuing relevance of Rizal’s timeless character.

Crisostomo Ibarra, the dance, highlights the life of an idealist reformer, a man striving to make a change in a society living under corruption and oppression. It takes an introspective look at the life of a hero sacrificing his personal happiness for love for country. The dance resonates with hope and reflects the Filipinos’ need for heroes in a society buffeted by many challenges and divergent beliefs.

Crisostomo Ibarra is presented in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in celebration of the Philippines as the ASEAN Cultural Capital for 2010-2011. It topbills Jean Marc Cordero reprising Crisostomo Ibarra; silver medalist in the recently concluded International Ballet Competition, Candice Adea, as Maria Clara; Kit Trofeo, Angel Gabriel, and Carissa Adea lead the cast. The BP touring group also includes Bacolod’s Macel Dofitas.

This production is Ballet Philippines’ second offering for its 41st season, Hero’s Journey. An excellent artistic and educational supplement for students taking Filipino and Rizal classes, Crisostomo Ibarra brings together history and ballet in this new interpretation of the novel that shaped a nation. Crisostomo Ibarra is a winner for Outstanding Dance Production and Outstanding Ensemble Performance in the upcoming 2010 Gawad Buhay Awards for the Performing Arts.

Tickets of P1000, P500, P300 and P100 are available at the Negros Museum 708-5080, MMB Dance Center 707-7164, Lydia Gaston School of Dance 453-0226, The Garcia-Sanchez School of Dance 434-8139 and Dance Pull Dance School 456-1291. Students will be given 30% discount and bulk purchases can avail of special discounts also.  (PR)

The Gardens at Ayala North Point opens to your senses and caress your soul with nature’s gifts.  Amidst the grand residences of Ayala North Point are four garden sanctuaries Aroma, Vista, Terra, and Aria.

The Aroma garden brings tranquility with the scent of its lush dewy flowers and fruit trees. Walking through Aroma is a spa for the soul and an experience that is truly invigorating.

Located one block across the Aroma garden lays the Vista garden.  Vista could be the entryway to a jogger’s trail.  A perfect place to start a sprint, Vista has a vibrant landscaping and a pathway lined with trees and shrubs.

Towards the east of Vista is another haven, the Terra garden. The surge of energy flows through every corner of the garden. Here, nature is the architect with various curves and textures which serve as a feast for the senses.

At the eastern tip of the Ayala North Point residences is the Aria garden.  A place dedicated to refresh the mind.  Aria is a reminder of the simple yet more important things in life and the blessings of the gifts of nature.  Distanced from the residential area, Aria is a private garden that soothes and calms the mind with the gentle tunes of nature.

The gardens of the Ayala North Point are gifts of nature and a gift to the Ayala North Point community.  Share this gift and be part of the neighbourhood in Ayala North Point.

To be part of this exclusive community, please contact the Ayala Land Sales Team for site tours and inquiries at 63(34) 7088900-02.  More details can also be found at the website, www.ayalanorthpoint.com.  (PR)

Negros Navigation (NN) and SuperFerry open its nationwide Crazy Tawad Sale with tickets sold at P200 for all of its ports of destination.

The promo is available from June 22 to June 27 for trips scheduled from July 19 to July 31.

NN and SuperFerry, as part of a bigger company, have started to seek
ways that will offer the best to its customers.

This June, the two brands launched its Sayaw-oke Caravan: Bida ng Biyahe, that travels to different ports around the country to introduce both NN and SuperFerry’s services as part of one bigger company.

For each stop, there will be videoke challenges and dance competitions, while special promos on tickets are being offered.

“Our base fare of P200 makes a great travel option compared to other alternatives. Both Negros Navigation and SuperFerry will continue to provide better promo offerings for passengers, ang tunay na star ng biyahe”, said Stephen Tagud, NN and SuperFerry Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

For more information, customers may call Negros Navigation hotline 708-1202 and 441-0652 to 53. You may also visit www.negrosnavigation.ph or www.superferry.com.ph.

NN and SuperFerry are owned and operated by the Negros Navigation Company, Inc.  (PR)

Negros Bloggers will host this year’s Visayas Blog Awards (VBA) this coming  November 12, 2011 at the “Ruins” in Talisay City showcasing the Visayans’ “vibrant mix of persuasions and personalities”.

Short for the word “Weblog”, a blog is an online journal of all ideas which  could include texts, videos, photos, music, and all kinds of entries which an  internet is capable and those who are into blogging are called “bloggers”.

Here in Negros Occidental, the “Negros Bloggers” was organized two years ago  and is now ready to host such a momentous event that would signal its active  involvement in the world’s borderless “virtual network” community.

To be held in Talisay at the 19th century “Ruins” of a mansion built by Don  Mariano Lacson and his wife Maria Braga, the first of its kind awarding event,  the VBA will beam this great Negros Occidental architectural feat to the  blogging community from Luzon down to Mindanao and to the unimaginable number of  bloggers all over the world.

Likewise, the VBA will bring out all sorts of blogsites and niches created by  the Visayan blogging community showcasing hundreds and hundreds of indigenous  topics developed by each blogger.

A preliminary seminar on relevant topics, meanwhile, will be held this  September 3, 2011 in preparation for the forthcoming VBA Night in November.  –  Gil Severino

Last May 30, 2011, the remaining founders of Negros Bloggers (NB) along with active online writers gathered for a fellowship dinner in commemoration of the 2nd anniversary of NB at Alice’s Recipes in Bacolod City.

The light ambiance of the joint sparked the getting-to-know each other conversation before our respective orders were served. Not much has been discussed on the meet-up but we agreed to organize a blogging event this year. Along this line, we are pushing to make a legal personality on our group so we may not be tagged as bogus or sham.

This endeavor is not a walk at the public plaza and a few cents of your ideas will be needed for this to be successful.

Present at the fellowship dinner were (seated) May Castro, Glady Tomulto, Elena Pineda-Gatanela, (standing) Maricar Dabao, Eli Gatanela, Jeff Caceres, Peter Yap, Gil Severino, and me.

The 18th Panaad sa Negros Festival or popularly known as “Panaad Festival”, is held annually during the last week of March until the first week of April in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. But this year, the festival will open today, April 4 until Saturday, April 9 at the Panaad Park & Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, this city.

Former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who has his roots in Bago City will be the guest of honor and speaker in the opening ceremony. Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. will give their respective messages during the program.

World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes, a Murciahanon native is also expected to grace the ceremony later this afternoon. He is now moving up in the junior flyweight division and held his public workout yesterday to further promote his fight against a Mexican this Saturday.

Thirty two towns and cities are pumped up for the week-long Panaad festivities to showcase the best of its products, places, tourism, and more. Below are the schedule of happenings at the festival site.

April 04, Monday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad with Ching’s Group (Football Field)
7:30AM   Boxing (weigh-in) — Panaad Cabanas
8:00AM   Panaad Thanksgiving Mass (2F Stadium)
               Chess (Stadium VIP Room)
9:00AM   Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for:
               Panaad Tourism & Trade Fair @ LGU Pavilions*
               Negros’ Best Products Display, NOTLDC (2F Stadium, North Wing)*
               Negros First Food Security Fair (GF Stadium, North Wing)*
               Livestock & Dairy Products Fair (GF Stadium, North Wing)*
               Festival Costumes Exhibit & Competition (GF Stadium, South Wing)*
               Eco-Garden & Wellness Show (south area across Candoni Booth)*
               Environmental Information Advocacy (2F Panaad Stadium)*
               3rd Annual Panaad Motor Show UNIMFED (Cabanas)*
       *Daily Activities
2:00PM   Championship, Panaad Bulang (Panaad Covered Court)
               Boxing Cabanas
3:00PM   Motorcade & LGU Floats Competition (Provincial Capitol to Panaad Park)
4:00PM   Opening Ceremony & Festival Dance Competition (Stadium)
7:00PM   KBP-SMC Broadcasters Night (Food & Drinks Alley)
8:00PM   GMA “Kapuso” Show (Stadium)
               Fireworks Display
April 05, Tuesday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Football Field)
7:00AM   Athletics (Panaad Field)
8:00AM   Swimming (Panaad Swimming Complex)
               Chess (Stadium VIP Room)
2:00PM   Boxing (Panaad Cabanas)
4:00PM   NOPSSCEA Cultural Show (Stadium)
5:00PM   RAMIZ Young Singers of Negros (Panaad Stadium)
6:00PM   Negros Pop Music Festival – Composo / Pop Song Writing Competition (Stadium)
7:00PM   RMN Panaad Hip Hop Challenge (Panaad Park Stage)
April 06, Wednesday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Football Field)
7:00AM   Athletics (Panaad Field)
8:00AM   Swimming (Panaad Swimming Complex)
               Chess (Stadium VIP Room)
               UPLBAA Annual Panaad Seminar (Provincial Capitol Building)
               Panaad Long Board Push Race & Game of Skate with Killer Bee, Free Energy Coop & Bacolod Skateboarders
               (Panaad Covered Court)
9:00AM   Latin Dance Sport – Elimination Round (NOMPAC Gym)
1:00PM   Drum & Bugle Competition, Secondary Level (Football Field)
2:00PM   Boxing (Panaad Cabanas)
               3rd Annual Panaad Motor Show UNIMFED (Park Stage)
3:00PM   Latin Dance Sport – Adult, Senior & Juvenile Categories (NOMPAC Gym)
8:00PM   UNILIVER “POP FIESTA” (Stadium)
April 07, Thursday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Football Field)
7:00AM   Athletics (Panaad Field)
8:00AM   TESDA Livelihood Skills Olympics (Covered Court)
9:00AM   Taekwondo – weigh-in (2F South Wing, Stadium)
1:00PM   Taekwondo (Panaad South Wing, Center Stage Stadium)
2:00PM   Boxing (Cabanas)
3:00PM   Animo Puppet Theater Group – PEMO (Park Stage)
5:00PM   Negrense / Ilonggo Folk Dance Competition (Stadium)
9:00PM   Technical Rehearsal, Lin-ay sang Negros (Stadium)
               MOR Local Stock – Ilonggo Music Fest (Park Stage)
April 08, Friday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Football Field)
               Mambukal Team Relay w/ Provincial Sports Office & Gatorade
8:00AM   Taekwondo (Panaad South Wing, Center Stage Stadium)
1:00PM    Provincial Capitol Employees’ Day (Covered Court)
2:00PM    Boxing (Cabanas)
4:00PM    Bingo by Globe (Park Stage)
7:00PM    Globe Night (Park Stage)
8:00PM   “Search for Lin-ay sang Negros 2011? Pageant (Stadium)
April 09, Saturday
6:00AM   Hataw sa Panaad w/ Ching’s Group (Football Field)
               Murcia – Panaad Run w/ Provincial Sports Office & Gatorade
               Lion’s Club Fun Run
8:00AM   Farmer’s Day Celebration & Farmers Forum (Covered Court)
3:00PM   Closing Ceremony w/ Awarding & Presentation of Winners (Stadium)
7:00PM   Pasidungog sa Mangunguma, Mangingisda kag Manugsagod Sapat (OPA / PVO / ABS-CBN) (Panaad Stadium)
               NPC Media Night (Balay Kalamay)
9:00PM   ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Fiesta Caravan (Panaad Stadium)
               Fireworks Competition with ABS-CBN

Barangay Punta Taytay headed by its chieftain Rufino Alcala along with his kagawads kicked off its week-long 50th Charter Celebration with a community parade around the major thoroughfares of the village and neighboring barangay in Bacolod City yesterday.

Punta Taytay is a coastal barangay, which is a flat lowland situated in the southern most part of the city and approximately 76.16 hectares wide. It’s one of the fishing villages in Bacolod gifted with a beautiful shoreline and abundant marine resources that is maintained with a regular clean-up by its local community.

Originally, the village has 15 puroks until the influx of local citizens from nearby barangays and even municipalities decided reside in Punta Taytay which increased the population. This made the barangay officials that time to create more puroks to deliver the much needed basic purposes to the community.

Now, Brgy Punta Taytay has 17 puroks – Seawall, Masipag, Mabinuligon, Maabi-abihon, Mahinangpanon, Masinulundon, Katilingbon, Makawiwili, Paraiso, Orchids, Bayanihan I & II, Kapawa, Manga, Kaingin I & II, and Maki-angayon – to effectively be governed under the leadership of Brgy Captain Alcala.

Meanwhile, the schedule of activities for today are Bingo Social (BHW) at 1 PM and Dinner for a Cause with a Live Band at 6 PM, all will be held at the Barangay Gym.

The rest of the activities are as follows: tomorrow, Wednesday – Dental & Blood-letting at 9 AM and Chess Tournament (Finals) at 5 PM, Barangay Gym; March 17, Thursday – Thanksgiving Mass at 7 AM, Awarding Ceremonies at 9:30 AM, Barangay General Assembly at 2 PM, and Benefit Dance (Tricycle Association) at 8 PM, Barangay Gym; March 18, Friday – Parade of Contestants for Body Shot at 8 AM in Barangay Gym, Lusok in Villa Palma & Body Painting in Higad Baybay at 2 PM, Body Shot Pre-Pageant in Higad Baybay at 3 PM, and Body Shot Finals & Coronation of Miss Charter Day in Higad Baybay at 8 PM;

Saturday, March 19 – Parade & Opening of Palarong Pambarangay (SK) in Barangay Gym at 8 AM, Lusok at 2 PM, Amazing Race at 3 PM, and Battle of the Bands in Barangay Gym at 8 PM; and Sunday, March 10 – Patik Patik Streetdance Competition in Purok Maki-angayon at 1 PM, Lusok at 2 PM, and Live Band in Barangay Gym at 8 PM.

The Negros Bloggers (NB) group covered festivals in the cities of Bago and Bacolod recently. It was a memorable experience for me since I will be blogging about the festivities for the first time.

Last Saturday, February 19 was the highlight of the 45th charter celebration of Bago and we witnessed the colorful costumes of Babaylan streetdance participants strutting to the beat of indigenous musical instruments mostly made in bamboo. The babaylan festival is on its 14th year and growing stronger, which is evident in the support given by the community through sponsorships. We commend the city government for the successful celebration, the hospitality given to the NB members, and for the souvenir mugs.

In Bacolod, the Chinese community ushered the Chinese New Year with its own celebration called BacoLaodiat Festival last February 3-6, 2011 – Year of the Rabbit. The festival name came about from the word Bacolod, which was shortened to “Baco” and a Fookien term “Laodiat”, which means celebration, thus BacoLaodiat was born. One of my memorable recollection was the lights and sparks spectacle during the first day that I spent with someone close to my heart. And another one, the live mannequin models dressed in Chinese costumes atop an improvised riser along the Lacson strip. The NB team was grateful to the Bacolaodiat secretariat for “hopping” us an invitation.

By the way, I’m James Toga - appointed president of NB late last year. I don’t have an active blog just yet since I’m a newbie in blogging but for now, I have been given an access to post it here and news that matters around Negros island.