Semester Break Escapade Part 3: Mambukal Resort

Another hour of road trip, this time to Murcia, Negros Occidental for our overnight stay at Mambukal Resort. We had to pay a 50 pesos entrance for each person before entering the resort.

Mambukal Entrance Sign

Our accommodation is a villa with 4 beds, a bathroom, and a CR. Shortly after arriving, we unpacked and had our dinner. The food was so good and cheap, and the service instantaneous. Starving as I was before the meal, I was so full afterwards that sleep is a good option.

Sulfur Hot Spring

But before we hit the sack, we decided to take a dip on the Hot Spring first. Good thing its’ already late, there are a few persons around and we have the pool almost to ourselves. On the sides, they provide some cold water spouts if you want to relieve yourself from the warmth of the pool. There is also a mini fountain where the hot water flows into the pool. The water is also hotter there. The hot spring boasts of a 38 to 45 degrees Celsius temperature and delivers.

At 10:00 PM, the pool closes. We showered and dressed, played some cards and drink some tequila before turning in for the night.


Early on the next day, at 7:30 AM after a breakfast of sandwiches, we trekked on to the 7^th falls advertised as one of the to-do things when in Mambukal. Before the climb, we passed by the area where the bats roost at the day, and some are really large. This is also one of the activities offered by the resort: Bat Watching.

Lone Bat at Dawn

It was a very steep climb with rocks and trees, the only things surrounding you for hours. Oh, and the occasional bats, when they were disturbed by other trekkers. But the breathtaking falls on every stop make it worth the climb.

trek to the 7th falls

2nd Falls

Rest stop on the 5th and 6th falls

7th Falls Swim

At the 7^th, we rested for a while and had a falls massage. This is my 2^nd time on Mambukal but the falls is really preserved and protected. The water very clear and cool. We also refilled our water containers for the climb down. On the way down, we use a different route which was not as steep as the way of the falls. The trek was only for 2 ½ hours and we paid the guide 500 pesos.

Upon arriving at the resort, we directly took a dip at the hot spring again. This, by the way, comes free with the accommodation we have. The hot spring or the swimming pool are the choices.

After 30 minutes or so on the pool, we decided to shower and change and also check out of the villa. We had our lunch at the restaurant and it was a banquet. Well, with all those things we ordered, it certainly looked and felt like one. We had pork, scallops, pancit guisado, fish and a lot of rice plus drinks. And there were only 11 of us eating and we consumed everything in sight. After the meal, we did a little sightseeing like buying flowers and plants.

Boating Pond

Mambukal also offers boating, slide for life and wall climbing. We were not able to do this things, but we just visited the butterfly garden for the souvenirs and other stuffs.

Then we have the ride back to Bacolod City. We passed by a Tanduay Distillery, San Miguel Brewery and the Coca-Cola Plant which we did not see on the way to.

At Bacolod City, we stopped by Merci to buy some pasalubong. Then off to Bacolod Port for the journey home on the 5:15 PM trip on the Ocean Jet Ferry again. At 7:00 PM we are back on Iloilo City with a welcome of a pouring rain.

That’s end of the journey for my Semester Break escapade. Now off to write about our previous trips.

Part 1
Part 2

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Paraw Regatta Adventures!!!

Paraws reflected in the water

Paraw Regatta Competition held every third Sunday of  February near Tatoy's Manokan and Seafood Restaurant is a yearly tradition in celebration of the use of Paraw when settlers found their way to the shores of Iloilo. It began in 1973 as a half-day event but has now blossomed into a weeklong celebration with different events.

This is actually my first time watching the Paraw Regatta competition. We arrived at about 8:30 in the morning to a shore full of people from every corner of the world it seems. Of course, the majority of the watchers are Ilonggos. We do not want to miss the biggest sailboat competition in Asia now, don't we? Given that it's happening right outside our doors.

Panorama Shot of all Paraws

We walked from one end of the shoreline to the other where the paraws are gathered. We took pictures of every sail design and took pictures with the sail design that caught our attention. There were some familiar ones like Son Goku and Dora, traditional ones like the Anito and Miagao Church, weird ones, very detailed sail designs majority of which depicts the life of a fisherman and life at sea in general. So we have art forms of dolphins, whales, sharks, and lots of turtles. Painting of the sail/sail design is also a different competition as part of the Paraw Regatta events.

Paraws on the beach

At 9, the coast guard started asking the people to leave the beach lines because the race is about to start and they don't want the crowd to press to the racers. Space is needed but some photographers are left to document the start of the race. But it's better to watch the race from far off because you will really appreciate the view of the sail and not mind the hard work put in by the people who make it float. There are 3 categories in all, and all of them will be sailing from Punta Villa to Guimaras Strait and back again. The race will end when the sailboats returns and it won't be until late afternoon.

Category B starting the race

After sending off the racers, we also left the shore to go somewhere else to eat. We ended up in the city because most of the popular restos near the shores are overcrowded with people who witnessed the send-off and will be waiting for the return of the sailors.

Category C starting the race

For my first Paraw, it was quite good. I did not mind the heat much and I acquired a good tan. I also enjoyed critiquing the designs and highly recommend that future Paraw designers use bright colors in their design because the dark ones may look good up close but when the sailboats are in the middle of the ocean, the design cannot be appreciated really. So please make sure that you use bright colors, please!? There were also some Paraws whose design are in the back, it cannot be seen from shore when they went off to race nor it can be seen when the sailboat is ashore. Too bad because they are really good design and would look really good from afar. So I think painters should be mindful of this in the future, or just totally design both sides to make it look like a vinta.

Off to Guimaras

There are also foreigners who are really into this that some of them are really filming the whole thing. I am not quite sure if they are simply vlogging or its really for news purposes because they have a boom mic and everything. So maybe. Others also posed for photos for teens who asked them. They are really into it also because they never failed to smile when asked, and they were asked a couple of times. :D

But the people who enjoyed the event the most were the little kids. they were frolicking in the water all throughout. From the time I arrived until after the send-off.

Kids frolicking before the start of the race

I hope the photographers and videographers had great pictures and videos after all the effort they made just to get the correct angles. So kudos to these persons that made Paraw Regatta event look stunning in print and media and social media.

The things photographers do for their craft

To the drones, as well. Great Flying!!!

One of the many many drones

And to all the Sponsors. Thanks as well for making this event possible. :D

Off to Guimaras as well, Happy Paraw!

If you plan to attend Paraw Regatta next year, please come prepared.

• Wear beach-worthy clothing that is not a bikini or swimwear.
• Wear slippers because you will wade in the water.
• Put on some sunscreen.
• Bring a cap or an umbrella.
• Bring water or money to buy water and food.
• Be prepared to wait because the race waits for the high tide or at least the dignitaries before they begin :D

Photo credits to @maikelsabido @Whereisfrances @elzniv

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!