This year, we purposely went to Bacolod one day earlier than everyone else. We wanted to explore the city. Six years of going to the city and we knew there were treasures we have yet to discover. Here's one of them:

The Ruins, Talisay

Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, a sugar baron, had this mansion built after his wife Maria Braga died while pregnant with their 11th child. 

The mansion was deliberately burned down by the Filipino guerrillas to prevent the Japanese army from making it into a fortress.

The best time for a visit should be towards late afternoon. Dusk paints an even more dramatic picture of the ruins...

Summer began as soon as the kids got off from school. It's that year once again, when we take a road trip to Bacolod. My has 2 years made a great difference! The trip actually became shorter as the roads had been fixed. Now 4 lanes instead of the old 2. The trees are in bloom too!!! Glorious glorious trees!!!

So what's the first stop when in Bacolod?

Calea, of course!!!

Next stop, The Negros Showroom. We get all our pasalubongs here. And some for our own household.

The visit wouldn't be complete if we don't get to eat at Bob's. Our all-time fave in the city...

At Virgie's...

See how majestic the trees are! No filter used!

Wow Argao.

Last time I set foot in this church in the South was during a town fiesta back in 1986. It is as beautiful as ever...

The door to the Hall of Justice welcomes visitors. As soon as I stepped inside it was me back in the offices of my mom when I was a toddler...

The office counters.

Original steps on the stairs...

Massive space...

Old mailboxes!

"Handumanan" means souvenir.

Walls

"Bantay Hari". A watch tower. The way up was very steep, short but steep. Too close. I started going up. But my shoulder suddenly touched the wall I kinda chickened out and ran down. Ahihihi a pity I didnt reach the top.

Lovely...

So ok, Borgy, you're pic is up first on this blog coz it's your birthday today! Ahihihi

Photo taken during our sunrise shoot at the plaza in Naga

Of course I could not not take photos of my friends...

Doctor Ann taking a break at the Carcar market

Ann on the monument in Carcar

Icky at the beach house in Alcoy

Gail at the beach house in Alcoy

Jeremiah at the beach house, sitting under a shade of leaves which gave me a beautiful diffused noontime light...

Lulu during the sunrise shoot.

Thank YOU Boss.

Thank You for wonderful friends.

Oslob. 117kms from Cebu City.

Magnificent old church.

In March 2008 the convent was gutted by an 8-hour fire. It was devastating to see centuries old church go down like that. We were greeted with the ruins.

Simply beautiful.

The sight of it brings me to another place and time...

The watch tower. Crenellated walls to keep away the Moro invaders.

If in Cebu one must take the time to go down south.