A tower of passion and life-suport...
SWEETER THAN ANY SUGAR…
I know what’s on your mind right now. Let me guess. You are thinking of desserts and sweet cuisine, aren’t you? Well, this might disappoint you, but you’ve got a wrong guess. Ideally, this blog post is intended for something not just about any sugar cane spread mostly all over the so-called “ Sugar Capital of the Philippines”. Nevertheless it is about something deeper and much more meaningful. For me,it is greater than any sack of sugar sold for a million dollars and more important than any city in this world. What I am trying to pull out is their sanctuaries of art, religion, and history.
You may think that I am a bit childish with what I am going to say, but honestly, when I heard that there will be a heritage tour across famous sites in Negros Occidental, immediately my heart leaped for joy. As I get older, I began to be fond of explorations particularly those of about history and each unique culture. I am always fascinated by the bizarre bravery of our forefathers who are responsible of what we are enjoying right now and the diverse characteristics of a specific group of people.
Early in the morning, 4th of June, I ate breakfast after which I took pictures of my friends before the bus went on . By the way, the tour was made possible through the efforts of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in our Camp Blog. As minutes passed by, Tito Ver Pacete – our tour guide, introduced himself. I got high expectations of the tour after listening to his informative introductory talk. We’ve had our destinations of diverse famous sites in Negros Occidental…
Balay Negrense Museum
This is our first stop, the museum in Silay City, along the Cinco de Noviembre Street that has stood for almost two centuries, built for cradling the clan of Don Victor Leopald Gaston y Fernandez. This precious structure is passed on from generation to generation. It is,according to the sign in front of the museum is not only the residence of the “Gastons” but also a home for the Negrenses as well.
Personally, the museum left an amazing impression on me because of its significant idea welcoming everyone whoever you are (Not to the Negrenses only). This was a worth remembering site for its beauty and historical sense.
Ramon Hofileña Ancestral Home
Tito Mon’s house, situated in Silay City, for me is not only a 76 year-old structure built to be used as a house ; but also, a house of art forms and the like. He has the possession of priceless art forms and gems of knowledge about the history as well. It is the first ancestral house opened to the public.
From here, I have learned a lot particularly in the field of culture, the arts and the Philippine history. He has a good story-telling skills that provides us to know things that are really new to us. His collection are so priceless that no piece of diamond can replace them.
St. Joseph the Worker Church
This church in Victorias City is extremely unique for its varied interpretations of the Christian belief. Artistically-made for the beautification and certain distinctiveness of the church. Highlights Filipino-style sculptures and paintings, obviously seen in the “Stations of the Church” and statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the Worker. Also, here is the famous painting of the “Angry Christ” behind the altar and “ The last Supper” at the back.
Though it is a really new style of church to me, I can still feel the presence of God coming out of the art forms found inside the church. I was amazed by the idea of the Filipino-style sculptures and painting because of its strong connection to our culture.
Chapel of Cartwheels
This church in Victorias City is very indigenous and creative. Cleverly put up by the people who resides nearby led by Msgr. Gaston through the use of the materials found in the place. Some significant symbolisms can be identified here, an example is the non-parallel continuation of the roof at the upper part inside the church, which personifies the imperfection of the world where we’re living.
Like the St. Joseph the Worker Church, I too, was astonished by this bizarre work of art, also, I felt God’s presence from there. I was amazed more by the cultural ideas assembled into it.
The Ruins
This almost century-old mansion located in Victorias City was built out of love, hard work , and eggs…(used just to create a marble-like surface of the mansion). This was built in honor of Don Ramon Lacson’s first wife, Maria Braga (can be seen from the inverted “M”’s
sculpted in every dimension of the mansion). It is built through the skills of the people nearby. It is said to be magical at 5:30 p.m., (because of its shiny surface, due to the eggs); a typical mansion with a fountain and wide lawn. Sadly, it has to be burned down so that, it won’t be a headquarters to the Japanese during the war. Preserved through time, its beauty was maintained and recently was opened to the public.
I enjoyed my stay in the wide lawn here, where we took pictures and enjoyed the sweet blueberries at the side. Also, I was fascinated by the interesting facts about the house and its historical significance .
- Mansion of Love and Eggs
Ah…these are only but a few of the destinations we’ve gone to. All of these are beautiful , and going to be more, if we will just preserve them …
A fascinating cube is never complete with just a facade. Never also, a book can be credible enough with just a glimpse on its cover. Moreover, a country’s development can’t be what it is by today by just a singular aspect. Anything won’t be of it is with just one thing; however, each piece is valuable and essential for the completion of another. Every component is important like our culture and history , both are only but a piece but of them lingers in the development of our country’s society. In other words, we have to preserve our culture and history, for we may not know the true benefits of those remarkable things for our future.
A SILAYNON’S STORY
Do you want to know the way to Silay City? Its history? Its culture? Its arts?
These are but some of the questions nagging my mind since I was here. June 6, afternoon, Mr. Ver Pacete discussed something not only about Negros Occidental but also the entire Silay City.
History Of Silay City
Etymology
- carobcob (Spn. scratch)
- Kansilay (18th century)
Early Inhabitants
- Negritoes/ Ati (1565) – lived in mountain areas
- Indonesians (from Indonesia) – lived in villages
- Malays (from Borneo, led by Datu Puti)
Spanish Era
- declared as a town (late 18th century)
- declared as the center of the parish (late 18th century)
- sugarcane industry was introduced by Yves Leopold Germain y Gaston (1896)
- Papa Dionisio Seguela ( a babaylan) led a revolution against landlords and Spaniards
- Cinco de Noviembre revolution started, Filipinos led by the Ilustrados win a bloodless revolution (1898)
American Era
- war broke out between Americans and Filipinos (1899, Feb.)
- Negros welcomed the Americans (1899, July)
- Melecio Severino was elected First civil governor (1899, Oct.)
Japanese Era
- Japanese Imperial Army landed in Negros (1942, May)
- American planes bombed Negros (1944, Sept.)
- Allied forces landed in Negros (1945, March)
- Japanese Imperial Army retreated to Patag in Silay (1945, March)
- Lt. Gen. Takaishi Kono officially surrendered (1945, Aug.)
City Formation
- Silay turned into city by R.A. 1621
Arts and Culture of Silay City
Silaynons have their own share in the field of arts and culture. According to Mr. Pacete, Silaynons are/has:
- calm and have a positive outlook in life
- very hardworking
- believers of supernatural creatures
- Catholics
- active in parties and other social gatherings
- born artists in every aspect
- a lifestyle closely related with their occupation (sugarcane planting)
- rich literature of the Hiligaynon language
Little by little, I was educated by these facts. Bit by bit I can conclude that…the more I look back; the more I can understand what today is all about, the more I take care of the future.
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