Lifestyle

The annual town fiesta of Isabela town drew a crowd of 12,000 at the Isabela public plaza to cap the celebration on April 23.On the last day of Kinalipay sa Isabela, townsfolk and its visitors from across the Philippines and even abroad feast with delight at the last events and activities up until the dawn of Sunday.The week-long celebration made a return after two years of hiatus because of the pandemic, and the first fiesta held during the administration of Mayor Irene Consunji-Montilla.Tourism OIC Jacel Jane Pineda said, “we have seen the hope to celebrate as Negros Occidental downgraded to Alert Level 2, which allows a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 70% outdoor venue capacity.”She added that this year’s celebration listed ...

Capitol photoA Negros Occidental provincial government scholar from the Bukidnon Tribe of Don Salvador Benedicto town recently graduated summa cum laude.Jim John Tolentino, 28, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management degree from Central Philippine State University (CPSU) – San Carlos Campus, recently.Tolentino ranked No. 1 among the graduates with General Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.21.He is also a leadership awardee as Supreme Student Government president and was given the distinction for Best in On-the-Job Training (OJT).He gave the valedictory address during the 71st Virtual Commencement Program, an online-held graduation ceremony as it gathered 10 CPSU campuses in the province.In his valedictory address, he expressed his gratitude...

Dr. Nenette Nava, Pablita Nava, Patty Jane Ong, Chrysee Samillano, Svet Sevilleno, Amy Ong, Juliet Emperado, Roy Aguilar and Miriam Bayles (l-r) at the opening of the group art exhibit in Talisay City Sunday, April 17.The Christian Artists National Various Arts Society (CANVAS) recently held a group art exhibit in partnership with Babayi Art Group at the gallery of Pablita Nava in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.Titled “Lilies of Resurrection II,” the exhibit will run until May 17 and features the works of visual artists Miriam Bayles, Daniel Bayles, Elijah Bayles, Jasper Bayles, Karen Bayles, Nimshi Badrina, Arthalia Grace Bernas, Angelo Emperado, Juliet Emperado, Konica Tracy Faustino, Pablita Nava, Amy Ong, Patty Jane Ong, Roberto Sumugat, Jr, Karlota Sumugat and Chrysee Samill...

Dr. Crispin C. Maslog and his book: “Jokes Only: A Book on Duterteisms”.A new book, “Jokes Only: A Book on Duterteisms”, self-published by a former journalist and journalism professor has just come off the press.The book about the jokes of President Rodrigo Duterte is written by Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, a former journalist with Agence France-Presse and journalism professor of Silliman University in Dumaguete City and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.The book contains 64 jokes that Duterte told during his campaign for the presidency in 2016 and in the next five years, during his press conferences and public engagements, Maslog said Wednesday, March 30.“Remember those days? It was governance by shock and awe. He spewed the language of the streets, as he ordered his p...

Homegrown illustrator and watercolor artist Edbon Sevilleno was the featured artist at "Kape Pinta?"It is an eco-conscious art workshop spearheaded by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime).In keeping with the goal to encourage consumers to explore sustainable options, spent coffee grounds provided by local businesses Kape PinTa, Coffee Colony, Coffee Guys, Starbucks, Kuppa, C's by L'Fisher, and Felicia's were used in the sessions.Art lovers were also able to enjoy the work of Sevilleno at "Sugar & Smiles: the Negrense Legacy Beyond 2020," a parallel art exhibit organized by SM Bacolod in celebration of National Arts Month.A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Kalipay Negrense Foundation.Both events are part of "Connecting Today to Tomorrow," ...

Margarita Araneta Forés serves modern Italian cuisine at her Cibo restaurant in Bacolod City.*CPG photoNegrense Margarita Araneta Forés, who has been named Asia's Best Female Chef, has opened her 17th Cibo branch, which serves Italian cuisine, at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City.It is also the first Cibo restaurant outside Metro Manila.Forés, who has roots in Bago City, said they are so happy that they opened in Bacolod because of the overwhelming customer response.Forés said 60 percent of the ingredients at her Bacolod restaurant are sourced from Negros Occidental.“The only things that are irreplaceable for us are the parmesan cheese, the good Italian olive oil, some of the cured meats and the pasta from Italy,” she said.Ninety percent of their staff a...

The LGBTQ+ Community – Victorias City Chapter officers and members with the 15 Festival Queen contestants waving their rainbow flags in front of the Victorias City Hall before the caravan.*Councilors Audie Malaga, Hermie Millan, Nity Sta-Ana Bartolome, Daylen Tornea, Virgie Adorio, Provincial Board Member Juvy Pepello, councilor and vice-mayoralty candidate JunB Bantug, candidate for councilor Danilo De Asis, and councilors Dexter Senido and Derek Palanca (l-r) at the Red carpet photobooth (entrance) held at the City Coliseum .Volleyball game at the Villa Victorias Covered Court*The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) sector of Victorias City recently held the “Victorias Pride 2022: A Vibrant Celebration of LGBTs’ Powerhouse Through Arts and Culture”.Team Asenso V...

By Easter Anne DozaThe Negros Museum stands tall with BAO, icon of TNM, withstanding the tests of time including the pandemic.*The Negros Cultural Foundation (NCF) Inc. and The Negros Museum (TNM) – the seat and mover of Negrense culture and arts, respectively, celebrate their anniversaries this March.The NCF Inc. celebrates its Jade (35th) anniversary on March 28 while TNM celebrates its Silver (25th) anniversary on March 16.Tanya Lopez, Executive Director of TNM, said the celebration looks back to the years and recalls how the organization remained steadfast amidst the hurdles brought by time and significantly, the pandemic.“This serves as a commemoration of all the milestones achieved and the rebirth of the organization as it takes on new forms of creative connection...

“Mixed Signals 6100” is an exhibit featuring 26 seasoned and upcoming Negrense artists in more than 100 recent artworks (2021-2022).Their subjects include the Negros landscape, daily life, people, flora and fauna, contemporary and abstract expressions in several mediums to include watercolor, oil, acrylic, coffee, terra cotta, and mosaic.This month-long exhibit from February 1-28, 2022 is Artfull Gallery’s celebration of the National Arts Month.*Mixed Signals 6100 in celebration of the National Arts MonthMixed Signals 6100 in celebration of the National Arts MonthArtworks by Rodney Martinez and son MichaelYoung artist Yara Sevilleno takes on funky subjectsArtists sketching the artist25-minute sketch of Silaynon sculptor Ian Valladarez by Edbon SevillenoPalupad Burador of Basta...

Artfull Art Gallery and Café26 seasoned and upcoming Negrense artists are joining Artfull Gallery in a month-long exhibit called “Mixed Signals 6100” in Bacolod City, from February 1-28, as part of the National Arts Month celebration.The exhibit will feature more than 100 recent artworks (2021-2022) with subjects such as Negros landscapes, daily life, flora and fauna, people, contemporary, and abstract expressed in all mediums like watercolors, oil, acrylic, coffee, terra cotta, and mosaic.“We have invited different artists to celebrate this year’s arts month because we believe that our Negrosanon artists are continuously cultivating their craft. We, as artists in Negros, are producing many works in whatever global or economic weather we are in,” Artfull’s art director and crea...