Ever wonder of a place that suits everything you need without the hassle of long hours of traveling and without spending a large sum of daily expenses? San Carlos City in Negros Occidental in the Philippines is the place to be. I visited this city last year because a good friend is currently working there. I told her that I was planning to go home to Iloilo (my home province) by land. Traveling by land means that I will take multiple buses and boats to get to my destination. My friend gave me instructions on how to board the ferry from Toledo City. I also searched in the web for directions for my commute from the airport to Toledo City.
How to get to San Carlos City from Mactan-Cebu International Airport?
For an affordable fare, I took the MyBus (Airport bus) from the Airport to SM City Cebu, which costs 50 pesos or 1 dollar. Since I am not familiar with the jeepney route in Cebu City, I took a grab car, which costs almost 200 pesos going to South Bus Terminal. Then, I hopped into the Ceres bus, which was headed in Toledo City. The bus ride is 80 pesos. The route took two hours due to the heavy rush of morning traffic, but people who have private vehicles can reach it for an hour and a half. Upon reaching Toledo City, I needed to take the ferry for an hour from Toledo City wharf to San Carlos. The ferry fare is 225 pesos for one passenger.
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| Ferry heading to San Carlos City. |
Upon reaching San Carlos City, I am awed by the tranquility and the laid-back atmosphere. I am transported to a magical and completely slow way of life. I arrived there at 12:30 PM so it is a perfect time for lunch. My friends, Julie and Ate Weng welcomed me warmly and took me out for lunch. Crossing the strait means I am closer to my heritage. Our lunch is the authentic Ilonggo lunch: Native Chicken Tinola, Adobong Takway (stolon of taro plant in a marinade in adobo sauce), and grilled pork.
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| You can never go wrong with Native Chicken Tinola. |
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| Adobong Takway (Stolon of Taro), Grilled Pork and Beef Steak are perfect side dishes. During our lunch, we ate heartily while discussing life in this city. My friends took care of my itinerary in this city since I was there for only a day and a half. Since I wanted to experience the place without spending too much, my friend generously invited me to stay at their place. I am ecstatic to be there because the place is beautiful, majestic, placid, and surprisingly tidy. I may not be able to reiterate everything that I did there, but I will discuss the highlights of my trip. The Boulevard The sunset is fantastic. The sound of the waves is heartwarming. The sky is God's wonderful painting. The people are enjoying the lovely atmosphere. The smell of the barbecues is inviting. The vibe of the place is nothing but pure serenity.   Dinner means eating together with the locals.   A Rural City Belonging to the category of a component City, San Carlos is a different realm. It has bungalow-shaped malls and shopping centers where people can get commodities and supplies. It has McDonald's, Jollibee, and other fast-food chains. However, the homey vibe isn't sacrificed at all. There is still that buzzing public market packed with people who are chatting and hustling everywhere. The natural calm of the picnic parks which attract families to spend quality time by sitting on the grass and grilling good food. The local government allows people to grill in the picnic plaza. They made a set up in the corners a grilling area where people could bring their charcoal, marinade food, and other dishes to cook there. In exchange, people should clean as they go. Surprisingly, everyone practices it. The trees, shrubs, and other ornamentals are also well-trimmed and tidy in the city plaza. On the other side of the city, the public market is a haven of native food, delicacies, and fresh produce. I haven't seen any city with extremely affordable fresh produce. If you plan to stay in this city, a hundred bucks are already lavish for a monthly supply of food. What I ultimately love in this city is the native healthy coffee that is brewed traditionally. A cup costs like 5 or 6 pesos or 12 cents. Then, I love pairing it with puto and bubod.  The front of the City Hall is garnished with improvised Sunflowers which sparkles in the evening.     These flowers are sold in the front of the Roman Catholic church and are being offered during the mass.  San Carlos' Pintaflores Festival is an annual feast celebrated every November here.  Brewing native coffee in a traditional way is a part of the people's heritage in here.    Puto and Bubod are the best partners for the native coffee.  These cups displayed in the coffee shop are pleasing to the sense. Sipaway Island San Carlos City is home to Sipaway Island. This islet is 7 kilometers in length and 1.5 in width. It can be reached by a 10-minute boat ride that costs 20 pesos per person. Despite its size, the island offers an escape from the city with its tranquil, majestic, and stunning ambiance. The reflection of the light in the sea is opaque emerald green that vividly reflects the richness of the sea. The mangrove plantation around the islands is growing extremely well. There is a sturdy century-old balete tree on the island. The island is perfect for those who want to get away from the noise and the hustle and bustle of the city.   The beach area is unblemished and inviting.  Hammocks are available for tourist who love to relax beside the beach.     This century-old balete tree is the poof of richness of flora of this island. Denouement San Carlos City in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines is a perfect place for everyone who wants to retire from the clamor and grind of highly urbanized cities. A perfect vacation getaway for those who want to soul-search and have fun at the same time. The lavishness of the flora, the fauna, and the culture and the heritage of the place is a wonderful delight to tourists. Come, visit, and be amazed! |
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