The Ruins

THE RUINS

(Talisay City, Negros Occidental)

The Ruins of Negros, also known as the Taj Mahal of Negros is truly a hidden gem I must say! From its well maintained luscious green lawn to the strong, fine and rigid structure of the Mansion as if telling its story of how it was able to endure the test of time.

The Mansion was built in the late 1920s by sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson in honor to his first wife, Maria Braga, a Portuguese. In the early part of WWII, the Mansion was set on fire to avoid the Japanese from using it as their headquarters – and who knows what else the Mansion had witnessed in the past, right? All I know is that it was crafted lovingly, scrutinized from the tiniest to the grandest detail, because of his burning love for his late wife.

All in all, the experience was amazing! As if I was transported back in time. It was a heady feeling to have stepped foot on the place and to have touched some parts of the Mansion as if someone in the past did the same thing as I did. Also, given that this place is on my bucket list – so one down..woohooo!

GETTING THERE:

If your starting point is from Bacolod proper, and if you want a comfortable ride you may grab a taxi. Although there is a cheaper means of transportation which is a tricycle. However, if your entry point is from Silay-Bacolod airport I think taxi is the only option – or if you have arranged a tour prior your Bacolod visit, all the better!

Expenses:

Cebu Bus – Toledo: 60 Php

Tricycle or “tri-sikad” as we call it to Toledo Port: 10 Php

Fast Craft to San Carlos City: 225

Tricycle – Bus/V-hire Terminal: 15 Php

V-hire to Bacolod: 130 Php

Bacolod – The Ruins: 250 (we hired a taxi and this is a fixed price, but really you can just catch a tricycle to The Ruins for 40 Php)

The Ruins – Bacolod: 40 Php (one person only via tricycle)

Jeepney ride – SM Bacolod:  7 Php (min. fare)

Tips:

We came from Cebu and on our way to Bacolod we opted for a road trip instead of the convenience of a plane ride as we are up for an adventure. From Toledo, Cebu we catch the 45 minute fast craft ride to San Carlos, and from San Carlos port we took a tricycle ride to the Van & Bus terminal going to Bacolod. We opted for the V-hire ride then, but the bus leaves every 15 minutes though so really it’s your choice. It took us about 2 hours to get to Bacolod proper. The only negative experience we had when we were there was when we made a mistake to ask from a dishonest local, although I have made my research repeatedly before our much awaited trip, to ask around is still inevitable. We just wanted to confirm where we can catch a tricycle going to THE RUINS, but instead he hailed a taxi a for us and arranged for a fixed price and we couldn’t disagree anymore as we were already exhausted from our long journey that started at 2:30 AM from Cebu.

Overall, the whole experience was a blast! I wouldn’t say that Negrenses are dishonest because that’s a BIG lie. I really don’t like to label certain groups of people too as dishonest as dishonesty is not a race, you can find dishonest people everywhere, never from one place only. After all, Bacolod wouldn’t be labeled as the CITY OF SMILES for nothing.

To God be the Glory!