Sipalay, Visayas' Best-kept Secret

The shoreline of Sugar Beach.
After an almost 7 years of working in a company that allows me to get rest for a few hours a day, I left the job because of too much stress, both physically and mentally. At last! The time has come for me to experience a long vacation at my mother’s hometown.

From the new airport at Silay City, it took us an hour just to get to Bacolod City. The last time I went to Negros Occidental, the airport was along the highway of Alijis and a few minutes away to south terminal of Ceres Liner. From the terminal, it was a 4-hour bus ride to San Jose, Sipalay City. Long and bumpy. I was excited to see my relatives. I know it would be warm and fun to be there. It’s been ages since I have stayed there for summer.  The life that I used to long for was there, light and slow. I know that my summer will be up for days on the beach. It was a Holy Week and the timing was impeccable. There was a town festival when we went there and there has been a week-long celebration at the town proper.
Dance Competition during the Pasaway sa Sipalay.

The Town Festival

We went to Hacienda Montilla to see an exhibition of APV and motocross. Lots of people from different barangays went to see the event. We went to a Tiangge (flea market) that sells different fried fish and Ukay-ukay (surplus products). Then, there was the Barungoy Festival, a long stretch of table with all you can eat barungoy. Barungoy is a kind of flying fish that are abundant in the town and one of the main sources of their income.
The city hall under construction. APV trail upfront.

The festival wouldn't be completed without the much-awaited dance competition with all the barangays of Sipalay. We even watched the dance rehearsals of San Jose before the competition itself. It was still early in the morning when we went to the town proper, a 45-minute tricycle ride from San Jose, to witness the competition. There was a street dance parade of the competitors in their colorful and innovative costumes around the major streets of the town that ends at the town gymnasium.

APV Exhibition during the town festival.

Sipalay Mine.

San Jose

The place was used to be a bustling place of trade and industry. There were lots of people from different places in the country that went there for work because of the nearby copper mine. These past few years, the place became less busy ever since the mining operations stopped. The once open-pit mine has accumulated tons of water from the nearby mountains making it a lake-like pool. The lake is so deep that it would be very dangerous to go near it. The town folks told me that the depth could fit a number of cargo ships.

Cartagena Beach.

Cartagena Beach

One of the reasons why I go to Sipalay is because of the beautiful beaches the province has to offer. We always go to Cartagena beach during family outings because of the ease of going there. It’s an hour ride through the winding road of San Jose to the beach. It is not so secluded because the beach is used by fishing boats. If you are lucky, you can have a few catch by helping the fishermen pull their nets from the sea. We bring our cooked food and grill some fresh catch for our lunch. There are picnic tables and huts for rent for a day use. You can see fishes with its clear blue water. The beach has a mix of gray sand and pebbles but turns to white on a hot sunny afternoon. However, there was no fresh water to take a bath after you have swam. We usually go home either wet or salty of seawater.
Fishing boats at Cartagena Beach.

Sugar Beach

From the town proper, Langub Island can be reached from an hour and a half ride of motorboat. But we chose to go there through Hacienda Montilla. From the jump-off, you can ride a canoe and be at the island for 30 minutes. The sand is fine, white, and sugar granule-like. The water was clear bluish-green. Long ago, I remember that the island was secluded, but now, a number of resorts made its way to the beautiful place. There were lots of tourists, both locals and foreign, when we went there.
The road to Langub Island from Hacienda Montilla.

On our way to the beach.
Campo Quino

A hidden paradise in Sipalay, the cove is covered with hills on both sides of the beach. The sand is so fine and white. The water is clear but there were seaweeds a few meters away from the shore making the beach messy during high tide. There are private rooms and pavilions that can be rented. The beach can be reached by motorcycle and an hour away from the town proper.
The white fine sand of Punta Ballo.

Punta Ballo

If there’s any beach among Sipalay’s pride, it would be Punta Ballo. The beach is a perfect setting during sunset. The sand is white and the finest of all the beaches in the area. During low tide, the water can be below the knee for meters away from the shore. It is the jump-off for scuba diving and snorkeling with its beautiful marine biodiversity. Former President Gloria Arroyo used to come with her husband to dive here. There are a number of resorts along the shoreline with classy accommodations and restaurants. Some resorts even have scuba diving equipment for rent.

Sipalay City

Another beach worth sunset-watching would be the beach at the town proper. It is a 3-kilometer shoreline of light gray sand and pebbles. The town is busy everyday as people from other barangays come and go as the Public Market, schools, hospital, and the old municipal office are there. In the evening, the shore can be a place to relax and take a dip. Along the stretch are restaurants and videoke bars that enliven the place at night.

I know that I haven’t seen much of Sipalay City since there are still places there that I haven’t explored yet. As expected, the people there were nice and warm.  I hope to go back soon.
Sunset at Sipalay.
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