FREELANCER: NDB’s 65th, Mambukal MRWS

No doubt about it, Mambukal Mountain Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Minoyan, Murcia is starting to regain its lost patronage.

The new and improved accommodation facilities- the convention hotel, tourist lodge, cottages and villas, the picnic huts, pagoda and pavilion, and by allowing walk-ins to come in although subject to availability, are just among reasons to revisit the provincial government-run resort.

The newly-opened food courts and the deployment of electric golf carts are welcome enhancements for touring visitors and guests.

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A two-day stay lately was indeed a rediscovery of the beauty of nature at Mambukal. Lots of fun in the boating lagoon, swimming pools, cool rivers, and spending time at the sulfur pools and hot springs was relaxing.

The climb to the seven waterfalls is still not allowed but I was told it will be reopened soon.

Anyway, the nighttime sorties made up for it, making the stay a refreshing experience.

Mambukal is indeed worthy to be rediscovered.

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Just a tip for those who wanted to visit the mountain resort even just for a day — better to book a reservation ahead to make sure you will have a place to stay once you are there.

Although walk-ins can be accomodated, the huts, the cottages and other accommodation facilities might be full.

I was told by the staff that you can make a reservation by simply calling Mambukal’s mobile number 0961-757-9710 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

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BY THE WAY, this is already very, very late, very long overdue.

I would like to thank the following — on behalf of scores of people whose plight were subsequently addressed on time because of their appropriate and quick response to my request:

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, Congressman Atty. Dino Yulo, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Congressman Thirdy Marañon, Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson, Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer, Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara, and our columnist Butch Bacaoco.

I know you were able to address these people’s urgent calls for help because of your openness to help and with your connections. You did not hesitate to help them, and now you and I are always in their prayers.

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NDB since 1960.

I was not yet born when the veteran broadcasters and writers of the Bacolod press community started the weekly Negros Bulletin with the first issue, published through the crude letterpress printing facility, came out on September 9, 1960.

Negros Bulletin was born at a time when Bacolod City was, I was told, still a picture of complete serenity, order and discipline, with horse-drawn calesas still very much part of the city’s traffic, although just limited to certain areas where jeepneys do not usually pass.

I was also told, during that time there were already a few taxi cabs plying Bacolod streets. They were under GV & Sons, Cokin Taxi, and La Suerte, with some colorums already competing.

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Negros Bulletin was started and sustained by, of course my father, Pert Toga, Sr., the still-strong and only survivor of the NB Originals, with the late Kapawa Publisher, Lolo Lino Moles. NB was later joined by the late Maninoy Santi Alacapa, with support from another late Maninoy Monet Padilla.
NB then became twice-weekly and then thrice-weekly.

When it acquired its own printing machine, NB became Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB), August 1994 when it started as a daily. Another late Maninoy Henry Streegan then joined my father, and then the late Tito Rolly Espina.

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To cut the story short, NDB is still around. It survived the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the rise and fall of the newspapering business in the 90s, and later the onslaught of the Covid pandemic.

Our early ride in the digital wagon paid off.

My father Pert is still around, retired but not out, and is still behind the scene although more on enjoying his extended finer years with the family.

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Today, on our 65th year, we NDBers are looking back at what we have gone through.

We remember those who joined us in our journey that kept us afloat – those who put their stakes with us because they believed in our quest to contribute to the information needs of Negrenses and to help in the efforts for the development of Bacolod City and Negros.

We celebrate this day with a pledge and commitment to continue to serve both digitally and on paper.* (APT)