Historia de Bais City

 The literary and cultural history of Bais City, Negros Oriental, is deeply rooted in the fertile soil of its vast sugarcane plantations, its historic coastal bay, and the shifting dynamics of its prominent pioneering families. Far from being merely an economic engine driven by the sugar boom, Bais developed a rich, reflective intellectual life. Local literature emerged as an essential canvas for preserving ancestral history, asserting local identity, and processing the profound transitions from a 19th-century feudal landscape to a modern chartered city. Through poetry, historiography, drama, and local cultural leadership, the literary legacy of Bais is defined by a distinct group of writers, poets, and historians who captured the "simple old-world charm" and complex human stories of the Baisanons . The Pioneers & Historiographers The foundation of Bais City’s literary consciousness began with a deep obligation to document its roots, pioneering families, and political his...

 Baisanon lady daughter of one of our local Heroes in Negros Oriental  Ambrosio B. Somoza

  Leonaga Hermoso Tulabing ( Mrs Larena ), known to her friends and family as "Ganda," was born on May 7, 1941, in Barangay Calasga-an, Bais City, Negros Oriental, during the pre-World War II era. She was one of the daughters of  Leoncio Buquiran Tulabing , a war veteran and public school teacher from Palanas, Tanjay City, and  Agapita J. Hermoso  of Puan, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental. Raised amidst the scenic hills and mountains of Bais City, Ganda grew up in a time of war and post-war recovery, which shaped her early years and provided a unique environment for learning.   Her childhood in Bais and Vallehermoso, a place rich in both nature and culture, was a foundation for her intellectual development. She embraced the opportunity to learn multiple languages, including English and Ilonggo, and became an avid reader at a young age. Some of the books she cherished were given to her by the US Government, further fostering her love for literature. This early e...

  Emplaz Paulio-Violeta , a distinguished Baisanon visual artist who has become a vital cultural bridge between Negros Oriental and the international art community. Born and raised in Bais City , Teacher Emplaz (as she is affectionately known) represents the "soul" of Baisanon creativity, blending her roles as an educator, a cultural worker, and a prolific painter. Profile: Emplaz Paulio-Violeta Hometown: Bais City, Negros Oriental Current Role: International Art Teacher at Mandalay International Science Academy (Myanmar) Primary Medium: Painting (Oil, Acrylic, and Mixed Media) A Legacy of Education and Community Before her international tenure, Emplaz was a cornerstone of the Department of Education in Bais City, serving as a MAPEH Teacher at Bais City Special Science Elementary School . Her impact on the youth of Bais is most visible through her Annual Summer Art Workshops . For years, these workshops have been a rite of passage for "Baisanon Kids," fostering t...

  The Architectural Legacy of Casa Rubio (1790) Built in 1790 , Casa Rubio stood as a premier example of the Bahay na Bato (specifically the Antillan or Balay na Tisa style). Designed by Spanish architect Danilo Castillo-Montegrande and executed by master local carpenters, the residence blended European structural grandeur with Filipino craftsmanship. It was originally commissioned by Don José Antonio Zoilo Rubio y Abilla as a gift for his second wife, Doña Ma. Lourdes “Canuta” Villacampa Rubio . I. Structural Composition ·          The Foundation (First Floor): The ground floor was constructed using cut coral stones (known locally as tablea ). These thick walls provided a cooling effect and structural resilience against the elements. ·          The Upper Frame (Second Floor): In contrast to the stone base, the second floor utilized heavy native timber , creating a flexible frame that cou...

 By :   Maria Montenegro Faith Eighty years ago, today, on December 13, 1945, a U.S. military plane took off from an airstrip outside of Dumaguete (on the island of Negros in the Philippines) carrying members of the U.S. 13th AF Squadron along with 19 civilians, including my grandfather, Jose Antonio Montenegro, my great-grandmother, Asuncion Abad Martinez, my grandfather’s sister, Maria Antonia Morro, and her baby girl, Christina Morro. Though it was a violation of U.S. regulations to be carrying civilian passengers, this was the era before commercial air travel between Negros and Manila and there had been four years of brutal hostilities.   According to the accident investigation report filed by the U.S. military nine months later when the wreckage was finally found, weather conditions had been poor and the plane was overloaded with passengers and cargo. During the ascent, the plane suffered engine failure and tragically crashed into Mt. Madalagan, 600 feet f...