OUR tourism tagline for Negros Occidental is the Land of Sweet Surprises. The surprises are not only in our attractions, food and people. What is behind history could be more attractive and surprising. The storytelling goes this way...
One of the characters of Cinco de Noviembre Revolution was Heneral Juan Araneta. During his time, the people of Bago believed that Tan Juan is a "Superman." He could see what other people do and he got a horse that flies. The fact is, he got an imported spyglass and observed his workers on top of a hill. His horse seemed to be flying because it runs so fast. That could be an imported horse for racing.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was once here in Negros for a wreath-laying ceremony for Heneral Aniceto Lacson in Talisay. She went out of the car with her escort. She proceeded to the left side of the road (facing north) towards the monument of a man holding a bolo.
One tourism officer told the presidential guard that it is not the monument of Lacson. Lacson's monument (still a bust during that time) was at the right side of the road. The president was told and she made a sudden right turn with a wrinkled face. That monument with a bolo was just a symbol for Negros Revolution (not Bonifacio).
My Lolo Jovito Pacete was a guerrilla hitman in Silay-Saravia area during the Japanese Occupation under Lt. Castillo. He was ordered by his commanding officer to pin down Manuel Intay, the Japanese "espiya" who was responsible for the death of many Silaynons. The CO told Pacete, "Hit him by the balls."
During their duel at Sitio Matagoy, Pacete was the first to open fire. Intay was hit but only one testicle was hit by Pacete. Intay survived but left Silay because of shame. After the war and until his death, he was known as "the one-ball-spy."
There was this man Sotero Cabuguas, from Calatrava. He would leave his home by six o'clock in the morning and would have coffee in Brgy. Patag, Silay by eight o'clock. Many were wondering, "How could he do it? It is impossible for him to climb the ravines in the North Negros Forest that fast.
Sotero would always tell his friends, "I am passing through the man-made tunnels made by the soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army." When I interviewed him when I was still tourism officer of Silay, he told me that at the end of the tunnel in the middle of the forest there was a thick web-like structure. If he would pass that way, he could be in his front yard in few seconds. That could be a "time line."
Many believe -- it-or-not stories could be behind Negros history. It is interesting to know the one-way mirror of the politician in his room. That mirror is facing the comfort room for the lady guests of the house. Enjoy what is in your mind.