Exploring Another Island
On September 8th, we set out on another adventure. One of the elders serving with us in the temple had served his mission in the Philippines and was eager to revisit his old stomping grounds—Bacolod City on the island of Negros. He and his wife invited us, along with another missionary couple, to tag along.
This trip was a little different because we were mostly on our own when it came to planning and scheduling. Elder Stirland arranged for a driver to take us to our destination, so we didn’t have to worry about navigating unfamiliar cities or figuring out local transportation. Unlike our previous trips, where a tour guide would not only get us where we needed to go but also provide background and information before leaving us on our own, this time the driver stayed with us as part of the group. At times, I’ll admit, it felt a little awkward.
Our driver picked us up at 6AM and we headed north west across the Island of Cebu to Toledo City where we would catch a ferry to San Carlos on the Island of Negros. Getting on the ferry was an adventure and let’s just say the accommodations were a bit different than our accommodations on the way to Bohol. We finally got to San Carlos and check into our hotel and soon we were on the road to see a popular destination - the Century Tree. This tree is said to have been a living landmark even before Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines.
It really was a beautiful tree and it was fun to see it, the only problem was that our driver took a wrong turn and what was supposed to be and hour drive turned into a two and a half hour drive and it was quickly getting dark. However, the landscape was beautiful and we saw fields of sugar cane and rice.
In addition to the Century Tree, we were also able to see an active volcano - Mt. Kanlaon. It was pretty cool to be so close and see steam rising from the top. It is the tallest mountain on Negros and the highest point in the Visayas region.
It’s a little hard to see the steam in these pictures but it was pretty visible from where we were. At about 4AM I received an emergency alert on my phone. I couldn’t read it since it was in the local dialect. Later, when we went to breakfast I asked the hostess to translate for me, she said that the volcano was erupting. Apparently it was spewing steam and ash so much so that the hotel ask that the visitors not open any windows. Just a little excitement for the trip.
Monkeys, Weavers and a Temple
The next morning, we were up bright and early and on the road again. Our first stop was a Monkey Sanctuary. There were monkeys everywhere and only one (who had been a bad boy) was in a cage. We ended up in a caged building where we were given bananas and jackfruit that we could feed to the monkeys. They were a little crazy and apparently very hungry. One of the mommas had her baby with her and it was so cute.
After watching and feeding the monkeys we continued our journey towards Bacolod City - our final destination. On the way our driver stopped by an out of the way place where we were introduced to some weavers who were busy making woven bags and purses they ship out to shops around the island. We looked at so many bags but in the end, all three of us sisters decided on the same bag. 
We headed out and this time instead of making a wrong turn, our driver missed the turn off to the east of the island and we ended up driving around the northern tip of the island instead of cutting across the countryside. In the end, it turned out pretty good because we drove straight to the Bacolod Temple site before we reached the city. The temple is still under construction and should be completed sometime in 2026. The temple was our actual destination- we were looking forward to seeing the temple but we also have a friend whom we work with in the temple. She lives so close to the temple she can see it from her upstairs windows.
Sister Herbolario is just the cutest lady and she just couldn’t wait to have us pay her a visit. She actually called me just as we were approaching the temple. We told her we were just about to the temple and she sent a friend to meet us so she could lead us to her house. When we got there she invited us in and she had prepared a beautiful, huge lunch for us. She gave us the royal treatment and made us feel right at home in her beautiful house.
The view from her upstairs balcony
After lunch and a nice visit, we headed to the hotel where we rested for a while, took a walk through the mall, and then met up for dinner. Afterwards, we returned to our rooms for a good night’s sleep so we would be refreshed for one more day of sightseeing and adventure.
We started our next day at “The Ruins” in Talisay City. The Ruins is the majestic, ruined ancestral mansion of a wealthy sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Larson. The mansion was intentionally burned during WWII to prevent Japanese forces from occupying it, leaving only the concrete frame. The mansion is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped park and event buildings visitors can explore.
After visiting The Ruins, we drove around to see if we could find some of the places Elder had served. We stopped by the Bacolod Mission office, where we met some cheerful missionaries who helped him get directions to the chapel he had attended. From there, he was able to find the house where he had actually lived during his mission. We felt it was both a fun and successful day.
As with all vacation trips it seems like time flies by and before you know it, it was time to head back to our little apartment in the patron house!
On our way back to the ferry, we drove through the country side where we were able to get a good feel for the daily life of the people who live in the area.
Little markets line the side of the road side by side. I always wonder, how do people choose which store to go to and how do they all survive when they all seem to sell the same thing.
It’s unusual to see a house that doesn’t have laundry hanging out to dry.
It doesn’t matter if we are in the city where we live or in the country.
Rice fields were everywhere
We also saw lot’s of rice drying either in fields or on the side of the road
We saw so many fields of sugar cane
And we got to get up close and personal with a Carabao. A domesticated swamp-type water buffalo found here in the Philippines. When Bethany was here on her mission she actually rode on one but this one was really dirty and we didn’t wan to get smelly and dirty. The Carabao is considered a national symbol of the Philippines, representing perseverance and hard work.
Eventually we made it to the pier and found the only transportation home was the Lite Ferry. We were quite surprised to find that there were no chairs or benches on this ferry, only beds.
We had such a fun and interesting trip, filled with many unexpected opportunities. I still find it hard to believe that we were able to take advantage of the temple closure and travel this much while on our mission. Serving a temple mission has turned out to be very different from what I first imagined. When the temple is open, our days are full as we work hard and give our all to the Lord’s work. This time away has been refreshing, but we are also eager to return, roll up our sleeves, and settle back into the sacred routine we love.
We love you all and miss you so much,
Love,
Sister Mom/Beth
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