EL VIAJERRO

He calls himself "El Viajerro", the traveler.

Leading Negrense artists to new dimensions of discovery.

His bodypainting shows have become legendary in San Carlos City.

Inspiring many to learn the craft.

While opening the doors of imagination to its fullest.

He has resurrected and modified the ancient Negrense art of bodypainting.

Bringing it to new levels of ingenuity.

His photography is priceless.

Capturing the emotions and spirit of an island bursting with color.

Yet at times subdued in nature.

With KINA-ADMAN, the Art Association of San Carlos City, he is quietly leading a revolution to bring the importance of art back to our everyday lives.

The Hari ng Organization salutes Eric Estampador Cabales a.k.a. Nui for his incredible talent and leadership.

You can see Nui and his team transform the Haris and Queens of Negros into walking and breathing masterpieces at "Legends of Sugarlandia - the Hari ng Negros Body Paint and Tribal Fashion Show" on Saturday, November 15 at El Puerto Rico, Dumaguete City.

Also visit his blog at http://viajerro.blogspot.com to get to know more about him. Besides being a painter and artist he is also an events organizer and fashion designer. FTV will do a special feature on his works this weekend.

Proud to be a Negrense. Forever Hari ng Negros.

RIOT OF COLORS

For some time now, the Miss San Carlos City pageant has always been a showcase of the best artistic designers this side of Negros Island.

With costumes so eccentric and elaborate, it would easily compete with some of the best in Miss Universe and Miss World.

Not to mention the local beauties who give more justice with just their sweet Negrense smile.

The creativity of the local designers is just simply amazing.

Complimented by a production number that is definitely world class.

The riot of colors is a feast for the eyes!

Congratulations to the dashing debonair mayor of San Carlos City, the Honorable Bong Lacson and the President of the San Carlos City Kiwanis Club, Mr. Nelson Limot, for inspiring the local artists in their craft. Also kudos to Eric Estampador for directing a very entertaining show.

The pageant will not be complete without the swimsuit competition. And these girls have the curves to all be ramp models.

Mayor Bong Lacson, Miss San Carlos 2007 and reigning Sinulog Queen Darlene Mae Tambis, Miss San Carlos 2008 Danielle Villaflor and the adopted daughter of San Carlos City Assunta de Rossi Ledesma.

For sure, they are all winners.

Proud to be a Negrense. Forever Hari ng Negros.

THE DANCE OF FLOWERS

Negros Island is filled with beautiful festivals. One of them is the colorful Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City (adjacent to the hometown of the Haris - Canlaon City). This year's Pintaflores will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

“The Tale of Nabingkalan and her Dances of Flowers”

In the coastline of Negros Island, facing the island of Cebu, a lush and green valley is left uninhabited and untouched by human civilization until such time that a princess named Nabingka from a flourishing tribe somewhere in the neighboring island was destined to reach the plains as she fled away from the warring tribes of her place.

Aboard in a balsa (bamboo raft) with her warriors Princess Nabingka sailed across the deep trench of Tañon Strait and reached the plains now called San Carlos City. In her favor, the first inhabitants named the place Nabingkalan (coined from Nabingka, the name of the princess and lan, a suffix of Visayan origin which means “in honor”).

It was believed that after the princess landed her new abode, Nabingkalan, she was melancholic and afflicted with an incurable disease perhaps caused by her remorse due to loneliness being away from her family. Princess Nabingka, became weak and the tribesmen with their families wept for almost a year until such time that a babaylan implored the nature spirits and predicated that the Princess was saddened due to the absence of flowers in the place.

The babaylan then ordered that all tribesmen should plant flowering shrubs, vines and trees. But the humid weather of the plains, the flowers didn’t bloom and the babaylan this time summoned all tribesmen including women to have their bodies tattooed with flowers. In magnanimity all tribe members tattooed their bodies with flowers endemic to her hinterland to remind the Princess of her bountiful and glorious days with her family.

The news about the plight of the princess reached her family’s tribe and the chieftain who is his father decided to follow the journey of her daughter. The chieftain accompanied by a priest sailed to Nabingkalan bringing the image of San Carlos de Borromeo as a traditional Christian gesture of spirituality on journeys. As he reached the place of the princess he couldn’t believe what he saw as the princess was alive and now back in her vigorous health.

Due to the glee on what he saw, the chieftain then threw a bangaw (food party) to signify his happiness. He ordered a hudyaka-pahalipay (merrymaking – thanksgiving) in honor of San Carlos de Borromeo, the patron saint of his journey. The journey that led him to the discovery that indeed her beloved daughter has now a place and a people of her own.

Vamos San Carlos! Viva Pintaflores!

Proud to be a Negrense, Forever Hari ng Negros!