As I was searching for some old pictures sent to me by my friend Matt for our future gallery portion of our batch website, I saw this old picture of me with my two classmates in Nursing at the Colegio de San Agustin - Bacolod standing along the entrance of a resthouse. I remember it was taken more that 10 years ago. If I am not mistaken it was taken around 1994 during one of our outings in one of the pride destinations which is the Mambukal Mountain resort in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia Negros Occidental, Philippines.

It was not yet fully developed at that time. The pools were already constructed but some of the cottages were not yet properly taken cared off. Unlike today after visiting my friend, a former school mate in CSA-B who is presently working in the tourism department of the province shared about the latest developments on the resort.

The site is also where my former boss and former Mayor of Sagay City, Negros Occidental gave an award as he named the city one on the cleanest cities of the province and even in the region. He is Joseph Maranon, now governor of Negros Occidental. But sadly I received an information that he passed away just a week ago. My deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of my former boss. He was the one who gave me an opportunity to serve in the local government of my “kababayan” in Sagay City.  He served the province for almost 7 years in his 3 terms of office.

Mambukal is once again and now Negros Occidental’s premier resort and tourist

destination. The improvement of Mambukal continues with the inauguration of the 300-person capacity convention center and the operation of the newly renovated Ishiwata Bath House.

Mambukal Resort lies 1,200 feet above sea level and serves as a gateway to the Mt. Kanlaon Volcano. It was originally developed by a Japanese architect named Ishiwata in 1927, 23.6 hectares resort started as a bath house and picnic garden before.and the favorite place of mostly  Negrenses. A big mountain stream, fed by several tributaries, descends in a series of seven falls and cuts through the center of theresort, feeding the swimming pools and boating lagoon.

Aside from its warm dipping pool  also boasts a number of hot sulfur springs

Its slopes and dips house interesting rock formations and lush forests of tropical and semi-tropical trees as well as a variety of pines, ferns and orchids that thrive on its cool climate and rich soil, known as Mambukal clay.

Mambukal resort provides strategically located viewing decks or, for more intimate encounters with nature, the Canopy Walk, with its hanging bridges. Or try yourself their Rock Climbing Wall or the Slide for Life. With those old rest house before now the resort has a Tourist Lodge which offers standard rooms and suites. There are single airconditioned cottages or camp sites to choose from as well as picnic sheds for day visitors.

Mambukal has a conference room and various function rooms available for business meetings and functions. The resort’s regular programs and special events such as bat, bird and firefly watching and the annual Mudpack Festival are fast becoming a rave among artists and tourists from all over the world.

With the help and support of the Department of Tourism, it is no wonder that Mambukal resort will not only be know in Negros but in the whole country and maybe the world.