A HELICOPTER RIDE WITH THE BOSS

A Tribute to Former Governor Alfredo Locsin Montelibano, Jr. 

By Henry C. Libo-on

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Photo by Henry Libo-on, September 2017. 

The Municipality of Salvador Benedicto had been a tourist attraction and travel destination for so many years. 

The town of Salvador Benedicto is popularly known as the summer capital of the province of Negros Occidental.  Some people call the town the "Baguio" of Negros Occidental.  The town has a cool climate that residents from the neighboring towns and cities prefer to go to Salvador Benedicto to enjoy swimming, trekking to Malatan-og Falls, having a picnic at popular resorts, and simply enjoy hiking and nature tripping in the town. Salvador Benedicto is the shortest route from Bacolod City to San Carlos City.                                    

Creation of the Town

The town was created by virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 336 on February 9, 1983.  All Representatives from Negros Occidental supported the Bill. The proposed town has seven (7) Barangays or Villages namely: Bago (Lalung), Bagong Silang (Marcelo), Bunga, Kumaliskis, Pandanon, and Pinowayan (Prosperidad).  The first designated Mayor of the town was Glicerio "Igle" Amit.  During that time, the areas that were part of the town were sugarcane fields, cogonal areas, and forestal areas.  As an employee of the Office of the Governor of Negros Occidental, I had travel assignments to Igmaya-an and Bunga.

My Experiences at DSB During Its Infancy

The provincial government of Negros Occidental implemented an irrigation project in the farming community of Barangay Bunga, now part of DSB town.  I remember we had to walk a long distance in order to reach the Irrigation Project of the provincial government located on the hillsides of Barangay Bunga.  There were few residents or farmers at that time.  Houses were scattered that it is impossible to get immediate help if there is an emergency in the middle of the night.

That was the first time I ever visited that place.  I did not know that I am experiencing a little history in the making of a new town.

Another experience happened during an election.  I was assigned as an observer in the town of Salvador Benedicto.  It was an unforgettable experience because the election was "hot" and some invisible force may interrupt the peace during this election.

On the eve prior to the Election, we were invited to stay in the house of a friend who has a farm in the area.  His name was Nehemiah "Nene" de la Cruz.  I have known Nene because of Zoilo.  In some instances, I visited his house at Barangay Sum-ag where I met his "Tatay" and wife Cynthia and the young children. At this point, I remember those days when he would let me hitch a ride with them and the children on their way to Tay Tung.

Now, back to the election event.  Nene knew the area of this proposed town because he stayed there long to work on his farm. So, it was just proper that we coordinate with him on this Election Day.

Because of this issue of peace and order during the Election, Nene warned me to be alert at night.  Once I hear the sound of guns I must, immediately, be ready to leave the house at a quick notice.  He informed me that there was an opening under the bed or "Katre".  In case of emergency, I will just lift that part of the floor and I will just go down the house through this hole.

I laughed at him but when he told me to be extra careful not to run fast because there was dried bamboo or "kagingking" near the house, I abruptly stopped laughing.   I stopped laughing when I realized the seriousness of the situation and instead I worried about how I can escape from an emergency situation or danger if I cannot run.  So, before I slept, I had my rubber shoes on, I wore my "maong" pants, and got myself ready for any eventuality.  Little did I know that Board Member Itik S., who slept just a few feet away from where I slept was also wearing his shoes too.

Anyway, the night passed and the next morning we enjoyed a cup of hot coffee with Nene and his men. I forgot feeling groggy.  Maybe, I was excited to discover the area.  Besides, I enjoyed Nene's company.  He was such a hospitable host.

A Helicopter Ride and An Aerial View of the Proposed Town

In the early days of the proposed town, the most popular Barangay was Igmaya-an.  This is the place where the Resistance Movement Against the Japanese held their office.  That office was hidden inside the deep forest of Igmaya-an.  In the secret area of this Barangay, then Island Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. held office while governing the operation of the provincial government.

Celebrating Guv's birthday in his house popularly known as the "Big House". 

This photo was taken when Junior was Governor of Negros Occidental.  Shown here with me are his personal staff, Boding S.,  Emilie M.,  and Bobby B., of the famous Varmont which later on became Bailon's Food. 

 The photo was taken when Junior Montelibano was Mayor of Bacolod City while I was his Executive Assistant to the Mayor.   Here, with Leo Valdez with a few Barangay Officials from Bacolod City. 

This photo was taken at the Big House together with Jhay M., Alan M., and the staff of Mayor Montelibano such as Susan, Merlinda, Sofing, Louie, and partly hidden is Miss Carmelita. 

This was the reason why Igmaya-an was selected as the center of the new town.  During the war, the Governor of Negros Island and Siquijor Island was Agurang Peding Montelibano.  His Vice Governor at that time was Salvador Benedicto, the father of former Philippines Ambassador to Japan and Chairman of PHILSUCOM, Ambassador Roberto S. Benedicto or RSB.

  

One day, my boss in the Governor's Office, Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Jr., asked me to call RSB's office to borrow the latter's helicopter so that Guv can conduct an aerial inspection of the proposed town center of DSB.  After calling RSB's office, his secretary, Ms. Dequita A., informed me that the Governor's request was approved and the chopper was already filled with aviation gas.  She just reminded me to inform the Governor that the chopper must return to the hangar before sundown.

So, on that day, Governor AM Jr. in the company of the Provincial Fiscal, Rodolfo Herman, Board Member Edgardo Abada, and myself together with one army officer named Masicampo,  flew to Barangay Igmaya-an.  We left the airport around 2:00 p.m.  We followed the national highway passing by Mansilingan up to Murcia, Barangay Lopez-Jaena and the road leading to Pandanon until we reached the hilly portion of Barangay Igmaya-an.

Upon the instruction of the Governor, the Pilot made a circular flight around the proposed town center. Guv saw a little hill and he said that it will be a good location for a municipal building.  "Dira kita mapa tindug municipio, maayo ina kay kita-on sa Mayor ang bilog nga banwa kon mag gawa sya sa balconaje.", the Governor enthuses.

"We shall build the municipal building on top of that hill so that the whole town will be visible to the Mayor everytime he stands on the balcony,"

As the helicopter flew around the wide sugarcane plantation and the grassland, the Governor pointed his finger to several areas which he said will be the sites of the school, the market and the area for housing.  The Governor also mentioned the road network that would connect all villages or Barangays to the center of the town and the main highway that will connect the town to San Carlos City.

After the aerial inspection, the Governor ordered the pilot to land in the area cleared by the workers from the Provincial Engineer's Office.  The Governor was met by Mr. Glicerio Amit, Sr.  In the formative years of the town, Glicerio Amit was designated as Mayor of Salvador Benedicto.  Other Barangay Officials of the nearby Barangays and I guess a few teachers, were there to meet the Governor and his companions.

He discussed with the residents and Barangay Officials regarding the proposed townsite.  I cannot recall if Mayor Jesus D. Santiago of Murcia was present in that meeting.

Finally, the aerial survey, inspection, and meeting on the proposed development sites of DSB were completed and the chopper together with its passengers returned to Bacolod City, before sundown.

When Guv Alfredo Montelibano, Jr. became Mayor of Bacolod City, I was elected as City-Wide Federation of PTA President which enabled me to sit as a Member of the Local School Board.  Here, we turn-over the symbolic key to the Classroom Building which the Mayor constructed for Don Jose R. Torres Elementary School at Singcang. 

On my part, as the personal assistant to the Provincial Governor of Negros Occidental, I had to discuss the result of the aerial survey and everything that the Governor wants to be done to the Provincial Engineer and con-current Provincial Administrator, Engineer Bert Losaria.  So, everything rested on the hands of the Provincial Engineer on how he would implement the "plans" and "policies" of the Provincial Governor regarding the establishment of the new town.

The town is the source of strawberries, pineapple, vegetables, and other root crops.

DSB became popular among adventurers and excursionists.  The population was small in its formative years, so to speak. The people's needs focused on livelihood, road network, education, health, and basic services among others.  Several socio-civic organizations in the Province conducted an Outreach Program to the town.  The Blue and Gold Alumni Association of UNO-R (ONI and UNO) conducted a free Medical Clinic with free medicines in the town and was held at the new municipal building. I was, I guess, the Treasurer of the alumni association before becoming its President in the mid-1990s.

The mayor at this time was Nene de la Cruz.  Under his leadership, several programs and projects improved the government's services in the town.  An annual "Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival was held during the first week of February.  It became famous and ushered a new interest among the Negrenses to visit Salvador Benedicto.

Several areas in the town had been developed.  The way to Malatan-og Falls was cleared making it accessible to the tourists.  Mayor Nene used to tell me to visit Malatan-og but I have never been there until now.  Maybe I will do it in 2019.

New crops and vegetables were introduced to farmers including Strawberry farming.  Flowers and ornamental plants caught the attention of women and gardeners visiting DSB.

The highway leading to DSB that also leads to San Carlos City is one of the beautiful highways in the province.  Along the road, were businesses established to cater to the needs of the tourists and travelers.  

In September 2017, I visited the town of Salvador Benedicto en route to San Carlos City.  I felt a strong sense of nostalgia as I passed by those areas which were non-existent at the time of my helicopter ride with the Governor.

At kilometer 53, Salvador Benedicto and it is 34 kilometers to San Carlos City.

On our way to San Carlos City, the bus stopped on this part of Salvador Benedicto for around 15 minutes to allow the passengers to have breakfast or snacks.

Passing by several areas of the town, I concluded that DSB is a far cry from its early days as a developing town.  

Photos by Henry Libo-on 

                                                   

Source: Wikipedia.

According to Wikipedia, "Located at the center of the mountains of northern Negros Occidental, Don Salvador Benedicto was chartered through Batas Pambansa Bilang 336 by then President Ferdinand Marcos. It consolidated all the remote barangays of San Carlos City and the towns of Calatrava and Murcia which were apparently neglected due to inaccessibility. The town is named after the former Vice-Governor Salvador V. Benedicto (March 31, 1889–November 28, 1956) who played an important role in the setting up of a Revolutionary Government in Negros Island particularly in Barangay Igmaya-an, when the country was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Salvador Benedicto is a relative of Roberto Benedicto, President Marcos' crony."    (Wikipedia).

The town of Salvador Benedicto is composed of seven (7) Barangays as follows:

1.  Barangay Bago (Lalung)
2.  Barangay Bagong Silang (Marcelo)
3.  Bunga
4.  Igmaya-an
5.  Kumaliskis 
6.  Pandanon
7.  Pinowayan (Prosperidad) 

Some of these Barangays were part of San Carlos City, the town of Calatrava, and the town of Murcia. 

                      

Tourist Attractions in Salvador Benedicto

1.  Malatan-og Falls
2.  Max Viewing Deck
3.  The Rice Terraces
4.  The Lion's Club Lookout
5.  The Market that sells newly harvested fruits.
6.  The Flower and Plants Vendor along the road.
7.   Different mountain resorts
8.   Several Herbal Gardens and Wellness Resorts
9.   Others.                                           

       

 

The rice terraces have become the common style of planting rice in the town noted for its hilly areas.

Source: Wikipedia.

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How to get to Salvador Benedicto?

Your jump-off point can be the City of San Carlos or the City of Bacolod.  In both cities, there are Ceres Bus Terminals where you can ride the Ceres Tours Bus (air-conditioned buses) or the Ceres Bus (non-aircon buses) to Salvador Benedicto.  From both cities, it takes around an hour to reach DSB.  Travel time from Bacolod to San Carlos is around 2 hours.

All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre, except those fully acknowledged to be taken from Wikipedia's topic about the Municipality of Salvador Benedicto.  Thank you. 

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By the way, if you think this story is a good one, please SHARE it with your friends and LIKE my Facebook Page too.  Enjoy reading and have a nice day.  

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Looking towards the sea at Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

Photo below is the Viewing Deck at Cloud 9, before it was demolished by the 2021 typhoon. 

Shown with me are the members of the Eagle Davao Motorbike Club,

Jehan and Johnny Libo-on. We will be motocycling the island of Samal. 

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*The Blogger, Henry Libo-on had been an Executive Assistant (P.A.) to the Governor of Negros Occidental and then Mayor of **Bacolod City, Honorable Alfredo L. Montelibano, Jr. 

***Henry is also known as Touristang Pobre, the name of his Blogsite and a Youtuber as Henry Estado Squad.

****He was a travel writer and columnist of WHAT'S ON (In the Visayas and Mindanao), a tourist guide magazine published in Cebu and distributed all over Vis-Min areas. 

******He was formerly an OIC-City Planning and Development Officer of Bacolod City Government.

*******He was a former writer and columnist of the Negros Daily Bulletin published in Bacolod City and distributed all over Negros Occidental and the Western Visayas Region. 

*****He was a former member of the Negros Press Club.

*****He finished a leadership training at the National Defense College of the Philippines, FLP Class #9, under the auspices of the Civil Service Commission and the National Defense College of the Philippines, Fort Bonifacio, Makati City. 

*****He was a past President of the Blue & Gold Alumni Association of ONI, UNO, and UNO-R.

*****He was past Auditor, and Member of the Board, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Bacolod City Council.

*****He was a former Instructor and Professor, BSN, and MN at Riverside College, Bacolod City.

*****He was a former Member of the Local School Board, Bacolod City

*****He was a former President of the Bacolod City-Wide Federation of PTA.

*****He is currently a Blogger - Touristang Pobre.blogger.com    and a YouTuber - Henry Estado Squad.

*****He is currently based in the U.S. but calls Bacolod City and Negros Occidental his home.

Ciao' .......

September 2018.

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Updated on December 1, 2020. 

Updated January 4, 2010. 

Reviewed on January 6, 2022. 

Reviewed on October 23, 2022. 

Reviewed on April 21, 2024.