Rural Beekeeping Initiative in NegOr Town Aims to Enhance Local Revenue and Draw Tourist Interest

Rural Beekeeping Initiative in NegOr Town Aims to Enhance Local Revenue and Draw Tourist Interest

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Apiary Haven at the Remnants in Valencia, Negros Oriental is crafted to serve as a destination for tourists and learning enthusiasts, aiming to augment the earnings of potential apiculturists and honey manufacturers, as stated by an official on Tuesday. Desiderio Tilos Jr., Valencia tourism officer and simultaneous public information officer, conveyed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the Apiary Haven bee farm stands as an agri-eco tourism attraction designed to enlighten the public about the significance and function of indigenous honey-producing bees in the ecosystem. “We have observed an uptick in the demand for unadulterated honey, and this presents an opportunity for the Valencia local government to afford possibilities for local farmers to enhance their income through apiculture and associated undertakings utilizing native materials,” Tilos expressed. The municipality advocates for the utilization of bamboo, coconut husks, and clay pots as shelters for the bees to construct their hives, offering an affordable option for prospective bee farmers. Tilos conveyed that the bee farm was envisioned to reinforce the initiative that Valencia is “the orchard of Negros Oriental,” emphasizing the bees’ role as pollinators for a substantial portion of agricultural yields. Mayor Edgar Teves Jr. spearheaded the inauguration and launch of the Apiary Haven demonstration farm at the municipal agricultural office in Barangay Palinpinon on Tuesday and committed support to the initiative after recognizing its potential, as Tilos explained. Rico Omoyon, apiculture coordinator, has introduced various species of stingless bees for honey production to the LGU. He mentioned that approximately a year would transpire before the commencement of harvesting the consumable product. Lindon Escalante, the municipal agriculturist, emphasized that the bee project would not solely address issues of hunger and poverty but would also align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal concerning biodiversity protection and conservation. Visitors exploring the Apiary Haven at the Remnants will relish the breathtaking and verdant landscapes, as the bee farm is nestled deep in the mountains of Valencia. Diverse varieties of stingless bees are housed in the demonstration farm, which is open to the public without charge, Tilos disclosed.   Source: PNA  

Sightseeing in Valencia

Sightseeing in Valencia

Valencia was named the “cleanest and greenest” city in Negros Oriental in 2017. It is a landlocked city in the highlands that is also known to be home to various waterfalls. Since the city is just a few kilometers outside of Dumaguete City, Valencia is a popular destination for tourists who have a day or two to spare. Here you can get a breath of fresh air, even a bit of sulphur fumes and be surrounded by lush green forests, jump into cold water pools or hot springs or overlook the city from a hill.   Old Casaroro Falls     The Casaroro waterfalls are fascinating. These 100-foot high waterfalls plunge into a deep pool with a stream flowing through it. The entrance fee is Php 20.00 at the resort. If you’re visiting the attraction for the first time, be sure to hire a guide. The price for this starts at Php 200.00. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to be soaked as you have to cross a river to get to the falls after descending 335 steps down a steep, long concrete staircase. I didn’t dare go down that many steps because of my age, as I would have had to climb them again. So I made do with the fresh mountain air and the beautiful flowers there myself.   Pulangbato Twin Falls     Unlike the other waterfalls in Valencia, you don’t have to hike to get to Pulangbato. The name “Pulangbato” means “red rocks”, which you can actually see around the waterfalls. According to the locals, the sulphur deposits have caused the rocks at the waterfalls and in some other areas of Valencia to have this rust color. Entrance fees Adults – Php 100.00 Children (10 years old and below) – Php 50.00 2 years old and below & PWD – Free Tables with umbrella – Php 200.00 Cabins – Php 300.00 to Php 600.00 Gazebo – Php 3,000.00 for 4 persons per night   Red Rock Hot Spring     On a rainy day, a dip in the 37° C water of a spring is ideal – and that’s exactly what the Red Rock Hot Spring offers. However, make sure you visit the spring during the off-season as it can get very crowded, especially on weekends. Entrance fee: Php 100.00 for adults; Php 80.00 for children above 7 years old.   Palinpinon Sulfur Vents     After an extensive bath in the hot springs of Red Rock, you will pass the sulphur chimneys on the mountainside. Some also call it the “Smokey Mountain”. Despite the foul smell that the sulphur gives off, many would stop by because it is simply fascinating. The unpleasant smell of rotten eggs in the sulfur vents in Palinpinon is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is released along with steam and other gases when the groundwater is brought to a boil by heating the underlying rock. There are even small holes in the road where the water boils. Next to these sulphur vents is the Okoy River .   The video of our explorations around Valencia VALENCIA SIGHTS | Forest Camp – Casaroro + Pulang Bato Falls – Red Rock Hotsprings – Sulfur Vents    

Enjoyable hours at the Forest Camp in Valencia

Enjoyable hours at the Forest Camp in Valencia

On one of our last days in Dauin, with our daughter, we wanted to explore the sights around Valencia and I wanted to film. After a few errands in the town of Dumaguete, we first drove to Forest Camp. A wonderfully natural tourist facility, built into a river. For those who don’t dare enter a real jungle, there is an extensive area with several swimming pools, suspension bridges, huts and seating areas where you can relax to the sound of water and the natural chirping of tropical birds.       A special feature are the kawas, which are large woks that stand on stones so that you can make a fire underneath. For guests, these are filled with water and perhaps the water is decorated with fragrant flowers, after which you can sit down individually or in groups in the warming water and bask. There are probably more people here at weekends than on the day we were here during the week. My two ladies, mother and daughter, made themselves comfortable in the adjoining restaurant and ordered native food ranging from chicken soup to fish dishes.       Enjoy also our video of our visit to the Forest Camp in Valencia: VALENCIA SIGHTS | Forest Camp – Casaroro + Pulang Bato Falls – Red Rock Hotsprings – Sulfur Vents    

The sulphur vents of Valencia

The sulphur vents of Valencia

We had planned to visit some of the sights in Valencia, Negros Oriental that day. We drove from Dauin to the town of Dumaguete to run a few errands. Then we took one of the roads uphill from the city to Valencia. It’s really not that far, but Valencia is a big city. Among the sights for the day were the sulphur chimneys. It is a remarkable experience to drive through and, above all, over these chimneys. The boiling water not only seeps out of the ground on both sides of the road, but also in small holes in the middle of the road. On arrival, the surprised visitor is immediately hit by the stench of rotten eggs, which lingers for quite a while. It is an impressive sight to see this force of nature. [siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Gallery”][/siteorigin_widget] The unpleasant smell of rotten eggs in the sulphur vents at Palinpinon is due to the presence of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which is released along with steam and other gases when the groundwater is heated by underlying rock and brought to the boil.   VIDEO VALENCIA SIGHTS | Forest Camp – Casaroro + Pulang Bato Falls – Red Rock Hotsprings – Sulfur Vents    

At the Sunday market in Valencia

At the Sunday market in Valencia

What started as a farmer’s market years ago and fell asleep during the pandemic, has since morphed into a Sunday market with international flair. Today, on Sundays from 5 am to 12 noon, this market is frequented by locals, expats from the area and tourists who happen to be in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. The locals set up food and drink stalls with their well-known delicacies and several expats have followed suit with stalls offering their typical local specialties. Thus, vegetable and fruit stalls, field and garden tool stalls have been joined by stalls selling plants and flowers and clothing. A public cumba group adds to the atmosphere. Valencia Plaza, Negros Oriental, is particularly suitable for this event with its shady large old trees. We spent a nice Sunday morning here and also came home with plenty of loot. Partly the prices were a little higher than normal, but that had been worth the mood to us. We had even gotten two bowls of strawberries, in addition to mangoes, grapes and bananas. Here are a few pictures with impressions from the video [siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Gallery”][/siteorigin_widget] The VIDEO VALENCIA – SUNDAY MARKET & FAIR | Negros Oriental    

Auf dem Bauernmarkt in Valencia

Auf dem Bauernmarkt in Valencia

Weekend markets, especially in business districts like Salcedo and Bonifacio Global City, are often visited by city dwellers in droves because they provide the perfect opportunity to sample and buy fresh produce from farmers and unique goods from local vendors. Valencia in Negros Oriental has a similar system, but this time it’s geared towards cutting out the middleman and getting local farmers to sell their crops directly to their community for more profit. This is the Paunay Farmers Market, which is held every Sunday from 4 to 12 p.m. at the Valencia Public Plaza in Negros Oriental. [siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Gallery”][/siteorigin_widget] The inception of the Valencia Paunay Farmers Market traces back to a fundamental idea: providing farmers with a platform to vend their produce, a particularly vital initiative given the substantial rural population. This endeavor led to the establishment of the Valencia Paunay Farmers Association. Albert Tubal, the Tourism Commissioner of Valencia, elaborated on this genesis in an interview with SPOT.ph, revealing that the concept took root in 2013. Every Sunday, local farmers from Valencia united under this association to showcase and sell their agricultural products, fostering a vibrant marketplace for the community. [siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Gallery”][/siteorigin_widget] VIDEO VALENCIA – SUNDAY MARKET & FAIR | Negros Oriental