BAO the unbowed

Whether or not you grew up in the big house ( balay dako ) of your parents' parents. Whether or not that structure still exists - nostalgia is something we have all experienced.  Real or recreated we lay claim to past glory days and the objects that bring us comfort - reviving fond memories of a life we still feel so close to yet has changed so much or is gone.  Hacienda Santa Rosalia - where stories live & roots run deep It's no wonder vintage has become such a fad of late. A formidable past taking form in fashion, furniture, food and whatever else tweaks our senses and recollection. 

It is said you can't really know where you're going until you know where you have been. In less than a hundred years we have gone from a planet of abundant resources to an age of having to conserve and protect what is left.  As we celebrate agriculturalists this month, we are made aware of the central role of agriculture in many aspects and sectors of our lives.  The workers, producers and stewards are also the current custodians of not just agriculture but also the environment and our biodiversity. Along with the ecosystem and sustainability, all are closely linked and entwined.  #BAO at the Negros Museum entrance We are proudly #BAO: the unbowed carabao - beloved by Filipinos as faithful partners in life. The carabao or kalabaw is a water buffalo endemic in Southeast Asia. Aside from helping our farmers plow the fields, this majestic creature is our source of transportation, milk for sweets and meat for meals. 

Necessity truly is the mother of invention. Nothing like a sweltering summer in the tropics to bring on visions of cold puffy air. Preferably in the form of ice cream.  Long before anyone had a word for ice cream, folks around the world were already trying to make something like it.   an ancient icehouse inside a defensive wall, Iran photographed by Gen Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes KCIE, 1900 In China around 200 BCE, mixtures of milk and rice were frozen using ice collected from mountain lakes. By the Tang Dynasty, frozen milk desserts were being served to royalty from ice stored in underground houses built specifically for that purpose.  In Persia around 400 BCE, people were eating faloodeh , a frozen dessert made with rose water, lime juice, and delicate noodles, a version of which still exists today.  In India, kulfi developed as a slow-frozen milk dessert packed with pistachio, saffron, and cardamom. In the Middle East, people were drinking sharbat , fruit syrups...

A new #BAO logo for the Negros Season of Culture . was recently launched to celebrate BAO, the unbowed carabao . BAO is the designated ambassador and voice for our Visayan roots in the Philippines.  #BAO logo , 2026 BAO is a curator of our Visayan heritage who provides us with insightful observations that highlight and recommend a selection of activities and specialties of the Negros Island Region. #BAO regular posts are now available on social media in Facebook and Instagram , as well as Medium and Substack .  George Gozum is the talented and skilled creator of the new and distinctive #BAO logo. A seasoned creative professional with extensive experience in fashion illustration, design, and branding. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City since August 2023.  #BAO logo launch on IG

Have you heard of The Blue Mind Theory ? It is the idea that being near water, or even just experiencing the sound of water and/or picturing it, can bring a person into a calmer state and boost their mood.  According to Dr. Nick Bach , a psychologist and CEO of Grace Psychological Services, “ The effect of water increases dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels while reducing cortisol. [T]he sound, color, and touch of water can lower the pulse rate and increase calmness. ”  Mambukal Resort As the heat of an El Nino summer builds in our tropical island, folks are taking to the water wherever they can get close to it. The Philippines is an archipelago in the Western Pacific Ocean made up of 7,641 islands, of which approximately 2,000 are inhabited - plenty to accommodate the overheated hordes. 

Palm trees with their towering trunks and feathery fronds are enduring symbols of life, resilience, and prosperity. Across millennia, they have inspired myths, religious rituals, and artistic works, deeply rooted in human culture. From ancient civilizations to modern cities, the palm tree transcends borders and generations of symbolism and significance. Few plants are more recognizable than the mighty palm. They rise triumphant, heedless of their surroundings, confident in their sturdy trunked foundation. idyllic island paradise  Humanity has revered palms throughout the ages. Date palms played a pivotal role in building and fueling early cultures. They were grown 5000 years ago for their shade, high-energy fruit, and construction materials. Across eons and cultures, palm leaves symbolize victory with integrity, a meaning reinforced when we look skyward to see the leaves catch the wind.