Basketball's doyen Yeo

By Tony Mariadass

Pictures by Azneal Ishak (Malay Mail)

Hailing from tiny state Perlis, Datuk Yeoh Choo Hock, a former physical education teacher rose to become a legend in the development of basketball not only in Malaysia but Asia.

People like Yeoh are a rare breed who are prepared to sacrifice their health for the game.

Starting off as a state basketball coach in 1970, Yeoh has been involved in the game for 45 years now.

In 2012, he suffered a stroke mainly because of the stress of his job and extensive travelling he had to do in the name of the game.

When he wanted to step down as the secretary-general of the FIBA Asia where he had held the post from 1998 after suffering the stroke on Chinese New Year day when he was back in his hometown in Kangar, the game still sought his expertise.

FIBA Asia president Sheikh Saud Ali- Al-Thani did not want to let a man with such great knowledge and contribution he has made to the game, to just step down.

He called for an emergency meeting of FIBA Asia and changed the constitution to pave the way to appoint Yeoh as the Emeritus secretary-general.

That is the kind of admiration, adulation and adoration Yeeo has garnered for his services.

Accolades for Yeoh are non-stop and everyone in basketball only has nice things to say about him.

Some of the accolades that has come his way include: “Some men are born great. Some men have greatness thrust upon them. And some men are the very definition of greatness. Yeoh belonged to this rare third group of men,” attributed S. Mageshwaran from India who wrote extensively on basketball in Asia.

“Yeoh was not born a legend. But for sure he grew into a legend with an approach that was driven by simplicity, but with unflinching focus and dedication with a touch of spirituality underlining his entire life,” said Sheikh Saud at the appreciation gala dinner for Yeoh in 2012.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) long time secretary-general and now assistant secretary said: “Yeoh is a very hard working person… full of ideas, full of energy. He has devoted his whole life for basketball. The biggest contribution he made to basketball was that he really worked hard at popularising basketball among the various ethnic communities in Malaysias when he ran the non-Chinese basketball tournaments.

“He initiated the Basketball for Peace movement, which is quite extraordinary, because I don’t think any sport organisation has done that.”

Indeed that was Yeoh and he readily admits that basketball is his way of life.

“My life has been only basketball. I can’t imagine leading a life without basketball,” said Yeoh who turns 71 on Dec 20.

“Basketball has been my religion. Basketball has been my God. I made some wonderful friends through basketball.”

Yeoh is still the modest man he is known for despite his vast contribution and achievements from the game.

Yeoh’s journey with basketball began in 1970 when he became the head coach of Perlis Basketball Association, a position he held till 1975. He also became the Advisor of Perlis Basketball Association in the year 1980 and remains so till date.

He was the national coach from 1975 to 1989 and moved to administration of the game when he became the deputy secretary-general of Malaysia Basketball Amateur Association of Malaysia (MABA) in 1984 and then became the secretary-general from year 1990 to 2008. In 2008, Yeoh was elected as a vice president of MABA for a four-year term.

Yeoh has been one of the greatest contributors of basketball in Malaysia - the 12-storeyed Malaysian Amateur Basketball Association (MABA) building – is a standing testimony.

MABA House which took shape in May 1971 saw Yeoh carry on the creation and dream of a resourceful man and who had become president of MABA six years earlier, the late Tan Sri Khaw Khai Boh  who was then the Minister of Housing and Development.

Together with the likes of Datuk Lee San Choon and Datuk Chan Ah Chye, Yeoh took MABA further through and expansion phase with the building of the Basketball Stadium and carpark when he was appointed the build committee chairman.

Yeoh raised the money for the building through a lottery draw and also hosting China to a first basketball friendly in Malaysia after diplomatic ties was established in 1974, where a total RM10 million was raised for the project.

The perseverance, persistence, panache and a penchant for hard work, has certainly made Yeoh not only a mark in Malaysia but synonym for basketball in Asia and the world of basketball.

He has held several important positions in almost every position and top sport organisations in Malaysia and abroad.

At the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Yeoh, was a member of the Coaching Committee from 1987-2008.

At the Asian Basketball Confederation as it was known then, Yeoh began his career as a technical assistant to the ABC from year 1983 to 1990, and then became the deputy-secretary general from 1994 to 1998.

Yeoh is also the founder-secretary general of the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA), being one of its founding fathers in 1994.

At the Commonwealth basketball level he was a key contributor in the basketball development amongst Commonwealth nations holding the position of treasurer in Commonwealth Basketball Association from 1983 to 1997 and vice president from year 1998 to 2006.

At the International Federation of Basketball Asia (FIBA Asia), he held the position of secretary-general from 1998 to 2012.

At FIBA, the world body, Yeoh was a member of the Technical Commission from the year 1990 to 1994, member of the FIBA Central Board from 1998 to 2006, and honorary vice president from 2002 to 2006.

To sum it up, Yeoh has held every position the game has to offer in Malaysia, Asia and world.

A national Level 3 Certificate holder since 1974, Yeoh also guided the Malaysian National team to several achievements, has been team manager at  the 1987 Sea Games in Jakarta, FIBA Commissioner at three Olympics (1992 in Barcelona, 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens) and FIBA World championships for men, youth women and women .

Among the top awards and recognitions awarded to Yeoh include:

1997: Best CEO Award by USA Basketball Association

2001: John Wooden Life Service Award by USA Basketball Association

2000: Millennium Recognition Award by Malaysia Association of Physical Education in Sports Science.

In recent years, Yeoh also has held the position of CEO for Malaysian Basketball League MBL from year 2005 to 2006.

He has also organised a basketball invitation tournament in Myanmar in year 2003 to promote world peace. With six countries participating, the event was first ever basketball event to be organised in Myanmar in more than 33 years.

No one can match the legacy Yeoh has left for basketball and it is only fitting that Olympic Council of Malaysia induct him into their Hall of Fame when they announce the latest inductees at next month.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

Commentary

Level Field

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have come under severe criticism for several decisions of late and while they have themselves to blame for some of them, many were consensual and in line with moving forward.

Many of the decisions were driven by the wishes, needs and agreement of the state FAs, fans, the National Sports Council (NSC), media rights partner MP & Silva and the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP).

Heading the list of decisions made at the FAM executive committee meeting on Tuesday night, which received mixed reaction, was to end Singapore’s four-year stint in the Malaysian Super League.

In 1994, Singapore had parted ways with Malaysian football after winning the Malaysian League and Cup double.

After the recent decision, the Singapore newspapers went to town with headlines like: “Lions XII kicked out of Malaysian football”; “Singapore team booted out of Malaysia League”; and “Singapore unceremoniously ditched” , which were not very complimentary to FAM.

It was not an easy decision because it had politically implications and endangered our longstanding relationship with the FA of Singapore, but FAM had to do it, following pressure from fans who complained of the high cost of travelling to watch matches in the Republic, problems with entering the island as the immigration hassled them and above all, only giving limited tickets to Malaysian fans.

The broadcasting rights were another issue as MP & Silva had agreements in place that had to be fulfilled. After all, the agency had pledged RM1.26 billion to the 15-year partnership.

FAS were not willing to budge on these issues, making it difficult for FAM.

FMLLP, created for the privatisation of the Malaysian football league system next year, also had terms and conditions to be met.

The call for Singapore to field their senior team so that it was a level playing field for all teams also did not meet with favourable response.

Teams competing in the M-League were not happy with claims by Singapore that they could do well in the M-League even with their development team.

The state FAs wanted the best team from Singapore so that such talk could be dispelled.

There have been discussions with FAS to resolve these issues but in the end, FAM had to decide to leave Singapore out.

As much as Singapore’s presence adds glamour and excitement to the League, our neighbour benefit a great deal more than Malaysia from their participation.

The decision to disband the Young Tigers team, which has drawn flak as well, was also discussed with the state FAs and the requirement for licensing for all teams; one of the conditions for attaining the licence was that the teams had to be Under-18 and Under-15.

The return of the Young Tigers will strengthen the state youth teams and give them a steady base to start with.

But this decision could be reserved as the NSC, who are assisting in funding youth football development and have increased the funds to RM3 million a year, are demanding that in view of the 2017 Sea Games hosted by Malaysia, a project team has to be in place.

A decision is expected to be made soon and it is of utmost importance so as not to keep the M-League in limbo next year.

While there is a possibility of a team continuing to play in the League, the project team can be kept for training from time to time and also to attend overseas attachments.

Urgency and timing are what FAM have to address at once.

FAM have also been criticised for the change in the dates of the exco meeting last Tuesday, which not only clashed with the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals but also was informed late. The secretariat need to be hauled up for sitting on the matter and not prioritising their agenda.

They also need to decide if their plate is full, thus causing delays and embarrassing moments.

For instance, one of the reasons for the delay in the technical and task force committee in making decisions on the national and Under-23 coach is the late submission of applications.

About 70 coaches had applied for the job and all the applications were addressed to the secretariat. The secretariat, for reasons best known to them, delayed submitting the documents to the relevant committees to be vetted.

Maybe, all matters pertaining to technical or coaching matters should be directed to the relevant committees with a copy addressed to the secretariat for their knowledge to ensure efficiency and speedy action.

Indeed, the secretariat need to buck up to avoid further embarrassing FAM.

All said, FAM, as much as they have been hit by criticism, are trying their best to move forward in the best interests of the sport.

Those officials who are doing what they can to sort out things at FAM must be given a chance to do their work. Meanwhile, the hangers-on who have served their time have to move out for the sake of the game. They cannot be allowed to continue to give FAM a bad name.

TONY MARIADASS is a sports

journalist with more than
three decades of experience
and is passionate about
local sports.
He can be reached at
tmariadass@gmail.com

Twitter: @tmariadass​​

Mystical Muscat

By Tony Mariadass

 Explore the secrets of Oman

Muscat, Oman never ceases to captivate visitors with its historical architecture water sports and treasures. An unlikely place one wants to visit, but a visit will reveal how much Oman has to offer, which is unique and experiences which will leave an everlasting memory. It has a variety of experiences awaiting for in inquisitive traveler.

  Not many people would consider Oman a holiday destination but it will surprise with what it has to offer.

The Sultanate of Oman may not boast may 'firsts' and 'biggest' like its neighbours however its rich history, traditional charms and pristine coastlines is gaining popularity among travellers.

Some may not even know where thus Gulf nation is.

Nestled on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arb Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and Yemen in the southwest. It also has two enclaves – the Musandam Peninsula and Madha – which is separated by UAE.

Oman overlooks the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. It also controls the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important facilities in the region, linking the Sea of Oman with the Arabian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is a gateway to all ships coming from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

Oman is a seaside nation with a coastline spanning 3,165 kilometres!

Little surprise that a wide variety of activities are sea related.

Oman had hosted 2^nd Asian Beach Games in 2010 held in Muscat and Almusannah.

A total of  12 sports – bodybuilding, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach football, beach sepak takraw, beach volleylwoodball, jet ski, marathon swimming, sailing, tent pegging and triathlon – were held.

Among the experiences a traveler can experience include a wide variety of pristine beaches and islands, world class diving, snorkeling and other water sports.

Weekend picnics and barbecues are popular on the beaches and people driving their cars right up to the shore to park and chat is a pretty common sight.

While turtle and whale watching is an attraction, it is the dolphin watching is a main attraction, especially in Muscat and Musandam.

There are various dolphin watching tours, including travelling in boats which has see through glasses at the bottom of the boat.

I indeed had a whale of time watching these beautiful dolphin shoals.

My dolphin adventure began at the Oman Marina, which is home to some of the yachts of the rich and famous. Bobbing next to those huge vessels was this little speedboat that we were to board. It whisked us off, speeding into the open sea.

 Normally it takes between 20 to 30 minutes to spot the dolphins, but there are times when visitors have returned from the trip not sighting a single dolphin. It is the first thing operators warn the visitors stating that there is no guarantee to see the dolphins.

I was lucky that I saw hundreds of dolphin but not before anxious moments that I may return disappointed. It took about 40 minutes into the deep sea before we spotted several other boats who had already spotted the dolphins.

It was truly amazing to see the gentle creatures swimming freely and performing flips, for our entertainment, we presumed. Everywhere we looked we saw dolphins. And they didn’t seem to mind the boat or us, swimming around like we weren’t even there.

We feasted our eyes on the hyperactive dolphins for half an hour or so before the boatman took us back to the marina.

The round trip took about two hours and cost 15 Omani Rial (RM188.00).

If anything, dolphin watching alone is worth a trip to Oman!

Mountains constitute a large percentage of the environment of Oman which would mean that even a short drive to have dinner will involve driving through the scenic mountains. But the highways and roads in Oman are top-class and on a par with Germany’s Auto-Bahn. The only difference is that there is a speed limit and the roads twist and turn around the mountains.

Muscat is the capital of Oman and perhaps the country’s most cosmopolitan city.

Muscat is a wonderful blend of tradition and modernity, which is what makes it so unique. Today, it protected by a stone moat that replaced the walls that had shielded this important city. Walking through some of the older parts of Muscat, you see how the old historical buildings have been beautifully preserved and enhanced with modern additions.

Cultural sites including forts, ancient tombs and prehistoric sites are all there to explore.

One thing that stands out about the city is that you hardly see any building above five storeys.

   The Grand Mosque at Sultan Qaboos St is glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark the 30th year of his reign. Quietly imposing from the outside, the main prayer hall is breathtakingly rich. The Persian carpet alone measures 70m by 60m wide, making it the second-largest hand-loomed Iranian carpet in the world; it took 600 women four years to weave. The mosque can accommodate 20,000 worshipers, including 750 women in a private musalla (prayer hall).

The Royal Opera House Muscat offers concerts and performances at a very affordable prices as compared elsewhere in the world.

The arrival of the Royal Opera House Muscat in 2011 was a high point in the              cultural life of the capital. Built by the same architects as the Grand Mosque, the         understated marble exterior belies the magnificent interior of inlaid wood and 

 Arabesque designs.

 A not to miss while in Muscat is the Mutrah Souq (market and bazzars).

Many people come to Mutrah Corniche just to visit the souq, which retains the chaotic interest of a traditional Arab market albeit housed under modern timber roofing. There are some good antique shops selling a mixture of Indian and Omani artefacts among the usual textile, hardware and gold shops. Bargaining is expected but the rewards are not great, as any discount will be small.

 

Other experiences in Oman include exploring and experiencing include wildlife tours in the Sultanate’s nature reserves and biodiversity spots.

Desert safaris and adventures is another for adventurous visitors not to be missed.

Trekking, rock climbing and caving adventures is also available besides horse and camel events to watch.

Indeed, one is not short of experiencing something to one’s taste in Oman.

It is an understatement to say that there are many secrets to be explored in Oman.

How to get to Oman:

Oman Air has a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Muscat and it takes about seven hours.

One can also fly to Muscat via Dubai or Abu Dhabi or even take a car ride which takes about four hours.

Get it fixed

Commentary

Is match-fixing, which has become a global menace in football, being swept under the carpet in Malaysia?

Not a week goes by without insinuations, whether at home or abroad, of matches being fixed. Although no concrete proof of this mischief ever surfaces, betting trends and results indicate manipulation.

And the fact that Malaysians have been linked and even arrested in connection with match-fixing overseas leads to suspicions that they may be involved in local football as well.

Singapore has made football betting legal but it keeps a close eye on the activity and makes arrests from time to time, prosecuting the errant.

Malaysia, however, has taken a lax stand. Or least that is the impression we get because we hardly ever hear of offenders being hauled up.

Even Malaysia’s 10-0 drubbing at the hands of United Arab Emirates and 6-0 by Palestine in the World Cup qualifier did not see our football authorities investigate.

Instead, in a written parliamentary reply by the Youth and Sports Ministry (prepared by the National Sports Council) to a question from the opposition on Malaysia’s 10-0 loss, the reason given was: “The national football squad Harimau Malaya was too tired after playing a slew of both friendly and local matches before their game.

“Several weakness were identified. Among others, fitness level was low during the defeat due to tight schedules, including international friendlies.”

Interestingly, when the national team went for a friendly match in Muscat, Oman, in March and arrived two days prior to the fully sponsored match by the Oman FA, they were more interested in having a sumptuous dinner at a Malaysian restaurant on the first day and another dinner at the Malaysian ambassador’s resident, before going down 6-0 on match day, having undergone minimum training.

Before the return leg match against UAE on Tuesday, Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the demise of Malaysian football can be blamed, in part, on continuing problems with match-fixing, which was the final nail in the coffin.

He said before winding up the 2016 Supply Bill for his ministry: “Match-fixing has been shackling national football since several years ago. But continuous effort is being carried out by the FA of Malaysia, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Royal Malaysian Police with the ministry to combat the scourge.”

What is puzzling is that the national team gets a drubbing in one game and loses the very next game with a decent score. A team cannot go bad overnight or bounce back with creditable results in another. Inconsistency arouses suspicions of what is going on with the team.

During the June Sea Games in Singapore, a bookie was arrested, charged and convicted for bribing a Timor Leste official to arrange for his team to lose to Malaysia.

Whether FA of Malaysia saw the need to pursue the matter on the Malaysian side is a mystery.

How much is being done in Malaysia to combat match-fixing?

Since the 1994 football bribery scandal, in which 126 players were questioned over corruption, 21 players and coaches were sacked and 58 players were suspended, many other cases have surfaced.

In Perlis in 2012, players admitted to having a contract with a bookmaker to lose matches, and in the same year, FAM suspended 18 youth players and banned a coach for life for match-fixing.

Kuala Lumpur FA were also in the middle of controversy of engaging a sponsor who was suspected of being involved in match-fixing and several players were implicated two years ago.

More recently, the Football Association of Penang (FAP) lodged an official complaint to the FAM integrity committee over the nature of T-Team’s 7-0 Premier League victory over basement club SPA Putrajaya in Kuala Terengganu.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin defends the role of the national body in combating match-fixing by the fact that they have already set up the Integrity Committee since 2010 and had made it compulsory for every affiliate to set up such a committee in their respective states in 2013.

The committee is chaired by Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat and includes Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh, Bukit Aman's Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice-Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Roslee Chik, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil and Datuk Azam Baki.

The committee is responsible for screening, investigating foreign and local players and officials involved in the M-League to ensure that bribery or match-fixing is not involved.

Khairy also had said that several suspects and syndicates had been identified and were being monitored by MACC and PDRM.

But have they done enough and have action been taken?

It was indeed puzzling that FAM who earlier this month engaged Sportradar – sports data technology and services provider - the agreement did not include their renowned betting pattern monitoring service

Despite calls from Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim – urging the national body to utilise Sportradar's monitoring services, which raises red flags based on betting patterns for potential match-fixing, FAM chose to leave it out.

"We did not touch on monitoring of betting patterns in regards to this agreement. There were some discussions in the past ... it is something we need to look at further in the near future," said FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad had said when signing the deal earlier this month.

Even the Asean Football Federation (AFF) who engaged the services of Sportsradar’s Fraud Detection System (FDS), which was used to monitor the AFF Suzuki Cup recently, had urged FAM to engage them to fight match-fixing in the M-League.

With such lack of urgency from FA of Malaysia, it will be little wonder if match-fixing in Malaysia will continue to have a field day.

Even Nepal FA had got their act together to combat match fixing and had players charged recently for match-fixing in world cup qualifiers.

Before the start of the Malaysia Cup competition, I had mentioned to a few friends that club teams – Felda United and PKNS – will have a grand run in the tournament. Any takers?

TONY MARIADASS is a sports

journalist with more than
three decades of experience
and is passionate about
local sports.
He can be reached at
tmariadass@gmail.com

Twitter: @tmariadass​​

Mountain Getaway - Family-Run Wonderland

By Tony Mariadass

tmariadass@gmail.com

Cool, refreshing, breathtaking, scenic mountain getaway

The Campuestohan Highland Resort in Bacolod City in Philippines is a unique theme park and exotic, but very affordable.

Nestled with Mt. Mandalagan as a background it is a place for young and old to experience and revel in.

The resort is the brainchild of the visionary couple Ricardo Cano Tan and his wife Nenita Tan, who built this nature’s wonder from scratch, starting from conceptualising, designing and seeing their dream become a reality.

This glorious haven in Negros Occidental is situated right on the boundaries of two of the most progressive cities in the province - Bacolod City and Talisay City.

The property is on a 5-hectare land situated about 800-meters above sea, and from this vantage point, one can see the breathtaking view.

Looking towards the east, one can see below the sprawling cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Bago. In fact, one will also be able to see the port of the town of Pulupandan. On clear days, one can see the western side of the island of Panay and Guimaras, bounded by the calm sea bedecked by the beautiful blue sky and white clouds above it. To the west of the resort are the majestic mountains covered in lush vegetation and hundreds of thousands of century old trees that have remained untouched for several generations. To the south of the resort is the equally majestic Mount Canlandog.

 

Most of the time, the weather in the resort is downright cool and mist engulf the resort in minutes and disappear as fast too for a clear view.

It is indeed like walking in heaven in this resort.

The uniqueness of the resort is that it is a friendly family resort which can be used for retreats for groups, holiday stay or just a day trip. Activities are plenty and above all unique and thrilling.

Above all it is very affordable. The entrance fee for a day trip which includes the use of the swimming pool, children’s playgrounds, resort grounds and hanging bridge is about RM17, while rides cost between RM4 to a maximum of RM22.

Among the attractions include the biggest gorilla in the Philippines which roars every few minutes to give a real mountain atmosphere.

The resort also boasts of the first in the world cable hamster wheel which is 100m metres long. Other attractions include the four lane sky bicycle ride which is 100 metres long, the zip line which stretches for 340 metres and virtually travels through the resort, rope course, grand carousel, mini train ride and pony rides.

Another latest attraction which is in its final stage of readiness is the wave/wade pool with a stream running around it and a windmill.

Unlike other theme parks which have their accommodation in a separate buildings away from the park, all the accommodations here are in the activity areas itself.

For instance, one can stay inside the gorilla, windmill or beside the swimming pools.

From the resort entrance, one can immediately see the beautiful and imposing log cabin that is somewhat reminiscent of the picturesque structures that dot the countryside of the old west. The log cabin offer spacious rooms, complete with amenities.

The resort also offer a number of attractive, single-detached cottages, resembling cottages of The Hobbits in Lord of the Rings, which is called Bonita Huts at the resort. True to their name, which is Spanish word for pretty or beautiful, these huts really look appealing and oozing with charm that would definitely captivate visitors. Then there is the shoe-house accommodation.

If one is just visiting for the day, they go for any of the available day cottages, ranging from the big cottage which could accommodate twenty persons, small cottage good for twelve to fifteen persons and umbrella hut which that can take in ten persons. One can also opt for big canopy tents, which can accommodate ten persons, and small canopy tents which is good for six to eight persons.

While the resort can accommodate about 1,500 visitors in a day, it has accommodation for about 150 people in the various accommodations sites around the resort.

Prices for overnight accommodation range between RM300 to RM700 per day for three to six persons depending on which accommodation and is inclusive entrance fee and breakfast.

“This is a dream come true for me and my wife. We were only dreaming of a retirement home, but when we saw the property we wanted to share it with others,” said Tan a former Councillor in Bacolod City who will be running for the post again in the coming elections.

“What is fulfilling is that every part of this resort was designed by us,” said Tan who said has already spent US$2 million developing property.

“It is an ongoing process as I keep adding things as I come up with ideas.”

Both husband and wife without fail walk around the resort to personally welcome the guests and at the same time get their feedback.

“We continuously look for ideas to improve this place and what better way that getting feedbacks from the guests. We also want to ensure that the guests are satisfied and well looked after during their stay here,” said Tan who was the former president of Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) and also president of Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in the early 90s.

Tan also has his son Ralph to assist him in the management of the resort.

“This resort has a very personal touch from us and it is a family affair,” added the 67 year-old Tan.

Indeed it Tan has turned resort into a wonderland that can fill the hearts and minds of children and adult alike.

Reinventing the wheels of time by remembering the age of the dinosaurs right into the realm of superheroes and giants like the Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Thor and the Green Lantern, it is all there in the ‘Heroes Hall’.

There is famous personages in the world like Elvis Presley and Michael Jordan besides King Kong, the giant gorilla.

There are two huge swimming pools and another wave and wading pool is to be ready soon for kids and adults also awaits those who wanted to take an invigorating dip amidst the glorious backdrop of imposing mountains.

A huge function hall, pavilion, and a gourmet restaurant is also part of the resort.

The food at the restaurant is something to savour, especially the local delicacies is a gourmet haven for food connoisseurs.
One of the resorts greatest assets is the owners themselves enjoy cooking and serving delicious food specialties to friends and associates.
This is why it is not surprising if the dishes served at resort are truly exceptional in taste and quality.
You can choose from among the many variety of dishes that the resort restaurant offers, from the truly flavorsome "Fried Cansi" to the mouthwatering and extremely popular Ilonggo dish called KBL or "Kadyos-Baboy-Langka."

And to spoil one rotten at the resort, it even as a spa to relax after a day’s out experiencing the resort’s activities.

Getting to the resort from the Bacolod City International airport itself is an experience as one passes through villages and narrow roads as one makes the gradual ascend with directions to the resort all along the way.

It will take about half an hour from airport or up to 45 minutes from the city centre and unlike in Manila – it is minus the traffic jam. Life is much slower moving here unlike the hustle and bustle in Manila.

As one comes nearer the resort, the air gets cooler. Agriculture thrives in this side of Talisay City, with various crops being cultivated on both sides of the road. Plenty of gamecock farms can also be seen on either side of the road since it is widely believed that game fowls breed well in cooler surroundings.

At the resort, security is at its best with the resort’s own security working round the clock assisted by the local security force fully armed.

The resort also has its own ambulance on stand-by in case of emergencies.

Every detail has been taken care of at the resort so that the guest can have a peace of mind and just the truly unique and enchanting experience that they will surely cherish all their lives.

While any time is a good time to visit the resort, maybe planning a trip during the third week of October will “killing two birds with one stone’ as the Masskara Festival is celebrated then.

Masskara is the most colourful festival in Philippines and has now become a major national attraction and has gained popularity both at home and aboard.

The Festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop and the price of sugar was as an all-time low. In the midst of these tragic events, Bacolodnons decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles.

A prominent feature of the festival is the feature mask worn by participants. These are always adorned with smiling faces. Masskara thus a multitude of smiling faces. The smiling face which is the primary symbol of the Festival represent the positive outlook in life that despite all the distress and difficulties.

Other areas of interest to visit while in Bacolod include the ‘The Ruins’ in Talisay City which is one of the 12 most famous ruins in the world, the Mambukal Resort in Marcia, the San Sebastian Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace in Bacolod City.

The Campuestohan Highland Resort is certainly a must place to visit for a holiday if one wants to experience something different and exhilarating.

Key Facts:

Capital: Bacolod City

Population: 3.1 million

Land Area: 7,936.07 sq. km (or 792,607 hectares)

Boundaries:

North – Visayan Sea; East – Negros Occidental; South – Sulu Sea; West – Gulmaras Strait.

Getting to Bacolod City from Kuala Lumpur:

Airlines: (to Manila) Malaysia Airlines and Cebu Air (3 hour 15 minutes)

Connecting from Terminal 2 or 3 in Manila by Cebu Air or Philippines Airlines to Bacolod City (1 hour 15 minutes).

Flying Cebu Air means connecting flight to Bacolod from same terminal – Terminal 3.

Inquiries & Bookings

For your reservations, please contact the following numbers:
Landline:+63 (034) 702-0964; +62 (034) 433-3335
Mobile: +63915-211-1406; +63917-300-5007; +63925-600-8088
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Office Address: Bacolod TP Truckers, Gonzaga St., Bacolod City
Resort Address: Sitio Campuestohan Brgy. Cabatangan/ alternate route via brgy. Granada and Alangilan Talisay City 6100 Philippines
Important:
* Reservations must be made at least 3 days ahead if resort visit will fall on a weekend, and at least 1 day before if coming on a weekday.
* In cases of delay or cancellation, kindly inform our office at least 3 hours before set time.