getting to La Carlota from Cebu...the hardest way

For starters, either go to the Ceres depot at midnight in Reclamation or pray for a seat and decide to wait for the bus at the South Bus Terminal before 2 a.m. Be prepared to compete for space with luggage so many even the aisles is sure to be piled high with it. If travel time happens to be during the Christmas holidays, pay one of the many "pasalubong" vendors to save you a sure seat (which I didn't do for some personal reasons).If you are a female, and is travelling alone, expect a male seatmate to chat you up. Be polite. Answer questions and give a subtle hint that you prefer to catch some shut eye for the long trip ahead than making a small talk.

The road to Bato should have been a relaxing 3-hour scenic trip (Php 140) , but since it is still dark, there is nothing to do but sleep. Travel from Cebu City to Bato takes three hours. It takes 30 min for the barge (run by the Maayo Shipping, Inc: fare at Php 60) to fill out and another 30 min to cross the channel between Cebu and Negros islands. Lights from Tampi are actually visible from the other side, it must have been a sight to behold at daytime.

On Negros Soil, expect the bus to stop at every town from Bais wherever Ceres has a terminal. Fare from Tampi to Bangga Pation in the municipality of San Enrique is Php 160. Lunch is usually taken in Kabankalan where fresh catch from nearby Himamaylan is usually sold (I got more than a kilo of crabs for a measly Php 250). The road along Mabinay has improved much since two years ago. And it helps that Ceres trips plying the Cebu-Bacolod via Mabinay employ responsible drivers that managed to shuttle the vehicle through the zigzag roads without squealing tires (one bus of theirs plowed a number of trishaws on the hiway on the day I went home).

Inns and highland resorts dot the whole length of the road too, with billboards here and there to herald their presence.From Bangga Patio, La Carlota is only a little over than an 8-km ride by tricycle or PUJs (ETA is 1:00 p.m.).

Ceres Daily Bus Schedule

From Cebu South Bus Terminal to Bacolod via Mabinay: 2:00 AM, 7:00 AM
From Bacolod to Cebu South Bus Terminal via Mabinay:

Maayo Shipping, Inc.
Tampi, San Jose, Negros Oriental

Maayo Shipping lines have small barge, accommodating two ten-wheelers and three cars in a single trip. Passengers can opt to stay in the van for the duration of the crossing the channel or take a seat on the upper deck. Restrooms are basic but satisfactorily clean.

Daily Barge Schedule

Bato-Tampi and Tampi-Bato
AM - 5:30, 6:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00
PM - 1:00, 3:00, 4:00, 7:00