Road to Don Salvador Benedicto via the Pandanon, Murcia route.
I heard about the same occuring in Los Banos, Laguna but I haven’t experienced it until this. We parked our car beside the KM34 SB13 road marker, put in on neutral and then voila! our car moved backward on the downhill slope.
They call this occurence the gravity hill or magnetic hill. We were awed by what we saw and talked much about it after the trip. Fascinating as it is, though, science (or is it?) explains it as a mere optical illusion. According to Wikipedia, “…Objects one would normally assume to be more-or-less perpendicular to the ground (such as trees) may actually be leaning, offsetting the visual reference.”
Down goes my excitement….Oh well, whatever it is, it still makes for a good tourist attraction. Check it out for yourself!
Tried this the other day (October 7, 2011) I fully understand it’s an optical illusion but it’s absolutely cool to watch. So not claiming it has anything to do with Magnetics but a great optical illusion that everyone who’s not a party pooper will enjoy. Coming from Bacolod towards San Carlos City park your card right next to the 34km marker and place the car in Neutral. I suggest the occupants except the driver get out of the car and view it from the side of the road to get a better perspective. Enjoy!
Park your CAR (spell check)
I think that long stretch of road has an optical illusion effect. We tried going neutral 2 kilometers before that 34k/13km marker and the car also went backwards. However, the one at the 34k marker is the steepest. I particularly love the scenery there.
WOW!! Mega.. we should try it too soon with the Gang!! Okies.. I sooo love your blog… the articles are worth reading for and well, i get a chance to share my write ups too!!! thanks a lot!!!
It would be very exciting mega! Of course, any news on Bacolod and Negros is welcome here. Thanks also for your well written write ups.
The marker actually says 34 kms. from point zero. Kilometer 0 should start in front of the Provincial Capitol.. (I’ve seen that marker before.. way back)..
So decoding that marker… its says.. 34 kms from Bacolod.. and at that geographical point… its 13 kms more, until you reach SB.. (Don Salvador Benedicto)
we did this several times…as in…it’s creepy actually. hehe
@Teejay – Yeah, I only noticed it now. Strange no? Maybe it’s just a coincidence.
uh oh…i’m having goosebumps. it says there its on km 13.
If you leave your car on neutral on a downhill slope…. You’ll only have one thing… “a run-away car”…
Don Salvador Benedicto is an awesome place to be when you are in Negros. It like a little Baguio literally. let us help promote our own tourist attraction so we can further developed it and likewise attract investors in the area.
A spectacular potential tourist destination to be developed.
I would like to stress some interesting points here for the reason that I have tried it myself twice to unsuspecting guests a few years back (I’m a Negrense :-)… I think the occurrence there has something to do with a “very strong magnetic field” …i.e. considering it’s quite near to a mass of magnetic rocks,ores, or the lack of it…if you will(as some people would suggest it,hehehe)! And one more thing, I would like to point out that when you say…”our car move backward on a downhill slope…” you’re NOT actually on a slanting position(inclined position if you are coming from Bacolod en route to San Carlos City), but on a “declined” (READ:sloping forward)part of the road. So the fact that I’m pointing it out is to offer more excitement and surprise for would-be guests to blow their brains out WHY their vehicles are moving BACKWARDS if placed in front of the road sign with the conscious knowledge that the pavement is NOT sloped at the rear side but is actually a bit higher in relation to the pavement’s point of view. Now it’s up to the next adventurer to confirm this or otherwise….
Thanks Anton. Sorry it took so long for me to reply. If you’re going to try the magnetic hill at DS Benedicto, please have it on video so we can show it here. 😀
ooohhh!!! this is really exciting…i havent experienced it but maybe soon when we go there 🙂 hehehehehe!!! your blog rocks!!!