Tips and suggestions of an experienced traveler about Bacolod trip experience

Bacolod is the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental. Visit for the warm atmosphere, climate-wise and people-wise (the city's catch phrase is "city of smiles"), and also for beaches, great food and history.

Get in

Bacolod is located 45 minutes South of Manila by plane. Commercial flights are available daily from Manila and Cebu. If flying in to the Ninoy Aquino international airport in Manila you will have to change planes for the 45 minute hop to Bacolod. You will land at the new Bacolod-Silay Airport of international standards, and could use the bus to get to the city proper. The New Bacolod-Silay International airport serves domestic airlines:-

* Cebu Pacific (Cebu,Manila)
* PAL Express (Cebu)
* Philippine Airlines (Manila)
* Zest Airways (Manila)
* Air philippines (Cebu)

New Bacolod-Silay International airport witnessed the arrival of a charter flight from Kazakhstan which is the first International flight to land in the airport. The Airport plans further to handle more flights either of which international and domestic and either cargo or passenger flight.

Get around

Transportation within the city and to adjacent towns is by taxi or jeepney (local equivalent of a bus). Bus liners as well as rental cars are also available for travel.

Budget on Tranport

JEEPNEY: On a jeepney while paying a SENIOR Citizen and a STUDENT gets a discount.

TAXI: Around Bacolod and The Philippines the taxis have a flagdown rate of PHP30 + PHP2.50 for every 300 meters thereafter. Filipinos are fond of giving the change as a tip but it is not mandatory, if the meter states "PHP87.50, they typically give the entire 100 bucks. .

for Requirement of Taxi please call: San Nicolas Taxi Service 434-2206 or 434-3834

for requirement of Bus please call: Ceres Liner 433-4992 or 446-0681

for requirement of Airline outbound ticket bookings please call: Air Philippines 433-9210, 433-9204 Cebu Pacific 434-9064, 434-2021 Philippines Airlines 434-1595 to 96

* Negros Museum. Located in the old agriculture building close to the capitol building. View artifacts related to the sugar industry that began as the the main industry of the province in the 1800s. It also houses an international doll collection. The building is close to a large park, locally referred to as the "lagoon" because of an artificial pool within the park, on Lacson street.

* Orange Gallery along Lacson St. (just before Lopue's Mandalagan) showcases the work of local artists.

* Garden Ploys and Landscapes (Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines, 1997, 1998, 2000)

* Provincial Capitol Building

* Eco-Garden (Eroreco)

* Biodiversity Conservation Center for Negros Forests and Ecological Foundations, Inc.

* Casino Filipino Hotel

* Sta. Fe Resort and Restaurant

* Palmas Del Mar Village and Beach Club

* Bacolod Pavillon Resort and Restaurant

* Kindlecraft Candles and Ceramics, Brgy. Mandalagan

* Bacolod Shellcraft and Artwares, Brgy. Singcang

* Pottery Village, Brgy. Pahanocoy

* Anaware Ceramics, Hilado Extension

* The Negros Showroom, Association of Negros Producers, Lacson Street

* San Antonio Abad Church

* St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine, Brgy. Alijis

* Barangay sang Virgen Chapel, Sta. Clara Subd

* Centennial Bells, San Sebastian Cathedral

* Palacio Episcopal

* San Sebastian Cathedral

* Theodore Vinther Monument / Unknown Soldiers Monument, Bacolod Public Plaza

* Bacolod Plaza Bandstand

* Rizal Elementary School Park

* Fort San Juan, Gatuslao-Burgos Sts.

* "Ang Paghimud-os" statues, Capitol Lagoon

* Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon

* The Negros Museum, Old Capitol Building

* Old Provincial Capitol Building

* Buro-Buro and Bucal-bucal Springs

* Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park

* Negros Occidental Sports and Recreational Park (Panaad Stadium) Brgy. Mansilingan

* Iron Dinosaurs (vintage stream locomotives), La Herencia Entrance and Bacolod Murcia Milling Co. compound

* Bacolod Golf and Country Club and (Marapara), Brgy. Bata

* Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (Hacienda Binitin), Murcia

* Cockbreeding farms and cockfighting arenas
* University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. edit
* University of St. La Salle, was established in 1952 by seven American Brothers under the umbrella of the Philippine Province of the Brothers of the Christian Schools which is an international institute of religious dedicated to the service of mankind with special concern for the poor, through education. As a Catholic institution of learning offering to both men and women an educational program designed to develop their talents and abilities towards becoming truly contributing members of society, the University Of St. La Salle is committed to a curriculum that emphasizes person-development as an integrated and wholistic process of spiritual, social, intellectual and physical growth. The institution was elevated to university status on July 5, 1988, with the College of Engineering, College of Education, College of Nursing, College of Law and the Graduate School. The Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Accountancy and Education obtained PAASCU Level 3v accreditation. The following programs have been designed as CHED Centers of Development: Business and Accountancy, Chemical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Computer Engineering. In SY 1993, the College of Law was opened in inauguration rites. On March 2, 1996, a new campus was christened in ground breaking rites at Granada, the future site of a Science and Ecological Park. In SY 2002, the University of St. La Salle opened the College of Medicine. Throughout its existence, the University has produced topnotchers in board and bar examinations, and maintained superior passing rates. The University has produced leaders in the field of business and industry, art and culture sports and education, the various professions, and public service. In its 50 years of service, the University continues to keep faith with the with the vision and mission of St. John Baptist de La Salle, proclaimed by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of Teachers. edit

Do

participate in the festivities during the Masskara Festival (masskara, the Ilonggo word for mask). A big annual Mardi Gras like event celebrated every 3rd week of October. Each of the city's barangays (districts) joins the competition for the fiercely competitive best costumed group. Lots of food and handicraft stalls, street dancing and beer at the Bacolod city plaza area.

Go bowling or play billiards at Negros Superlanes and Entertainment Center at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex.

Join the fun in all the monthly activities at Colegio San Agustin-Baclod and experience the Augustinian way of life...

* DIZON RAMOS M USEUM, #42 Lacson - Burgos St. Bacolod City (Near the Corazon Locsin Montelibano, Memorial Hospital), ☎ (034) 434 8512, [3]. Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon, and 1:30 to 4:00 PM. The first 195o lifestyle museum in the Philippines, formerly the house of the couple Raymundo L. Dizon Sr. and Hermelinda V. Ramos. The main lifestyle exhibit is on the second floor and on the ground floor are compose of seven (7) galleries. Composed of the Vintage family photo as well Bacolod how it looks before, The National Artist gallery, The Holy Land Collection, The Alunan - Puentebella Dolls Collection, Rudy Dizon horse figures, Bro. Roly's crytal collection and the Masskara collection of ABS CBN that was turn over to the museum. Adult - Php 30.00, Students with Identification card - Php 10.00. edit

Buy

* Handicraft stores sell locally crafted goods. The ANP Showroom on 9th, corner Lacson Streets has a large selection and is conveniently located.

* Local artwork; paintings, etc. See "The Monk" by local artist Dennis Ascalon.

* Check out the fresh flower stalls. Vendors are clustered in front of the San Sebastian cathedral at the Bacolod city plaza.

* Check out the Robinson's, Gaisano City and SM City Malls. Most of the merchandise there is cheap or the same price in the US.

Eat

* A must-eat dish is the fresh lumpia (fresh spring roll; not fried). A delicately exquisite treat wrapped in a paper thin translucent crepe filled with fresh coconut tree heart (ubod), pork and shrimp with a garnish of scallion.

* Other local delicacies batchoy, piyaya and pinasugbo are all worth sampling. Check out the Virgie's, Mercy and Bongbong's shops.

* Bob's on North Drive for the friendly service and local fare. One of the oldest family-favorite restaurants.

* Carlo Restaurante Italiano (at the Goldenfield's complex). Italian, steak. Try the garlic smothered steak.

* Mu Shu Bar & Restaurant serves a fusion of asian cuisine. Try their Pritchon or pritong lechon (prito means "fried" and "lechon" means roast - usually the whole pig) and a good sampling of southeast asian dishes like Pad Thai, Hainanese Chicken, Nasi Goreng and drinks to match.

* Also try the famous local barbecue chicken called inasal (literal translation "cooked over the fire"). Lots of good local restaurants specialize in local fare. ;one of the most local area that has been the most oldest restaurants is the "manokan coutry" Try Aboy's for its inasal. Imay's for a wide variety and open-air dining.

* Jo's Chicken Inato is a great choice for fantastic chicken inasal served in a very "native" style. The food is served on a large banana leaf and typically silverware is not provided unless requested. This is truly a great place to eat for someone who doesn't want to eat something too exotic, but wants to try a native flare.

* For the non-gastronome, there's always the local McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts or Try the delicious "Chicken Joy" in Jollibee

* For a western taste locals, expats and tourists visit "IMBISS" near Lopues east mall. Famous for German sausages, Fish n chips and other local and international specialities.

* Seafood is good at Ting-Ting's North Drive and Pala-pala at 18th Street Lacson.

* Take Inasal to-go at Bacolod Chicken House Singcang. You can call them ahead and specify to have them wrap it good especially if you plan to take food on the plane. They're inasal doesn't lose its juiciness and is not that oily. Reheating using microwave for inasal is not recommended, instead use a steamer.

* Favorite Japanese restaurant is Kaisei along Lacson Street. The prices are reasonable and has a relaxed atmosphere. But if you want to go with Japanese Buffet, try out Inaka, Lacson Street. The food is good, has a wide variety of choice and priced favorably.

* For local native delicacies, Quan is a must with their famous Cuchinta and Puto

Famous Fast Food stores:

Jollibee: Gaisano City

Gatuslao

La Salle

Lacson

Libertad

Lopue's East

Luzuriaga

Robinson's Place Bacolod

SM City South Wing

Mcdonald's: SM City North Wing

Lopue's East

Cent. Market

* Marby Plaza. is a great choice for people who wants to save money. It is located near Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod. edit
* Uga. or dried fish is one of the best and most appetizing food for most of the bacoleños. Its salty taste makes it delectable, not only for the mouth but also for the smell and for the eyes. edit
* Imbiss, Lopues East. A place where locals get verbal abuse from Manchester owner Greg, and he waters down the beer edit

Drink

* the preferred beer is San Mig Light which is served at almost any restaurant.
* You might also try Tanduay, a very famous rum. Nice to pair with coke and ice.
* The local tuba would give you the best of a local exotic drink from fermented coconut juice.
* Bar hop at Goldenfield Commercial Complex and party at MO2 Restobar!
* Classier bars are at Breizh along Lacson St., Mandalagan and Moravia beside Riverside Hospital.
* Great Bacolod sisig can be found at KSL or Kubo Sa Lawn where they serve ice cold SanMig Light.
* Zagu. is one of the most popular cold drinks in the city. This can be bought in different outlets, in SM, Robinsons, or during their sponsorship at various schools and events.

Recommended Tours Within and Outside

BACOLOD CITY

As the entry point to the Province of Negros Occidental, Bacolod City offers wide of tours within and outside the city. Below are sample itineraries for a do-it-yourself city tour. But we recommend the services of a tour agency to help you with your tours particularly the various eco-tourism and special interests tours that Bacolod and its environs and nearby towns and cities could offer.

CITY TOUR

Preferably for half a day. Start with a walking tour around the city plaza, the San Sebastian Cathedral, the center of Catholic religious life in the city. The central market near the plaza andSan Sebastian Cathedral downtown area offers a wide array of native souvenirs and best buys from Bacolod like "uga" or dried fish and boneless "dangit", dried squid, fish tocino and a host of other dried items and food stuff.

Proceed to BREDCO port for a sweeping view of the various sea transports between Bacolod and Iloilo and between Bacolod and Manila.
Inter-island as well as International vessels also dock in this port.
From BREDCO Port, pass by the Bacolod City Hall, the seat of government of the city; then to the Golden Fields Commercial Complex, which is actually best visited at night, being the center of the city's night life. Proceed to a piaya making factory to see how this unique Negrense mouth-watering sweet delicacy is made. The St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and Shrine is along the way to the 25-hectare PANA-AD Park and Sports Complex comes end.
De Luzuriaga CemeteryFrom the sports complex, travel along the outer circumferential road with the breath-taking view of the 8,000 feet Kanlaon volcano in the background.

Proceed to Burgos-Lopez Jaena extension for that unique site- a private family cemetery that has been included in the Guiness Book of World Records as the only cemetery in the world at the intersection of two highways.
Your next destination should be the Capitol Lagoon in front of the Provincial Capitol; then the Negros Museum with its unique exhibit called "Sugar and Other Negros Tales" that tells the history of Negrense life before, during and after the arrival of the Spaniards.

For the nature conservationists, a visit to the Negros Forest Ecological foundation Breeding and Bio-diversity center is a must. The NEFFBC is just a stone's throw from the Negros Museum.
Depending on how much time you have, a visit to the shell mural and art deco of the Barangay sang Virgin or Sta. Clara Chapel is recommended.
Cap your Bacolod City tour with a "must" visit to the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) Showroom where you see the finest of the arts and crafts produced by Ilonggo ingenuity and artistic skill.

Prevailing tour agency rate for a minimum of 2 persons for 3 hours is P880.00 ( negotiable, depending on the number of tour participants).
Depending on visitor's preferences or for students on educational tours, visits to churches, sports facilities, factories, hotels, handicraft shops, ceramics factory. Food processing and manufacturing can also be arranged.

NEGROS SUGAR TOUR

Iron Dinosaur A full day to the sugar producing city of La Carlota, just 45 minutes south of Bacolod City. The tour includes a visit to an ancestral house, circa 1929; visit to an hacienda and its old muscovado mill, one of the country's oldest. Orientation on how sugar was made in the pre-industrialized past. Optional inclusion is a ride on an "iron dinosaur" through the picturesque sugarcane fields. Optional activities -- trekking, hiking, garden visits.

VMC TOURS

Victorias Church Victorias Milling Company, Inc. is the biggest integrated sugar mill and refinery in the world. The more than 7, 000 hectares compound is self-contained agro-industrial complex with a world-famous church, schools, cut-flowers farms, golf and country club, experimental farms and much more. Tours run everyday except weekends and Mondays. Contact the Public Relations Department of Victorias Milling Company (0912-503-1510) for an arrangements.

WAR MEMORIAL TOURS

Monument of the Unknown Soldier Can be a moving experience for Japanese, Filipino and American World War II veterans. The tour visitors to the provincial capitol, the monument of Theodore Vinther - the young American soldier who foiled the attempt of the Japanese soldiers to destroy Bago Bridge; the monument to the Unknown Soldier at the Bacolod City Plaza, the Patag War Memorial in the uplands of Silay City where the remaining Japanese soldiers in the island retreated, and Green Beach in Pulupandan where the liberating American forces landed and in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, where the Japanese soldiers surrendered to the Americans.

STEAM ENGINE TOURS

During the milling season from October to April, visits can be arranged to view old steam engines still chugging to and from the mills. The most interesting locomotives or iron dinosaurs as railway enthusiasts would call them, are operated by Hawaiian Philippines Company in Silay City. Central Azucarera de la Carlota in La Carlota City, Victorias Milling Company or VICMICO in Victorias City. Contact sugar mill company through your hotel.

Places of Interests in Bacolod City

Fountain of Justice
In front of the Bacolod City Hall, the former site of the old City Hall where the formal signing of the Spanish surrender to the local forces by Gen. Aniceto Lacson tool place - Col. Isidro Castro, Spanish governor of Negros, signed in behalf of he Spanish forces on November 7, 1898.

Bells of San Sebastian
The centennial bells of San Sebastian Cathedral were brought down from their places in the belfry and mounted at the right side of the churchyard in 1976, the 100th year anniversary of the Cathedral.

San Sebastian Cathedral
Built in 1876 upon the initiative of Fr. Mauricio Ferrero, a Recollect friar. It became a cathedral in 1933 is one of the century -old churches found in Negros Occidental.

Negros Museum
The Negros Museum is a unique historical and humanities museum in that in does not collect antiques but stories about the people of Negros Occidental. It showcases important historical events which made Negros as 'The Sugarbowl of the Philippines". Thus, the museum is sometimes referred to as 'The Sugar Museum'. Open from Tuesday to Sunday. from 10:00 A. to 6:00 PM. / Tel. No. 433-4764.

Palacio Episcopal
Older than the San Sebastian Cathedral by approximately 50 years, the Bishop's Palace was built by Fr. Julian Gonzaga but was eventually finish only in the 1890's. During and after the revolution of 1898, the Palacio served as refuge for the Spanish military and civic officials.

Museum Negrense de La Salle
The only school-based museum in Bacolod City that was born out of a dream to preserve vital documents, photographs, cultural artifacts and the history of Negros. The museum can accommodate 40 visitors at one time. Large groups are requested to call the Museum at least 48 hours before the visit at Tel. No. 435-5998. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Bacolod Plaza Bandstand and Gazebo
Right at the center of Bacolod Public Plaza, the bandstand was constructed in 1927 to complement the weekend cultural activities of the early Bacole�os, Names of world-famous composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner circle the sides of the roofing, attesting to the early Bacolodnon's familiarity with European culture.

Yulo's Park
The park is the site of the ancestral home of the prominent Yulo family. The Yulo's belong to a clan of politician's that helped shaped the status of Negros Occidental. - a premier province of the south. The Park used to be the center for social and recreational affairs in Bacolod at the turn of the century.

Negros Occidental High School Alumni Promide
Fronting the Negros Occidental High School along Araneta Street. The promenade used to be a sidewalk renovated and beautified by the city to honor the school alumni who are now prominent civic and government leaders.

Barangay sang Virgen Chapel
The Sta. Clara Subdivision chapel features a unique mural mosaic measuring a 9 ft. x 21 ft. of the lady of the Barangay Sang Virgen done on a collage of 95,000 pieces of shells of various sizes, shades and colors.

San Antonio Abad Church
This crown-shaped church features stations of the cross done by Bacolod's top artists. It also features an altar sculpture "The Risen Christ" done by a national Artist, Solomon Saprid.

Rizal Centennial Park
Fronting the Rizal Elementary School along Araneta Street. The city's contribution to the Centennial Celebration. Inaugurated in December 30, 1996, the park is the tribute of Bacolod to the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal and provides an oasis for many city commutes, students and professionals during early morning and late afternoons.

Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Inc.
Golf is one of the most popular sports attractions in Bacolod today as local golf course - The Negros Occidental golf and Country Club, Inc. provides challenging 18-hole adventures for amateur and professional golfers, with panoramic views of scenic Mounts Marapara and Patag.

Negros Forest Ecological Foundation & Biodiversity Center
A breeding and rescue center for endangered and endemic animals found in Negros Island as well as other places in the Philippines Visayan spotted deer, Luzon bleeding heart pigeon, Philippine Visayan Tarictic hornbill, Philippine hawk-eagle, monitor lizard, Philippine serpent eagle and the sailfin lizard. Tel. No. (034) 433-9234.

Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery
The Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery lies on a one-hectare flat and gently rolling grassland terrain located 2.5 kms. away from Barangay Alangilan which is about 17 kms. from the city proper of Bacolod. The only one of its kind in the Province of Negros Occidental, this nursery has been put up in order to provide continuous supply of quality planting stocks for the reforestation and greening program of the city. It has an orchard of hedge plants for vegetative propagation, a nursery for seeds and planting stocks; a hardening shed and a potting area for rooted cuttings to pots. Visits to the nursery is by appointment through the City Environment Office; the City Mayor's Office or the City Tourism Office.

The ANP Showroom
Considered as the country's number one trade house and pasalubong center, the Showroom is an alternative giftshop that houses arts and crafts that Negros island had to offer - from furniture to furnishings, ceramics, scented candles, pottery, novelties, ladies/children's garments, fashion accessories, souvenir t-shirts as well as indigenous foods. Open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Tel. No. (034) 434-0717 / 434-1000.

Recuerdos de Bacolod
"Recuerdos" (souvenirs) is know for its collection of excavated items and heirlooms, wooden saints, furniture and pottery pieces as early as the 7th and 9th century. These antique items were taken mostly from Bohol and Panay.

Panaad Park and Stadium
Located in Barangay Mansilingan near the boundary of Barangay Alijis, this 25-hectare sports complex and park is known to be one of the best in the country and has already been host to a lot of national sport events. It has a rubberized oval tract, an Olympic-size swimming pool and other sports facilities. Its unique feature is the replica of the landmarks of the 13 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental.

Fort San Juan
Was constructed in 1888 mainly thru the initiative of Don Ramon Pastor, the governadorcillo at the time and with the cooperation of Recollect Friar, Fray Mauricio Ferrefo, who designated and constructed the Fort San Juan, with Fernando Cuenca, also built the San Sebastian Cathedral. The Fort served as the jail for prisoners during the Spanish era. After the Negros Revolution in 1898, thirty six (36) Spanish friars were ordered in incarcerated. Today, the fort serves as the Provincial Jail.

Provincial Building
An imposing structure of Romanesque neoclassical architectural design, is the official seat of the government of the Province of Negros Occidental. It served as the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II.

Paghimud-os Provincial Capitol Park
"Ang paghimud-os " which literally means "The Struggle" is a fine sculpture erected at the east entrance of the Capitol Lagoon Park. This magnificent work of art was done by one of the country's noted sculptor, Eduardo Castrillo.

Provincial Park and Lagoon
It is located In front of the Capitol Building. To the north and south ends of the rectangular lagoon stand the statues of a woman and female water buffalo and a man and a male water buffalo, respectively. The woman standing beside the female water buffalo is a massive sculptural work said to have been done by a Italian artist whose work was never been duplicated until a Negrense artist who finished Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines duplicated the Italian's work of art by coming out with a man and male water buffalo. Presently, the lagoon grounds is a favorite jogging area of Bacolod residents.

MassKara Festival

The MassKara Festival is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the city's Charter Anniversary.

The MassKara Festival is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the city's Charter Anniversary.

What started as "just a new activity" to spice up an otherwisese routine civic-military parade, awarding ceremonies and a literary-musical program for a city charter anniversary, Bacolod City's MassKara Festival is now 3 years short of its third decade and has already become of the entries of the Philippines to the global tourism community.

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod City has repeatedly represented the country in some major festivals in Asia, notably in the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1998, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, in the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and in the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner-up in the local category - the first award to be given to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of that Japanese festival.

Among the Philippine festivals, MassKara is one that has also been to almost all major festivals in the Visayas and Luzon. mostly on exhibition performances. During the 23rd Asian Games held in Bacolod City in November 2005, the MassKara dance got the most applause from the athletes, visiting dignitaries and the international press covering the event.

The word MassKara has a double meaning. First, it is a fusion of the English word "mass" or many and "kara", the Spanish word for "face." MassKara then becomes a "mass of faces," and these faces have to be smiling to project Bacolod already known in the late 70's as the City of Smiles. MassKara also is the dialect "maskara" for the English word mask, which gives rise to the use of giant smiling masks in varied hues, colors and brilliance which the gaily costumed dancers wear as they stomp, swing, pulsate and gyrate in the major streets of the city every third weeded nearest to the 19th of October, which is the City Charter Anniversary of Bacolod.

The concept of combining the English word "mass" and the Spanish word "kara" is a mind product of the then Art Association of Bacolod president, the late Ely Santiago, with the support of the late city councilor chairman of the committee councilor on tourism, Romeo Geocadin and the then Negros Occidental Department of Tourism head and now city mayor of Bacolod, Atty. Evelio R. Leonardia, the concept has become a reality, with the city having her first MassKara Festival in 1981.

After two or three years, the MassKara would have died a natural death. But thanks to the tenacity of an Evelio R.Leonardia to lobby at the city council and to initiate the movement among tourism stakeholders, the festival moved on, year after year, despite political economic, natural or man-made impediments. Now, after 28 years, it has not only attained its recognized festival stature- as a national ANVIL awardee of the Philippine Public Relation Society - but also as one major tourism identity for Bacolod City.

Through the years, MassKara has evolved and has undergone a lot of changes from its attempt during its start in 1980 to be historical by portraying vignettes of Philippine history, to the time when it has become a symbol of survival, when the sugar industry as the lifeblood of the Bacolenos continued to plummet down.

The long years of affluence and abundance brought about by the sugar industry, with Bacolod as its center of trade and commerce, has made the Bacoleno a lover of the good life. He knows how to laugh heartily while his fine taste is seen in his cuisine, in dressing, the sports he indulges in and the kind of car his bulging pocket chooses. But beneath all these, he is also resilient because he knows how to take things in stride in times of crisis. He can still smile as sincerely as during the times of plenty. Decades after the backlash of the sugar industry, Bacolod now no longer depends on this cash crop and the Bacoleno still celebrates life along the mainstream of contemporary events, industry and technology.

The MassKara Festival is here to stay, an icon for Bacolod as the City of Smiles. Today, with the more than four hundred fifty thousand Bacolenos giving their warmest smiles, MassKara becomes a festival of a thousand smiles per minute, projecting the Bacoleno's ability to smile, to be gregarious and charming and to shoe his instinct to survive and triumph over trials and challenges. MassKara is not history nor is it anchored on any historical, religious or cultural event. Artistic, yes. MassKara is simply his story, that is the Bacoleno as a human being whose innate capacity for goodness, happiness and beauty is expressed in the sights, sounds, color and rhythm of a people celebrating the might and bounty of a Great Creator.

Sports that are common in Bacolod City

Football

Bacolod City is the Football City of the Philippines. In 2005, the city hosted the 2005 Southeast Asian Games' football tournament at the Panaad Stadium and Paglaum Sports Complex. The city also hosted the qualifying tournament for the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship at the Panaad Stadium.

Basketball

Bacolod City hosted the 2008 PBA All-Star Weekend. The city is also a regular venue for the Philippine Basketball Association out-of-town games.

Golf

Bacolod City has two major golf courses. These are the Bacolod Golf and Country Club and the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club. The city hosted the 61st Philippine Airlines Inter-club Golf Tournament and the 2008 Philippine Amateur Golf Championship.

Karatedo

Bacolod City hosted two major karatedo championships, the 1996 Philippine Karatedo Federation National Championship and the 2007 20th PKF National Open. Both tournaments were held at the La Salle Coliseum of USLS. The tournaments were participated by hundreds of karatekas all over the country.

Modes of Transportation in Bacolod City

By air

Bacolod-Silay City International Airport (ICAO: RPVB, FAA/IATA: BCD) is 15 kilometers north-east from the city. The P4.37-billion airport is capable of handling all-weather and night-landing operations. Its 2,000-meter long and 45-meter wide runway, and 678-meter by 23-meter taxiways can accommodate Airbus A320 family-size aircraft, the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 737, while the apron can hold five aircraft at any one time.

Bacolod City is 45 minutes by air from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and 30 minutes by air from Mactan-Cebu International Airport plus approximately 20 minutes of travel by land since the new airport is now located in Silay City.

By sea

The Port of Bacolod is a major seaport and has daily ferry trips to Iloilo City. There are also access routes to Puerto Princesa City, Cagayan de Oro City and General Santos City. By boat, Bacolod City is 18 hours from the Port of Manila and 45 minutes from the Port of Iloilo.

By land

Bacolod City has two main roads, Lacson Street to the north and Araneta Street to the south. The city has a good traffic plan lay-out and very seldom has traffic jams. The streets in the downtown area are one way, making Bacolod City free from traffic congestion.

By land-RORO-land, Bacolod City is approximately 3 hours from Iloilo City via Dumangas route. By land-ferry-land, Bacolod City is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes from Cebu City via Toledo City-San Carlos City-Salvador Benedicto route. By land-RORO-land, Bacolod City is approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes from Cebu City via Tabuelan-Escalante City route.

Infrastructures in Bacolod City

Bacolod-Silay City International Airport

The Bacolod-Silay City International Airport has one primary runway 45 meters (150 ft) wide and 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) long, just a bit longer than its predecessor, the Bacolod City Domestic Airport. The runway runs in a direction of 03°/21°, and can currently handle aircraft as large as the Airbus A330. Provisions for an 500-meter (1,600 ft) expansion of the present runway in order to accommodate even larger aircraft like the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340 are in place.

Panaad Stadium

The Panaad Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the city. It is currently used mostly for football matches, and was used for the 2005 South East Asian Games. It was the venue of the pre-qualifiers of the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship or ASEAN Cup, in which the Philippines, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Brunei and Laos participated. The stadium has a seating capacity of 15,500, but holds around 20,000 people with standing areas. It is unofficially designated as the home stadium of the Philippines national football team. Aside from the football field, it also has a rubberized track oval, an Olympic-size swimming pool and other sports facilities.

The stadium is also the home of Panaad Festival, a week-long celebration participated in by all cities and municipalities in the province held annually every summer. The festival is highlighted by merry-making and field demonstrations at the stadium. The stadium itself features replicas of the landmarks of the 13 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental.

Bacolod Public Plaza

The Bacolod Public Plaza is one of the notable landmarks in Bacolod City the capital of Negros Occidental which is found right in the heart of down town area, very near to the city hall and right across the San Sebastian Cathedral. The plaza is a trapezoidal park with a belt of trees all around the periphery and a gazeebo/bandstand at the center. Scattered within the trees are four circular fountains.

The Plaza was constructed back in 1927 as a place for recreation, political, spiritual and cultural activities; it seems to be quite a popular site for outdoor picnic and concerts. The gazeebo/bandstand is often where the stage is located and this is quite apt since inscribed along the sides of the roofing are the names of Western musical composers like Beethoven, Wagner, Haydn, and Mozart.

The plaza is the celebrated place of MassKara Festival. It is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the city's Charter Anniversary. Bacolod public plaza is the final destination of Masskara street dancing competitions which is the highlights of the celebration.

Capitol Park and Lagoon

The Capitol Park and Lagoon is a provincial park located right in the heart of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, in the Philippines. One of the landmarks of the park is the carabao (water buffalo) being pulled by a woman. This carabao is located at the northern end of the lagoon. On the other end, there is also another carabao scuplture but the figure is being pulled by a man.

There are several other attractions in the park. These include activities of the locals-jogging, aerobics, school dance rehearsals, promenaders, arnisadors, martial arts practitioners and even the relaxing and therapeutic quiteness of feeding the tilapias of the lagoon. It is well-secured and well-lighted; it is very safe to walk /stroll, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.