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. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is notable for its MassKara Festival held during October. Known for being a relatively friendly city, it bears the nickname "City of Smiles." Bacolod City recently topped a survey by MoneySense Magazine as the "Best Place to Live in the Philippines".
Bacolod is ideally located on a level area, slightly sloping as it extends toward the sea with an average slope of 0.9 percent for the city proper and between 3 to 5 percent for the suburbs. The altitude is 32.8 feet or 10.0 meters above sea level with the Bacolod City Public Plaza as the benchmark. Bacolod has two pronounced seasons, wet and dry. The rainy season starts from May to January of the following year with heavy rains occurring during the months of August and September. Dry season starts from the month of February until the last week of April.
PLACE TO VISIT
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)
Negros Occidental Sports and Recreational Park (Panaad Stadium) Brgy. Mansilingan
Iron Dinosaurs (vintage stream locomotives), La Herencia Entrance and Bacolod Murcia Milling Co. compound
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.
WHAT TO 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.
HOW TO REACH
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.
