Bacolod City, Philippines is Located at the Heart of the Visayas in the Island of Negros and is the Capital City of the Province of Negros Occidental. A Highly Urbanized City with a Population of More than 500,000 friendly and charming people.
Bacolod City is known to many as the Sugar City and the City of Smiles. It is also famous for its Mouth Watering Authentic Chicken Inasal and of course, what would a Sugar City be without its Sweet Delicacies and few of its famous "Sweet Pleasures" were the Piaya or a Round Flat Cake with a Muscovado or Flavoured Jam Filling, the Creamy Caramel Tarts (but now, a wide selection of flavors are available), the Barquillos or a Toasted Egg Dough rolled like a Pipe and the most YUMMYLICIOUS of them all (as my personal favourite) is the NAPOLEONES of course by ROLI's Bakeshop. But that should come out later in my review.
Bacolod City is also the Home of the World Famous Masskara Festival which brought home Honor and Recognition not only to the City of Smiles but also for every Filipinos to be proud of. Masskara Festival is held every 1st Day of October until the Sunday which will fall nearest October 19 to commemorate the City's Charter Anniversary.
It is also Host to other Major Festivals such as the Chinese New Year Celebration through the BACOLAODIAT Festival which is held Every February. Bacolaodiat Festival is now gaining Popularity among Chinese tourist and is fast becoming as a Tourist Event in Bacolod.
The Mother of all Festivals, The PANA-AD sa Negros Festival is also a Major Tourist Attraction not only in the City of Smiles but for the whole Negros Occidental Province. It Showcases all 13 Cities and 19 Municipalities of Negros Occidental. It is held every Last Week of March OR 1st Week of April (it depends on what date the Holy Week will be celebrated) usually Before or After Holy Week.
Pana-ad sa Negros is A Grand Festival that Highlights Every Town and Cities of the Province with their Indigenous Products and Specialty Produce. It also Shows the Colourful Charaters of every Negrenses through its Festival Presentations. And Through Pana-ad Festival, you can quickly TRAVEL (literally through the PANA-AD PARK) the Whole Province through the City or Town Booth especially Made to distinguish the Unique Characteristic of the Specific Town or City.
The Pana-ad Park is like a "MINI Negros Occidental" rolled into once place. Where once can have a quick Glance of what the Whole Province has to offer with her Visitors. The Pana-ad Park is Located at the Pana-ad Sports Complex in Bgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City. It is over 50 Hectares of Property wherein WORLD CLASS SPORTS FACILITY are also present. The Football Stadium, The Olympic Sized Swimming Pool, A Basketball Court, A Lawn Tennis Court, etc etc. The Whole Complex is covered with towering "Eucalyptus Trees" therefore giving it a cool and relaxing ambience.
A New Festival is also fast gaining foothold in Bacolod. Held every May, the INASAL FESTIVAL is the Newest Addition to Bacolod's Colourful Festivals. It showcases the Authentic Delicacy of Bacolod which is the Chicken Inasal wherein Bacolod is Famous. Tender Juicy Char Roasted Chicken cooked into Perfection with the Perfect blending of spices that produces the best tasting chicken inasal. Your Visit to Bacolod wouldnt be perfect without having a chicken inasal either for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
Visitors will not be disappointed with Bacolod when it comes to Dining. For everyone's information, Bacolenos are very Discriminating when it comes to Palate. As evidence to a Bacolenos discriminating taste were the Best Restaurants mushrooming all over the City. East - West - North - South - They are everywhere.
For the Shoppaholics, you will be delighted to know that Bacolod hosts a lot of Shopping Malls. There is SM City Bacolod, Robonson's Place Bacolod and Gaisano City Bacolod. You can also stroll around 888 Mall, The Plaza Mart City Mall - The Oldest Existing Shopping Mall in Western Visayas, Lopue's Department Stores - The Oldest Department Store in Western Visayas and the List goes on.
Even before, Bacolenos love to shop, dine and party! And Bacolod is the Party Place to be. The Goldenfields is Probably one of the Oldest Entertainment Complex in the Visayas - Mindanao. It Boasts of the Biggest Discotheque in the Region, the Quorum Disco. It also has a Casino - The Pagcor Hotel and Casino and a lot of Bars and Clubs. The MO2 Club in Goldenfields is probably the most well known hang-out place for the Bacolenos.
The Goldenfields also boasts of the Oldest Existing Bowling Complex in the Region, A Modern ResoTel - The Carribean Water Park and Hotel, Italin Fine Dining - Carlo Ristorante Italiano, Comedy Bars and a whole lot more.
For The Party Hoppers, you can also visit other Party Places in the City. MO2 Ice in Mandalagan, Mu Shu Bar in 19th Lacson St., Club Sibeeria in Terra Dolce at Shopping Complex, Club Ibiza @ Metrodome, The Wave Lounge at the Downtown Area, East Block, Sorrento, Club North and a Lot more!
After Partying, relax, chill, have a Coffee at Starbucks or Cafe Bob's, Kuppa or Gloria Jeans. Or you can kill time at McDonald's Lacson.
There is a lot Bacolod can offer and THAT IS WHAT I WILL BE BLOGGING NEXT...
Sugar Fairy
