Bacolod City Travel Forum

I'm traveling to Bacolod City for two nights and two days around June. What are the places I should visit? How much is the taxi fare? It's my first time traveling alone and I don't know anyone there. Your help will surely be appreciated. Thanks!

Honestly, I don't find a lot to see in Bacolod. I suggest going out of the city or taking the fast craft to Iloilo.

You ought to see Silay, the Paris of Negros. This is about 20 minutes drive from Bacolod. Old houses abound in that area.

You also have to get to know some Bacolenos before you leave. While Asianbelle may be right that there is hardly much to see, Bacolod is much about its culture and people oft relished over the delectable Visayan cuisine this place is known for.

what to see /experience in Bacolod/Negros

in Bacolod City, check out the Negros Capitol Lagoon/provicial Capitol. One ofthe most beuatifully created capitols in Neo-Classical architecture.

visit the Bacolod City Cathedral
go to the Santa Clara Chapel, this chappel is known for its mosaic of the virgin mary made with thousands of capiz shells.

go to silay city, north of Bacolod. This is the Paris of Negros. Visit the old houses of the city's most affluent families.

go to Balay Negrense. an old house that has been transfromed into a Museum, owned by the Gaston family. they have came all the way from France, and they are considered are the pioneers of the Negrense sugar industry

Go to vistorias milling company in victorias city, north of Silay. Check out how the sugarcane is transformed into your coffe sweetener. also check out the Chapel of the angry Christ.

before any of the above, hop to the negros museum in bacolod city (near the capitol). the stories and histories there will perk you up on what to see! it is there that I learned about the sad story of the song "dandansoy" and what "sacada" rally means. also there I saw the oldest of oldest of records ("plaka") weighing almost a kilogram each! whew! plus the funny ways our fil-hispanic lolas used the "avanico" or "pamaypay" to communicate with their suitors! my goodness, you could tell a single lady from a married one by the way they held/carried those fans! quite a learning! and of course you'll hear stories and see pictures of the clan of Jose Mari Chan and other prominent conios in the country!

it will even propel you to go visit silay and the victorias sugar milling - even iloilo. When in Silay btw, don't miss the "El Ideal" (pronouced iledjal)

don't miss the "manokan country" at the city's outskirts (reclamation area?). while its a mere lengthy row of carinderias, you'll get to know and feel what people from bacolod are fond of!

check-out the goldenfield for a nightlife. swanky! or go to that building where Krua Thai is (restaurant). there are cofee-shops and bars etc. its the affluent side!

cabs are aplenty there. and about the same cost as manila. but go riding their jeeps i.e., to Silay (where you'll find their tricycles are a way different from the "porma" of those in metro manila), - quite a way to be with the folks!

when all else fails, go malling! there are just too many of them than necessary (I think)! and get your pasalubongs there. the price is about the same if you bought them from the factories.

AND, don't come home without ever having tasted what they call "napoleones". i can kill and steal for it!

ahh bacolod!

if you're lucky (like I was), the omni-present and very casual mayor (named bing?) might even disturb your lunch at that famous restaurant a few steps from the negros museum and regale you with many more stories about bacolod and negros. then people start staring at you as if you were some kind of a royal being worthy of more respect than their mayor!

enjoy your visit!

For the freshest seafood, go to Pala-Pala (I hope it's still there!!). Every cab driver knows where it is.

As Asianbelle suggested, you can always take a short 1 hour cruise to Iloilo City and experience another world. Please have a look at my Iloilo pages for things to do and restos to visit in Iloilo.

Have fun!

the pala-pala eatery, (like the ones on dampa) are no longer there. but there is still a 18th Street Pala Pala resto, an upgraded and more sanitized versionof the street hawker food stop.

gee all these bacolod talks makes me miss my dearly beloved hometown! i missed the napoleones too. the best napoleones brand is "ROLI's" their main shop is located just a stone's throw away from La Salle. but they also have a branch in Robinsons foodcourt. order your pasalubong a day before...they always run out of stock before shop closes.

while we are still with this food talk.... never miss CALEA. my personal favorite desert shop!!! i never fail to go to calea every time i go back home.

personal favorites are the blueberry cheesecake and the oreo cheecake! they're to die-for! really!! REMINDER: DONT COUNT CALORIES WHILE EATING hehehe

Also, worth visiting is the Association of Negros Producers's showroom, or simply called the Negros Showroom. a treasure trove of negrense handicrafts perfect for pasalubong. from hand painted shirts to lampshades, and all...

and never fail to thank the locals by saying "Madamo gid nga Salamat!"


:)

A trip to Bacolod for me is never complete without visiting Negros Showroom, ( wonderful place to check out souvenirs and local crafts, price is very reasonable), Manukan country is for the famous chicken inasal, Bong Bong's for last minute pasalubongs..

Enjoy Bacolod, a great place for shopping and eating...

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your comment! :D

Thanks so much! I will try to meet some people from there before i leave.

Wow, there's so many places to visit! Thanks a lot!

your story is very inviting indeed! can't wait! :D Thank you!

Thanks Tijavi, I will certainly visit your page. :D

I think I'll enjoy the food and shopping very much! Those are two of my favorite things. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

hi how are you..amm when will you be goin to bacolod..we have same ideas and situation..

Kelan kayo punta bacolod?

Im going there this october in time forthe masskara festival.. sana kitakita tayo dun!

=)

HI there!

I also plan to go there come Masskara Festival 06. However, I will be alone. Id like to do a backpacking travel. Actually, I haven't even booked a flight goin to Bacolod. I still contmeplating if its safe for me to do a backpacker travel in Bacolod.

Actually, I'd like to find out if there are people who can guide me or at least willing to tag me along in their trip to Bacolod to Masskara Festival. I would like to take pictures of the festival. And I haven't attended one before.