Bacolod City
A Smile Away
By Michael David C. Tan

PHOTO DETAIL, BY GEORGE TAPAN, COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

Outside the city, nonetheless, other attractions include train rides through the sugarcane plantations of azucareras (rich owners of sugarcane plantation), which showcase how the place (with the history reflecting how the Philippines was taken by the Spaniards from the natives) was developed into some sort of feudalism, tilled by the masa but owned by elite; the potteries near Talisay City, which could cost you as less as P150 for the biggest vases, aside from providing opportunities for you to try your artistic skills by designing your own; or the pebbly beaches near vast lands forested by eucalyptus trees that seemingly convert the area into a replicate of the Australian outback (yeah, you’d be forgiven to expect koalas falling off them!).

To unwind at the end of the day, check out the neo-classical Negros Museum.  Built in 1931 with its large lagoon in the front lawn that is surrounded by tropical trees, it remains a popular destination among joggers, strollers or those going out for a lazy time under the sun (or moon, as is always the case).

EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH BACOLOD

Alternatively, settle yourself down and discover Bacolod through its delicacies.
Yes, there are numerous places to go to if you are not the adventurous type, with most diners focused along Lacson St. and Golden Fields, though others dot various venues all over the town.  Irrespective of the place, though, be sure to try (even once) the famed Bacolod chicken inasal – basically grilled chicken, though making use of the native (as opposed to the broiler) variety, smeared with special sauce to make it somewhat sweet and sour at the same time, with spices tingling the palate as an aftertaste.

For the more daring, visit Pala-Pala in the outskirts of the city.  Here, you buy your seafood fresh from a wet market, then take these to a nearby karinderya, which will prepare your food the way you want it.  This approach has been copied everywhere in the country, though, in this case, the original is never topped, with the alimango among the fattest, the pusit among the juiciest, the bariles among the freshest.  Obviously, all over Bacolod, there are other ihawan places to have similar feasts.  Just a few words of caution: don’t visit if you don’t want to pig out cheaply!

End the feast with the Bacolod delicacies, including the piaya (made from sugar, flour and buttermilk), bandi (caramelized nuts), barquillos (specially prepared cones), squid flakes, pinasugbu (caramelized banana), and the most scrumptious of them all, the guapple pie (try those from Silay City), which are pinagpipilahan.

INCESSANT FUN

If you want to know how much fun can be had in Bacolod, however, don’t stay at home to sulk when the sun sets.  There is really so much to be done when gets dark.

Head off to the visiting perya, which bring to life the fun brought by visiting gypsies (yeah, stretch the imagination) – there are magic and visual tricks you may want to uncover, various rides to tickle your fancy, and tricky games you know you couldn’t win but could play anyway.  Often, Bacolodnons gather in these places, again showing their vivacity as they brave the passing of time (they stay open until the wee hours of the morning).

Then of course there are malls – lots of them, in fact! – that could be visited for, what else, shopping, or watching movies, or catching up with friends, or whatever.  Considered among the best in the country, Bacolod’s shopping centers are definitely great venues to check out.

For a night out with no comparison, however, check out the bars (e.g. the famed Cyberasia, the center of yuppie activity Area 21, and, near Talisay City, North – which is also where you may happen by some drag racing).  Here, Makati’s elitism is equaled, Malate’s bohemianism is superceded, Boracay’s supposed wildness is booted, et cetera.  Case in point: fun is guaranteed.

Finally, as you make your way back to your accommodation (and after discovering what the city has to offer), you really wouldn’t be able to keep yourself from promising that, yes, this city is worth discovering over and over again.  well, at least I think so.  After all, this city isn’t only smiling, it’s laughing its heart out!

HOW TO GET THERE:

SEAIR and Air Philippines fly from Manila to Bacolod daily, and major shipping lines also travel to Bacolod, while others pass by the city on their way to other destinations in Visayas and Mindanao. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: