We had planned a nice vacation the previous time I was in the Philippines, but we were reluctant to travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why we decided to go explore the sights in Bacolod.
Bacolod is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. It is renowned as the City of Smiles because of the MassKara Carnival, which is a Mardi Gras-style festival with a brilliantly vibrant blend of dancing, color, and music. It is also known as the Land of Sweet People and for its culinary legacy, which includes inasal (a type of skewered roast chicken) and sweet dessert delicacies.
We took an AirAsia flight from Manila to Bacolod. It takes one hour to get from Terminal 4 to Silay Airport. I visited NAIA Terminal 4 for the first time and saw that it is not as extravagant as other airports can provide because it only caters to domestic aircraft. Because of the Corona hype, airlines are particularly concerned about monitoring passengers’ temperatures, but the employees at NAIA Terminal 4 did not check ours. On the other side, they allegedly scribbled something on my boarding card about my purported temperature (even if they did not check it). It indicates that they are just letting the people through without recognizing that some of them may have had flu-like symptoms. We arrived sooner than planned on our flights. We chose to go shopping at SM Bacolod because we arrived at 9:30 a.m. and it wasn’t yet time to check-in at Residential 1380 (check-in time is 2 p.m.).
And because it was already 2 p.m., we headed to check-in at one of Bacolod’s modest abodes, the Residential 1380. We found it on AirBnB since the price per night is really reasonable, even though it is close to the city. The home is spotless. Inside the room, we’ll find towels, soaps, tissues, shampoos, a mini-refrigerator, TV, and air conditioning. A nice and simple location for everyone to stay.
After an hour of rest, we decided to take another trip through the lovely town. We had dinner at Manokan Country. There are many of vendors providing Bacolod’s most popular chicken inasal. Aida, Nena’s Beth, Nena’s Rose, Carmen, Pacita, and so on are all named after ladies. Food products are exhibited at the restaurant’s entryway. Even before you enter, you may already place an order for chicken inasal. Nena’s Beth was the restaurant we settled on (since the popular “Aida” has too many customers). Nena’s Beth has a prominent place among the others. We ordered their famed chicken intestine, skin, and inasal. The taste of the inasal was excellent, which is why it became a source of pride in Bacolod. Unlike others, it is not pricey. With its incredible flavor, you will not be satisfied with just one cup of rice. The unfortunate issue was that they were not offering unlimited rice at the time.
We were able to see the tranquillity of Capitol Lagoon. It’s like finding Luneta Park in the heart of Bacolod. Its cleanliness and serenity will appeal to guests searching for a nice location to relax. You won’t notice the traffic due of this calm atmosphere, even though the streets are congested.
The following day, we ordered the Southwest Tour vacation packages from Klook. We decided on a museum tour bundle. I am not very interested in art, but I thoroughly loved the experience. We were first upset since the two following museums were closed. After that, we went to the Hofilea Heritage House. It was once the home of Manuel Severino Hofilea and his family. Hofilea built the house for his wife, former Miss Silay Gilda Ledesma Hojilla, and their nine children. One of the offspring and heirs, Mr. Ramon Hofilea, resides in this ancestral house and personally tours guests who come to view his humble residence, which is packed with art by prominent Filipino artists.
Following that, we went to the Balay Negrense. It is one of the most popular and beautiful tourist destinations in Silay, a city that is already so picturesque and old that it has been designated a National Historical Landmark. The Victor Gaston Ancestral House is another name for it. Because of its massive building and vast garden facing the street, it is quite simple to recognize. The grounds are 5000 square meters in size and are overflowing with flowers and magnificent ancient trees going back to the Spanish era.
After marveling at the size of the historic heritage home, we were led to The Orange Project. In contrast to the two homes, this is a modernized neighborhood adjacent to the artsy bistros. It is a modern gallery where they may display contemporary artwork, such as music or painting.
Although we were unable to visit other locations in Bacolod, I have included them below so that you may get a sense of how stunning the city is. They have Campuestohan HighLand Resort. It is a theme-park-like highland resort for families that is situated in Talisay City, Negros Occidental’s highlands. The top 6 tourist spots in the Philippines were recognized, with Campuestohan being one among them.
Since Bacolod is renowned for keeping its history alive, “The Ruins” is one of the destinations that every traveler wants to see. The Ruins (Talisay) was the ancestral home of the family of wealthy sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. It was constructed in honor of his Portuguese wife Maria Braga Lacson, who passed away after the delivery of their eleventh child, in the early 1900s. To stop the Japanese army from utilizing it as a military headquarters during World War 2, Filipino guerillas set it on fire. The mansion burnt for three days in a row.
This Magikland of Silay, Bacolod provides all you need for individuals who enjoy adventures and attractions, like myself. Magikland is the Visayas Region’s first amusement park. I was a little disappointed that we were unable to see it as we were only made aware of it before leaving. Nevertheless, we were really grateful to Sir Noe for being so generous as to allow us to witness MagikLand’s entrance. Sir Noe is also dissatisfied since he is unsure why it has not yet been marketed to the public and is not also available on Klook.
Anyhow, I had a great time in Bacolod. In actuality, it is the City of Smiles. I will undoubtedly return, and I urge anybody looking for a straightforward but tranquil holiday destination to visit Bacolod. Congratulations, Bacolod. You did a terrific job of putting a smile on my face. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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