Chicken inasal — a must-try

A piaya factory

The Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club

The San Sebastian Cathedral was built in 1876

Bacolod had me charmed the moment I landed in the city. Throughout my recent visit there, I was greeted by warm and friendly locals. Combine the Bacolodnons’ or Bacoleños’ hospitality and gracious ways with their melodious Ilonggo dialect—it would be difficult not to fall under the city’s spell.

Ilonggos have always taken pride in the fact that they know how to eat well. A visit to one of the many alfresco dining places in Bacolod serving Ilonggo cuisine will bear this out. Try the pancit molo, batchoy, binakol, puto manapla, lumpiang ubod, the fresh grilled seafood, and of course, the chicken inasal. Many local restaurants serve inasal, but any of the eateries in Manokan Country in the Reclamation Area is recommended. The distinctly flavored inasal is best eaten with the fiery sinamak vinegar using your bare hands. Other well-known Bacolod delicacies are the piaya, barquillos, napoleones, pinasugbo, mango tarts, and broas.

After partaking of all those Ilonggo dishes, you can walk off all the calories by going on a tour of the city’s tourist attractions. No tour of the city is complete without swinging by the Bacolod City Hall and the Fountain of Justice in front of it. Other government offices and public places in the city that have also become popular tourist spots are the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Building and Lagoon, and the Bacolod Plaza Bandstand and Gazebo, among others.

If you are looking for more cultural stopovers, the Negros Museum will provide you with a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Negros Occidental and its people. The San Sebastian Cathedral and its bells, built in 1876, are also a must-see. At the Barangay Sang Virgen Chapel at the Sta. Clara Subdivision, there is a large mural mosaic of the Virgin Mary made of 95,000 pieces of seashells.

For a little recreation, you can continue to hone your golf game at the 18-hole Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club while taking in the impressive sight of Mounts Marapara and Patag. The best place to shop for gifts and souvenirs is at the Association of Negros Producers Showroom, a one-stop shop of innovative and stylish products designed and manufactured in Negros, including furniture and furnishings, ceramics and pottery, baskets, candles, ladies’ and children’s garments, fashion accessories, souvenir t-shirts, and the native delicacies.

If you are not bothered by crowds, you might want to time your visit to Bacolod on the third weekend of October when the annual MassKara Festival is held. One of the highlights of the festival is the street dance competition, where participants wearing colorful and elaborate smiling masks and costumes dance to rhythmic beats and marching bands. During the festival weekend, there may be a beauty pageant, carnival, food festival, sports event, musical concert, trade fair, or garden show going on at any one time. If there is one event that captures the charm and spirit of the people and all that Bacolod has to offer, it is the MassKara Festival.