Things to do in Bacolod

Words and images by Carlo Suerte Felipe

Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental, is more popularly known for its sugarcane industry, chicken inasal, and the lively MassKara Festival held every third week of October. Those who would like to know more about this beautiful city however will not be disappointed. Hidden gems abound in the City of Smiles. And you don’t necessarily need a plan to discover them all.

My girlfriend and I did exactly that a few years ago. We went there during the off-peak season, sometime in September, booking a hotel upon arrival and having no itinerary at all for our three-day stay. The goal was simply to have a relaxing tour of a few tourist spots, including some food tripping.
From the airport, we took a cab going to Talisay City to see The Ruins, otherwise known as the Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson Mansion. We paid a P50-entrance fee to see the beautiful concrete remains of the mansion, the elegant fountain, and the well-kept garden. Try visiting at sunset or early evening for a more romantic view of the mansion.

We paid P300 for our cab going to The Ruins. It could have been cheaper had we haggled with the driver. Leaving the place, we found a tricycle (P25 for the two of us) to get to the terminal. Then we took two different jeepneys to get to the Capitol Park where we found a hotel within the area. After checking in, we went out and walked along Lacson Street, stopping by Pendy's, a local restaurant, for brunch. Dessert was at Calea Pastries and Coffee, recommended by a friend. From there, we planned our itinerary based on the map we took from the hotel. We decided to stroll around the Capitol Park the following day and head to the Mambukal Resort on our third day. Dinner was at Chicken House located on the corner of 24th Street. The establishment has been around for a few decades and is the recommended place for authentic chicken inasal near our hotel.

The following day, we went to the park where the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol is located. We spent more than two hours taking a stroll around the park and admiring the neoclassical design of the capitol building and the tricks performed by the skaters who gathered there. Afterward, we visited the San Sebastian Cathedral to pray and take some photos. The Bacolod Public Plaza is located just in front of the church. So we paid it a visit as well. Tired from walking, we rode a jeepney to get to 6th Street for an early dinner at Greenoz Pizzeria where they serve affordable thin crust pizzas. On our third day, we woke up early to get to the Mambukal Resort. Following the advice of the hotel staff, we took a jeepney going to the Libertad Public Market from Lacson Street. From there, we took one of the mini-buses going to Mambukal. The fare cost P40 per person at that time and the ride lasted about 45 minutes. The trip might seem a bit long but the rural scenes, including vast farms, that you will encounter along the way will keep you entertained. You will know that you are near the resort when you can already spot Mount Kanlaon. The Mambukal Resort is located at the foot of this mountain, which is actually an active volcano. Visitors must pay the resort’s P50-entrance fee (at the time of our visit). The first thing we did was take a trek to see the first two of the seven falls found there. Then, we spent 30 minutes at the dipping pool ( P50 per person). The sulphuric water that flows into the pool is said to be therapeutic.

One interesting thing about the resort is that it is also home to giant fruit bats or "flying foxes." From the dipping pool, you can see these bats hanging from the canopy. Beware though that some of their droppings might fall on your clothes or stuff so bring something to protect them. We definitely recommend visiting the resort as its natural landscapes make the trip more relaxing. Our Bacolod trip was short but it was enough to make us realize that Negros Occidental has so much more to offer to visitors other than the regular tourist spots. Next time we visit, we are exploring the beaches of the province. We hear they’re beautiful.

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