Bacolod

Bacolod is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines, and the most populous city on Negros Island at about 600,000 in the 2020 census. It is known for its MassKara Festival, a Mardi Gras-like parade and spectacular mix of dancing, colour and music held every October, as well as for its culinary heritage that includes inasal (a kind of roast chicken on skewers) and sweet dessert treats.

Understand
Bacolod is a major transport hub with an international airport, a large and busy ferry port, and good road connections with many buses.

History
The name Bacolod is derived from the Hiligaynon word, Buklod meaning stone hill, named for the hill where Austronesians first settled in the area. Later on, Moro (Muslim) pirates attacked early one morning and within a few hours many people had been slaughtered and houses ransacked and/or burnt. The people then decided to move down to the shore, abandoning the stone hill. The original town is now called Daan-Banwa, meaning old town and is in Barangay Granada.

Bacolod was made the provincial capital of Negros Occidental in 1890. It was the focal point of conflict between the Negrenses and the Spaniards in 1898. The commanding officer of the Spanish forces surrendered to the Filipino forces, and the signing of the Act of Capitulation was carried out at the house of Don Eusebio Luzuriaga which once stood in front of the City Hall; today there is a monument. This resulted in the formation of an independent Negros Island Republic.

The Republic lasted less than a year; in March 1899, American forces occupied Bacolod. During American colonial rule, the Rizal Institute was set up in the town in 1903 providing education to the Bacolodnons. La Consolacion College was founded in 1919 by the Augustinian sisters as a Catholic school. Bacolod was declared a city in 1938; today October 19 is observed as Charter Day commemorating that. Bacolod was occupied by Japanese forces in May, 1942 and was liberated by American forces in May, 1945.

From its small origins, Bacolod has emerged as an urbanized metropolis and has been named as one of the two cleanest and greenest highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. It has also been recognized for its disaster risk management and as a pilot city for democratic local governance for Southeast Asia by the European Union.

Orientation
Bacolod is the largest of 13 cities in the province of Negros Occidental, serving as the provincial capital and center of governance, economy and education. Neighbouring towns are Murcia to the east, Silay and Talisay to the north, and Bago City to the south. The Guimaras Strait is to the west, with Iloilo City and Guimaras across it.

Bacolod contains 61 barangays; however, only eight of them are likely to be important to visitors:


 * Downtown Bacolod/City Proper/Central Business District (CBD) &mdash; Business transactions, malls and marketplaces, famous landmarks, and small diners are all concentrated in this district, often crowded especially in holidays and weekends this is the spot where the first malls, cinema houses, markets and humble beginnings of businesses started.
 * Singcang &mdash; Bars, casinos, fun and the former airport, what else more? The former is used as a venue for motor-cross events and concerts.
 * Villamonte &mdash; another growing business district for the city. Shopping centers are located here and it is expected that due to the location of the New Government Center there would be a rise of business establishments within the district. St. Joseph-La Salle Integrated School, Panasonic Solutions, Lopue's East, Victoria Arcade, Yuan Thong Temple and numerous business establishments which include a hotel are located here. High rise accommodations are being constructed here and where the middle and high class helps the economy running.
 * Alijis and Mansilingan &mdash; A residential area where there is also expected an economic growth due to the location of the construction of a terminal.
 * Punta Taytay &mdash; Beaches and pottery is what Punta Taytay is usually known for. Just like Estefania/Fortune Town and Villamonte, this district has a lot of subdivisions. Beaches might had been mention but it's quite disappointing that it is neglected now by the public that the waves of the sea bring garbage to the shore making it dirty, reforestation of the mangroves is being done to revive the disappearing ecosystems of the city.
 * Granada &mdash; where the first settlement of Bacolod was founded.
 * Mandalagan &mdash; is a growing economic center for the city where one of the first high rise buildings of Negros is under construction. Bacolod's first fully functioning mall is located here, and many businesses have found their home in this district. You can grab a drink here, party all night, enjoy a meal of either regional or international fare, or enjoy exhibitions of local artists. There is also a monastery here.

Climate
Bacolod has two pronounced seasons. The wet season starts in May and continues until January, with heavy rainfall during August and September. This season is characterized by uncomfortable high humidity and periodic flooding, especially in low-lying barangays, though it tends to let up by October. The dry season starts in February and ends in April, herein punctuated with occasional droughts that may translate into water and electricity shortages. Temperature-wise, April is the hottest month of the year while December is the coldest.

People
Bacolodnons or Bacoleños are a diverse mix of dark-skinned Melanesian aborigines (Negritos), Austronesian (specifically Visayan), East Asian (mostly Chinese, but also Korean and Japanese) and European backgrounds. In past decades, those of Spanish and Chinese descent dominated the regional sugar industry, but today's economic picture is one in which highly educated and independent locals of various backgrounds are involved. Past times saw worries, sorrows, and fears arise in the wake of economic crises tied to the sugar industry, from which evolved Bacolod's motto as the City of Smiles for its inhabitants' fortitude, as did its MassKara festival to celebrate its perseverance through these dark times.

Bacolod shows signs of a cosmopolitan city despite not having many high couture stores like Manila and Cebu, drawing a sizable representation of Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs, repatriated members of its own who have gone away to work or study, and a large influx of migrants from as far as Mindanao seeking better opportunity. It is also seen as an English-learning tourist hub for those coming from East Asian countries, especially Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Immigration pressures and a general Christian conservatism do tend to permeate the city's persona at times.

Religion
A majority of the people are Christians, predominantly Catholic. The Baptists, the Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ), Anglicans and Seventh Day Adventists are the next largest groups. There is a growing population of Muslims who migrated from South Cotabato while those of Chinese descent are often Taoist.

Working hours
Businesses in Bacolod open as early as 7AM and close as late as 10PM however the regular working hours that apply to all commercial establishments and offices are 8/9AM-6/7PM. Malls open up till 9 or 10PM, and in case of midnight sales, they open up till 2AM. A few shops are open during Christmas, and everything is closed during Holy Week, from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, save for stores owned by non-Christian minorities.

Talk
The majority of the people of Negros Occidental speak Hiligaynon/Ilonggo as their native language, though there are some who speak Cebuano or Kinaray-a; see Visayan languages for background. Hiligaynon has more loanwords than Tagalog; buying, telling time, some verbs, rooms, objects and many other words and phrases are of Spanish origin, but grammatical structure and adjectives are different from Spanish.

English is the main second language of the city's population, much more so than Filipino or Cebuano. For visitors, communicating with the people is not that difficult. English is widely understood and spoken by the locals of all social statuses.

The Chinese minority mostly speak Hokkien, though some also know Cantonese or Mandarin. Many also speak one or both of Hiligaynon or English.

Get in
Bacolod is a transport hub with good road, ferry and air connections.

The roads reach destinations anywhere on the large island of Negros which contains two provinces, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Short ferry trips go to Iloilo City, just across the Guimaras Strait to the west, giving access to the islands of Panay and Guimaras, and to Boracay which is near Panay. Other ferries go to more distant destinations.

For Cebu Province to the east, there are some direct ferries, but the usual transport is a bus which goes to San Carlos (Negros Occidental), rides a ferry to Cebu Island, and continues by road to Cebu City. An alternate route to Cebu, and the usual route to Bohol, is to take a bus across Negros to Dumaguete and catch a ferry there.

By plane
Bacolod's main airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport  is not located within the city but up north in the city of Silay, part of the Metro Bacolod area.


 * Philippines Airlines have connections to and from Manila, Cebu and Clark.
 * Cebu Pacific have connections to and from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Clark.
 * AirAsia have connections to and from Manila.

For arriving passengers who want supplemental guides to the city or free maps, the Department of Tourism and the local government has a desk in the arrivals area where you can grab free maps or have a dose of information from the people over the desk. Hotels, resorts and car rental companies have kiosks in the arrival areas where you can easily book a room and just head to your hotel room without any hassle.

Ground transportation: There are minivans leaving for SM City Bacolod, Bacolod Provincial Hospital, Old Bacolod Airport and Victoria Arcade/Lopues East/Savemore Supermarket. Taxis are more expensive, and inadvisable

To get to the airport, you can also book a van from most places to stay in down town Bacolod. just ask your hotel to phone/text the van for you. The cost is  per person hotel to airport. If you get on the van from outside SM, the fare is  per person.

By bus
Getting to Bacolod by bus from elsewhere in Negros island is smooth and easy as there is little congestion on the roads. Arriving by bus from other islands is also possible, with buses taking RORO (roll-on, roll-off) ferries. During Holy Week, Christmas and New Year, buses are often cramped and overbooked, and it's advisable to avoid traveling by bus during peak season.



There are two major terminals in Bacolod, both operated and used by Ceres.



By ferry
 Bacolod Seaport serves inter-regional trips from major destinations such Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Iloilo City. Also you can use the Banago wharf.


 * Fast Cat New ferries, from, 3 times per day.
 * 2Go Travel has ferries to and from Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro.
 * Fast Cat New ferries, from, 3 times per day.
 * 2Go Travel has ferries to and from Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro.
 * 2Go Travel has ferries to and from Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro.

By jeep
Jeepney routes from nearby cities are available, routes from Silay, Talisay and other numerous towns and cities are available, jeepneys are more affordable than taxis.

Get around
Transportation within the city and to adjacent towns is mainly by jeepney, but taxis, buses and rental cars are also available.

The city's streets follow a rough grid in the downtown core, but as you head out into the suburbs it becomes a mess. Traffic jams have increased since the city's economic boom, and are common during rush hours especially during the evening at 5-6PM where commuters head home. The situation is worse during the Christmas and New Year season, as well as during Masskara.

By jeepney
Jeepneys are the common way to get around Bacolod, but the vehicles used are different from those you will see around Manila. Fares start at for the first 4 km, and increase by  for every km added.

There are over 18 routes, converging at Bacolod's two major public markets, the Central Market and Libertad Public Market. One useful route is Central Market - Shopping, which runs between downtown and Bacolod's Chinatown at barangay Villamonte.

By car
Getting around the city by private car or taxi is quick and affordable. There are no problems with traffic jams at all because of the good road layout of the city. Around Bacolod the taxis have a flagdown rate of and  for every 300 meters thereafter. Filipinos usually give the change as a tip but it is not mandatory, if the meter states, they typically give the entire.

By tricycle
Tricycles are another alternative to taxis and are common around the downtown. Fares depend on the distance.

On foot
Consider walking if you are in a hurry, but the streets of Bacolod are generally not suitable for this as their sidewalks are full of illegally parked vehicles and street vendors, and can also be uneven.

Jaywalking is illegal in Bacolod, and enforcement is strict, but pedestrian crossings are hard to spot even downtown.

Historical sites


There are a number of historical attractions in Bacolod:









Religious sites
Churches are a big part of life for a Filipino and all have historical, spiritual and religious meaning.



Museums and galleries




Sports
Football (soccer) is popular throughout Bacolod; thus it is known as the Football/Soccer City of the Philippines. It has been notable for hosting the 23rd Southeast Asian Games Men's football. The Panaad Stadium is used for tournaments and such events. There are three golf clubs in the province of Negros, two located in Bacolod. For bowling, badminton, tennis enthusiasts and people who miss bowling and billiards, you don't have to worry as there are a lot of commercial establishments which offer services to those activities. For those who want to try hardcore games, shooting ranges are around the city while for those who want to see and experience the Sabong or Filipino cockerel derbies, there is a stadium where derbies are popularly held. Tai Chi is practiced in Yuan Thong temple. The Capitol Park and Lagoon is popular for joggers and people doing aerobics during the morning.

Learn
Bacolod is the seat for many universities in Negros Occidental, ESL (English as Second Language) learning centers are open in the city making it in the toplist for cities for ESL programs along with Manila and Cebu and for the past few year an influx of foreign students who have chosen to study in Bacolod. According to statistics about 93% of the total population is literate.



Buy


Bacolod is famous for piaya (a flatbread), biscocho (toasted buns), squid flakes, guapple pie and its pina-sugbo (fried banana dessert). Great souvenirs from Bacolod are its sweet delicacies and uga (dried squid). Many overseas Filipino workers buy these as a pasalubong (gift from traveller to host) or souvenir.

Shell craft, wood craft and ceramic wares are also good buys. Antique wooden statues of saints are one of the best buys, perhaps even if you're not Catholic or religious. Antique stores are scattered around the city but they are difficult to spot; Casa Grande Antiques, Requerdos de Bacolod and Sarlee’s well-known. Hablon, a shimmery fabric produced locally, was popular in the 60s and is still one of the best buys.

Where to exchange?
Money exchangers lurk around the streets of Downtown Bacolod (CBD) and are easy to spot; if you walk into those streets some of them will yell "Dollar exchange!" or they'd come forward and ask you, you can spot some major money exchangers with their self owned stalls. If you don't feel safe in exchanging with money exchangers, you can either go to pawnshops or banks for an alternative and safer option. Most money exchangers accept American dollars and euros, and before leaving the country, exchange your money to dollars to avoid difficulty in finding a money exchanger that exchanges your currency to Philippine pesos but if you don't want to exchange dollars but want to keep your local currency, go exchange your money in major banks to pesos.

Tip: Ask the exchange rate first and ask other money exchangers, compare rates and see the highest, go for the highest exchange rate.

Banks

 * Bank of the Philippines islands. BPI. ATMs have a maximum withdrawal of .

Malls and supermarkets
From air-conditioned supermalls to small shops to the busy Central Market and to the street vendors, shopping is everywhere! The Downtown area, and Libertad are notable for their shopping.

Lacson Street
Lacson can be described as Bacolod's counterpart of Singapore's Orchard Road, not because of the malls present in the street but because of the fine dining restaurants found here, numerous boutique stores, a line of vintage and antique home decor stores.



Other
Pasalubong Centers are usually like mini-supermarkets but sell only pasalubong (souvenir or gift) products such as piaya and biscocho, as well as snacks and drinks.

Eat
Much of the Bacolodnon (and the entire Negrense) cuisine is shared with those in the island of Panay, but is influenced by Negros island's sugarcane industry. Bacolod has many dining establishments of other styles, but the people maintain their native cuisine. Sud-an is Hiligaynon for main dish while kan-on can either mean "rice" or "eat".


 * Lumpiang ubod/fresh lumpia (fresh spring roll; not fried) — One of the must-eat dishes, a delicately exquisite spring roll filled with ubod (fresh coconut flesh), meat (usually pork), and shrimp, with a garnish of scallion.
 * Inasal — Meaning "cooked over fire", it is a local version of chicken barbecue and considered the best in the country. It is cooked with red achuete or annatto seeds (which gives its tempting reddish colouration), brushed on oil and cooked over the fire. It's delicious and affordable.
 * Kalamay hati — Sticky sweet dessert made from glutinous rice and coconut milk and cooked over low heat till it becomes sticky. It's the local version of rice cake.
 * Napoleones — Introduced by the French and derived from mille-feuille, this custard-filled pastry is also another popular specialty from Bacolod. This European dessert isn't that so famous but considered as the best in the Philippines. Roli's Bakeshop is popularly known for this dessert, as well as Virgie's Homemade Products.
 * Piaya/Piyaya — A sweet flat and flaky delicacy, as if a thinner version of hopia. Fillings vary, but ube (purple yam) and muscovado caramel are the most popular.
 * Pinasugbo — A local version of banana cue, it is sliced plantain bananas, thinly coated with brown sugar and deep fried.
 * Uga (dried fish) — Is one of the best and most appetizing foods, in the opinion of most of Bacolodnons. Its salty taste makes it delectable, not only for the mouth but also for the nose and eyes. Beware if you are allergic with this or are having high blood pressure.

Restaurants and food courts
Like most major cities of the Philippines, Bacolod has a defined fine dining scene, centered at Lacson Street. You can find Mexican, Thai, and European (mostly Italian and French) restaurants here, but most locals usually go to those serving Korean, Japanese and/or Chinese dishes. Bacolod is an urbanized city, and it is not hard to find high-quality food.

Open air restaurants in Bacolod usually serve native Filipino cuisine at affordable prices, while fast food chains are either standalone places or inside malls. A branch of Starbucks is found along Lacson St., the first branch on Negros Island though Dumaguete now has one too.

Budget

 * Sanders Coffee & Sausages Lacson Street. 7AM-1AM daily meals for around.
 * D Bakers Baker Shop Gonzaga corner Bonifacio streets. Sells bread, cakes and pies. 3 branches in Bacolod
 * Sanders Coffee & Sausages Lacson Street. 7AM-1AM daily meals for around.
 * D Bakers Baker Shop Gonzaga corner Bonifacio streets. Sells bread, cakes and pies. 3 branches in Bacolod

Splurge
Restaurant below have some dishes not exceeding.



Dietary restrictions
Christians will not find it hard eating in Bacolod. However, Muslims and Jews will find it difficult, with Bacolod being a Christian city, Halal and Kosher options are difficult to find unlike the bustling streets of Metro Manila. Hindus, vegetarians and vegans will too find it difficult, however just request not to put certain things which are restricted for you to consume. A list of vegetarian restaurants is showed below.

Drink
The preferred beer is San Mig Light which is served at almost any restaurant, except fast food establishments. You might also try Tanduay, a very famous rum. Nice to pair with coke and ice. For native alcohol, the local tuba is made from fermented coconut juice. Great Bacolod sisig can be found at KSL or Kubo Sa Lawn where they serve ice cold SanMig Light.

Bars, pubs and nightclubs
Goldenfield Commercial Complex has been home to many bars, pubs, nightclubs as well as casinos for the past few years and is considered where the best nightlife comes to life in Bacolod. Other than Goldenfield, bars and pubs as well as nightclubs are scattered around the bustling city. If you're in Goldenfields you can either barhop, Goldenfields might give you like a mini-town which is just home to restaurants, a water park, clubs and bars. A dress code is applied and compulsory in some bars, pubs and nightclubs. Wear casually and not so revealing if you don't want to end up behind bars; no flipflops/slippers and no sleeveless shirts.



Stay safe
Bacolod is a lot safer compared to Metro Manila. As always common sense is the rule when travelling. Taking the taxi or renting cars or vans daily is better and quicker as most of the crimes in the Philippines today are done in tricycles and jeepneys. However there isn't a 100% Safe place, if travelling, tour in large groups 3-5 might do as there might be people around you, you may never know what they'll do to you. Be careful during the Masskara Festival. Don't display your MP3s, iPhones, iPods, phones, laptops or valuable things that will catch a snatcher's attention, keep it safe inside your bag and put it out when you'll take pictures. Don't bring bags or large purses while in night, just bring your phone and a small wallet that'll fit in your pocket to avoid being a victim of crime. Beggars usually are around the downtown area they inhabit in the plaza area and if they see you look rich, they'd approach you and annoy you asking you for money, ignore them if you have to and just go straight to your destination. Pickpockets are common in the CBD while house burglaries are common in residential areas, children involved in sniffing glue are dangerous so it's very important to have someone accompany you while walking during the night or either try to avoid dark and areas where there are fewer people.

Stay healthy
Tap Water is not safe for drinking though considered potable, the water supplies sometimes get dirty when Bacolod City Water District cleans up their pipes and the safety of tap water is somehow questionable, and no one really enjoys the pleasure of drinking it due to its cough syrup-like taste. Luckily water supplies during nationwide droughts are not affected as unlike other big cities, Bacolod pumps water from springs. Street Food is not as safe as those in Singapore and Taipei, the standards for street food is not properly imposed. There are few cases but not that rampant of being sick after eating street food. The quality of street food somehow is tolerated by health officials and citizens alike. Luckily street food is now on mainstream inside malls offering tourists and citizens alike to be assured of the hygienic standards. Dengue fever is a common issue especially during the summer season, apply mosquito repellent and avoid wearing T-shirts and shorts during the afternoon, wear sleeves and pants instead.

Hospitals
Private hospitals are given a passing rate in the city, most of them can cater to almost every patient's need. During summer, hospital beds are fully booked as dengue fever cases rise up to skyrocketing levels.



Pharmacies
The hospital with most pharmacies surrounding its compound is the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

Dentist clinics
Clinics are easily found in Bacolod, some are located in malls while most of the hospitals have a dentist.


 * Paul Callardo Dental Clinic. Gatuslao street. 400 m down the street from the 888 mall going to the plaza. low cost dental work from.
 * Paul Callardo Dental Clinic. Gatuslao street. 400 m down the street from the 888 mall going to the plaza. low cost dental work from.
 * Paul Callardo Dental Clinic. Gatuslao street. 400 m down the street from the 888 mall going to the plaza. low cost dental work from.

Restrooms and toilets
Almost every commercial establishment, office and church in the city has a functional toilet however public toilets are often neglected around the city, an accessible toilet is available at the public plaza but one must have to pay before accessing the toilet, and the valid reason for such payment is for repairs and maintenance which gives us a hint that the city government doesn't even fund on its simplest amenities like toilets.

Respect

 * See the Respect section of the Philippines article for more information

People who are elder than you (old enough to be your elder brother/sister or father/mother) - even if that person is a driver, janitor or maid etc. - you should call them Manong for Males or Manang for females before their common name like; Manong Jeremy or Manang May Ann, Manong can be shorten to Nong and Manang to Nang. If that person is old enough to be your grandfather call them Lolo for males or Lola for females before their common name like; Lolo Isidro or Lola Estrella.

Bacolodnons are traditionally liberal when it comes to clothing, except Muslims and Iglesia ni Kristo members who both are conservative religious people. Wearing shorts in public is OK but no very short ones if you don't want to attract attention and trouble; wearing a bikini on beaches is OK and you would expect no trouble however you might get attention too. When inside churches, everyone is expected to be cautious of their actions as such actions might attract attention and negative perception towards tourists.

Connect
Dialing code for the Philippines is +63 while local area code for Bacolod is 34.

By phone
PayPhones provided by PLDT are available in some of the city center's nooks and corners however if you don't find any payphone around, ask any tiangge to lend you a phone which each call costs /domestic call, rates for international calls vary.

Buying a Sim card is cheap, easy and no hassles, you don't need a verification of any kind and from you can get a sim pack and are sold by Smart and Globe which are the two largest networks, Talk n Text, Sun Cellular and TM Mobile are other major networks. Sending text abroad cost /text while sending it within the Philippines cost /text.

By net
Internet cafes charge per hour, they are common throughout the city with small cafes opening up in local barangays and big commercial ones in the Central Business District. Head to downtown Bacolod if you need to surf for a while; these cafes can be found in almost every corner of the city and provide modern recreational centers and hangout places for the youth.

Many businesses also provide free WiFi access for their customers. These include most hotels, some malls &mdash; SM City, Robinson's Place and 888 Chinatown Square &mdash; and fast food outlets such as Jollibee and McDonald's.

Newspapers and publications
Much of the local news in Bacolod is available in English which also applies to major national newspapers, minor tabloid newspapers are printed in Filipino and Hiligaynon. The Visayan Daily Star, Sun Star Bacolod and the Negros Daily Bulletin are also available.

Radio
Almost all of the radio stations air in the local language; Hiligaynon, with some of the FM Radio jockeys using a mix of Hiligaynon and Tagalog, as well as Taglish, in contrast to FM Jockeys; AM Radio jockeys speak in pure and fluent Hiligaynon as the audiences catered by AM Radio are usually senior citizens and residents who come from nearby town where speaking of Hiligaynon is encouraged. AM Radio stations air current affairs programs, radio telenovelas, news and Hiligaynon songs usually old ones. FM Radio stations on the other hand air modern day English and local songs from any genre with shows hosted by Radio jockeys who use the usual Filipino slapstick jokes, the FM Radio is unfortunately bombarded by advertisements as it is one of the cheapest forms of media to market products in the country with the only safe time to listen to almost ad-free music is during the hours after 22:00. Some of the radio stations go off at midnight after airing the last tunes of the Lupang Hinirang.

FM
Two FM stations broadcast in English:
 * Magic - This station airs talk shows that mixed bag issues whether may it be dating, sex, videogames, entertainment abroad, they also dislike over-airing pop songs but instead go for a salad bowl of genres whether alternative and independent to billboard and RnB.
 * EasyRock - It dislikes airing pop songs; they go instead for alternative, jazz, slow songs and the like.

Television

 * ABS-CBN Bacolod, Channel 4 - This station is the regional station for ABS-CBN and serves Negros Occidental in two primary languages; Hiligaynon and Filipino. It might be only helpful to travelers who have knowledge in one of the languages as it airs nation-wide and provincial newscast as well as a weekend magazine regional TV Show which also covers the nearby Iloilo province.
 * GMA Bacolod, Channel 13 - ABS-CBN's fierce competitor around the nation, this is also a regional station and is aired in Hiligaynon and Filipino. It provides provincial newscast as well as national newscast.
 * ABS-CBN News Channel/ANC - Available on Cable TV, it airs in English and Filipino, airs round-the-clock news in English alone with few exceptions on Filipino. This channel not alone airs news but also magazine shows which much talks about business and the lavish lifestyles of the elites in the country and documentaries which discusses the nation's problems.
 * GMA News Channel - It is available on Free-to-air televisions if you're lucky enough to get a signal, unlike its rival news channel, it airs alone in Filipino and provides around-the-clock news nationwide. Though new to the industry of newscasting, it has taken over the ratings and replaced ANC as the leading news channel due to the fact that not all Filipinos are comfortable with straight-English news reports.

Religious services
Christian denominations especially Roman Catholics, Baptists, Adventists and the Iglesia ni Kristo members won't find difficulty in finding religious services in the city.



Go next
Nearby towns and cities within the province are accessible by land. The island of Panay is 45 minutes by ferry from the port of Bacolod.

Within the province
Bacolod is the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, and like every capital, it is crowded and very developed. Refresh yourself by getting out of Bacolod to the quieter municipalities that surround it; there is an abundance of beaches and hot springs. Don't expect any traffic jams as the condition of the roads in the province is among the best of the country. Buses are the easiest way of getting around the province; jeeps are affordable, but are not suggested for foreigners. If you're traveling as a group or family, you can rent a car or a van.


 * Bago — the main attractions they have to offer are the Kipton twin falls as well as mountain resorts, an ideal destination for trekkers
 * Cadiz — popular for its white sand beach;Lakawon beach, an island off the coast of Cadiz
 * Escalante — discover the diversity of ecosystems which is one of the richest in the island of Negros and one of the last surviving ecosystems in the island, see the mangroves and the sea grass along the shores as well as remnants of corals
 * Kabankalan - second largest city in the province, with some beach resorts
 * La Carlota — trek and hike in Guintubdan
 * Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park — a natural reserve in Canlaon, the highest point in the Visayas and a favourite spot for Spiritualists and Mountaineers and Catholics during the Holy Week; the reserve is surrounded by flora and fauna, animals found here include deer and boar.
 * Murcia — the Mamabucal Resort is on a higher elevation than the city hence it has a cooler average temperature; its main attraction are its natural hot springs
 * Silay — known as the Paris of Negros because of its European styled hundred year-old houses which are well preserved as historical monuments

Further destinations
Buses are the most comfortable and affordable way of travelling outside the province. Jeepneys are cheaper, but much less comfortable for long-range travel. Second to buses are RoRos (roll-on/roll-off) and ships, trips are available daily from Bredco Port, the main port of the city of Bacolod.
 * San Carlos
 * Apo Island — just off the coast of the town of Dauin and Zamboanguita (in Negros Oriental), this island is popular for divers and tourists alike
 * Bais
 * Dumaguete — a popular university city with a clean seaside boulevard and a laid-back atmosphere
 * Guimaras — taste its one and only temptation; its mangoes, which are known to be among the sweetest in the world
 * Iloilo Province, a short ferry ride away — the church of Miagao is a . its capital city is also famous for its Dinagyang Festival