PHILIPPINES: When in Bacolod 2015

Bacolod City is known for "The City of Smiles". It is also the capital province of Negros Occidental.

How to get there?

We booked our flights during a Cebu Pacific seat sale. While some people are impulsive shoppers, I consider myself more of an impulsive flight booker! We got everything for just P2,730.52 each, including 20 kilos of additional baggage allowance. I booked a multi-city trip, flying into Bacolod City and departing from Iloilo City, which made the trip more convenient and exciting.

Where to stay?

We stayed 2d/1n at Go hotel ph. It is a less expensive hotel, comfortable place to stay at, great location for transportation, and located beside Robinson's Mall. We only paid for P 1043.84 for 1 night.

PLACES WE VISITED IN BACOLOD CITY

1. The Provincial Capitol of Bacolod City

Since we arrived early, we had plenty of time before checking into our hotel. From SM Bacolod, we rented a tricycle to take us to San Sebastian Church, the Pope John Paul II Tower, and then to our hotel. We paid P200 for the ride. Haha! I'm not sure if that’s a lot, but thankfully, our driver, Manong, was really kind! Hehe.

2. San Sebastian Cathedral

3. POPE JOHN PAUL II TOWER

Admission Fee:
Student - P 10
Adult - P 20

4. THE RUINS

We arrived just in time for sunset after oversleeping. The entrance fee was P95 each.

I’m thrilled to say that the place lived up to my expectations. Not everything we see online is as beautiful or jaw-dropping in real life, but this location is definitely an exception! It’s relaxing, clean, and well-maintained—a great spot for taking lots of pictures, which we did. We even asked someone to snap a photo of our awkward but cute poses.

We lingered there until after sunset, eagerly waiting for the lights to come on. Oh my gosh! It looked even more stunning with the lights illuminated! I could have easily spent the whole night there.

WHERE TO EAT?

1. Manokan Country

This is the authentic chicken inasal! Before Mang Inasal became popular, there was Manokan Country, located near SM Bacolod. There are plenty of restaurants in Manokan Country, but we chose Aida's Restaurant because it came highly recommended by a friend. The meal is only P80, and I swear, it’s absolutely delicious—especially when you eat it with your hands! Eating with bare hands makes it easier to enjoy every part of the chicken. It’s definitely worth it!

2. Pala pala seafood market

After arriving at the hotel from the Ruins, we were feeling hungry and a bit zombie-like. We decided to head to Pala Pala Market to buy some fresh seafood and have it cooked. It’s a 15-minute jeepney ride, followed by a 10-minute walk to the seafood market.

I was a little unsure about how to pick the freshest seafood, so I let someone else take the lead in choosing what to buy. We ended up with fish, squid, and shrimp, which we then had cooked at Aleah's. Our meal included sinigang na isda, garlic butter shrimp, and sisig na pusit. There are plenty of other restaurants to choose from as well. We paid a little extra for the cooking, and you can choose how you want your food prepared—grilled, fried, buttered, or however you like!

3. Calea

Calea is one of the famous pastry shops in Bacolod. Lucky for us that the nearest branch is near the hotel - Robinson's mall. They have a vast variety of cakes and drinks to choose from. We weren't able to stay longer because we decided to have a side trip going to Silay City.

Side trip to Silay City (Optional)
We took Vallacar Transit (yellow non-air bus) from Bacolod to Silay City for P15 one-way. It is just a 30-40 min bus ride.

Places we have visited: