Destinations

Revolutionary Markers, Bago and Silay Cities and E. B. Magalona, 22 kms. and 15 kms. from Bacolod City, respectively. Commemorate the spots where local revolutionaries fought against Spanish authorities during the Negros revolution of 1898 and the American forces later.

Araneta and Lacson Monuments, Bago City and Talisay, 22 kms. and 6 kms. from Bacolod City, respectively. In memory of two great leaders of the Negros revolution.

Fountain of Justice, Bacolod City. Where the Capitulation of Bacolod was signed between the Spanish authorities and revolutionary forces.

Instituto Rizal, Bacolod Cit. First public school established in Bacolod in 1902.

Church of Talisay, Talisay. 7 kms. from Bacolod City constructed in the early part of 1900's where the remains of Fr. Fernando Cuenca and Gen. Aniceto Lacson are being kept.

Ancestral House of Dr. Soriano, Bacolod City, Constructed in 1901. The house was made of hardwood with fine carvings; served as a hospital during the Japanese occupation.

Hofileña Ancestral House, Silay City, 15 kms. from Bacolod City. Home to a collection of rare art pieces, antiques and paintings done by Luna, Rizal and Hidalgo; venue of the first wood printing in Negros.

Hda. Fe. Ancestral House of Don Eusebio Uriarte Y Hermanos, La Carlota City, 42 kms. from Bacolod City. Where the Circulo de Agriculture, a planters organization formed to undertake an anti-locust campaign.

The House of Don Mariano Ramos, Bacolod City. Ancestral home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod.

Capitol Building, Bacolod City. Imposing structure of Romanesque neo-classical architectural design, official seat of government of the Province of Negros Occidental; served as headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. (The late National Artist Leandro Locsin referred to it as one of the most elegant in the Philippines.)

Cultural Attractions

Church of St. Joseph the Worker. Made famous by an article in Life Magazine featuring its unusual psychedelic mural depicting a craggy-faced Christ in bold, primary colors. Also depicted are figures of brown-skinned Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph in Filipino clothes.

Church of La Carlota City, South of Bacolod; is unique in its romanesque architecture and its use of red bricks in addition to the coralstones.

Chinese Temple, Bacolod City. Symbol of Chinese influence in the culture of the province.

Gaston Farm House, Silay City, 15 kms. from Bacolod City. Typical example of a "sugar baron's mansion"; converted into a museum and known today as the "Balay Negrense".

Old Fort at Himamaylan, Himamaylan, 83 kms. from Bacolod City. Served as a garrison when the town became the capital of Negros in 1795.

Yulo Ancestral House, Bacolod City, by the sea. Built in the early part of 1900's; residence of Don Alfredo Yulo, mayor of Bacolod at the coming of the World War II.

The Church of San Diego, Silay City, 15 kms. from Bacolod City. Basilica type of architectural work constructed in the 1920's.

Mural of Birhen Sang Barangay, Bacolod City. Large mural mosaic of 95,000 pieces of shells of various species in their natural colors. A unique work of art found at the Chapel of Sta. Clara.

Ancenstral Houses, Silay City. 26 houses in this city have recently been identified as ancestral houses, strengthening the city's bid to become a museum city. 2 of these houses have been restored and turned into museums, both depicting the lifestyles of the Negrense elite at the turn of the century: the Balay Negrense and the Jalandoni Heritage House.

Natural Attractions

Mt. Kanlaon. One of the mountains found in the north-central portion of the island of Negros. It is the highest peak in Central Philippines, the most dominant and attractive feature of which is the active summitcrater of a volcano.

Mambukal Mountain Resort, Murcia, 30 kms. from Bacolod City. Gateway to the Mt. Kanlaon National Park; built as a spa in 1927; situated at an altitude of roughly 2,000 ft. above sea level on the north-western foot of Mt. Kanlaon. All around it are therapeutic sulfur springs, waterfalls, mountain streams, lush valleys and hiking trails leading up to Mt. Kanlaon. It has tourist room, cottages, camp grounds and swimming pools of clear mountain spring water.

Sitio Guintubdan Nature Camp, La Carlota City, 36 kms. from Bacolod City. A destination for nature enthusiasts; at the western foot of Mt. Kanlaon at an elevation of 700 meters above the plains of the sugarland.

Patag Valley Trekking, Silay City, (45 kms. from Bacolod City) located 400 meters above sea level between the highlands of Mt. Silay and Mt. Marapara. Home of the Philippines spotted deer; highlight of the visit is a skyline ride.

Isla Puti, Escalante, 101 kms. from Bacolod City. Immense sand bar islet jutting out of the sea and measuring about 2 hectares in area.

Danjugan Island, Cauayan, 177.5 kms. from Bacolod City. 3 hectare reserve marine sanctuary, a virtual marine paradise to lovers of the underwater world.

Sagay Marine Sanctuary, Sagay, 86 kms. from Bacolod City. Established in1978; an aggregate area of 200 hectares covering the so called carbin reef,maca reef, maca shoal and panal reef.

Ubong Cave, Hinobaan, 202 kms. from Bacolod City. System of cave passages situated at the coastline of Sitio Ubong. Ideal for "spelunker-to-be".

Pating Cave, Kabankalan. Highest cave found in the eastern part of Bgy.Magballo.

Hagdanan Cave, Kabankalan. Named so because of the natural formation of stairs made of stone inside the cave leading to the water under it.

Mt. Guintubdan, (About an hour and half south of Bacolod City). Is one of the jump-off points to the Mt. Kanlaon National. The lush hills of Mt. Guintubdan is where the fiecest fighting cocks are bred for the coutry's top derbies. Cock fighting is a very popular sport in the province, with the price of one fighting cock commanding as much as as US$600. Each cock is house in teepees and groomed and trained daily. Mt. Guintubdan likewise has several waterfalls and excellent camping facilities.

Special Interests

Iron Dinosaurs Known among locomotive enthusiasts as the "Steam Paradise of the Philippines". Seven of the fifteen sugar centrals in the province maintain these machines in good working condition. Each milling season, one may occasionally encounter one of these "dragons" creeping along the canefields like a mechanical caterpillar dragging along a host of canefield cars. War Memorial Tours. Visit memorial shrines places of significant events, and other war related activities commemorating World War II.

Night Life is enjoyed in many different clubs and restaurants found around the city of Bacolod. Popular after dark acivities include eating out in any of the city's wide range of restaurants and nightclubs, bowling, or trying out one's luck in Bacolod city.

Export Quality Products. A sugar industry crisis in 1980's prodded the wives of plantation owners to turn hobbies into dollar earning cottage industries. These enterprising group got together the womenfolk of their plantation workers and taught them such skills as knitting, weaving, beadwork, embroidery, food preservation and paper making. From this beginnings grew the Association of Negros Producers, a dynamic group of manufacturers who are producing export quality products, which are innovative design and use of indigenous material.

Golf and Country Clubs. The Vicmico Golf and Country Club, along with the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and the Bacolod Golf and Country Club, all accessible within an hour from Bacolod City, are sites of prestigious golf tournaments. These 3 world-class golf courses make the province the golf center in the Visayas.

Native Delicacies

Negrense's Specialties. Among the most raved in the Negrense's specialties, are grilled fresh seafood and the chicken inasal, grilled skewered chicken marinated overnight in a mixture of soy sauce, native lime and spices. Also famous are Negrense sweets and pastries, which are a natural offshot of a sugar-producing province.