Bacolod: the City of Smiles. One need not go far and wide to validate this claim, and there’s more to Negros Occidental’s capital than the Masskara Festival.
This is part of a series
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Being in a Masskara Festival season it’s expected that hotel rates are at their peak, but accommodations in Bacolod are still very reasonable and chances are there’s one for every budget. As tourists looking for the most accessible and comfortable stay with reasonable rates, we opted for MO2 Westown Hotel along Luzuriaga St. near SM City Bacolod, just a few meters away from Araneta Ave. where the Masskara Festival parade passes. At ₱2,800 per night with complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi access, I can’t complain:
Bacolod Cathedral
Like any other old city in the Philippines, Bacolod does have a church in its center. Bacolod Cathedral is relatively young compared to other Cathedrals in other capital cities but it is just as impressive. One of the unique features of this Cathedral is its preference with gold.
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Provincial Capitol of Negros Occidental
The Provincial Capitol of Negros Occidental is one of the best looking government buildings I’ve seen in the Philippines. The level of details is just impeccable. In front of it is a park which for me is reminiscent of Manila’s Rizal Park. Like Manila’s, the park is also where the Kilometer Zero of the province is located.
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More
There are many more interesting places around the city but I can only present in photos these two: SM City Bacolod which you can’t miss when you’re downtown, and the traditional-looking Negros Occidental Museum near the Capitol (which is closed every Monday so we weren’t able to enter).
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The Piaya Chronicles:
- Negros Occidental Tour
- The Ancestral Houses of Silay City
- The Marvelous Masks of the Masskara Festival
- Touring the City of Smiles, Bacolod City
- Bacolod City Food Trip!
- Victorias’ Secret and the Ruins of Talisay
- The Unexpected Extension
- Bago City and the Flight Back Home
runningpinoy 
There’s only one Kilometer 0 in the country of course. I wonder why they made such marker. Im hoping to visit the place this month, any idea how much is the taxi fare from airport? Or is there a smarter way? Thanks. Nice blog
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Actually Kilometer 0 markers are pretty common as many major islands in the Philippines have them for distance reference. 🙂
By our experience, from Silay City there are taxis (some charge ₱500 but actual fare is much less than that) but you may use the airport shuttle or even tricycles. You can read the details here.
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