A colorful Welcome to Bacolod at the Northill Gateway

Upon touchdown at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental, Philippines and drive through the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road, you’ll zoom through the boundaries of Silay City, Talisay City towards Bacolod City. Now, you’ll know that you are entering the borders of Bacolod, the City of Smiles, because of the colorful Las Vegas-inspired marker at the …

Stonehill Suites opens in Bacolod City

The name “Bacolod” came from the old Hiligaynon word “bakolod” that described the stony, hilly resettlement (currently the site of Barangay Granada) that evolved into a city. Now, that piece of history of Bacolod City is brought to memory with the opening of a modern hotel bearing the name Stonehill Suites. Standing at the corner …

The Festivals of Negros Occidental: a fusion of color

Negros Occidental, a province located in the Philippines, is renowned for its vibrant and diverse festivals that offer a captivating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and traditions of its people. These festivals serve as colorful showcases of Negros Occidental’s unique identity, captivating locals and visitors alike with their exuberant celebrations, captivating performances, and profound …

10 Reasons to Settle in Bacolod City

I have written before why retirees, balikbayans and expats consider Negros Occidental as a place to settle and enjoy life in my blog post 10 Reasons to Acquire Real Estate and Settle in Negros Occidental. While the laidback ambiance of the province is an ideal attraction for those who are planning to migrate, its busiest …

Cultural Heritage

Making a Difference: Preserving Cultural Heritage

This day that I’m putting out this article is United Nations Day. During this day, not only is the global organization commemorating its inception and honoring its mission to humanity, but it is also when schools let their students don national costumes from various countries. There are cultures that you can immediately identify by their …

Resorts Negrense Bacolod City

First-time in Resorts Negrense

Bacolod City is experiencing a new development that will help boost its tourism industry with the inauguration of a new attraction in town — the Resorts Negrense in Punta Taytay, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Philippines. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the blessing of Resorts Negrense a day before it had its …

Bacolod City Government Center

First-time Travel Guide: Bacolod City

A Travel Guide for First-time Travelers to Bacolod Bacolod City (10° 40′ 12″ N, 122° 57′ 0″ E), known as the “City of Smiles”, is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental, which composes one half of Negros Island. It is located in the Visayas part of the Philippines, an archipelago in Southeast Asia with 7,107 islands. This city has a …

Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil

A Jolly Festival Tour Around the Philippines

Celebrity mom and chef Donita Rose is setting the MassKara Festival on fire and is cooking her way around the Philippines with Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil. She began her festival tour with the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City, then onwards to Naga City for the Peñafrancia Festival. The heartwarming feel of sharing a feast …

Funatix Laser Tag

Have a Funatix Game In Bacolod

People in Bacolod and travelers going to this city for Masskara will have a grander time this festival season because Funatix, the first Edutainment company in Iloilo, has come to our shores to bring fun, education and entertainment to greater heights. Recently opened in SM City Bacolod, Funatix offers programs that create an interactive environment …

Negros Occidental

Five Days Around these Negros Occidental cities: Bacolod, Silay and Talisay

Instead of me going away and traveling to faraway places, I toured a friend who spent her five-day vacation in my home province in Negros Occidental, Philippines. It was already more than two years since I moved back home and I have somehow become familiar of various routes from one point of my city to …

Masks at the Jojo Vito Designs Gallery

When I moved back to Bacolod City, one of the persons I came to know was Jojo Vito, the man behind the Jojo Vito Designs Gallery, whom I met through the Negrense Blogging Society, Inc. (NBSI). Since I was away for two decades from my hometown, I have become clueless on what’s popular, where to …

Tent Five

New Dining Place in Bacolod: Tent Five

If Bacolod City is known for something, apart from Masskara Festival and the smiling people, it is its good food that can be enjoyed in many great dining places that dot the metropolis. [UPDATE 2023: The restaurant has closed and is no longer in operation in this location.] A new foodie attraction is the Marketplace, …

Vikings

The Day We Dressed Like A Viking

It was the National Vikings Day, which celebrated the 5th year anniversary of Vikings, the popular luxury buffet restaurant in the Philippines. To thank their patrons, they gave 50% off on their rates as long as customers come donning a Viking traditional costume or a touch of any of those – helmets, head dress, shields …

Bacolod City

10 Reasons to Acquire Real Estate and Settle in Negros

As of 2015, the Philippines was in the top 25 countries in the world to retire, and it comes in third among the Asian countries. In the Philippines, the two provinces of Negros Island  — Negros Occidental to the west and Negros Oriental to the east — have always been cited as some of the ideal …

Choobi Choobi

Have a Choobi Choobi Filipino Meal

“Choobi Choobi” is a Fookien word for the Visayan expression “lingaw lingaw” which translates to enjoying or having fun. Now, Choobi Choobi  is almost synonymous to Filipino food that you can enjoy. The CEO of Choobi Choobi, Mr. Constantine “Stan” Tanchan, fondly shared the story of how the name came about. And if you’re one …