Bacolod City
Bacolod City – the City of Smiles, the Gateway to Sugarlandia. Whatever name you may call her, the city is home to 499,497 people (2007 Census). The almost half a million residents can’t be wrong when they chose Bacolod as their home, and I’m glad I did too.
Bacolod City has been home for me since 2004 and I’m glad I had a chance to live here. When I was contacted by MoneySense Magazine in February 2008 to answer a few questions why I consider Bacolod as the Best Place to Live in the Philippines, here are my answers.
1. What do you like best about your city?
Bacolod is an urban city with that distinct Southern charm. It keeps abreast with development yet still maintain the laid back lifestyle. Bacolod City has the amenities that Manila and other highly urbanized cities can offer but without the traffic problems, pollution and high crime rate.
Low cost of living – Cost of food, utilities, and even real property are even lower compared to neighboring highly urbanized cities. Bacolod City also has very good road network that allows high mobility so traffic is not a problem.
Quality of life – Bacolod offers urban amenities without the problems brought by development. There are a lot of public and private schools that offer quality education in all levels. There are also a lot of recreational amenities such as golf course, bars and restaurants, coffee shops, sports facilities and resorts. Bacolod is also rich in history and provides avenues for the appreciation and development of culture and the arts.
Charming people –Bacolod is known as the City of Smiles. Anybody who’ve been to Bacolod can attest to the warmth and hospitality of its people.
Most outsiders don’t know that Bacolod has more to offer than just piaya to satisfy one’s sweet tooth. Those who visit Bacolod should try Roli’s napoleones and cakes frame Calea to have a taste of how sweet life in Bacolod is.
People in Bacolod love to eat. Food is not only the number one source of business but also provides bonding opportunities among families and friends. The city boasts of fine dining restaurants, local delicacy, pastry and coffee shops, and hole-in-the-wall carinderias that can surely satisfy one’s discriminating taste without making a hole in the pocket.
This still holds true for me today. Bacolod City is not just about Masskara, nor is it just about piaya. Bacolod City has so much to offer fo someone who’s not afraid to adventure and explore the nooks and cranies of this charming city. Come and join me in my journey to explore, discover and experience Bacolod City and the rest of Negros Occidental.
