Reasons To Visit Negros Occidental

Putting Negros Occidental on the World Map

The Philippines is a heavenly place for tourists because of many factors. Here, they experience not only nature at its finest but also the wonderful hospitality of Filipinos and our diverse culture, as well as our mouth-watering food. There really is so much going for us in terms of tourism that honestly I’m excited at the prospect of more people finding out about the beauty of our country. With 7,107 islands waiting to be explored, they probably won’t want to leave.

Negros Occidental

There are many popular destinations in the Philippines such as Boracay, El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Vigan, Baguio, etc. but Negros Occidental is also a province that has so many great places that travelers can fall in love with.

Negros Occidental also known as Occidental Negros or Western Negros is located in Western Visayas and occupies the northwestern half of the large island of Negros. Known as the “Sugarbowl of the Philippines”, Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation’s sugar output.

Top Cities

• Bacolod City

Bacolod City is the capital and most populous city of the province. It has both old and modern structures with a lot of other establishments developing in different parts of the city. It’s a highly urbanized, fast-growing capital famous for its MassKara Festival celebrated every October.

• Cadiz City

Cadiz City is known not only for its beaches but also for its abundant and cool waterfalls. The more adventurous can go to the Cabagacayan Falls and the Busac-Busac Spring located just outside of town while those who want to just chill and savor the beauty of the surroundings can go to the resorts along Cadiz’s extensive beachfront.

• Silay City

Silay City known as the “Paris of Negros”, it’s the urban cradle of art and culture as shown by the well-kept heritage buildings and the many cultural shows and exhibitions.

• Sipalay City

Sipalay City is known for its fertile farmland and white-sand beaches. Scuba divers and snorkelers can explore the town’s lagoons and caves as well as take leisurely walks on Sipalay’s long beaches.

• Bago City

Bago City known for its historical and cultural treasures dating back to the earliest days of the Spanish colonization. It’s close to the hillier parts of the province from which flow cascades such as the Kipot Twin Falls. Bago is also a staging point for climbers intent on taking on one of Negros Occidental’s highest peaks, Mount Kanlaon.

Landmarks

• Capitol Park and Lagoon

This is a provincial park located right in the heart of Bacolod City. Here you can find the statue of a carabao being pulled by a woman located at the northern end of the lagoon. On the other end is also another carabao sculpture being pulled by a man.

• Panaad Park and Stadium

This is a multi-purpose stadium currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a seating capacity of 15,500 but holds around 20,000 people with standing areas. The stadium is also the home of Panaad sa Negros Festival which is a week-long celebration participated in by all cities and municipalities in the province held every summer. The stadium also features replicas of the landmarks of the 13 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental.

• Bacolod Public Plaza

The Bacolod Public Plaza is located in the heart of the downtown area, near the city hall and across from the San Sebastian Cathedral. The plaza is a trapezoidal park with a belt of trees around the periphery and a gazebo at the center. It’s a popular site for outdoor picnics and concerts.

• Fountain of Justice

A historic landmark in Bacolod City, it marks the location where the house of Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga used to stand. It was in this house that the surrender of Bacolod by Spanish authorities to the Filipino forces of General Aniceto Lacson took place during the Negros Revolution.

• The Ruins

Dating back to the 1900s, this mansion was built by sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson for his first wife, Maria Braga. It was burned down in World War II to prevent the Japanese from using it and reopened to the public by descendants of the original owner. It’s listed as among the World’s 12 most fascinating ruins.

• Church of Cartwheels

In Manapla, Negros Occidental, there is a chapel commonly called “Chapel of Cartwheels” built in the 1960’s at the middle of Hacienda Rosalia, a compound where the ancestral home mansion of Gaston family is also located. All the parts of the chapel were made out of cartwheels and other farm implements. The Chapel of Cartwheels is not a heritage church. Rather it is a symbol of humility and giving importance to those people working for you. Built by one of the descendants of a wealthy haciendero (landowner), this chapel is unique and full of love.

• Old Port of Silay City

The Old Port of Silay City was built and completed in 1933. This old port is designed by Lucio Bernasconi, an Italian architect who is also responsible of the San Diego De Alcala chruch of Silay City. It’s considered to be the first operational seaport in Negros Occidental and was one of the longest wharf in Asia at that time with approximate length of 1.7 km.

• Bacolod Welcome Marker

The Bacolod Welcome Marker is a project between Megaworld and the City government of Bacolod led by Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia. The marker is the highlight of the Bacolod Welcome Park which is located within the 7.5-hectare Northhill Town Center in Megaworld’s 53-hectare Northill Gateway township along the New Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.

Megaworld Projects

Aside from the many beautiful tourist attractions Negros Occidental has it should be noted that there are current and upcoming developments that people should look forward to. The Northill Gateway where the Bacolod Welcome Marker is built and the Northill Town Center plus Forbes Hill, Megaworld’s first upscale residential village in the whole Visayas and Mindanao; and The Upper East, Bacolod’s modern Central Business District will soon rise. The future indeed looks bright for Negros Occidental and Megaworld Corporation has a lot to do with it.