Travelogue: Rediscovering the Beauty of Bacolod after 41 Years
Bacolod, 41 years ago, was a city filled with simple, content, and happy people. It featured low- to mid-rise buildings, abundant nature, and a lifestyle reflective of simpler times. For the average teenager back then, social life revolved around going downtown or visiting Singcang, where Goldenfields is located. If you’re adventurous enough, venturing outside the city limits would be a good idea, like going to Silay or Talisay City, where you’ll find The Ruins. Classic! Haven’t visited it yet, but I plan to the next time I get there, when the weather is much calmer and drier.
Popular activities included dining at restaurants and enjoying nightlife spots downtown, such as the Spectrum disco at the Sea Breeze Hotel. Many would also gather for social drinking at haunts in Casiana, Eroreco, or simply hang out with friends at home or other places for entertainment.
The roads were safe enough that riding a racer bike from Mountainview Phase 2 to La Salle at 5 a.m. was okay. As I mentioned, these were simple times, but they were certainly fun!
Being a teenager just out of high school, I have a newfound respect for the time in life when we all learn from our mistakes and experience life’s lessons the hard way—from being carefree and independent in junior year all the way through senior year and graduation. You get that in high school!
After 41 years, I felt a mix of emotions as I landed at Silay’s airport, so different from the airport I remembered in Singcang when I left in 1984. Above all, I was overcome with excitement and curiosity.
The first thing I noticed is the addition of establishments that dot the city, which weren’t there before I left. It was surreal but exciting to see and behold, nonetheless. And since it was nighttime when I arrived, remembering places was still jarring. In context, I left Bacolod when I was 19 years old, and now, a newly minted senior, in October 2025, I’m back in the place of my youth—priceless!
DOWNTOWN, BACOLOD
Visiting downtown Bacolod, at least the one I knew, brought so many fond memories. The Bacolod plaza is now undergoing some renovations, but I recognized a few buildings, like the central plaza itself and the Seabreeze Hotel. The theater on Araneta Street near LCC wasn’t there anymore. Lopue’s Araneta is still there but rocking a new image, as is Lopue’s Mandalagan.
The Manokan Country, previously in the downtown area, is now in the vicinity of SM City Bacolod. Felt misty. The reclamation area is now a shopping mall spot where SM City Bacolod now sits. The San Sebastian Cathedral is, of course, everlastingly the same, but still hits you with nostalgia.
The first night, I caught up with the Negrense Bloggers, a well-known group of bloggers in Bacolod City, who were covering the Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, which was located right within SM City. They were such a pleasant and kind group of people. Shoutout to Sigrid of Sigrid Says, hubby Dennis Lo, Sir Jojo Vito, Sir Ed, Dhadha, and someone special to me, named Sunshine.
For details, you can visit their individual blogs at Sunshine (Sunny Encounters), Sir Jojo Vito (Fabulous Asian Lifestyle), Sir Ed (Bacolod Lifestyle), Dhadha (Dhadha Garcia FBPage), Sigrid (Bacolod Blogger Sigrid), and Dennis (Papa D The Hubbyist)
Sunshine was gracious enough to be my tour guide for the whole duration of my stay, as promised.
I visited my HS alma mater as well with Sunshine but failed to enter and visit its premises. They allow visitors only during weekdays. Tahum na tani! (It would’ve been very nice, as I hoped!). Moreover, La Salle, Bacolod, has really changed a lot even when I was outside looking in. The chapel still looks as stunning as it did on the day I left. The entrance to the elementary wing has changed as well. The sprawling carabao grass field where we used to play siato and stick football wasn’t there anymore. In its place are some utility edifices. Next time!
PAINTING THE TOWN RED
It would be a disservice if I did not mention Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod’s restaurant, where they serve great food and drinks. Thank you, Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod. We also visited Riverside Medical Center to see an old friend, Dr. Ramon Trocio, but found out that he only goes in for special schedules, so we visited good ‘ole original Bob’s Restaurant instead. Their hamburger is still the best. Additionally, the restaurant has developed aesthetically and visually, becoming much more appealing, and now boasts five additional branches all over the city.
My visit also happened to coincide with the Terra Madre Asia Pacific Festival event, which took place inside the city’s capitol. We visited on the last day, November 23, 2025, but the event was still filled with people, both foreigners and locals alike. If Bacolod City is famous all over the world for its Masskara Festival, Terra Madre is close by.
The event, already in its 21st year since 2004, is still attracting visitors, sponsors, and supporters from all over the Philippines. And 2025 was no exception. I’ve experienced a similar event in the Quezon City capitol here in Manila, but Terra Madre Asia Pacific Festival brought in a deluge of exhibitors from all over the land. Last I heard, the event also brought in chefs from various parts of the Philippines.
Terra Madre likewise attracted exhibitors from diverse organizations within the agricultural sector.
If Manila has Dampa, Bacolod has Sugba. Just near the Capitol is Sugba Sugba, Lacson branch, where we ate lunch. Officially, Sugba Sugba brought the resto feels to the typical casual feels of Dampa in Manila. Way to go, Bacolod City! But I’m planning to go next to Diotay’s to get the Dampa and rustic feels.
On succeeding days, Sunshine and I went to Chicken House (San Juan Branch) where the chicken inasal is also extremely delicious as heck, Banh Mi (SM Bacolod), Sandok, and 21 as well, which I heard is owned by the Gamboas of Silay. Surprisingly, the food was also great. Delectable, in fact, in that it appears that their special batchoy seems to have additional ingredients that brought much life to it compared to what I’ve tasted in restos here in Manila.
I spent my last day with the Negrense Bloggers group at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at the Ayala Mall. Thank you, guys, for the great sendoff. Maanad guid ko diri! (I will get used to being here!).
All in all, my stay was both productive and nostalgic, beautifully accented by warmth and welcome from new friends and acquaintances. A sense of family, so to speak. Thank you all. Thank you, Sunshine, and family!
(Photo credits go to Miss Sunshine Dacudao)