BACOLOD CITY

A. INTRODUCTION ON BEST AND HIDDEN TOURIST ATTRACTION

1. Brief Background

The city of Bacolod, located on the northwestern part of the island of Negros,
is bordered to the west by the Strait of Guimaras, to the north by the municipality of
Talisay, to the east by the municipality of Murcia, and to the south by the city of
Bago. The town has a land area of 162,67 square meters. It had a population of
187,300 in 1970. With ample rainfall, it has a cool, invigorating climate. Hiligaynon is
spoken by most people and the rest speak Cebuano. One of the most progressive
and elite cities in the country is Bacolod, the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines," A
typical scene is the sugarcane plantation along its highway; coconut and rice are also
grown. People are interested in animal husbandry, fishing, and pottery.

On the other hand, Manila was a walled Muslim city in the late 16th century
whose ruler levied customs duties on all trade passing up the Pasig River. Under the
leadership of Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor General of the
Philippines, Spanish conquistadors reached the river's mouth in 1571. The
settlement was demolished, and the fortress city of Intramuros was built in its place.
Manila became the new colony's capital. Some scattered villages stood outside the
city walls, each ruled by a local chieftain and each centred on a marketplace. When
Spanish colonial rule was founded, churches were constructed near the markets,
where the population concentration was greatest. Beyond its walls, Manila
expanded, spreading north, east, and south, connecting the market-church
complexes as it did so.

2. How to Get There

Bacolod is a charming old-world town with the traditional houses and

churches of the Spanish period. Besides, the magnificent natural sites on the coast
 and the countryside of the province are available. Take a day trip to the resorts to
enjoy nature in the fresh air. Time to visit the mansions which have become
museums in Talisay or the city center or to join the ancient colonial churches. Taste
the provinces' sweets and renowned cuisine in the café and restaurant. Participate
in Masskara festivities when you visit at the right time. You can go to Bacolod if you
intend to visit The Ruins, the traditional houses of Silay, Balay Negrense and others
in town.

Manila's Airports are the fastest and easiest way to get to Bacolod.
Throughout the week there are several direct flights. This path is regularly pursued
by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Try to reserve tickets at the lowest possible
price months before your ride. But it is not too expensive to purchase a few weeks
before that. The New Bacolod-Silay International Airport of Negros Occidental is
situated in the town of Silay. The journey from the airport to Bacolod takes about 30
minutes by land. There is an airport with an air-conditioned shuttle bus to Bacolod.

3. Tourism Services

The stunning sights that other destinations in the Philippines confidently and
loudly brag about do not exist in Bacolod. But by delighting the other senses, she
makes up for what she lacks in visual sweets. She prepares for you as she invites you
into her home and makes every meal unforgettable. Her chicken inasal will take you
to heaven and bring you down to earth with her desserts. And it is still worth
listening to the tales from her past.

She is also in good company. The sweeping landscape of Bacolod might not
be; however, its place is more than its share. With her waterfalls, neighbor Murcia is
making a splash. Kabankalan, Cauayan, and Sipalay are only 4 to 5 hours away, all of
them waiting to show their natural splendor to the extra mile.
 There are many prominent attractions in Metro Manila, including a UNESCO
World Heritage Site and 45 other icons of cultural heritage. Most of these cultural
attractions are clustered in the City of Manila and give a peek into the Malay,
Spanish, and American origins of the city. The Spanish colonial buildings in
Intramuros, the San Agustin Church World Heritage Site, Rizal Park, and a few Art
Deco and Revival style buildings, such as the Manila Metropolitan Theater and the
National Museum of Fine Arts, are common sites.

Modern attractions like Manila Ocean Park, Resorts World Manila's

integrated resort complex, and the newly opened Solaire Resort & Casino, City of
Dreams Manila, and Entertainment City's Okada Manila are also available.

4. Attributes and Developments of the Area/People

Bacolod is one of the twin provinces in the Visayan islands cluster of the
Philippine Archipelago and a rather urbanized city, contact, trade, and service hub in
the Province of Western Negros. It is bordering the towns of Talisay on the north-
west; Silay and Victorias on the northeast; Murcia, on the east and southeast; Bago,
on the south-west; and the Guimaras Strait, on the west. Complete land area except
for straits and bodies of water is 16.270 hectares or 162.67 km 2.

Metro Manila had a total population of 9.4 million in 2000, of which 51.2
percent were women and 48.7 percent were men. Quezon City, Manila, and
Caloocan are the top three cities in terms of total population. At 57,407, the
Municipality of Pateros has the lowest population.

5. SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis

By this time, Bacolod City is well-known for its tourist spots, festivals, and
attractions not just in the Philippines but also worldwide. This, to me, is a strength
 for the said province. With this much recognition brought by the Department of
Tourism all over the world, many people will be able to reach a certain province.
However, these can also be served as their weaknesses. Many people that will be
tourists in the province will also serve as the people who may destroy or maybe
even damage the tourist spot with less responsibility and such. Being able to
become a well-known province in the country is one big opportunity to give the
whole place a higher rate of publicity in some neighboring spots in that certain
province.

On the other hand, Metro Manila is known as the capital of the Philippines
which kind of gives the same vibe as Bacolod City. Being able to be one of the
tourism capital in the Philippines is a strength and a weakness. Manila, nowadays, is
kind of polluted but thanks to the current mayor of the city, Mayor Isko Moreno, the
tourist attractions are now being preserved and its true beauty is now being
recovered again.

B. SITUATION OF BEST TOURIST DESTINATION

1. Best Practices

The sugar industry in Negros Occidental, which was a thriving business in the
colonial period, dated from the Spanish era, many of its wealthiest inhabitants.
Remains of elegant mansions such as the "Ruins." Here you can see how Bacolod
used to function as the genteel class of the past. In addition to Bacolod City's cultural
and historical attractions, food served in Bacolod restaurants is on a different level
and the highlight of a Bacolod Trip. Their inasal chicken is legendary because of their
fleshy scrumptiousness; the custard-filled dreams of their Napoleon's puff pastry are
fried and fresh seafood can be enjoyed at an affordable price all year round! Bacolod
is renowned for being the sporting capital of the world, with its excellent sports
athletics and major sports events in football, boxing, golf, martial arts, and other
fields.
 Manila can seem daunting to explore for first-time tourists. However, once
you have a well-planned travel itinerary, it's very manageable. Thanks to its
fascinating tourist sites, food destinations, and enjoyable activities, you're bound to
fall in love with Manila. Intramuros is the only district in Manila where travelers can
see the Spanish Era's full architectural remains. A day trip to Intramuros is enough
for you to visit this historic attraction. Hike paved roads and tour sculptures and
historic landmarks are also present in Intramuros. You may also take a bambike ride
or a horse-drawn carry experience by riding a kalesa.

2. Positive/Negative Impact on Environment and Communities

Changes in behavioral patterns, lifestyles, and the quality of life of

inhabitants or local people can result from the social and cultural impacts of
tourism. Tourism, like any company, can have a positive or negative impact on
communities and can sometimes have both. Tourism is placing a great deal of stress
on the use of local land and may cause soil erosion, increased contamination, loss of
natural habitat, and greater pressure on endangered species. The environmental
resources on which tourism itself is dependent can be gradually destroyed by these
effects.

There are several practices involving detrimental effects on the environment.

The development of general infrastructures, such as roads and airports, and tourism
facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, stores, golf courses, and marinas, are
related to many of these impacts.

3. Issues of Destination/Tourist Attraction and Solutions Done/On-going Sustainable

Development Programs
In this southern province of the Philippines, the Negros Occidental Initiative
was conceived to establish sustainable tourism, environmental security, and social
 justice for local host communities while encouraging responsible travel to the
province of Negros Occidental. Proponents include the Danjugan Island destination
for Conservation & Environmental Education, the "Organic Negros Producers and
Retailers-ONOPRA" showcase of Sustainable Agri Farms, headed by Chin-Chin Uy,
CEO of Fresh Start Organic Farm, Don Salvador Benedicto & Rapha Valley, Organic
Farm, Health & Wellness Getaway. Last November 2012, in collaboration with the
University of Negros Occidental Recoletos and the Association of Negros Occidental
Recoletos, the First Negros Occidental Environmental & Sustainable Tourism Forum
was organized with the help of the Provincial Governor, Bacolod City Mayor's Office,
Department of Tourism, Department of Natural Resources & Climate, Area VI,
Negros Occidental & Bacolod City Tourism Offices, Melba's Farms (ANTS). The
Visayan Daily Star, Negros Daily Bulletin, and When in Manila were media
supporters.

The Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan is an inclusive master

plan for Manila Bay's sustainable growth. Manila is a master plan for sustainability. It
is intended to direct policy makers in the evaluation and approval of PAPs in the Bay
of Manila and neighboring areas with major bay influences. The Master Plan will
adhere to the Philipines (PDP), contribute to achieving Ambisyon Natin's 2040 vision
as well as to international targets, such as the Sendai Disaster Risk Reduction
Framework (2015-2030) and the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. The Master
Plan will also promote globally negotiated objectives.

C. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Activities for Sustainable Tourism
You might ask why this travel guide doesn't include beaches in Punta Taytay.
Bacolod's beaches should have boasted dark sandy beaches, but the beautiful
beaches were destroyed by pollution; the waste and garbage floats possibly from
the city's rivers and streams to the banks of the beaches and was mixed with the
gray beaches. The entire Negros Island was covered by luscious green tropical
rainforests a few centuries ago, but it is now not visible at all. The roads are blocked
 by Jeepneys' smoke. Although illegal settlers live alongside the sides of the
riverbanks, the city government is slowly relocating illegal settlers to the neighboring
SM City Bacolod while projects have been reported to be successful in planting
mangrove crops at schools, universities, and colleges, and strategic planning for
traffic management such as Araneta Avenue's terminus has been implemented. Even
if Bacolod was awarded clean and green, it still has some gaping troughs to solve to
make real use of the quotes and awards.
Green travel to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, the leading sustainable
agricultural tourism and organic farm capital of the Philippines. Step back to the
countryside in time, relive the turn of century old towns and haciendas, feel a sense
of green and tranquility as you drive over undulating fields of sugar cane. Take an
eco-trip to a rainforest and marine sanctuary, learn about the value of protection of
coastal habitats to fight climate change, and savor exquisite Negrense cuisine from
freshest tropical seafood to sustainable organic farming and production choices.
While controversial,' slum tourism' is a choice for those who want to go
above and beyond, the activity in which travelers visit an impoverished region to
learn more about the conditions of the area. As there are no guidelines as of date for
slum tour operators, visitors themselves need to decide if it is done ethically and
professionally by a tour company or not. For example, Smokey Tours works with the
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), a government agency that seeks to
rehabilitate the Pasig River, which is linked to Manila Bay and, subsequently, the
coastal town of Baseco.
The organization’s Slum Tours invest 100% of their profit to the Aplaya
Community in Baseco and strictly enforces a no-camera and no-shopping policy to
prohibit exploitation from tourists. The tours, which rank high on TripAdvisor’s list of
Manila tours, strictly enforce a maximum of 6 people per group to be as unobtrusive
to the community as possible. If you’d like to educate yourself and take an authentic
look at the Philippines’ most marginalized communities, Smokey Tours may be
something to consider.

REFERENCES:
 Bacolod City Government (n.d.). History of Bacolod City. Retrieved January 25, 2021,
from http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/about-bacolod/history
 Philippine Beaches (n.d.). Bacolod: How to Get There. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.philippinebeaches.org/how-to-get-to-bacolod-from-manila-cebu-iloilo-
and-dumaguete/
 The Poor Traveler (n.d.). Bacolod on a Budget: Travel Guide and Itineraries. Retrieved
January 25, 2021, from https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/10/bacolod-itinerary-
tourist-spots/
 Bacolod City Government (n.d.). Quick Facts. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/about-bacolod/quick-facts/geophysical
 Guide to the Philippines (n.d.). Bacolod City Travel Guide: Home of the Colorful
MassKara Festival. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/bacolod-travel-guide
 Society for Sustainable Tourism – SST (n.d.). The Negros Occidental Initiative. Retrieved
January 25, 2021, from https://sstdi.org/projects-and-partners/the-negros-initiative/
 Society for Sustainable Tourism – SST (n.d.). Love the green? Travel green in Negros
Occidental. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://sstdi.org/tag/negros-occidental/
 Asean Briefing (n.d.). Tourism Industry in the Philippines: Part II. Retrieved January 26,
2021, from https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/tourism-industry-philippines-part-ii/
 Wikipedia (n.d.). Tourism in Manila. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Metro_Manila
 Guide to the Philippines (n.d.). Top 19 Things to Do and Places to Visit in Manila.
Retrieved January 26, 2021, from https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-
experience/manila-tourist-spots
 National Economic and Development Autority (n.d.). Manila Bay Sustainable Development
Master Plan. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from http://mbsdmp.com/about-us
 Deal Grocer (n.d.). 10 Sustainable Travel Tours that Help you Give Back to the
Philippines. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from
https://dealgrocer.com/dgtraveler/articles/10-sustainable-travel-tours-that-help-you-
give-back-to-the-philippines-5d48e48dcb022c161800005d