Revisiting Bacolod

    Bacolod—the city of smiles as it is often called, is more than Masskara and Inasal. While they are qualified and reliable reasons to come to the city, people often forget that Bacolod has progressed quite quickly in the past couple of years.

    The most absurd reaction I have received when I shared that i'm from Bacolod was “where is that, may mall ba 'dun?”. Negros Occidental may be a very 'we-travel-by-habal-habal' sounding kind of province but honey, you will be surprised.

    Yes, Bacolod City has a mall—four actually: Gaisano, Lopue's, SM City, Robinson's and the newly opened the District (which technically speaking is already in Talisay). It's been totally urbanized, in a good way, but the rural roots of the city can still be felt. Its convergence is actually quite beautiful.

    So I have decided to revisit Bacolod. I, along with my high school bestfriends, walked (and rode) down the busy streets as a visiting teenager would, in this modern day of Instagram and #foodporn. And if you must know, I tried to make everything look gram-worthy. Thanks, VSCO.

(L-R: Me, Shantylle, and Christine--the reigning Masskara queen)

Stop # 1: Robinson's Citywalk
Location: Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Way too huge to miss.

    We met up at aroud 12nn (original meet-up time was at 11 am but let's not dwell on that) and decided to eat lunch together. But as usual, we were having trouble deciding which place to eat at.

    Later on, we decided to eat at Perri-perri and ordered these!!! I'm still not used to the whole food-blogging thing so I took pictures a few seconds after they started eating.

The reason to come to Perri-perri: their chicken!! Also chicken rappa, Jalapeno cheese fries and mashed potato. We needed to energize for the afternoon to come, and also to cool down from the draining, headache-inducing heat of the sun. My head was literally throbbing that I needed to buy Paracetamol on the way to the next stop.

Stop # 2: Tom N Toms Coffee
Location: 26th Street, Bacolod City. (A quick jeepney ride away from Robinson's)

    Next stop: Coffee!! It's surprising how this Korean franchise opened a branch here in Bacolod! It's incredibly spacious and the architecture absorbs natural light well which made our pictures look glow-y. 

 (L-R: Myself, Shantylle, Czarina, Alyssa, Zyra)

 
We came at a time when it wasn't too crowded so we had enough space to goof around without people looking at us all weirded out and annoyed. The drinks were as perfect as our conversations as we talked about things we missed out on each other while we were away. Of course, a little bullying was involved.

Stop # 3: San Sebastian Cathedral
Location: 1755 Rizal Street, Bacolod City

    Like the Catholic school girls that we are, we dropped by at the San Sebastian Cathedral for a quick prayer. Afterwards, we went to Bong-bongs for piaya then to SM City! 

Those three locations are quite near to each other but when you have to walk under the torturous heat of the sun, you'd think about hailing a cab. 


Last Stop: Butchok's
Location: Narra Extension, Capitol Shopping Center

    Our last stop: Butchok's! Butchok's has become popular with college students since their prices are incredibly student-friendly. It's the ultimate tambay place—you've got drinks (coffee, refreshments, alcoholic, you name it), comfort food, rice meals, and even crocodile sisig (on one hand, can be interesting but on the other can be totally endangering these species). We shared their famous nacho fries and iced tea, then took off and lived our separate lives.

Personally, 4 stops? They don't encapsulate the essence of Bacolod but it sure is a start. When you get the chance, do check out these other stops: East Block, East Walk, Hi-Strip, New Government Center, and Art District! 

Hope you enjoy Bacolod as much as I enjoyed growing up here. I'm sure this city will not disappoint. xx