The Provincial Capitol Tuesday, June 3, 2014 http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/June/03/starlife2.htm BY MODESTO SA-ONOY The original seat of the government of the Province of Occidental Negros was the house donated by Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga, who at the time, was one of the three members of the Philippine Commission es tablished by the Americans in 1901. This house, which was demolished in 1962, was located at the corner of Luzuriaga and Araneta streets in Bacolod City. In 1926, Governor Jose Locsin decided to construct a Capitol worthy of the growing wealth of the province after the introduction of centrifugal milling boosted the local income never experienced before. The Provincial Board appropriated P255,000 for this project and, on June 2, 1927, the Bureau of Public Works, that has the authority to approve all public works in the country, authorized the construction. The land that was chosen for the Capitol site, however, was owned by the Gonzaga family and they refused to sell. The province was forced to file expropriation proceedings against them. Represented by the counsel, Manuel Fernandez Yanson, formerly a capitan municipal of Bacolod, the heirs Jose Gonzaga and the Gonzaga children (Gertrudes, Aurelia, Adela, Mamerta, Juan, Francisco and Villardo) finally agreed to sell but refused to accept the expropriation price of P1,200 per hectare. They asked for a higher price but the provincial government did not want to pay a bit more because the expropriation proceeding was already in the court. The Gonzagas relented. With the approval of the BPW, construction began in 1927. However, work was slow that the provincial government sued the contractor, Manuel Concepcion, and ordered the confiscation of his bond. Though work speeded up thereafter, the Capitol structure took form only in 1932 and finally completed on October 21, 1934. On January 11, 1935, the Capitol was formally accepted by Governor Emilio Gaston. From conception to completion, the Capitol of Occidental Negros spanned the terms of Governors Locsin, Isaac Lacson and Gaston. However, eight months after it was turned over to the provincial government, the Court of First Instance ordered the governor to pay the other landowners, who were not party to the expropriations case but whose lands were included in the Capitol site. The government paid Magdalena, Carmen and Vicente Gonzaga P1,552.40 plus six percent interest from April 20, 1933 when their lands were occupied by the Capitol. Although the Capitol followed the design of other capitols in the country, that of Occidental Negros was larger, grander and more imposing because of the wide open space in front that allows a panoramic view of the building.*
All for one – 2 Tuesday, November 18, 2014 http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/November/18/starlife.htm I have left out other moments in Negros history where History Notes the island and its people were united in a common WITH MODESTO endeavor. The first is that the island was under one SAONOY diocese when it was created in 1932, until the Diocese of Dumaguete was created in 1955. The shining star of the Diocese of Bacolod was from Oriental Negros, Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich, and the only native of this island to head its diocese. The second was that, in 1935, we had one army, the 71st Division with two regiments in Oriental Negros and three in Occidental Negros. Army reservists from the two provinces were inducted in the 71st Infantry Regiment that was sent to augment the forces in Luzon and finally fought in Bataan and suffered in the Death March. When the communist rebellion was at its peak, the Armed Forces of the Philippines created the Negros Island Command, or NICOM, for a unified approach against the insurgency. The government was then having difficulty with separate commands as rebels moved in and out of each province. After NICOM broke the backbone of the insurgency, the Army reduced the number of its troops in the island to two brigades, but they continue to operate in close coordination under one command. Ironically, the present New People’s Army in Negros has also a unified island command. This suggests that taking Negros as a unified whole rather than its provinces treated as separate entities has its merits. Even the claim that it would cost over P50 billion to create the Negros Island Region pales in comparison to the benefits. In fact, by separating the two provinces from their respective regions means Iloilo and Cebu will have also savings because they will no longer include Negros in their budgets. What they save will just be transferred to us. So there is practically little lost. Now, let’s get back to the reasons why, in 1890, the island was divided into two provinces. As early as 1857, just two years after Negros was elevated into the status of a politico-military province, the Royal Audiencia conducted an inspection of the island from August 15 to September 25, 1857. The head of the team, Jose Manuel Aguirre, recommended that the island be divided into two provinces due to difficulty in administration to so large an island. He suggested that a military command be established in the north. The recommendation was sent to Madrid on September 25, 1858, but this proposal came at the time when there was a power struggle between the Ministry of State and Overseas Territories and the Ministry of War. Despite the opposition of the Ministry of Overseas Territories, the Ministry of War went ahead and got a Royal Decree on February 12, 1859, establishing a separate military command with its seat in Escalante. The military command became a new politico-military district in Escalante but it was still under the jurisdiction of Bacolod. The original towns comprising this province were those from Escalante to Ayungon, but in 1863,
Calatrava and Sagay were included while other southern portions were absorbed by Jimalalaud. The new Intendant Governor of the Visayas, Remigio Molto, however, considered the set-up as useless and proposed on August 13, 1864 that the Escalante district be abolished and instead a new politico-military district be created with Dumaguete as the capital. It was to comprise the areas in the east coast, from Calatrava to Guilhungan in Sipalay. Siquijor Island, which was under Cebu, was detached and annexed to the new district. The western side was to be reconstituted with Pulupandan as the new capital as it was more accessible to Iloilo. However, Molto failed to convince Madrid. On September 2, 1877, the Recollect parish priests in the east coast sent a letter to the Governor General supporting Molto. However, they went further. They petitioned that the new government should be not just a district but a province for the oriental side. Their reasons: difficulty of travel through the malaria-infested mountains, the personnel in the occidental side, despite their competence and zeal, could not visit them often and crimes in the area could be minimized if culprits were tried and punished immediately, instead of being sent to Bacolod. The suspects had to wait for months before the guardia civil could escort them to Bacolod. Moreover, during the transfer, many suspects escaped into the mountains and joined the renegades. The priests also claimed that an estimated 40,000 people could not be taxed because these migrants said they were from Iloilo. Due to the distance to Bacolod, it was extremely difficult to immediately verify their residence. The migrants had settled in the area from San Carlos to Tanjay. The Recollects also supported the division, with Dumaguete as the capital, and Siquijor, which was being administered by the Recollects, be annexed to Negros. Madrid did not act on the proposal until 25 years later. In June 1888, a new Governor General, Valeriano Weyler, arrived and forthwith endorsed the plan to Madrid after coming to Negros to validate the claimed reasons for division. He saw that progressed had been made and he acted on his own authority. On January 4, 1889, Weyler issued a decree abolishing the Escalante district and created a military garrison in Tanjay. All towns from south of Tanjay were placed under this garrison but still linked to Bacolod. On October 25 of that year, Madrid issued a Royal Decree which took one step further. It created two autonomous provinces and their budgets to be included starting January of the following year. Dumaguete was declared its capital. On December 21, Weyler set the boundaries of the two provinces, which was the imaginary line from the house of a certain Alvarez on the road that joined Bais and Kabankalan in the Tipasi Pass in the barrio of Bagtic. The official date of the creation of the two provinces, Occidental and Oriental, was set on January 1, 1890. Eight years later, the two provinces decided to merge their governance as one Cantonal Republic. Sum-ag Tuesday, December 16, 2014 http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/December/16/starlife.htm
This barangay of Bacolod by the bank of the river that carries its name was once filled with a shrub that the Malayan settlers called “Sumag”. The name is of Arabic origin, “summag”, which refers to a plant with lance-like leaves and cone-shaped cluster of hairy, red fruit. Its leaves as well as its wood are powdered and used for tanning and dyeing. The French and Old English called this plant “sumach”, indicating that the sumag dye was used in Europe for the leather and textile industries for centuries. History Notes WITH MODESTO SAONOY
The place-name of Sum-ag thus tells us of its early settling by Malays that possibly were engaged in the craft or work of tanning and dyeing. The hyphenated spelling insures that the name is pronounced correctly, distinguishing it from the foreigner’s emphasis on the second syllable to our stress on the first syllable. The earliest record where the name of Sum-ag is mentioned is that in 1803 it was created as a town but with few inhabitants of Tagalogs, Batangueños and Bicolanos. The settlers were mainly textile weavers and merchants so that the choice of the name can be traced to them. Either they named the place or they chose the place for its abundant sumag plant. However, it was more of a collection of a few houses with a headman, rather than a town with a civil government. It was a pueblo in name. Prior to 1848, it was administered spiritually from Bago by Fr. Balbino Gonzaga, who also had jurisdiction over Bacolod. It was under the patronage of Our Lady of the Pilar. Although the jurisdiction of Binalbagan and later Bago reached all the way to Talisay since the 18th century, there was no mention of Sum-ag as among the barrios or mission under them. In 1849, the Alcalde Mayor of Negros, Don Manuel Valdeviezo y Morquecho, found that Sum-ag already had a sizable population, that is, over one thousand inhabitants. He then raised the sitio of Sum-ag into a town and established it as a parish under the patronage of San Juan de Nepomuceno. A 31-year-old Recollect, Fr. Mariano Rodrigo de la Reina de los Angeles, was appointed interim parish priest. He was followed by Recollect Fr. Juan Jesu, who served from 1854 to1855 until Recollect Fr. Julian Miguel arrived in February 1855 to assume the post of parish priest. Padre Julian did not stay long. He left two years later for Valladolid. By this time, Sum-ag was already a thriving community of 3,772 inhabitants with a large number of tribute payers – 2,359. When Fr. Miguel left, Sum-ag reverted to the status of dependency on Bacolod because there was no available parish priest. It was thus served by the secular from Bacolod. At this time, Bacolod was under the secular clergy, Fr. Roman Manuel Locsin. On May 18, 1856, a new priest, Fr. Severino Garijo, took possession of Sumag as its parish priest. Although there was a church in Sum-ag, it was of light materials but there was no convent, so that Fr. Severino stayed in the house of Crispino Gozun. One of the conditions for the creation or continuance of a parish was a convent, so that on June 16, 1859, Fr. Garijo laid the foundation of a convent made of “tabigue pampango”. The convent was communal effort of the principales, the ordinary folk and the cabezas de barangay.
When the government sold lands in response to the demand for sugar, Juan Gonzaga and Roque Garbanzos bought 122 hectares each in Sum-ag and this became the nucleus of the thriving sugar and rice lands in the town. The onslaught of sugar and imported textiles from England pushed the local textile and sinamay industries out of business and, finally, to their demise. Thus, also the industry from sumag powder disappeared and the town turned to agriculture of sugar and rice production. Fr. Garijo also began the construction of a church of strong materials of stone and galvanized iron roof. Later, Fr. Joaquin Usubiaga constructed a small convent to replace the deteriorated one. Succeeding parish priests continued the work till almost the end of the Spanish regime. The Recollects served Sum-ag until the Revolution of 1898. When the forces of Juan Araneta passed by from Bago to Bacolod, there was no resistance in Sum-ag and its parish priest, Fr. Francisco Echanojauregui was later arrested and detained in Bago. Without a pastor, the Aglipayan and Protestant ministers were able to sway the people of Sum-ag to their faith. However, in 1902, Recollect Fr. Angel Fabo returned in the midst of anti-Catholicism. The Church prevailed and many returned to the faith of their fathers. Fr. Fabo had to fight the town officials who confiscated Church properties. Fr. Francisco Azcarate, the Recollect parish priest of Sum-ag since 1958, relinquished the spiritual administration of the parish to the secular in 1964. The wealthiest province of the Spanish times, Negros had to bow to the new realities after the American occupation. The profitable sugar exports ceased as the Spanish market closed to the Philippine sugar and the Americans refused to import. In 1901, Governor Leandro Locsin realized that several towns could not support their governments and recommended that they be downgraded into barrios. Act 716 of April 2, 1906 consolidated the towns of Granada and Sumag into barrios of Bacolod, a status that remains to this day.* Princess of Negros Tuesday, October 28, 2014 http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/October/28/starlife1.htm Princess of Negros History Notes WITH MODESTO SAONOY For the millennial generation, Negros Navigation is more alien than the Hobbits, but the Negros Navigation Company Inc. and its vessel, the Princess of Negros, are among the most important factors in the growth and progress of Bacolod and for that matter, the central part of Occidental Negros. On request of Ray Ascalon, then one of the officials of Negros Navigation I wrote the history of this shipping company in 1982 in connection with the 50th anniversary of its foundation. The manuscript was not published, however. Nevertheless, my research on this company enriched my collection. I thought of writing about its beginnings because of recent interviews on the connection of Nenaco and its contribution to the development of Bacolod for
its role during World War II. These interviews indicate interest in the history of this company. Nenaco is more popularly known as NN. We have no record of the exact date when several sugarcane planters from Iloilo and Negros met in July of 1932 who thought of the need for a convenient means of sea transport between the two provinces. Many of the wealthy families of Iloilo had sugar plantations in Negros and they had to take the hazardous and slow lorchas that also carried sugar from Negros for trans-shipment to Manila and abroad. The founding members of the board of directors of the new corporation were: Julio Ledesma (chairman), Vicente Lopez, Januario Jison, Cesar Ledesma, Juan Ledesma, Manuel Hechanova, Antonio Lizares, Nicolas Lizares, Carlos Lopez, Placido Mapa and Aurelio Montinola. These names litter the pages of our history in terms of business and industry. Hechanova was elected general manager. The company purchased the semi-concrete Silay Wharf in Barrio Sum-ag as its base in Negros. Bacolod, at the time, had no pier or wharf. It also purchased the dredger “Morocutuda” from Cesar Barrios and Company to deepen the wharf while the company awaited the delivery of a twin-screw, 550-gross ton steel passenger ship. The ship, ordered earlier from Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, had a passenger capacity of 718 and a general speed of 15.5 knots. At this speed the distance between Silay and Iloilo was traversed in just a little over two hours. When it arrived in Iloilo in October 1932, it was christened “Princess of Negros” and sailed to Silay. Thus began the first twice daily trip between Negros and Iloilo. The following year, another ship built at the Taikoo Docks in Hong Kong arrived and began the Iloilo-San Carlos-Iloilo trip. Another boat named “San Carlos,” was also placed in operation. With foresight of the progress that Bacolod was showing, Nenaco applied for and got a foreshore lease in Banago where it constructed a concrete wharf. The Banago Wharf was inaugurated in 1938 just when Bacolod became a city. The transfer of Nenaco to Bacolod boosted the pace of Bacolod’s progress as business concentrated in this new city. Banago Wharf attracted other shipping companies to use its facilities, not only for its wider space but also its closeness to the city. When World War II broke out, the United States Army commandeered the Princess of Negros for war service. The army was short of vessels to transport troops from Negros and Panay to reinforce Luzon. The charter or agreement with NN was for the army to compensate NN its full book value of P360,000. The Princess, as the vessel was popularly called, carried troops until Manila was declared Open City and the Japanese blockaded all shipping from the Visayas and Mindanao. Some vessels that tried to reinforce the beleaguered Bataan and Corregidor were sunk. The Princess took shelter in Iloilo until President Manuel Quezon escaped from Corregidor in March 1942. The Princess was commissioned as Presidential Yacht and ferried the Presidential Party to Negros. The Princess docked at Banago on March 23 and the Presidential Party was secretly brought to Granada. He would lodge in
several places during his stay and conferences with local politicians and leaders of the sugar industry. The instruction to the Captain of the Princess, Juan Panopio was to proceed to San Carlos to wait for President Quezon. On March 14, 1942, two Japanese planes in search of a downed Zero that plunged into Tañon Strait near Ayuquitan, Oriental Negros, spotted the Princess docked in Refugio Island, just off the San Carlos port. The pilots must have radioed its two gunboats, also searching for the downed Zero. The gunboats fired at San Carlos and shots at the bow of the Princess. No reply. The Japanese boarded it and found the belongings of the President and his party of top Commonwealth officials. Then they towed the Princess and it was never found again. The news of the discovery of the President’s presence in Negros alarmed General Douglas MacArthur, who was in Mindanao on his way to Australia. He dispatched a message to Maao where Quezon was hosted by his friend Salvador Benedicto, to leave immediately. Quezon left for Zamboanguita and then by PT boat to Mindanao and finally reached the United States where he established the Commonwealth in Exile in Washington, D. C. The investigation on the Princess by Lt. Ramon Nolan discovered that Panopio was in San Carlos. He was drunk when the Japanese shelled the town and towed away his ship. After the war, the United States Army compensated NN for the loss of the Princess but instead of the P360,000 as agreed, the War Damage Commission told NN that the approved amount was only P120,000 on a take it or leave it basis. As NN was short of cash, NN accepted the amount. NN resumed operation in 1947 with two PT boats since ship building was not yet restored. In August 1947, two PC-type steel-hulled ships were purchased while the boats were sold. The new vessels were converted into passenger cargo vessels. They were named, Princess of Negros and Princess of Panay. While the Princess of Panay sailed the Iloilo-Pulupandan route, the Princess of Negros returned to its former run until Nenaco ceased to exist. The new owners decommissioned the two Princesses and they receded into history.* MASSKARA FESTIVAL The Masskara Festival through the years gives the people of Negros, as well as local and foreign visitors, a chance to drink and be merry for 20 days. Originally designed to show the hardships of the people of Negros, the Masskara Festival has become a tool of escapism and a way to generate revenues for big business. It has indeed come a long way, and it is clear that the path turn away from the progressive goal. Bacolod City is known for the popular Masskara Festival which takes place here Oct. 1-20. Local and foreign visitors get a chance to enjoy 20 days of merry making, beer drinking, dining and street dancing. On the weekend nearest to 19 October, the biggest party in Bacalod is scheduled to take place. Bacalod is the capital city of the country's sugar-producing province of Bocalenos.
The term Masskara is created from two words: mass, meaning crowd, and the Spanish word cara, for face; thus the double meaning for "mask" and "many faces". It wascoined by Ely Santiago, a painter, cartoonist, and cultural artist, who devoted show in his art works the many faces of Negrenses overwhelmed with various crises. A smiling mask, which is the symbol of the fiesta was conceived by the organizers to show the happy spirit of the Negrenses despite experiencing bad times in the sugar industry. The Masskara festival was first envisioned in 1980 to add color and jollity to the Bcolod City's celebration of its Charter Day anniversary, on 19 October. The symbol of the festival - a smiling mask - was adopted by the organizers to dramatize the Negrenses happy spirit, in spite of periodic economic downturns in the sugar industry. Throughout the week, people from all over the Visayas, gather to the town plaza. They join Bacoleños in the non-stop round of festivities. Even if you don't feel like dancing and singing, the pig catching and pole climbing competitions are musts. Some are also trying their luck and testing their skills in mask-making contests, disco king and queen competitions, coconutmilk drinking to name a few. Masks are the order of the day at the Masskara parade, as brightly-costumed men and women dance and strut in the streets. Their beaming faces are bedimpled, smiling and laughing in molded clay or papier-mâché. Every group is represented: civic associations, commercial establishments, schools, even private and government organizations. They march out in excited crowd wearing their painted masks and elaborate costumes, all vying for prizes in judging that will be held in theafternoon. The festival also benefits Bacolod tourism not only because tourists flock the city during this time to join the merrymaking but also to buy the orchids and ornate handicrafts on sale. HISTORY The festival instills among the people the culture of escapism and obscurantism, where they have to accept and forget their sufferings caused by the exploitation and oppression of the landlords. In this city, people are encouraged by the organizers, mostly big business and hacenderos (big landlords), to forget the economic hardships and depression which happen especially during tiempo muerto (dead season, or off sugar harvest-milling season). Bacolod is the capital city of Negros Occidental, known as the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines and is part of Western Visayas in central Philippines. Originally and ironically, the masks reflected the people’s grief over the loss of their numerous loved ones when, in 1979, Negros Navigation’s luxury liner MS Don Juan crashed with a tanker. Five years before, there was a big drop in sugar production. The people of Negros suffered from the excess of sugar in the world market caused by the Caribbean sugar crisis and the introduction of sugar substitute like the High Fructose Corn Syrup in the United States. All these led to the holding of the first Masskara Festival in 1980. Santiago’s original proposal to hold annual parade using masks to capture the crisis in Negros, was changed by the local elite into street dancing and merry-making festival. This rich imagery of masks was used by the hacenderos and local politicians to hide the suffering of the Negrenses. From then on, Masskara
Festival became one of the popular attractions in Negros, drawing thousands of people within and outside the country. During this festival every October, the city’s public plaza is brought alive into a huge beer garden. There is also Masskara Street-dancing contests highlighting the whole festival. Masskara Festival was intended as an encouragement to all to fight back and to keep smiling despite the sugar problems, and highlighted that hope still existed. Since then, the smiling masks have become the city's symbol, thus earning its tag as the "City of Smile." This annual festival, which has become one of Philippines best known tourist attraction, has been earning raves both from local and foreign tourists. Masskara Festival has also been judged the most beautiful and colorful festival among the various contingents from other countries. http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/masskara_festival.html
PLACES OF INTERESTS Fountain of Justice In front of the Bacolod City Hall, the former site of the old City Hall where the formal signing of the Spanish surrender to the local forces by Gen. Aniceto Lacson tool place - Col. Isidro Castro, Spanish governor of Negros, signed in behalf of the Spanish forces on November 7, 1898. The New Government Center At present a sight to behold, rising from out of the open space of fresh greenery, catching the attention of passersby who sometimes call it THE WHITE HOUSE. The building stands proudly along the eastern part of the Circumferential Road, and can be approached from all the four direction entrances to the city. The total land area is 50,000 sq. meters. Constructed December 28, 2006 completed on August 8, 2008. Pope John Paul II Tower Located at the Bacolod Reclamation Area. Inaugurated on February 18, 2010 a 7-storey tower with the statue of Pope John Paul II. A reminder of the historic visit of the Pope to Bacolod City on Feb.20, 1981. It houses the Pope’s memorabilia. A symbol and reminder of the people’s love, devotion and loyalty to the church and to the successor of St. Peter. Museu Negrense de La Salle The only school-based museum in Bacolod City that was born out of a dream to preserve vital documents, photographs, cultural articrafts and the history of Negros. The museum can accommodate 40 visitors at one time. Large groups are requested to call the Museum at least 48 hours before the visit. Dizon-Ramos Museum Housed in the ancestral home of Raymundo L. Dizon and Hermelinda V. Ramos. The house which was built in 1950 was
converted into a museum in 2007. It houses the collection of pictorial reproduction, artworks by famous artists, and personal collections of the children. The Museum located at Lacson-Burgos Sts. Is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10AM to 4PM. Entrance fee Php10 for students with IDs,Php30 for adults. Group of more than 10 persons should make prior appointment through Tel. #(034) 434-8512. AID Foundation Techno Park An ideal place for a group field trip, “lakbay aral”, or when you are in search of renewable energy and organic farming systems. The Park showcases the technologies of Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI). It has a learning center which can accommodate up to 80 pax, and is equipped with visual and audio facilities. The center can also be rented for trainings and conferences. Located along Murcia Road, Mansilingan. Open from Monday to Saturday. Entrance fee is Php25 for Adults and Php20 for students and children. Contact Tel.# (034) 446-3629 or Fax (034) 446-2330. Bells of San Sebastian The centennial bells of San Sebastian Cathedral were brought down from their places in the belfry and mounted at the right side of the churchyard in 1976, the 100th year anniversary of the Cathedral. San Sebastian Cathedral Built in 1876 upon the initiative of Fr. Mauricio Ferrero, a Recollect friar. It became a cathedral in 1933 is one of the century -old churches found in Negros Occidental. Negros Museum The Negros Museum is a unique historical and humanities museum in that in does not collect antiques but stories about the people of Negros Occidental. It showcases important historical events which made Negros as 'The Sugarbowl of the Philippines". Thus, the museum is sometimes referred to as 'The Sugar Museum'. Open from Tuesday to Sunday. from 10:00 A. to 6:00 PM. / Tel. No. 433-4764. Palacio Episcopal Older than the San Sebastian Cathedral by approximately 50 years, the Bishop's Palace was built by Fr. Julian Gonzaga but was eventually finish only in the 1890's. During and after the revolution of 1898, the Palacio served as refuge for the Spanish military and civic officials. Museum Negrense de La Salle The only school-based museum in Bacolod City that was born out of a dream to preserve vital documents, photographs, cultural artifacts and the history of Negros. The museum can accommodate 40 visitors at one time. Large groups are requested to call the Museum at least 48 hours before the visit at Tel. No. 435-5998. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Bacolod Plaza Bandstand and Gazebo Right at the center of Bacolod Public Plaza, the bandstand was constructed in 1927 to complement the weekend cultural activities of the early Bacole�os, Names of world-famous composers like Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner circle the sides of the roofing, attesting to the early Bacolodnon's familiarity with European culture. Yulo's Park The park is the site of the ancestral home of the prominent Yulo family. The Yulo's belong to a clan of politician's that helped shaped the status of Negros Occidental. - a premier province of the south. The Park used to be the center for social and recreational affairs in Bacolod at the turn of the century. Negros Occidental High School Alumni Promenade Fronting the Negros Occidental High School along Araneta Street. The promenade used to be a sidewalk renovated and beautified by the city to honor the school alumni who are now prominent civic and government leaders. Barangay sang Virgen Chapel The Sta. Clara Subdivision chapel features a unique mural mosaic measuring a 9 ft. x 21 ft. of the lady of the Barangay Sang Virgen done on a collage of 95,000 pieces of shells of various sizes, shades and colors. San Antonio Abad Church This crown-shaped church features stations of the cross done by Bacolod's top artists. It also features an altar sculpture "The Risen Christ" done by a national Artist, Solomon Saprid. Rizal Centennial Park Fronting the Rizal Elementary School along Araneta Street. The city's contribution to the Centennial Celebration. Inaugurated in December 30, 1996, the park is the tribute of Bacolod to the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal and provides an oasis for many city commutes, students and professionals during early morning and late afternoons. Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Inc. Golf is one of the most popular sports attractions in Bacolod today as local golf course The Negros Occidental golf and Country Club, Inc. provides challenging 18-hole adventures for amateur and professional golfers, with panoramic views of scenic Mounts Marapara and Patag. Negros Forest Ecological Foundation & Biodiversity Center A breeding and rescue center for endangered and endemic animals found in Negros Island as well as other places in the Philippines Visayan spotted deer, Luzon bleeding heart pigeon, Philippine Visayan
Tarictic hornbill, Philippine hawk-eagle, monitor lizard, Philippine serpent eagle and the sailfin lizard. Tel. No. (034) 433-9234. Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery The Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery lies on a one-hectare flat and gently rolling grassland terrain located 2.5 kms. away from Barangay Alangilan which is about 17 kms. from the city proper of Bacolod. The only one of its kind in the Province of Negros Occidental, this nursery has been put up in order to provide continuous supply of quality planting stocks for the reforestation and greening program of the city. It has an orchard of hedge plants for vegetative propagation, a nursery for seeds and planting stocks; a hardening shed and a potting area for rooted cuttings to pots. Visits to the nursery is by appointment through the City Environment Office; the City Mayor's Office or the City Tourism Office. The ANP Showroom Considered as the country's number one trade house and pasalubong center, the Showroom is an alternative giftshop that houses arts and crafts that Negros island had to offer - from furniture to furnishings, ceramics, scented candles, pottery, novelties, ladies/children's garments, fashion accessories, souvenir t-shirts as well as indigenous foods. Open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Tel. No. (034) 434-0717 / 434-1000. Recuerdos de Bacolod "Recuerdos" (souvenirs) is know for its collection of excavated items and heirlooms, wooden saints, furniture and pottery pieces as early as the 7th and 9th century. These antique items were taken mostly from Bohol and Panay. Panaad Park and Stadium Located in Barangay Mansilingan near the boundary of Barangay Alijis, this 25-hectare sports complex and park is known to be one of the best in the country and has already been host to a lot of national sport events. It has a rubberized oval tract, an Olympic-size swimming pool and other sports facilities. Its unique feature is the replica of the landmarks of the 13 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental. Fort San Juan Was constructed in 1888 mainly thru the initiative of Don Ramon Pastor, the governadorcillo at the time and with the cooperation of Recollect Friar, Fray Mauricio Ferrefo, who designated and constructed the Fort San Juan, with Fernando Cuenca, also built the San Sebastian Cathedral. The Fort served as the jail for prisoners during the Spanish era. After the Negros Revolution in 1898, thirty six (36) Spanish friars were ordered in incarcerated. Today, the fort serves as the Provincial Jail.
Provincial Building An imposing structure of Romanesque neoclassical architectural design, is the official seat of the government of the Province of Negros Occidental. It served as the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II. Paghimud-os Provincial Capitol Park "Ang paghimud-os " which literally means "The Struggle" is a fine sculpture erected at the east entrance of the Capitol Lagoon Park. This magnificent work of art was done by one of the country's noted sculptor, Eduardo Castrillo. Provincial Park and Lagoon It is located In front of the Capitol Building. To the north and south ends of the rectangular lagoon stand the statues of a woman and female water buffalo and a man and a male water buffalo, respectively. The woman standing beside the female water buffalo is a massive sculptural work said to have been done by a Italian artist whose work was never been duplicated until a Negrense artist who finished Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines duplicated the Italian's work of art by coming out with a man and male water buffalo. Presently, the lagoon grounds is a favorite jogging area of Bacolod residents.
