All about Bacolod

ETYMOLOGY

Bacolod (English: Bacolod) is derived from bakolod (Old

spelling:Bacolod, the old Hiligaynon or Old Ilonggo word for a “hill,
mound, rise, hillock. Down, any small eminence or elevation” since the
resettlement was founded on a stony, hilly area, now Barangay
Granada. It was officially called Ciudad de Bacolod (City of Bacolod)
when Municipalidad de Baclod (Municipality f Bacolod) was converted
into a city in l938.

Originally known as “Buglas” by its natives. (Buglas means separate)

This fourth largest island in the Philippinearchipelago was given the
name “Negros” by the Spanish navigators when Esteban de Rodrigues
discovered the island inApril 1565 and found its earliest occupants to
be dak-skined natives belonging to the Negrito ethnic group. The
natives then occupied initially most of the sotgerbn oirtion of the
province, being Binalbagan and Ilog. Two of thearliest native
settlementswhich officially became towns in l572 and l584,
respectively. Othe settlements were Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now
Pontevedra, Mamalan now Himamaylan and Candaguit.
In 1734, the island became a military district and Ilog became its first
capital. Bacolod was made provincial capital in l849. Then in l856,
Negros Occidental was raised to the category of a politico-military
province, During this time, several more towns were established like
San Carlos and Calatrava. Other towns were particularly createdlike
Saravia, Escalante and Valladolid (l860) as a result of the growth of
population and the influx of immigrants coming from neighboring
tprovinces such as Iloilo, Antique and Cebu. These growth in
population and immigrants brought to the province intrn rapid material
growth and development during the later part of the l8th century.

MASSKARA 2012

This year’s Masskara Festival theme “Life’s Good in Bacolod” is meant

to highlight the unique lifestyle in Bacolod City as a tourism draw.

Life is good in Bacolod not only because of its dynamic economy that is
now changing the landscape and skyline but also because of everyday

details like thriving art scene and unique cuisine, the confluence of the
best of the urban and rural lifestyles, and of course the warm
hospitality of its people so endearingly reflected intheir smiles.

BACOLOD

Cometo Bacolod where great cuisine is a tradition, as great food comes

mostly from familyheirloom recipes. Tastethe famous chicken inasal
(chicken marinated in native spices and herbs then grilled to
perfection0 that gave birth to anoher festival (Manokan Country Inasal
Festival lalunched in May 2009.)MassKara Festival.

Cometo Bacolod where her peple speak inmellifluous lilting Hiligaynon

accent couped with captivating sweet smiles breathedfrom their long-
term romance with the sugar industry which for centuries have been
the lifeblood of her economhy. But after the sugat crisis, Bacolod has
risen into an ivestment haven for tourism, small and medium scale
industries, communication technology and transportation.

Bacolod’s charm as a destination is in her half-a-million people exuding

legendary hospitality and trademark smile from the porters you meet
at te airport and seaport terminals, taxi drivers, bellboys, receptionists
andalmost everyone in the streets.

It helps too that almost everyone understands and speak English,

oftenspiced up with a smile by thosedeficient in the language. This
smiling nature of her people has earned for Bacolod the moniker City of
Smiles. Their propensity to smile stems from a happy disposition
towards life which gave birth to the 31 year old