About Bacolod

 

 

 

Profile

Land Area: 15,610.00 hectares
Classification: Highly Urbanized City
No. of Barangays: 61 Barangays – (41 Urban, 20 Rural)
Population: 429,076 (May 1, 2000) – 453,873 (2005 Projection)
Language: Hiligaynon/Ilonggo/English is spoken and understood
Website: www.bacolodcity.gov.ph

History

1565, there existed a small village near the mouth of the Magsungay river inhabited by Malayans who belong to the “Taga-ilog” group. The early missionaries placed the village of Magsungay under the protection of St. Sebastian in 1700s and was later known as “San Sebastian de Magsungay”. In 1770, Bernardo de los Santos became its first Governadorcillo or Capitan municipal. Its first parish priest was Fr. Leon Pedro, having been appointed as Propitario of Bacolod in 1806.

Due to the rampant attack of Moro pirates, the villagers moved inland and established a new settlement on a hilly terrain they called Buklod, the forerunner of its present name, “Bacolod”. Gradually, the people left the hilly terrain which later became known as Camingawan (loneliness).

In 1849, then Gov. Valdevieso y Morquecho declared Bacolod as the capital of the whole island of Negros. Subsequently, with the splitting of Negros into two provinces, Bacolod was named capital of the province of Negros Occidental in 1884.

On October 19, 1938, Bacolod became the fifth chartered city during the Commonwealth period under President Manuel L. Quezon, with Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. as its appointed chief executive.

From a mere settlement in the hills with only about 5,000 people in 1770, Bacolod has developed into a highly urbanized city in 1984. In 1996, Bacolod was named one of the “Outstanding Cities of the Philippines”.  It was also adjudged the “Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City” in the country in 1997, 1998 and 2000, 2001, respectively.

How to Get There

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The gateway to Negros Occidental, Bacolod City is 55 minutes from Manila by air, with Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific Air providing daily flights. Bacolod is 30 minutes from Cebu City by air, with daily flights provided by Philippine Airlines on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Cebu Pacific Air on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

It is an 18-hour cruise from Manila aboard world class vessels of Negros Navigation Company and SuperFerry. Aboard fast sea crafts, Bacolod is one-hour from Iloilo City. By land-and-sea travel, it is 7-hour from Cebu City. Terminals for buses plying northern and southern Negros Occidental are located within Bacolod City.

Location

Bacolod City is located on the northwestern coast of the Province of Negros Occidental. It is bounded on the northwest by the City of Talisay, on the east and southwest by the City of Bago and on the West by Guimaras Strait.

Communication Facilities

International Direct Dialing (IDD), Telex, Facsimile, Cellular Phones, Radio, E-mail, Worldwide Express Delivery, Postal Service and Telegraph Services are available. Telephone Area Code is 034.