Bacolod Public Plaza Essay Example for Free

Bacolod Public Plaza Essay * The Bacolod Public Plaza is one of the notable landmarks of Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is located in the heart of the downtown area, near the city hall and across from the San Sebastian Cathedral. The plaza is a trapezoidal park with a belt of trees around the periphery and a gazebo at the center. Scattered within the trees are four circular fountains. * The plaza was constructed in 1927 as a place for recreation, political, spiritual and cultural activities. It is quite a popular site for outdoor picnics and concerts. The gazebo is often used to house a bandstand and inscribed along the sides of the roof are the names of Western classical musiccomposers Beethoven, Wagner, Haydn, and Mozart. The plaza is the heart of the MassKara Festival celebration.[1] The MassKara Festival is a week-long celebration held each year in Bacolod City every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the citys Charter Anniversary. The Bacolod public plaza is the final destination of MassKara street dancing competition which is the highlight of the celebration. Capitol Park and Lagoon * The Capitol Park and Lagoon is a provincial park located in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, in Philippines. One of the features of the park is matching sculptures depicting a woman standing alongside a water buffalo and that of a man pulling another water buffalo. * These sculptures are located at the northern and southern ends of the lagoon. These figures were executed by Italian sculpture Francesco Riccardo Monti who also did the sculptures of the Metropolitan Manila Theater and the University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo campus. * Guillermo Tolentino also contributed as a sculptor of the figures.Popular activities at the park include jogging, aerobics, school dance rehearsals, promenading, Arnis and martial arts practice and feeding the tilapias of the lagoon. * The main landmark in the park is the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol building. It is the official seat of the Governor of the province. Different government offices of the province serving its thirteen cities and municipalities are also located in the vicinity of the park. San Sebastian Cathedral * Cathedral of San Sebastian was founded in April 27, 1876 by Bishop Mariano Cuartero but the cornerstone was laid and it was inaugurated in the January 20 in the year 1882. Now, referred to as the Bacolod Cathedral is located along the Rizal Street across the Bacolod City Public Plaza. * The structure of cathedral is made up of coral stones and lime quarried of Guimaras Island and Palawan wood. Visitors of the cathedral will instantly notice the baroque architectural style as the pillar, walls; foundations of the church are coral stones. * The statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bacolod is there on one side of the faà §ade while the resurrected Jesus Christ is there in the mid section of the faà §ade. The statue of San Sabestian is there inside the church on the main altar. Other highlights of the church are the flag stand with the logo of Recoletos and the old Stations of the Cross made up of plaster of Paris. Negros Museum * Visit to Negros Museum of Bacolod is the best way of getting acquainted with the history of this city. This museum is a perfect blend of artwork, relics and artifacts which enables you to understand the present and past of the city. * The museum exhibits several must see galleries such as JGM Gallery of International Folk Art and Folk Toys. This is an excellent place to visit with children as it focuses on playing items from all round the World. * There are around three thousand toys for playing. Other must visit sections of the museum for children include The TUKLAS Childrens Library, Resource and Activity Center etc. * The workshop is also organized by the museum where children can learn paintings, sculpting and to experience their hands on various forms of pottery. The museum also exhibits numerous other must see exhibits such as the Iron Dinosaurs, fifty boat, sugar industry and much more. THE BALAY NEGRENSE * The Balay Negrense is a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental in the Philippines, showcasing the lifestyle of a late 19th-century Negrense sugar baron. It is notable for being the first museum to be established in the province of Negros Occidental. * The house is of the type called bahay na bato, literally house of stone, however, reflecting American colonial influences, the lower storey is not constructed of stone but of concrete. The foundation posts are made out of trunks of the balayong tree, a local hardwood; the floorboards are of the same material. Bacolod-Silay International Airport * Bacolod-Silay International Airport (IATA: BCD, ICAO: RPVB) is the main airport serving the general area of Bacolod City, the capital city of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. This airport replaced the Bacolod City Domestic Airport in 2007. The Bacolod-Silay International Airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes from the former. * The airport is located fifteen kilometers northeast of Bacolod City on a 181-hectare site in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City. The airport, which is built to handle international traffic, is expected to become the primary gateway to Negros Island. It is one of the three international airports envisioned to serve the Western Visayas region, alongside Kalibo International Airport and the New Iloilo Airport. * The Bacolod-Silay International Airport is designated as an International Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, a body of the Department of Transportation and Communications that is responsible for the operations of not only this airport but also of all other airports in the Philippines except the major international airports. POPE JOHN PAUL II TOWER * The John Paul II Tower stands at the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. reclaimed area where the Pope held a Mass in February 20, 1981. It was built to commemorate the event that happened twenty-nine years ago when the late Pope John Paul II visited Bacolod City. * At the entrance of the tower stands an eight-foot sculpture of John Paul made of synthetic bronze and fiberglass created by Brother Tagoy Jakosalem. On top of the tower is a 12-foot stainless steel lighted cross made and donated by Architect Ramiro Garcia, former vice mayor of Bacolod. * This eight-story glass tower was inaugurated on February 18, 2010 with the holy presence of Archbishop Joseph Edward Adams, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, assisted by the Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod, his Excellency, Msgr. Vicente Navarra. * The donor of the 700 square-meter lot at the reclamation area and the eight-story building just a few steps away from SM City Bacolod is lawyer Simplicio Palanca. It is covered in glass panels and houses personal possessions of John Paul. * On top of the tower is a breathtaking view of Bacolod City and the Guimaras Strait. It is also equipped with a glass enclosed elevator, a water system and a generating set. The JPII Tower will not just be Bacolods fine tourist attraction but a testament on how strong our catholic faith is. ARANETA AND LACSON ST. * Lacson Street is one of the major streets in the city of Bacolod. It is the main artery leading to the north part of Negros. * Its counterpart is the Araneta St., which will lead you to the south. Here in Bacolod, Lacson Street is regarded as the chic side of the City.It is where Banks, Hotels, Malls, first class Restaurants, Park, coffee shops and bars are located. * Because of its potential to be one of the center of activities, Mayor Bing transformed this place into a Huge party arena. It is now called as the Festival Strip during Masskara and Bacolaodiat festivals for 2 years now. * During festival season, the road is totally blocked (from 4th st. all the way to Ramos intersection.) Bars and Restaurants are placing tables and chairs on the street, Bandstands are everywhere, Party lights in every corners and people are simply enjoying. * Party starts at 7pm and ends in the wee hours of the morning. Who would have thought that Lacson street would come this far? I actually never thought it will be a hit until i went there and partied with my friends during the electric masskara which happened last October. * The atmosphere is so festive, police are everywhere which makes the place more safe. It was totally awesome and worth for an experience. LA SALLE AVENUE: * The University of St. La Salle (USLS), located in La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, Philippines, is a Catholic private university run by the De La Salle Brothers. Established in 1952 as La Salle College Bacolod, it is the second oldest campus originally founded by the congregation in the country.The university is a member of De La Salle Philippines, a network established in 2006 comprising 17 Lasallian institutions in the country. * USLS was founded by Br. Dennis Ruland FSC, Br. Hugh Wester FSC, and Br. V. Felix Masson FSC. La Salle College-Bacolod opened with 175 male students from Prep to Grade 5, under seven faculty members. The school building was unimpressive, built amidst sprawling muddy grounds and borded by cane fields of adjoining lands. * In the 1960s La Salle College-Bacolod expanded from Grade School to College. This was made possible through donations by alumni, parents and benefactors. The school became co-educational in 1966. On July 5, 1988, La Salle College-Bacolod was formally elevated to university status and christened University of St. La Salle during rites graced by then Honorable Secretary of Education Lourdes Quisumbing. CINCO DE NOVIEMBRE: * IT WAS a tour-de-force performance as sugarcane ‘trabajadores’ and ‘hacendados’ played their roles for one day only as members of the Negros Revolutionary Movement. The ‘hacendados’ promoted themselves (or were told) to become captains of the army. The ‘obreros’ were excited (because of their devotion to the landlords) to act as soldiers. * There was also the obligatory dose of cheesy humor and wisecracks because the soldiers trained in the cane fields were only armed with bolos and spears. Some of the ‘hacendados’ managed to ride on their own horse. The adventurous few had their carabaos as if going to a royal tournament. Some references mentioned Nicolas Golez, Leandro Rama Locsin, Timoteo Unson, Melecio Severino and Vicente GamboayBenedicto as the potent leaders of Silay revolution. * The preparation had a cocktail of ornate finesse because the lords of the haciendas put on their gallant uniform like swaggering sword-wielding stars. The most important characters were the ‘jornaleros’ who gave their iconic cinematic hugs to their wives and parents as if they would be facing dramatic imminent doom in their attack at the garrison of the Spaniards. My creative amalgamation takes an egalitarian stand as I picture out hundreds of Silaynons in assault formation in front of Farmacia Locsin owned by Leandro Locsin (now, the Cinco de Noviembre Marker). * Melecio Severino and Nicolas Golez could have followed the advice of Sun Tzu in his book The Art of War. â€Å"In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces. . . . If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let this enter as a factor into our calculations.† * The basest instincts were at their best and the nationalistic Silaynons enthusiastically marched towards the Spanish garrison while chanting ‘Binangon,’ the hymn of the Negros revolution written by Kabayao of Sagay. Silaynons could be heroes after death but it was not a biopic where they were thinking of their lives as heroes after the historic surge. That could also be their grandest, nuttiest scheme yet. Silaynons were out to prove that they got nuts. As fighters for freedom, our ancestors were visionaries, dreamers, people who would consider victory in another shape. * The agony for the Spaniards did not last long. The rickety old garrison was already surrounded with a lavish cast prepared for a high-octane scene and the few civil guards inside under the command of Lt. Maximiano Correa had no way to avert disaster. Juan Viaplana, a local Spaniard and ‘empresario’, explained to Correa that the only way to stay alive was to surrender peacefully. * That was it, but the agreement papers mentioned that the civil guards gave up only after a heroic resistance against overwhelming odds. There was a bloody man-to-man combat and the civil guards stood their ground with Correa. That was nefarious and the dull, plodding scene of what could have been the ‘First Bloodless Revolution’ in Philippine history was made popcorn to save Spanish honor. November 5, 1898; Saturday. Before the day ended, The Philippine flag made by Olympia Severino, Eutropia Yorac and Perpetua Severino was raised for the first time at Silay plaza. The one-day revolution flows with a vibrant kinetic energy loaded with high-speed maneuvers. It ended like a Silay piaya—crisp outside, sweet inside. Happy Negros Day! OLD CITY HALL: * Bacolod City, situated on the northwestern part of the island of Negros, is bounded by the Guimaras Strait on the west, the municipality of Talisay on the north, the municipality of Murcia on the east, and Bago City on the South. * The City has land area of 156.1 kilometers. In 1970, it had a population of 187,300. It has a cool invigorating climate with abundant rainfall. The majority of the people speak Ilonggo and the rest speak Cebuano. * Bacolod, the Sugar City in the Philippines, is one of the most progressive and elite cities in the country. Along its highway, sugarcane plantation is a typical scene; coconut and rice are also grown. The people are engaged in livestock, fishing and pottery. * Bacolod was derived from the Ilonggo word bakolod meaning stonehill since the settlement was founded in 1770 on a stonehill area, now the district of Granada and the former site of the Bacolod Murcia Milling Company. * Due to the Muslin raids in 1787, Bacolod was transferred towards the shorline. The old site was called Da-an Banwa, meaning old town. * In 1894, by order of Governor General Claveria, through Negros Island Governor Manuel Valdeviseo Morquecho, Bacolod was made the capital of the Province of Negros. Bernardino de los Santos became the first gobernadorcillo and Fray Julian Gonzaga the first parish priest. * The succes of the revolution in Bacolod was attributed to the low morale of the local Spanish detahcment-due to its defeat in Panay and Luzon and to the psychological warfare of Generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta. In 1897, a battle in Bacolod was fought in Matab-ang River. * A year later, on November 5, 1898, the Negrense Revolucionarios, armed with knives, bolos, spears, and rifle-like nipa stems, and pieces of sawali mounted in carts, captured the convento where Coronel de Castro y Cisneros, well-armed casadores and platoons of civil guards, surrendered. * Two days later, on the 17th, most of the revolutionary army gathered together to establish a Provisional Junta and to confirm the elections of Aniceto Lacson as president, Juan Araneta as war-delegate, as well as the other officials. * On March 1899, the American forces led by Colonel James G. Smith occupied Bacolod, the revolutionary capital of the Provisional Republic of Negros. * Bacolod City was occupied by the Japanese forces on May 21, 1942. Three years after, it was liberated by the American forces on May 29, 1945. * By virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 326, enacted by the National Assembly, the City of Bacolod was created on June 18, 1938. NEGROS NIGHT LIFE: Bacolod Nightlife * Are you planning a visit to Bacolod City and wondering what to do for fun at night in Bacolod? Participating in the local nightlife scene can be a lot of fun when you travel to a new city, but figuring out where the locals go isnt always easy. Here are 5 of the best Bacolod nightlife options for you to consider. Bacolod locals enjoy these top nightlife activities and if youre here for a visit, you will too! 1. Begin with a drink and dinner at one of Bacolods restaurants. Because so many people live and work right in the city, Bacolod restaurants are a big part of the Bacolod nightlife scene and tend to be full every night of the week. 2. Spend part of your evening at one of the many Bacolod comedy club. Youll have your choice of stand-up, improv, ensembles, open mic, and other formats. You can also find national headliners as well as local talent. 3. Or, spend the evening at the movies. In addition to a few theaters that show first-run movies such as the SM Cinema, youll find lots of other theaters and other venues for watching foreign language, indie, classic, experimental, and other film genres. 5. Stop by one of the many Bacolod bars. If youre interested in exploring Bacolod nightlife, youll probably end up in one (or more) of our popular bars, where a lot of Bacolod locals have fun at night in the city. 6. End your evening at one of Bacolods disco clubs Where do you go toward the end of the evening? Thats easy a Bacolod disco club. Bacolod has a wide range of choices from casual to dress, all featuring DJs and every kind of music that you can imagine. Most of these popular Bacolod nightlife spots get going around 10pm and then close at 2am after last call. RAMOS DIZON MUSEUM: * Housed in the ancestral home of Raymundo L. Dizon and Hermelinda V. Ramos, the Dizon-Ramos Museum is one of the many reasons you will visit Bacolod, Philippines. It was constructed in 1950 and shows the architecture of after-war Bacolod. The house is a blend of modern and neo-classic which makes anyone appreciate its past. The visitors get a sense of how upper-middle class lived in Bacolod in the 1950s. * In 2007, the house of Ramos and Dizon was converted into a museum, thus the name Dizon-Ramos Museum, a year after Hermelinda meet her creator. The museum was blessed andinaugurated on August 15, 2007. Among the artifacts deemed worthy to preserve for posterity are immense collections of naff ceramics, glassware, and religious knick-knacks. The first floor of the museum comprises of the Main Exhibit Hall which boasts a collection of a hundred pictorial reproductions which tried tocaptivate the rich history of Bacolod City and the prominent family, the Dizon-Ramos. Some of the photographs were taken in 1937 when Raymundo, also known as â€Å"Munding† and Hermelinda, also known as â€Å"Ermy† were wed. The photographs are ordered chronologically by decades, thus giving the visitors a coup d’oeil into the city’s baronial past and their family. There are three bedrooms on the left side of the house. It contains some memorabilia of the family. PANAAD PARK AND STEDIUM: * The Panaad Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located inside the Panaad Park and Sports Complex in Bacolod, Philippines. Owned by theNegros Occidental provincial government, it is used for football matches, and is the adopted home of the Philippines national football team. * It played host to football at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and was later the venue of the qualifiers of the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship or ASEAN Cup, in which the Philippines, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Brunei and Laos participated. The stadium has a seating capacity of 15,500 at the bleachers, but holds approximately 20,000 people with standing areas. * Aside from the football field, the stadium features a rubberized track, and the Sports Complex features an Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball court and other sports facilities. Surrounding these structures are cabanas. * The stadium is also the home of Panaad sa Negros Festival, a week-long celebration participated in by all cities and municipalities in the province held annually during the summer. The festival is highlighted by merry-making and field demonstrations at the stadium. The stadium itself features replicas of the landmarks of the thirteen cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental. * The stadium was recently considered to host the semifinal matches of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cupbetween the Philippines and Indonesia, but was disqualified for not satisfying the standards of theASEAN Football Federation. On February 9, 2011, the stadium hosted a match between thePhilippines national football team and Mongolia in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification with an attendance of 20,000 people. CAPITOL SHOPPING AREA: * The Bacolod Capitol Shopping Center is known as the Chinatown of Bacolod City because of the numerous Chinese business establishments in the area. Perhaps, only a few Bacolodnons, especially the younger generations, knew that it is a tragedy which gave birth to Shopping. * In 1955, a big fire gutted the area bounded by Araneta, Gonzaga, Locsin and Luzuriaga which is growing commercial center where most Chinese business establishments were located. The business establishments also doubled as residents so these Chinese were also displaced because of the fire. * Alfredo Montelibano Sr. saw an opportunity to attract the displaced Chinese businessmen so he developed the 27-hectare property north of Bacolod which gave way to the Capitol Shopping Center. Mr. Montelibano also donated a half-hectare property to the Bacolod Chinese Catholic Association where Hua Ming School and church are now located. * The Montelibano family has already transformed what used to be cogonland into Villamonte Subdivision and the upscale Capitolville Subdivision. During the time that the Capitol Shopping Center was being constructed, the exclusive boy’s school La Salle Bacolod and St. Scholastica Academy were already operating not far from Shopping. It’ not surprising then that the area became a prominent commercial center in Bacolod after its completion. * However, through the years, various business establishments re-opened in Bacolod downtown area and big malls opened in the city which took away customers from the Shopping area. Years of neglect have deteriorated most establishments in the Shopping area and even parts of the roads need to be rehabilitated. Capitol Shopping Center has lost its luster as a business center and no longer attracted investments and only a few new establishments located in the area in recent years. * In the hope of reviving the once prime commercial district, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia recently signed City Ordinance no. 576 naming the Capitol Shopping Center as the Bacolod City Chinatown. * The ordinance was authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos and co-authored by Councilor Em Ang stipulated that the city government will appropriate at least P15 million initial funding for the improvement of the infrastructure such as the welcome arch, greening and landscaping as well as road concreting. * The city government, through theordinance, hoped to attract investors by returning up to 70% of the cost of a project that will be put up at the Chinatown Center in the form of tax credits spread over five years. * The revival of the Capitol Shopping as the Bacolod Chinatown was lauded by the Filipino-Chinese Community since the Chinatown has been an important economic, cultural and spiritual hub for the Filipino-Chinese in Bacolod City. * Just like the way the Filipino-Chinese has risen from the ashes of the great fire of 1955, the renewal of interest in the Bacolod Chinatown Center will hopefully give way to the rebirth of the once robust business center.