Bacolod Real Estate Trend Report

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lamudi recently produced a Trend Report on Bacolod. Thecwrite-up below provides an overview of the city and its people, and details the booming real estate industry.

Bacolod: The City of Smiles

HISTORY

Bacolod, nicknamed The City of Smiles is a friendly city filled with smiling faces in Western Visayas. It is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental and is the second most populous city in the Visayas after Cebu City.

Geographically, Bacolod is in the northwestern coast of the island of Negros, bounded on the north by the city of Talisay, on the east by the town of Murcia, and on the south by the city of Bago. To its west is the Guimaras Strait, which serves as a natural border to neighboring Western Visayas.

Bacolod started as a small settlement by the riverbank known as Magsungay early in the Spanish colonial period. It was not established as a town until about 1775 after the settlement was attacked by a datu, with the villagers transferring to a hilly area named Bacolod. Over the years, Bacolod was opened to agriculture and industry, inviting migration and expansion back towards the sea.

Bacolod was then declared capital of Negros Occidental in 1889 when the province of Negros was separated into two, with the other being Negros Oriental. It was then upgraded from a municipality to a city in 1938 by the 1st National Assembly of the Philippines, during the American colonial period.


POPULATION

The Bacolod of today is a highly urbanized city, with a population of about 562,000 people as of the 2015 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority, representing a 1.79 percent increase from the 2010 population of about 512,000 people. The population density was 3,500 per square kilometer.

LOCAL CULTURE

Bacolod is most known for its people’s warm nature. Bacolod is popular for its MassKara Festival, which runs through October and culminating at the fourth Sunday of the month. The festival started as a way to create a better atmosphere in Bacolod in 1980, as the city suffered from the Don Juan tragedy where a vessel collided with a tanker, leading to 750 lost lives. The masks worn during the festival helps Bacolod live up to its moniker ‘The City of Smiles,’ signifying that its people will triumph over any hardship.

The MassKara festival is now one of the major tourist attractions of the Philippines, filling the streets of Bacolod with street performances, beauty pageants, carnivals, food festivals, music concerts, and so much more.


PUBLIC FACILITIES & ESTABLISHMENTS

SCHOOLS

University of St. La Salle
University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos
STI West Negros University
La Consolacion College
Negros Occidental High School
Bacolod Tay Tung High School
St. John’s Institute
St. Joseph School- La Salle
Jack & Jill School Homesite
St. Benilde School Incorporated
St. Sebastian International School
Colegio San Agustin Bacolod

HOSPITALS

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital
The Doctors’ Hospital

TOURIST SPOTS

Capitol Park and Lagoon
Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center
Bacolod Arts & Youth Sports Center
Negros Museum
Art District
Lakawon Island
Campuestuhan
The Ruins
Don Salvador

RESTAURANTS

Delicioso
Chicken House
Bar 21
Sharyns Cansi House
Calea
Kaisei Japanese Restaurant
Kimstaurant Korean Restaurants

PLACES OF WORSHIP

San Sebastian Cathedral
Redemptorist Church
San Diego Cathedral
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol
The People’s House

TRANSPORTATION HUBS

Bacolod-Silay International Airport
Banago Wharf and BRECDO Port

MALLS

Robinsons Place Bacolod
SM City Bacolod
CityMall
888 China Town Square Complex
Centroplex
The District - North Point

NEIGHBORHOODS

Alijis
Estefania
Mansilingan
Tangub
Bata
Mandalagan
Villamonte


ECONOMIC BACKGROUND

The city of Bacolod is considered as the third-fastest growing economy in the Philippines in the information technology and business process outsourcing industries. It has received recommendations from the Department of Science and Technology’s Information and Communication Technology Office and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines as the best location in the Visayas for BPO activities. Bacolod was also declared in 2013 by the DOST as a Center of Excellence for IT-business process management operations, joining a prestigious group composed of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and the Clark Freeport Zone.

Major names in the BPO industry have set up shop in Bacolod, including Convergys, Teleperformance, iQor, and Transcom. Showing the importance of BPO companies in Bacolod’s economy, a 2-hectare portion of the 4-hectare Paglaum Sports Complex was partitioned in 2012 for the construction of the Negros First CyberCentre, which is a provincial government-owned IT-BPO Outsourcing Hub with a Php 674 million budget.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

Colliers International Philippines, in its Q1 2018 Provincial Property Market reports, also noted that Bacolod remains a preferred location for outsourcing operations, with voice BPO companies in continuous expansion while knowledge process outsourcing companies are considering the city as a potential location outside of Metro Manila. However, Colliers said that Bacolod’s talent pool would need to scale up if it wants to attract the interest of more KPO companies.

OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL SPACE

Colliers expects most office demand in Bacolod until 2020 to come from call centers, as well as KPO firms that provide financial technology, software engineering, and health information management services. The research firm expects office supply in the city to reach 128,500 sq.m. by 2020, which is a 20 percent increase compared to supply in 2017, and also forecasts vacancy maintaining at 4 percent to 5 percent per year to 2020.

Average office rental rates in Bacolod meanwhile is expected to increase by about 2% to 4% annually over the next few years, due to the sustained demand from both BPO and traditional companies.


REAL ESTATE OVERVIEW

The City of Smiles seems to be on a roll. Thanks to a booming economy, Bacolod’s real estate sector has been progressing remarkably well over the last few years and is expected to continue soaring to new heights in the next few years. With more and more property developers answering the growing demand for residential and commercial properties in and around Bacolod, the real estate landscape of Negros Occidental’s crown jewel is expected to evolve and be at the forefront of a property development boom in the Visayas.




Growth in property interest

According to data culled by Lamudi, the Philippines’ premier real estate platform, since the first semester of 2016, there has been an increasing trend among property seekers looking for potential homes in Bacolod all the way to the second semester of 2018. The average growth rate between 2016 and 2017 was somewhere between 14 percent and 15 percent, However, this average figure grew to 21.9 percent in 2018, a reflection of the increasing interest among property seekers looking for properties in the City of Smiles.


Key areas for real estate activity

Data from Lamudi show that the last quarter of 2018 had the highest volume of searches on residential properties in Bacolod. Comparing this period to 2017’s fourth quarter, there was a 50 percent increase in page views.

Similarly, in both 2017 and 2018, the most searched for areas in Bacolod among property seekers were those in Alijis, Estefania, Mansilingan, Tangub, Bata, Mandalagan, and Villamonte, where Megaworld’s The Upper East is located.

Close to 22 percent of property seekers who used Lamudi searched for potential homes in Alijis, a big jump from the 7.09 percent of property seekers who were interested in that area in 2017. Estefania, which ranked as the second most searched for area among property seekers looking for homes in Bacolod last year, also saw a big jump from the 2017 figure. In 2018, 13.99 percent of those who used Lamudi searched for potential properties in Estafania compared to 6.12 percent of property seekers who were looking for homes in that area in 2017.

Although Mansilingan was most searched for properties in Bacolod in 2017 among property seekers, it dropped to the third spot last year. Nonetheless, Mansilingan continued to be a sought after area in Bacolod, with 13.99 percent of property seekers looking for potential homes in that area last year. Other areas in Bacolod that property seekers have searched for last year were in Barangay 10, Barangay 28, Pahanocoy, and Sum-Ag.


Land Prices

As of 2018, the average price of a property in Bacolod is 5.46 million pesos while the average size of one is 932 square meters. In Alijis, the most searched for area among property seekers, the average price of a property there is Php3.76 million, with the average size of a property there is pegged at 228 square meters. In Villamonte the average price of a property there is Php28.2 million while the average size of one is 842 square meters.

In terms of monthly rentals, the average monthly rate for a property in The City of Smiles is Php19,934 while the average size of an area being rented out is 277 square meters.

FUTURE PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - Bacolod Extension Office

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is constructing a 5,000 sq.m. property at the city’s reclamation area to offer improved services, particularly involving currency management, financial inclusion, and financial and economic awareness.

Provincial Administration Center

The government is allotting Php900 million pesos on the construction of a new Provincial Administration center, a 16,000 sqm lot located in front of the National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod building.

Bacolod Economic Highway

This project is targeted for completion by the end of 2022. The project is a 21.8-kilometer, 4-lane road, including 3 bridges and a 2-way bike lane, that will serve as an alternate circumferential road bypassing Bacolod’s central business district.

Redevelopment of the Bacolod-Silay Airport

The project is meant to decongest the Bacolod-Silay Airport and enhance operating efficiency, safety, and security, as well as improve passenger amenities and the airport’s networking and marketing.

The project is slated for completion by the end of 2021.

Township projects by Megaworld

Megaworld is building The Upper East in Bacolod, a Php 28-billion township development that will host the city’s new and iconic 34-hectare central business district. The project will feature a mixture of residential condominiums, One Regis and Two Regis, shopping malls, mixed-use buildings, hotels, and state-of-the-art office towers, among many other structures. One of the highlights of the township is a New York-inspired lifestyle mall with several interconnected buildings, with one of those buildings to be inspired by the iconic Grand Central Station in New York City.

Another Megaworld township development in Bacolod is Northill Gateway, which will have upscale residential villages, a mixed-use office and retail development, and leisure and recreational amenities, located on the border of Bacolod and Talisay. The township will cover 50 hectares and will have direct access to the Bacolod-Silay Airport. It is also where the Philippines’ first Las Vegas-style ‘welcome marker’ is located, an iconic attraction that greets incoming and outgoing visitors.

Getting Ready for MICECon in Bacolod City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Experiencing again the struggle of packing everything in my best luggage for business travel for a 5 day trip.

What else did I forget to bring with me? Formal long-sleeved polo shirt, formal pants, travel shorts casual round-neck shirts, socks, boxer briefs, face towels, toiletries, a pair of sandals and a pair of leather shoes, aside from the rubber shoes I'm wearing on my way there, a couple of belts, and what else did I miss? or need to bring with me for the 5 day stay in Bacolod? Over packed? Or still not enough?

If I didn't miss anything then it is a definite "See you tomorrow, Bacolod!!!" It is without any doubt that I'm excited. It's not my first time to visit but I'm still thrilled to expert it all over again but with more number of days.

My first time, sponsored by 2Go Travels, was just too short, like just a few hours visiting only a few places like The Ruins at Talisay city, Negros Occidental, or the Nutsberry Garden, remains of a stately Italianate Mansion and ancestral home, that was said to be burned in 1942 by Filipino guerillas who were against Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson's approval of letting in Japanese soldiers during the seat of the World War II. It is now a famous tourist spot and has a restaurant and landscaped gardens beside it. We we're toured by a wacky tour guide named Roger. I wonder if he is still there.

It is best to visit at night when it is majestically lighted, to have a romantic dinner and for very Instagrammably dramatic shots.

My camera back then was just a simple point and shoot digital camera powered by 2 AA batteries. Now, smartphones have better cameras.

We also visited Calea Pastries and Coffee, the famous desserts and cake place. 

We also passed by the Provincial Capitol of Occidental Negros.

Since Bacolod is the home of the Masskara Festival we were greeted with a MassKara festival welcome dance during our arrival in Bacolod city coming from Iloilo city.

To know more about my previous Bacolod experience, please click the link below:

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2013/11/cruisin-to-iloilo-and-bacolod-2go_26.html

I'm soon off to the media / blogger coverage of the Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON), the biggest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals. It is a highly anticipated educational event for travel and tourism and MICE practitioners because of its range of topics, quality speakers and themed events. MICECON 2018 will be held on 27-29 November 2018 in the City of Bacolod.

To get to know more about MICECON in Bacolod:

www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2018/11/bacolod-is-ready-for-micecon.html

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But I'm staying for two more days to roam around the City of Smiles (named as because of its MassKara Festival, a Mardi Gras-like festival and a spectacular vivid mix of dance), for my blog / vlog.

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.

Our event venues are the Resorts Negrense and SMX Convention Center of SM City Bacolod.

Visiting Bacolod City won't be complete without a trip to The Ruins of Talisay City, our venue for the farewell dinner with "A Night of Magic and MICE-tery theme and outfit.

While our Mardi Gras-themed Welcome dinner will be at the Bacolod Government Grounds, wearing MassKara-inspired outfits.

Second night Vintage Negros-themed dinner will be at the Provincial Government Grounds with "Roaring Twenties" outfit.

International and local speakers, moderators and VIPs for special messages, would be the city Mayor himself, Hon. Evelio Leonardia; Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO)Marie Venus Tan, Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Policy Formulation and International Cooperation (PFIC) Chief, Alex Macatuno; TPB MICECON 2018 MICE Department OIC, Teresita De Luna-Landan; Philippine Association of Convention Organizers and Suppliers, Inc (PACEOS) Chairman, Jing Lagandaon; MyShelter Foundation and Liter of Light Board Director, Ami Valdemoro; Make A Difference (MAD) International Partnership Head, Sophie Methler; Jackson Consulting, Inc President Liz Jackson; High Performance Strategies CEso, Susan Sarfati; Jerry Sibal Design lLC Founder, Jerry Sibal; Tyler Enslin International Owner, Tyler Enslin; Broadcaster and Presentation Consultant/ Trainer Tina Altieri; Makasuntra Founder KF Seetoh; Our Awesome Planet Founder Anton Diaz; Asia Pacific Events Air Business Development Manager Thomas Gray; Motivational Speaker Grace Gayoso; Amadeus Corporate Marketing and Communications People & Culture, Communications and Brand Asia Pacific Vice President Karin Budhraja; Digichic Integrated Marketing Founder and Managing Director Charise Mason; TTG Asia Global Commerce General Manager Peng Ee Ooi; Gaining Edge (Australia) Asia Senior Manager Jane Vong Holmes; and Chief Motivational Officer and Motivational Humorist Scott Friedman.

A tour for speakers in the morning, and a special pre-conference tour (CSR Activity) of MICECON 2018 will happen in the afternoon of our first day featuring Bong Bong's Piaya and Barquillos and Merzci's Pasalubong to bring speakers and conference delegates to the heart of the production of Bacolod's local delicacies to watch and learn how pasalubong are made, and an opportunity to connect with the underprivileged members of the host destination. Proceeds will go to the charitable institutions namely Holy Infant Nursery Foundation, Inc., Bacolod Girl's Home Foundation, Inc.,; Conference delegates are also encouraged to bring blankets, towels, notebooks, pens, and children's books.

A rolling tour of Bago city will happen in the afternoon of our event second day. The last day will have another special tour for speakers.

It's definitely a jam-packed three-day event, and an additional two days for me to visit the other sites not included in the event itinerary. I am also eager to sample other local delicacies, and cuisines so visiting the foodie areas will be among my target destinations.

Please recommend the other interesting places to visit and local food to eat, and maybe people to interview, in Bacolod so I could maximize my stay there.

Thanks and get ready to do the iconic Wazzup Pilipinas shout-out in Bacolod!!!

#WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger #Travel #Tourism #Bacolod #MICECON #CityOfSmiles #Tour #TheRuins #Trip #TouristSpots Philippine Micecon Philippine Tourism Promotions Board - MICE Department Tourism Promotions Board Tourism Promotions Board - formerly PCVC Bacolod City PIO Lgu Bacolod Bacolod City LGU- Bacolod LDN Bago City Division of Bago City Wazzup Pilipinas

Local delicacies of Bacolod

Wazzup Pilipinas!?





Bacolod is a city located in the western part of the Philippines, specifically in the province of Negros Occidental. It is known for its vibrant culture and rich history, but more than that, Bacolod is also famous for its mouth-watering local delicacies.

If you happen to visit Bacolod, here are some of the must-try local delicacies that you shouldn't miss:

Chicken Inasal - This is probably the most famous and most sought-after delicacy in Bacolod. Chicken Inasal is a grilled chicken dish that is marinated in a blend of vinegar, calamansi, garlic, ginger, and annatto oil. The meat is usually served with rice and dipped in a special sauce made of vinegar, calamansi, and soy sauce.


Piaya - Piaya is a flatbread pastry that originated in Bacolod. It is made with a filling of muscovado sugar and sometimes filled with ube or mango. Piaya is usually enjoyed as a snack or dessert and is often paired with coffee or tea.


Napoleones - Napoleones is a flaky pastry filled with custard cream and glazed with sugar. This delicacy is usually served during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and fiestas.


Inubaran - Inubaran is a vegetable dish made with taro leaves, coconut milk, and shrimp. This dish is popular in Bacolod and is usually served as a side dish or appetizer.


KBL (Kadios, Baboy, Langka) - KBL is a soup dish made with kadios beans, pork, and jackfruit. This dish is known for its unique combination of flavors and is usually served with rice.


Piyaya - Piyaya is similar to piaya but is filled with sweetened mongo or mung bean paste instead of muscovado sugar. It is a favorite snack among Bacolod locals and is often sold in markets and souvenir shops.


Batchoy - Batchoy is a noodle soup dish that originated in the city of Iloilo but has become popular in Bacolod as well. It is made with pork broth, pork liver, pork meat, vegetables, and noodles. It is often served with chicharon or crispy pork rinds.


Buko Pie - Buko Pie is a pastry filled with young coconut meat and is a popular pasalubong or souvenir from Bacolod. It is usually enjoyed as a dessert or snack.


Cansi - Cansi is a beef soup dish that is similar to bulalo or nilaga but with a sour twist. The soup is made with beef shanks, bone marrow, and sour fruit called batuan. This dish is usually served with rice.


Guapple Pie - Guapple pie is a pastry filled with guava and apple. This delicacy is a unique twist on the traditional apple pie and is a must-try when in Bacolod.

Bacolod is a city that is rich in culture and history, and its local delicacies are a testament to its heritage. If you're planning to visit Bacolod, make sure to try these local delicacies and experience the flavors that this city has to offer.

Meet the filmmakers of the Bacolod Film Festival

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



The Bacolod Film Festival will premiere ten short films at SM Bacolod and Ayala Malls Capitol Central cinemas in September.

The recipients of production grants worth 300,000 pesos each from the Bacolod City government are Chelsea Tasic (“A Flower A Day”), Charlene Mead Tupas (“Aninaw”), Juan Carlo Miguel “Jayce” Ferraris (“Blind Date”), Zack Verzosa (“Glub”), Pau Ortaliz Santos (“Laragway sa Karon”), Banjo Hinolan (“Manokan Country”), Willbryan Garcia (“Puli Na, Diche Lesly”), VinJo Entuna (“Sa Pwesto ni Pistong”), Oscar Villanueva (“The Mansion”), and Georgia Elardo (“Those Little Things”).

Chelsea, 20, is a second-year nursing student and filmmaker at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City. She started to pursue her passion in filmmaking during her senior high school at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), where she directed two award-winning short films at the UNO-R SHS DigiFest in 2021 and 2022. She also directed “Dalit sa Sala,” which won both People’s Choice award and special citation for its compelling story, at the Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival in 2023.

Meanwhile, Charlene has honed her craft as an alumna of the Maskara Theatre Ensemble and as a member of The Performance Laboratory, Inc. These institutions trained her in community theatre, deepening her understanding of its role in entertainment, education, and advocacy. As an actor, writer, and director, she has contributed to national art festivals, conferences, and collaborative exchanges with theatre groups and artists across the country, guided by theater director Tanya P. Lopez. She garnered national acclaim in 2020 as the grand prize winner of Nespresso Talents for her short film “Tsinelas.”

Jayce is currently pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Digital Film at Mapua University Makati. He had his directorial debut in the short film “Please Hold...” in 2023. He also directed and produced the short documentary “Bacolod's Drag Odyssey” this year. In addition, Jayce also edited the Puregold Cinepanalo short film “Saan Ako Pinaglihi?”

Zack recently graduated cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Communication at USLS. He joined the Bacolod Summer Workshop screenwriting class in 2022. He wrote and directed “Añoranza” and “Ritmo,” Sine Negrense Open Category finalists in 2023 and 2022, respectively. He also wrote and directed “Instrumentum: Garden of Eden,” which won the Best TV Drama in the Bilib Awards in 2021. He also wrote “Yours Truly” which won Best Picture in the Inasal Awards in 2022 and “Anstal” in 2021.

Pau is a filmmaker with a rich background in screenwriting and video journalism. Starting her career as a screenwriter, she worked on short films such as “Sinta” (2022), “Andromeda” (2021), and “Siete Palabras” (2021). Before venturing into the world of filmmaking, Pau honed her skills as a video journalist for Tolentine Star, the official student publication of UNO-R.

Banjo is a Bacolod-born-and-raised filmmaker with a Mass Communication degree from USLS. His background in theater and film production is complemented by his experience as a director, videographer, and video editor for various cable TV stations in Bacolod City. He is also a part-time instructor at his alma mater. He has participated in and conducted numerous workshops in film production, cinematography, film editing, and directing. His talents have taken him to national and international film productions as both actor and production personnel. He was also mentored by Tanya and the late multi-awarded filmmaker Peque Gallaga.

Willbryan studied Psychology at USLS and is also an alumnus of USLS Maskara Theatre Ensemble like Charlene and Banjo. He has done acting jobs both on stage and on TV. He co-directed the short film “Indi Sya Si Jimmy” which had its premiere at CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival in 2023.

VinJo is a filmmaker from Bacolod City and a graduate of the University of the Philippines Film Institute in 2021. His film training includes attending workshops such as Ricky Lee's Scriptwriting Workshop in 2020, Inggo Petzke's Experimental Filmmaking Workshop in 2019, and the Bacollywood Workshops in 2015. His work “Ang Amomonggo sa Aton” won Best Animated Film at both Gawad Alternatibo and Ateneo Video Open (AVO) in 2022. The film also got the Best Student Film award at the SEA x SEA: South East Asia x Seattle Film Festival (2022), first runner-up for Best Animated Film at the second Pinoy Rebyu Awards (2022), Jury's Choice award at Sine Negrense (2021), Best Screenplay and Far Eastern University Center for the Arts (FCA) Award at SinePiyu, and also the Best Sound Design at AVO in 2022.

Born and raised in Bacolod City, Oscar studied cinematography under the Negros Summer Workshops and sound design under the Bacollywood Summer Workshops. Oscar’s love for screenwriting led him to becoming a filmmaker, which materialized when his script was selected in the Bacolod Film Festival.

Georgia is a filmmaker, digital media artist, and a graduate of La Consolacion College Bacolod. Her short film “Si Tinay Kag Ang Tamawo” was part of the 2019 Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival in Davao.

Catch the BFF filmmakers and their films in Bacolod cinemas this September.

RAC Muntinlupa Central brings award-winning “Super Pinoy Kid” to Metro Bacolod, Neg. Occ.

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Whenever people, particularly kids, are asked, "Who is your favorite superhero?", the usual answers would always be the globally-idolized stars from Marvel or Justice League. 

Nowadays, it is already rare to find Filipinos who can still name a local superhero; if one is lucky enough, most characters that are on top of their heads are the likes of Super Inggo and Pedro Penduko. They have become a mainstay in Philippine literature since they invaded children's notebook covers for school. The pandemic has further glued the young generation to their gadgets, limiting their already meager exposure to fictional and entertaining characters. This is the reason why a superhero was summoned to mix things up.

Along with the start of the new Imagine Rotary Year, the Rotaract Club of Metro Bacolod invited its twin club, the Rotaract Club of Muntinlupa Central, to bring Super Pinoy Kid (SPK) to the province of Negros Occidental on July 15 to 18, 2022. The SPK is a four-part comic collection featuring Biboy, a modern-day superhero who lives out the moral values taught by Rotary's 4-Way Test. The comic, which also comes as a coloring book, aims to help elementary students become the country's future role models and responsible citizens by using the stories of Biboy as guiding principles during their formative years.

At first glance, SPK's Biboy may look like an ordinary 5-year-old kid from a poor family. However, what makes Biboy a Super Pinoy Kid is the four important moral principles he embodies in his daily life. The comic collection introduces Biboy as a young child with four amazing stories about his four unique attributes, namely: A Truthful and Honest Child, A Fair and Righteous Child, A Friendly Child, and A Responsible and Beneficial Child.

With the Super Pinoy Kid being one of its flagship projects, the Rotaract Club (RAC) of Muntinlupa Central has been recently included as Finalist in the 2022 Rotaract Outstanding Projects Awards.

Rotaractors from RAC Metro Bacolod's twin club also brought their project entitled, "SPK Promotes Oral Health: Ngiting Puting Ngipin," a series of videos promoting the proper and correct way of brushing one's teeth as a way of fighting cavities and bacteria that may damage their teeth. This project of RAC Muntinlupa Central was also recognized as the Most Outstanding Project of Rotary International District 3830 last Life-Changing Rotary Year.

Benefitting more than 100 children across three communities—two in Bacolod City and one in the City of Sagay—Biboy's trip to Negros Occidental undoubtedly widened the smiles of kids with his heroic and admirable stories. Along with the distribution of Super Pinoy Kid copies was a storytelling activity that narrated the four accounts of Biboy. The Rotaract Clubs gathered kids in small groups, where they could listen to a storyteller to ensure that the message of Biboy's adventures was well-received.

After hearing the stories of Biboy, the Negrosanon children witnessed several Ngiting Puting Ngipin videos featuring Biboy with Super Ate Sandy, who went through the good practices of brushing their teeth to maintain good oral health. Beneficiary kids from Education & Training Center School-I and Purok Kabugwason, Brgy. Mansilingan in Bacolod City and from Purok Bougainvillea, Brgy. Old Sagay in Sagay City then received copies of the SPK comics, coloring materials, and oral hygiene kits as gifts.

Headed by their Marvelous Visionary President this Rotary Year, Mayrian Ness Olitoquit, Rotaractors from RAC Muntinlupa Central served as activities' storytellers and facilitators. Among the delegation were Charter President Vincent Naval, Past President Ralph Cepillo, Club Secretary Goldy Jativa, Finance Director Sandra Lascano, and Member Niño Medina.

They were hosted in Bacolod City by the Rotaract Club of Metro Bacolod, under the leadership of Imagine Year Dream President Fel Xyruz Magallona, together with Immediate Past President Ellen Tribunsay, President-Elect Beatriz Marie Abayon, District Rotaract Representative for RID 3850 Magic Alvarado, and other Metro Bacolod clubs, namely: RAC University of St. La Salle, Interact Club (IAC) of La Consolacion College-Metro Bacolod, IAC Liceo de La Salle, and IAC Negros Occidental High School.

The Rotary Club of Metro Bacolod, the mother club of the aforementioned Rotaract and Interact Clubs, fully supported the said events as they were headed by Past District Rotaract Representative and Dream President Richard Jeric L. Chua.

On the other hand, the Rotaractors from RAC Muntinlupa Central were hosted in Sagay City by the Rotaract Club of Metro Sugarbowl Champions under Dream President Yqfryd Alvarado, as supported by Rotarian President Benson Fernandez of the Rotary Club of Sagay-Sinigayan.

A couple of District Rotaract Representatives (DRR) were present throughout the activity, as DRR Maria Teddielyn Bernadette Lebrias of Rotary International District (RID) 3830 and DRR Kert Nhajzr Priagula of RID 3850 graced the momentous occasion for their clubs' joint activities.

RAC Metro Bacolod Club Secretary Jude Lourence Segovia and Professional Development Service Director Brix Joshua Ponclara ensured that the said activities were well-documented by creating articles and collating event photos for the Rotaract community and the general public to view.

In a technology-dominated world, no one is too old and late for a superhero story, and through this joint activity of RAC Metro Bacolod and RAC Muntinlupa Central, the childhood of Negrosanon and Bacolodnon kids has just become brighter and better.

Bacolod Film Festival calls for entries

Wazzup Pilipinas!



The Bacolod Film Festival is now accepting script submissions with the theme “Stories with a Smile” or those with a “potential to inspire laughter, warmth, and a renewed appreciation for the brighter side of life.”

The filmfest, set to be held in September this year, is open to filmmakers who are registered voters and residents of Bacolod City. They can be producers, directors, or scriptwriters of an entry.

The festival accepts short film scripts of any genre, such as romance, drama, comedy, or horror, in any Filipino language with English translation. Entries must be submitted on or before May 18, Saturday, 11:59 p.m., after which ten (10) finalists will be chosen.

Selected filmmakers will be given a production grant of 300,000 pesos each, to be released in two tranches, of which the first one is worth 200,000 pesos. The remaining 100,000 pesos will be released once the picture lock version of the film has been submitted.

The total running time of the produced films must be at a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes and maximum of twenty (20) minutes, including opening and closing credits. The short films must be in narrative live action form, when taken as a whole. Documentary, experimental or animation will not be accepted, except if added only as elements within the film.

The Bacolod Film Festival aims to create a venue where local filmmakers and producers can showcase their talents and further solidify Bacolod, known as the “City of Smiles,” as one of the creative hubs for filmmaking in the Philippines.

“Bacolod should be proud of its creatives. We have very artistic directors, and actors,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, who also chairs the Bacolod Film Festival Council, said.

The Bacolod City Council or Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently passed City Ordinance No. 1061, or the Bacolod Film Festival Ordinance, authored by Councilor Em L. Ang, with Councilors Cindy Rojas and Celia Matea Flor as co-authors. Councilor Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on History, Culture and Arts, also serves as BFFC vice chair.

Aside from Mayor Benitez and Councilor Ang, the BFFC is composed of the chair of the SP Committee on Tourism, City Tourism Officer, City Legal Officer, City Budget Officer, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officer, Department of Education Division Superintendent, representatives from SM and Ayala Malls Cinemas and the local film industry.

Members of the BFF Organizing Committee and their relatives (up to the second degree of consanguinity) are prohibited from joining the competition. There is no entry fee to participate.

Multiple entries are accepted, but each script must be submitted with a separate entry form and online registration. The selection committee will only consider one entry per finalist.

The short films must have their premiere at the Bacolod Film Festival this September.

Bacolod is Ready for MICECon, Philippines' Biggest Industry Gathering for Travel and Tourism Practitioners

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Excited to attend the MICECon or MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) conference in Bacolod on Nov. 27-29 at the SMX Convention Center of SM City Bacolod and Resorts Negrense in Bacolod City, dubbed the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines”.

Thank you to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, for the invitation to attend this event. This would be a great opportunity to know more about the MICE industry and to also tour Bacolod and its tourists spots, culinary specialties and delicacies, and the people as well. I will be staying until December 1 so I have two extra days to roam around Bacolod for my vlogging to feature not only some of its tourist spots but also its culinary specialties and delicacies as well as the culture and its people.

Experts in various industries from different parts of the world are flying to the country for the MICECon, the biggest industry gathering of its kind and a highly anticipated educational event for travel and tourism practitioners.

Participants will receive a fully comprehensive and incentivized MICECON 2018 program that includes discussions on global trends on travel and tourism, sales and marketing, business and professional development, convention and exhibition management, incentive travel, events design as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and networking opportunities during the themed social functions.

MICE is a major contributor to the growth of Philippine tourism, and aims to establish the Philippines’ standing as the preferred destination for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions as outlined in the MICE Roadmap 2030, which targets to increase revenues derived from the MICE industry to some P25 billion by growing annual MICE arrivals to 3 percent, and increasing the total usable space for exhibitions to over 170,895 square meters.

The TPB has gathered an impressive roster of local and international speakers, namely: Susan Sarfati, founding chief executive officer of The Center for Association Leadership and executive vice president of the American Society of Association Executives; Liz Jackson, vice president of Association Management Group and president of Associated Luxury Hotels; Peng Ee, of the Global Commerce Business unit of TTG Asia Media; and Jerry Sibal, founder of Jerry Sibal Design and a world-renowned event designer and florist.

Aside from the learnings derived from the expected to be engaging talks from the mentioned speakers, the MICECON 2018 program is also an opportunity for networking especially during the themed social functions. Bacolod City be highlighted as they get to showcase what the city has to offer as a MICE venue, while further upgrading its capabilities in targeting and handling the MICE market.

Bacolod is ready for the many Tourism and Travel practitioners about to set foot in their city, and I hope Bacolod is also ready for the Pambansang Blogger. We'll be doing the iconic Wazzup Pilipinas  shout-out soon so I'm thrilled to be there for my video blogging as I explore the wonders of the city.

See you soon, Bacolod!

Bacolod Welcomes IT Group, Inc. for a Digital Transformation Dialogue

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


IT Group, Inc., one of the leading IT solution partners in the ASEAN region, will visit Bacolod City for the Negros Business Leaders Forum: Navigating the Future of Business Technology event this coming November 14 at the Chalet, L’Fisher Hotel.

In partnership with the, Rotary Council of Presidents in Negros, the event will venture into Bacolod’s business environment and markets, highlighting the city’s growth and progress, all while forecasting possible business trends in 2024.

Ellirie Aviles, ITG Senior Business Development Officer and convenor of the forum, perfectly encapsulates the spirit of this event, stating, "The progress of Negros Occidental is a collective endeavor, with collaboration and partnerships acting as the driving forces behind success in the realms of business and technology. It's this spirit of togetherness that propels us forward."

“We’re excited to venture together with people from Bacolod. It’s always been our goal to connect with like-minded people who are interested in innovating their businesses through technology. It’s going to be a venue where everyone can be part of co-creating and co-owning better solutions not only for Bacolod but hopefully for the whole province of Negros,” said Jose Adolfo Cornelio, Jr., ITG’s Managing Director for PH.

This year, the City of Bacolod signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with GCash to welcome digitalization in the province, making it easier and more convenient to pay government fees for its people. The joint venture amplifies the city's readiness to embrace digitalization and harness its full potential and benefits.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) held the Digital Careers Expo 2023 events in the northern part of Negros Occidental, helping LGUs to create a digital roadmap for each district to boost provincial overall growth that will cover until 2030.

Present at the event will be Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez,, Rotary Council of Presidents in Negros Chairperson, Patrick Mabag, and Rotary International District 3850 District Secretary Juan Antonio Zayco Villaluz.


Full of AdVentures in the City of Smiles

Bacolod’s notable shift towards more digitally-driven business models brings the city’s economy to smile from ear to ear. The advancements toward digital transformation, however, are still full of adventures to go.

At the center of the conversation, ITG’s Head of Business Management Solutions, Rubie Grace Villamor will talk about “Compliance Towards Sustainable Business” through comprehensive and scalable solutions, Meanwhile, Rommel Bernabe, Head of IT Management Solutions, will shed light on the importance of cybersecurity in your organization by “Shielding the Digital Frontier”.


Almira Navarro, the Chief Marketing Officer of ITG, invited all leaders to join forces in venturing together in this event, from CEOs, COOs, Founders, Owners, CFOs, Presidents, and Chairpersons to business proprietors.


“Everyone is coming, and we’re looking forward to it. If one leader can make a great impact, how about all of them in one room? Think about. It’s really a one-of-a-kind event where you meet movers, builders, and shakers of Bacolod in one night,” she ended.


Negros Business Leaders Forum will start at 6:00 p.m. RSVP today : https://bit.ly/3s50ITX





ITG is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified company with four regional offices located in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, helping 200+ clients across the ASEAN region on their digital transformation journey and has a solid portfolio of 250+ successful projects.



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Immerse in Bacolod’s “Colors and Flavors,” an Art Display at JT’s Manukan Grille BGC

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

FilipinoArt.ph and JT’s Manukan Grille, BGC Branch on 32nd Avenue, present the vivid colors and the delectable flavors of Bacolod City via the art display “Colors and Flavors of Bacolod,” running now until October 15, 2023. (From L-R) Yuri Stegeman, FilipinoArt.ph founder; Carlos Chuidian, JT’s Manukan Grille BGC owner; and Joel Torre, JT’s Manukan Grille founder)

 LFilipinoArt.ph, an online art gallery supporting Filipino artists, collaborates with JT’s Manukan Grille, a chicken inasal restaurant chain, via the art display titled “Colors and Flavors of Bacolod.’’ Ongoing until Oct. 15, 2023, the art display features acrylic paintings of local artists Roselle Manalastas and Jason Ray Zabat at JT’s Manukan Grille in 32nd Ave. cor. Bonifacio Blvd. BGC. 

“Colors and Flavors of Bacolod” portrays Bacolod City’s cultural heritage, seizing its essence through vibrant colors and vivid emotions that showcase the city’s annual celebration of the Masskara Festival. The artists’ creations draw deep inspiration from the world-renowned street festival, which stands as a symbol of the Negrenses’ resilience, born during the sugar crisis of the 1980s. Joel Torre, the owner of JT’s Manukan Grille, wants to use his chains of restaurants as a safe, creative space for Filipino artists. 

“Our original al-fresco setup wasn’t ideal for displaying traditional visual art due to dust. Nonetheless, we hosted performances and showcased films, aiming to turn the place into an arts hub. We are also transforming our branch in Boracay into an arts community, initiating storytelling, music, painting, and filmmaking workshops. This is our way of giving back to the community.” 

The art display’s setup: the artworks at the top are Roselle Manalastas,” while the

paintings hung on the wall are Jason Ray Zabat’s.

Artist Jason Ray Zabat and Joel Torre pose with the former’s artworks: (L) “Mr. Juan

Tilaok,” inspired by Mr. Torre, and (R) “Mutya ng Masskara.”

Jason Ray Zabat explains the creation process of “Mr. Juan Tilaok"

Jason Ray Zabat, FilipinoArt.ph artist, shared his creation process of “Mr. Juan Tilaok,” an intricately layered acrylic painting inspired by Mr. Torre. Zabat said, “The chicken, embodying the restaurant and Mr. Torre, was vital in shaping the artwork. The attire reflects Mr. Torre’s artistic identity, enhanced by cultural elements like the Sarimanok-inspired tail and natural motifs of flowers and vines on the coat.” 

Zabat’s artwork has also incorporated Bacolod’s famous delicacies, such as inasal, piaya, and kansi, adding depth to the artwork’s narrative. Before this art display, FilipinoArt.ph also partnered with other local establishments to promote artists and expand its reach. Its initial collaboration was with Brewed Specialty Coffee, a third-wave coffee shop in Pasig City. As part of the coffee shop’s second-anniversary celebrations, FilipinoArt.ph hosted an art display titled “Sining at Kape,” featuring the works by Pasigueño artists. 

About FilipinoArt.ph

FilipinoArt.ph, an online art gallery from the Philippines, connects art lovers with diverse Filipino artworks. Since its launch in October 2019, it has supported local artists by showcasing and marketing their works. It features independent and established visual artists, regularly adding new pieces like paintings, drawings, digital art, sculptures, and mixed media weekly. 

Representing 460+ artists, the gallery offers a curated collection of 1,700+ art pieces spanning various styles. The UK-based Corporate Vision-Small Business Awards named FilipinoArt.ph the “Best Online Art Gallery in the Philippines” in 2022. The digital platform was developed and is maintained by Chanz Global, which is also behind PropertyAsia.ph and WaterDelivery.ph.

About JT’s Manukan Grille 

JT’s Manukan Grille has delighted diners with delicious Bacolod-style grilled chicken for over two decades. Created by actor Joel Torre and his wife, Cristy, their passion for crafting flavorful grilled chicken from cherished family recipes led to its start in 2003. The first restaurant opened in Bacolod, focusing on the famous chicken inasal. 

Recognized by Spot.ph as the “Top Chicken Inasal Restaurant” since 2015, it’s a must-visit in Mr. Torre’s hometown, with a special place in his heart due to his family’s food catering history. With an unwavering commitment to flavorful cuisine, JT’s Manukan Grille has won patrons’ hearts across multi-locations (about 35 branches so far), fulfilling their dream of sharing delectable creations globally. 

Cover photo caption: 

Group photo of FilipinoArt.ph and JT’s Manukan Grille standing before the art display. (From left) Yuri Stegeman, FilipinoArt.ph founder; Carlos Chuidian, JT’s Manukan Grille BGC owner; and Joel Torre, JT’s Manukan Grille founder.

Thank You to the City of Smiles, the Land of Sweet Surprises and to TPB, Marketing Arm of Department of Tourism

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Salamat po sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018. It was definitely an enlightening and pleasurable experience not just because of the new learnings, but most especially because of the new friends or acquiantances I gained throughout the three day event.

I've already uploaded so many videos from the first day of MICECON 2018 to the last, including full speeches of the VIPs and event organizers, interviews with some of the speakers like Jerry Sibal, Anton Diaz, KF Seetoh, and Scott Friedman, on Wazzup Pilipinas official social media accounts mostly on Facebook, and other social media networks we have, and a couple of pre-event articles on our site WazzupPilipinas.com, and would write more post-event articles simultaneously as I upload the remaining contents from my phone, camera and other gadgets I brought with me in Bacolod.

Since I was also personally toured by Miss Agnes Maranon-Iida, the daughter of the governor of Negros Occidental, Alfredo Maranon Jr, who offered to give me a guided appreciation tour of Sagay city and other areas like the Children's Museum, visit and seafood lunch at Suyac Island Mangrove Eco Park, an interview with master Nunelucio Alvarado and da drink of their ice-blended coffee and some snacks plus fortunate to be given complimentary artworks by the master himself, a tour at Option MFC, their sugar mill, where I witnessed the entire process of creating sugar from sugar cane, step-by-step., ate the Manapla puto directly bought from its original creator plus an interview opportunity, a visit and interview with Mushroom growers at the Organic Farm Festival which was currently happening at the Provincial Capitol grounds, an overnight stay at Natures Village Resort where I had an interview with one of the Organic Farm Festival speakers namely Rei Yoon from Korea promoting Natural farming, a lot better than organic farming, and lastly a night ending with a grand dinner feast with the governor of Negros, his wife and daughters, his sister, niece, son in law, other relatives, and other guests from Japan.

Thank you as well to my designated tour guide on my second extended stay touring other parts of Bacolod city, Ms. Jang Yap, a staff from the Bacolod Tourism Operations Office, through councilors Em Legaspi-Ang and Cindy Tan-Rojas, as well as the Senior Tourism Operations Officer Ms. Elma "Butch" Gerasmo,

We started our tour with visits if the three heritage houses open to the pubic, alson had an interview with the owner of a famous Masskara mask store setup by a consultant and fellow blogger Jojo Vito but ran by his sister-in-law and brother, lunch at El Ideal bakery where we ate their specialties, a visit and effortless stair climb up to the top of the Pope John Paul Tower, a tour at the Panaad Park and stadium showcasing the many structures from different cities of Negros Occidental, witnessing Bacolod's very first Festival of Lights parade, culminating to dinner at Aida's in Manokan Country, before finally going to the airport on the last flight out of Bacolod and back to Manila.

I have plenty more stories, videos and photos to upload and stories to write about Bacolod city and Negros Occidental province to help boost tourism, most especially community - based tourism, in the mentioned places.

As it is more fun in the Philippines not just because of the sights or tourist destinations, but because of the Filipino people, I've also interviewed and showcased as many people involved throughout the events, not just the delegates and speakers but even interviews with the LGU officials and staff, van drivers, hotel staff, artists and business owners, tour guides, etc. so I could give a greater overview of not just the happenings during MICECON 2018, but also of Bacolod city, and Negros Occidetal, etc.

Hoping I would be a part again of not just MICECON but of your other events, whether solely organized or partnered with others.

Thank you once again and congratulations for a very successful MICE2018. Salamat po again sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018.

Kudos to the TPB COO Miss Marie Venus "The Goddess" Tan for her active presence at the events up to the farewell dinner and party.

Thank you to Miss Neng Miranda and Miss Christie Navarro for making it possible for me to be included among the invited media from Manila.

Thank you as well to other staff from both TPB, like Patricia or Rica, MICE OIC Miss Baby de Luna-Landan, the staff from Fuentes Manila PR agency, and the Bacolod LGU, like councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas, City Administrator Atty Juan Orola Jr, most especially to the Tourism Promotions Office Team, led by Senior Tourism Operations Officer Miss Butch Sycip. Not to forget the honorable Mayor of Bacolod, Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, and his wife, Elsa Jeruta Fuentes

Thank you also to SMX Sales & Marketing VP and PACEOS VP for Suppliers miss Agnes Pacis, PACEOS Chairman Miss Jing Lagandaon, and a lot more people coming from the delegates representing the many travel and tourism business establishments all over the Philippines.

Thank you of course to our dearest Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat for starting this all for me. I hope my aggressiveness to be actively part of your tourism events, programs and other projects, were positively received. My ultimate intention is to sincerely help our country become the most preferred destination by both local and foreign tourists. Even though I am also being tapped by other countries to promote their hotels, resorts, cuisolines and restaurants, and tourist destinations, my heart remains biased to the Philippines as we do have among, if not the bests, world-class destinations.

God bless and more power to all. Maraming Salamat po and hope to see you all again soon. :)