The boom of tourism in Bacolod has led to the addition of hotels and restaurants to better cater to a wider market. What makes Bacolod a favorite tourist destination is not just the fine establishments that have been built, but the ease that Bacolod transportation provides.
The quickest and most convenient Bacolod transportation from Manila and Angeles City is via plane. The Luzon region has 2 airports, one in Manila and the other in Angeles City. Getting to Bacolod via plane is as easy as booking online, going to a ticketing office or a quick phone call with one of the major airlines that fly there daily. Bookings can be made through Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific to get to Bacolod from Manila and Angeles City and these airlines have at least one flight a day to that destination. The ride is less than an hour, in fact it only takes forty five minutes from Manila and Angeles City. The plane lands at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport and one will be surprised that although this facility is in the province, it can compete with the airport in Manila in terms of world class service. From the airport, Bacolod transportation that will get one around the city is just outside and one can choose to ride either a bus or a taxi. Of course, one also has the option of arranging airport transfer with one’s hotel so that upon arrival from Manila and Angeles City, a car or a van is ready and waiting.
Another Bacolod transportation from Manila and Angeles City is by sea and there are many ferries that travel to this destination daily. WG&A and Negros Navigation are among the biggest shipping lines in the country but of course as compared to a plane ride, the travel time is longer which lasts a day.
Similar to any highly urbanized city, there are several ways to get around Bacolod and it doesn’t matter whether one arrived via plane or docked at the seaport. Near the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, a bus terminal is within walking distance and this will get one around the capital. If one is headed somewhere nearer, there are also jeepneys there but for those who are not too familiar with the place or have never been there before, there are also taxis in the area.
The pages of history could attest how colorful the events that trussed the heritage and culture of the city of Iloilo. Long before foreign fleets discovered the land, there were already local settlers living or staying in Iloilo curving their own version of civilization.
To know what the city of Iloilo is all about, tourists and visitors should witness the feast called Dinagyang. The festivity of Dinagyang is a cultural and religious feast in Iloilo City. It is being held annually after the Sinulog Festival in Cebu and Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan (this is celebrated every fourth (4th) Sunday of the month of January. Dinagyang Festival is celebrated and commemorated in honor of the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) and the arrival of Malay settlers on Panay.
The said feast was just introduced in the late 1960's by a local Catholic Priest Reverend Father Ambrosio Galindez. It started as a simple parish devotion until the Condradia tried to outline the devotion to the Aklan's Ati-Atihan Festival. This local annual celebration became famous for the neighboring locals and with some international tourists. For that reason, in the late 1970's President Marcos initiated several regions to come up with festivities or merriments to bolster development and tourism. Since then Dinagyang Festival had been the trademark of the city of Iloilo. This festival is parted into three (3) main events, the Miss Dinagyang, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and Ati-Atihan Street Dancing.
The richness of its cultural and historical heritage in the Dinagyang Festival's theme, the said event was chosen and voted several times as the best tourism event by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines. This annual occasion is also recognized by international organization such as the United Nations.
Tourism, particularly of the Dinagyang Festival, had been the main reason why the influx of tourists, visitors and possible business entrepreneur or investors are steadily growing. The next big task of the local government has something to do with using the power a worldwide network which is the internet or the World Wide Web. The local administration of Iloilo City official website (http://iloilocity.gov.ph/) contains a lot of information about history, culture, tourism and even business related details of the place. As potential visitor or financier, it is definitely a must to check and visit Iloilo City's website for real-time updates.