Bacolod, Urban center in Western Visayas, Philippines
Bacolod is a highly urbanized city in Negros Occidental that extends across an area with residential neighborhoods, commercial streets, and open spaces near the cane fields. Main roads link markets, municipal buildings, and parks in a loosely distributed layout without a dense skyline.
The settlement arose in 1755 on a hill and grew slowly until it gained importance under Spanish colonial rule as an administrative center. After the American occupation, the city developed into a trading hub for sugarcane in the region.
The name comes from the Hiligaynon word Bakolod, meaning a stony hill where the first families settled. Today, sugarcane farming shapes the surrounding countryside, while plazas and markets serve as meeting points for daily life.
Jeepneys run along the main roads and connect residential areas with markets and shopping zones. Taxis are available to reach more distant destinations such as hotels or restaurants outside the center.
Street vendors sell piaya, a flat pastry made from dough and molasses, that has been prepared here as a local sweet for generations. Restaurants outside the center grill chicken over open charcoal with a special blend of vinegar and annatto seeds.
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