The San Sebastian Cathedral is located in downtown Bacolod, in front of it is the Bacolod Public Plaza. It was originally a small chapel and was declared as a cathedral when Bacolod was raised to the status of a diocese with a jurisdiction comprising the island of Negros in 1933.  The San Sebastian Cathedral structure was made of coral stones from Guimaras Island, the church building was completed in 1882.  Flanking the main door is a statue of the church builder Fr. Ferrero.

Entrance of San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod

The Bell at San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod

San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod Bell

Bell Marker at San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod

Historical marker of San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod

The San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod interior with towering white Corinthian columns on both aisle.

Stained Glass at San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod

How to get to San Sebastian Cathedral Bacolod:

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.

Bacolod Band Stand at the Bacolod Public Plaza

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 music composers Beethoven, Wagner, Haydn, and Mozart.

The plaza is the heart of the MassKara Festival celebration. The MassKara Festival is a week-long celebration held each year in Bacolod City every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the city’s Charter Anniversary. The Bacolod public plaza is the final destination of MassKara street dancing competition which is the highlight of the celebration.
(Above Info from Wikipedia)

Tindalo Tree planted by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon at the Bacolod Public Plaza

Tindalo Tree marker at the Bacolod Public Plaza

Pope John Paul II Tower Monument, is located at the Reclamation Area near SM City Mall.  Pope John Paul II Tower is a newly built monument for Pope John Paul II, it was inaugurated on February 18,2010. This monument stands where Blessed Pope John Paul II celebrated mass to over 1 million people on 1981.

The Pope John Paul II Tower Monument is a 9-storey building wherein in the top most deck can be found the blue-colored cross. Inside the Tower monument is the chair on which the Pope sat during his visit to Bacolod and other memorabilias during the visit of Pope John Paul II in Bacolod City. There are also photos, stories and magazines about the biography of the late Pope John Paul II.

To get there you can take a tricyle or jeepney from SM City.

Barangay  Banago was  declared  champion  in  the  32nd MassKara Festival  street  and arena dance competition last October 16, 2011. besting 14 other groups that competed in the barangay category.

The Barangay Banago was choreographed by William Bangcaya, Banago also won the special awards for Best in Concept and Best in Live Rhythm.

Here are the photos during the street dance parade.

These photos were taken during the Bacolod City’s 2011 Masskara Festival celebration, using Canon EOS 1100D.

Congratulations to newly crowned MassKara Queen 2011 Alexis Danica “Nikki” Drilon.

Cheers filled the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City as Alexis Danica Drilon, was crowned as the MassKara Queen 2011.

Nikki Drilon is a 20 year old B.S. Biology student of the University of St. La Salle Bacolod, bested nine other candidates and won P80,000 in cash.

Aside from winning this year’s crown, Drilon was also named Miss Photogenic and best in festival attire, best in fantasy make-up and was chosen by on-line voters through Internet Lifestyle Bacolod blogsite.

Candidate number 6 Jelliane Rose Dinorog, 18, of Fiesta Homes Subdivision, who won as best in talent, was named first runner-up. She received P50,000 in cash, while candidate number 2, Allysan Marie Villarico, 19, of Woodside Subdivision in Brgy. Alijis, who was awarded as best in ramp, was 2nd runner-up. 

Candidate number 3, Kathleen Matillano, 17, of Brgy. Punta Taytay, the youngest among this year’s contestants, was Miss Congeniality. Candidate number 9 Rose Valerie Lapuz, 20, a Hospitality Management student of UNO-R, was best in swimwear, while USLS nursing student Rexie Lynn Lim, 19, was best in long gown.

Brillante Mendoza, the first ever internationally-acclaimed Asian film director to win in the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, staged his four multi-awarded films entitled “Kaleldo,” “Manoro,” “Foster Child” and “Lola” at the SM City Bacolod Cinema 4 last October 10 and 11, 2011.

The NEGROS BLOGGERS was invited to become a part of this Artistic and important event in the City of Bacolod. Here are the photos taken during the event.

Brillante Mendoza with the Negros Bloggers

The photos here are taken last October 14, 2011 during the MERCI Pasalubong Treats Electric Masskara Event, where they featured onstage games and prizes for the audience.  MERCI souvenirs was also given free to the Electric Masskara merrymaking crowd.

They also had two FREE photo booths located in front of the MERCI Mayfair Branch. The public can bring their own cameras and take pictures of themselves with Masskara dancers in full costumes.

Manapla Puto Cheese, this photo is the traditional Manapla Puto sitting on a banana leaf square with added cheese on top.  Manapla Puto is a very popular Puto in Negros Occidental and now known Nationwide for its soft and tasty flavor.