The capital of Negros and its most vibrant city, tourism in Bacolod, Philippines has also been the main engine that is propelling the province to prosperity. The many sightseeing wonders and hotspots have turned it into one of the biggest attractions in the archipelago.

So how does one get started on a tour of this fascinating place? The best time for most would be in early October as that is when the famed Masskara Festival occurs. Here the participants wear oversized multicolored masks painted with smiling faces, and are attired in equally colorful costumes while dancing to the beat of drums and other rhythms.

Yet another fiesta close to the hearts of the people is the Panaad Festival, which begins with a mass of thanks and prayers and culminates in a display of splendid fireworks. St. Joseph is honored in the colorful Sinigayan Festival which has become a big part of tourism in Bacolod, Philippines, while the Pasasalamat and Kali-Kalihan fiestas are also anticipated.

The popularity of the city is also helped by its lovely beaches. Antulang Beach is famed for its greenish waters, while the Punta Ballo is well loved by tourists for its white sands. The beaches at Sipaway and Sipalay on the other hand, are ideal for scuba diving as they are host to some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the province. Do not forget to include Tambobo Beach and Isla Puti when you go beach hopping.

If you would rather go diving instead, there are plenty of dive sites that you can explore. Broccoli Reef is the home of a large number of coral reefs and exotic forms of aquatic marine life and fishes, all the while advancing tourism in Bacolod, Philippines; other sites that the intrepid diver will be inclined to explore will be the Sibulan House Reef, Dauin, the El Dorado House Reef, the Coconut Plant Jetty, Polo I and II and the three sites at Calong.

Needless to say, attractions here are not just limited to festivals and its beaches; there are a host of hotspots on land as well. The Patag Valley draws people who love to go trekking and enjoying the many wonders of nature; the Mambukal Resort is not just a place to relax and unwind, but it is also near to some of the scenic nature spots that have been popularizing tourism in Bacolod, Philippines, among them the streams, lakes and mountains nearby.

For history buffs, there is the Holifena Ancestral Home, the Talisay Church, and also the Revolutionary Markers in Magalona which serve as reminders of the battles fought on the land.

There are other places worth seeing and these are the Capitol building, with its striking architecture, the Bacolod Golf and Country Club where you can admire the views of the setting, and Orange Gallery, where artistic works are displayed. You might also want to see the Super Bowling Lanes if you love the game, and of course, when you drop by the city, do not forget to get some chicken inasal, a tasty form of roasted chicken.

With tourism in Bacolod, Philippines reaching heights of success and popularity like never before, is there any wonder that this place has been christened the City of Smiles?