UGLY BACOLOD, TOURISTY SAN CARLOS!

January 12, 2008

Lonely Planet has branded Bacolod as one of the ugliest place in the Philippines. The commentators further stressed the commercialism and the infrastructure is too dry, too cement and is a sophisticated city craving for modernization.

I believe it has its points. Commenting such a big city of what tourist thinks is indeed unpleasant especially to Bacolodnons but that was I believe is a reality.

On the other hand, San Carlos City is slowly gaining its prestige by some tourist who tends to visit the City by accident. It is a pride to a certain individual when people you don’t know appreciate the place where you came from. It’s like appreciating how wonderful your house was, or how cool your dresses are!

Making San Carlos as a touristy place I believe is a most excellent thing we must do. We’ve got wonderful scenery, bushes, white sand beach, blue ocean, waterfalls, and little green hills. Making parks is another brilliant idea. One thing I found most interesting which I haven’t realized back then not until I’ve been traveling is that, our history should be taught at schools and should be visible around the city. You know churches, historical sites and the like. One example is the American steam train. The government should exert some effort to preserve this for this makes San Carlos a City, a history which we can be proud of. Roads should be accessible in visiting the rice terraces in Codcod, the hot spring in Guadalupe, an exit point to Kanlaon’s live volcano and other natural wonders which even New Yorkers amazed! Postcards should be printed with genuine Carlosian tag on it. Truly, wow San Carlos, wow Philippines.

May we never be put in the same mistake of Bacolod. When it comes to buildings, Cebu, Makati and Manila have it all, but we have something already which these metros don’t have. Tourist had seen enough beautiful buildings on their country which frankly speaking we can’t compete.

As we lie down geographically besides Dumaguete and Bacolod, we have been compared to them for ages! Taking these steps will make us move further and step out of the trend. Making us different and appreciate who we are, what we are in the real sense, not just by the local but in the international arena.

Let’s go back and know our history, and mixed it with green revolution. A history and nature at its best!