Silay City
Bacolod is a no-fuzz city. Traffic is barely there even during weekdays and the people are truly helpful. It won't be called the City of Smiles for nothing! If you remain awake on the last few hours of the bus ride to the city proper, you can have a quick glimpse of Silay City. They have a large collection of well preserved heritage houses that has been declared as historical landmarks.
1. Take a quick jeepney ride from the North-bound Terminal and check out the routes headed to Silay City. You can't miss it as they have a big signage with corresponding routes. Barely a few minute wait for the vehicle to be full of passengers and then you are on your way. They ask for the jeepney fare of Php13 per passenger before leaving the terminal. It was a short and pleasant 15 minute ride to Silay. The road is well maintained and the weather was just perfect.
2. The main landmark to know that you are in Silay is when you see the BPI branch at the intersection. And just like a time portal you'd be transported to a time when life was simple, electricity was scarce and people convene at a local coffee shop to talk about politics, business or the usual small town gossip.
You can just imagine that calesa roamed around these streets centuries ago. As part of preserving old buildings, they barely change the facade but I saw a Ministop convenient store across.
We wanted to check out the oldest coffee shop but the place was packed with patrons that we decided to skip it altogether. Across Kapehan is the majestic San Diego de Alcala Church.
This is the famous San Diego de Alcala Church found in the city's brochures. Built in 1925 through the generosity of Don Jose Ledesma, a Knight of St. Gregory the Great and the Silaynons and Architectural design done by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi.
Works on repair and renovation initiated over the years under various parish priests with the major one starting in 2002 and completed in 2005 in time for the church's 80th anniversary with the theme "At 80, 'to God be the glory,'"
Renovated church blessed by the Most Rev. Vicente Navarra, D.D Bishop of Bacolod on November 13, 2005, fest of San Diego de Alcala. Its structural grandeur and treasury of religious art is a testament to the people of Silay's deep faith and religiosity. The ruins of the old church whose foundations date back to 1776, is located at the back of the present church and is now an adoration chapel.
Braving Bacolod - Getting There
Braving Bacolod: En Route
Silay City
El Ideal
Balay Negrense
Hofileña Museum
The Ruins
Calea Pastries & Coffee
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