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City of Smiles!

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Land Area: 15,610.00 hectaresClassification: Highly Urbanized CityNo. of Barangays: 61 Barangays – (41 Urban, 20 Rural)Population: 429,076 (May 1, 2000) – 453,873 (2005 Projection)Language: Hiligaynon/Ilonggo/English is spoken and understoodWebsite: www.bacolodcity.gov.ph

Bacolod was derived from the Ilonggo word "bakolod" meaning "stonehill" since the settlement was founded in 1770 on a stonehill area.

1565 - Prior to the coming of the Spaniards in Negros , there existed a small village near the mouth of the Magsungay river inhabited by Malayans who belong to the “Taga-ilog” group.

1770 - Bernardo de los Santos became its first Governadorcillo. Its first parish priest was Fr. Leon Pedro, having been appointed as Propitario of Bacolod in 1806.

1849 - Gov. Valdevieso y Morquecho declared Bacolod as the capital of the whole island of Negros. Subsequently, with the splitting of Negros into two provinces, Bacolod was named capital of the province of Negros Occidental in 1884.

October 19, 1938 - Bacolod became the fifth chartered city during the Commonwealth period under President Manuel L. Quezon, with Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. as its appointed chief executive.

From a mere settlement in the hills with only about 5,000 people in 1770, Bacolod has developed into a highly urbanized city in 1984. In 1996, Bacolod was named one of the “Outstanding Cities of the Philippines”.  It was also adjudged the “Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City” in the country in 1997, 1998 and 2000, 2001, respectively.

What the FACT !

April 1565 - the Spaniards called the land “Negros” after the black natives whom they saw when they first came to the island.

What the FACT !

"Sugar City in the

Philippines"