SILAY CITY, THE PARIS OF NEGROS

Located 15 minutes away from the capital city of Bacolod, Silay is the home of a large collection of well preserved houses and buildings.  Over 30 heritage houses which have been declared as historical landmarks are located in Silay.  It is also  the home of the Sugar Barons when Negros Occidental was the biggest producer of brown and refined sugar in the world.  This era happened when the Philippines was the Territory and later on a Commonwealth of the United States of America. After the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898.

Silay City is populated by Negrenses who valued knowledge, good education, artistic pursuits, cultural activities and all the things that spoke of a refined and good life.  From the choice of good homes, furniture and fixtures,  silverware, china, crystals, choice of cars,  and manner of dressing, among others, the people of Silay were known for their elegance and class.

If you visit these heritage houses, you can see different household items that were purchased by the owners direct from Europe, at that time.  Silay was then known as the "hub of intellectual and cultural pursuits".  In fact it was branded as the "Paris Of Negros".  The island of Negros in central Philippines is divided into two provinces - Occidental Negros in the west, that is where Silay and Bacolod Cities are located and Oriental Negros in the East.

Silay was first settled in 1565 by the Spaniards.  Its old name was "Carobcob".  Then on January 25, 1571, it became an "Encomienda" of Cristobal Nunez Paroja.  Today, Silay is the second city in the Philippines to have been declared a Museum City, next to Vigan in Ilocos Sur.

Mezzo Soprano Conchita Gaston was one of the famous Silaynon who became a global sensation when she made her operatic debut in the title role of "Carmen" in the New York Opera Company, c. 1950s.

Heritage houses that are popular among tourists are:  Balay Negrense or the Gaston Ancestral House where Conchita Gaston spent her childhood; the Pink House or the ancestral house owned by Bernardino Jalandoni and family; the Hofilena ancestral house and many others.

When I was a tourist guide, I used to bring tourists on board the Paglaum Bus to one of these heritage houses - the Hofilena Ancestral House.  Mr. Ramon Hofilena once received us and guided us around his house. That was mid 70s and followed until early 80s. After our tour of Silay, we were happy to spend time at El Ideal Bakery. I love their "halo-halo" and "buko" or coconut pie.  Now, there are other eateries in Silay like Mang Inasal.

When I was in grade school, I used to stay with my uncle, my mother's cousin.  Together with his children, we roam around the sugarcane farms, took a bath in the river, rode the horse that looked like a donkey, and visited most houses for the caroling.  It was a memorable years for me staying with Manong Demit Abellana.  Now, I still drop by Silay's El Ideal Bakery everytime I arrive at the airport.

Silay City is accessible by car and bus from any points in Negros Island.  There are regular flights from Manila and Cebu going to Bacolod-Silay International Airport.  There are newly constructed hotels in Silay City and Bacolod City as the capital of the province provide all the necessary hospitality and transportation services.

What is the best time to visit Silay?  Make it during the Masskara Festival on the second week of October so that you can also visit other places of interest around the province.

(Photo credit:  Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre)
Touristang Pobre would like to thank Apo Lakay - Murvyn for the old photo of Mezzo Soprano Conchita Gaston.

Please highlight the link below, copy it and carry it to google search to see the photo of Mezzo Soprano Conchita Gaston. Thank you.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/apolakay/6350132515/