This Week in Bacolod (October 21 to 27, 2018)

Rain showers are likely to happen every morning this week. However, it will eventually give way to partly sunny skies in the afternoon and cool weather in the evening [1]. This is not bad news for tourists since most of the events in Masskara Festival happen later in the day until the wee hours. When going out, always secure an umbrella to protect yourself from the heat of the sun or rain showers. Bring a bottled water as well to keep yourself hydrated especially during the Street Dancing Competition at the Bacolod Public Plaza, and when partying at the Lacson Tourism Strip.

A traffic scheme will be implemented around Lacson Street and the Bacolod Government Center from October 26 to 28. This is because of the big events happening for the Masskara Festival. There will be road closures in streets near the areas that will start from 4:00 p.m. and will end at 4:00 a.m. [2]. Road closures are also ongoing around the public plaza. Strict security are being implemented for people carrying backpacks entering the area, so it is advisable to bring a handy bag or purse if you want to pass by security measures quickly.

There has been a trend online where people are enticed to purchase cheap tickets through social media sites. The scammers would usually buy airline tickets in bulk especially during promotions such as Piso Fare. They would then sell these at lower rates. Once a victim buys a ticket, they will be offered to use fake IDs at the airport check-in counters [3]. Tourists are advised to always book tickets on a legit ticketing offices or partner offices of airlines to avoid being scammed.

Because of strict security in key areas in the city, there has been no Masskara-related incidents as highlights of the festival approaches. The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has tapped the assistance of force multipliers to strengthen the security efforts, making sure that every local and tourist is safe [4]. While there are policemen deployed around the city, remember to keep your belongings secure as extra precaution.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Negros Occidental is holding an In-House Photo Exhibit that highlights the ecotourism sites and activities in the entire month of October. The exhibit aims to display ecotourism sites in the province like the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Sagay Marine Reserve, and Northern Negros Natural Park [5]. If you are a tourist who loves the beauty of nature and wants to discover natural spots in the province, this is an exhibit worthy of a visit. If you have time, you can fit even drop by one of these sites after partying the night away in Bacolod.