Bacolod is filled with rich culture, skillful people and is known as the city of Smiles. To top it all of, Bacoleneos are friendly and hospital people.

During our trip, I was able to meet a few people that had served as an inspiration to the people of Bacolod and have proven that craftsmanship, cooperation and ingenuity brings endless opportunities to locals and tourists alike.

One of which is Ms. Precy Perez. She used to work in the Department of Science and Technology where she came to know and learned the process of making glazed ceramics. Because of this, she decided to pursue in this career and started creating wind chimes out of glazed ceramics and sell them among her friends and relatives in Manila back in 1992. She then decided to return to her home town in Bacolod in 1998 to set up her business there. From then on, she was able to create specialty or personalized designs for her numerous customers and also started to create ceramics with other native materials such as nito vines and turn it into hot pads, canisters and vases.

Another person we were honored to meet was Mr. Ricky Infante of Azatri Souvenirs. From a PHP 100.00 capital, he now has his first souvenir shop in Bacolod. It all started when he was still in college taking up architecture, he and his girlfriend at that time (now his wife) with their 100 peso bill bought one shirt, a paint brush and a bottle of paint, sold it and use the profit to create anew and their tshirt making business is now history. From hand painted designed shirts, to silk screen, to keychains, wind chimes, and to mugs, their souvenir shop had now evolved to a much higher level. Their original design got its inspiration from ethnic designs, but coming up with a masskara shirt is their best seller until now. Animal cartoon like characters added with humor is added with a birth of their daughter, her inspiration created a more colorful set of designs which is a must have for both kids and adults alike.

Finally, we met Ms. Christine J. Abaquin, the executive Director of the Association of Negros Producers Inc. or ANP, an association that has been helping entrepreneurs in Bacolod such as Precy and Ricky to establish their businesses in their own respective fields. ANP was started by a group of 15 wives, around 20 years ago that took up a challenge from the governor at that time. They bonded together and served as a band wagon to help the micro-small, small and medium enterprises in the region. Now, some of the house wares and furniture products of  Bacolod are being exported to certain countries.

This only shows how cooperation, camaraderie and unity can do to lives of people. These are what Bacoleneos are proud of, that whatever situation or circumstances come in their way, they were able to stand firm and join hands to face life, taking one day at a time.