This vibrant metropolis in Negros Occidental is best known for two things: piaya, a flatbread filled with brown muscovado sugar; and inasal, a savory dish of barbecued chicken. Popular among Filipinos, these delicacies have put Bacolod firmly on the map—and have served as a magnet for tourists who might have passed the area by in favor of its better-known neighbors. Come for the food and stay for the heritage, as seen in Bacolod’s ancestral homes and ancient churches that tell beautiful stories of love, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people.