Lakad Pilipinas

The morning has just risen and fifteen minutes of walking from the San Sebastian Cathedral brought me to Negros Occidental’s Capitol.

Nestled between the sea and the city’s main thoroughfare, the neo-classical Capitol building sits majestically in the middle of a park complete with avenues lined with lush trees and a huge lagoon filled with fishes.

The Capitol Park or more popularly known as The Lagoon was bristling with morning activities as the city slowly woke up. From far off, I can already hear the sound of lively music blaring from the park that morning exercisers were already dancing to. The lagoon was also filled with joggers making rounds along its periphery.

Three notable sculptures can be found along the square. The Paghimud-os monument by Eduardo S. Castrillo, guarding the entrance along Lacson Street; and the two golden bigger-than-life water buffalo statues, one with a man and the other a woman found on the two sides of the Lagoon. The former was done by Negrense sculptor Felix Garzon and the latter by Italian artist Francesco Riccardo Monti, the same sculptor who did the works on the now defunct Metropolitan Manila Theater and UP.

I can almost compare it to Baguio’s Burnham Park sans the boats floating around the lagoon. The Capitol Park is a nice place to hang out in especially during the mornings. Grab a take-out from the fast-food houses across the street, pick your shaded bench and munch the morning away.

Negros Occidental Capitol Park & Lagoon
Between 5th and 8th Street Corner Lacson Street
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental