A Visit to the Capitol Lagoon Park

The location, the lagoon, the landmarks…

Nestled at the very center of Metro Bacolod, “the City of Smiles,” lies a perfect get away from the hustles and bustles of the city life.

The Capitol Lagoon popularly called by the local as “lagoon,” could have taken its name from the beautiful man-made lagoon smacked in the middle of the place. It became the habitat of the prolific “tilapia,” which the locals and visitors alike had fun throwing bits and pieces of fish foods and bread, being amused seeing these variety of fish, congregate and fight for a morsel of bread. Sometimes if you are lucky enough, you might have the chance to see some lost migratory bird taking a well deserve rest in the middle of the lagoon.

The place is usually the favourite hang out for the fitness buffs, where they can go around a 1.5 km around the lagoon, or join a Zumba group having a great time dancing and swaying to the rhythm of old and modern music. Usually, you can see them half past four in the morning and five o clock in the afternoon. There’s also a children’s playground and some picnic tables where families and friends can bring their own picnic baskets or buy some foodstuff from various refreshment stands right across the street.

Spread across the area, were landmarks made or designed by local artists, which express our rich and historical Negrense cultural heritage.There’s the prominent and proud statues of a male and female carabao and their human counterparts facing each other being divided by the great expanse of the lagoon. Facing the eastern portion of the place is the sculpted statue known as the Panghimud-os, depicting the struggles of the workers working in the sugarcane field. It showcase the Negrense resielience and grim determination. Whiloe facing the sunset and the Old Capitol Building was the War Monument for the fallen and unsung unknown heroes of World War II here in Negros Occidental.

The place, the power, the people…

Capitol Lagoon is just a part of the whole complex of the Provincial Capitol Government, the seat of power of the Provincial Governor and its various agencies for whole province of Negros Occidental.. Adjacent to these government complex were the Provincial museum, the Wildlife Reservation, the Hall of Justice, the newly constructed Ayala Mall, Seda Hotel, and the newly renovated Provincial Multi Purpose Hall and Gymn. If you are a visitor, visiting for the first time, you will find it enjoyable spending some times looking around and exploring these places.

Every places I have mentioned is just a minute away from the “lagoon,” and oh, don’t forget to drop by our beautiful museum, which will take you back in time, and give you a clear understanding of our culture, way of life and characters of a “Negrense.” For wildlife lovers, be sure not to miss out our Negros Forest Wildlife Reservation, which houses our endemic floras and faunas. And after all your tiring explorations, you can spend some time on the nearby malls and refreshment establishment which dotted the perimeter of the “lagoon,” area.

The place is accessible and easy to find, you can take a ride from the plaza, downtown Bacolod, with jeepney or public conveyance going north of our city, it will pass through the park, you won’t get lost. Or depending on your own choosing or convenience. You can also take a taxi which might cost you a few bucks, depending on how far you are from the city center.. But I strongly suggest, for you to take a local jeepney, plying the Bata-Libertad, Mandalagan Libertad or even Banago - Libertad routes, only for Php. 10.

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There’s no entrance fee, you can walk in anytime of the day. Evening is a great time to visit the lagoon, don’t you worry, there are security staff stationed around the perimeters, uniformed and non-uniformed personnel. There’s also police men situated on strategic places around the park. For those having a private car, there’s a lot of safe free parking space available outside the park area. Various cart foods were lined up along the park area, catering to the personnel of a BPO companies and also those visitors and guests of the park

The fun, the frolic, the fellowship..

Try to walk around, you will enjoy the serene, and unhurried atmosphere inside the lagoon, it allows you to be detached for a while from your ordinary daily routine. You can walk or jog along the paved path traversing around the park, or just sit on the grass under the canopy of trees around the park, take a nap if you want under its shade. Buy some rice pops from a vendor then feed the hungry fishes and see them scrambling to take a small bite, or try having fun at the children’s playground, letting the child in you to get out, mind you there are adults playing at the big slides, and seesaw, or even trying again the monkey bars.

During the day, there’s a place to take lunch inside the lagoon area, picnic tables and chairs are available. Just buy some food stuff at a nearby fast foods or refreshment stands. On weekends the place is full packed with children and families having fun together. You can see some of them bringing a picnic blankets and picnic baskets brimming with foods and drinks. Such a wonderful way of spending a not so expensive yet fun filled Sunday afternoon together...

Being an introvert, what I liked the most about the place is the serenity and quietness, in spite that it is nestled in the middle of a highly urbanized city. I can read and enjoy my favorite book prop on a big trunk of a tree or even just lying down. I guess the simple things in life were the most neglected aspect of our lives. Little did we know, that these things nourishes our souls, declutters our mind and restores our balance and harmony with our self. It takes determination and willpower to break from the conundrums of our miserable life.

The demand of our socioeconomic status, forces us to strive for a goal which was most important, yet we forget how it is to just throw everything out of the window and seek our equilibrium. Life will then, become simple.

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This is an entry to Sir @tattoodjay's #wednesdaywalk.

Life is beautiful! Enjoy every moment. Carpe Diem!