AS BACOLOD finds itself in the middle of MassKara Festival fever, locals and visitors are converging at the latest place to be, and to be seen.
A stone’s throw away from the Bacolod Government Center, also known as People’s House, a neighborhood is abuzz and thick with young professionals and families.
This is Villa Angela, an area of 24 hectares that is positioning itself as a lifestyle hub— where business mixes with leisure and entertainment.
By day, it is bustling with government transactions and business activity; at dusk, a site for fitness enthusiasts, runners and walkers, not a few of whom enjoy the walk with their pets; and at night, the area transforms into a dining hotspot where barkadas and families hang out.
It wasn’t always so. It used to be sugarcane fields and cogon lands that formed part of the vast property of businessman-philanthropist Fernando F. Gonzaga and his wife Angela Jayme.
“It was he who always held the vision, and whose legacy we build upon,” says Gina Tanpinco-Piccio who steers the real estate development company as president of the Fernando F. Gonzaga and Angela Estate.
No doubt, the Gonzaga family’s donation of a 5-hectare property for the construction of the Bacolod Government Center in 2006 spurred tremendous economic activity and created this new growth center.
Even the Panasiatic Solutions call center expanded early this year and is now occupying two buildings in the area, employing a workforce of 7,000.
Villa Angela has now become one of the more vibrant neighborhoods in Bacolod City. The district features several strip malls and has a diverse offering of banking, retail, service, health and beauty focused businesses.
Some prominent establishments have a presence there – BDO, Metrobank, Savemore, 7-11, Negros Grace Pharmacy, Lopue’s and soon, a branch office of the SSS and Pag-IBIG.
Interestingly in Bacolod, a convergence of people is always a pleasant indicator that good food is not too far away. For traditionalists, there’s the old reliables Chicken House and Super Batchoy located at the East Block. There’s a food court at the Veranda and at Hi-Strip 5, Cookies N’ Crumbs.
But Hi-Strip 4, the newest building in the block, hosts new players in the food scene. You’ll find a curious mix of international offerings – Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, Italian, as well as the kind of meals that hits closer to home.
If you crave comfort in the name of food, then head on to Nonna’s Kitchen which serves all-day-breakfast and makes-you-feel-like-your-lola-hugged-you kind of food. Rustic-industrial interiors give it a warm and charming vibe, a perfect combination for dining on house favorites sweet-tangy carne frita, Spanish chorizo, or baby back ribs that’s smoky and tender. Also on the menu are specialty coffees and desserts, the most popular of which seems to be the Yema cake. There are less sweeter options such as the crema de fruta or tart lemon squares.
Xin Chào is a busy joint offering authentic Vietnamese street-food that’s easy on the pocket. The Bánh Mì, a Vietnamese sandwich, in my opinion, is the best in town because the baguette is crisp and fresh, the filling is meaty, and the vegetables are tart. The perfect drink that goes with this just has to be iced Vietnamese coffee, served with sweetened condensed milk. Look for owner Libby who hails from Ho Chi Minh. She is ready to conform to diner’s special requests (less spicy, more mint leaves, no bell peppers).
Step into Nippon Ichi, a modern and casually elegant Japanese restaurant on the second floor. A look and a whiff from the wasabi alone tells me I am in for a really good time at this restaurant. “Our wasabi is raw, fresh and natural made by our Chef Kazumi Kimura who is from Ibaraki, Japan,” one of the owners tell me. Nippon Ichi appears a little upscale than Bacolod’s Japanese restaurants, but I think you get incredible value for money. The sashimi platter was dazzling, and Hiyayako, a chilled tofu with katsuobushi, green onion and grated ginger toppings was truly melt-in-the-mouth.
There are many more dining options at Hi-Strip 4, always something for every taste and palate, so it is well worth a visit. After all, this colorful City of Smiles that is Bacolod is also a city of gustatory and sweet delights.
Villa Angela is still a work in progress, but even then, history will credit the Gonzaga family for steering real estate development on this side of town, for changing landscapes and for creating a new nerve center that can make people’s lives a little more fun, a little more convenient, and just a little more special.