The picturesque city of Bacolod will host the Philippines group stage fixtures at the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup, marking the first time that matches will be held elsewhere in the nation outside of the metro Manila area.

Located in the centre of the sprawling archipelago, Bacolod has a long football history having been the birthplace of the first Filipino to play in Europe in former Barcelona defender Manual Amechazurra who had two stints with the club between 1906 and 1915.

In recent times it’s also home to the back-to-back defending Philippines Football League champions, Ceres-Negros, and with the club likely to contribute a core group of the Azkals squad the national team should feel right at home in a place known as the ‘city of smiles.’

City: Bacolod

Population: 561,000

Currency: Peso (1PHP = 0.02 USD)

Stadium: Paanad Park & Stadium

Local clubs: Ceres-Negros FC

Given that Bacolod will be hosting matches against the two most successful nations in the history of the AFF Suzuki Cup (Singapore on November 13 & Thailand eight days later) there should be plenty of buzz around the city during the tournament and despite it’s small size there’s still plenty to keep visitors engaged as the regional showpiece rolls into town.

What to do: Many of the main sights are scattered around the Bacolod Public Plaza which is well worth a visit in its own right with a collection of fountains and an old bandstand, but equally a trip to the Negros Museum will give a window into both the history of the region as well as exposure to some more modern art.

What to eat: Inasal – Easily the most famed local cuisine, this tasty dish is simple in its construction – fried chicken on skewers – but one that locals can’t seem to get enough of and with it’s unique form of marinade it has a distinct, regional, flavour.

Useful phrases: Although English is commonly understood in the more tourist-orientated area of the city, some useful Tagalog phrases will also help you get by with two the most common being Kumusta po kayo (how are you?) and mabuti po naman (I’m fine) – both of which are more polite/formal expressions.

Where to watch the other games: Lacson Street is home to a vast array of restaurants, cafes and bars and that’s likely the best bet to catch all of the AFF Suzuki Cup action although it’s also worth remembering that football is not always the main game in the Philippines and you may need to get the channel switched over at times.

Where to stay: With everything from upscale, resort-style, accommodation down to budget hotels and guesthouses there are a range of options to suit most budgets with the most concentrated of those being found around the downtown Capital Lagoon & Public Plaza areas.

Stadium access: Located a couple of kilometres away from the downtown area of the city, the easiest way to get to the Paanad Park & Stadium venue is by one of the many ubiquitous Jeepneys that are a staple form of transport throughout urban areas of the Philippines.

Inside knowledge: Camelo Tacusalme (former Ceres defender, Philippines international) & Jayson Panhay (current Kaya FC midfielder, raised in Bacolod)

Where better to get the inside scoop on what to do in Bacolod than two professional footballers who grew up in the region and here are Camelo & Jayson’s ‘insider tips.’

  • Lakawon Beach is a beautiful resort with crystal clear waters and white sand
  • Campuestohan Highland Resort has lots of activities available for adventurers who like zip lining, swimming and they also have a wave machine
  • Duyan Café offers lovely local coffee with beautiful views of Bacolod
  • For the famous Inasal chicken, try Chicken House