Unfortunately I go to Bacolod about once a month, since that is where the wife's family is and we have a house there. Traffic is horrendous, expansion is on-going quickly with no corresponding infrastructure to support a growing population.

We basically don't drive in the city, take taxi and hope to arrive at the destination in one piece.

If you don't play golf, it is pretty boring.

There are a few things that I guess one could say are nice. Costs of items are more expensive than here. Gas alone is usually 4 to 6 peso per liter higher.

For me the best part of visiting Bacolod is leaving and getting back to Dumaguete.

 

Im going to be outside of murcia closer to mambukal resort. I am well aware of the brownout issue. It is so common that I expect it more often than not! No issue with me because I like to unplug and be outdoors. You are right about going to bacolod for medical visits. Hopefully Murcia will become a city someday as that would really help!

 

here's a blog with lotsa interesting posts about bacolod and the north end of the island.

https://allaroundbacolod.wordpress.com/