Source : ABS-CBNNEWS.COM
MANILA, Philippines - During the week of the Azkals game in Bacolod, almost all hotels and popular pension houses were booked to full capacity.
Those who wanted to get a glimpse of the popular football league had to go around the city to still get a respectable room.
The smile of the Bacolodians, as they want to be called, could not be much sweeter.
In an interview, city tourism officer Imogene Kana-an said, “I tried calling all major hotels on Tuesday [a day before the game]. They were all booked.”
She said the city tourism office is still collating statistics, but initial results would show that the city did take a major goal from the Azkals.
“Most of the guests were for the Azkals. The hotels do get business tourists in the past, for seminars, exhibits, meetings and conventions,” she added.
On the date of the game itself, people streaming the streets of Bacolod were from Manila, Cebu and others smitten by the good-looking players of the national football league.
The crowd also composed of Bacolodians themselves. All wanted to see the Ilonggos from the team battle it out against the Mongolians.
Some Bacolodians could even be nonchalant about the popularity of the team, with a few opting to just watch the game live from their television sets rather than spend the whole afternoon of February 9 going through a long queue at the Panaad Stadium.
They could not be happier with the results, however, as they knew that the influx of tourists was profitable for them too.
Kana-an said the Azkals game resulted to “indirect income in terms of hotel occupancy, food and taxes for the government.”
A supervisor at a hotel said the rooms have been 70% occupied by February 7, and 100% by February 9.
A taxi driver also could not swipe his smile off his face, even with the humongous traffic caused by the event. He said he had earned twice as much compared to a regular day.
A barista at the local Kuppa Kup, on the other hand, said many more clients came in after seeing an Azkal drink his coffee there.
World-class
Kana-an said the best has yet to come in terms of tourism receipts now that the country has gained interest in football.
“They probably saw how good Panaad Stadium is. We have the venue,” she said.
The magnificent field is unmatched in the country. From atop the stadium, one could see the grandeur of the eucalyptus trees that envelope the field.
Kana-an said the stadium was even a venue for the Southeast Asian Games in 2005.
What’s in store for the so-called football capital of the country? Kana-an said the city government sees more football games.
More and more have taken interest in the game, she said. “Our young people see that the players are gwapo. They also want to be popular as the Azkals,” she added.
Bacolodians should be so proud of the team. Two of its members are Ilonggos: Emil “Chieffy Caligdong” of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo and Roel Gener. Another player, Anton del Rosario, can also trace his roots there.
For now, football fanatics and emerging players have to make do with the Panaad Stadium and 2 more found in Recoletos Negros and St. La Salle.
She also easily shares, the president of the Philippine Football Federation in Negros is a “popular guy”-- none other than Negros Occidental Rep. Charlie Cojuangco.
'More to offer'
Kana-an said Bacolod merely served as the temporary home of the Azkals, but it has more to offer.
Bacolodians celebrate the Bacolaodiat Fookien Celebration for Chinoys every Chinese New Year as well as the famous Masskara Festival every October.
Tourists can also include in their schedules the Mambukal Mountain Resort, an hour by bus away from the city. It boasts of a hot spring and more than 7 waterfalls that would take away the stress of the tired backpacker.
Along the route on the way back to the airport, one can also make a side trip to the ancient houses in Silay and the Ruins in Talisay.
Bacolod City is definitely a breather for those who often see their politicians’ faces plastered all over barangay walls, outposts and all nooks and crannies.
There, the mayor’s picture can only be seen in the capitol.
While there, one would also not want to pass up a healthy filling of chicken inasal from the Manukan Country.
Bacolod takes a goal from the Azkals
5:03 AM
Anonymous
An askal is a Filipino term for any dog with no pedigree, no breed, no class. The askal is usually astray, unsupported and survives by feeding on whatever provision it can find. The Filipino national football team can relate to this mongrel, they have almost no support from a government thats suppose to support them, they are underdogs not just only to the world but even in their own region, South East Asia.
Name: Angel Guirado Aldeguer
Stephan Schröck - nicknamed "Schröcky", is a German–Filipino professional footballer who plays as a right back for 2nd Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
