Where to buy, shopping centers and malls
888 Chinatown Mall
It's not because all the vendors are Chinese in this mall, it's because majority of the products are imported from China. This mall gives you a Chinese ambiance, small yet slowly and slowly exposing itself in the metropolitan life of Bacolodnons, bazaars to cosplays to charity events are held here from time-to-time. The mall is at its full spirit during Christmas and the Chinese New Year. From pirated DVDs to imitations of famous brands to vintage clothing, appliances and toys they all have it here and not to mention few popular food chains in the mall. The mall offers a jeep service free of charge from any point in the Central District/Downtown area to the mall and vice-versa.
From Air-conditioned big malls to hot small shops to the all time busy Central Market and to the street vendors in congested roads, shopping is everywhere. The Downtown area, Shopping and Libertad are notable for their shopping treats and havens and all three are the major points for jeepney routes. Among all mall companies, Lopue's has the most branches as well as the oldest malls in the city.
The University Courtyard
The courtyard is home to many clothing stores, a bookshop, a beauty saloon, internet cafes and restaurants. It usually is where most students' hangout after school.
Terra Dolce
This is an arcade like mall where many clothing shops are.
Bacolod is famous for its Piaya, Biscocho, squid flakes, Guapple pie and its Pina-Sugbo. Great souvenirs from Bacolod are its sweet delicacies, dried squid or Uga. These are often bought by most Overseas Filipino workers as a Pasalubong; meaning a souvenir. Shell craft, Wood craft and ceramic wares are also good buys. Antique wooden statues of saints are one of the best buys, even though if you're not Catholic or religious, it is good keeping as a collection, antique stores are scattered around the city however they are difficult to spot, Casa Grande Antiques, Requerdos de Bacolod and Sarleeâs are some of the famous antique stores in the city. Hablon; a shimmery fabric produced locally and was popular in the 60s, it still is one of the best buys.
where to exchange?
Exchange rate
US Dollar $1 - â±43British Pound £1 - â±68.8Euro â¬1 - â±60.5Japanese Yen Â¥1 - â±0.54
Money exchangers lurk around the streets of Downtown Bacolod CBD and are easy to spot, if you walk into those streets some of them will yell "Dollar exchange!" or they'd come forward and ask you, you can spot some major money exchangers with their self owned stalls. If you don't feel safe in exchanging with money exchangers, you can either go to pawnshops or banks for an alternative and safer option. Most money exchangers accept American dollars USD and Euros EUR, before leaving your origin, exchange your money to dollars to avoid difficulty in finding a money exchanger that exchanges your local currency to Philippine pesos but if you don't want to exchange dollars but want to keep your local currency, go exchange your money in major banks to pesos. Tip: Ask the exchange rate first and ask other money exchangers, compare rates and see the highest, go for the highest exchange rate.