Las Vegas-style welcome marker rises in Bacolod
Bacolod City is opening its doors to the world in the most iconic way possible as it marks the official inauguration of the “Bacolod Welcome Marker,” the Philippines’ first Las Vegas-inspired welcome marker.
The 7.2-meter signage, a landmark project by Megaworld in partnership with the City Government of Bacolod led by Mayor Evelio ‘Bing’ Leonardia, began construction in June of this year. Now, it rises as the highlight of the Bacolod Welcome Park, a tourism spot integrated within the 7.5-hectare Northill Town Center in Megaworld’s 53-hectare Northill Gateway township along the New Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.
“We are excited to have such a celebrated and iconic tourist attraction in Northill Gateway, especially since it is also the first of its kind in the Philippines. The fulfillment of this milestone is a testament to our continuing support to the City of Bacolod in its aim to make a mark in the global tourism map,” said Kevin L. Tan, EVP and chief strategy officer, Megaworld.
Megaworld constructed the marker at no cost to the city government. In 2016, Bacolod City Mayor Leonardia floated the idea of having a welcome marker for Bacolod, similar to the one in Las Vegas, in front of Forbes Hill, which is within the boundary of Bacolod City and Talisay City. Megaworld then agreed to build the marker within the township.
The marker’s design features colorful masks symbolic of Bacolod’s own world-renowned MassKara Festival, and will greet both incoming and outgoing visitors of the city.
Since it will be seamlessly integrated into the Northill Town Center, visitors to the Welcome Park will have access to souvenir shops, retail stores, cafes, and restaurants within the commercial complex.
Also part of the development plan is to build a church, supermarket, cinemas, as well as open parks and water features around the town center.
The Northill Town Center will also be accessible to Forbes Hill, Megaworld’s first upscale residential village in the whole of Visayas and Mindanao.
Also rising at the eastern district of Bacolod is Megaworld’s 34-hectare The Upper East, the city’s first masterplanned mixed-use community that will also host Bacolod’s new and modern central business district.