Silay City: First Class City Without Jollibee and McDonalds and Here’s Why

Contributed by Sandra Gamboa Ledesma

Silay City, a first class city in the province of Negros Occidental, and part of Metro Bacolod is considered as Paris of Negros due to its famous heritage houses. As the home of Bacolod-Silay International Airport, the City in the last 10 years has been in steady progress.

Someone like me who is a native of Silay but spend most of my adult years outside the province always longing to visit my hometown every now and then.

Last week, it was my father’s 1 year death anniversary and we decided to have a family reunion in our old house in rural Silay. My family still maintains two houses; one in rural Silay along the road going to Brgy. Patag (little Baguio of Negros Occidental Province), and another one in poblacion where members of our family who are still going to college are living.

We spent one week in the province. Together with my friend who is a native of Batangas and visit Negros for the first time, we visited some tourist destinations and other interesting places. We dropped by at The Ruins in Talisay City, the popular Provincial Capitol Lagoon, Bacolod City Public Plaza, and some Heritage Houses turned Museums in Silay City.

Our one week journey was extremely rewarding as we took time to drop by at Boracay Island when we returned to Batangas via RoRo.

Silay City is truly a unique place but one thing is obvious. The current highest ranked politician in the City seems doesn’t want the City to go further forward. There is no other fast food store except Mang Inasal. There is no McDonalds, Jollibee, KFC, Greenwich, and the like.

I asked two of my cousins who are both Brgy. Officials why there is no fast foods in Silay City and they told me that the certain politician prohibit these establishments to operate for some specific reasons. How can a first class city with pension houses, hotels, and Inns everywhere doesn’t have McDonalds and Jollibee? Intriguing right?

According to them, this politician only allows these establishments to operate if he or his family owns the franchise as what he did to the only Mang Inasal. Corruption is alive and kicking. It is extremely disappointing.

Report says a certain “Don” is behind this politician. This “Don” is the one who controls everything.

I am writing this not to discredit my native paradise, but to curse this corrupt politician who is doing everything in his favor in the expense of the City’s progress. I am also suggesting people not to dine in Mang Inasal and let his business gone into oblivion. Perhaps the people of Silay City know what he is doing that’s why despite of the absence of McDonalds and Jollibee, Mang Inasal always near empty.

If you are a tourist in Silay City, I suggest you dine at fine restaurants like Golden Food Park, Sir Refreshment, and other local brands especially those who serve La Paz Batchoy.

Share if you are a concerned citizen who hate corruption.

See Also: 10 Best Things You Don’t Know About the Philippines

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