BACOLOD CITY — Five entries of the Bacolod City tourism entries were named finalists for the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) Pearl Awards 2026 under the Highly Urbanized City category.
They will advance to the Final Panel Interview for the annual awards.
The city’s finalist entries are the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival 2025: Fire and Fusion for Best Event Hosting (Local); Bacolod’s MassKara Festival 2025 for Best Tourism Event: Cultural Festival; MassKaralympics 2025 for Best Sports Tourism Event; Bacolod City Slow Food Terra Madre Asia and Pacific for Best Event Hosting (International); and Bacolod City: Your Pocket Guide to Experience the City of Smiles for Best Tourism Promotions: Brochure.
The five entries were selected from 201 national finalists chosen out of 606 entries submitted nationwide across 15 categories this year, underscoring the strength of Bacolod’s tourism showing against a wider field of contenders from across the country.
Mayor Greg Gasataya shared the news during the flag ceremony last Monday, September 7, 2026, recalling the city’s wins in last year’s edition of the awards, where the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival (“Inasal Global”) took the Grand Winner trophy for Best Event Hosting (Local), while the MassKara Festival (“The Sapphire Celebration”) placed 1st runner-up for Best Cultural Festival.
“Last year, we won as grand winner sa Best Event Hosting sa Bacolod Chicken Inasal, and 1st runner-up sa Best Cultural Festival sa MassKara. Congratulations gid, the support of the city will always be there,” Mayor Gasataya said.
City officials said the recognition highlights the creativity, dedication, collaboration, and commitment of the City Government of Bacolod, its tourism stakeholders, partners, organizers, and communities in continuously strengthening Bacolod’s tourism industry.
The finalists will proceed to the Final Panel Interviews on September 9 to 11, 2026, where Bacolod City will present its entries before the ATOP Pearl Awards adjudicators.
As the city moves on to the final stage, it carries the spirit and pride of every Bacolodnon, with hopes that the City of Smiles will continue to shine on the national tourism stage. (BACOLOD CITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE)
