Negros
Encyclopedia
Negros (ˈneɡros) is an island of the Philippines
located in the Visayas
, at 10°N 123°E. It is the third largest island in the country, with a land area of 13,328 km² (5,146 square mi.). Inhabitants of the island are called Negrenses.
: Negros Oriental
in the Central Visayas
region
and Negros Occidental
, part of the Western Visayas
region. This division of the island, which roughly follows the mountain range in the center of the island, corresponds to the two ethno-linguistic groups. The western part (Occidental) is where the Ilonggo or Hiligaynon-speaking Negrenses are located, and the eastern portion (Oriental) is home to the Cebuano
-speaking population.
The chief cities on the island are Bacolod
in Negros Occidental
and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental
.
Negros is noted for being the country's prime producer of sugar
. Sugar cane plantations abound in the agricultural areas of the island.
Kanlaon Volcano in the northern part of the island is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines
, and overlooks Bacolod. It is the highest peak on the island as well as of all the Visayas region. Other notable peaks on the island are Mt Silay and Mt Mandalagan in Negros Occidental, and Cuernos de Negros in Negros Oriental.
The volcanic activity in Negros is harvested into electricity through two geothermal power plants in the island. One is located in Palinpinon, Negros Oriental, and the other, to open in 2007, is in Mailum, Negros Occidental.
call continental drift
or by rising waters during the Ice age
. Among its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives belonging to the Ati
, one of several indigenous Negrito
ethnic groups
dispersed throughout Asia
, who had a unique culture.
Thus, the Spaniards
called the land Negros after the black natives they saw on their arrival on the island in April 1565. Two of the earliest native settlements, Binalbagan and Ilog
, became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago
, Marayo
(now Pontevedra), Mamalan
(now Himamaylan), and Candaguit (a sitio of San Enrique
). In 1572 the Spanish King Philip II
conferred the title of Marques de Buglas to the heirs of Juan Sebastian Elcano
. The 17th and current Marques resides in Silay City
, Negros Occidental
.
After appointing encomenderos
for the island, Miguel López de Legazpi
placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the governor of Oton
on Panay
. In 1734, however, the island became a military district
and Ilog was made its first capital. The seat of government was later transferred to Himamaylan until Bacolod
became the capital in 1849.
In 1890, the island was divided into Negros Occidental
and Negros Oriental
.
On April 9, 1901, the Second Philippine Commission under the Chairmanship of William H. Taft, arrived in Dumaguete. On May 1, 1901, the civil government under American rule was established. On August 28, of the same year Dr. David S. Hibbard founded Silliman Institute now Silliman University
with the help of Meliton Larena the first town mayor of Dumaguete & Hon Demetrio Larena.
On 11 July 2011, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Negros Island, with it's epicentre near Sipalay City. No one was killed, but some serious damage was reported on the island.
from Bago
and General Aniceto Lacson
from Talisay
, were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifle
s carved out of palm fronds and cannon
s of rolled bamboo mats painted black. By the afternoon of November 6, Colonel de Castro signed the Act of Capitulation, thus ending Spanish rule in Negros Occidental. This event is commemorated in Negros Occidental every November 5 as the day the Negrenses bluffed the Spaniards to attain their freedom.
For a detailed article on this event, see Negros Revolution
.
November 5 has been declared a special non-working holiday
in the province through Republic Act. No. 6709
signed by President Corazon Aquino
on February 10, 1989.
On November 27, 1898, the Cantonal Republic of Negros was established. It came under U.S. protection
on April 30, 1899. On July 22, 1899, it was renamed the Republic of Negros
(República de Negros), but on April 30, 1901, this was dissolved by the United States.
Dumaguete, Negros Oriental is unusual in its strong American influence that has produced an upper/upper middle class of mostly non-Spanish stock (including those with Chinese roots) who hold great sway in local things political, social, economic, and cultural development .The Spanish traditionally contributed to local high society was their sense of fabulous fiesta, especially during "Sipong", their annual celebration of harvest, a fête that ran from Vallehermoso, Bais to Tanjay to the seaside houses along Rizal Ave in the famous Boulevard. What the Americans brought with them was a sense of high culture, and that was when Negros learned to appreciate Shakespearean plays, operas, dances,party and concerts
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
located in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
, at 10°N 123°E. It is the third largest island in the country, with a land area of 13,328 km² (5,146 square mi.). Inhabitants of the island are called Negrenses.
Geography
Politically and linguistically, Negros is divided into two provincesProvinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
: Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
in the Central Visayas
Central Visayas
Central Visayas, designated as Region VII, is a region of the Philippines located in the central part of the Visayas island group. It consists of four provinces—Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor— and the highly urbanized cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City....
region
Regions of the Philippines
In the Philippines, regions are administrative divisions that serve primarily to organize the provinces of the country for administrative convenience. Currently, the archipelagic republic of the Philippines is divided into 17 regions...
and Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
, part of the Western Visayas
Western Visayas
Western Visayas, one of the regions of the Philippines, is designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces; Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo and 16 cities making it the region with the highest number of cities. Iloilo City is the regional center...
region. This division of the island, which roughly follows the mountain range in the center of the island, corresponds to the two ethno-linguistic groups. The western part (Occidental) is where the Ilonggo or Hiligaynon-speaking Negrenses are located, and the eastern portion (Oriental) is home to the Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
-speaking population.
The chief cities on the island are Bacolod
Bacolod
Bacolod may refer to the following:*Bacolod City, the capital city of Negros Occidental, Philippines*Metro Bacolod*Bacolod, Lanao del Norte, a municipality in Lanao del Norte, Philippines*BRP Bacolod City , a transport ship of the Philippine Navy...
in Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
and Dumaguete in Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
.
Negros is noted for being the country's prime producer of sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
. Sugar cane plantations abound in the agricultural areas of the island.
Kanlaon Volcano in the northern part of the island is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines
Active volcanoes in the Philippines
Active is commonly termed for volcanoes with historical eruptions. Moreover, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology classify active volcanoes in the country as having erupted within historical times , with accounts of these eruptions documented by man; or having erupted within the...
, and overlooks Bacolod. It is the highest peak on the island as well as of all the Visayas region. Other notable peaks on the island are Mt Silay and Mt Mandalagan in Negros Occidental, and Cuernos de Negros in Negros Oriental.
The volcanic activity in Negros is harvested into electricity through two geothermal power plants in the island. One is located in Palinpinon, Negros Oriental, and the other, to open in 2007, is in Mailum, Negros Occidental.
History
Negros Island was originally called Buglas – an old native word thought to mean "cut off." It is believed that Negros was once part of a greater mass of land, but was cut off either by what geologistsGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
call continental drift
Continental drift
Continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other. The hypothesis that continents 'drift' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912...
or by rising waters during the Ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. Among its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives belonging to the Ati
Ati
As a word, Ati may refer to:* Ati, a town in Chad* Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in the Philippines* Ati-Atihan Festival, an annual celebration held in the Philippines* Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa...
, one of several indigenous Negrito
Negrito
The Negrito are a class of several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia.Their current populations include 12 Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, six Semang peoples of Malaysia, the Mani of Thailand, and the Aeta, Agta, Ati, and 30 other peoples of the Philippines....
ethnic groups
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
dispersed throughout Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, who had a unique culture.
Thus, the Spaniards
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
called the land Negros after the black natives they saw on their arrival on the island in April 1565. Two of the earliest native settlements, Binalbagan and Ilog
Ilog, Negros Occidental
Ilog is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.Founded by the Augustinian fathers in May 1584. It was the first capital of Negros Occidental and Siquijor Provinces in the late 19th century...
, became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....
, Marayo
Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
Pontevedra is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 42,089 people in 8,554 households.-History:...
(now Pontevedra), Mamalan
Himamaylan City
Himamaylan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 88,684 people in 16,878 households. Himamaylan is 83 kilometers south of Bacolod City, the provincial capital...
(now Himamaylan), and Candaguit (a sitio of San Enrique
San Enrique, Negros Occidental
San Enrique is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,091 people in 4,419 households.-Barangays:San Enrique is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.* Bagonawa...
). In 1572 the Spanish King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
conferred the title of Marques de Buglas to the heirs of Juan Sebastian Elcano
Juan Sebastián Elcano
Juan Sebastián Elcano was a Basque Spanish explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the world. As Ferdinand Magellan's second in command, Elcano took over after Magellan's death in the Philippines.-Early life:Elcano was born to Domingo Sebastián Elcano I and Catalina del Puerto...
. The 17th and current Marques resides in Silay City
Silay City
Silay City is a 2nd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it had a total population of 120,365 people...
, Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
.
After appointing encomenderos
Encomienda
The encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
for the island, Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first European settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He is the first Governor-General in the Philippines...
placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the governor of Oton
Oton, Iloilo
Oton is a first class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 65,374 people in 12,907 households.-Barangays:Oton is politically subdivided into 37 barangays.-Official Website:...
on Panay
Panay Island
Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the...
. In 1734, however, the island became a military district
Military district
Military districts are formations of a state's armed forces which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and in countries with conscript forces, often handle parts of the conscription cycle.Navies have also used...
and Ilog was made its first capital. The seat of government was later transferred to Himamaylan until Bacolod
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
became the capital in 1849.
In 1890, the island was divided into Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
and Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
.
On April 9, 1901, the Second Philippine Commission under the Chairmanship of William H. Taft, arrived in Dumaguete. On May 1, 1901, the civil government under American rule was established. On August 28, of the same year Dr. David S. Hibbard founded Silliman Institute now Silliman University
Silliman University
Silliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
with the help of Meliton Larena the first town mayor of Dumaguete & Hon Demetrio Larena.
On 11 July 2011, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Negros Island, with it's epicentre near Sipalay City. No one was killed, but some serious damage was reported on the island.
Republic Era
From November 3 to November 6, 1898, the Negrenses rose in revolt against the Spanish authorities headed by politico-military governor Colonel Isidro de Castro. The Spaniards decided to surrender upon seeing armed troops marching in a pincer movement towards Bacolod. The revolutionaries, led by General Juan AranetaJuan Araneta
Juan Anacleto Araneta , was a pioneer sugar farmer and revolutionary leader during the Negros Revolution.-Early life:Juan was born to Romualdo Araneta and Agüeda Torres in Molo, Iloilo, Philippines...
from Bago
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....
and General Aniceto Lacson
Aniceto Lacson
Aniceto Lacson y Ledesma was a sugar farmer, revolutionary general and businessman in the Philippines. He was the fifth son of seven children of Lucio Lacson y Petronila and Clara Ledesma of Iloilo, Philippines who migrated to Negros when Aniceto was still young...
from Talisay
Talisay
Talisay is the name of these places in the Philippines:*Talisay, Batangas*Talisay, Camarines Norte*Talisay City, Cebu*Talisay City, Negros Occidental*Talisay tree, the Philippine common name for Terminalia catappa....
, were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s carved out of palm fronds and cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s of rolled bamboo mats painted black. By the afternoon of November 6, Colonel de Castro signed the Act of Capitulation, thus ending Spanish rule in Negros Occidental. This event is commemorated in Negros Occidental every November 5 as the day the Negrenses bluffed the Spaniards to attain their freedom.
For a detailed article on this event, see Negros Revolution
Negros Revolution
The Negros Revolution, now commemorated and popularly known as Al Cinco de Noviembre or Negros Day, was a political movement that in 1898 created a government in Negros Island in the Philippines, informally ending Spanish control of the island and resulting in a government run by the Negrense...
.
November 5 has been declared a special non-working holiday
Public holiday
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year....
in the province through Republic Act. No. 6709
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
signed by President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
on February 10, 1989.
On November 27, 1898, the Cantonal Republic of Negros was established. It came under U.S. protection
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
on April 30, 1899. On July 22, 1899, it was renamed the Republic of Negros
Republic of Negros
The Republic of Negros was a short-lived revolutionary republic, and later, administrative division, which existed while the Philippines was under Spanish and American sovereignty. It took its name from Negros Island.-History:...
(República de Negros), but on April 30, 1901, this was dissolved by the United States.
Leaders
The leaders of the short-lived republic were:- Aniceto LacsonAniceto LacsonAniceto Lacson y Ledesma was a sugar farmer, revolutionary general and businessman in the Philippines. He was the fifth son of seven children of Lucio Lacson y Petronila and Clara Ledesma of Iloilo, Philippines who migrated to Negros when Aniceto was still young...
, November 5, 1898 – July 22, 1899 (to November 27, 1898, in Negros Occidental) - Demetrio LarenaDemetrio LarenaDemetrio Larena was a former Governor of Negros Oriental , a province on Negros Island in the Philippines. He was governor of Negros Oriental from 1901 until 1906. Larena was instrumental in the establishment of Silliman University in Dumaguete City. When Dr...
, November 24, 1898 – November 27, 1898 (in Negros Oriental) - President of the Constituent AssemblyConstituent assemblyA constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
José Luzuriaga, July 22, 1899 – November 6, 1899 - Secretary of War Juan AranetaJuan AranetaJuan Anacleto Araneta , was a pioneer sugar farmer and revolutionary leader during the Negros Revolution.-Early life:Juan was born to Romualdo Araneta and Agüeda Torres in Molo, Iloilo, Philippines...
- Civil Governor Melecio Severino, November 6, 1899 – April 30, 1901
- Secretary of Justice Antonio Ledesma JaymeAntonio Ledesma JaymeAntonio Ledesma Jayme was a Filipino lawyer, revolutionary, provincial governor and assemblyman.-Early years and education:Antonio L. Jayme was born on July 24, 1854 in what is now the district of Jaro, Iloilo City...
, July 24, 1854 – October 9, 1937
Negrense society
Historically, Negros Oriental has a rich history of the bourgeois and the élite, as well as those descended/related to Spanish nobility. The landed hacenderos of the island, which includes Negros Occidental, often keep track of each other, attend each other's parties, and intermarry. They may have different "kingdoms"—the Bais-Tanjay-Dumaguete-Pamplona families, the Victorias-Cadiz-Sagay families, the Bayawan-Santa Catalina-Basay-Sipalay families, the Kabankalan-Ilog-Himamaylan families, the Canlaon-Guihulngan-Vallehermoso-San Carlos families, the Bacolod-La Carlota-Silay-Talisay families—but most are sugar barons welded together by common crop, a shared fortune, as well as accidents of history. People in Manila may not recognize that the "true-blue high society" they know there actually spring from four very interconnected points of the Visayas—Iloilo, Bacolod, Bais-Tanjay, and Cebú.The famous family in the Sugar Industry of Negros are the Álvarez, Montilla, de López*****, Lopez, L'huiller***, Villanueva, Preysler****, del Prado*, Arroyo, Abellò*, Larena*, Lizares, Ledesma, Teves**, de Villegas*****, Montenegro*, de Vicente*, Romero*, de García*, Garcia, and Araneta.- of Spanish descent
- used to hold LatifúndiasLatifundiaLatifundia are pieces of property covering very large land areas. The latifundia of Roman history were great landed estates, specializing in agriculture destined for export: grain, olive oil, or wine...
or be Latifunderos- French descent
- German descent, Spanish intermarriage
- related to/descended from members of Spanish nobility
- German descent, Spanish intermarriage
- French descent
- used to hold Latifúndias
Dumaguete, Negros Oriental is unusual in its strong American influence that has produced an upper/upper middle class of mostly non-Spanish stock (including those with Chinese roots) who hold great sway in local things political, social, economic, and cultural development .The Spanish traditionally contributed to local high society was their sense of fabulous fiesta, especially during "Sipong", their annual celebration of harvest, a fête that ran from Vallehermoso, Bais to Tanjay to the seaside houses along Rizal Ave in the famous Boulevard. What the Americans brought with them was a sense of high culture, and that was when Negros learned to appreciate Shakespearean plays, operas, dances,party and concerts