QUICK FACTS:
Population: 2,623,172
Land Area: 7,884.12 square kilometers
Capital: Bacolod City (Highly urbanized and independent)
Population: 600,783
Capital City: Bacolod City (Highly Urbanized City)
Bacolod City Population: 600,783
Bacolod City Land Area: 160.71
Negros Occidental is situated at the Western Visayas region. It is among the biggest provinces in the country and is seated in one of the largest islands of the Philippine archipelago. Negros Occidental is home to sprawling haciendas planted with sugar canes. It is popularly known as the Sugar Capital of the Philippines and the home of the Masskara Festival held annually in the ‘City of Smiles’, Bacolod City.
Experience a happy blending of cosmopolitan and rustic lifestyle in Negros Occidental, the sugar capital of the Philippines and aiming to be the Organic Food Bowl of Asia.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Cebuano, Ilonggo, Hiligaynon and Tagalog are among the languages that are widely spoken in the province. A lot of Negrense can also speak and understand the English language as well making it easy for foreign tourists to interact with the locals.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL HISTORY
Negros Island was originally called “Buglas”, an old native word that is 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 geologists call a continental drift or by rising waters during the so-called glacial age. Among its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives belonging to the Negrito ethnic group with their unique culture. Thus, the Spaniards called the land “Negros” after the black natives whom they saw when they first came to the island in April 1565. Two of the earliest native settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog, that later became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and Candaguit (now a sitio in San Enrique).
After appointing encomenderos (holder of an encomendia) in the island, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the governor of Oton in Panay. In 1734, however, the island became a military district and Ilog was made its first capital. An encomendia is a grant by the Spanish Crown to a colonist in America conferring the right to demand tribute and forced labor from the Indian inhabitants of an area.
The seat of government was later transferred to Himamaylan and thereafter Bacolod became the capital in 1849.
The island remained a military district up to about the middle of the 19th century. Then in 1865, Negros Occidental was raised to the category of a politico-military province. During this time, several more towns were established like San Carlos and Calatrava.
Religious orders evangelized the province by turns: the Augustinians, Recollects, Jesuits, Dominicans, Seculars and again, the Recollects returning in the 1800s.
The latter half of the 19th century was a period of rapid economic expansion for Negros Occidental as evidenced by the growth of population resulting from the influx of immigrants coming from neighboring provinces like Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Cebu. They settled in districts sparsely inhabited in the past and this resulted in the establishments of new towns: Saravia (now E.B. Magalona), Valladolid and Escalante in 1860.
The major boom to the province happened in the 1850s. At this time was the widespread cultivation of sugarcane and the opening of ports like those in Iloilo and Cebu to foreign commerce.
In 1890, Negros Occidental became a separate province from Negros Oriental in 1890.
TOURISM
Celebrate nature’s blessings, go hiking and camping, fishing and angling, scuba diving and snorkeling and mountain biking. Travel centuries back in time by visiting stately mansions in Silay City, one of the Top 25 destinations of the Philippines or go on Iron Dinosaurs (steam locomotives) and other specialty tours.
Situated on the eastern side of the island of Negros, Canlaon is the main gateway to Kanlaon Volcano, or Mount Kanlaon. This active volcano is a popular spot for mountain climbing and trekking and is the city's main attraction. Visitors to Canlaon will also be impressed with its agriculture and indigenous community.
With its beautiful mountains, coastal beaches, waterfront luxury, culinary scene, heritage sites, and urban grooves, Negros Occidental has the best deal in the western Visayas after Boracay! Known as the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines,” Negros Occidental is home to sprawling haciendas planted with sugar canes.
This island has rugged mountain interior, underwater coral gardens and beautiful beaches. There is much to offer in western visaya and boracay. This southern coast stretches from Danjugan Island around the tip to bias. They also have a great diving business here
Known as the “City of Smiles,” this northwestern city on the island of Negros is famous for its cheerful people, mouthwatering delicacies and colorful MassKara Festival. This sunny Visayan city is also a tourist's haven because of its historical landmarks and natural wonders.
Best Time to Visit Negros Occidental
The province can be visited all year round but if you want to experience the most vibrant and festive event in it, then have your flights booked on the last week of October. It’s usually a week-long one but the best and most spectacular events happen on the first and the last day. Also, be considerate of the seasons in the Philippines as well especially if you intend to travel by sea.
Things to Do in Negros Occidental
1.Visit the Taj Majal of the Philippines found in Talisay City, the Lacson Ruins.
2.Walk down the quaint, rustic and dainty streets of the little Paris, Silay City.
3.Take a sip of Negros Occidental’s native coffee at a cafe nestled on the mountain side of Don Salvador Benedict.
4.Go skybiking and take photos with the Teepee houses at Campuestohan in Talisay City.
5.Ride the waves at the beach in Sipalay City.
6.Go snorkeling or freediving in the protected reefs of Danjugan Island in Cauayan.
7.Chill at the biggest floating bar in Asia, the Tawhai floating bar in Lakawon Island.
8.Try Bacolod Inasal at Manokan Country.
9.Chase the waterfalls around Mt. Kanlaon.
10.Celebrate one of the grandest festivals in the country, the Masskara Festival.
What is the delicacy of Negros Occidental?
Piaya. This unleavened flatbread is a popular delicacy across Negros Occidental. It's usually filled with muscovado but in recent years it has seen some exciting transformations. There are ube-flavored ones and those with mangosteen and durian fillings.
ECONOMY
Aside from palay and corn, sugarcane, coconut, banana, banana saba, and cassava are the top five other crops that are being produced in the province based on the volume of production.
For centuries, Negros has been an important center of sugar production and one of the country's most prosperous regions, hence its nickname the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines".