Negros (English:/ˈneɪɡroʊs,ˈnɛɡ-/,[5]UK:/ˈneɪɡrɒs/,[6]Tagalog:[ˈnegɾos]) is the fourth largest and third most populous island in thePhilippines, with a total land area of 13,309 km2 (5,139 sq mi).[7] The coastal zone of the southern part of Negros is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity importance in theCoral Triangle.[8]
Negros is one of the many islands of theVisayas, in the central part of the country. The predominant inhabitants of the island region are mainly calledNegrenses (locallyNegrosanons). As of 2024 census, the total population of Negros is 4,797,302people.[9]
On June 13, 2024, Negros island together with neighboringSiquijor were grouped together under a reconstituted Negros Island Region with Republic Act No. 12000 signed by PresidentBongbong Marcos.[15]
Negros was originally calledBuglas, an oldHiligaynon word thought to mean "cut off", as the island was thought to have been separated from a larger landmass. It was also known asMamaylan andPanilougon amongCebuano-speakingVisayans.[16] Among its earliest inhabitants were the aboriginalAta, one of severalNegritoIndigenous Peoples dispersed throughoutSoutheast Asia that possesses a unique culture. The westernmost portions of the island soon fell under the nominal rule of theKedatuan of Madja-as based on the neighboring islands ofPanay andGuimaras, while the eastern coasts were influenced by theRajahnate of Cebu from the adjacent island ofCebu.
Upon arriving on the island in April 1565, theSpanishcolonizers called the landNegros, after the dark-skinned natives they had observed. Two of the earliest native settlements,Binalbagan andIlog, became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively, while other settlements of the period includedHinigaran,Bago, Marayo (nowPontevedra), Mamalan (nowHimamaylan), and Candaguit (now asitio ofSan Enrique).
After appointingencomenderos for the island,Miguel López de Legazpi placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the governor ofOton inPanay. In 1734, however, the island became amilitary district with Ilog as its first capital. The seat of government was later transferred to Himamaylan untilBacolod became the capital in 1849. In 1865, Negros and its outlying minor islands along withSiquijor was converted intoa politico-military province. By the end of the 1700s, Negros Island had 5,741 native families.[17]: 539 [18]: 31, 54, 113
By 1818, Negros Island had 200 Spanish-Filipino and Spanish-Filipino Mestizo tributes-families.[19]: 359 Of which,Dumaguete had 25 Spanish-Filipino families;[19]: 359 Amlan had 155 Spanish-Filipino families;[19]: 359 Ilog had 25 Spanish-Filipino families;[19]: 359 Bacolod had 37 Spanish-Filipino families;[19]: 359 and finally,Silay had 25 Spanish-Filipino families.[19]: 359
Flag of the short-lived Negros RepublicDemetrio Larena, vice president of the Republic of Negros
From November 3 – 6, 1898, the Negrense peoplesrose in revolt against the local Spanish colonial government headed by politico-military governor Colonel Isidro de Castro. The Spaniards decided to surrender upon seeing armed troops marching in apincer movement towards Bacolod. The revolutionaries, led by GeneralJuan Araneta fromBago and GeneralAniceto Lacson fromTalisay, bore fake arms consisting ofrifles carved out of palm fronds andcannons of rolled bamboo mats painted black. By the afternoon of November 6, Col. de Castro signed the Act of Capitulation, thus ending centuries of Spanish colonial rule in Negros Occidental.
From 1914 to 1927, parts of Western Negros hosted several newly established settlements which became cities connected by railroads constructed to flow towards several "sugar centrals" which were processing the extremely sweet raw sugar canes grown in Negros' volcanic soil and farmed by several "Haciendas". These haciendas littered the countryside as the central sugar mills eventually grew to become full pledged towns and cities: chief among which were Ilog, Hinigaran, La Carlota,Silay, Pulupandan,Bacolod,San Carlos and Bais.[22] Western Negros also saw massive immigration fromPanay as the Spanish, Chinese, and French mestizos, plus others, who were serving in the Haciendas[23] imported laborers from Panay island to foster the farming of Negros' sugar plantations and thereby displacing the Cebuano speaking natives.[24] Soon, vast numbers of immigrants from Spain, most of them Basques, became Negros' plantation owners.[25] The east side of Negros was not as thickly settled but became a center of education as[20]: 520 on 9 April 1901, theSecond Philippine Commission under the chairmanship ofWilliam H. Taft arrived inDumaguete. Weeks later on 1 May, the civil government underAmerican sovereignty was established, and on 28 August, Dr. David S. Hibbard founded what is nowSilliman University the first American school in the Philippines and the entire Asian continent with the help of Meliton Larena as the first Mayor of Dumaguete, as well as Demetrio Larena. Thus, Negros is among the most populous islands in the Philippines and also the one with the most number of component cities.[26][27]
Regions were first formed on September 24, 1972 when the provinces of the Philippines were organized into different 11 regions by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of theIntegrated Reorganization Plan of PresidentFerdinand Marcos. Negros Occidental was assigned toWestern Visayas (Region VI) and Negros Oriental was assigned toCentral Visayas (Region VII).
By the time Ferdinand Marcos' second term began, sugar had become a critical Philippine export, responsible for 27% of the county's total foreign exchange earnings.[28] With international sugar prices rising rapidly through the early 1970s, Marcos decided to put domestic and international sugar trading under government control, first through the Philippine Exchange Co. (Philex), and later through thePhilippine Sugar Commission (Philsucom) and its trading arm, theNational Sugar Trading Corporation (NASUTRA), which were both controlled byMarcos cronyRoberto Benedicto.
However, the international price of sugar eventually crashed,[29][30] dramatically hurting the livelihoods of poor farmers. The NASUTRA monopoly forced many sugar planters into bankruptcy or deep in debt. In 1984, over 190,000 sugar workers lost their livelihood,[31][28] and about a millionsacadas and their families in Negros suffered in what would later become known as the "Negros Famine."[32]
Author John Silva,[33] who was working with Oxfam at the time, visited Negros and later described the living conditions of thousands of starving and malnourished children:
I drove past the provincial hospital where I first saw hundreds of malnourished children on mats on the floors tended by their mothers, and later, we were in the country through cane fields and small towns remembering the skeletal children being weighed and assessed by our medical team.... There were over 100,000 children in various degree of malnutrition and we started a feeding program for 90,000 of them, hoping to save the worst cases.[33]
The famine in Negros sparked a worldwide firestorm. International relief agencies flew in to conduct feeding programs, local NGOs mobilized relief drives, and members of the Catholic Church pitched in to help.
Locally, social tensions were so high that the Catholic Bishop of Bacolod,Antonio Fortich described the conditions on the island as a "social volcano" ready to explode.[34] This was the situation on September 20, 1985, which marked the date of theEscalante massacre, in whichparamilitary forces under the command of Marcos-allied Negros Occidental Governor Armando Gustilo gunned down farmers protesting social conditions on the 13th anniversary of the declaration ofMartial Law. Between twenty and thirty farmers were estimated to be killed,[35][36] and thirty more were wounded.[35]
Another consequence of the famine was the dramatic rise of theMarxist-Leninist-MaoistNew People’s Army (NPA) presence on Negros island, with Bishop Fortich stating in 1985 that "the NPA has doubled in strength the last year, principally because of the poverty and hunger here."[37]
The movement for a single-island region started in the 1980s when officials of both provinces proposed a one-island, one-region unit. Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are the only provinces in the Philippines situated in the same island but belonging to two different administrative regions with regional offices located in neighboringPanay andCebu. The movement to unite the two provinces in Negros island was sustained in the 1990s and 2010s.[38]
The campaign for the creation of a region in Negros had gains when PresidentBenigno Aquino III directed theDepartment of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to study the establishment of a new region.[39] with the government agency later endorsing the move.[40] NEDA affirmed by saying that its studies show that the proposed region is economically viable.[41]
On May 29, 2015, President Aquino signedExecutive Order 183,[42] which created the Negros Island Region. It separated Negros Occidental and its capital Bacolod from Western Visayas (Region VI) and Negros Oriental from Central Visayas (Region VII) to form the island region, which made the total number of regions of the Philippines into 18.[12][13]
On August 9, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signedExecutive Order No. 38, revoking theExecutive Order No. 183 signed by (former) President Benigno Aquino III on May 29 of 2015, due to the reason of the lack of funds to fully establish the NIR according toBenjamin Diokno, theSecretary of Budget and Management. Its dissolution upset the NIR regional officials and provoked strong negative reactions from theNegrenses.[43]
On June 13, 2024, Negros island together with neighboringSiquijor were grouped together under the reestablished Negros Island Region with the signing of Republic Act No. 12000 by PresidentBongbong Marcos.[44]
Aerial view of the City of San Carlos, Negros Occidental
Negros is the second largest island in theVisayas (afterSamar) and the fourth largest of thePhilippines, with a total land area of 13,309.6 square kilometres (5,138.9 sq mi).[1] It is located between the islands ofPanay andGuimaras to the west andCebu to the east, withSiquijor located on the toe of the island and the islands ofBantayan to the north. Politically and linguistically, Negros is divided into twoprovinces:Negros Occidental andNegros Oriental.
This division of the island, which roughly follows the mountain range in the center of the island, corresponds to the two related linguistic groups. The western half (Occidental) is home to theHiligaynon Visayan-speaking population while the eastern half (Oriental) is home to theCebuano Visayan-speaking population. Together, they are all calledNegrenses.
Kanlaon Volcano, located in the central-northern part of the island is the thirdmost-active volcano in the Philippines and overlooks bordering communities and the city of Bacolod to the west. It is the highest peak of the whole island and of the Visayas. Other notable peaks on the island areMount Silay andMount Mandalagan in Negros Occidental andMount Talinis (also known asCuernos de Negros) in Negros Oriental. There are also lakes that dot the island, among the most notable are theBalinsasayao Twin Lakes in Negros Oriental.
The volcanic activity in Negros is harnessed into electricity through two geothermal power plants in the island. One is located in Palinpinon of Valencia in Negros Oriental and the other is in Mailum of Bago in Negros Occidental, but was eventually shut down.
The island of Negros is composed of 2provinces, 1highly urbanized city, 19component cities, 38 municipalities and 1,219barangays. Prior to the re-establishment of the Negros Island Region, Negros Occidental was designated as part of Western Visayas and Negros Oriental was designated as part of Central Visayas.
Map of the cities and municipalities in Negros island
† Bacolod is ahighly urbanized city; figures are excluded from Negros Occidental.
Bacolod is the most populous city on the island and the center of theBacolod Metropolitan Area (which also contains the cities ofTalisay andSilay), as well as the 19th most populous city of the whole Philippines, whileDumaguete is the most densely populated city in the whole region.
Negros Occidental contains 13 cities (12 component and one highly urbanized)[47] and 19municipalities, which are further subdivided into 601barangays. It has the most number of chartered cities amongst all the provinces of the Philippines. AlthoughBacolod serves as the capital, it is governed independently from its corresponding province as ahighly urbanized city. Negros Oriental comprises six cities and 19 municipalities, subdivided further into 557 barangays.
Negros is noted for being the nation's prime producer and exporter ofsugar.Sugarcane plantations abound in the agricultural areas of the island. The island also produces cotton andhardwood. Sugar is the biggest industry in the island, followed byorganic agricultural products andgamefowl breeding.[49] Its principal sugar-growing region is located in the north and west of the island, stretching from northwest along the coasts of theVisayan Sea andGuimaras Strait, which is one of the nation's principal lowland areas in the Visayas. Negros is now aiming to be the prime producer of organic agricultural produce in Asia.[50][51]
Sugar refining has many by-products such as acetylene, fertilizers and rum. Fishing is the major industry based in Cadiz. There are also a number of fishponds andprawn farming has become a major industry. Bacolod City is the center of commerce and finance in Negros. It is where oil companies, factories, bottling plants, allied industrial businesses, steel fabrication, power generation, agri-businesses, prawn culture and other aqua-culture ventures are found.[52] By November 2016, Negros generated a total net worth of₱14.355 billion,[53] placing its provinces among the richest in the country.
Balay Negrense in Silay CityBacolod City's Masskara Festival
Negros has a lot of tourist attractions. In the city ofSilay alone, there are 30 ancestral houses, amongst the most notable is theBalay Negrense. Festivals are also a major tourist attraction in Negros. Among the most notable is theMasskara Festival in the city of Bacolod, which is celebrated during the third week of October, as well as Buglasan Festival in the city of Dumaguete, also held in October.[54] Museums showcase the culture, history and people of Negros, with one example being theNegros Museum, situated behind theNegros Occidental Provincial Capitol Complex.[55]Murcia andDon Salvador Benedicto offer experiences in inland Negros Occidental,[56] the former being known for itsMambukal Resort, while the latter serves as the "Summer Capital of Negros Occidental".Kanlaon Volcano, as well as many other neighbouring peaks, are popular amongst mountain climbers and hikers visiting Negros. The town ofPulupandan, situated in the western tip of Negros, is becoming popular to bird-watching enthusiasts. thanks to its new bird-watching sanctuary.[57]
When it comes to beaches and coastal resorts within the region, the most popular ones are Lakawon Island inCadiz, Jomabo Island inEscalante, Sipaway/Refugio Island in the city ofSan Carlos,Sipalay,Hinoba-an andManjuyod's sand bar. The top attractions inCauayan are the Punta Bulata White Beach Resort andDanjugan Island, which serves as a major diving spot in Negros Occidental. Also, amarine reserve is established inSagay City, which protects the marine life and reefs of Carbin and Maca, making it a popular draw for marine life enthusiasts.Dauin is known for its beach resorts andApo Island, a famous diving spot and marine reserve in Negros Oriental. The city of Dumaguete is popular amongst students, largely because of its presence as auniversity city in the region.Bais has since then become a tourist spot for whale and dolphin watching,[58] due to its coastline touching theTañon Strait. Antulang Beach Resort and Tambobo Bay, as well as the inlandLake Balanan serve as three important attractions in the town ofSiaton. Situated within the towns ofSibulan,San Jose andValencia is theBalinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, which serves as an important draw for tourists going to inland Negros Oriental.
Both provinces of Negros are interconnected by major inter-provincial roads. In Bacolod, there are two main roads, namely Lacson Street to the north and Araneta Street to the south. Cities, especially the provincial capitals of Bacolod and Dumaguete, are being served by jeepneys and taxis. Tricycles are mainly used for short-distance travel, and is common in city barangays, smaller cities and towns. Bus stations are present in major cities and towns within the region.Vallacar Transit Corporation, which operates the Ceres buses, serves the whole island of Negros. There are regularly scheduledfast ferry androll-on/roll-off services for the island region's coastal cities and towns.
Currently, there are two airports serving Negros island. TheBacolod-Silay International Airport, located in the city ofSilay, serves the general area ofBacolod Metropolitan Area, and is expected to become the primary international gateway to Negros. TheDumaguete-Sibulan Airport, located in the town ofSibulan, serves the general area ofDumaguete and its neighbouring towns. However, a new airport is being planned to be constructed in the town ofBacong, south of Dumaguete, to replace the older airport in Sibulan.[59]
The island is known for using geothermal energy to provide electricity for its inhabitants. InSan Carlos, Negros Occidental where energy companySan Carlos Solar Energy (SaCaSol) is located,solar energy is being used to power the city and surrounding municipalities. Inland towns and cities of Negros uses hydroelectric power acquired from springs, rivers and waterfalls. Due to the island region's sugarcane-based agriculture, Negros may become the nation's majorbiofuel producer, with sugarcane being used for ethanol production.[60]
An illustration of the possibly extinctNegros fruit dove which has not been seen since 1954
Negros, like the Central Philippines (Visayas) overall, is generally recognized as a top priority area for wildlife conservation, both in terms of numbers of endemic species and severity of threat. More than half of the critically endangered species listed in the Philippines occur in Negros. It is the most threatened area of the Philippines, since it has the least remaining forest cover with just an estimated 3% remaining.[61] It has the highest numbers of severely threatened endemic species and subspecies. Mt. Silay and Mt. Mandalagan are the two mountain peaks in theNorthern Negros Natural Park. These mountains have the last remaining old-growth forests.
^abForeman, J., 1906, The Philippine Islands, A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial History of the Philippine Archipelago, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
^Robustiano Echauz, Sketches of the Island of Negros (Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies, Southeast Asia Program, 1978), pp 73-74
^Estadisticas de los Terrenos Agricolas, La Carlota and Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, 1897, Varias Provincias, PNA
^abRicardo., Manapat (1991).Some are smarter than others : the history of Marcos' crony capitalism. New York: Aletheia Publications.ISBN9719128704.OCLC28428684.
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