Negros Oriental SHORT HISTORY

 (Cebuano: Sidlakang Negros; Tagalog: Silangang Negros) is a province in the Philippines located in

the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete. It occupies the southeastern half of
the large island of Negros, and borders Negros Occidental, which comprises the northwestern half. It
also includes Apo Island, a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists.
Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the south-east (which
happened to be part of the province before). The primary spoken language is Cebuano and the
predominant religious denomination is Roman Catholicism. Dumaguete City is the capital, seat of
government and most populous city of the province. With a population of 1,354,995 inhabitants, [2] it is
the second most-populous province in Central Visayas after Cebu, the fifth most-populous province
in the Visayas and the 19th most-populous province of the Philippines.

istory[edit]
See also: Negros Revolution

The Dumaguete Church with its belfry built in the 1760s and 1870s to warn townsfolk of attacks by marauding
pirates. (circa 1891)

Negros, the second largest island in the Visayas and fourth largest island in the Philippines, is
believed to have once been part of a larger landmass, but was cut off by rising waters at the end of
the last ice age.[3] Among the early inhabitants of the island were the Negritos and the Austronesians,
and later the Han Chinese, who are mainly merchants.[4] They called the island "Buglas", a native
word which is believed to mean "cut off".[3]
Spanish explorers on the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi first came to the island in April
1565. Legazpi dropped anchor in Bohol and sent his men to scout the island.[4] Because of the strong
currents of the Tañon Strait between Cebu and Negros, they were carried for several days and
forced to land on the western side of the island. They reported seeing many dark-skinned
inhabitants, and they called the island "Negros" (Negro means "black" in Spanish). The island was
sparsely settled at the time, except for a few coastal settlements including Ilog and Binalbagan. In
1571, Legaspi assigned encomiendas on the island to 13 of his men.[4] Augustinian friars began
the Christianization of the island the next year. The island was administered as part of the
jurisdiction of Oton until 1734 when it became a military district, and Ilog became the capital of the
island. The capital was transferred to Himamaylan in 1795. Negros became a politico-military
province in 1865 and the capital was transferred to Bacolod.
Due to its proximity to Mindanao, the southeastern coasts of Negros was in constant threat
from Moro marauders looking for slaves, so watchtowers were built to protect the Christian villages.
The Moro raids and Negros Oriental's distance from the Negrense capital of Bacolod, induced 13
Recollectionist priests to petition for the division of the island in July 1876.[4] The island of Negros
was then divided into the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental by a royal decree
executed by Governor General Valeriano Weyler on January 1, 1890. Dumaguete was made the first
and only capital of Negros Oriental. In 1892, Siquijor became a part of Negros Oriental, having
previously been administered by Spain under the politico-military province of Bohol.
The Philippine Revolution reached Negros in 1898, disrupting government functions but without
extreme violence and bloodshed. Revolutionary troops in the island were composed mostly of farm
labourers and other prominent people of the province of Negros Oriental, who were organized and
led by Don Diego de la Viña. The Spanish colonial government in Dumaguete and the rest of the
island was overthrown on November 24, 1898. Later, the Negros Occidental area under the
leadership of Gen. Araneta, along with the Negros Oriental area under the leadership of Don Diego
de la Viña, merged to form the Cantonal Republic of Negros, a separate government from the more
familiar Malolos Republic established in Luzon.[5]
In 1901, the Negros Oriental province was reorganized by the United States and a civil government
was established with Demetrio Larena as governor. The American government made Siquijor a
"sub-province" of Negros Oriental. Negros Oriental became a province under the American civil
government on March 10, 1917 through Act 2711.[6] In 1934, Negros Oriental became
a corregimiento, a separate military district. Under the American colonial government, transportation
infrastructure was developed with improvements of roads and new bridges.[7]
During World War II, both Negros provinces were invaded by Imperial Japanese forces, resorting
many residents to flee to the inland mountains.[8] Negros Island was liberated by combined Philippine
& American troops with the local Negrense guerillas attacking the Japanese on August 6, 1945. The
7th, 73rd, 74th and 75th Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army were established
from January 3, 1942 to June 30, 1946 and the 7th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine
Constabulary was active from October 28, 1944 to June 30, 1946 at the Military General
Headquarters in Negros Oriental.[clarification needed] They started the engagements of the Anti-Japanese
Imperial Military Operations in Negros from 1942 to 1945 against the Japanese Imperial forces.[further
explanation needed]

Modern-day history[edit]

Silliman University

See also: Negros Island Region and Negros Island killings

On September 17 of 1971, Siquijor finally became an independent province by virtue of Republic Act
No. 6396.[9]
In 29 May 2015, the Negros Island Region was formed when Negros Oriental was separated
from Central Visayas and transferred to the new region along with Negros Occidental and Bacolod,
when President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015.[10] But it was abolished
on August 9, 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte revoked Executive Order No. 183, s.
2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully
establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management,
reverting Negros Oriental back into Central Visayas.[11] However, with the Philippines' current
presidential administration promoting federalism, the idea of the twin provinces of Negros Oriental
and Negros Occidental reunified into one federal state/region is already in the talks of local provincial
politicians, with some additional support from the native Negrenses. There is also a suggestion,
jointly approved by the provincial governors, that Negros Oriental along with Negros Occidental, be
renamed with their pre-colonial names as "Buglas Sidlakan" and "Buglas Nakatundan" respectively,
with Negros, as a federal state, be named as "Negrosanon Federated Region", due to the
negative racial connotation associated with the name "Negros".[12][13][14][15]

Geography[edit]

Rock formations at Apo Island

Mount Talinis (also known as the Cuernos de Negros), located southwest of Valencia, is the second highest
volcanic mountain in Negros.

Negros Oriental occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros
Occidental comprising the north-western half. It has a total land area of
5,385.53 km2 (2,079.36 sq mi). A chain of rugged mountains separates Negros Oriental from Negros
Occidental. Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the
southeast. The Sulu Sea borders it to the south to southwest. Negros is basically volcanic, making
its soil ideal for agriculture. Eighty percent of all arable land in the island region is cultivated.

Topography[edit]

Shoreline of a beach in Dauin town

The province's topography is characterized by low, grooved mountain ranges of which some lie
close to the shoreline. At the southern end of the province is Mount Talinis, also known as Cuernos
de Negros ("Horns of Negros"), which is a dormant complex volcano which rises to a height of 2,000
metres (6,600 ft). At the northern end of the province is the active Kanlaon Volcano, the highest
peak of the island region with a height of 2,465 metres (8,087 ft). There are a few flatlands and
plateaus in the interior to the southwest of the province, which includes the Tablas Plateau.[16]

A view taken from Kanlaon Volcano's slope near the town of Canlaon

One of the landmarks of Dumaguete is the Dumaguete Bell Tower which stands next to the Saint
Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral.[17] It once used to warn the city of impending pirate attacks.[18]

Climate[edit]
Negros Oriental has a tropical climate. Because of the mountain range running from the north to the
south, the province has two types of climatic conditions.[19] The eastern part of the province is
characterized by unpronounced[clarification needed] maximum rainfall with a short dry season lasting from one
to three months. The western half of the province is characterized by a distinct wet season and dry
season.[16]

Administrative divisions[edit]
 Political divisions

Negros Oriental comprises 19 municipalities and 6 cities, further subdivided into 557 barangays.

Dumaguete City is the provincial capital and seat of government. It is also the province's most
populous city, despite having the smallest land area among all component cities and municipalities
of Negros Oriental.

Legislative map of Negros Oriental

For purposes of legislative representation, the cities and municipalities are grouped into
three congressional districts, with each district electing a congressman to the House of
Representatives of the Philippines.

  †  Provincial capital and component city

  ∗  Component city
   Municipality
City or munici Distric ±% Baran
Population Area[20] Density Coordinates[B]
pality[A] t[20] p.a. gay
/
(201 km sq /sq
(2015) [2] k
0) [21] 2
mi mi
m2

Amlan (Ayuquit 1.7 23,62 1.19 111.8 43.1 9°27′49″N 1

2nd 22,206 210 540 8
an) % 4 % 5 9 23°13′36″E
3.4 46,30 0.06 265.1 102. 9°51′31″N 1
Ayungon 1st 46,146 170 440 24
% 3 % 0 36 23°08′37″E
2.7 36,52 2.38 15.5 2,4 9°14′43″N 1
Bacong 3rd 32,286 40.30 910 22
% 7 % 6 00 23°17′42″E
5.6 76,29 0.40 319.6 123. 9°35′29″N 1
Bais ∗ 2nd 74,722 240 620 35
% 1 % 4 41 23°07′17″E
2.0 26,56 1.23 162.0 62.5 9°24′36″N 1
Basay 3rd 24,913 160 410 10
% 6 % 0 5 22°38′27″E

Bayawan ( 8.7 117,9 114,07 0.63 699.0 269. 9°22′00″N 1

∗ 3rd 170 440 28
Tulong) % 00 4 % 8 92 22°48′20″E
Bindoy (Payabo 1st 2.9 39,81 39,416 0.19 173.7 67.0 230 600 22 9°45′21″N 1
n) % 9 % 0 7
City or munici Distric ±% Baran
Population Area[20] Density Coordinates[B]
pality[A] t[20] p.a. gay
/
(201 km sq /sq
(2015) [2] k
0) [21] 2
mi mi
m2
23°08′27″E
4.0 54,50 1.42 170.9 66.0 10°23′11″N 
Canlaon ∗ 1st 50,627 320 830 12
% 9 % 3 0 123°13′28″E
2.1 27,78 1.85 114.1 44.0 9°11′28″N 1
Dauin 3rd 25,239 240 620 23
% 6 % 0 5 23°15′56″E
9.7 131,3 120,88 1.60 12.9 10, 9°18′19″N 1
Dumaguete † 2nd 33.62 3,900 30
% 77 3 % 8 000 23°18′29″E
Guihulnga 7.1 95,96 0.46 388.5 150. 10°07′12″N 
∗ 1st 93,675 250 650 33
n % 9 % 6 02 123°16′22″E
2.3 30,94 1.21 139.5 53.8 9°58′45″N 1
Jimalalud 1st 29,044 220 570 28
% 5 % 0 6 23°12′01″E
2.8 38,60 −0.15 139.6 53.9 10°01′35″N 
La Libertad 1st 38,904 280 730 29
% 2 % 0 0 123°14′02″E
5.8 78,86 1.17 319.4 123. 9°43′35″N 1
Mabinay 2nd 74,187 250 650 32
% 4 % 4 34 22°55′46″E
3.1 42,33 0.56 264.6 102. 9°40′46″N 1
Manjuyod 1st 41,107 160 410 27
% 2 % 0 16 23°08′57″E
2.8 37,59 1.42 202.2 78.0 9°28′20″N 1
Pamplona 2nd 34,906 190 490 16
% 6 % 0 7 23°07′06″E
1.5 20,41 1.28 21.0 9°24′50″N 1
San Jose 2nd 19,098 54.46 370 960 14
% 3 % 3 23°14′30″E
5.6 75,75 0.63 523.1 201. 9°19′59″N 1
Santa Catalina 3rd 73,306 140 360 22
% 6 % 0 97 22°51′47″E
5.7 77,69 1.12 335.9 129. 9°03′51″N 1
Siaton 3rd 73,285 230 600 26
% 6 % 0 69 23°01′56″E
4.4 59,45 2.77 163.0 62.9 9°21′32″N 1
Sibulan 2nd 51,519 360 930 15
% 5 % 0 3 23°17′05″E
5.9 80,53 0.34 276.0 106. 9°30′58″N 1
Tanjay ∗ 2nd 79,098 290 750 24
% 2 % 5 58 23°09′26″E
2.6 35,47 0.47 154.2 59.5 9°55′23″N 1
Tayasan 1st 34,609 230 600 28
% 0 % 0 4 23°10′20″E

Valencia (Luzu 2.6 34,85 1.96 147.4 56.9 9°16′54″N 1

3rd 31,477 240 620 24
rriaga)[C] % 2 % 9 5 23°14′41″E
2.8 38,25 0.67 101.2 39.0 10°20′05″N 
Vallehermoso 1st 36,943 380 980 15
% 9 % 5 9 123°19′34″E
2.0 27,55 1.87 33.1 9°06′07″N 1
Zamboanguita 3rd 24,996 85.86 320 830 10
% 2 % 5 23°11′55″E
 City or munici Distric ±% Baran
Population Area[20] Density Coordinates[B]
pality[A] t[20] p.a. gay
/
(201 km sq /sq
(2015) [2] k
0) [21] 2
mi mi
m2
1,354 1,286,6 0.99 5,385. 2,07 (see GeoGroup
Total 250 650 557 box)
,995 66 % 53 9.36

A. ^
 Former names are italicized.
B. ^
 Coordinates mark the city/town center, and are sortable by latitude.
C. ^
 Municipality applying for cityhood[22][23]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Negros Oriental
Year Pop. ±% p.a. Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1903 151,338 —     1980 819,399 +2.05%
1918 215,750 +2.39% 1990 925,272 +1.22%
1939 335,173 +2.12% 1995 1,025,247 +1.94%
1948 386,203 +1.59% 2000 1,130,088 +2.11%
1960 538,206 +2.80% 2007 1,231,904 +1.20%
1970 652,264 +1.94% 2010 1,286,666 +1.60%
1975 740,417 +2.57% 2015 1,354,995 +0.99%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [2] [21] [21]

Languages Spoken (2000)[24]
Language Speakers
Cebuano   1,427,065
Hiligaynon   165,308
Other Visayan languages   39,174
Boholano   4,147
Others   8,318
Not Reported   8,065

The population of Negros Oriental in the 2015 census was 1,354,995 people, [2] with a density of
250/km2 (650/sq mi). As of 2010, its registered voting population are 606,634.[25] 34.5% of the
population are concentrated in the six most populous component cities
of Dumaguete, Bayawan, Guihulngan, Tanjay, Bais and Canlaon. Population growth per year is
about 0.99% over the period of 2010-2015, lower than the national average of 1.72%. [2]
Residents of Negros are called "Negrenses" (and less often "Negrosanons") and many are of either
pure/mixed Austronesian heritage, with foreign ancestry (i.e. Chinese and/or Spanish) as minorities.
Negros Oriental is predominantly a Cebuano-speaking province due to its close proximity to Cebu,
with 72% of residents reporting it as a first language. Hiligaynon is spoken by the remaining 28%
and is common in areas close to the border with Negros Occidental. Filipino and English, while
seldom used as first languages, are generally understood and used for official, literary, and
educational purposes.

Religion[edit]
Christianity is the predominant religion in the province with Roman Catholicism (77%) as the largest
single denomination .[26] However, there is a strong and growing presence
of mainline and evangelical Protestant which forms about 12% of the province population.
The Iglesia ni Cristo(1.4%),[27] the Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Aglipayan
Church, also known as the Philippine Independent Church also has some presence. Adherents
of Islam and Buddhism constitute a minority of the population.

Economy[edit]
Poverty Incidence of Negros Oriental

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[28][29]

[30][31][32][33][34]

A Geothermal power station in Valencia

Negros Oriental has, for a long time, been a major supplier of electricity to its neighboring provinces
in the Visayas with its excess power capacity generated by the 192.5-MW Palinpinon geothermal
plant.[35] This plant has recently been expanded with an additional 49MW capacity, bringing total
power output of the province to over 240MW. Despite the huge power excess of the Province, other
power sources such as hydro, wind and solar are being explored to provide additional power
capacities that can be sold to neighboring areas.

Manjuyod White Sandbar, often dubbed as the "Maldives of the Philippines"

With its vast fertile land resources, Negros Oriental's other major industry is agriculture. The primary
crops are sugarcane, sweetcorn, coconut and rice.[16] In the coastal areas, fishing is the main source
of income. People are also involved in cattle ranches, fish ponds and rubber plantations, especially
in Bayawan City. There are also mineral deposits like gold, silver and copper found throughout the
inner areas of the province.
The Forest Camp Resort in Valencia

The province is already emerging as a major technological center in Visayas, with its
growing business process outsourcing (BPO) that has started to penetrate the province's secondary
cities and other technology-related industries. Vehicle assembly is a growing industry in Amlan.
Construction of mass housing and subdivisions is very evident in the periphery of Dumaguete City
and is expected to spillover into the province's secondary cities and fast-growing towns.
Other industries include water bottling and warehousing, as well as cold and dry storing. Retailing
has penetrated other urban areas outside Dumaguete, with the entry of supermarkets and shopping
malls in cities such as Bayawan, Tanjay and Bais. The town of Bacong, which borders Dumaguete in
the south, hosts many industrial plants geared for the local and export markets, which can bolster
economic growth. Negros Oriental is also a notable tourist destination in the Visayas.

Transportation[edit]

A motorized tricycle in Dumaguete City

Negros Oriental has a network of roads, including a national road that spans the circumference of
Negros Island. National and provincial roads in the province total more than 900 kilometers, though
only about half of these are paved.[36]
A large portion of residents do not own private vehicles, and are totally reliant on public transport.
Buses and jeepneys link the cities and municipalities of the province. For short distances within a
town, motorized tricycles (locally known as pedicabs) are available. Moreover, motorcycles for hire
locally called as habal-habal is the primary mode of transportation in the hinterlands or places
wherein it can't be reached with other types of vehicles.
Dumaguete–Sibulan Airport

The Dumaguete Airport located in Sibulan is the province's only commercial airport.[36] It is

a domestic airport with multiple daily flights to and from Manila, served by Philippine
Airlines and Cebu Pacific. The airport also serves flights to and from Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.
Based on 2002 statistics, an average of 5,800 outgoing passengers and 5,700 incoming passengers
pass through the airport every month. However, this airport is due for transfer to Bacong because of
congestion in its current location.[36]
The primary seaport of the province is located in Dumaguete City. Additionally, there are five other
seaports in the province classified as tertiary.[37]

Education[edit]
Most colleges and universities in the province are concentrated in Dumaguete City, which befit the
role as Center of Learning in the South and is widely known as a university city. Here are the list of
some universities, colleges and other tertiary institutions located in the province of Negros Oriental:

School Location

AMA Computer College Dumaguete City

Asian College Dumaguete City

Bayawan College Bayawan City

Colegio de Santa Catalina de Alejandria Dumaguete City

Diaz College Tanjay City

Foundation University Dumaguete City

Larmen de Guia Memorial College Dumaguete City

 School Location

La Consolacion College Bais Bais City

Maxino College Dumaguete City

Metro Dumaguete College Dumaguete City

Negros College Inc. Ayungon

Negros Maritime College Foundation Inc. Sibulan

Negros Oriental State University Main & Bajumpandan Campuses Dumaguete City

Negros Oriental State University Bais City Campuses I & II Bais City

Negros Oriental State University Bayawan-Sta. Catalina Campus Bayawan City/Santa Catalina

Negros Oriental State University Guihulngan City Campus Guihulngan City

Negros Oriental State University Mabinay Campus Mabinay

Negros Oriental State University Pamplona Campus Pamplona

Negros Oriental State University Siaton Campus Siaton

Presbyterian Theological College Dumaguete City

Saint Francis College – Guihulngan Guihulngan City

Saint Joseph College of Canlaon Canlaon City

 School Location

Saint Joseph Seminary College Sibulan

STI College Dumaguete City

Silliman University Dumaguete City

St. Paul University Dumaguete Dumaguete City

Southern Tech College Bayawan City

Villaflores College Tanjay City

Culture[edit]

Buglasan Festival at the Ninoy Aquino Memorial Freedom Park in Dumaguete City

Each town in Negros Oriental celebrates an annual town fiesta, usually dedicated to a patron saint of
a particular town or city. In some of the larger towns, there are particular fiestas for specific
neighborhoods or barangays.
Additionally, the Buglasan Festival, which was revived in 2001, is celebrated annually in October in
the provincial capital of Dumaguete and is hailed as Negros Oriental's "festival of festivals".[38] It is a
week-long celebration where you can see unique booths of each town and city in Negros Oriental
featuring their native products and tourist attractions. The highlight of the occasion is the float parade
and street dancing competition.[39]
Skyline of a beach resort in the province

The province is the home of the last living remnants of the Inata language speakers. The Sebwano
language is spoken throughout the province, while the indigenous Minagahat language is spoken in
the south.

Media[edit]
There are at least six local publications in general circulation around the province. These
publications include the Dumaguete MetroPost,[40] The Negros Chronicle,[41] Dumaguete Star
Informer, Times Focus, and Island News .[42] Sun.Star Dumaguete publishes news online bi-
weekly. PLDT, Globe Telecom and their subsidiaries are major providers of network connection
within the province. Major providers, in TV and radio are ABS-CBN, GMA, The 5 Network and CNN
Philippines. Cable TV provides access to BBC, ESPN and other international programs. The
province is mainly served by one regional newscast: TV Patrol Central Visayas (shared with ABS-
CBN Cebu).