History of Silay

A local legend tells of how Silay City got

its name. There once lived a princess
named Kansilay. An attack on the
settlement by pirates was thwarted
when the princess bravely led the
people in the village's defense. The fight
was furious and the princess fought like
a seasoned warrior.
Murals that used to grace some of the
city's public buildings depict her as a
fierce fighter wielding a huge talibong,
a short native single-edged sword. The
pirates were routed, but at the cost of
the princess' life. Her paramour arrived
in time to see her die. In grief, the
people lovingly buried her. To their
surprise, a tree grew right over her
grave, the first Kansilay tree, a final gift
from the brave princess.
Culture of Silay
Silay City had been known in the
past as the "Paris of Negros" and
the "cultural and intellectual hub
of Negros" due to the residents'
love for knowledge and works of
art, and its collection of heritage
mansions built during the height
of the Philippine sugar industry's
success, of which Negros was the
center.
 Bicolanos celebrate a yearly festival
to pay tribute to the Virgin of
Penafrancia. The streets of Naga
HISTORY OF become vibrant with festivities, as

!
VI
a group of male devotees carry

IN
THE PROVINCE virgin's image and

A
Bicol
exclaiming

LA VIRG

V
It comprises six provinces: Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes,
Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

Bikol people were the first

natives of Luzon to be CULTURE OF HISTORY &
Christianized pioneered by
the Augustinian missionaries. THE PROVINCE CULTUTRE
the festival features
The Bikol were described by
nightly shows, the
Spanish chronicler as very
largest cockfights of the
fierce warriors. Thus, their
year, bicycle races, and
history comprises many battles
a lively boat race on the
against foreign incursions. river preceding the
fluvial procession.
World War II in Bicol broke
out when Japanese soldiers
landed in Legazpi on 12
December 1941 and two days
later marched into Naga.

ERVAT
S
The death of more than a
hundred persons, caused by
the collapse of the Colgante N I
V
CO

Bridge fluvial procession of

E
the Peñafrancia fiesta was an As they have ample land, farming is their
omen of martial law in Bicol. primary occupation, but they also engage
Call Us
in fishing, logging, cattle-raising, and
+123-456-7890
handicraft. The Bicolanos are conservative, www.bicolphilippines.com
they stick to their old ways.
 Some of the

A brief, cultures that

informative lived on up to

phamplet for
Abra, a province present...
in the
Philippines.

Quick facts... https://abra.gov.ph/about/history/

Abra was created as a politico-military province in
1846, prior to which was part of the old Ilocos Province
and later Ilocos Sur when Ilocos Region was divided into
two provinces in 1818. Civil government was established in
Abra on August 19, 1901, but was re-annexed to Ilocos Sur National Living Treasure
in February 1905. Abra remained a sub-province in 12
years, regaining its status as a province only after the
Teofilo Garcia and his
Location: 17.5951° N, Province: Abra
120.7983° E Capital: Bangued passage of Act 2683 in March 1917. Tabungaw Hats, Aerial
Division: Luzon Agriculture is the main economic activity of the
Area: 4,165.25 km²

Region: Cordillera
view of Awichon Cultural
(1,608.21 sq mi) province. Horses, which the province is known for in the
Density: 58/km² Administrative Cordilleras and Northern Luzon, were a major mode of Village, Mabilong Weavers
Region
(150/sq mi)
Cities & Towns:
transportation during the Spanish period. The Abra River is Village, Traditional
Climate: Tropical widely utilized as a means of traversing and travelling in
27 Towns
and out of the province.
handwoven looming at

(Municipalities)

Leila's Loom Weaving.
Photo courtesy of the
Department of Tourism.