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Negros Occidental
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Province of Negros Occidental | |
 Provincial seal of Negros Occidental |
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 Map of the Philippines with Negros Occidental highlighted |
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| Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
| Capital | Bacolod City |
| Divisions | |
| - Highly urbanized cities | 1 |
| - Component cities | 12 |
| - Municipalities | 19 |
| - Barangays | 661 |
| - Congressional districts | 7† |
| Population | 2nd largest |
| - Total (2000) | 2,565,723 |
| - Density | 324/km² (15th highest) |
| Area | 7th largest |
| - Total | 7,926.1 km² |
| Founded | — |
| Spoken languages | Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Tagalog |
| Governor | Joseph G. Marañon (NPC-Una) |
| † Number includes the independent district of Bacolod City | |
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and occupies at the northwestern half of Negros island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half. Across the Panay Gulf and the Guimaras Strait to the northwest is the island-province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo on Panay island.
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Most residents are of Austronesian heritage, although there are small pockets of populations of full or trace European blood, especially Spanish, Italian, and German. These small groups of people of European descent are mainly situated along the northern, northwestern, and western coastal cities and towns.[citation needed]
Residents of Negros are called "Negrensè". Negros Occidental is predominantly a Hiligaynon-speaking province. However, on the east coast of the island (Negros Oriental), facing Cebu Island, a few cities and towns are Cebuano-speaking. English is widely spoken in both sides of the island.
Known as the "The Sugarbowl of the Philippines", the sugar industry is the lifeblood of the economy of Negros Occidental, producing more than half of the country's sugar. There are 15 sugar centrals located throughout the plains of the province. Victorias Mill in Victorias City is the largest sugar mill in the country, and the world's largest integrated sugar mill and refinery. Sugar is transported from plantations to refineries by large trucks that use the national highway, often causing massive damage to the roads.
Because of the priority given to sugar plantations, much of the province's food has to be imported from neighboring islands.
A fishing industry is found in Cadiz City, and other fishponds dot the province. One of the country's largest copper mines is located in Sipalay City. There also exists a cottage industry which produced handicrafts made from indigenous materials.
Negros Occidental is subdivided into 19 municipalities and 13 cities. Negros Occidental has the most chartered cities among all the provinces in the Philippines, though many of the cities merely resemble medium-sized towns.
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The north and western parts of the province are largely composed of plains and gentle slopes. A mountain range lines the eastern part of the province forming the basis of the border with Negros Oriental. Mount Canlaon, which is partially located in Negros Oriental, rises to a height of 2465 meters and is the highest peak in the Visayas.
The island of Negros was originally known to the natives as "Buglas". When the Spaniards discovered the island in April 1565, they named it "Negros" because of the dark-skinned natives they found. Two of the earliest native settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog which later became towns in 1573 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and Candaguit (a sitio in San Enrique).
Ilog was made the first capital of the province in 1743. This was later transferred to Himamaylan. Bacolod became the capital in 1849.
The island was divided into Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in 1890.
On November 5, 1898, a rebellion led by Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson began which ended with the defeat of the Spaniards. Following their victory, the revolutionaries formed a Republic of Negros which later included Negros Oriental.
Negros del Norte was created from Negros Occidental on January 3, 1986. Its creation was declared unconstitutional on July 11, 1986, and was abolished on August 18, 1986.
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| Municipalities: Binalbagan • Calatrava • Candoni • Cauayan • Enrique B. Magalona • Hinigaran • Hinoba-an • Ilog • Isabela • La Castellana • Manapla • Moises Padilla • Murcia • Pontevedra • Pulupandan • Salvador Benedicto • San Enrique • Toboso • Valladolid |
| Component Cities: Bago City • Cadiz City • Escalante City • Kabankalan City • La Carlota City • Himamaylan City • Sagay City • San Carlos City • Silay City • Sipalay City • Talisay City • Victorias City |
| Highly-urbanized city: Bacolod City |
