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.

People and culture

Most residents are of Austronesian heritage, although there are very small pockets of populations of full or trace European blood, especially Italian and Spanish. These small groups of people of European descent are mainly situated along the northern, northwestern, and western coastal cities and towns.

Residents of Negros are called "Negrense". Negros Occidental is predominantly a Hiligaynon-speaking province. However, on the east coast of the province, facing Cebu Island, a few cities and towns are Cebuano-speaking.

Economy

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.

Geography

Political

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.

Cities

Bacolod City Bago City Cadiz City Escalante City Himamaylan City Kabankalan City La Carlota City

Sagay City San Carlos City Silay City Sipalay City Talisay City Victorias City

Municipalities

Binalbagan Calatrava Candoni Cauayan Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Hinigaran Hinoba-an (Asia) Ilog Isabela La Castellana

Manapla Moises Padilla (Magallon) Murcia Pontevedra Pulupandan Salvador Benedicto San Enrique Toboso Valladolid

Physical

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.

History

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.

See also

• Negros Revolution

External links

• Official Website of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental

•  • [ e] Cities and Municipalities of Negros Occidental
Bago City • Binalbagan • Cadiz City • Calatrava • Candoni • Cauayan • Enrique B. Magalona • Escalante City • Kabankalan City • La Carlota City • Himamaylan City • Hinigaran • Hinoba-an • Ilog • Isabela • La Castellana • Manapla • Moises Padilla • Murcia • Pontevedra • Pulupandan • Sagay City • Salvador Benedicto • San Carlos City • San Enrique • Silay City • Sipalay City • Talisay City • Toboso • Valladolid • Victorias City
Highly-urbanized city: Bacolod City

•  • [ e] Philippines
Capital	Manila • National Capital Region
Provinces	Abra • Agusan del Norte • Agusan del Sur • Aklan • Albay • Antique • Apayao • Aurora • Basilan • Bataan • Batanes • Batangas • Benguet • Biliran • Bohol • Bukidnon • Bulacan • Cagayan • Camarines Norte • Camarines Sur • Camiguin • Capiz • Catanduanes • Cavite • Cebu • Compostela Valley • Cotabato • Davao del Norte • Davao del Sur • Davao Oriental • Dinagat Islands • Eastern Samar • Guimaras • Ifugao • Ilocos Norte • Ilocos Sur • Iloilo • Isabela • Kalinga • La Union • Laguna • Lanao del Norte • Lanao del Sur • Leyte • Maguindanao • Marinduque • Masbate • Misamis Occidental • Misamis Oriental • Mountain Province • Negros Occidental • Negros Oriental • Northern Samar • Nueva Ecija • Nueva Vizcaya • Occidental Mindoro • Oriental Mindoro • Palawan • Pampanga • Pangasinan • Quezon • Quirino • Rizal • Romblon • Samar • Sarangani • Shariff Kabunsuan • Siquijor • Sorsogon • South Cotabato • Southern Leyte • Sultan Kudarat • Sulu • Surigao del Norte • Surigao del Sur • Tarlac • Tawi-Tawi • Zambales • Zamboanga del Norte • Zamboanga del Sur • Zamboanga Sibugay
Other subdivisions	Island groups • Regions • Cities • Municipalities • Barangays • Legislative districts
Territorial disputes	Sabah • Scarborough Shoal • Spratly Islands

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