NEGROS ORIENTAL

Eastern NegrosSidlakang Negros

Native Name: Buglas

HISTORY

March 10, 1971● The province was founded with the city provincial capital, Dumaguete City.

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. 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. 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 1856 and the capital was transferred to Bacolod.

Due to its proximity to Mindanao, the south eastern coast of Negros was in constant threat from Moro marauders looking for slaves, and watchtowers were built to protect the Christian villages. The Moro raids and Negros Oriental's distance from the Negros capital in Bacolod induced 13 Recollectionist priests to petition for the division of the island in July 1876. 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 City was made the first 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.

LOCATION

ABSOLUTE LOCATION

09° 45´ N 123° 00´ E

RELATIVE LOCATION

N & W Negros Occidental province

S Sulu Sea

E Tañon Strait and Cebu

SE Negros Island

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY

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TOTAL LAND AREA

540,230 hectares (5,402.3 km²)

3rd largest island in the Philippines

DIVISIONS

Component Cities 6

Municipalities 20

Barangays 557

Districts 3

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

● A chain of rugged mountains separates Negros Oriental from Negros Occidental

● Characterized by low, grooved mountain ranges which mostly lie close to the

shoreline

● Province’s terrain consists of rolling hills, few plateaus and mountain ranges

● Mostly made up of plains and valleys

● Highest peak with 2,450 m above sea level (Mt. Canlaon in the north)

● Highest mountain with an elevation of 1,903 m (Cuernos de los Negros in the

south)

ATTRACTIONS

Dumaguete Bell TowerSilliman University

Twin Lakes Balinsasayao and DanoPalimpinon Hot Springs

Camp Look Out

FESTIVALBuglasan Festival – Dumaguete, October (week-long celebration)

DEMOGRAPHY

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POPULATION

1,286,666 (as of 2010 by NSO)

LANGUAGE

Cebuano 94%

Hiligaynon 5%

Others 1%

*Filipino and English are used for official, literary and educational purposes

RELIGION

● Christianity is the predominant religion in the province with Roman Catholicism

as the biggest single denomination. Other denominations include mainline and

evangelical Protestant groups, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Seventh-day Adventists,

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Aglipayan Church, also known as the Philippine

Independent Church.

● Minority of the population adherents of Islam and Buddhism.

PRODUCTS AND LIVELIHOOD

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY

Principal Products: Sugarcane

Corn

Coconut

Rice

Source of Livelihood: Fishing

*Metallic minerals found in the province include gold, silver and copper.

CLIMATE

Tropical

2 climatic conditions – eastern part of the province is characterized by unpronounced

maximum rainfall with short dry season lasting for 1 to 3 months, and the western half of

the province is characterized by distinct wet and dry season.

GALLERY

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POINT OF INTERESTS

DUMAGUETE BELL TOWER

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY

TWIN LAKES BOLINSASAYAO AND DANAO

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CAMP LOOK OUT

PALIMPINON HOT SPRING

BUGLASAN FESTIVAL

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