It was believed that Negros was once part of a greater mass of land but was cut off either by what geologist call a continental drift or by the rising waters during the so called glacial age. Among its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives beloning to the Negrito ethnic group with thier unique culture thus the Spaniards called the land "Negros" after the black natives whom they saw when they first came to the island in April 1565.
Two of the earliest settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog that later became towns in 1573 and 1584 respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago City, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and the Candaguit now a sitio in San Enrique.
After appointing encomienderos in the Island, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Oton in Panay Island. In 1734, however, the island became a military district and Ilog was made its first Capital. The seat of the government was later transferred to Himamaylan and thereafter Bacolod became the capital in 1849.
The island remained a military district up to about the middle of the 19th century. Then in 1865, Negros Occidental was raised to the category of a politico-ilitary province. During this time, several more towns were established like San Carlos and Calatrava.
Religious orders evangelized the province by turns: the Augustinians, Recollects, Jesuits, Dominicans, and the Seculars.
The latter half of the 19th Century was a period of rapid economic expansion for Negros Occidental as evidenced by the growth of population resulting from the influx of immigrants coming from the neighboring provinces like Ilo-ilo, Antique, Capiz and Cebu. They settled in districts sparsely inhabited in the past and this resulted in the establishment of new towns: Saravia (now E.B. Magalona), Valladolid and Escalante in 1880.
The major boom of the Province at this time was the widespread cultivation of Sugarcane and the opening of the ports like those in Ilo-ilo and Cebu to foreign commerce. In 1856, Negros Occidental produced only 4,000 piculs of sugar. This increased to 100,000 piculs in 1864 and 2,000,000 in 1893. The cultivation of sugarcane then became widespread and soon after Negros Occidental led other provinces in the production of sugar. Modern machines were introduced at this time and by 1864, seven machines operated by steam were used in the towns of Bacolod, Minuluan (now Talisay City) and Bago.
During the last decades of the 19th Century, several important events occured in the history of Negros Occidental. One was the making of Negros into two separate provinces in 1890.
The other was when Negrense Revolutionary troops led by Generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Anacleto Araneta joined the nation wide Katipunan Movement and overcame the Spanish garrison in the Province in November 5, 1898 when Filipinos rose in arms against the Spanish rule.
The revolt ended more than 300 years of foreign domination. This resulted in the establishment of the shortlived "Cantonal Government of the Republic of Negros" which reunited the two provinces until the Americans arrived in May 1899. A civil government was established in Negros Occidental on April 20, 1901.
During the succeeding decades between 1901 and the 1930's Negros Occidental was under the American occupation as with the rest of the country. Nonetheless, the econly growth continued especially with Philippine sugar having a part of the US market despite some accompanying socio-economic problems during this period. When the Japanese landed in the province on May 21, 1942, civilian and military leaders in Negros Occidental refused to surrender and instead organized a free government and guerilla movement under Governor Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Negros Island. They helped bring about the surrender of the Japanese forces in Negros Is. in 1945.
Text of the Article from the Brochure of Negros Island by Wow Negros Occ. Philippines
Toto, great article! Looking forward to reading more of your blogs. By the way, Negros Island has its way of clinging into one's heart once you experience being there!
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