|
|
|
Major Hubs 5 Major Destinations
Manila and Its Spokes
|
Cebu and its Spokes
Laoag / Baguio and its Spokes
|
Davao and its Spokes
Clark/Subic and its Spokes |
Others and its Spokes
Dumaguete / Negros Oriental
THE PROVINCE AT A GLANCE
The province which is "boot
shaped" on the map is on the eastern side of Negros Island,
thus the name Negros Oriental which means East of Negros
Island. It is composed of the mainland province and Apo
Island which is a favorite of local and foreign divers. It
has 3 congressional districts, 3 cities and 22
municipalities. Negros Oriental has 1,336.7 kilometers of
scenic, clean and unspoiled beaches on one side, with
beautiful mountains and rustic scenery on the other side.
The province's terrain consists of rolling hills, a few
plateaus, and mountain ranges which for the most part are
close to the narrow coastal trip. Kanlaon Volcano, the
highest peak in the island of Negros at 2465 meter,
dominates the northern end of the province. The whole
eastern part of Negros Oriental has a climate characterized
by no pronounced rainfall. The other half of the province
has distinct wet and dry seasons. Negros Island was
originally called " Buglas", but the Spaniards changed this
to Negros because of the dark-skinned Negritos they found
there.
Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, is basically
a "University Town". It has several colleges and
universities and is home of Silliman University. Founded by
American missionaries in 1901, Silliman is one of the oldest
universities in the Philippines.
BRIEF HISTORY
Negritos, Malayans and Chinese have long inhabited the
island of Negros before the 1565 expedition of Miguel Lopez
de Legaspi. Because of the strong current of the channel
between the islands of Cebu and Negros, the Spaniards were
forced to land on the Occidental side. This island was
called Buglas by the natives, but because the Spaniards saw
many black inhabitants, they named it Negros. The Spaniards
considered the island of Negros as one province with Bacolod
as the Capital. In 1856 it was changed to a
politico-military district. Constant pirate raids, very poor
defenses and the distance of the important towns from the
capital caused thirteen Recollect priests to petition for
the division of the Island.
After thirteen years, on January 1890 a royal decree
prompted the Governor General Valeriano Weyler to establish
Negros Oriental as a district and a separate political unit
with Dumaguete as capital. When the Philippine Revolution,
which broke out in 1896, reached the province in 1898, the
functions of the government were disrupted by the bloodshed
and chaos. Unfortunately, it was at this time that Gen.
Pantaleon Villegas (Leon Kilat) of Bacong, one of our fabled
revolutionary leader was treacherously murdered in Cebu.
In the last quarter of 1898, Negros Oriental was stirred
into action to support the revolution. Inspired and
organized under the strong and able leadership of Don Diego
de la Vina, an army composed primarily of farm laborers,
marched to Dumaguete to liberate it.
In 1901 the civil government was established under Don
Demetrio Larena as Governor. In 1934 Negros Oriental became
a corregimiento, a separate military district. After 10
years of transition or Commonwealth period, independence for
Philippines was promised on July 4, 1946. Four delegates
from Negros Oriental were sent to the Constitutional
Convention. The economic condition in the Philippines was
good. Negros Oriental was directly benefited as a producer
of sugar and copra. Forest resources were vast and sawmills
acquired modern machineries. This was complemented with
reforestation. Abundance of marine life especially in the
southern portion, attracted big Japanese fishermen with
better equipment. The Bais Sugar Central was constructed to
manufacture centrifugal sugar and alcohol.
Under the American regime, roads were improved and bridges
were built. Transportation companies sprung up and limited
Cebu lines were in operation. News of the bombing of Pearl
Harbor started preparations by Filipinos and Americans
against Japanese aggression with emergency committees and
agencies. On May 26, 1942 the Japanese landed in a deserted
Dumaguete whose residents had fled to the mountains. In
their evacuation sites, residents made a concerted effort to
become self sufficient.
President Manuel L. Quezon, escaping from possible capture
during WW II came to Dumaguete en route to Northern
Mindanao. Through the USAFFE forces, 75th Infantry Regiment
and the American Forces, the Japanese were defeated on
August 6, 1945. Thus rehabilitation of a devastated province
and economy started. People joined forces to achieve this
goal. Municipal governments were started. Schools were
reopened and the economy flourished.
Under different governors, Negros Oriental developed into
what is now. Industries have increased, crops have been
diversified. With the opening of the Geothermal Power Plant
in Puhagan Valencia, Negros Oriental has improved its
industrial potential in opening more plants and sugar mills.
LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Majority of the population speak English fluently and have a
comprehending knowledge of Spanish. Dialects spoken are
Cebuano (Visaya), Tagalog and Ilonggo. The latter being the
tongue of Negros Occidental residents.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
With its vast fertile land resources, agriculture is the
primary industry in Negros Oriental. Opportunities for
agricultural ventures include contract farming, orchard and
industrial tree farming, aquaculture (prawn and fresh water
fish), livestock, cut flowers and ornamental plants and food
processing. Among major products are copra, Sugar, Molasses,
Dehydrated fruits, Ammonium Nitrate Agricultural Products:
sugarcane, corn, coconut, rice, fruits, root crops, legumes,
vegetables, other industrial crops
|
|
|
|
