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Negros
Occidental
Negros Occidental is the western part of
Negros Island, with a total land surface of 14,000 sq. km one of the
largest islands of the Philippine archipelago. The eastern part of the
island is the province of Negros Oriental. When the first Spaniards
arrived, during the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, in April 1565,
Negros was populated by black tribes, who called their island Buglas,
which means in old native language cut-off. The Spaniards called the
island Negros, because of the dark skinned natives. Two of the earliest
native settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog which later became towns in
1573 and 1584, respectively. In 1890 Negros Occidental became a separate
province.
Topography. The coastline of Negros Occidental is more regular than that
of its sister province Negros Oriental. The northern and western part is
largely level plains and gently rolling slopes. Actually the eastern
plains of Panay, plus what is now Guimaras Strait, and western Negros
used to be one vast plateau in the not so far away past. The
sea between Negros and Panay, Guimaras Strait, is nowhere deeper than 30
m. and consists of sand and mud, the same material as both plains. The
rising sea level, as a result of melting ice at the poles, caused both
Negros and Panay to be separated. The southern and eastern parts of the
province are mountainous, mostly of volcanic origin, dominated by Mount
Kanla-on. With 2465 m. this volcano is the highest mountain of the central
Philippines, but at the same time the most active volcano of this same
region. Since the Spaniards arrived in the area, the volcano has erupted
33 times, lastly in 1996, making it the third most active volcano in the
entire country. But Mt. Kanla-on is not the only volcano on the island;
others are Mt. Mandalagan, Mt. Silay, and Mt. Solitario in the north, and
Mt. Malapantao, and Mt. Cuermos de Negros in the south.
Negros province comprise 5,401 square kilometers of Negros Island's
southeastern section, in the midpoint of the Central Visayas. Its capital,
Dumaguete City, is popularly known as "The City of Gentle People!" It has
a land area of 3,551 hectares and was granted a charter under RA327 which
was revised under RA5797. Negros Island was originally called " Buglas",
but the Spaniards changed this to Negros because of the dark-skinned
Negritos they found there. The area that is now Negros Oriental was
administered from Cebu until 1734, when it was made a military district of
its own. In 1890, Negros Island was divided into two politico-military
provinces, Occidental and Oriental. Under the civil government
established by the Americans, Negros Oriental became a province on March
10, 1917.
Realize your dreams in the many islands of the Philippines. Wild actions,
sweet and rugged entertainment, lovely and hospitable people, culture and
heritage, white sand beaches, nature tripping, adventure, shopping,
international and exotic food which varies from every islands. Venues and
facilities for meetings, exhibitions and conferences are available almost
everywhere.
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