I was born and raised in Bacolod City .My father was a Filipino-Chinese and my mom was a pure Visavan by blood but her family was settled in Iloilo City, It is only about an hour by boat from Bacolod City. I am second to the eldest among 7 siblings of my parents.
I Graduated my College at the University of Negros Occidendal Recolletos which is a pure Catholic University in Negros which is manage by the Augustinian Recollects. I graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Banking and Finance (1992-1993) and Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science (1994-1995).
On this Blog il post some insight about the History of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City although the history of Bacolod wasnt have a clear picture during the pre- spanish era and it seem all lost in the hazy twilight of history. I will also give some insight about my School.
Negros Occidental occopies the northern parts of the of the island of Negros in the Central part of the Visayas, has a land area of 792,607 hectars.The climateis generally pleasant with only two seasons-The rainy and the dry. Majority speak Ilonggo and Cebuano.
Occidental Negros was one of the provinces created under the Spanish rule.It became a province in 1890, previously , it formed an integral of the island nad province in Negros. The old Name of the Island was Buglas but the Spaniards, Seeing the place inhabited by the negritoes, gave it to the name which is stuck to it.
They were native settlement at the arrival of the Spaniards and these settlement later converted into towns and some town now outside Bacolod City are now declared as City also.
The island of Negros was known for its sugar production and its machineries of sugar specially during the 70's and 80's. I dont want to be sound negative on this sugar production seem diminishing now in Negros because of lack of Government support and the influx of more cheaper sugars abroad plus some sugar planter divert there sugarcane field into rice, corn and other production.
During the last decade of the 19th century .two important occured in the history of Negros Occidental. One is the division in the 1890 of the island and province of Negros which has existed as a politico-military province since 1858 to the middle of the 19th century . The other took place in 1898 when the one- day revolution in Negros broke out.Though poorly armed and untrained, The Negrenses rose revolt againts the Spanish authority in the island and with in 24 hours, they compelled the Spaniards to surrender by a remarkable feat of integrity and most decisive ingenuity. What their many other compatriots attainced through their wits and valor, freedom and independence within one day.
I greatly salute and admire the people of Negros who have fought to gain freedom. I would insight now about Bacolod City.
Bacolod City is one of the progressive cities of the country. It was a fourth capital of the whole island of Negros as was declared by Governor-General Claveria in 1848 and was retained as the capital of Negros Occidental even when the island was divided into two provinces. The first three capitals of Negros Occidental were Silay in 1760 and it is now where the internation airport was being constructed and it has known as a places where still spanish houses are still salvage.Himamaylan in 1765 and in Ilog in 1932.
The City of Bacolod today started from the early settlement located somewhere between Bacolod-Murcia Central and Barrio Granada. Tha community was later called Daan Banwa "oldtown". The hilly terrain of the settlement was called by the natives in the dialect as buklod or "bakolod", a name which was picked unknowingly by the spanish conqueistadores as the name of the community.
From the time the settlement was opened in 1170, the community prospered. however, settlement occured such as Moro Pirates invasion in 1787 , its the bloodiest history of Bacolod, hundreds of people killed, women are rape and lots of houses burned and looted.this invasion caused the transfer of the townsite towards the shoreline; the One Day Revolution in 1898; the Cholera epidemic in 1918; the invasion of the Japanese Forces in 1941 and the liberation by the Allied and Local Forces in 1945; and the conflagration on April 14, 1955 which burnes the major business sectors of the City.
On October 19,1939, a memorable date for the Bacolodnons by virtue of the Commonwealth act No. 326, the municipality of Bacolod was made into a chartered city.
Bacolod is the largest highly urbanisedCity in the Philippines and are well known for the Masskara Festival which is held every October and it was called as a City of Smile because of the Charming and friendly people.
Awarded as the "cleanest city in the Phillipines" in 1964 and it gain more award until now as the cleanest and greenest and more livable City in the Philippines; Bacolod City has a total land area of 15,606 sq. miles.