Negrense

Overview

Negrenses are not officially classified as an ethnolinguistic group, but rather an identity closely related to the history and culture of Negros Island Region, first presented in the turn of the 19th century when migrant landowners started to develop an identity distinct from their Ilonggo and Cebuano roots. Rather than language, Negrenses are identified with their affinity to the island and most of which are known through their residence in Negros or self-identity by the overseas communities. The Negrense people from both sides of the island are known for their colorful festivals and highly skilled cooking skills, as defined by the festivals and craved-for cuisines dotting each locale.

Pre-colonial period

Negros was originally known as "Buglas", an old Ilonggo word meaning "cut off". The original natives of the island are the dark-skinned Aetas or "Negritos", from where the island would later derive its name after an expedition of Spanish conquistadors in April 1565 came in contact with these Negritos in what is now the town of Ilog.

Portions of Negros Island were settled by earlier pre-colonial migrations from the island of Panay, they are the descendants of the present-day Magahats or Buglas Bukidnon, as distinguished from the Panay Bukidnon. Most of the Magahats settled in the southern valley of Negros Island called Tabla Valley, most of which comprise the present-day town of Candoni.

The northwest portion of the Negros Island was settled by the later wave of migrations by Panay Bukidnons, who continue to identify with their Panay equivalents. Villages and sakups occupied by the migrant Panay Bukidnons came under the nominal rule of the Datus of the Kedatuan of Madja-as.

Spanish colonial era

After the island was discovered by the Spanish colonizers in April 1565, it was only in 1573 and 1583 that the islands were settled permanently, centered around Binalbagan and the designated capital, Ilog in the present-day Negros Occidental, and Dumaguete in the present-day Negros Oriental. Miguel López de Legazpi placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the governor of Oton on Panay. In 1734, however, the island became a military district with Ilog as its first capital. The seat of government was later transferred to Himamaylan until Bacolod became the capital in 1849. Through the missionary efforts of the Recollects, additional settlements in Hinigaran, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and San Enrique.

Though the island was initially colonized by Iloilo-based landowners, the harsh topography of mountainous areas between the western and eastern side of the island made it practical for the islands to be populated separately. The western part came to be settled by Hiligaynon-speaking Ilonggo migrants, while the eastern part with Cebuano-speaking Cebuano migrants. Administration became difficult as the trip between the eastern portions to Himamaylan (the second capital) and later on, Bacolod in 1849, required 3–5 days trek through the mountains. Thirteen Recollect friars assigned to the eastern side appealed to the Governor-General to divide the island, with their side assigned to the civil government in Cebu.

Finally, in January 1, 1890, Governor-General Valeriano Weyler issued a decree divided Negros Island into Negros Occidental, with Bacolod retained as the capital, and Negros Oriental with Dumaguete as the designated capital. The division was not made along linguistic lines, rather, those falling under the jurisdiction of the 13 friars composed the new Negros Oriental province, which also includes the Hiligaynon-speaking towns of Tolong (present-day Sta. Catalina) and Tolong Nuevo (present-day Bayawan City). The Cebuano-speaking towns of Sagay, Escalante, San Carlos (all three later converted into cities) and Calatrava chose to remain in Negros Occidental.

Post-war period and migration

In the aftermath of World War II, there was a steady rise of migration towards Mindanao. Negrenses, who would otherwise inherit only a small portion of family land in Negros, chose to avail of government benefits with resettling in Mindanao. They were the ones who spurred the sugar industry in the mountainous areas of Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN. The Montilla and Zubiri families (which includes Senator Miguel Zubiri) of southern Negros have risen to governance and have notable contributions to their new provinces: Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon respectively.

Home to the highest concentration of Negrenses in Mindanao are the cities of Valencia in Bukidnon, Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat, Koronadal in South Cotabato and General Santos, while a significant minority can be found in the cities of Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro.

With the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 and the fall of the sugar industry in the 1980s, Negrense families immigrated en-masse to the United States and Australia to escape the dictatorship and/or recover from economic losses and debts incurred with the steep decline of the island's main crop. Notable populations can be found in Hawaii, California, New Jersey and New York in the United States, Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. Minor populations of Negrenses are also found in Europe (mainly in United Kingdom, Italy and France) and Middle East (specifically in Saudi Arabia and Israel), where they work and live as OFWs or expatriates.

Notable people

Below is a list of people who are from Negros Island.

Athletes

Basketball

Boxing

Football

Others

Notable people of Negrense descent

Below is a list of people whose ancestor/s is/are from Negros Island.