Aklan

(Home of Abaca and Pia Fiber )

the capital is Kalibo

it has a total land area of 1,853

sq. km.

oldest province in the

Philippines

Jose Raz Menez was the first

appointed governor

has a high geographic

diversity

endemic species in the

Philippines are found in this
province

the main inhabitants of the

province is the Aklanon

their most prominent dialect are

Akeanon, Malaynon, and the
Buruanganon

the people in the province still

believes in aswang and the
babaylan

the province is known for its

festivities which includes the
Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a

feast held annually in January in
honor of the Santo Nio (Infant
Jesus), concluding on the third
Sunday, in the island and town
of Kalibo, Aklan in
the Philippines. The name "AtiAtihan" means "to be like itas"
or "make believe Ati's"

Antique
(Were Mountains meet the Sea)

the capital is San Jose De

Buenavista

it was one of the three

districts of Panay before the
Spanish colonizers arrived

formerly known as Hantik

Negritos or the Atis were

believed to be the earliest
people who settled in the island
of Panay

Legend of Maragtas

they have their own distinct

language called the Kinaraya

Mt. Madia-as

the province also celebrates

their own festival, the
Binirayan Festival

Capiz
(Seafood Capital of the Philippines)

the capital is Roxas City

known for the mother-of-pearl

shell

Aeta, Negritos and Mundo

tribe inhabited the province of
Capiz

became the second Spanish

settlement after Cebu

the province is famously known

as the Seafood Capital of
the Philippines

brilliant Capiz shell

Iloilo
(Food Basket and the Rice Granary of
Western Visayas)

the Food Basket and Rice

Granary of Western Visayas

Iloilo City was the former Irongirong River

Have a Coat of Arms inscripted

with: "La Muy Leal Y Noble
Ciudad de Iloilo

people are called Ilonggos

Local languages spoken in the

province are hiligaynon and
kinaray-a

Iloilo is widely known for its

beautiful old world
architecture similar to that of
Latin American Countries

Guimaras
Mango Country

its capital is Jordan

Japanese Imperial Forces

landed on the island

the province is originally known

to the natives as Buglas

the earliest native settlements

were Binalbagan and Ilog

the people was called the

Negrense

Silay City was also know as the

Paris of Negros

also the hometown of

Leonardo Locsin and
Conchita Gaston

famous mural of the Angry

Christ

Languages
The languages native to the
inhabitants of Western Visayas are:

Emily Relucio-Lopez was the

first governor

the people is considered as

Guimarasnon

Hiligaynon - spoken in Iloilo, Negros

Occidental, Guimaras, and Capiz.

Hilgaynon and Kinaray-a was

their local dialect

Capiznon - spoken in Capiz

the island province suffered in

a ecological disaster in
August 2006

the island is known for its

agricultural crops, particularly
mangoes

Negros Occidental
(Sugar Bowl of the Philippines)

its capital is Bacolod City

its has basically a volcanic

land

famously known as the Sugar

Bowl of the Philippines

Mount Kanlaon

Kinaray-a - spoken in Antique and

parts of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan.
Akeanon - spoken in Aklan.
Malaynon - spoken in Aklan.
Cebuano - spoken in the northern
parts of Negros Occidental and its
municipalities and cities which are
facing Taon Strait towards Cebu.

Guimaras [imaas] is a fourth

class island province of
the Philippines located in the Western
Visayas region. Among the smallest
provinces, its capital is Jordan. The
island is located in the Panay Gulf,

between the islands

of Panay and Negros. To the northwest
is the province of Iloilo and to the
southeast is Negros Occidental.
Guimaras, formerly known as Himalus, was a sub-province of Iloilo until it
was made an independent province on
May 22, 1992. Buenavista is the oldest
municipality on Guimaras. It was
established in 1775
The people of Guimaras are
considered as Guimarasnon and their
languages are Hiligaynon and Kinaraya as it was once a sub-province
of Iloilo. Hiligaynon is the major
language spoken, although the people
can understand and
speak Tagalog and English
Guimaras mangoes are reportedly
served at the White House and
Buckingham Palace.[11][12][13] Guimaras'
largest event of the year is the
Manggahan Festival (the Mango
Festival).[14] The variety of mangoes
produced are also best for making
dried mangoes, jam and other
delicacies.
Guimaras oil spill[edit]
In August 2006, the Guimaras oil
spill occurred. The 998-ton M/T Solar
1, chartered by Petron (the Philippines
largest oil refiner), carrying 2.4 million
litres of bunker fuel, sank 17
kilometres off the island's southern
coast, contaminating 24 km2.
[10]

The Philippine Coast Guard called

this the worst oil spill in the countrys

history. According to officials, 1,000
hectares of mangroves were affected,
including parts of the Taklong Island
National Marine Reserve.

Iloilo is a province of
the Philippines located in the Western
Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the
southeast portion of Panay Island and
is bordered by province of Antique to
the west and province of Capiz and
the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just
off Iloilo's southeast coast is the island
province Guimaras, once part of Iloilo
but now an independent province.
People from Iloilo are called Ilonggos.
There are two local languages spoken
in the province: Hiligaynon sometimes
called Ilonggo, andKinaray-a.
Iloilo International Airport
Iloilo Port Complex

Miag-ao Church. A World Heritage

Site. The Aztec-Baroque inspired
church with Filipino botanicals used to
carved on the facade. It is known for
its intricate facade and pyramidal bell
towers. The church was used as a
fortress during the olden days. It is a
massive structure built of yellowish
Limestones.
Molo Church. The Gothic Renaissance
Church of Molo was used as a watch
tower to warn the people if there are
any attackers on the shore of Iloilo
City. It is a fine coral stone church with
Classical and Gothic details. It is also
known as the feminist church because
of the beautiful female saints lining
inside the church.

Cabatuan Church. This Neoclassic

founded in 1901. The National

Church, known to be the most massive

Historical Institute (NHI) formally

Hispanic structure in Iloilo is built of

recognized the Old Capitol as a

red bricks. It is believed to be the

historical landmark through a marker

largest red brick structure in the

installed on its walls on April 11, 2010.

Visayas and it was given the title

[10]

"Model of Temples" by the 'El Eco de

Panay'. The Cabatuan Church is known

Bucari Area. Bucari Area is an area

to be the only extant Spanish colonial

with mountainous terrain situated in

church with three facades.

the highlands of Leon and Alimodian.

It is known as the "Summer Capital of

San Jose Church. The beautiful

Iloilo" and declared as a special

church in front of plaza Libertad is

economic zone for tourism and

considered the most historic amongst

ecological enterprise due to its cool

the churches in Iloilo City. It is a

climate, topography, highland

Byzantine-Neoclassic Church planned

attractions and scenery.

to look like the Spanish Church of

Valencia del Cid. The Church is known

Bulabog Putian National Park.

for its collection of priceless Catholic

Bulabog Puti-an National Park is a

treasures.

protected rain forest area known for

being a living museum of flora and

Passi City Church. This is considered

fauna. Hundreds of local and foreign

a militaristic church in that it was

tourists visit the 847 eco-tourism park

planned as a fortress church and the

to immerse in the areas natural

proof of this can be seen in the

attractions such as its various forms of

massive buttresses which support the

wildlife and more than 30 caves. It is

front and back walls of the church. The

located within the municipalities of

church was built to replace churches

San Enrique and Dingle.[11]

that had been destroyed by an

earthquake in 1612 and subsequent

Islas de Gigantes. The Islas de

churches that had been destroyed by

Gigantes is an island group found in

fires.

the offshores of the municipality of

Carles. The place is known for its

Old Capitol building of the

numerous caves, white sand beaches,

Province of Iloilo. A National

emerald-like shores and lagoon, and

Historical Site. The building was built

rock formations.

with wood stone during the Spanish

colonization. It served as the capitol

Santa Barbara Church. The Santa

when the civil government of Iloilo was

Barbara Parish Church and Convent is

considered to be the "Cradle of

Antique (Pronunciation: /ntik/) or

Independence" in Panay and in the

(/ntik/) is a province of

Visayas. In 1991, the National

the Philippines located in

Historical Commission of the

the region of Western Visayas. The

Philippines declared Santa Barbara

province's capital, San Jose, is located

Church and Convent as a National

in the western portion of Panay

Landmark. The church was the site

Island and

where General Martin Delgado of the

borders Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo to the

Visayan Revolutionary Government

east, whilst facing the Sulu Sea to the

started the junta that resulted to the

west.

first Cry of Revolution against the

Spaniards outside Luzon. It was also

Antique was one of the

used as the general headquarters and

three sakup (districts)

military hospital of the revolutionary

of Panay before Spanish

forces.

colonizers arrived on the islands. The

province was known at that time

Calle Real Heritage District. Calle

as Hantk, the local name for the

Real, or the J.M. Basa St. In Iloilo City,

large black ants found on the island.

is once the shopping and

[4]

entertainment center of the city

by the French, recorded the region's

during the Spainsh and American

name as Hantique, which was then

period. It houses numerous old

read as 'antique (silent 'h'). The locals

colonized buildings.

then pronounced the name into its

The Spanish chroniclers, influenced

present name "Antique" (n-ti-k)[

Iloilo River Esplanade. The
Esplanade is Iloilo City's newest hub
for dining, leisure and recreation.
Poised to be one of the longest linear
park in the country.
Iloilo Golf and Country Club. The
Iloilo Golf Course and Country Club is
the oldest golf course in South East
Asia. It all began in the 1850s when
the British, led by Iloilo-based Vice
Consul Nicholas Loney known today as
the Father of the Philippine Sugar
Industry."

Starting from the southern town of

Antique tourists can drop by Sira-an
Hot Spring, claimed to be a medical
spring. The next destination is the
capital town San Jose de Buenavista
passing by Malandog Marker, site of
the first Malayan Settlement. Tourism
amenities like restaurants, shopping
malls, pasalubong centers,
accommodations and beach resorts
are present. Rafflesia, the largest
flower in the world, can be found
in Sibalom Natural Park.
the Mount Olympus of Antique.
Sebaste has the Igpasungaw Falls, the
Sebaste Inland Resort and the most

visited Saint Blaise Church, where

devotees of St. Blaise make a
pilgrimage every year during the
annual fiesta. Pandan has Malumpati
Health Spring and Bugang River
declared the cleanest body of water in
the whole country[according to whom?]where
rafting and river boating can be
experienced.
BINIRAYAN FESTIVAL Started in San
Jose in 1974 by governor Evelio Javier,
this is a week-long festival that
includes colorful street parades, beach
shows, plaza concerts, a beauty
contest and trade fair. "Binirayan"
biray, or "sailboat" in Kinaray-a
(Antique's local language), refers to
the Pre-Hispanic legend of the
Bornean datus to reach Malandog
beach, where they befriended the Atis
(Aetas) and eventually started a
civilization.
____

Ati

Kinaray-a

Capiznon
The province of Aklan is designated as
a first class province.

Airports[edit]
Aklan is famous for Boracay, a resort
island one kilometre north from the tip
of Panay. It is known for its white
sandy beaches and is considered as
one of the more prominent
destinations in the Philippines.
Because of this, there is frequent air
travel to the province's airports
in Kalibo and Caticlan. Kalibo
International Airport is about ten
minutes from the main plaza. Kalibo

Aklan (Aklan: Akean, Aklan

pronunciation: [ak'an]) is
a province of the Philippines in
the Western Visayas region. Its capital
is Kalibo. It is in the northwest portion
of Panay Island, bordering Antique
province to the southwest, and Capiz
province to the east. Aklan faces
theSibuyan Sea and Romblon
province to the north.

Airport serve direct flights to and from

The most prominent languages in the

air links will soon be offered

province are Akeanon (Aklanon

establishing and cementing Kalibo's

Proper), Malaynon andBuruanganon.

reputation as the international

Akeanon is spoken by a majority of the

gateway to the Western Visayas

people, while Malaynon is spoken

region.

Taipei; Hong Kong; Shanghai and

Beijing in China; Incheon, Busan, and
Chengdu through international flights
served by Zest Airways, Mandarin
Airlines, China Airlines, Jin Air, PAL
Express, Cebu Pacific Air, Spring
Air, South East Asian
Airlines and Philippine Airlines. More

in Malayand Buruanganon is spoken

in Buruanga, Aklan. Other regional

The following are the airports in Aklan:

languages used include:

Hiligaynon

Kalibo International
Airport (under CAAP)

Godofredo P. Ramos

the region and converted the Malays

Airport (under PPP with San Miguel

to their Christian religion, they asked

Corporation)

the Malays to celebrate this festivity to

coincide with the Feast of the "Santo

Seaports[edit]

Nio" (Holy Child) which is usually held

The following are the seaports in the

province:

during the third week of January.

Bariw Festival is a unique festival
showcasing the skills of every

Caticlan Jetty Port

Cagban Port

hats made of bariw leaves - the

Dumaguit Port

municipality. It is highlighted by the

Nabasnon in weaving bags, mats and

prospering livelihood in the
dance performance of local talent and

New Washington Port

ingenuity to the beat of the drums and

indigenous rhythm celebrated every

Batan Port

May 14 of the year.

Colong-Colong Port

Bugna Festival is a festival

Alegria Port

Kalibo Jetty Port (Proposed)

showcasing the different locally

produced products and eco-tourism
destinations of Tangalan like the
marine sanctuary and coral garden,
Afga Point, Campo Verde, Jawili Falls,

Festivals[edit]

Bughawi beach and reforestation

project every May 16 of the year.

The province is known for its festivities

which includes the Ati-Atihan
festival in Kalibo.

[11]

Originally, the

Kali-Ugyon Festival (kali stands for

Kalipayan or happiness

festival was to celebrate the treaty

and Ugyon meaning unity). This is the

between the Ati and the Malayan

festival celebrated in Libacao every

tribes who settled in the Island. The

December 30 to January 1, costumed

Ati live in the mountain regions and

in modern and indigenous outfits

the Malay people in the flatlands or

bringing people together on the

close to the water. The festivity begins

streets for merry-making and to drive

on the dry season, at which time the

away evil spirits in the coming New

Ati come down from the mountains to

Year.

trade and celebrate with the Malayan

tribes. When the Spaniards settled in

Capiz is a 1st class province of

I am Gods voice which I shall

the Philippines located in the Western

echo and praise from one end

Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas

to the other of the town of

City and is located at the northeastern

Panay, so that the faithful

portion of Panay Island,

followers of Christ may come to

bordering Aklan and Antique to the

this house of God to receive the

west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz

faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north.
Capiz is known for the Placuna
placenta oyster shell that has the
same name locally and is used for
decoration and making lampshades,
trays, window and doors. Likewise, the
province is known as the Seafood
Capital of the Philippines[3] and was
among the top 15 most frequently
visited places in the Philippines.
[4]

Capiz is the site of the famous coral-

stone Sta. Monica Church in the

town of Pan-ay, home to the largest
Catholic Church bell in Asia. The bell
was made from 70 sacks of gold and
silver coins donated by the townsfolk.
Measuring seven feet in diameter, five
feet in height and weighing 10,400
kilograms or just over 10 metric tons,
the Pan-ay bell is popular among
tourists visiting Capiz.

heavenly graces.[5]
Capiz is located at the heart of the
Philippine Archipelago, on the
northeast portion of Panay Island,
The Panay river used to be famous for
the great number
of crocodiles thriving there. Capiz is
bounded by the Mindoro sea, the
Panay,Loctugan and Ivisan rivers.
Language[edit]
Capiznon and Hiligaynon are the local
dialects. Filipino is also used and
understood. English is the business
language and spoken widely. Capiznon
is concentrated in the province of
Capiz in the northeast of Panay Island.
It is a member of the Visayan
language family and the people are
part of the wider Visayan
ethnolinguistic group, who constitute
the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic
group. It is often confused with Ilonggo

An inscription on the bell reads:

or Hiligaynon, but it has its own

Soy la voz de Diosquellevare y

unique vocabulary and accent.

ensalzaredesde el principio
hasta el fin de este Pueblo de

_____

Panay para que los fieles de

Jesus vengan a esta casa de
Dios a recibirlas gracias
celestials.

Negros occidental Negros Occidental is

Translated to English, this

located in the western side of Negros

means:

Island, the third largest island in the

Philippines with a total land area of
972,607 hectares or 9,726.06 km

Road network and

accommodations[edit]
All cities and municipalities are linked
by an extensive road and bridge
network stretching more than
1,500 kilometers crisscrossing the

Bacolod-Silay International
Airport[edit]
Main article: Bacolod-Silay
International Airport

province with seven alternative scenic

routes to the nearby province
of Negros Oriental. Within the
province, travel is also easy,
comfortable and even enjoyable with

The Bacolod-Silay Airport Terminal

air-conditioned and non-aircon buses

Building.

or metered taxis. Car rental services

On January 18, 2008, the new airport

was inaugurated in Silay City, 16
kilometers north of Bacolod. The new
airport replaced the Bacolod City
Domestic Airport. The new airport
runway is of international standards
and was constructed to facilitate
future landings of international flights
to serve the growing number of
tourists visiting Negros Occidental
each year.
Kabankalan City Domestic
Airport[edit]

are also available. However, the

jeepney is still the most common
means of transport among the towns
and cities. For accommodations,
visitors may choose from a wide range
of about 67 hotels, pension and
lodging houses and tourist inns. The
better known hotels are L Fisher,
Bacolod Convention Plaza, Pagcor
Hotel, and Business Inn, Sugarland
Hotel, all in Bacolod City.
Energy and water[edit]
The province has adequate power and

Main article: Kabankalan City

water supplies. It is currently

Domestic Airport

interconnected to the Visayas Power

is a new airport designed to serve the

Grid whose main sources of power are

general area of Kabankalan City, The

geothermal. Aside from its existing

airport would be the second airport in

170 megawatts capacity, Negros

Negros Occidental, after the New

Island by the year 2006 has an

Bacolod-Silay Airport, and the third

additional 105 megawatts of locally

airport on the island of Negros. It is

produced power from geothermal

located four kilometers northeast of

plants in Bago City and Palinpinon,

Kabankalan City proper on a 100-

and from bagasse co-generation

hectare site in Barangay Hilamonan.

facility of First Farmers Sugar Mill.

Ample water supply for household,

commercial, industrial and agricultural

accessible in most areas of the

uses is assured by 73 thousand

province. Also, GSM, digital and analog

hectares of proclaimed and protected

cellular networks provide good

major watersheds, regular rainfall and

coverage in Bacolod City and other

six major river systems.

areas, including international roaming.

San Carlos City is going to play a

major role in renewable energy as it
will be the site of San Carlos Solar
Energy INC.[7] It is a solar farm with an
initial capacity of 13 MW in Phase 1,
and a provision for an addition of 7
MW in Phase 2. It is intended to
provide power to the grid throughout
the year, at pre-determined Feed-InTariff rates set by the ERC. It is a DOE
approved stand-alone solar power
plant consisting of approximately

The medical and health care needs of

the people of Negros Occidental and
its guests are presently being met by
20 government hospitals and 10
private hospitals, as well as several
city and municipal health centers,
barangay health stations and day-care
centers. Doctors, nurses and other
medical personnel serving these
facilities are not only competent but
also very caring towards their
patients.

52,000 modules.

Banking, finance and

accessibility[edit]

Communications and medical

facilities[edit]

Banking and finance is likewise a

thriving industry in Negros Occidental.
According to the latest count, there
are 389 financial institutions
competing for businesses in the
province. 149 of these are banks.
Negros Occidental offers several
advantages for those who are doing
business in the province. It is
strategically located near Metro
Manila, Cebu and Davao, all major
international gateways with maximum
travel time of only about 4 hours
between the Philippines and its
neighbors in Asia. It is equipped with

Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital

International direct dialing, fiber optic
data lines and internet services are

major infrastructure facilities for easy

travel and shipment of goods within
and outside of Negros.

It has information and communication

The stadium is also the home

facilities with connection capabilities

of Panaad Festival, a week-long

necessary for, among others, call

celebration participated in by all cities

center operations for business

and municipalities in the province held

communication and transmission of

annually every summer. The festival is

data. The province has abundant

highlighted by merry-making and field

water supply and dependable power

demonstrations at the stadium. The

supply. Modern health care facilities

stadium itself features replicas of the

with medical services are available, as

landmarks of the 13 cities and

well as academic institutions.

municipalities of Negros Occidental.

Capitol Park and Lagoon
Main article: Capitol Park and Lagoon

Landmarks
Panaad Stadium
Main article: Panaad Stadium
The Panaad Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in the province. It is
currently used mostly for football
matches, and was used for the 2005
South East Asian Games. It was the

Capitol Park and Lagoon

venue of the pre-qualifiers of the 2007

The Capitol Park and Lagoon is a

ASEAN Football Championship or

provincial park located right in the

ASEAN Cup, in which

heart of Bacolod City, Negros

the Philippines, Cambodia, Timor

Occidental, in the Philippines. One of

Leste, Brunei and Laos participated.

the landmarks of the park is the statue

The stadium has a seating capacity of

of a carabao (water buffalo) being

15,500, but holds around 20,000

pulled by a woman. This statue is

people with standing areas. It is

located at the northern end of the

unofficially designated as the home

lagoon. On the other end, there is also

stadium of the Philippines national

another carabao sculpture but the

football team. Aside from

figure is being pulled by a man.

the association football field, it also

has a rubberized track oval,
an Olympic-size swimming pool and
other sports facilities.

Local everyday activities in the park

include jogging, aerobics, school
dance rehearsals,
promenaders, arnisadors, and martial
artspractitioners.

Fountain of Justice
Main article: Fountain of Justice
Fountain of Justice, Bacolod City

The Balay Negrense was originally the

ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, a
son of Yves Leopold Germain
Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The
elder Gaston is credited as one of the

The Fountain of Justice is a historic

pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in

landmark in Bacolod City, Negros

this portion of the Philippine

Occidental, Philippines. It marks the

archipelago. A native of Normandy in

location where the house of Jose Ruiz

France, he married a Filipina

de Luzurriaga used to stand. It was in

from Batangas where he initially

this house that the surrender of

began experimenting with sugar

Bacolod by Spanish authorities to the

production before relocating to

Filipino forces of General Aniceto

Negros.

Lacson took place on November 6,

Built in 1897,[2] the structure housed

1898, during the Negros Revolution.

Victor Gaston and his twelve children

Bacolod Public Plaza

from 1901 until his death in 1927. Left

Main article: Bacolod Public Plaza

unused by the family, the structure

was abandoned in the mid-1970s and

The Bacolod Public Plaza is one of the

fell into disrepair until a group of

notable landmarks of Bacolod City, the

concerned Negrenses formed what

capital of Negros Occidental,

would later become the Negros

Philippines. It is located in the heart of

Cultural Foundation and managed to

the downtown area, near the city hall

acquire the house from the heirs of

and across from the San Sebastian

Gaston through a donation. With

Cathedral. The plaza is a trapezoidal

donations from prominent individuals

park with a belt of trees around the

and later the Department of Tourism,

periphery and a gazebo at the center.

the structure was repaired and

Scattered within the trees are four

furnished with period furniture and

circular fountains.

fixtures. The museum was officially

The plaza was constructed in 1927 as

inaugurated on October 6, 1990.

a place for recreation, political,

Mariano Ramos Ancestral House

spiritual and cultural activities. It is

quite a popular site for outdoor picnics
and concerts. The gazebo is often

Main article: Mariano Ramos Ancestral

House

used to house a bandstand.

Balay Negrense
Main article: Balay Negrense

Mariano V. Ramos Ancestral House,

Bacolod City

The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is

the home of the late Don Mariano V.
Ramos, the son of Agaton Ramos and
Dolores Varela, was the first appointed
Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City,
Philippines. It was built in the 1930s
and its architecture is a combination of
Castilian and Tuscan and has three
storeys, including the tower room,
known as the torre.

The Ruins, Talisay City

The mansion dates back to the 1900s
when it was built by sugar baron Don
Mariano Ledesma Lacson for his first
wife, Maria Braga, a Portuguese from
Macau whom he met in his vacations
in Hong Kong. The mansion's structure
is of Italianate architecture enhanced
by a belvedere complete with

During World War II, Don Mariano's

renaissance-type balustrading typical

Ancestral house was the most

of the homes of English ship captains.

prominent structure with a view over

It was burned down in World War II to

the whole city. The commanding

prevent the Japanese from using it. It

Japanese general was disguised as a

was opened to the public by

family gardener. As the war broke, the

descendants of the original owner and

Japanese seized the Mariano Ramos

is listed as among the World's 12 most

Ancestral house in order to use it as a

fascinating ruins.[8

watchtower and as a headquarters.

San Diego Pro-cathedral

Food and agriculture[edit]

Main article: San Diego Pro-cathedral

Negros Occidental's output of more
San Diego Pro-cathedral, Silay City
The San Diego Pro-cathedral, formerly
known as the San Diego Parish Church
or the St. Didacus Parish Church
before its declaration as a procathedral in 1994, is an early 20thcentury church in Silay City, Negros
Occidental in the Philippines. It is the
only pro-cathedral outside of the
national capital of Manila, and is
unique in Negros Occidental for being
the only church in the province
featuring a cupola or dome.
The Ruins

than 1 million metric tons for crop

year 20022003 accounts for nearly
half of the country's sugar production
in an industry that generates an
estimated annual revenue of more
than P18 billion. There are 12 sugar
mills in the province, of which only 10
are presently[when?] operational.
Victorias Milling Company has the
highest rated capacity with 15,000
tonnes cane per day.

Corn also registered increasing gains.

kilograms. Livestock and poultry are

Production for 2003 of 42 thousand

industries where Negros Occidental

metric tons outperformed 2001 output

has strongly diversified.

by 18%. Average yield per hectare has

also grown by 18%. Other fruit and
vegetable crops, except for banana
and cassava, likewise improved their
harvest. Harvested coconut was
placed at 139 million nuts, while
production of banana; fruit and
vegetable crops totaled 110 million