THIS column is starting a historical series on the history of Negros Occidental. This brief series will hopefully guide various researchers, local or foreign, on the following brief summary of the priority historical books in the province. This brief initial listing of the history of Negros Occidental is available for researchers without charge at the Negros Occidental Historical Council Inc. (NOHCI) Office Library at the Provincial Capitol Building along South Capitol Road, Bacolod City.

Our first book available is entitled "Negros Occidental: Between Two Foreign Powers." This was written by Ma. Fe Hernaez Romero for the NOHCI and first printed in 1974 by the Enterprise Publications Inc.

This book is actually written under the authorship of the NOHCI and as an effort to print the almost forgotten fabric of yesterday about the story of the Province of Negros Occidental and its people.

The former Negros Occidental Historical Commission was then chaired by Ma Soledad Corazon Locsin and vice chairman Nicholas Ledesma. Members of the Commission in 1974 when this book was first printed also included Fr. Pedro Lerga, OAR, Augurio M. Abeto, Fe Dignadice, Rolando Espina and Fr. Bienbenido Junquera.

The summary of the contents of this historical publication included the following: prelude to social change before 1888; A Decade of Social Change; The Revolution of Filipinos Against Spain; The New Provincial Government; The American Advent and its Impact; The Active Anti-American Reaction; Toward a Fuller Integration; Summary and Observation, Appendices and Bibliography.

Other books also include: "Defiance" by Dominador Zaragoza; "They Chose to Fight" by Uldarico Baclagon; "From Up the Mountains" and "Chiaroscuro" - by the NOHCI Provincial Team.

Interested researchers on this publications can contact the Negros Historical Office Library through 034-433 2574/09175033845.