CONFUSION? No, all of them are correct. It depends on your perception... on whatever you like, on whatever you want, and on whatever is comfortable for you. We are in a free country. Juan can call himself John, Johnny, Ivan, Juancito, Jhonn or any name that would still reflect on himself.
History. The island of Negros was accidentally found, not discovered, by the Spaniards in 1565. While Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was resting in his temporary base in Bohol, he sent a reconnaissance party to visit the other islands nearby. The expedition commanders were Esteban Rodriguez, Juan Aguirre and Fr. Diego Herrera, Augustinian priest.
The guide and interpreter was a Bornean merchant called Tuasan. He was captured by the Spaniards on their way to the Philippines. The expedition was able to reach the island of Buglas where they met the shoreline villagers who could be Malays. The Spaniards were told that there were many black people living in the hills.
The expedition was also able to reach the other shoreline villages within Buglas. The Spaniards were ambushed by the black natives in the village known as Tanjay. That was the story found in the History of Occidental Negros written by historian Modesto Sa-onoy. If you find some versions in other references, we want to hear that also.
In their report to Legaspi, Rodriguez and Aguirre mentioned the presence of an island with black people, "los negros," referring to the Aetas who ambushed them in Tanjay. They knew that the island was Buglas but because of that Tanjay incident, they called it "isla de los negros" or "Isla de Negros."
Reality. Since then, our island was Negros. The New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary of the English Language describes Negros as "an island (area 4,905 square miles) of the Visayas, central Philippines, producing especially sugarcane." Actually, our product is sugar... that is why in tourism, Negros is known as "sugar and more "the land of sweet surprises".
We are from Negros, therefore... we are Negrosanons or "taga-Negros" (from Negros). By calling ourselves Negrosanon, we become proud of our origin, the black people or the Aetas or Atis. We could fancy on the lives of our roots from Panay. We remember Marikudo, the leader of the Atis, and Maniwangtiwang, the first lady. The Barter of Panay is considered by some historians as a mere legend but the descendants of the characters involved in the barter stand firm that the event is true.
Our ancestors who fought during the Cinco de Noviembre Revolution called themselves Negrosanon. The officials of the 1898 Philippine Federal Republic Canton of Negros Island, composed of the Occidental and Oriental provinces called themselves Negrosanon. Even Papa Isyo, the pope and babaylan idol of the masses, claimed that he is a Negrosanon... "taga-Negros."
Cultural evolution. In the 80s, a few members of the "alta sociedad" (the so-called elite or "burgis") of Negros started to call themselves "Negrenses." Well, that sounds nice and their "compadres and comadres" felt good too to be addressed as Negrenses. It was on demand and since then, we run out of "Negrense" supply. So, we are Negrenses... good, no debate on that. Gradually, we are accepting it. The market vendors, trisikad drivers and hacienda workers could be there soon, hopefully.
Those who want to be called Negrense, please go ahead. It has public acceptability and still it means that we have descended from the black people, our Ati ancestors and we should be proud of that... just like Negrosanon or "taga-Negros." Let us welcome that as part of the evolution of Negros culture.
Probably... just probably, the one who added "se" to Negros to make it Negrense could have added the Spanish pronoun "se" (reflexivo) (a el mismo), himself... the Ati himself... (a ella misma)... the Ati herself. So, Negrosanon or Negrense still connotes that we are Ati descendants. Let us accept and enjoy it.
Just for fun, we can always add words to who we are... examples: Kabankalanon-Kabankalanes, Silaynon-Silaynes, Bacolodnon-Bacolones, Bagonhon-Bagones. That could be done but normally we want to stick to who we really are. Just be reminded that culture evolves... and sometimes evolution offers surprises.
Name a rose by any other name and that rose will still be the same sweet rose. Celebrate Negros! We are happy and proud to be known as Negrosanon, Negrense or "taga-Negros."