FOLLOWING our introduction of the overall coverage of the historical book of Ma. Fe Hernaez Romero, our column has started presenting a second series which includes three main aspects of the Spanish colonial arrival as we entitled the prelude to social change before 1898.

As a brief review, this coverage includes the early geographic setting of Negros Island, the historic beginnings of the Hispanization of Negros as part of the overall arrival of Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, on March 16, 1521.

These historic events, to reiterate also included, more Spanish migration in Negros, their socioeconomic cultural traits as well as the beginnings of Spanish and Filipino social, political and educational systems.

To continue Romero’s narrations, the Filipinos in Chapter 3 in Romero’s book covers the initial reaction of Filipinos which eventually led to the “levantamiento” or revolutionary stirrings which eventually resulted to the historic “Cinco de Noviembre” (November 5, 1898) upheaval of the Negrenses.

Together with this development, were various aspects of governmental organizations in the whole Island of Negros including the Spanish friars’ relations of the Negrenses with the Malolos Government and the interesting friendships among the Spanish and arriving American forces.

It was at this point that the overall situation was being influenced by the political organizing among the Negrenses and the start of the influence of the arriving Americans.

This period which eventually led to the Cinco de Noviembre revolutionary activity stands out as a notable aspect of the Negrense reaction to the remaining Spanish forces.

To make the story short, the organized Filipino forces overcame the remaining Spanish who surrendered on November 5, 1898.

To summarize various historical events at this point were the efforts of the Negrense leaders to organize their new provisional government, the entry of the Negros Oriental situation, Spanish Friars following the revolution, the reconstruction efforts in the whole Island, the inauguration of the new revolutionary government and the problematic relations with the Malolos leadership.

Meantime, the remaining Spanish forces at this point had also started establishing public relations with the arriving Americans which led to an interesting three way conflict.

At this point, the Negros forces were also dealing with the complications of their relations with arriving Americans and their organizational government which also included the takeover of the entire Oriental Negros area with the withdrawal of the Spanish forces. And the equally complicated situation were the punishments of the Spanish friars by the Negrense authorities which eventually led to the forgiveness of the remaining friars.

Interestingly, the Negrenses as authorized also allowed the friendly Americans to participate in the inauguration and changes by the Negrense authorities of the existing political and other American established regulations.

The Negrenses also allowed participation by the Malolos Government officials in their local relations.

Interestingly, the Aguinaldo government was at this time also in a political and economic situation with the Negros Cantonal Government and this relationship was closely observed by the arriving Americans.

Our next column will highlight the Filipino American relationship in this period.

To complicate the various relationships among the Negrense revolutionaries, the arriving American authorities and the remaining Spanish forces, the major complications were also the beginning to show in these various relationships.