NEGROSANONS now belong to Negros Island Region-Region 18. Our political umbilical cord is already detached from Western Visayas-Region 6. This is easier said than done. We are just politically detached but memories, relationship, and kinship still linger on.
I do not forget that my ancestors (sacadas) came from Antique. My grandmother (mother side) is a scion of the Olavieja clan of Capiz. My grandfather, Rev. Father Leon Fabillar, was once an Aglipayan parish priest of Dueñas, Iloilo, and a good friend of Tenyente Guimo (alleged aswang). Both Fabillar and Guimo fought hard against the American propagandists.
Negros Island is always associated with Panay. The ancient Bisaya (our ancestors) believed that a geological upheaval forcibly separated our island from “Aninipay,” the old name of Panay. That could be the reason why our forefathers called our island “Buglas” (to separate, break up, and take away). Pigafetta, Magellan’s official chronicler, called our island “Panilonghon.”
Alonso de Santa Cruz named our island “Negros” (1542) because it was inhabited by black people, possibly referring to the Negritoes. We are all aware that our “haciendas” in Negros were pioneered by the people coming from the town La Rica Villa de Arevalo (old name of Iloilo). This was the name given by Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa when he founded the town in 1581.
I grew up with the tourism industry under the supervision of former director Edwin Trompeta and now Department of Tourism-6 is under the leadership of my friend, Director Helen Catalbas. She was able to provide Negros Occidental with many tourism projects, especially roads leading to tourist attractions. We cannot forget all those.
Tourism officers of Negros Occidental don’t just forget their trip to Antique passing some Iloilo towns and tasting their products… sweet mangoes of Guimbal, “sinigang” and grilled tuna lunch at Tiolas, and the famous peanut “bandi” of Kianan. Attending “Binirayan Festival” in Antique is going back to the origin of time when the Ten Bornean Datus settled at Malandog after their boats landed in San Joaquin.
Antique is famous because of its gemstone craft, “patadyong”, old muscovado mill in Patnongon, underwater diving in Nogas Island, and seeing the blooming “Rafflesia Speciosa” flower in Sibalom. Mt. Madia-as serves as the haven of “babaylans” during Holy Week. Anini-y Church and San Agustin Convent in Patnongon are worth the visit.
Captivating (also bewitching) Capiz is not all about seafood. Capiz offers the old bell of Pan-ay considered the biggest bell in Asia, the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral in Roxas City, the “Ang Panublion” Museum, Agtalin Shrine in Pilar, People’s Park in Roxas, shell crafts made of Capiz shells, and visitors don’t miss the shoreline seafood restaurants.
Guimaras is just the neighbor of Pulupandan, Valladolid, and San Enrique. This island-province is home to world-renowned mangoes, cashew nuts, breathtaking landscapes, secluded coves, picturesque farms, quaint villages, bike trails, and one does not miss the Trappist Monastery. There are islands that are phonetically fashioned by the sea… Roca Entacada, Siete Pecados, Isla Naburot, Costa Aguada, and Nagarao.
No one can forget Boracay. How could you ever get tired of paradise? (I almost met my Eve here.) We enjoy “paraws” on white beach, relaxing under the coco palms, kite boarding in Bulabog Beach, strolling in Fairways and Bluewaters Golf Course, seeing heavenly bodies on beach front, and endless dancing under the quarter moon.
We cannot just say goodbye to Region 6. Our hearts and souls are still deeply rooted to the culture of our origin… to the origin of our culture.