Negros Oriental Province
occupies the southeastern portion of the Negros Island in the Visayas. It is bounded on the north and west by the of province Negros Occidental, on the east by Tanon Strait, and on the south by the Sulu sea.

BRIEF PROFILE
Capital:	Dumaguete City
Land Area:	5,402 sq km
Population:	925,311
Cities:	Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Tanjay
Number of Towns:	22

The land_______________________________

The province's terrain consists of rolling hills, a few plateaus, and mountain ranges.

Canlaon Volcano, the highest peak in the island of Negros, dominates the northern end of the province. Another peak is Cuernos de los Negros, whose base Dumaguete lies.

The eastern part of the province has a climate characterized by no pronounced rainfall. The other half of the province has distinct wet and dry seasons.

A Brief History___________________________

Negros Island was originally called "Buglas". The Spaniards changed this to Negros because of the dark-skinned Negritos that live there.

The province was administered from Cebu until 1734, when it was made a military district of its own. In 1890, Negros Island was divided into two politico-military provinces, Occidental and Oriental.

Negros Oriental officially became a province under the American civil government on March 10, 1917.

The People______________________________

Negros Oriental is culturally-oriented towards Cebu. Most of the people who inhabit the coastal towns speak Cebuano. Other dialects spoken are Tagalog and Ilonggo.

Commerce and Industry_____________________

Like most people in the country, people in Negros Oriental are involved in the agriculture industry. The principal products grown are sugarcane, corn, coconut and rice.

The province has extensive marine resources, making fishing the main source of livelihood in the coastal areas. It also has cattle ranches and fish ponds, as well as a logging industry.

Metallic minerals found in the province include gold, silver, and copper.

Among the popular cottage industries are woodcraft, ceramics, shellcraft and mat-weaving.

Getting There and Away_____________________

Boats and fast ferries from Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, and Dipolog depart for Dumaguete, the province's capital city, daily.

Buses serve the Bacolod-Dumaguete route several times daily.

Buses serve the Dumaguete-Cebu, Cebu -Dumaguete route several times daily.

Domestic flights are also available from Manila daily via Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines.

Other Information__________________________

The Provincial Capitol in Dumaguete was built in 1924.

The Dumaguete Bell Tower, built in 1811, used to warn residents of raiding pirates.

The Dumaguete Boulevard, along the sea, is a favorite place to relax and hang-out. Several restaurants, disco bars, and hotels line-up along it. It is also the site for food festivals, parades and other government-sponsored occasions.

Silliman University in Dumaguete, founded by American missionaries in 1901, is the only Protestant university in the country. Its 35-hectare area is a bird sanctuary. Silliman Hall serves as a museum that houses an extensive collection of locally-excavated artifacts, Sung and Ming dynasty porcelain, and voodoo paraphernalia from Siquijor. Its marine laboratory offers gear for diving and exploring the fish-rich waters.

The twin Lakes Balinsasayao and Danao, northwest of Dumaguete, are small adjacent crater lakes on an elevation of 300 meters amidst the lush forest.

The Palimpinon Hot Springs, 10 kilometers from the city, come from crevices along the Ocoy river bank.

Camp LookOut in Valencia town, west of Dumaguete, is in the foothills of Cuernos de Negros or "Horns of Negros", so named because of its twin peaks. This "Little Baguio" provides a panoramic view of the Dumaguete port and the islands of Cebu and Siquijor. Other places to see in Valencia are Tejeros, a fresh-water swimming pool flanked by verdant hills, Karolan Twin Falls, and the Filipino-Japanese-American Amity shrine in Sagbang, site of a fierce battle during World War II.

Bais City, a city in the north, is famous for its whale-watching activity. Further up north is Canlaon City, near the province´s northern border on the eastern slopes of Canlaon Volcano, which is dubbed as "The Baguio of the Visayas".

South of Dumaguete are the towns of Bacong, with its old coral church facing the sea,and Dauin, with its centuries-old towers used against marauding pirates. Zamboanguita is another town in the south, from where a pump boat may be hired to Apo Island, a popular retreat for scuba-divers.