Negros Occidental
occupies the northern and western parts of Negros Island, the fourth largest island in the Philippines. The province is bounded by the Visayan Sea on the north, Tanon Strait and Negros Oriental on the east, guimaras Strait on the northwest, Panay Gulf on the southwest and Sulu Sea on the south.

BRIEF PROFILE
Capital:	Bacolod City
Land Area:	7,726.06 km²
Population:	2,396,039 (2010)
Cities:	Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, Victorias
Munacipalities:	19
Barangays:	601
Districts:	1st to 6th districts of Negros Occidental, district of Bacolod City
Languages:	Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Tagalog, English

The Land_______________________________

The northern and western parts are largely level plains and gently-rolling slopes. The remaining portion consists of mountain ranges of varied elevations.

Mt. Canlaon is the highest peak in the Visayas. Other major mountains are Mt. Madalagan and Mt. Silay.

The coastline is more irregular than that of Negros Oriental.

The province has two pronounced seasons, wet and dry.

A Brief History___________________________

The Negros Island was originally called " Buglas", but the Spaniards changed this to Negros because of the dark-skinned Negritos that inhabited the area.

The first capital of the province was Ilog in 1743, and was later transferred to Himamaylan. Bacolod became the province's capital in 1849.

Negros Occidental officially became a province on March 10, 1917.

In 1986, the province was divided into two, with the northern part declared as the province of Negros del Norte. Later that year, however, the Supreme Court declared the creation unconstitutional and eventually made Negros Occidental whole again.

The People______________________________

The people are called Negrenses. Majority speak "Ilonggo" or "Hilligaynon" and the rest, particularly in the areas bordering Negros Oriental, speak "Cebuano".

Residents of Bacolod City, the capital, are called "Bacoleños".

Commerce and Industry_____________________

Negros Occidental is known for its sugar, making it the country's "sugar bowl". It produces more than half of the country's sugar. Fifteen sugar centrals are located throughout the province.

Other crops, however, are brought in from neighbouring provinces because of the priority given to sugar cane. With the recent plunge in world sugar prices, the province is beginning to grow new crops like coffee, black pepper, ramie, among others.

Fishponds can be found in the city of Cadiz.

One of the biggest copper mines in the country is found in Sipalay town.

Getting There and Away_____________________

Ferries and fastcrafts from Iloilo, Cebu, and neighbouring island provinces depart for Bacolod on a regular basis.

Domestic flights fly from other provinces to Bacolod and vice versa daily.