Diocese of Bacolod Philippines at San Juan - Rizal Streets, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 PH - North Vicariates
| North Vicariates |
VICTORIAS PARISH
Distance from Bacolod 34.0 kilometers
Land Area 13,392.10 has.
Population 81,743 (as of May 1, 2000)
No. of Barangays 26 barangays
Points of Interest Arts, Culture and Religious
Natural Scenery
Festival Feast of Our Lady of Victory and
Malihaw Festival (April 16)
Charter Day (February 11)
Our Lady of Victory Church
The town of Victorias was originally located in what is now known as Daan Banwa (Old Town), a fishing village beside Malijao River and near its outlet to the sea.
During the Spanish era, the town was called Malijao, a name taken from malijao trees which grew in abundance along the riverbanks. It was ruled by Capitan Gregorio Conlu, and moro pirates and tulisanes reigned unmolested.
One day, the capitan's household was robbed. He was able to escape together with his secretary Alfonso Pachera, but his wife Capitana Tutang and their servant Micay were taken aboard the sailboat which immediately sailed for the open sea. When Capitana Tutang was asked whether she knew how to swim, she replied she could not. And so she and her servant were thrown overboard while their vessel was just outside Malijao's river mouth.
The robbers sailed on believing that the two will be drowned. But that was not the case, for both women were good swimmers. While struggling in the water, Capitana Tutang saw a beautiful lady she believed was the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When she reached home she prayed and promised to buy an image of the Lady who helped her. But having been divested of their possessions, it took several months of careful savings to be able to purchase the image from Barcelona, Spain. However, since she did not specify what image she wanted, Capitana Tutang received the statue of the Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, which to her amazement held the likeness of the Lady who saved her and Micay from drowning.
The inhabitants later proposed to change the name of Malijao to Nuestra Señora de las Victorias to perpetuate the miraculous incidents. They enjoined Capitan Gorio to ask the Governor to approve the change of name. The governor gave his consent, but retained only "Victorias" as the official name.
DA-AN BANWA, VICTORIAS
Distance from Bacolod 34.0 kilometers
Land Area 13,392.10 has.
Population 81,743 (as of May 1, 2000)
No. of Barangays 26 barangays
Points of Interest Arts, Culture and Religious
Natural Scenery
Festival Feast of Our Lady of Victory and
Malihaw Festival (April 16)
Charter Day (February 11)
E.B. MAGALONA PARISH
Distance from Bacolod 23.9 kilometers
Land Area 13,787.65 has.
Population 54,490 (as of May 1, 2000)
No. of Barangays 23 barangays
Points of Interest Historical Sites
Festival Ugyonan Festival
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
St. Joseph the Worker Church
HISTORY:
The town was named Saravia after the first Spanish military governor of Negros, Don Emilio Saravia (1856-1858). The original inhabitants of the place were Negritoes who were gradually driven to the mountains by settlers who came to make their permanent homes in choice lands specially in the present poblacion.
The first group of settlers in the town came from Albuquerque, Bohol. They were led by Florentino Rubiate who became the first "Cabeza de Barangay" of the place then called "Tugbawan", located between the rivers of Madalag Pequeña and Madalag Grande.
The exact date of the creation of Saravia into a municipality is rather controversial. A Spanish chronicler mentioned in his "Apuntos de la Isla de Negros" that Saravia was created into a town in 1858. However, another Spanish chronicler in his "Resena Historica de Negros" recorded Saravia’s conversion into a municipality in 1880. It is however safe to assume that Saravia became a municipality in 1889, when Recollect priest Fr. Pedro Lago took over the Administration of Saravia.
The first Capitan Municipal of the town was Santiago Reyes. He was succeeded by Carlos Magalona, who, with his brother Vicente, father of ex-senator Enrique Magalona with whom the town was named after, alternated over the position for the next 15 years.
House Bill 511 authored by the late Congressman Armando Gustilo changed the name of Saravia into E. B. Magalona on August 19, 1967.
SILAY PARISH
Distance from Bacolod 14.4 kilometers
Land Area 21,480 has.
Population 107,722 (as of May 1, 2000))
No. of Barangays 16 barangays
Points of Interest Historical Sites
Arts, Culture and Religious
Natural Scenery
Handicraft and Cottage Industry
Festival Kansilay Festival
City Charter Anniversary
Negros Revolution Anniversary
The Church
The Rectory
St. Didachus Church
HISTORY
Silay evolved from being an old Spanish settlement and was founded in 1760. Several families from Iloilo migrated to Silay and gave vigor to the lace making it an important commercial and agriculture settlement during the Spanish era.
It was in 1846 that cultivation of sugarcane spearheaded by Yves Leopold Germain Gaston made the town prosperous.
November 5, 1898 played a significant role in the history of Silay. It was on that day that the Silaynons attacked the Spanish garrison and the Spaniards surrendered peacefully. It was a bloodless revolution. The Philippine flag was raised for the first time at public plaza.
Silay was famous for its artists and cultural shows. It became the "Paris of Negros". Kahirup Theater was the center of these activities. Jose "Pitong" Ledesma, a Silaynon pianist, conductor and philantrophist was one of those responsible for inviting operatta and zarzuela performers from Europe.
Silay is the second town in Negros Occidental to become a city on June 12, 1957. Silay was famous for its artists and cultural shows. It became the "Paris of Negros".
In Region VI, Silay is known as the "seat of arts, culture and ecotourism. Silay has been recognized by the Department of Tourism as one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines.
To date, under the administration of Mayor Edwin D. Velez , Silay has been recognized by the Department of Tourism as one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines. In Region VI, Silay is known as the "seat of arts, culture and ecotourism".
ESTADO CHAPLAINCY
TANZA PARISH
HAWAIIAN CENTRAL CHAPLAINCY
CANELAND CHAPLAINCY
DOS HERMANAS CHAPLAINCY
CONCEPTION PARISH
TALISAY PARISH
PROFILE:
Distance from Bacolod 7.3 kilometers
Land Area 18,499.80 has.
Population 79,146 (as of May 1, 2000)
No. of Barangays 27 barangays
Points of Interest Historical Sites
Natural Scenery
Festival Ati-Atihan Festival
Feast of Sr. Sto. Niño
Pasidungog Festival
Charter Anniversary
Santo Niño Church
HISTORY:
Like most settlements in Philippine archipelago, Talisay was originally inhabited by aborigines called Negritoes or "Ati" in the local dialect. They were short people with black and kinky hair and led nomadic lives.
In 1788, a group of Malay descent led byFigure 1 Antonio Clemente and Juan Dalimo-os fled the marauding moros of "Tugtugan" (presently known as EB Magalona) and settled in the town they called "Minulu-an". Until the early 1800s, these immigrants and aborigines lived in constant fear of the marauding moro bandits who continously threatened their coastal settlements. In one of their encounters, a man named Kapitan Sabi almost single-handedly drove the moro intruders away. Thus, a street in the town was named after him in honor of his heroism.
With the advent of sugar industry in the province, TALISAY became its showcase. Thus, was the name given by Fr. Cuenca to Minulu-an settlement which he observed to be abundant with Talisay trees growing along the banks of Matab-ang River. The trees also served as landmark for fishermen and sailors from Panay and Guimaras.
On February 11, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos proclaimed Talisay into a city under Republic Act. No. 8489.