Negros Oriental, Philippines

By James Barcelona

Tourist Attractions

Dumaguete Bell Tower

Dumaguete Bell Tower is the oldest known Belfry in the province of Negros Oriental, a historical structure built in the year 1811, standing next to the majestic St Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral (which was also built in the same year, but its present structure has been renovated already).

The Bell Tower was built to forewarn the locals of any incoming danger. It remains to be the oldest bell tower in the Visayas and is a very famous architectural landmark in the city. Because of its antiquity and authenticity it may well look out of place in the midst of the city's modern day activities.

But although it has been restored and given some additions over the years like the garden and grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at its base, it has retained its ancient look right down to the now moss covered exterior walls.

Due to its proximity to the Dumaguete city public market and the downtown area, traffic around the Bell Tower tend to be heavy on the peak hours between 9 am and 5 pm according to locals. The place is generally always packed with people, milling about near its base.

Devotees regularly light candles at the grotto area to profess their faith or to say their prayer requests. Some just stop over to pay a curious visit.

Apo Island

Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 12 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete City in the Philippines. The name "Apo" was derived from a Filipino word for "grandchild".

The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve, protected by the National Integrated Protected Area Act (NIPA) and under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). It has become a popular dive site and snorkeling destination with tourists. There are two resorts on Apo Island, each with a dive center: Apo Island Beach Resort and Liberty's Lodge. There is also a ranger station and a lighthouse.

The island is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Dauin, Negros Oriental, and is one of the municipality's 23 barangays. As of the 2010 census, the island has a population of 918.

Buglasan Festival

Buglasan Festival is celebrated annually in October in the provincial capital of Dumaguete and is hailed as Negros Oriental's "festival of festivals".  It is a week-long celebration where you can see unique booths of each town and city in Negros Oriental featuring their native products and tourist attractions. The highlight of the occasion is the float parade and street dancing competition.

Negros Oriental, also called Eastern Negros, is a province of the Philippines. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. A chain of rugged mountains separates Negros Oriental from Negros Occidental. Unlike its sister province, which belongs to the Western Visayas region, Negros Oriental belongs to the Central Visayas region. Dumaguete is the provincial capital and the most populous city in the province.

Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the east. It is bordered by Sulu Sea to the south. The province’s topography is characterized by low, grooved mountain ranges which lie close to the shoreline. At the northern end of the province is an active volcano, Mount Canlaon, which is the highest peak in the island with a height of 2465 meters. 

Cebuano is the primary language spoken by about 95% of the population in the province. Hiligaynon is spoken by the remaining 5% in areas close to the border with Negros Occidental. The predominant religion in the province is Christianity with Roman Catholicism as the biggest denomination. 

Negros Oriental has a tropical climate. The province is sheltered from the full impact of typhoons originating from the southwest because of the mountain range running from the north to the south. It also has two climatic regions because of the mountain range. The eastern part of the province is characterized by unpronounced rainfall with a short dry season lasting from one to three months. The western half of the province is characterized by a distinct wet and dry season. 

Negros Oriental’s major industry is agriculture because of its vast fertile land resources. The primary crops are sugarcane, corn, coconut and rice. Fishing is the main source of income in the coastal area. People are also involved in cattle ranches, fish ponds and logging. The province is also rich in mineral deposits like gold, silver and copper.

Negros Oriental is becoming a notable tourist destination in the Visayas. One of the landmarks of the province is the Dumaguete Bell Tower which stands next to the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. The tower was once used to warn the city of impending pirate attacks. Apo Island is a famous destination for both local and foreign tourists because of its dive site. Each town in Negros Oriental celebrates an annual town fiesta. The Buglasan Festival which is hailed as Negros Oriental’s “festival of festivals” is celebrated annually in October in Dumaguete City. It is a week-long celebration which showcases the unique booths and native products of each town and city in Negros Oriental.