Negros Occidental: The sweet life
Posted by on June 6, 2008
If I am to describe Negros Occidental in one would that would be: sweet.
Negros Occidental is one of the more progressive provinces of the Philippines. It’s main line of business is the sugar industry. For so many years now, Negros Occidental supplies more than half of the country’s sugar supply, thus it earned the moniker “The Sugar Bowl of the Philippines.”
Aside from providing most of the country’s supply for table sugar, Negros Occidental is also exporting its world-class quality sweetener.
Sugar centrals abound the entire province. Some are still in operation while some have already slept into retirement. There’s the Dacongcogon Sugar Central in Kabankalan City, the Binalbagan – Isabela Sugar Central (BISCOM) in Binalbagan, First Farmers Holding Corporation in Dos Hermanas Talisay City, Hawaiian Philippine Central in Silay City, Central Azucarera de La Carlota in La Carlota City, the Lopez Sugar Central Corporation and the Sagay Central Inc, in Sagay City, the Universal Robina Corp. – SONEDCO in Kabankalan City, and the Victorias Milling Company in Victorias City. Victorias Milling Company (VMC) is said to be the first and the largest sugar refinery in the entire Asian continent.
Sugar became the lifeblood of the Negrenses. It has brought so much wealth and fortune to the sugar barons which is very evident in its palatial mansions buils in the areas of Silay, and Talisay.
Life has been so sweet for the Negrenses, thanks to the sugar industry. But they also had their fair share of downfall too. When the prices for world sugar droped to its lowest, the people suffered. But the indomitable spirit of the Negrense proved that they can rise above the tragedies and catastrophes happening to them.
