“I wish to continue being the governor of Negros Oriental,” was Governor Manuel “Chaco” L. Sagarbarría’s response when I asked him what his birthday wish was. He turned 38 on May 18.
His celebration coincided with the unveiling of a historical marker at the capitol, commemorating its centennial anniversary. Among the guests of honor were Senators Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, and Risa Hontiveros, along with the Irish Ambassador to the Philippines, William Carlos.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) installed a historical marker to commemorate the centennial anniversary at the Capitol Grounds on Kagawasan Avenue, Dumaguete City, on May 17.
During her speech, Senator Marcos couldn’t resist a playful jab, suggesting some Feng Shui adjustments or a few blessings for the capitol to shake off any bad vibes. Sagarbarría assumed leadership of the province during a challenging period, becoming the fourth governor in just two years due to a series of unfortunate events.
Former Governor Roel Degamo, who returned to office in October 2022 after a disputed election victory, was assassinated in March 2023. Initially, Pryde Henry Teves was declared the winner of the May 2022 elections, but a ruling shifted votes from a candidate named “Ruel Degamo” to Roel Degamo. After his assassination, Vice-Governor Carlo Jorge Reyes succeeded him but served only until his death in May 2023. Sagarbarría, initially elected as a board member and then vice governor, became governor through succession.
“That’s the reason why I wanted to continue being the governor of the province. And with our event today, I was overwhelmed by their support,” Sagarbarría shared during an interview with Manila Standard Life after the inauguration. “It took us two months to prepare for it.”
The event featured a fly-by airshow with a confetti drop by Royhle Aviation Academy Inc., and a performance by Kuh Ledesma, who sang her hits including “Dito ba?” and “Ako ay Pilipino.” Performers included the Silliman University Dance Troupe, Campus Choristers, Campus Band, and the Mariant Escaño Villegas Dance Company.
The celebration continued with a concert and the Centennial Pyro Musical Competition at Freedom Park, featuring Kim Hewitt and Midnasty Band. Governor Sagarbarría highlighted the Capitol Building as an architectural marvel and a symbol of the province’s rich history and enduring spirit.
After the event at the Capitol Grounds, I asked the amiable governor about his main goals as the provincial leader. He said it’s healthcare and tourism.
“Under our leadership, Negros Oriental has seen impressive growth primarily because we were able to restore peace and order in the province. Dumaguete is the ‘Province of Gentle People,’ so we are living up to that slogan,” Governor Chaco began.
“Statistically, we have been doing well since I became governor last year,” he continued. “In 2022, we had around 120,000 to 140,000 tourists. In 2023, that number increased to 143,000. Now, we’re almost hitting our target of 500,000 a year. In the first quarter alone, we reached 144,000, marking a growth of 155 percent.”
“This goal is crucial for us because economically, like Bohol, they are thriving due to tourism,” he added.
The main driver of this growth, according to the governor, is peace and order. He has worked hard to restore the reputation of Negros Oriental after the incident involving Degamo’s ambush.
“It stigmatized Negros as being unsafe due to all the hearings, including Senate hearings, which dragged the name of Negros Oriental through the mud. So, I had to rebrand the tourism sector back to being the original Negros Oriental—the province of Gentle People,” he explained.
To put Negros Oriental on the Philippine and world tourism map, his team has been organizing roadshows to showcase the province’s beauty and culture in 25 local government units (LGUs).
“We’ve been heavily focusing on tourism, and one of the impacts I believe you’ve heard about is our Negros Oriental roadshow. Aside from showcasing our local talents, we also bring in influencers from all over the Philippines. This significantly boosts the marketing of Negros Oriental because we want to highlight the beautiful sights in our LGUs,” Governor Sagarbarría stated, adding that these roadshows are funded out of his own pocket. “It’s just giving back because I was given the chance to be governor, so we’ll try to boost the economy as much as we can.”
Governor Sagarbarría is proud of tourist attractions like the world-famous Apo Island, a marine sanctuary where you can swim with turtles. Other tourist destinations in the province include the picturesque Manjuyod Sandbar, the enchanting Twin Lakes of Sibulan, Pulangbato Falls in Valencia, the Monkey Sanctuary, and the Kanlaon Rice Terraces, to name a few.
“We have similar potential to our neighboring provinces, although they have their unique set of tourism spots, and we have our own. We mostly focus on diving, beaches, resorts, and lesser-known tourism spots that lack marketing and promotion,” he stated.
Discussing the appeal of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, Governor Sagarbarría highlighted the region’s unique charm and relaxed pace of life, contrasting it with the hustle and bustle of larger cities.
“People who choose to stay here, including some from Manila, say they find Dumaguete and Negros Oriental charming because they don’t feel rushed. Mornings are leisurely with walks and drinks, unlike the hustle of Cebu or Manila. It’s a unique mix of both worlds,” he concluded.