When a province’s major industry is sugar, a variety of sweet delicacies is only but expected—and Negros Occidental got that in spades. But for those who don’t know, there is more to the “Sugar Capital of the Philippines” than Napoleones, piaya and muscovado.
Occupying a land area of 792,607 hectares, the island province of Negros Occidental is bounded by Visayan Sea on the north, Sulu Sea on the south, Guimaras Strait on the west and its neighbor Negros Oriental on the east.
It was only in May last year that the Occidental and Oriental provinces were separated from their respective economic regions and were combined to form Region 18, or the Negros Island Region (NIR) in a bid to further accelerate the social and economic development of the cities and municipalities in the two provinces.
Negros Occidental may be part of a newly minted region today, but being a tourism-oriented province, its potential to be the country’s next hottest destination remains cemented. Here are the cases in point.
Lounge by the beach, dive in the sea
While the white sand beaches in Negros Occidental cannot compete with that of Boracay’s and Palawan’s, its pristine blue waters and rich marine wildlife are a class of their own.
Life has found a place in the southern City of Sipalay, as the previous mining city of Negros is now home to some of the premier diving resorts in the province.
Take your spot in the unspoiled long-stretch white sand of Punta Ballo beach, a 30-minute drive away from the city proper, and revel in the beauty of the ocean while reading a good book or sipping an ice-cold drink. Facing west, Punta Ballo also makes for a great location to watch the sunset.
After spending ample time lounging by the beach, grab a snorkeling or diving gear from Easy Diving Resort or Artistic Diving Resort and explore the coral gardens in Campomanes Bay, whose calm and clear water houses various species of corals and fishes. The area is also a great spot for jet skiing, kayaking and island hopping.
It would seem that Negros Occidental never runs out of fine white beaches and marine resources as in the first class municipality of Cauayan where the charming Punta Bulata White Beach Resort and Spa is.
Owned and operated by the prominent Zayco family, the resort was initially used as a family beach house that was later turned into a deluxe resort that can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Punta Bulata offers a variety of accommodations, from nipa-hut cottages to luxurious spa rooms. With its secluded location, one would probably not expect to see superb lodging and first-class service that are complemented with an exclusive one-kilometer stretch of white sand beach.
Be one with nature
Perhaps the strongest yet underrated selling point of Negros Occidental tourism is its focus on ecotourism. While other provinces are bent on building structures in and around their tourist sites just to accommodate more people, some of Negros’ sanctuaries put greater effort into protecting the natural habitats of plants and animals.
Located three kilometers off the shore of Brgy. Bulata in Cauayan, is the 43-hectare Danjugan Island. The island is owned and managed by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI).
“The entire island is acquired through fundraising for conservation. It was bought in 1994 so that we can recover it, save it and create a wildlife sanctuary in it,” shares Island Manager Dave Albao.
PRRCFI is quick to note that while guests are allowed in the sanctuary, its main priority is not the convenience and entertainment of tourists but the wildlife living and resting in it.
“We call Danjugan a sanctuary, not a resort,” emphasizes Albao.
In fact, only 10 percent of the entire island is allotted for human structure, which are the learning center and the lodging in Moray Lagoon Camp and Typhoon Beach.
Human crowd is the least of your concern while you take part in nature activities, as the island only has 10 staff and follows a strict carrying capacity of 49 guests (32 at Moray Camp, 17 at Typhoon Beach).
An overnight stay at Moray Lagoon Camp costs P2,950 per person, while a night in one of the rooms at Typhoon Beach costs P3,950 per person—both are inclusive of meals, boat transfers, island activities (guided tour, snorkeling and kayaking), accident insurance and conservation fee that goes directly to Danjugan Island Environmental Education Program (DEEP). Day tour package is also available.
Negros Occidental also takes pride in its mangrove eco parks.
In Silay, there is the 50-hectare Balaring Mangrove Eco Park. Eight species of mangroves thrive in the ecotourism area which provides an alternative source of income to its locals. Guests can traverse the 500-meter bamboo bridge or climb the 30-foot watch tower.
Meanwhile on Suyac Island in northern city of Sagay, is where Suyac Island Mangrove Eco Park is located. Suyac Island Mangrove Eco Park is home to the 300-year-old sonneratia alba mangrove or commonly known as pagatpat specie, one of the oldest and biggest in Negros Occidental.
Guests can explore the 108-hectare mangrove area during the day for only P70 per person. Suyac Island Eco Tourism Association, the community that manages the Eco Park, also serves meals to guests such as their Suyac kinilaw, among others.
Travel back in time
They say a visit in Negros Occidental is never complete without seeing The Ruins, a mansion that tells the story of undying love of Don Mariano Lacson to his wife Maria. But aside from this famous tourist spot in Talisay, one can relive the past and take a glimpse into the life of sugar barons and other prominent families in one of the many ancestral houses and museums in Silay City, where most of the rich families lived when the sugar industry boomed in the late 19th century.
Visit the Balay Negrense, a two-story, 12-bedroom home built by Don Victor Gaston to see the province’s history based on the eyes of a haciendero. The house of stone and wood fuses Spanish and American colonial architecture and features a double staircase, French windows and large living areas—where people from the past gathered to socialize and dance.
The museum is open on Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Experience living in an ancestral home for a night or two at the German Unson Heritage House which was recently converted into a bed and breakfast facility. The decades-old house has four lettable rooms and can accommodate 12 guests.
These are just some of the many stunning destinations in Negros Occidental. Believe it or not, this is just the 10 percent of what awaits you in this sweet province in the Visayas.