Negrense Studies Reviewer

Negrense Studies Reviewer: ● ● Executive Order 183 (2015): Created the Negros Island Region (NIR), combining Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. Negros Island: ○ 4th largest island in the Philippines (13,309.6 sq km). ○ Inhabitants called Negrenses. ○ Originally called "Buglas" by natives, renamed Negros due to dark-skinned inhabitants (1565). Negros Occidental: ● ● ● ● ● ● Capital: Bacolod City. Language: Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholicism. Festivals: Masskara Festival, Pasalamat Festival, Bailes de Luces, Pintaflores Festival. Known as Sports Capital of the Philippines. Landmarks: Panaad Stadium, The Ruins, Balay Negrense. Negros Oriental: ● ● ● ● Capital: Dumaguete City. Language: Cebuano. Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholicism. Festivals: Hambalalud Festival, Masulog Festival, Bodbod Festival, Sinulog sa Tanjay. Sugar Industry: ● ● ● ● Negros became known as Sugarlandia due to its focus on sugar production. Nicholas Loney: Played a significant role in establishing the sugar industry by providing capital and modern equipment. Shift to sugar monocropping made the population dependent on the crop, leading to vulnerability during natural disasters. Laurel-Langley Pact: Benefited sugar exports to the U.S., leading to prosperity in Negros until the decline of the industry. Economic Shifts: ● Negros shifted from a self-sufficient, diversified economy (textiles, rice, and cacao production) to sugar monoculture in the late 19th century. ● Negative impacts of monocropping: Hunger, dependence on external markets, and labor exploitation. Decline of Sugar Industry: ● Despite early success, Negros faced economic challenges due to natural disasters and global market changes. ● History of Sugar in Negros: ○ Sugar shifted from a luxury to a necessity between 1750-1850. ○ Nicholas Loney introduced modern sugar milling and foreign investments, transforming Negros into a sugar monocrop region. ○ Negros' economy shifted from a self-sufficient, diversified economy to a sugar-dependent monoculture. Monocrop Vulnerabilities: ○ Negros' dependence on sugar left its people vulnerable to external factors such as natural disasters, fluctuating market prices, and crop failures. ○ Laurel-Langley Pact ensured profitable sugar exports to the U.S., but its expiration in 1974 led to a severe decline in sugar prices and exports. Sugar Crisis (1970s-1980s): ○ Decline due to global price drops, European sugar production, and mismanagement under the Marcos regime. ○ Marcos cronies, especially Roberto Benedicto, controlled sugar monopolies and contributed to widespread corruption, leading to the suffering of Negros' people. ○ Famine hit Negros, causing widespread malnutrition and child deaths, with 40% of children under 14 malnourished. Social Impact: ○ Severe poverty and hunger led to the rise of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and insurgencies. ○ The Escalante Massacre (1985) symbolized the repression and unrest caused by the sugar crisis. Rehabilitation and Diversification: ○ Post-Marcos efforts like the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) aimed at redistributing land. ○ Diversification into other sectors like tourism, telecommunications, and agriculture (high-value crops) started but remained slow. ○ Sugar remains a major industry, contributing 64% of total sugar output in the Philippines (2018-2019). ● ● ● ● Keywords: ● Nicholas Loney, Sugarlandia, Monocrop economy, Laurel-Langley Pact, Marcos cronies, Roberto Benedicto, Escalante Massacre, Tiempo Muerto (Time of Death), Famine, Malnutrition, Communist Insurgency, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), Diversification, Tourism, Telecommunications, High-value crops. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS ( MUCH EXTENSIVE ) Historical Background of Sugar in Negros ● ● Sugar’s Rise to Global Importance: Between 1750-1850, sugar transformed from a luxury to a widely consumed necessity globally. By the mid-19th century, it became a key commodity in international trade​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Nicholas Loney’s Role: In 1855, British national Nicholas Loney initiated trade between the Philippines and Great Britain. He introduced capital and modern milling technology to Negros, helping shift the island’s economy from a diversified agricultural system to one almost entirely dependent on sugarcane production​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Economic Transition: From Self-Sufficiency to Dependency ● ● Diversified Economy (Pre-Sugarlandia): Before becoming the sugar-dominated economy known as "Sugarlandia", Negros had a self-sufficient agricultural economy. Spanish chroniclers documented the production of various crops such as corn, edible root crops, and rice, along with textile fibers and tobacco. These products were consumed locally and traded with neighboring islands​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Transition to Sugar Monoculture: With rising demand for sugar in Europe, Negros saw a shift towards sugar monoculture under Loney’s influence. He provided loans to local planters at favorable rates and introduced modern milling equipment, with the condition that all produce was sold to his company. This transition brought short-term wealth but long-term dependency​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Negros' Vulnerability as a Monocrop Economy ● ● Dependence on External Markets: The transformation to a sugar-dependent economy made Negros highly vulnerable to market changes, natural disasters, and political factors. By the late 19th century, the reliance on sugar made the working class—formerly self-sufficient farmers—dependent on plantation wages, which were unstable due to seasonal harvests and market volatility​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). External Factors: Events like droughts, storms, and plagues (e.g., locusts) left the sugarcane-dependent population susceptible to hunger and economic hardship. The monocrop nature of the economy meant that when sugarcane failed, there was no safety net​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Peak of the Sugar Industry: U.S. Influence and the Laurel-Langley Pact ● ● U.S. as a Major Sugar Market: After the American colonization of the Philippines in 1898, the U.S. became a major buyer of Filipino sugar, including that from Negros. This was particularly enhanced by the Laurel-Langley Pact, which guaranteed Philippine sugar a specific quota in the U.S. market. During this period, Negros prospered, contributing significantly to the Philippines' foreign earnings​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Wealth and Extravagance: The sugar boom led to extreme wealth for the hacienderos (landowners) in Negros. By the 1970s, Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental, was a bustling center of nightlife, foreign cars, and extravagant lifestyles. At its peak, efforts were even made to book famous bands like the Beatles for local performances​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). The Decline of the Sugar Industry (Mid-1970s to 1980s) ● ● End of the Laurel-Langley Pact: The expiration of the Laurel-Langley Pact in 1974 led to a sharp decline in sugar exports to the U.S. from 1.2 million tons to just 330,000 tons a year later​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). This, combined with the rise of sugar beet production in Europe (heavily subsidized by the European Economic Community), caused sugar prices to plummet​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Corruption and Mismanagement: The sugar industry was further crippled by rampant corruption under Ferdinand Marcos' cronies, particularly Roberto Benedicto, who controlled the National Sugar Trading Corp. (Nasutra). By 1985, a staggering $1.15 billion had been lost through mismanagement, and large estates were abandoned, leaving 190,000 sugar workers jobless​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Social Impact: Famine and Malnutrition ● ● Massive Hunger and Poverty: The sugar crash led to severe famine in Negros, with many families unable to support themselves. By 1985, around 40% of children under 14 were malnourished. The Tiempo Muerto ("Dead Season"), typically a brief period between planting and harvesting, became a prolonged period of hunger and destitution​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Healthcare Crisis: Hospitals in Negros, especially in Bacolod, saw skyrocketing numbers of malnourished children with infant mortality rates nearly double the national average. Doctors and nurses reported a sharp increase in deaths caused by malnutrition, pneumonia, and tuberculosis​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…)​(THE SUGAR CRISIS IN NEG…). Escalante Massacre and Rising Insurgency ● Escalante Massacre (1985): On September 20, 1985, a peaceful protest turned into a bloodbath when paramilitary forces fired on demonstrators during the Welgang Bayan