Unknown Filipino Hero: Juan Araneta

 

Juan Araneta

Revolutionary Leader and Pioneering Farmer

(1852 - 1924)

Juan Araneta is a revolutionary leader and patriot who is one of the key figures of Negros Occidental's Al Cinco de Noviembre. He is also a sugar farmer who pioneered the development of sugar industry in Negros. He is instrumental in the development of agriculture in the Philippines. 

Birth and Early Years

On July 13, 1852, Juan Anacleto Torres Araneta was born in Molo, Iloilo (now a district of Iloilo City). His mother, Agueda Villanueva Torres, was 23 years old when he was born, and his father, Romualdo Marcial Cabungsol Araneta, was 29 years old at the time and a direct male-line descendant of José de Araneta y Guyol.

Juan has a brother, Eusebio, who moved to Iloilo, and sisters, Magdalena and Pedro Sarmiento, who were important figures in Juan Anacleto's life; Maria Rosario and Remegio Salas; and Maria Consolacion and Fedirico Matti, who was one of the first Bago mayors.

Later on, the Araneta-Torres family relocated to Negros and made it their permanent home.

Pedro Sarmiento, his brother-in-law, took him to Manila when he was 19 years old, and he enrolled in the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He had a lot of promise in school and was recognized for his efforts with distinction medals. He received a perito mercantil degree upon graduation, which is the same as a bachelor's degree in commerce today. José Alejandrino, Apolinario Mabini, Cayetano Arellano, and José Rizal were among of his schoolmates.

Like his father before him, he was elected Capitan del Pueblo upon his return to Molo.  However, the province's friars had grown wary of him, and the only thing keeping the Spanish government from summarily eliminating him was the great admiration and respect of the residents of Bago and the other towns in the province of Negros Occidental.

Life as a Farmer

After his wife passed away in 1891, Juan traveled to Europe with his friend Don Claudio Reina. He got to meet a lot of the Filipino leaders who were then residing in Madrid, London, and Paris. He marveled at the independence and the progress of industrialization there. The Swiss cantonal system of government really intrigued him. He became a believer in the potential of machines as catalysts for advancement after witnessing the industrial machinery used by European farmers.  This led to even greater hostility from the Spanish government when he returned.  He consequently lost the farm that his parents had left him and his sisters. He was forced to relocate his family to the Mount Kanlaon slopes, where they began farming once more. He brought a lot of devices to his Dinapalan hacienda.

His use of a telescope to remotely monitor his workers on the expansive hacienda is one well-known story. The general populace began to believe that he possessed magical abilities, but in fact, he could simply view their behavior via the telescope.

Tan Juan was an agricultural inventor of his era who experimented with cultivating rice, abaca, and coffee in addition to sugarcane, diversifying the agricultural output in Negros Occidental.

Tan Juan, as he was affectionately known, also brought foreign agricultural equipment to Bago, which facilitated the cultivation of rice, abaca, and coffee.

He presented what he observed to the village of Bago after applying what he had learned in Europe to his land.

Tan Juan is largely responsible for the agricultural prosperity of Bago, which is currently regarded as the rice granary of Negros Occidental and a developing coffee haven.

Conflict with the Spanish Authorities

He became aware of the use of modern agricultural equipment and tools during his trips in Europe. He had a sugar mill erected at his Dinapalan hacienda after importing it from England. He occasionally purchased farm equipment such as an abaca baler, a rice thresher, and better models of plows.

But this penchant for contemporary farming implements proved to be his downfall.  The boatloads of material being unloaded close to his Lumangub property raised suspicions among the Spanish authorities.  In January 1897, he was taken into custody and taken to Concordia.  Later, he was taken to Himamaylan and then to Ilog, the province's capital at the time.  According to his diary, there were plans to organize the province's revolutionary forces while he was incarcerated.  Annotations indicated that he communicated with other provincial leaders.  In October 1897, he was ultimately taken to Bacolod and set free.

The Negros Revolution

The initial phase of the revolution was sweeping across the provinces as he worked to build his farm. Spanish authorities throughout the archipelago were alarmed and increased their vigilance by detaining anyone they believed would rebel against them. Despite his reputation as a liberal thinker, Araneta was not exempt from their lists. He was taken into custody on January 9, 1897, and remained incarcerated until March 8, 1897.

After being released from prison, he joined Aniceto Lacson, Leandro Locsin, and Nicolas Golez to form revolutionary forces in Negros.  Lacson led the North command, while Araneta led the South.

A messenger from Talisay reported that the revolutionaries and the cazadores were already fighting on November 5, 1898 (Cinco de Noviembre). The revolutionary forces in Bago began their march toward Bacolod at around 1:00 in the afternoon.  They only owned three weapons: a shotgun, a Mauser rifle, and a Remington rifle.  The leader of the rebel troops, General Araneta, instructed his men to chop pagong, or nipa stems, and to carry them like weapons. The password was to be utod (brother) in Hiligaynon in case they got in touch.

Araneta declared the Republic of Negros and raised the Filipino flag in Bago Town that same day. Araneta led his troops into Bacolod at around 1:00 in the afternoon of the next day, with the majority of them carrying farming implements and woods that appeared to be rifles from a distance, along with a few firearms (a Remington, a Mauser, and a shotgun). As they marched from the northern side to Bacolod, the Lacson faction followed suit.

When the rebels marched near Bacolod, the Spanish authorities believed they wanted to give up their weapons. To their surprise, the rebels suggested that the Spaniards surrender to prevent bloodshed. The Spaniards agreed without hesitation. Spanish reinforcements from Iloilo didn't arrive until Bacolod was already in rebel control.

The Spanish friars and Colonel Isidro de Castro, the Spanish Gobernador Politico-Militar of Negros, observed the rebel troops marching on Bacolod from opposing directions while looking fully armed from the belfry of the Bacolod Cathedral. Alarmed, Colonel de Castro dispatched Manuel Fernandez Yuson and Jose de Luzurriaga to negotiate the surrender of the Spanish civil guards and soldiers, only to discover later that they had been duped by the rebels' resourcefulness.

By utilizing bamboo mats painted to simulate cannons, they cleverly bluffed Spanish forces into surrendering, opening the door for a republican government led by the Negrenses.

On November 6, 1898, Don Isidro Castro, the Spanish governor of Negros Island, gave himself up to soldiers led by Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson at Bacolod.

On November 7, 1898, a cantonal system of governance was established in Bacolod, with Aniceto Lacson serving as president and General Juan Araneta as secretary of war.  However, when the Americans landed in Negros on December 28, 1898, this administration was overthrown.  Araneta advised the administration to surrender after observing the American forces' superior equipment.  His allies fiercely fought and denounced his request, but eventually gave in.  America's occupation of Negros was hence peaceful.  By the time American military rule was instituted in the nation, the cantonal government had been permitted to continue until it was eventually abolished.

The Republic of Negros

General Aniceto Lacson established a cantonal system of governance in Bacolod, with General Juan Araneta as the Secretary of War and General Aniceto Lacson as President. He advised the cantonal government to surrender to the American forces upon their arrival in Iloilo. His comrades-in-arms strongly objected to this and mocked it. But in the end, his plan was accepted, and the Americans took Negros without facing any resistance.

Personal Life

A total of twenty-five children were born to Juan Araneta.  Cristeta Sarmiento, his first wife, passed away in 1891, leaving him and their nine children.

He has thirteen children with Natalia Salsalida y Bobeda, his second spouse.

He has three more children from his two other relationships.

Cristeta Sarmiento, with whom he had nine children:

Elisa Araneta y Sarmiento

Romualdo Araneta y Sarmiento

Félix Araneta y Sarmiento

Gertrudes Araneta y Sarmiento

Jaime Carlos Araneta y Sarmiento

Jorge León Araneta y Sarmiento

José Araneta y Sarmiento

Luisa Flavia Araneta y Sarmiento

Ramón Araneta y Sarmiento

Natalia Salsalida, with whom he had thirteen children:

Agüeda María Feliciana Araneta y Salsalida

Romualdo Marcial Araneta y Salsalida

Crestita Pascuala Araneta y Salsalida

Teresa Bonifacia Araneta y Salsalida

Guillermo Hillarión Araneta y Salsalida

Ana Justina Araneta y Salsalida

María Ricarda 'Rica' Araneta y Salsalida

Patrocinio Dominga Araneta y Salsalida

Teodoro Antonio Araneta y Salsalida

Silvia Agustina Araneta y Salsalida

Woodrow Cecilio Araneta y Salsalida

Felipe Alberto Araneta y Salsalida

Félix Alberto Araneta y Salsalida

Celestina Díaz, with whom he had a son:

Emilio Araneta y Díaz

Juanita Camellarosa, with whom he two daughters:

Trinidad Araneta y Camellarosa

Rufina Araneta y Camellarosa

Unusual Charm and Supernatural Story

Since Juan Anacleto is recognized for having a strong charisma (or "dungan" in the local dialect), Aguinaldo's belief in him is not out of the ordinary. Ordinary people believe that he is friends with the sota, a mythical monster that is half-black and half-white and represents both good and evil, and that he consorts with the spirits that reside in Mount Kanlaon.  According to the folklore, he can see far and wide and his horse can fly. One of the most powerful "anting-anting" (talismans) is embedded in him. It is said that he battles his fiercest foe in the sky, and their battles resemble thunder.

Later Years and Death

He served as one of the commissioners for the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, where he displayed more than a thousand rice varieties, as well as samples of cocoa, beans, abaca, and numerous other crops from Negros and Panay. Due to the outstanding quality of all these shows, he received both gold and silver medallions. For the enjoyment of his big family, he also created Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. Maria A. Matti, his daughter, subsequently received this property from him.

He stayed up to date on the latest advancements in crops or agricultural tools and implements. He planted trees that were not native to Negros and attempted to raise a variety of crops on his land.  He was one of the founding members of the Ma-ao Sugar Central in Bago. To support the new business, he lent the corporation the titles to his properties. Later, the province's first American sugar factory was established by the Sugar Central. He convinced his tenants to cultivate sugarcane on huge tracts of land. Tan Juan also had a key role in the establishment of the Bago Baptist Church.

The City of Bago has a museum and a monument in his honor today. Araneta did not live long enough to witness the growth of the agricultural and business he had previously diversified into. He left behind a big family consisting of 25 children and several grand and great grandkids when he passed away on October 3, 1924.

General Juan Anacleto Torres Araneta, better known as the mastermind behind the November 5, 1898, march from the town of Bago (now a city) to the San Sebastian Cathedral, loved the soil just as much as his nation. His love of farming gave his idyllic life a surprising splash of color. 

Tan Juan is recognized for his services to agriculture and for motivating the following generation of farmers, in addition to making a lasting impression on Negros history by defeating the Spaniards in 1898.

Sources

WikiTree Biography of Juan Anacleto T. Torres -https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Araneta-61

On 100th death anniversary, Juan Araneta honored as both revolutionary and farming hero by Ambo Delilan on Rappler - https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/centennial-death-anniversary-tan-juan-araneta-honored-revolutionary-farming-hero/

The life and legend of Gen. Juan T. Araneta, Sunstar.com.ph - https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/the-life-and-legend-of-gen-juan-t-araneta

Unknown Filipino Hero: Antonio Ledesma Jayme

Antonio Ledesma Jayme

Patriot and Fourth Civil Governor of Negros Occidental

(1854 - 1937)

A Filipino lawyer, revolutionary hero, assemblyman, governor of Negros Occidental, and founding father of a revolutionary nation, Antonio Ledesma Jayme (July 24, 1854 – October 19, 1937) was also a legislator and a signatory to the constitution of a nation-state.

Early Years and Education

On July 24, 1854, Antonio L. Jayme was born in what is now Iloilo City's Jaro district. He was the oldest of Aguedo Gamboa Jayme and the former Sabina Lopez Ledesma's seven children.

When Jayme was a little boy, his family moved to Silay City, Negros Occidental. This happened at a time when inexpensive imports from mainland China were forcing the Chinese mestizos of Jaro and Molo on Panay Island to look for better economic prospects outside of Iloilo's dwindling textile sector. This interest among Jaro's businesses to settle in adjacent Negros Island was fueled by the prospect of enormous reward provided by the high price of world sugar. The Jaymes converted a plot of land into a plantation, or hacienda, and followed sugar-based agriculture like the other immigrants in the wave.

Jayme received an early education by traveling across the Guimaras Strait to attend the Seminario de Jaro, often known as the Jaro Seminary, as was typical of the Negros principalia.  Since its first rector was his paternal uncle, Fray Francisco Jayme, who raised and schooled Philippine patriot Graciano Lopez-Jaena, he was easily accommodated.  Jayme attended Jaro, which at the time was still the most populous, hardworking, and wealthy province in the Philippines, to study philosophy and letters from 1869 to 1871.

But in 1872, driven by a desire to travel and pursue higher education, he traveled to Manila to enroll in Colegio de San Juan de Letran.  He enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas after finishing his segunda ensenanza (Spanish for "secondary education"), where he graduated in October 1881 with a licenciado en jurisprudencia, or Bachelor of Laws.

During the time of Spanish colonization in the Philippines, he was to become the first Ilonggo lawyer to practice law in Negros.  He later joined the government as a judge of the province's Court of First Instance and a justice of the peace.

The Philippine Revolution and Its Aftermath

Negros armed themselves against Spain in 1898 during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution.  Jayme witnessed the bloodless surrender of Spanish troops in Bacolod during this historic occasion, which is today known as the Cinco de Noviembre Movement or the November 5 Movement of the Negros Revolution.  The people of Negros celebrated the first time a Philippine flag floated triumphantly in the Spanish fortress of Bacolod, breaking "more than three hundred years of Spanish rule without firing a shot."

The ratification of a new government's constitution following the Spanish defeat was signed by Jayme.  Jayme served as the general counselor of the provisional government despite internal leadership conflicts when the "Cantonal Republic of Negros" (Spanish: República Cantonal de Negros) was renamed the Republic of Negros on July 22, 1899. He also held the position of Secretary of Justice under President Aniceto Lacson.  By using subtlety and careful diplomacy, he was able to keep conflicts from breaking out between groups that supported American sovereignty and those that opposed it.

In 1904, Jayme defeated Esteban de la Rama to win the position of provincial governor following the United States' declaration of secure rule over Philippine territory.

In his capacity as governor, Jayme used public monies to build schools, promote enrollment, and raise his constituents' reading rates.  In addition to accelerating the province's pacification, he waged campaigns against gambling, banditry, vagrancy, and other vices.  His support of legal reform contributed to the improvement of Negros Occidental's political and social circumstances.  The laws of the era were derived from the 19th-century Spanish legal system.  According to a document created by the Philippine National Historical Institute, "He sought remedies to problems by suggesting modifications in existing laws and the enactment of new ones."

Because to his achievements as governor, he was elected to the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 as the representative of Negros Occidental's first district.  Filipinos established their own legislature for the first time in history. He was a member of the City of Manila committee, the Provincial and Municipal Government committee, and the Law Revision Committee. He wrote a measure to abolish the death penalty while serving as chairman of the committee on police powers.

After serving as an assemblyman, he went back to managing his haciendas and practicing private law.

Other Works

He gained notoriety as a young man for writing a variety of essays in Spanish and Hiligaynon that were included in magazines such as La Razon (1906) and La Libertad (1900).  Among his aliases were "P. Moral," "Farole," "Mansilingan," "Panagao," and "G.G."  The Instituto Rizal, which was subsequently renamed the Negros Occidental High School, was founded by him and he taught there.  He supplied the school's first dormitories and classrooms.

He served as a director of the still-operating Bacolod-Murcia Sugar Central.

Death

On October 19, 1937, Jayme passed away, leaving behind his wife and kids.  Angela, his oldest daughter, wed Fernando Figueroa Gonzaga, a businessman and philanthropist.  Vicente R. Jayme, another descendent, served under Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino as secretary of public works and highways, secretary of finance, and president of the Philippine National Bank.

The Republic Act No. 6709 was signed into law by President Aquino on February 10, 1989. It honors the Ilonggo people's valor throughout the Philippine Revolutions in the late 19th century, designated November 5 as a special non-working holiday in Negros Occidental. This was in honor of the Cinco de Noviembre Movement, in which Secretary of Justice Antonio Ledesma Jayme was instrumental.

Sources:

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Antonio_Ledesma_Jayme

https://www.geni.com/people/Antonio-Jayme/6000000082668454449

Unknown Filipino Hero: Aniceto Lacson

Aniceto Lacson

First and Only President of the Negros Republic

(1857 - 1931)

Aniceto Lacson y Ledesma was a Filipino revolutionary general, sugar planter, and entrepreneur who lived from April 17, 1857, to February 3, 1931. Alongside Juan Araneta, he led the Negros Revolution and served as the first and only president of the Negros Republic from 1898 to 1901.

Early Life

Gen. Aniceto Lacson, a Chinese-Mestizo politician from the Philippines, is the fifth of eight children born to Lucio Lacson y Petronila and Clara Ledesma. During the later 1800s, when wealthy Iloilo families were migrating to Negros, Lucio's branch of the Lacson family moved there.

After receiving private instruction for his early schooling in Molo, Iloilo, Lacson went on to study commerce at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he was classmates with José Rizal and Juan Araneta. He purportedly shared a secret blood covenant with Andres Bonifacio, whom he also met there. Additionally, he received his membership in the Philippine Revolutionary Society.

A few of Lacson's siblings also made contributions to local history and business.  He is the brother of Sta's founder, Domingo Lacson Sr. Don Mariano Lacson, who constructed the Lacson Ruins in Talisay City, close to Aniceto's Casa Grande Mansion, and Clara Estate Inc., a company that specializes in varied real estate.  Rosendo Lacson, another sibling, signed the ratification of the short-lived Cantonal Republic of Negros, which came to an end soon after the Negros Revolution.

Aniceto enhanced his father's sugar plantation in Talisay, Negros Occidental, after earning a degree in commerce at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Through acquisitions from Nicholas Loney, an English businessman, he grew the estate.

On August 29, 1898, Belgian Consul Édouard André reported seeing how workers on Aniceto Lacson's plantation were mistreated in Negros, where they were subjected to bamboo lashing, sometimes as many as 100 lashes.

The Negros Revolution

Leading the campaign to free Negros Island from Spanish domination, Aniceto Lacson played a pivotal role in the Negros Revolution of 1898. As the commander of the northern forces, Lacson led a rebellion in Silay on November 3, 1898, with the help of important figures like Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., and Nicolás Gólez.

Lacson led his troops in a well-organized rebellion on November 5, 1898, which swiftly expanded throughout the island. Under his direction, the Silay rebels were able to force the local Spanish garrison to surrender without encountering any opposition.  Using wooden rifles and homemade bamboo cannons, Lacson's soldiers proceeded on Bacolod City the next day. This strategy persuaded Isidro de Castro, the Spanish governor, to give up Bacolod without a struggle.

An important signatory to the Acta de Capitulación, which formalized the Spanish capitulation, was Lacson.  He was a key figure in the island's fight for independence because of his leadership, which helped bring the Negros Revolution to a peaceful and final end.

When Spanish forces in Bacolod surrendered on November 6, 1898, the revolution in Negros came to an end.  Under the leadership of Lacson and Gólez, the rebels persuaded the Spanish to surrender by brandishing bamboo and wooden weapons.  The accord, which resulted in the unconditional surrender of Spanish forces and the transfer of public monies to the new government, was enabled by mediator José Ruiz de Luzuriaga.

Isidro de Castro, Braulio Sanz, Manuel Abenza, Ramón Armada, Emilio Monasterio, and Domingo Ureta were the Spanish signatories.  Aniceto Lacson, Juan Araneta, Leandro Locsin Sr., Simeón Lizares, Julio Díaz, and José Montilla were among the signatories of the Negros Revolution.  Forty-seven notable Negrenses, including Rafael Ramos, Agustín Amenabar, Nicolas Gólez, Eusebio Luzuriaga, Antonio L. Jayme, and Rosendo Lacson, ratified a constitution to create a new republic after the capitulation.

The Cantonal Republic of Negros

The island of Negros in the Philippines was home to the short-lived revolutionary government known as the Cantonal Republic of Negros (November 27, 1898–March 4, 1899).  The Cantonal Republic was established after Spanish Governor Isidro Castro surrendered to forces led by Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta at Bacolod on November 6, 1898. Lacson presided over the country from November 27, 1898, until March 4, 1899, when the Negros revolutionaries turned themselves in to US General James Francis Smith.  The duration of the government was three months and four days.

Cinco de Noviembre

Historic sites in Negros Occidental and the Cinco de Noviembre ceremony honor Aniceto Lacson and other revolutionaries.

On November 5, 1898, Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta staged a revolution that resulted in the peaceful surrender of Spanish forces in Bacolod, which is celebrated on Cinco de Noviembre. This bloodless victory was largely due to Lacson's calculated bluff with homemade weaponry and leadership.

In Negros Occidental, the day is celebrated as a special holiday every year.  Lacson and the rebels are honored at the Cinco de Noviembre memorial in Silay City, which includes a Spanish cannon that was donated by Claudio G. Akol Jr. By virtue of Republic Act No. 6709, President Corazon Aquino proclaimed November 5th a holiday.

Casa Grande was given to the National Museum of the Philippines by the Lacson-Claparols heirs on November 5, 2024, during the 126th Cinco de Noviembre event.  The old home will be restored by the NMP, maintaining its status as a museum and national historical monument.

The Fountain of Justice

The Fountain of Justice, a historic site in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines, is located in front of the former Bacolod City Hall and honors the Spanish capitulation to Gen. Aniceto Lacson's men during the Negros Revolution.  José de Luzuriaga's home used to be located there as well.

During the Negros Revolution, on November 6, 1898, Bacolod was turned over by Spanish authority to Filipino soldiers under Gen. Aniceto Lacson at Luzuriaga's home. In addition, he acted as a go-between for the parties.

On behalf of the Spanish army, the capitulation document was signed by Colonel Isidro de Castro, the governor of Negros.

The Fountain of Justice served as a venue for political rallies, religious meetings, cultural festivals, and leisure activities.  It was the site of Bacolod City's 66th Charter Anniversary celebration and was once a well-liked rally and protest location.

Political Life Under the American Regime

General Lacson and his leaders met with General Marcus P. Miller when the Americans arrived in Negros following the fall of Ilo-ilo in February 1899.  The Negrenses chose to work with the Americans for two reasons: first, they saw that fighting against America would be ineffective; second, the leaders, who were all wealthy and landed, did not want the destruction of war to affect their sugar plantations.  General James F. Smith arrived with a battalion of the California Volunteers to seize Bacolod on March 4, 1899, after General Otis quickly accepted their offer of help.  Peace returned to Negros, with the exception of the occasional harassment by the zealous "Papa Isio" in the southern towns.

Lacson was named governor of Negros by William Howard Taft, the American governor-general of the Philippines. But Lacson turned down the invitation. He would rather focus on his company and running his sugar plantation.

Personal Life

Rosario Araneta and Magdalena Torres were the two spouses of Aniceto Lacson. With two marriages and more than twenty children, Aniceto Lacson had a sizable family. His wife and descendants also gave him connections to numerous other well-known families, which increased their clout in the Philippines.

Marriage with Rosario Araneta Lacson

Rosario Araneta, the daughter of Patricio Cabunsol Araneta and Leoncia Araneta, was Aniceto's first spouse.  She is also Juan Araneta's first cousin. Rosario and Aniceto had eleven children.  They were:

1. The oldest, Jesusa, wed her second cousin, Jose Maria Lacson Arroyo y Pidal. Iggy Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who is married to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are grandchildren of Jesusa and Jose.

2. Emilio died at a young age.

3. Clotilde passed away young.

4. Dr. Jaime Lacson Claparols, Carmen's son with Spanish husband Ricardo Claparols, went on to establish the JRS Express in 1960. 

5. Domingo Lacson II, son of Domingo Lacson Sr. of Sta., was married to Enriqueta.  Clara Estate, Inc.

6. Isaac married Carmen Paterno, the niece of Philippine diplomat Pedro Paterno, and went on to become governor of Negros before becoming a congressman and senator of the Republic.

7. Mariano and Lilia Montilla were wed.

8. Perfecta, who wed Santiago Franco

9. Jose passed away at a young age.

10. Aniceto Jr. wed his cousin Aurora Lacson.

11. Dominador wed another relative, Visitacion Lacson.

Marriage with Magdalena Torres Lacson

He had ten children with his second wife, Spanish Mestiza Magdalena Torres.  They were:

1. Resureccion wed German Carlos Sackermann.

2. Former Miss Negros Occidental Margarita wed Swiss-German William Gemperle.

3. Leonila and Angel Gamboa were married.

4. Leoncia

5. Nicolas wed Amparo Lacson, who was Mayor Arsenio Lacson's sister.  Salvador Lacson, the head of LLIBI Insurance Brokers Inc., and Rose Lacson, an Australian-Filipino socialite, are their children.

6. Juan and Reymunda Villareal were wed.

7. Jose and Estelita Adrias were married.

8. Lucio and Consuelo Flores were married.

9. Luis and Lily Distajo were married.

10. Consuelo wed the Spaniard Sebastian Corro.

Death

Lacson passed away on February 3, 1931, in Talisay, which is now a city in Negros Occidental and was buried in his hometown of Molo, which is now a district of Iloilo City in Iloilo

Source:

https://pinoyfolktales.blogspot.com/2013/01/filipino-martyr-aniceto-l-lacson.html

Folk Dance of Western Visayas Region: Lanceros de Negros

LANCEROS DE NEGROS

During the Spanish times, Lanceros was one of the most popular quadrille dances in the Philippines. It is similar to Rigodon and is danced in important social affairs to formally open a big ball. Unlike the Lanceros as danced in Luzon and in some regions in the Visayas, this version from Silay, Negros Occidental is in longways formation. It is a very lively and colorful dance. 

COSTUME. Girl wears Maria Clara style costume. Boy wears barong tagalog and black trousers. 

MUSIC is divided into four parts A, B, C, and Finale.

COUNT one, two; one, and two; or one, and two, and to a measure

FORMATION. Partners face each other about six feet apart. When facing audience, Girl is at right side of partner. Four to any number of pairs may participate. 

If desired, a square formation may be used, each pair occupying a corner of an imaginary square. 

NEW STEPS USED:

      Brincos Con Puntillas - Jump and land with R (L) foot across the L (R)  in front, both feet flat on the floor (ct. 1), hop on L (R) and foot circle outward in the air with R (L) foot (ct. and), step lightly on ball of R (L) foot in rear L (R) and raise heel of L (R) (ct. 2), spring on  R (L) and land on L (R) and at the same time point R (L) toe in front of L (R) with R (L) knee slightly bent (ct. and).

      Brincos Con Vueltas - Same as brincos con puntillas but make a quarter turn right (left) when hopping on L (R) on the first ct. and. Make another quarter turn right (left) before stepping on the ball of R (L) foot in rear of L (R) on ct. 2. There are two brincos con vueltas to a complete turn (2 M).

                                                                        I

Music A.

      Partners face each other. Throughout this figure, Girl's L hand is placed on waist, R hand holding skirt, Boy's arms swinging naturally down at sides.

     (a) Starting with R foot, take four small steps forward to meet at center (cts. 1, 2, 1, 2) ________________________ 2 M

     (b) Repeat (a) moving backward to proper places ________________________ 2 M

      Face left so that Girl's back is toward audience, Boy faces audience.

     (c) Repeat (a) and (b) _______________________ 4 M

      Face each other.

      (d) Starting with R foot, take four steps obliquely left forward, passing by R shoulders _______________________ 2 M

       (e) Repeat (d), moving obliquely right backward to proper places ________________ 2 M

        (f) Repeat (d), moving obliquely right forward, passing by L shoulders (2 M), and in (e) moving obliquely left backward. Take smaller steps backward so that partners finish near each other (2 M). _____________ 4 M

   II

Music B.

         Face partner and join R hands, free hand of Girl holding skirt and that of Boy is placed on waist.

         (a) Starting with R foot, take eight small change steps forward moving once around clockwise. Bend trunk slightly to right and left side alternately. ---------------------------------------------------- 8 M

         Drop R hands, turn right about join L hands free hands as above.
         (b) Repeat (a), moving counterclockwise -------------------8 M

 III

Music C.

       Partners face each other

       (a) Take four galop steps sideward right. Arms in lateral position, sideward left, shoulder level. Do not put weight on L foot at the fourth galop step _________________________________ 2 M

       (b) Repeat (a) moving to sideward left. Reverse position of arms. _____________________ 2 M

       (c) Execute four brincos con vueltas, turning right and making two turns. Girl holding skirt. Boy places hands on waist _____ 4 M

        Face left so that Girl's back is toward audience. Boy faces audience.

       (d) Repeat all (a-c). Partners pass front to front when doing the galop steps. _____________8 M

   IV

Music B.

      

     Partners face audience. Join inside hands, free hands as in figure II.

     (a) Starting with outside foot, take four change steps forward. Swing the joined hands backward and forward at the same time looking at partner and away from partner, alternately four times ______4 M

     Drop inside hands, turn outward to face about. Join inside hands, free hands as in (a). 

     (b) Repeat (a), starting with inside foot. Start swinging joined hands forward and looking away from partner.____________ 4 M

     

     Drop inside hands. Face each other and join R hands, free hands as in (a).

     (c) Starting with R foot, take four change steps forward, turning once around clockwise _____ 4 M

     Drop R hands, join L hands, free hands as in (a).

     (d) Repeat (c), moving counterclockwise. Drop L hands and finish in proper places _________ 4 M

 V

Music C.

       Partners face each other. Partners do their movements simultaneously.

       (a) Girl. Execute two brincos con vueltas making a complete turn right once (2 M)

            Boy. Clap hands five times on cts. 1, 2, 1, and 2______ 2 M

       (b) Repeat (a), Boy dancing and Girl clapping hands____ 2 M

       Partners face each other and assume crossed-arm position, R over L.

       (c) Take four brincos con puntillas moving toward audience - Jump and land with foot away from audience across in front and hopping on foot toward audience.  ______________________ 4 M

       Drop hands.

       (d) Repeat (a) and (b) __________________________________________________ 4 M

       (e) Repeat (c), starting with other foot and moving away from audience. __________________ 4 M

SALUDO

(Bowing)

Music Finale.

        Partner faces each other.

        (a) Pause_______________________________________1 M

        (b) Execute a three-step turn right in place (cts. 1, 2, 1), pause (ct. 2) Arms in fourth position, R arm high. __________________________________________________ 2 M

        (c) Repeat (b), turning left. Reverse position of arms. ________________________________ 2 M

        (d) Join R hands, free hand of Girl holding skirt, that of Boy is placed on waist. Girl whirls making right turns under the arch of arms. Boy stands in place. ___________________________________ 2 M

        (e) Face each other. In crossed-arm position, R over L, pull away from each other. __________ 1M

        (f) Girl passes under R arm of Boy and finish in front and a little bit to the left side of Boy. Partners look at each other. ___________________________________________________1 M

Music of Lanceros de Negros

Gorgeous Negros

The famed Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, capital of Negros Occidental is held every third Sunday of October

 

The dormant Mount Kanlaon is the only known volcano in Western Visayas 

Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol

 

Punta Bulata Beach Resort and Spa

 

Bacolod City Plaza

 

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL: Where Gold Is Green

         Negros Occidental is a province located in the western portion of the Negros Island and southeast of Panay Island which is separated by the Guimaras Strait.

         It is bounded on the north by the Visayas Sea, on the south by the Sulu Sea, and on the east by the Tanon Strait and Negros Oriental. It has a total land area of 792, 607 hectares or 7,965.2 sq. km., 80% of which is arable land and suited to agriculture. Around 240,000 hectares are planted with sugarcane. In fact, the province produces half of the country’s supply of sugar through its fifteen sugar mills. Victorias Milling Company (VICMICO) is the largest sugar mill in the country with sales level of approximately $270 million annually. This earned the province a sobriquet as the “Sugarlandia of the Philippines.”

        The sugar boom in the late 1960s to the early 1980s when the price of the sugar was high in the world market and the Philippines was one of the major exporters and suppliers of sugar to the United States brought economic prosperity to the province such that distinctive signs of affluence were very much evident in the luxurious lifestyles of the sugar barons – big landowners, planters, producers and millers of sugar called the “hacenderos” of Negros Occidental. Chic style of living was brought to the province by their socialite children. Outmoded cars were frequently changed by brand new ones. Parties and shows are frequent. Celebrated artists were invited from Manila to Bacolod. The economy of the province has improved with the numerous business and commercial establishments in Bacolod as well as in other key cities of the province. This situation generate thousands of employment and job opportunities for the people not only of Negros Occidental but also of the neighboring provinces. With the higher income derived from sugar, the government was able to put up various infrastructure and development projects throughout the province.

         The proverbial “pot of gold” found among the green stalks of the sugarcane of Negros Occidental could not have been made possible without the favorable climate, the fertile soil and the tenacity of the Ilonggos (which includes people from Panay, especially from the provinces of Iloilo and Antique) to work on the haciendas as “sacadas.” Negros Occidental is blessed with a generally pleasant climate with two pronounced seasons – dry and rainy. The climate of the northern part of the province differs markedly from that of the southern part. In the north, the rainy season starts gradually in June, reaches its peak in September and October, and closed with the dry season starting from late December to May. While in the south, the climate typically features a rainy season which starts in June, reaches its maximum in August, and tapers off until October preceding the dry season starting from November to May.

The vast plains consisted mostly of sandy loam or clay loam soil and supplemented with rich topsoil of the mountains surrounding the towns of the whole province, as particularly suited for sugarcane plantation. Contributions of these mountains to the fertility of the soil could not be discounted. Most famous among these mountains is Kanlaon Volcano, the highest peak in Central Philippines with its peak of 8,100 feet or 2, 695 meters above sea level. Located about 80 kilometers away from Bacolod City, this active volcano serves as a natural barrier separating the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Its western half is rimmed with settlements formed by people of Murcia, La Castellana, Ma-ao and La Carlota while its eastern half is occupied by inhabitants of Kanlaon City, Vallehermoso and San Carlos City. The volcano has five craters with the active cone at the southernmost portion of the summit. The bigger one, an old crater north of the active cone, the “Hardin sang Balo” (Garden of the Widow) crater, measuring about a kilometer wide and about 450 feet deep, has been filled by volcanic and plant debris and is presently occupied by a rain-filled lagoon. Another old crater on the same side of the cone measuring about a hundred meters descending cylindrically to an 800 feet depth is occupied by a placid lake and contains numerous deposits of sulfur.

         The mountains of Negros Occidental including Mt. Mandalagan and Mt. Silay are covered with forests which totaled to an area of 252, 884 hectares, or around 30% of the total land area of the province. However, of this total forests, the rest are classified as lagged-over, open, cogon, pasture and brushlands, reforestation projects, mangrove or swamplands, reservations and parks. In 1979, the timber produced by these forests amounted to 170,000 cubic meters.

          Besides timber, the mountain forests serve as watershed areas for the mountain springs which flowed to converge into the six (6)big rivers of Negros Occidental namely: Himoga-an, Danao, Malogo, Bago, Binalbagan and Ilog.

          Beneath the bosom of the mountains and hills of Negros Occidental are some metallic and non-metallic minerals. Among them are copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, iron ore, coal sulphur, silica, phosphate, and gypsum. One of the biggest copper mines in the country is in Sipalay. Negros Occidental, through the foreign investors have abandoned its large-scale operations in recent years.

          Besides agriculture, the coastal towns of Negros Occidental are engaged in fishing as their major industry. In 1985, the estimated total fish product ion of the province was 92, 746.97 metric tons. This total fish production represents the combined output of the sustenance and commercial fishing and brackish/fresh water fishponds.

         The province of Negros Occidental is composed of thirteen (13) cities and nineteen (19) municipalities connected with each other by a well-paved concrete or asphalt road with the exception of a few remote and interior towns which could be reached only by a rough and mountainous. The thirteen (13) cities were: Bacolod City, Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay and Victorias. Nineteen (19) municipalities are grouped into two: northern and southern towns. Located north of Bacolod City are the towns of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Toboso, S. Benedicto and Calatrava. Situated on the south are the towns of Murcia, Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, Sipalay and Hinoba-an.