More historical sites in Negros Occidental are being considered for inclusion in the bid for the “Sugar Cultural Landscape of Negros” to be declared among the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage sites, Solomon Locsin, Negros Occidental Historical Council chairman, said Friday, August 23.
He said aside from the seven sites already included, they are also considering adding the Balay Ni Tan Juan and Bago River in Bago City, and the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City.
The seven sites in Negros Occidental that reflect the journey of sugar production earlier included in the bid are already in the UNESCO tentative list of world heritage sites, Locsin said.
Another process will have to be undertaken for final inclusion in the list, he said.
“The Sugar Cultural Landscape of Negros highlights the legacy of the sugar industry brought about by the industrialization of sugar production in the late 18th century. It reflects the social and economic dynamics of the late Spanish-colonial and American-colonial eras,” the nomination submitted by the Permanent Delegation of the Philippines to UNESCO said.
The seven sites presented were the mills of the Hawaiian-Philippine Company and Victorias Milling Company, the working hacienda and mansion of Hacienda Rosalia, the ancestral houses of the Historic Center of Silay, the Aniceto Lacson Ancestral Mansion, Balay ni Tana Dicang, and Yulo’s Park.
“These sites have captured the urban setting, the wealth, and the history of the region,” it said.
The following are the descriptions of the seven sites submitted for inclusion in the UNESCO list:
THE HISTORIC CENTER OF SILAY CITY
The Historic Center of Silay City, which boasts a large collection of preserved heritage houses, was declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as part of the Silay National Historical Landmark.
From the hallowed halls of its museums, heritage houses, and treasured family recipes, Silay City holds one of the keys to Negros Island’s cultural identity and historical prominence.
HAWAIIAN-PHILIPPINE COMPANY
The Hawaiian-Philippine Company in Negros Occidental holds the distinction of being the oldest running sugar mill in Negros Island.
The artisanal muscovado sugar from the Hawaiian-Philippine Company embodies the hard work that comes with sugar production.
VICTORIAS MILLING COMPANY
Victorias Milling Company has secured its place in the province’s history as one of the earliest modern sugar mills in the Philippines. Founded on May 7, 1919, the VMC was entirely devoted to sugar—from raw sugar production to the refined sweetness that graced tables. However, as the century turned, the VMC diversified its endeavors.
Within the VMC compound stands the St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church with its famous mural titled “The Angry Christ.”
HACIENDA SANTA ROSALIA
Hacienda Rosalia in Manapla, Negros Occidental, traces its roots back to the 1930s. It is the ancestral home of the Gaston family, who descended from Yves Gaston from Normandy, France.
A unique landmark inside its compound is the Chapel of the Cartwheels, inspired by Vatican II’s theology of inculturation, entirely made from repurposed farm implements.
Discarded wooden bullcart wheels form its walls, windows, and even the circular footprint of the chapel. It pays homage to the labor of farmers tilling the sugarfields, a symbol of faith and continuity.
BALAY NI TANA DICANG
Constructed in 1883, Balay ni Tana Dicang along Rizal Street in Talisay City is an ancestral home known for its timeless elegance. A well-preserved stone house built on a 6,000 square-meter lot, the house was once the residence of sugar baron, Don Efigenio Lizares and Doña Enrica Alunan, also known as Tana Dicang.
The house has 18 rooms, formal living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, and secret passages.
Balay Ni Tana Dicang is a lifestyle and heritage museum, a structure that reflects the Spanish-Filipino domestic architecture.
ANICETO LACSON MANSION
The Aniceto Lacson Ancestral House was once the seat of the Negros Republic.
Built in the 1880s, this ancestral home is a blend of Filipino and Spanish influences. The house has the character of its owner, General Aniceto Lacson, a revolutionary leader.
YULO’S PARK
Yulo’s Park at Rosario Street in Bacolod City is an important cultural property and historical landmark in the sugar landscape of Negros.
The 105 years old Yulo’s Park has great historical significance and received its historical marker from the National Museum on Sept. 28, 2017.
The house was built on Aug. 10, 1919 by the late statesman, Don Mariano Yulo, governor of Negros Occidental and eventually a senator of the Republic during the Commonwealth period.
Yulo’s Park is best remembered for a grand dinner for then President Manuel Quezon, during which drinking glasses were specially painted with the Philippine flag as a show of nationalism, and a prelude to Philippine independence.*