Region VII

BOHOL was believed to have been visited by the Magellan expedition which toured the island of Panglao and proceeded to the mainland in the vicinity of barrio Bool, the origin of the province's present name. The province was the setting of a dramatic event in 1563 when Chief Sikatuna of the island performed a blood compact with Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. This brought Bohol under Spanish rule, administratively as part of Cebu. Two major revolts were stayed in the province. One was led by Tamblot in 1622. In 1744, Dagohoy led another rebellion that was to make Bohol independent from Spain with its own government for 80 years. In 1828, the rebellion was suppressed and Bohol was made a politico- military province together with Siquijor Island, thus separating it from Cebu.

Former Name: Bohol
Land Area: 4,117.3 square kilometers
Capital: Tagbilaran City
Population: 806,013 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: First Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Tagbilaran)
No. of Municipalities: 47 (Alburquerque, Alicia, Anda, Antequera, Baclayon, Balilihan, Batuan, Bien, Unido, Bilar, Buenavista, Calape, Candijay, Carmen, Catigbian, Clarin, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Danao, Dauis, Dimiao, Duer, Garcia-Hernandez, Guindulman, Inabanga, Jagna, Jetafe, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Pilar, Pres. C. P. Garcia, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sierra-Bullones, Sikatuna, Talibon, Trinidad, Tubigon, Ubay, and Valencia)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: This oval-shaped province is a plateau. Ridges of the eastern and western of the island rise from the center and slope down steeply toward the sea. Its western side is generally mountainous with a rough terrain broken by deep gullies and gorges with abrupt slopes. The central part as well as the northern portion are characterized by a rolling landscape with alluvial lowlands, open valleys and hills. On the western central portion, numerous haycock hills commonly called "chocolate hills" can be found.
No. of Principal Rivers: 4
No. of Mountains: 14
Climate: Not uniform in all areas. Along its coast, it is warm and dry. Towards the interior portion, it is cold and humid. There is neither a pronounced rainy period nor is there any dry season.
Average Annual Rainfall: 152.69 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, corn and coconut
Industries: Cattle raising (major industry), fishing and manufacturing
Mineral Resources: Limestone, marble, shale and manganese
Forest Resources: Timber species as lauan, yakal and apitong.
Tourist Attractions: Site of the Blood compact in Bool, Tagbilaran; Punta Cruz in Maribojoc; old churches; and Chocolate Hills in Carmen (can be seen from the air on a plane bound for Cagayan de Oro or Davao from Cebu).
Governor: Constancio C. Torralba
Congressman: Venice Borja Agana, David B. Tirol, Isidro C. Zarraga

CEBU With its natural resources and increasing manufacturing activities, Cebu lives up to its title as the "Queen City of the South". The province is well-known for its sinamay, which is woven out of banana and pineapple fiber, and for its guitars and bandurias which are brought to other market centers in the country. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the present City of Cebu, changing its former name of San Miguel to "La Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus."The Philippine Revolution started in Cebu on April 3, 1898 when Pantaleon Villegas, popularly known as "Leon Kidlat", attacked the Spanish garrison at the corner of the present Calamba and Tres de Abril streets. The American forces occupied Cebu in February 1899 and established a military government. Due to continued local "insurrections", it was not until after three years, on January 1, 1902, that a civil government was established.

Former Names: Zubu and Zebu
Land Area: 5,088.4 square kilometers
Capital: Cebu City
Population: 2,091,602 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: First Class Province
No. of Cities: 5 (Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Toledo)
No. of Municipalities: 48 (Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Barili, Bogo, Boljoon, Borbon, Carcar, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Liloan, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Medellin, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Naga, Oslob, Pilar, Pinamungajan, Poro, Ronda, Samboan, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Santander, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Talisay, and Tudela)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The elongated island of Cebu has a terrain which is rugged and mountainous with low peaks at the center of the island gradually leveling at the northern and southern ends. The uplands are denuded so that the surface is characterized by sharp ridges for the central plateau where the capital city is located. Plains along the irregular coastline are narrow. A wider expanse of flat lands can be found at the northern town of Bogo.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 11
Climate: Central and northern Cebu have short dry seasons, usually lasting from one to three months with no pronounced maximum rain period. The province is frequently visited by typhoons.
Average Annual Rainfall: 86.34 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, corn, tobacco, rice, rootcrops, sugar and vegetables.
Industries: Livestock, poultry raising (major industries) and fishing
Mineral Resources: Copper, gold, silver and iron ore
Forest Resources: None
Tourist Attractions: Cross of Magellan planted in 1521, the 400-year old Sto. Niño figurine at San Agustin Church (Santo Nino Basilica), Fort San Pedro, Beverly Hills, the Chinese Taoist Temple, the Magellan Monument, the statue of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island, and the art works and antique collections at the University of San Carlos.
Governor: Emilio Osmeña Jr.
Congressman: Antonio T. Bacaltos, Crisologo A. Abines, Pablo P. Garcia, Celestino E. Martinez Jr., Ramon D. Durano III, Vicente L. dela Cerna, Raul V. del Mar, Antonio V. Cuenco.

NEGROS ORIENTAL The island of Negros had been divided politically into the eastern and western sectors as early as the start of the Spanish rule. The western section belonged to Iloilo while the eastern portion was practically uninhabited because of frequent seaborne Muslim raids. In 1734, the whole island was finally unified and made into a military district with Iloilo as the base. It was raised into a politico-military province in 1865 under the governorship of Emilio Saravia. Bacolod was made the Capital. Negros was again divided into the two present provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in 1890. Settlements in Negros Oriental started as early as 1787. The oldest towns in the province are Dauin, Tayasin, Jimalalud, Guihulngan and Baco

Former Name: "Buglas"
Land Area: 5,402.3 square kilometers
Capital: Dumaguete City
Population: 819,399 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: Second Class Province
No. of Cities: 3 (Bais, Canlaon and Dumaguete)
No. of Municipalities: 22 (Amlan, Ayungon, Bacong, Basay, Bayawan, Bindoy, Datuin, Guihulngan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Pamplona, San Jose, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Sibulan, Tanjay, Tayasan, Valencia, Vallehermoso, and Zamboanguita)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Volcanic peaks, hills and occasional plateaus may be found towards the interior of the province. At the southern end of the province is a group of volcanic mountains, the highest of which is known as Cuernos de Negros. At the northern end is Mt. Canlaon, the highest peak in the island some 2,465 meters in elevation. Between peaks are small fertile valleys and plains, the largest of which are the settlements of Bais, Tanjay, Dumaguete, Siaton and Sta. Catalina.
No. of Principal Rivers: 2 (Tanday and Dumaguete-Sibulan)
No. of Mountains: 4 (Mt. Canlaon is the highest followed by Mt. Cuernos de Negros)
Climate: Relatively dry from January to May while the rest of the year is wet.
Average Annual Rainfall: 56.27 inches in Dumaguete City.
Principal products/crops: Corn, coconut, sugarcane and cacao
Industries: Logging (major industry), and sugar milling
Mineral Resources: Iron, coal, manganese, chromite, limestone, mercury and gypsum
Forest Resources: Timber, rattan, tanbark, and resin
Tourist Attractions: Duran beach resort, Nashville beach resort, and the Valencia Camp Lookout.
Governor: Emilio Macias II
Congressman: Jerome V. Paras, Miguel L. Romero, Margarito B. Teves

SIQUIJOR, one of the smallest provinces of the country, was once called isla de Fuegos, or isle of Fire by the Spaniards. The name came from the belief that the island rose from the sea amid the flare of thunder and lightning. Also called Island of Sorcery, Siquijor is said to be inhabited by mananambals or healers and sorcerers. Siquijor was a sub-province of Bohol until the 19th century when it became a sub-province of Negros Oriental. The province was the leading producer of manganese ore during the pre-war as a separate province on September 17, 1971 under Republic Act 6398.

Former Name: Isla de Fuegos
Land Area: 343.5 square kilometers
Capital: Siquijor
Population: 70,360 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: Sixth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 6 (Enrique Villanueva, Larena, Lazi, Maria, San Juan, and Siquijor)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The province is fringed by coral reefs. Its highest peak in the central portion is Mt. Malabahoc. Level land consisting of narrow flood plains and deltas are found on the northern and southern coasts.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 2
Climate: Dry season from November to April, and rainy season from May to October.
Average Annual Rainfall: 78.66 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, corn, rice, mongo, peanuts, beans and rootcrops.
Industries: Fishing and farming
Mineral Resources: Manganese ore, copper, and silica
Forest Resources: None
Tourist Attractions: Minaluhan Beach and the San Juan Natural Swimming Pool
Governor: Ben P. Aquino
Congressman: Orlando B. Fua