The thunderous voice of Sugarlandia

The genuine old rich in the country comes from the sugar barons of Negros: the Yulos, Aranetas, Lacsons, Ledesmas, Gastons, Lopezes, Montelibanos, Teveses, Lizareses, and Benedictos. The nation always takes the words of hacienderos seriously. Today, there’s a move in Sugarlandia to declare Senator Alan Peter Cayetano a "persona non grata".

I think this initiative is well-taken. In fact, I feel that the majority of the country's 82 provinces are similarly inclined. If this move catches fire, then Cayetano is a lame duck politician. In the language of one of the greatest Ilonggo Senate presidents, Frank Drilon, Alan is a king without a kingdom. Might as well be. His alma mater and former classmates have issued statements against him. He is now a voice in the wilderness of his ambitions.

Sugarlandia, the two Negros provinces, is the land of the rich and powerful hacienderos, who control hundreds of thousands of hectares of sugarcane plantations, and also of sugar centrals and allied businesses. These properties were acquired by their ancestors from Spain as part of the encomienda system. The natives became virtual servants and toilers of the land, and later as sacada workers.

Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental haven’t produced a president or vice president. Negros Occidental produced the following senators: Isaac Lacson, Enrique Magalona, Esteban de la Rama, and Mariano Yulo. Negros Oriental had the following: Hermenigildo Villanueva, Vicente Cinco, Esperidion Guanco, and Manuel Lopez.

The governors of Negros Occidental include Camilo Lasala, 1890 to 1894, Manuel Valdivieso, 1894 to 1898, Isidro Castro, Juan Araneta, from November 6 to 27, 1898, Simon Lizares, from November 27, 1898 to December 1, 1899; Melecio Severino of Silay from December 1, 1899 to April 30, 1901; Jose de Luzuriaga of Bacolod from May 1, 1901 to August 15, 1901; Leandro de la Rama Locsin of Bago from 1901 to 1904 and from 1907 to 1908; and Antonio Ledesma Jayme of Bacolod from 1904 to 1906.

The next governor was Manuel Lopez of Silay from 1906 to 1907, Mariano Yulo of Bago from 1908 to 1912, Matias Hilado of Bacolod from 1912 to 1922, Gil Montilla of Sipalay from 1922 to 1925, Jose Locsin of Silay from 1925 to 1928, Agustin Ramos of Himamaylan from 1928 to 1931, Isaac Lacson of Talisay from 1931 to 1934, Ramon Severino of Silay from July to October 1934, Emilio Gascon from 1934 to 1937, Emiliano Gatuslao of Himamaylan from 1937 to 1940, then again from 1954 to 1965. Ramon Torres of Bago was governor from 1940 to 1941, and then again from June to September 1953;

Antonio Lizares of Talisay from January to July 1942, Vicente Gustilo of Cadiz from 1942 to 1943, Alfredo Montelibano Sr. 1943 to 1945, Gregorio Pura of Bacolod from September to October 1945, Ildefonso Coscolluela of Silay from 1945 to 1946, Miguel Gatuslao of Himamaylan from from February to June 1946, Rafael Lacson of Talisay from 1948 to 1951, Leon Miraflores of Bacolod from 1951 to 1952, then again, from January 7 to 9, 1954. Fernando Fuentes of Bacolod became governor from July to August 1952, Felix Amante of Bacolod from 1953 to 1954.

Deogracias Estrella of Bacolod from January 9 to February 2, 1965, Benjamin Gomez of Silay from 1965 to 1967, Alfredo Montelibano Jr. from 1968 to 1986, Armando Gustilo of Cadiz from January to April 1986, Jose Puey Jr. of Cadiz from April to August 1986, Daniel Lacson Jr. of Saravia from 1986 to 1987 and from 1988 to 1992, Eduardo Ledesma of Silay from 1987 to 1988, Rafael Cosculluela of Talisay from 1992 to 2001, Joseph Marañon of Sagay from 2001 to 2008, Isidro Zayco of Kabankalan from 2008 to 2010, Alfredo Marañon of Sagay, from 2010 to 2019 and Bong Lacson of San Carlos from 2019 to 2028.

The governors of Negros Oriental were Demetrio Larena, 1901-1906; Hermenegildo Villanueva, 1907-1911 and 1931-1935; Juan Montenegro 1911-1912; Felipe Tayco, 1912-1916; Enrique Villanueva, 1916-1925; Atilano Villegas, 1935-1931; Julian Teves, 1935-1941; Guillermo Villanueva, 1941-1945; Lorenzo Teves, 1944-1945 and 1968-1986; Alberto Furbeye, 1945-1946; Praxedes Villanueva, 1946-1951; Pedro Bandoquillo, 1951-1955; Serafin Teves, 1956-1959; Mariano Perdices, 1959-1972; William Villegas, 1972-1978;

Herminio Teves, brother of Lorenzo became governor, 1986-1987; Emilio Macias, 1987-1998 and 2007-2010; George Arnaiz, 1996-2007; Jose Baldado, June 18-30, 2010; Agustin Perdices, 2010-2011; Roel Degamo; 2011-2027 and 2018-2023; Edward Macias, 2017-2018; Hendry Pryde Teves, June-October 2022; Carlo Reyes, March-May 2023; and Manuel Sagarbarria, 2023-2028.

Negros Oriental was also the home of Leon Kilat, the iconic Pantaleon Villegas, who is a hero in Cebu during the revolution against Spain.