CINCO DE NOVIEMBRE

November 5, 1898 historical event offers valuable lessons to Negrenses: “Courage, ingenuity, creativity, unity, well planned and rising above narrow vested interest for a greater cause; and above all, that injustice and oppression, sooner or later is overthrown whether the oppressors be foreigners or from one’s own people. It is befitting therefore to consider these historic lessons in our own lives today. For a person who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it.”

November 5 is Negros Day. What happened in November 5, 1898 is believed to be the first bloodless revolution in the Philippines.

November 5, 1898 (Cinco de Noviembre) is the date when Negrenses are proud to exclaim that they are inhabitants of a small sock-shaped island full of natural resources. This is the day when thousands of Negrenses manifested their bravery and courage, in the most coordinated way headed by various local leaders, to protect the land they well-loved in a bloodless revolt against the Spanish conquistadors.

It was in this “Cinco de Noviembre” when the marching revolutionists, led by Gen. Juan Araneta from Bago and Gen. Aniceto Lacson from Talisay were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of nipa stalks and cannons of bamboo mats painted black. The courageous strategy deceived the Spaniards led by Col. Isidro Castro looking afar using a hazy telescope from atop the San Sebastian Cathedral belfry, surrendered upon seeing a large formation of soldiers, and heavily armed with rifles and cannons.

This event is being commemorated in Negros Occidental every Cinco de Noviembre as the day the Negrenses bluffed the Spaniards to attain freedom. November 5 has been declared as a special non-working holiday in the province through Republic Act No. 6709 signed by President Corazon Aquino on February 10, 1989.