Talisay, Negros Occidental

Indigenous people settled in the cogon-lined lowlands of northwest Negros long before Spanish conquest. The settlement was called Minuluan, but was also known as Talisay by the province and neighboring communities in Panay. Its residents were either lowlanders or part of the Aetas who usually resided up in the highlands of northern Negros.^[6]

The Augustinian Recollects arrived in Negros Island in 1848 and converted the settlement into a parish in 1849, separating it from Silay.^[7] Fray Fernando Cuenca, a Recollect and the town's parish priest from 1850 to his death in 1902, spearheaded the development of Minuluan's land into agricultural farms. The town became a monocrop farm for sugarcane, which eventually become the dominant cash crop in the whole of Negros Island.^[8]

Negros Island's cheap land attracted settlers from Iloilo, Cebu and Bohol.^[9] Four major haciendas came to being: Minuluan, Bago, Bacolod and Silay. In 1850, these four haciendas produced 150 tons of sugar. Coupled with the opening of Iloilo Port to world trade, demand for sugar from Negros soared, and the island's sugar output continued to rise through the 1860s until the end of the century.^[10]

With the sugar boom, the local hacienderos amassed great wealth and began to build extravagant homes for their families.^[11]Balay ni Tana Dicang of the Lizares clan is one of the first, and still-extant bahay na bato from this period, characterized by ground floors made from stone and second floor made from wood. It was built in 1872.^[12] In the early 1890s, the largest property owner in Minuluan was Isidro de la Rama with around 1,260 hectares of landholdings.^[10]

During the Revolution, Minuluan became a battleground for Philippine independence. In November 3, 1898 the local hacienderos (landlords) of Negros banded together to revolt against the Spaniards.^[13] After two days of preparation, wealthy landowners and local leaders Aniceto Lacson led the troops north of Bacolod including Minuluan, while Juan Araneta of Bago led the troops south of Bacolod. They successfully ended Spanish control in the island, remarkably without much bloodshed. This also led to the establishment of the Republic of Negros. Today, the day of the revolt is called Cinco de Noviembre, and is a local holiday commemorated in Negros Island.^[14]

Around 1901, Minuluan was formally renamed Talisay, as it started to appear in US records of the war.^[15]

The local elementary school was established in 1912. It is now known as the Talisay South Elementary School.

Another local land baron, Don Mariano Ledesma, built a ten-room Italianate manor for his family in 1920. This became a local landmark renown for its luxurious exterior. During World War II, the American and Filipino forces torched the place, only leaving its concrete skeleton. While it was never restored to its original grandeur, it has been turned into a tourist attraction called The Ruins and has since become one of the most visited spots in Negros Occidental.^[16]

In 1954, the Negros Occidental School of Arts and Trades was established in the town. Later on, this school will become the main campus of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University.^[17]

Two years later, in 1956, A.S. Diaz Electric Service was founded to provide power, lighting and heating in Talisay and nearby Bacolod. It was eventually folded into CENECO in 1975.^[18]

A cholera pandemic hit Negros Island in 1961, starting explosively in Bacolod and Talisay.^[19]

The Visayas Technical Institute was established in Talisay in 1977. This is the precursor to the TUP Visayas.^[20]

Meanwhile, during the mid1970s, world prices of sugar collapsed as Western European and United States' demand for sugar fell. This, combined with a monopoly sponsored by the Marcos administration created a massive surplus of sugar, driving down prices further and devastating the economy of Negros island. In 1985, the sugar prices hit rock-bottom.^[21][22] Talisay was affected greatly and caused the closure of its sugar mills, including the Talisay-Silay Milling Co. (TASIMICO), in the late 1980s, displacing thousands of workers.^[23]

On February 11, 1998, by virtue of Republic Act No. 8489, Talisay was finally elevated into a city through the efforts of its local officials led by Mayor Amelo Lizares.^[24]

Located between Bacolod in the south and Silay with Bacolod Airport in the north, Talisay is experiencing spillover development. Real estate company Megaworld has now set up in the city, with Northill Gateway township, currently under construction.^[25]

Talisay is also positioning itself as a retail hub within Negros Occidental^[26] as well as a retirement haven for expats.^[27]

Talisay City is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In 2016, business process outsourcing (BPO) company iQor opened its call/contact center in Talisay, making it the first BPO company in the city.^[43]