Sagay City

Sagay City is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. Sagay can be easily identified in the map of Negros Occidental, because of its “ice-cream cone” shape sliced from the northern tip of Negros. It is bounded in the north by Asuncion Pass and theVisayan Sea; the municipality of Talisay and Calatrava in the south; cities of Cadiz and Silay in the west and the municipality of Escalante and Toboso in the east.The name of the city comes from the semi-spherical shell called “sigay”, which can be found in the area.

History

Sagay City was originally called Arguelles when Teniente Francisco Rodriguez and Basilio Cordova founded it in 1860 in the mouth of the Bulanon River. Later, by the order of the Spanish governor the town was transferred to Pueblo de Magallanes in honor of Fernando Magallanes.

Having the status of a pueblo, Sagay was entitled to have a “Capitan del Pueblo,” the highest town official during the time. The first to be appointed to this position by the Spanish Governor was Elulalio Rodriguez. Gregorio Parreño, and Pedro Katalbas Y Villanueva later succeeded him.

During the Philippine Revolution, Sagay contributed its share to what proved to be a successful national struggle for independence. The hard-won First Philippine Republic was however short-lived when the country passed to the hands of another colonial power, the United States of America in 1898.

Conversion into a City

It had been a long time aspiration to get Sagay city status. The leadership of Mayor Joseph G. Marañon and Vice Mayor Fortunato S. Javelosa inspired the authorship of Congressman Alfredo G. Marañon of House Bill No. 6543, “An Act Converting the Municipality of Sagay into a component city of Negros Occidental” during the 10th Congress. Passing through the legislation process, a public hearing was held in Sagay City on February 22, 1996. On May 3, 1996, Sen. Raul Roco sponsored the Senate Bill No. 1191, the Senate version of the cityhood. On June 11, 1996, former President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law RA8192, now the charter of Sagay City. On August 10, 1996, the residents voted and ratified RA8192 and made Sagay, officially Sagay City.

Festivals

Sinigayan Festival held every 3rd week of March is an annual celebration and thanksgiving in honor of their patron St. Joseph. Sinigay sa Sagay is an expression of art and culture of the hardworking and God – fearing Sagaynons displayed and exhibited during the Annual Sinigayan Festival as eloquent assertion of thanksgiving on the past year.

It is a native dance evolved from the religious rituals of our forefathers passed down from generation to generation enriched by the intermingling of diverse Filipino customs and traditions, now to become part of the beautiful Sagaynon culture.

Visit Sagay City’s Christmas Fair and watch with delight the burst of colors at this time of the year…..

Sagay City is the 2002 champion of the much talked about Negros Tour of Lights.

Famous Landmarks

Vito Church was established during the religious administration of Recollect Friars in the mid-1850’s. Devotees flock to the Shrine of San Vicente de Ferrer in Brgy. Vito every Friday as part of their religious promise.

The Legendary Siete. Colin Garatt, author of the book, Iron Dinosaurs considered Train No. 7 as the “world’s most incredible steam survivor” and even proclaiming her a portrait of a dinosaur at the date this book was published in 1976. Siete is a three feet and six inches gauge 4-cylinder compound o-6-6-o mallet that was built in 1925 by Locomotive Baldwin Works in Philadelphia, U.S.A. Her body is ornated with green livery lined in red, her eight wheel bogie tender was done in black with bold letters painted “Insular Lumber Co.” She now stands majestically at the city public plaza attracting tourists and passersby.

Produkto Sagaynon Center is a one-stop-shop souvenir store now open to cater to all your “Pasalubong” needs and strategically located at the City’s gateway.

Balay Kauswagan or House of Progress is fast becoming the convention center in Northern Negros. An ideal venue for seminars, skills training, art exhibits, trade fairs, wedding receptions and even a place to stay when you’re into our island tour package.

Sagay City Garden & Living Tree Museum. It is a fusion of a wide variety of flowering plants, shrubs and palms in a one-hectare government lot at Sitio Chloe, Brgy. Rizal. This habitat of blooms and trees is christened as Sagay City Garden and Living Tree Museum, the first ever major project of Sagay Ladies Cirle in cooperation with the City Government of Sagay.