About The Region

   Region 7 is the second smallest region in the country with a total land area of 14,951.5 square kilometers. This constitutes 5 percent of the country´s land area. Negros Oriental accounts for the largest share of the regional land (36%), followed by Cebu (34%), Bohol (28%) and Siquijor (2%).

Climate

The Region has no pronounced climte. It has a short dry season from March to May. The rest of the year is relatively wet.

Languages and Dialects

Cebuano

• Bisaya
• English
• Tagalog

Major Industries

In Cebu Province, copper and dolomite mining, industrial parts assembly, food processing, footwear, handicraft, rattancraft, woodcraft, metalcraft, garments, shellcraft; ceramics, basketware, rattan and wicker furniture, cement, costume jewelry, giftware, fertilizer, stonecraft, food products and preserves, electronic devices, transistors and diodes, vehicle assembly, agricultural products. Also bone fishing is now of the new fly-fishing adventures that draw thousands each year.

Bohol is essentially an agricultural province. Its main products are rice, coconut, and corn.

With its vast fertile land resources, Negros Oriental’s major industry is agriculture. The primary crops are sugarcane, corn, coconut and rice. In the coastal area, fishing is the main source of income. People are also involved in cattle ranches, fish ponds and logging. There are also mineral deposits like gold, silver and copper.

The major industries are woodcraft & furniture making, basket making, peanut processing, banana chips processing and bakery. Farming and fishing are the main means of livelihood in the Municipality of Siquijor.

Specialty Foods

Cebu – otap, dried mango, masareal, rosquillos, bibingka, salvaro, ampao, torta, hanging rice (locally named Puso).

• Bohol – Peanut Kisses, Calamay, Brua
• Negros Oriental – Jam squares, baye-baye, bod-bod kabog, bod-bod of Tanjay and “Energy Food”, which is a combination of ampaw and dehydrated fruits.
• Siquijor – banana fries and tortalitas.

Famous Activities/Festivals

CEBU – The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival honors the vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child),who used to be the patron Saint of the City of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith Jesus is not a saint, but God). It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano people’s pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism. The festival features a street parade with participants in bright coloured costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a “Sinulog sa Kabataan” performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the parade. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.

BOHOL – The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. This 16th Century peace treaty occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact or “sandugo”.[1][2] The Sandugo Festival is held every July. The Tagbilaran City Charter Day on July 1 kicks-off the month-long festival with a holy mass, diana, motorcade and program sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Among the major activities during the month is the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant, and the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition which is usually held on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of July, and organized by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. (BSFI).

NEGROS ORIENTAL – Buglasan Festival is considered as the most famous Dumaguete festival, Buglasan is usually held in the second and third weeks of October. At the first day of the celebration, tourists can have a look at the different local handicrafts and treats available at Buglasan booths. They can also watch enjoyable and entertaining cultural presentations. To showcase the talents of the people in the city, this event features song and dance competitions. Another highlight in this celebration is the popular and exciting chess competition. Other events that people can observe at Buglasan Festival are cheerdance, pyrotechnics, and folk dance contests.

SIQUIJOR – Solili Festival is the highlight of the Araw ng Siquijor celebration. One of the traditions valued to this day by the people of Lazi, Siquijor is the SOLILI BINALAYE, where the groom´s kin size-up and get to know the bride. The celebration is to reminisce the courtship period between Tukmo and Punay, and as a tribute to the newlyweds, merrymakers dance the Solili, capping the festivity with shouts of “Solili Binalaye”. Another is Dilaab Festival. Dilaab� suggests the distinct hospitality that the Siquijodnons are popularly known for, and the name the island was once-known for �Isla de Fuego� because of the swarm of fireflies nestled in the island at night. The festival also gives due recognition to the natural assets of Siquijor and in honor of the townñs patron saint, St. Francis of Asisi who is known as a lover of nature.

Population and Land Area