The original name of San
Carlos was "Nabingkalan", which referred to the Negrito
settlement of inhabitants from towns of the Western Coast of
Cebu Island who came to Negros. The settlers were led by an
enterprising Cebuano from Badian, Carlos Apurado, who
developed the area into a thriving Christian village with
the help of his fellow pioneers.
"Nabingkalan" is also derived
from the name of "Nabingka", a beautiful princess who ruled
the territory for many years that when she died, the
inhabitants of this Negrito region mourned the death of
their beautiful princess for two years. In order to
perpetuate her soul, the people gave the name of "Nabingkalan"
to the place where their beautiful princess ruled for a long
period.
In 1856, the first politico
Military Governor of Negros Island, Don Emilio Saravia,
renamed the place "San Carlos" and established it as a
"pueblo". Through the years the place prospered but the
village lost its "pueblo" status in 1890 when Negros Island
was divided into two provinces – Occidental abd Oriental
Negros. San Carlos was recorded as an "arrabal" or barrio of
Calatrava, then known as "Hilub-ang".
In January 1892, the bishop of
the Diocese of Jaro in Iloilo appointed a recollect as the
first parish priest of San Carlos and three years later, the
place regained its momentum for progress with 16
well-equipped haciendas in operation.
In 1898, San Carlos acquired
its township status when Gen. Juan Araneta of the
Revolutionary Negros Republic officially proclaimed it as a
municipality. This was confirmed by the American Military
Administration in 1901.
Five years later, in 1906, a
constraint on the new administration form of local
government implemented by the American Administration made
Calatrava an "arrabal" or barrio of San Carlos.
San Carlos became a city on
July 1, 1960. Each year , the city celebrates the
Pintaflores festival on November 3-5 that culminates in a
fascinating streetdancing competition participated by
floral-painted dancers donned in colorful, ethnic-inspired
costumes.
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Negros
Occidental, San Carlos City
