Victorias, officially the City of Victorias (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Victorias; Filipino: Lungsod ng Victorias), is a 4th class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 90,101 people.[3]

Victorias
City of Victorias
City hall
City hall
Flag of Victorias
Official seal of Victorias
Nickname(s): 
"The Sugarlandia of Negros"
"The Sweet and Green City of Negros"
Map of Negros Occidental with Victorias highlighted
Map of Negros Occidental with Victorias highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Victorias is located in Philippines
Victorias
Victorias
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°54′N 123°05′E / 10.9°N 123.08°E / 10.9; 123.08
CountryPhilippines
RegionNegros Island Region
ProvinceNegros Occidental
District 3rd district
FoundedOctober 2, 1906
CityhoodMarch 21, 1998
Named forNuestra Señora de las Victorias (Our Lady of Victory)
Barangays26 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorJavier Miguel L. Benitez
 • Vice MayorAbelardo D. Bantug III
 • RepresentativeJose Francisco B. Benitez
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate61,877 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total133.92 km2 (51.71 sq mi)
Elevation
166 m (545 ft)
Highest elevation
1,568 m (5,144 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total90,101
 • Density670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
 • Households
22,268
Economy
 • Income class4th city income class
 • Poverty incidence
16.56
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 742.2 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 2,554 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 581.6 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 1,003 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNorthern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6119
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)34
Native languagesHiligaynon
Tagalog
Websitewww.victoriascity.gov.ph

Victorias is notable for the St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, which was declared as an Important Cultural Property of the Philippines[5] in December 2015.

It is also the site of Victorias Milling Company, the world's largest integrated sugar mill,[6] sitting on a 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) compound that makes it the Philippine's largest sugar refinery.

Victorias City also serves as the access point to the Northern Negros Natural Park, popular among hikers visiting Mount Mandalagan and Mount Silay.

Victorias City is 34 kilometres (21 mi) from Bacolod.

Geography

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Barangays

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Victorias City is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Barangay I (Poblacion)
  • Barangay II (Quezon; Pob.)
  • Barangay III (Poblacion)
  • Barangay IV (Poblacion)
  • Barangay V (Poblacion)
  • Barangay VI (Estrella Village/Salvacion; Pob.)
  • Barangay VI-A (Boulevard/Villa Miranda/Sitio Cubay/Pasil)
  • Barangay VII (Poblacion)
  • Barangay VIII (Old Simboryo)
  • Barangay IX (Daan Banwa)
  • Barangay X (Estado)
  • Barangay XI (Gawahon)
  • Barangay XII (Dacumon)
  • Barangay XIII (Gloryville)
  • Barangay XIV (Sayding)
  • Barangay XV West Caticlan
  • Barangay XV-A East Caticlan
  • Barangay XVI (Millsite)
  • Barangay XVI-A (New Barrio)
  • Barangay XVII (Garden)
  • Barangay XVIII (Palma)
  • Barangay XVIII-A (Golf)
  • Barangay XIX (Bacayan)
  • Barangay XIX-A (Canetown Subdivision)
  • Barangay XX (Cuaycong)
  • Barangay XXI (Relocation)

Climate

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Climate data for Victorias
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
32
(90)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 57
(2.2)
37
(1.5)
41
(1.6)
42
(1.7)
98
(3.9)
155
(6.1)
187
(7.4)
162
(6.4)
179
(7.0)
188
(7.4)
114
(4.5)
78
(3.1)
1,338
(52.8)
Average rainy days 12.0 7.7 9.2 10.2 19.5 24.6 26.9 25.1 25.5 25.2 18.0 13.0 216.9
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Demographics

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Population census of Victorias
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,372—    
1918 7,557−0.68%
1939 19,547+4.63%
1948 27,858+4.02%
1960 34,290+1.75%
1970 48,829+3.59%
1975 53,994+2.04%
1980 55,959+0.72%
1990 69,892+2.25%
1995 78,283+2.15%
2000 81,743+0.93%
2007 88,149+1.05%
2010 88,299+0.06%
2015 87,933−0.08%
2020 90,101+0.48%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]

The people in the city speak the Hiligaynon language (often called Ilonggo). Filipino and English are generally understood.

Economy

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Victorias City main highway.
 
Victorias Milling Co. plant

Poverty incidence of Victorias

5
10
15
20
2006
18.40
2009
19.18
2012
15.60
2015
17.37
2018
12.86
2021
16.56

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Religion

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Notable religions include:

 
Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Mission Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Brgy. Daan Banwa.

Churches

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Notable churches include:

  • St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, also known as the Angry Christ Church
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Victorias City
  • IFI Mission Church of St. Andrew the Apostle
  • Our Lady of Victory Parish Church

St. Joseph the Worker Chapel

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St. Joseph the Worker Chapel.

Within the Victorias Milling Company's complex is the St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, a masterpiece considered the first example of modern sacral architecture in the Philippines[20] and raised to the status of Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2015. The chapel was designed by the famous Czech Architect Antonín Raymond.[5]

Its mural of the Angry Christ was painted by international artist Alfonso Ossorio.[5] The mural has been featured in various publications such as Life Magazine. Its fierce, vivid colors gave the church its most known name, the "Angry Christ Church".[5]

Festivals

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The city celebrates the annual Kadalag-an Festival, a charter anniversary held on March 21, and the annual Malihaw Festival on April 26.

The city also celebrates the Kalamayan Festival every December. The word "Kalamayan" depicts what Victorias is known for, its “kalamay” or refined sugar and its sugar industry, the Victorias Milling Company.

Barangay Festivals

Notable personalities

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Education

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Notable educational institutions include:

References

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  1. ^ City of Victorias | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Inside the church with an angry-looking Christ". RAPPLER. November 1, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Andres, Tomas Donato (2005). Understanding Ilonggo Values, Book 19. Giraffe Books. ISBN 978-971-0362-22-6.
  7. ^ "Victorias: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  12. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  14. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  15. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  17. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Sayer, Derek (November 1, 2022). Postcards from Absurdistan: Prague at the End of History. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-23951-4.
  21. ^ "Noven Belleza: his singing career before the scandal". PEP.ph. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Bacolod court dismisses appeal to exclude Albee Benitez from voter's list". RAPPLER. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  23. ^ Colegio de Santa Ana de Victorias
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