List of people from Negros Occidental

Below is a list of notable people who were either born in, lived in, are current residents of, or have familial roots and is closely associated with the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines (including from the highly urbanized city of Bacolod)

Arts, Culture, and Media Personalities

Architecture

• Leandro Locsin - National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture, Architect of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine International Convention Center and Istana Nurul Iman the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and the seat of power of the government of Brunei

Culinary Arts

• Margarita Fores - Celebrity Chef ,restaurant chain owner , Asia's Best Female Chef 2016
• Doreen Fernandez - writer, food columnist, cultural historian

Dance

• Maniya Barredo - Ballet Dancer, Prima Ballerina of the Philippines
• Georgette Sanchez - Ballet Dancer for Abcdance company in St. Potten, Austria

Film and Television

• Carla Abellana - Film and television actress
• Rey "PJ" Abellana — film and TV actor
• Migo Adecer - Television Actor
• Christian Bables - film and television actor
• Analyn Barro - Television actress
• Bernard Bonnin — film and TV actor
• J.C. Bonnin - film and tv actor
• Tisha Custodio - Television actress in the United States, best known for playing Carolyn Smith in the Disney+ series Big Shot starring John Stamos
• Assunta De Rossi - Film and television actress, wife of Negros Occidental’s 1st congressional district representative Julio Ledesma IV, a San Carlos resident with family roots in the city, and one of the wealthiest politicians in the Philippines with a networth of ₱5.8 billion or $98 million USD
• Monsour del Rosario - TV and film actor, Taekwondo champion, Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Rio Diaz — former beauty queen, TV host and actress
• Chuckie Dreyfus — Actor on film and television
• Peque Gallaga — multi-awarded filmmaker
• Charles Gemora — Hollywood makeup-artist, special effects pioneer and actor
• Anthony Jennings — Film and TV star
• Vangie Labalan - Film and television actress
• Ronnie Lazaro — a Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipino film and television actor, producer and casting and art director
• Pancho Magalona — award-winning film actor
• Johnny Manahan - Film and television director, actor, talent manager, Vice President and managing director of Star Magic, Senior Vice President of ABS-CBN Corporation, Consultant for Sparkle GMA Artist Center
• Erik Matti — director, screenwriter, producer
• Romy Pastrana — comedian and Goin' Bulilit member under the name Dagul. Uncle of Joey Pastrana
• Allan K. — singer, comedian, actor and TV host
• Sue Ramirez - Film and TV actress
• Elizabeth Ramsey — comedian, singer and actress
• Susan Roces — award-winning actress, nicknamed Queen of Philippine Movies, widow of Fernando Poe Jr., adoptive mother of Grace Poe
• Rosemarie Sonora — actress
• Joel Torre — actor, director and film producer

Christian Vasquez

• Christian Vasquez — film and tv actor, model, housemate of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother : Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition

Journalism

• Alvin Elchico — Broadcast Journalist, TV/radio host
• Jose Jaime Espina - Journalist, co-founder of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
• Raul Locsin — editor, publisher and founder of BusinessWorld Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient ^[1]
• Teodoro Locsin Jr. - TV host, radio news anchor, Editor and Publisher of Today Newspaper, Executive director of the Philippines Free Press, Press Secretary, Member of the Philippine House of Representatives, 20th Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations 27th Secretary of Foreign Affairs
• Teodoro Locsín Sr. — editor of the Philippines Free Press

Literature

• Adelina Gurrea — journalist, poet and playwright in Spanish
• Elsa Martinez Coscolluela — award-winning poet, short-story writer, and playwright
• Gilbert Luis R. Centina III — prize-winning poet and author
• Luis T. Centina Jr. - author, guerrilla leader in the United States Army Forces in the Far East
• Alex Lacson — writer, lawyer and philanthropist

Music

• Carlos Balcells - Bass guitarist for rock band The Dawn
• Noven Belleza — It's Showtime Tawag ng Tanghalan grand winner
• Jose Mari Chan - Singer and songwriter, has the no.1 and no. 2 best-selling albums in the Philippines
• Bobby Enriquez — jazz pianist

Kuh Ledesma

• Kuh Ledesma — Singer, Actress, one of the first filipino pop artists to perform a concert at Carnegie Hall, Her U.S. debut album , Precious reached the Top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Jazz Charts, Appeared in the 1982 film The Year of Living Dangerously with Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver
• Diomedes Maturan - Singer, Tawag ng Tanghalan Grand Champion

Theater

Lea Salonga

• Lea Salonga -Theater and Film Actress, Singer, 1st Asian Actress to win a Tony Award, Laurence Olivier Award winner, two time Grammy Award nominee

• Eduardo Varela Sicangco — scenic designer costume designer and illustrator for Broadway theater, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera,Virginia Opera,television and film, he was part of the art department for The Forbidden Kingdom which starred Jackie Chan,Jet Li and Michael Angarano

Visual arts

• Alfredo Alcala — comic book artist for DC Comics and Marvel Comics, Inkpot Award winner, an honor bestowed annually by Comic-con International, Inkwell Awards winner
• John Becaro - illustrator and visual artist
• Alfonso A. Ossorio — abstract expressionist artist, many of his art is held in the permanent collections of major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, both of which are in New York City, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC. His most famous work, the Angry Christ Mural is a midcentury modern and cultural landmark in the Philippines and has been featured in international publications Life Magazine and National Geographic

Athletes

Basketball

• Harold Alarcon - College basketball player
• Francis Arnaiz — Former basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for Toyota Super Corollas and Barangay Ginebra Kings
• Nonoy Baclao — Professional basketball player who plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also played for the Philippine Patriots in the ASEAN Basketball League and as a collegiate player for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP

• Jeffrei Chan — Professional basketball player who plays for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association and member of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA World Cup
• Miguel Corteza - Professional basketball player
• Rudy Distrito — Retired Professional Basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association
• Boyet Fernandez — Current head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League and San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA. Former head coach of the now defunct Sta. Lucia Realtors in the PBA and UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP
• Reynel Hugnatan — Professional basketball player who plays for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association
• Noli Locsin — Retired basketball player who spent most of his career for the Ginebra San Miguel franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association
• LA Revilla — Professional basketball player for Mahindra Enforcer in the Philippine Basketball Association
• Byron Villarias - Professional basketball player
• James Yap — Professional basketball player who plays for the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in the Philippine Basketball Association and a former member of the Philippines national basketball team
• Mark Yee — Professional basketball player who plays for the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the Philippine Basketball Association ^[2]

Bowls

• Sonia Bruce — International lawn bowler, bronze medalist at the 2016 World Bowls Championship
• Ainie Knight — International lawn and indoor bowler, bronze medalist at the 2012 World Bowls Championship

Gerry Peñalosa

Boxing

Olympic Medalist

• Leopoldo Serantes — 1988 Seoul Olympics bronze medalist
• Mansueto Velasco, Jr. — 1996 Summer Olympic Games Silver Medalist
• Roel Velasco — 1992 Summer Olympics Bronze Medalist

World Champion

• Rolando Bohol — Former IBF world flyweight champion
• Francisco Guilledo — More commonly known as Pancho Villa, First Filipino World Champion boxer, World flyweight champion and IBHOF International Boxing Hall of Fame and WBHOF World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
• Small Montana (Benjamin Gan) — Won the Flyweight Championship of the World (as recognized by New York state)
• Eleuterio Zapanta — World bantamweight champion in 1940 and World flyweight champion in 1941
• Dodie Boy Peñalosa — Two Division World Champion and former IBF champion in the light flyweight and flyweight classes
• Gerry Peñalosa — Two Division World Champion and former holder of the WBC super flyweight and the WBO bantamweight titles
• Sonny Boy Jaro — The Ring and WBC Flyweight World Champion
• Eric Jamili — Retired professional boxer and WBO minimumweight Champion.

Donnie Nietes

• Donnie Nietes — Three Division World Champion and former WBO Minimumweight World Champion, former WBO & The Ring Light Flyweight Champion and former IBF Flyweight Champion
• Merlito Sabillo — WBO Minimumweight world title champion
• Ryan Sermona - World Boxing Council Super featherweight champion
• Ben Villaflor — WBA world junior lightweight (now called super featherweight) champion during the 1970s

Other Notable Boxers

• Ian Clark Bautista - three times SEA Games Gold medalist
• Leopoldo Cantancio — Retired boxer who competed at two Summer Olympic Games. He also won a bronze medal in the 1990 Asian Games
• Godfrey Castro — 2007 SEA Games silver medalist and 2006 Asian Games bronze medalist (flyweight)
• Toto Landero - Professional boxer
• Mark Jason Melligen — Professional boxer
• Aston Palicte - Professional boxer
• Elias Recaido — Competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He won a bronze medal at the 1990 Asian Games
• Genesis Servania — Professional Boxer
• Joan Tipon — 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist (bantamweight)
• Young Tommy — Retired professional boxer
• Rogen Ladon — Competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the Men's light flyweight division
• Isidro Vicera - Competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics for the men’s boxing flyweight event

Chess

• Alekhine Nouri — Chess Champion, became the youngest FIDE Master in the world at age 7

Football

• Manuel Amechazurra — The first Filipino footballer to play in the European football circuit, he was called El Capitán and played as a defender, from 1905 to 1915 for FC Barcelona ^[3]
• Florentino Broce — Former member and coach for the Philippines national football team
• Robert Cañedo — Professional footballer for JPV Marikina in the Philippines Football League and former member of the Philippines national football team
• Alesa Dolino - Defender for the Philippines women's national football team. She also plays for OutKast F.C. in the PFF Women's League
• Dave Fegidero — Former member of the Philippines national football team
• Norman Fegidero — Former member and coach for the Philippines national football team
• Troy Fegidero - Former member of the Philippines national football team
• Ali Go — Former member of the Philippines national football team and the Philippines national futsal team
• Arsenio Lacson - Former member of the Philippines national football team and participated in tournaments such as the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games
• Tating Pasilan — Former member of the Philippines national football team and the Philippines national futsal team. He also played for the Green Archers United in the defunct United Football League
• Eduard Sacapaño — Professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ceres-Negros F.C. in the Philippines Football League and a former member of the Philippines national football team
• Camelo Tacusalme - Professional footballer who plays as a defender for JPV Marikina in the Philippines Football League
• Joshua Beloya — Professional football player who plays as a striker for Ilocos United in the Philippines Football League. Former member of the Philippines national U-23 football team and the Philippines national beach soccer team
• Joel Villarino - member of the Philippines national football team, football coach

Golf

• Juvic Pagunsan —professional golfer, Asian Tour Order of Merit champion

Martial arts

• Carlos Baylon Jr. - wushu athlete, Sanda World Cup gold medalist, World Wushu Championships silver medalist, 2023 SEA Games bronze medalist
• Monsour del Rosario — taekwondo champion who has also starred in several Filipino and international action films. He won bronze in the 1985 World Taekwondo Championships
• Randy Mengullo — initiated the Jack and Jill School karate program, ^[4] a Sandan Blackbelt in karate–do who garnered medals in many karatedo championships and athletic meet of different schools and karate organizations in the Philippines
• Ernesto Presas — martial artist, founder of Filipino martial arts system Kombatan
• Remy Presas — Father of Modern Arnis
• Remy P. Presas — arnisador, martial artist

Pool

• Ramil Gallego — professional pool player

Softball

• Queeny Sabobo — softball player, gold medalist at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games

Swimming

• Carlo Piccio — Olympic swimmer

Volleyball

• Fille Cainglet–Cayetano — Volleyball player for both the Meralco Power Spikers of the Shakey's V-League (SVL) and the Petron Blaze Spikers of the Philippine Super Liga
• Geneveve Casugod - Professional volleyball player at the Premier Volleyball League
• Melissa Gohing - Team captain and libero of the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors in the Premier Volleyball League
• Leo Ordiales - Volleyball player, member of the Philippines men’s national volleyball team
• Bernadeth Pons - Professional volleyball player at the Premier Volleyball League
• Jonah Sabete - Professional volleyball player at the Premier Volleyball League

Beauty queens

• Gwendolyne Fourniol — Miss World Philippines 2022
• Aurora Pijuan — Miss International 1970
• Vickie Rushton — Lin-ay sang Negros 2009, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2011, Pinoy Big Brother: All In Housemate
• Sandra Seifert — Miss Philippines Earth 2009, International Fashion Model
• Margaret Nales Wilson — Binibining Pilipinas-World 2007, TV personality and actress

Businessmen

• J. Amado Araneta - Businessman, Owner and builder of the Araneta Coliseum and Araneta City
• Jorge L. Araneta - Chairman and CEO of The Araneta Group, ranked as the 47th richest person in the Philippines by Forbes Magazine on 2021 with a net worth of $215 million
• Roberto Benedicto -Chairman of the Philippine National Bank, Sugar Czar,Media Tycoon, he owned the largest media companies in the Philippines at one point which includes the Philippines Daily Express Newspaper, TV and Radio Networks,Radio Philippines Network (RPN),Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC). In 1983 it was estimated that he had a net worth of $800 million or $2.5 billion equivalent amount in 2025
• Albee Benitez - Chairman and CEO of Brightlight Productions a television film and production company , Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, 43rd Mayor of Bacolod
• Danding Cojuangco - Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, In 2016 his personal wealth was estimated at $1.16 billion USD, he left most of this to his widow, Soledad Montilla-Oppen Cojuangco who was born and raised in Negros Occidental, she and their family were ranked as the 17th richest person in the Philippines by Forbes Magazine on 2025 with a net worth of $1.15 billion USD
• Esteban de la Rama - founder of the Panay Electric Company, owner of De La Rama Steamship Company, Inc., Senator of the Philippines
• Oscar Hilado - Chairman of Phinma, ranked as the 33rd richest person in the Philippines by Forbes Magazine on 2007
• Alfredo Montelibano Sr - Chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation, Chairman of Meralco, Military Governor of Negros and Siquijor, Secretary of National Defense and the Interior
• Tan Yu - Business Tycoon, In 1997 Forbes listed him as the 7th wealthiest person in the world, and the wealthiest person in the Philippines with a net worth of $ 7 billion USD or $ 14 billion equivalent in 2025
• Jose Yulo - Owner of the Canlubang Sugar Estate , at one point one of the largest haciendas in the Philippines at 7,100 hectares (18,000 acres), today it has been developed into Nuvali, a planned community and Canlubang Golf & Country Club, 2nd Speaker of the National Assembly of the Philippines (the Senate was abolished from 1935-1940, thus the Speaker is the third highest ranking official of the Philippines after the President and Vice-President at this period of time, he is also the sole head of the legislature) ,6th Chief Justice of the Philippines, 13th and 34th Secretary of Justice of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines

Educators and Scientists

• Angel Alcala - 9th President of Silliman University, 2nd Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, National Scientist of the Philippines, 23rd Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
• Jose Vasquez Aguilar - Father of the Community School Movement in the Philippines, first Filipino to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award
• Elsa Martinez Coscolluela - Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod , Multi award winning poet, writer and playwright
• Rolando Ramos Dizon - President of De La Salle University, President of Taguig City University, 4th Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education
• Raul Fabella - Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics, National Scientist of the Philippines
• Oscar H. Ibarra - Professor of the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of California, Santa Barbara, known for his work on Automata theory, Formal language and Computational complexity theory
• Juan B. Lacson - Founder of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
• Katherine Luzuriaga — Vice Provost at the UMass Chan Medical School at Worcester, Massachusetts a part of the University of Massachusetts system, Immunologist, developed a functioning cure for HIV infected infants. Included in the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world for 2013
• Gavino Trono - Professor at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, National Scientist of the Philippines for Marine Biology
• William Valentine - Founder and 1st President of Central Philippine University

Government Officials

Head of Government

• Aniceto Lacson - President of the Republic of Negros, Patriarch of Lacson family
• Jorge B. Vargas - defacto Head of the Philippine Government (Unofficial President of the Philippines) as the Chairman of the Philippine Executive Commission ,1st Executive Secretary of the Philippines, 1st Mayor of the City of Greater Manila, Member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, 1st filipino member of the International Olympic Committee

President of the Senate of the Philippines

• Migz Zubiri — 30th President of the Senate of the Philippines

Speaker of the National Assembly and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

The Philippine senate was abolished from 1935-1941 and the Commonwealth of the Philippines had a unicameral legislature called the National Assembly of the Philippines. Its elected leader, the Speaker of the National Assembly was the third highest ranking official in the government after the President and Vice President. It is equivalent in rank to the President of the Senate of the Philippines today, but has more authority as the sole head of the legislature. Negros Occidental is notable for producing all the Speakers of the National Assembly of the Commonwealth era.

Jose Yulo

• Gil Montilla - 1st Speaker of the National Assembly of the Philippines , 9th Governor of Negros Occidental, Senator of the Philippines
• José Yulo -2nd Speaker of the National Assembly of the Philippines ,6th Chief Justice of the Philippines, 13th and 34th Secretary of Justice of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines

Spouse or Partner of the President of the Philippines

Jose Miguel Arroyo

• Jose Miguel Arroyo - First Gentleman of the Philippines as the husband of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the 14th President of the Philippines
• Guia Gomez - domestic partner to Joseph Estrada the 13th President of the Philippines, 18th Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila, Actress
• Liza Araneta Marcos - First Lady of the Philippines as the wife of Bongbong Marcos the 17th President of the Philippines

Spouse of the Vice President of the Philippines

• Celia Díaz Laurel - Second Lady of the Philippines as the wife of Salvador Laurel the 8th Vice President of the Philippines, theater actress, singer, painter

Member of the Cabinet of the Philippines

• Angel Alcala - 23rd Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, National Scientist of the Philippines
• Rafael Alunan Sr. - Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, Secretary of the Interior
• Rafael Alunan III — Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, and Secretary of Tourism
• Jose Francisco Benitez - Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Daniel Lacson Jr. — Chairman of the Philippine National Bank, Presidential Adviser for Rural Development, Chairman of the Presidential Council for Countryside Development, Chairman GSIS, 35th Governor of Negros Occidental
• Francisco Chavez - 25th Solicitor General of the Philippines
• Rolando Ramos Dizon — Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. La Sallian Brother
• Richie Garcia - 9th Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission
• Raul M. Gonzalez - 55th Secretary of Justice (Philippines)
• Oscar Ledesma - Secretary of Commerce and Industry, Senator of the Philippines , Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States, 16th Governor of Iloilo
• Jose Locsin — Secretary of Health, Senator of the Philippines
• Teodoro Locsin Jr. -Press Secretary to the President of the Philippines, 20th Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, 27th Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)
• Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. — Secretary of National Defense and Interior, 19th Governor of Negros Occidental, 1st City Mayor of Bacolod
• Enrique Ona - 29th Secretary of Health (Philippines)
• Mar Roxas - 30th Secretary of Trade and Industry (Philippines), Senator of the Philippines, 38th Secretary of Transportation and Communication, 37th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government
• Rafael M. Salas - 16th Executive Secretary (Philippines), United Nations Under-Secretary General, 1st and longest serving Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
• Judy Taguiwalo — Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
• Ramon Torres - 1st Secretary of Labor of the Philippines,16th Governor of Negros Occidental,Senator of the Philippines
• Francisco Zulueta - Secretary of the Interior, Senator of the Philippines

Member of the Senate of the Philippines

• Esteban Abada - 8th President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
• Esteban de la Rama - Senator of the Philippines
• JV Ejercito - Senator of the Philippines, 17th Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila
• Espiridion Guanco - 1st President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
• Manuel Lopez - Senator of the Philippines, 5th Governor of Negros Occidental
• Isaac Lacson - Senator of the Philippines, 12th Governor of Negros Occidental
• Enrique B. Magalona — Senator of the Philippines
• Ruperto Montinola — Senator of the Philippines ^[5]
• Serge Osmeña - Senator of the Philippines
• Grace Poe - Senator of the Philippines
• Mariano Yulo - Senator of the Philippines, 6th Governor of Negros Occidental

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

• Emilio Hilado — Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines ^[6]

Commissioner, Undersecretary and other national level officials

• Mercedes Alvarez-Lansang - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Raul Fabella- Member of the Executive Council of the National Academy of Science and Technology , National Scientist of the Philippines
• Fritz Gaston -Commissioner of the Games and Amusements Board, Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission
• Rowena Guanzon — Commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Philippines)
• Jayvee Hinlo - Commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission
• José de Luzuriaga - Member of the Philippine Commission, 2nd Governor of Negros Occidental
• Dennis Mapa – Undersecretary of the Philippine Statistics Authority
• Monico Puentevella — Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission ,Mayor of Bacolod, Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Haydee Yorac — Chairman of the Commission on Elections (Philippines)

Local government

• Iggy Arroyo — Representative 5th District of Negros Occidental, brother in law of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo
• Ramon Bagatsing — 19th and longest serving Mayor of Manila, Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines,Plaza Miranda bombing survivor
• Albee Benitez - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, 43rd Mayor of Bacolod,CEO and Chairman Brightlight Productions
• Javi Benitez - Mayor of Victorias , Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Charlie Cojuangco - Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
• Jaime Cojuangco - Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
• Mark Cojuangco - Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
• Neri Colmenares — Party-list Congressman for Bayan Muna
• Monsour del Rosario - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Taekwondo champion, actor in film and television
• Rio Diaz - Vice Mayor of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, Model, beauty queen, Tv host, film actress
• Jeffrey Ferrer - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines , Vice Governor of Negros Occidental
• Juliet Marie Ferrer - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Arsenio Lacson - 1st elected Mayor of Manila, Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, broadcast journalist, member of the Philippine national football team
• Bong Lacson - Mayor of San Carlos, 42nd Governor of Negros Occidental
• Evelio Leonardia — Mayor of Bacolod and former Congressional Representative
• Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. — Governor of Negros Occidental and former Congressional Representative
• Alfredo Marañon III - Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
• James Yap - Member of the city council of San Juan, Metro Manila, professional basketball player
• Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. — Former Governor of Bukidnon, Former Representative of Third District of Bukidnon

Military

• Mary Grace Baloyo — Philippine Medal of Valor Recipient, the nation's highest military honor, First Lieutenant Philippine Air Force
• Joel Sarsiban Garcia - Admiral, 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard
• Rafael Jalandoni - 3rd Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Heroes and Historical Figures

Aniceto Lacson

• Juan Araneta — Revolutionary, Secretary of War of the Republic of Negros
• Yves Leopold Germain Gaston — Pioneer of the sugar industry in Negros Island, Patriarch of the Gaston clan
• Antonio Ledesma Jayme — Revolutionary, Secretary of Justice Republic of Negros, 4th Governor of Negros Occidental
• Aniceto Lacson — Revolutionary, President of the Republic of Negros
• Papa Isio — Revolutionary
• Agustín Montilla y Orendáin - Pioneer of the sugar industry in Negros Island, Patriarch of the Montilla clan

International Organization Figures

United Nations Figures

• Esteban Abada - Member of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, 8th President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
• Teodoro Locsin Jr. - 20th Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations 27th Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Press Secretary
• Katherine Luzuriaga — Consultant for the World Health Organization, Immunologist, developed a functioning cure for HIV infected infants. Included in the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world for 2013
• Rafael M. Salas - United Nations Under-Secretary General, 1st and longest serving Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, 16th Executive Secretary of the Philippines

International Sports Organization Officials

• Rene Adad - Member of the Executive committee and Executive council of the Asian Football Confederation , Deputy chairman of the Asian Football Federation legal committee, 11th President of the Philippine Football Federation
• Remy Presas - Founder of the International Modern Arnis Federation which has splintered into several organizations worldwide after the death of its founder, however each group still honors the teachings and legacy of Remy Presas
• Monico Puentevella - Vice President of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, 40th Mayor of Bacolod, Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission
• Jorge B. Vargas - Member World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, 1st filipino member of the International Olympic Committee ,defacto Head of the Philippine Government (Unofficial President of the Philippines) as the Chairman of the Philippine Executive Commission ,1st Executive Secretary of the Philippines, 1st Mayor of the City of Greater Manila

Other International Organization Figures

• Joel Sarsiban Garcia - Chairperson of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), Admiral, 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard
• Oscar H. Ibarra - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, Foreign Member of the Academia Europaea
• Franz Ontal - Head of inspector training at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), he was serving in this capacity when the organization won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize

Religious Figures

• Jose Advincula - Cardinal (Catholic) ,2nd Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos (Negros Occidental), 3rd Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Capiz, 33rd Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila
• Gerardo Alminaza - Catholic Prelate, 3rd Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
• Patricio Buzon - Catholic prelate, 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod, 2nd Bishop of the Diocese of Kabankalan
• Niall O'Brien — Irish Columban Catholic missionary priest, writer of the Hiligaynon language bible
• Antonio Fortich —Catholic prelate, 3rd Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod, political activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient
• Louie Galbines - Catholic prelate, 3rd Bishop of the Diocese of Kabankalan
• Romeo Intengan - Catholic Jesuit Priest, Provincial Superior of the Philippine province of the Society of Jesus, Social activist
• Vicente Salgado y Garrucho — Catholic prelate, 2nd Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Romblon
• Salvador Trane Modesto - Catholic prelate, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
• Nicolas M. Mondejar - Catholic prelate, 1st Bishop of the Diocese of Romblon , 1st Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
• Vicente Navarra - Catholic prelate, 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod, 1st Bishop of the Diocese of Kabankalan
• Jesus Varela - Catholic Prelate, 1st Bishop of the Diocese of Ozamis, longest serving Bishop of the Diocese of Sorsogon , Chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Commission on Family and Life

Other Notable Personalities

• Carl and Clarence Aguirre — Former conjoined twins
• Captain Felix Corteza Gaston, Philippine Airlines pilot at the center of historical early hijacking
• Rose Lacson-Porteous — Australian-Filipino socialite
• Tony Meloto — Philanthropist, founder of Gawad Kalinga

Notable people with roots from Negros Occidental

• Mikey Arroyo — son of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, member Philippine House of Representatives
• Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo — also known as Dato Arroyo — son of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, member Philippine House of Representatives
• Amado Bagatsing - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Manila’s 5th congressional district
• Cristal Bagatsing - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Manila’s 5th congressional district
• Don Juan Bagatsing - Member of the Manila City Council
• Hyram Bagatsing - professional basketball player
• Raymond Bagatsing - film and television actor
• RK Bagatsing - film and television actor
• Elijah Canlas - Award Winning Actor on Film and Television
• Ginger Conejero — Former Miss Philippines Earth runner-up and a TV entertainment reporter and host for ABS-CBN
• Sheryl Cruz — Actress on film and television
• Joe Devance — Basketball player who currently plays for the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the Philippine Basketball Association
• Kyle Echarri - Film and television actor, singer
• Charlene Gonzales — Television and film personality and former beauty queen
• Mark Hartmann — Professional footballer who plays as a striker for Malaysian club Sarawak FA and member of the Philippines national football team
• Matthew Hartmann — Professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Global Cebu F.C. in the Philippines Football League and former member of the Philippines national football team
• Ryan Hall - Professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Meralco Manila in the Philippines Football League
• Jaya — Soul Diva and Asia's Queen of Soul
• Cocoy Laurel - Singer, Theater and film actor
• Denise Laurel - Film and TV actress, singer
• Brian Poe Llamanzares - Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Angel Locsin — Actress in film and television
• Elmo Magalona — Actor and singer
• Francis Magalona — Former actor, TV host, master rapper and also VJ on Channel V Philippines and MTV Philippines
• Frank Magalona — Actor and rapper
• Maxene Magalona — Actress in film and television
• Saab Magalona — Actress, singer, photographer and blogger
• Raimund Marasigan — Pinoy rock musician and icon
• Bamboo Mañalac - Musician,singer, songwriter
• Sandro Marcos - Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
• Andres Muhlach – Film and television actor, model
• Atasha Muhlach – Television actress and host, singer, model, debutante at the Bal des débutantes 2022
• Tomas Osmeña — Member of the Philippine House of Representatives, Mayor of Cebu City
• Hiro Peralta — Actor
• AJ Perez — Film and television actor
• Ana Roces - Film and television actress
• Martin Steuble — Member of the Philippines national football team ,professional football player for Ceres-Negros F.C. in the Philippines Football League.

See also

• List of people from Bacolod
• List of people from Dumaguete

References

1. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. "Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation". Rmaf.org.ph. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
2. Galunan Jr., Gerome (2008-04-10). "Fernandez to grace Monico Cup 19-U". Sun.Star Bacolod. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
3. Padua, Reinir (2011-05-01). "Cop, barangay watchman killed by gunmen on motorbikes | Metro, News, The Philippine Star". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
4. NOKAF Officers, Sunstar Archived 2005-03-13 at the Wayback Machine , 07-07-2004 edition
5. "Archived copy". www.senate.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 17 August 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
6. "Pacete: Silaynons who made Silay". SunStar . 9 June 2015.