La Castellana, Negros Occidental

La Castellana
Municipality
Municipality of La Castellana
Kanlaon from Brgy. Cabacungan
Kanlaon from Brgy. Cabacungan
Flag of La Castellana
Flag
Official seal of La Castellana
Seal
Map of Negros Occidental with La Castellana highlighted
Map of Negros Occidental with La Castellana highlighted
Interactive map of La Castellana
La Castellana is located in Philippines
La Castellana
La Castellana
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°21′N 123°04′E / 10.35°N 123.07°E / 10.35; 123.07
CountryPhilippines
RegionNegros Island Region
ProvinceNegros Occidental
District 5th district
FoundedJanuary 1, 1918
Named afterPaseo de la Castellana
Barangays13 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAñejo G. Nicor (Lakas)
 • Vice MayorAlme Rhummyla G. Nicor-Mangilimutan (UNegA)
 • RepresentativeEmilio Bernardino L. Yulo III (Lakas)
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Pritz V. Timbad
  • Christine Thel A. Geollegue
  • Nel John N. Labesores
  • Felix U. Feria V
  • Lara Angelika G. Vera-Guanzon
  • Kaye P. Cabalatungan-Enriquez
  • Alberto A. Nicor, Jr.
  • Marven Paolo J. Magno, Jr.
 • Electorate51,604 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
185.22 km2 (71.51 sq mi)
Elevation
77 m (253 ft)
Highest elevation
244 m (801 ft)
Lowest elevation
25 m (82 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
82,500
 • Density445/km2 (1,150/sq mi)
 • Households
5,398
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
26.45
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 305 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 495.2 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 285.6 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 360.8 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNegros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6131
PSGC
064517000
IDD : area code +63 (0)34
Native languagesHiligaynon
Tagalog
Cebuano

La Castellana, officially the Municipality of La Castellana, is a municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 82,500 people.[5]

Etymology

The town is named after the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, Spain.

History

According to local tradition, the early settlers of the town originated from Marayo (now Pontevedra), and initially referred to their settlement as the village of “Lapak.”[6]

During the Spanish colonial period, the area was renamed La Castellana due to its resemblance in vegetation to Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. The Spaniards established haciendas and sugar plantations, significantly boosting the local economy and attracting migrants and workers from various regions. As a result, the town developed into an important center of trade and commerce.[6]

Under American rule, La Castellana was formally established as a municipality on January 1, 1918, through Executive Order No. 101 issued by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison.[7]

Geography

La Castellana lies at the base of Kanlaon Volcano, known for its natural springs and water falls. It is 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Bacolod and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Pontevedra.

Barangays

La Castellana is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Biaknabato
  • Cabacungan
  • Cabagnaan
  • Camandag
  • Lalagsan
  • Manghanoy
  • Mansalanao
  • Masulog
  • Nato
  • Puso
  • Robles (Poblacion)
  • Sag-ang
  • Talaptap

Climate

Climate data for La Castellana, Negros Occidental
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)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20
(68)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 100
(3.9)		 75
(3.0)		 90
(3.5)		 101
(4.0)		 183
(7.2)		 242
(9.5)		 215
(8.5)		 198
(7.8)		 205
(8.1)		 238
(9.4)		 194
(7.6)		 138
(5.4)		 1,979
(77.9)
Average rainy days 14.9 11.3 14.5 17.4 26.4 28.4 28.5 27.5 26.9 28.4 24.2 17.2 265.6
Source: Meteoblue[8]

Demographics

Population census of La Castellana
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,329—    
1918 8,087+2.82%
1939 16,861+3.56%
1948 24,654+4.31%
1960 35,630+3.12%
1970 34,881−0.21%
1975 41,821+3.71%
1980 44,684+1.33%
1990 54,368+1.98%
1995 59,620+1.74%
2000 59,102−0.19%
2007 70,838+2.53%
2010 71,013+0.09%
2015 74,855+1.01%
2020 79,492+1.27%
2024 82,500+0.90%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

Economy

La Castellana is an agricultural town engaged in sugarcane, rice, and banana farming.

Poverty incidence of La Castellana

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
57.79
2003
36.14
2006
32.40
2009
29.70
2012
29.58
2015
26.11
2018
26.98
2021
26.45

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Culture and tourism

La Castellana holds many festivals namely Bailes de Luces, Banana Festival and Senior San Vicente Ferrer Feast Day where devotees far and near attend to for healing. Caduhada Spring Resort is a popular tourist spot located in Sitio Mambangon, Barangay Cabacungan.

References

  1. ↑  Municipality of La Castellana | (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. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "La Castellana Municipality, Negros Occidental - Centennial". philippinestamps.net. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  7. ↑ "La Castellana, Negros Occidental – Executive Summary" (PDF). Commission on Audit of the Philippines. 2013.
  8. ↑ "La Castellana: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  10. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  16. ↑ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  17. ↑ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  18. ↑ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  20. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  21. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
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