The name Negros Navigation and SuperFerry will soon be just a part of our memory since the two companies which were already merged under ATS Consolidated will now be called 2GO Travel.
Negros Navigation has been a big part of inter-island travel not only for Ilonggos and Negrenses but also for most Filipinos. The company has been a vital link in the economy of the Philippines as it made possible a much efficient shipping of passengers and cargo between the islands.
Perhaps, most Negrenses will remember the heartbreaking tragedy of the sinking of Don Juan in 1980 which led to the demise of hundreds of Negrenses. Not even the dissolution of the name will make us forget that tragedy.
History of Negros Navigation
Negros Navigation was established in July 26, 1932 with incorporators from Iloilo and Negros who were mostly sugar planters namely: Julio Ledesma, Vicente Lopez, Januario Jison, Cesar Ledesma, Juan Ledesma, Manuel Hechanova, Antonio Lizares, Nicolas Lizares, Carlos Lopez, Placido Mapa, and Aurelio Montinola. Julio Ledesma became the company’s first Chairman of the Board and President.
Eventhough majority of the stockholders were from Jaro, Iloilo City and the company’s main office was in Iloilo, it is said that the company adopted the name Negros Navigation to avoid confusion since there’s already a company named Iloilo Shipping at that time. It was only in January 1957 that the company opened a branch in Bacolod.
Negros Navigation’s first ship was Marapara which the owners acquired even before the company’s incorporation. In 1932 the company acquired another ship named Princess of Negros which sailed twice daily from Iloilo to Silay. With the boom of the sugar industry, there’s a need to have its own wharf in Bacolod thus in 1940, the company started constructing the Banago Wharf. It was inaugurated in 1941 with a big ceremony attended by hundreds of guests.
The Princess of Negros was also instrumental in transporting then President Manuel L. Quezon to the Visayas when he escaped from Corregidor during World War II.
In the 60’s Negros Navigation was the first among the domestic shipping companies to operate brand new, fast and luxurious and air conditioned passenger ships with the likes of Don Juan and Doña Florentina plying the Manila-Bacolod-Iloilo route.
In 70’s , the company was the first to construct and operate a modern passenger terminal in Manila’s North Harbor. Negros Navigation was also the first to offer special cruises to tourists spots in the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries such as Indonesia and Singapore with its luxury vessel Doña Monserrat.
[sociallocker id=”9891″] Download the pdf file of the history here.[/sociallocker]
Turbulent Times
Negros Navigation has also experienced and sailed through rough situations over the years. It has survived World War II, the oil crisis, and the strikes and demonstrations of the 60s. Negros Navigation survived, or at least the name, rehabilitation, acquisition and mergers. It’s fleet of ships still bear the name Negros Navigation eventhough it’s now mostly owned by Chinese. Times has changed and the company which now owns Negros Navigation no longer think the name still represent their company’s range of services.
Farewell Negros Navigation. You were once an icon and pride of the Ilonggos and Negrenses. You will forever be part of our memories.