Language variation within the island of Negros has geographic and historico-political reasons. The extent of the areas where the Ilonggo and Cebuano languages were spoken was not the past basis for the political division of Negros Island into Oriental and Occidental. The current changes in its geographic conditions, however, favor spatial movements and cultural contacts. This paper outlines the argument for the one-island region against the issue of language differences which was a convenient reason to resist the proposal. Instead, it asserts that cultural understanding and cooperation as needed in development work should be seen as other valid goals for the merger of the two provinces being situated in one island.
