VALENCIA
Established 1869
Population: 18,655 (Census)
Mayor: Concepcion Lim Tan
Number of Barangays: 35
Land Area: 10,077 hectares
Feast Day: January 16; Patron Saint: Sto. Niņo
Tourist Attractions: Anislag Spring, Badiang Spring
Valencia is on the
southern coast of Bohol. It
is forty two kilometers
(42 kms.) from the capital.
Its former name is said to be
Panangatan, which is derived
from the word sang-at,
meaning to put up on an
elevated place. It is said
that many many years ago,on
windy days, fisherman from Dimiao
and Lila used to seek shelter at the
mouth of the Panagatan River
when the southeast monsoon was
very strong. Here they would put
up (sang-at) their boats on the banks
of the river where nipa palms grew in order to
prevent them from being washed away by the waves.
When the Spaniards came, Panagatan was still a part of Dimiao. It was separated in 1867 from Dimiao when a Spanish priest was assigned to the municipality. The priest named the place Valencia, named after a famous seaport in Spain.
During the Philippine America War, the people of Valencia joined the resistance movement. At a point called Punta Gorda or Balitbiton, somewhere between Valencia and Garcia Hernandez, Filipino soldiers used to waylay the Americans and Attack them with big rocks.
During the early months of 1942, many people from Mindanao and Cebu evacuated to Valencia. Inspite of the increased population, there was no shortage of food because the people carried on an intensive food production campaign. They produced rice, corn, camote and gabi. Many from Alburquerque and Baclayon came, drawn by the abundance of foodstuffs.
The principal industies of Valencia today are weaving, pot making and fishing. The most important products are coconuts, rice,corn, and fish.
It is in this town where the Badiang Health Resort can be found - a popular resort which attracts excursionist and foreign visitors.
This the hometownof Governor Juan Pajo.