VALENCIA

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.