Valencia, Negros Oriental
| Valencia | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
 Map of Negros Oriental showing the location of Valencia |
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.svg)
 Valencia
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| Coordinates: 09°17′N 123°15′E / 9.283°N 123.250°ECoordinates: 09°17′N 123°15′E / 9.283°N 123.250°E | |
| Country |
 Philippines
|
| Region | Negros Island Region (NIR/Region XVIII) |
| Province | Negros Oriental |
| District | 3rd district of Negros Oriental |
| Barangays | 24 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Edgar Teves |
| • Vice Mayor | Romeo Alviola |
| Area | |
| • Total | 147.49 km2 (56.95 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 60,000 |
| • Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 6215 |
| IDD : area code | 035 |
| Income class | 1st class municipality,partially urban |
Valencia is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west of Dumaguete City, the largest city and capital of the province. According to the national 2015 census, it has a population of 34,852 people. The municipality was voted as "the greenest and cleanest" town of Negros Oriental in 2007. The mayor of Valencia is Edgar Teves, who was elected in 2013.
Our Lady of the Abandoned is the patroness of Valencia, and her feast day is celebrated annually every October 12 with the town fiesta. The fiesta is an official non-working holiday for the town.
Valencia occupies an area of 14,749 hectares (36,450 acres), 35% of which are classified as plains. The town is 65% mountainous, with elevation averaging from 200 to 500 metres (660 to 1,640 ft) above sea level, with the top of Mount Talinis at an elevation of 1,903 metres (6,243 ft) along the municipal southern boundary. The climate in the municipality is relatively cool, especially at higher elevations.
The region is also the most critical watershed area of Negros Oriental, providing abundant drinking water to Valencia and its neighboring municipalities.
The town is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.
Valencia was originally named Ermita, which means "a secluded place", due to its being a refuge from marauding Muslim pirates. In 1856 it was renamed to Nueva Valencia by Spanish colonizers, in honor of its parish priest Fr. Matias Villamayor from Valencia, Spain.
In 1920 it was renamed Luzuriaga (also spelled Luzurriaga) in honour of Don Carlos Luzuriaga, a delegate from Negros island to the Philippine Legislature who promised town officials he would work hard to help improve the town. The town was renamed Valencia in 1948, by virtue of Republic Act No. 252.
During World War II, Malabo was the headquarters of the Free Government and resistance movement in Negros Oriental.
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Wikipedia