Valencia City Charter Day in the Philippines Date in the current year: January 12, 2025

Valencia is a component city in the Philippine province of Bukidnon. It is the most populous city in the province, the sixth largest city by area in Bukidnon, and the most populous inland city in the island of Mindanao. Nicknamed the City of Golden Harvest, Valencia is a major center of trade and commerce in Bukidnon and Northern Mindanao.

Valencia was one of the few settlements in Northern Mindanao founded by the natives (the Bukidnon people). Its original name was Panglibatuhan after the malibato trees that grew in abundance in the area. Since the Spanish did not try to colonize Northern Mindanao for a long time, the inhabitants of Panglibatuhan were mostly left to their own devices until the second half of the 19th century.

Panglibatuhan was incorporated as a barrio (neighborhood) into the town of Malaybalay sometime after the latter’s founding in 1877. It is believed that the barrio of Valencia got its name from Leon Galoport, a teacher from Valencia, Bohol, who opened a barrio school in 1911 and named it Valencia School after his hometown. When the barrio petitioned for a municipal status, the petitioners agreed to name it Valencia.

The municipality of Valencia was formally created on October 11, 1959 from thirteen barangays (barrios) carved out of the municipality of Malaybalay: Valencia (of course), Bagontaas, Cawayanon, Guinoyuran, Laligan, Lilingayon, Lumbayao, Lurugan, Maapag, Mailag, San Isidro, Sugod and Tongantongan. Teodoro Pepito, the person responsible for the petition to transform Valencia into a municipality, was appointed as the first mayor of Valencia and later became the first elected municipal mayor.

Valencia’s transformation into a municipality was accompanied by rapid economic growth. Eventually, it surpassed the population of the provincial capital of Malaybalay, so its conversion into a full-fledged city was only a matter of time. Valencia was officially converted from a municipality to a city on January 12, 2001.

Present day Valencia is a major center of trade and commerce due to its location in the center of Mindanao. Agriculture is one of its major sources of income. The city is particularly known for its Valencia rice. Valencia’s vast rice fields have earned it the nickname “City of Golden Harvest”. It is also a popular tourist destination thanks to several natural tourist attractions such as Lake Apo, Kasanyan Cave, and several picturesque waterfalls.

The celebration of Valencia’s cityhood, commonly known as the Golden Harvest Festival, usually lasts for ten days and culminates on Valencia City Charter Day. The program of events includes live music concerts, trade fairs, sports competitions, talent contests, a beauty pageant, award ceremonies, a civic parade, street dancing, fireworks, and many other exciting events and activities.