Valencia, Bukidnon

<!-- Infobox begins --> <!-- Infobox ends -->The City of Valencia is a 2nd class city in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 162,745 people in 28,425 households.

History

The territory that now comprises the City of Valencia was formerly the thirteen barrios (or barangays) of the Municipality of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The earliest inhabitants in the area, now comprising part of the Poblacion, were Bukidnon natives who founded a settlement along the banks of Pulangui River. The pioneers were led by Datu Sebastian Manangkila.

Barrio Panlibatuhan, is derived from a Binukid word, "pangyohan ho kayu ha malibato" which means the supply of Malibato wood materials for home building. Malibato, the hardest wood in the Province of Bukidnon, was found in Valencia - a landmark of the Panlibatuhan Bridge. The first site of settlement was in a sitio named "Panglibatuhan" because the area was thickly forested with Malibato trees.

When the first one-room barrio school was opened in 1911, its first teacher was Jaime Galorport. That school site was approximately the present location of Valencia National High School. Galorport came from Valencia, Bohol. So when the Southern portion of Malaybalay was separated as a new municipality, the settlers agreed to name it "Valencia" and it is now known as the...
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