How Valencia

came to Being?
by: John Rey L. Gamil

Long before Valencia became an independent

political unit, it was once part of the local
government of Dimiao, its now neighboring
town. As one of the barrios, it was named
“Panangatan” from the word “sang-at” which
literally means “to put into an elevated place”.

Being coastal towns, Dimiao and Lila rely on

fishing and its residents are mostly fishermen.
During the southeast monsoon, the winds are
very strong and the mouth of Panangatan River
became shelter for wearied fishers. They would
usually put their bancas (boats) on the
riverbanks, locally termed as “Sang-at” where Valencia welcome Arc
nipa palms grew in order to prevent from being
washed away by the strong waves. In year 1867, the place was separated from the
mother town when a Spanish priest came.
Conjoined with other barrios, it was established
as a town on October 27, 1869. The First
Capitan was Ignacio Daloperit and Fr.
Francisco Cornago was the assigned priest.

Like in other towns, Valencia got its name when

Valencia Public Market
the Parish Priest, who was a Spanish, made
some pastoral visits in the place. Amazed by the
similarity of the topography and the panoramic
view of the place to one of the cities of Spain, he
proposed to rename the place into Valencia,
after his native city in Spain.

Upon returning, he immediately called for a

meeting of the then important personages and
offered his proposal for renaming the town. It
was readily accepted and since then, Valencia is
the official name of the town.

The parish of Sto. Niño was established in 1871

and the construction of the church commenced
during the term of Fr. Cornago. It was
completed by Fr. Francisco Arraya in 1882. He
laid the wooden floor which is the church’s real
treasure. Roman Catholic Church, Valencia