Thursday, October 04, 2007
Valencia: Little Baguio in Negros
By Joan L. Butalid
FOR years now, the municipality of Valencia has been considered as the little Baguio in Negros Oriental.
The beauty, cool climate, and hilly pastoral ambience, with elevation ranging from 200 to 500 meters above sea level, must have evoked nostalgia among Spanish pioneers.
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Valencia is a municipality of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is 9.4 kilometers west of Dumaguete, the largest city and the capital of the province.
It is the site of the PNOC Geothermal Project, located at Barangay Puhagan, which supplies power to as far as Cebu and Panay Island.
Valencia has a population of more than 25,000 people and more than 5,000 households.
The town has many attractive places and tourist spots, such as the historical Philippine-American-Japanese shrine located at Barangay Sagbang, the world war II museum, the hilly camp lookout that affords a bird's eye view of Dumaguete, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Mindanao, Forest Camp, Tejero Swimming Lagoon, Casaroro Falls at Barangay Apolong, San Ezekiel Moreno Retreat House at Caidiocan, and Mount Talinis for adventurous people who like mountain climbing.
Our Lady of the Abandoned is the patroness of Valencia and her feast day is on October 12, 2007.
In its modest desire to be physically and spiritually prepared for the celebration of the feast, the Parish of the Our Lady of the Abandoned of Valencia, the only remaining Recollect Parish in Negros Oriental, is undertaking renovation of the "church" both as a building and as a people.
October 3, 2007 marked the opening salvo with mass, procession with fireworks at the plaza, and a parish night right after the procession.
Other activities are Energy Night, Live Band, Tabo sa Banay with games on October 6 and 7, 3rd Valencia Invitational Mountain Bike Race, Modern Dance and Dance Sport Competition, Variety show, Marathon for Women, Minus-One Singing Competition (Bulilit/Duet), Street Parade and Program, Recognition of Outstanding Valencianons on October 11, and Disco on the feast day.
Behind all the activities of the parish is the continuing support and cooperation of the parishioners, both living in and out of Valencia.
They share their time, talent and resources, in accordance with their capacity and capability.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (October 4, 2007 issue)
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