Valencia's cultural heritage and history

Source document page 1 of 16. Cover title: Valencia's Cultural Heritage and History. Submitted by: Valencia Bukidnon Historical and Cultural Society. Verse: "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." - Romans 15:4 (ESV).

Legible text includes: There is an old saying that says, "Ang dili kahibalo molingi sa iyang gigian, dili gyod kaabot sa iyang paingnan." This is a reminder that one has to be thankful for one's past. For Christians, the Bible is also clear on the importance of lessons of the past as written in the hearts and minds of the people during Christ's time. This is the importance of history and culture in planning a future.

Article 2 Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that "the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development." This is the Constitutional mandate for including culture in developmental considerations.

A people must recognize its roots, that is, their cultural heritage. Without being aware of its cultural heritage, a place and its people cannot define itself. Without allocating time, talent, and resources for cultural and historical purposes a people will be lost. As such, allocating resources for cultural reasons should be also be reflected in the government's land use plan.

The idea of culture being also a necessary consideration for human development cuts across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2015. This agenda, aimed at "Transforming Our World," includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 specific targets.

Source document page 2 of 16. Heading: Tangible Cultural Heritage of Valencia City.

Legible text includes: Valencia has nothing much left of its physical inheritance to show its old tangible cultural heritage. The old plaza, for example, has been converted from an old plot of the Guaans around a large balite tree, first used as a playground for tribal children from before the war, to something like a half-playground, half community area becoming a flea market every Sunday, later becoming a real marketplace. The only structures built on it were an artesian well, most probably built as part of the American preparations, and the Puericulture Center, equivalent to a barangay health clinic in the 1950s. In the 1960s, this Guaan land became Plaza Rizal with a multipurpose stage and a basketball court. In the 1990s a skating rink was added, and Rizal Monument in between the rink and the basketball court. Sometime in 2018 it became this modern plaza with a water fountain above a dug-out parking area.

The old Puericulture Center became the Municipal Health Center built in 1961 on a lot donated by Mr. Angeles V. Selorio. Although the old structure may still be standing, it has now become unrecognizable due to the many revisions and additions into the building as well as having new buildings built alongside it which eclipsed the old building. The City Health Office of Valencia has been transferred to the New Terminal Compound.

There were only two prominent churches in Valencia before it became a town. The Roman Catholic Church, which was just a small chapel. Footnotes on balite (Ficus species) and a settler from Aklan who arrived in Valencia sometime in 1937 are included in the page image.

Source document page 3 of 16. Preserved as page image. Full transcription requires human review of scanned page.

Source document page 4 of 16. Preserved as page image on Pulangi Bridge and early commerce. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 5 of 16. Preserved as page image on buildings, homes, and community spaces. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 6 of 16. Preserved as page image. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 7 of 16. Preserved as page image on community life and local governance. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 8 of 16. Preserved as page image on the road to townhood. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 9 of 16. Preserved as page image on community organization and early local leadership. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 10 of 16. Preserved as page image on early history and community values. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 11 of 16. Preserved as page image on early community life and cultural values. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 12 of 16. Preserved as page image on early historical accounts of Valencia. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 13 of 16. Preserved as page image on Jesuit accounts and early Valencia. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 14 of 16. Preserved as page image on early settlement and cultural heritage. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 15 of 16. Preserved as page image on Bukidnon and Higaonon heritage and community spirit. Full transcription requires human review.

Source document page 16 of 16. Preserved as page image showing historical image labeled Valencia, Bukidnon circa 1935. Full transcription and photo description require human review.