Vallehermoso is a town in the Negros Oriental province of the Philippines. It is located on the border of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, which are the eastern and northwestern parts respectively of the island of Negros in the Central Visayas region. It is surrounded by three cities, San Carlos in the north, Guihulngan in the south and Canlaon in the east. The municipality of Vallehermoso is divided into fifteen barrios or barangays, which means village, district or ward, and is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines.
Brief History of Vallehermoso
The town was founded by Don Diego de la Viña y de la Rosa, a revolutionary and a local hero of Negros Oriental who was of Spanish-Chinese parentage. In 1881 he came from Negros Occidental looking for new land to occupy. He called the place “Valle hermoso” or beautiful valley when he first saw it from the top of a hill, and that was how the town got its name. The region, then called Bagawines, was the home of the unfriendly Bukidnons, an aboriginal tribe. Don Diego met their chief Ka Saniko and offered fine canes and other artifacts in exchange for land. Clearing the land with the help of some members of the tribe, Don Diego built his home, a casa tribunal, and a chapel. Within five years the valley became a hacienda where rice, corn, sugar cane tobacco, and coconut were grown. Don Diego continued to increase his estate until it stretched north to Macapso on the boundary of San Carlos, south to Mopolo on the boundary of Guihulngan and the slopes of Canlaon, where his horses and cattle grazed. He had a civilizing influence on the Bukidnons and inculcated in them a love of work and ideas about religion. Don Diego also built a road to Negros Occidental, which gave him access to take part in the historic revolt against the Spanish.
According to the census of 2010, Vallehermoso has a population of 36,943. Most of the people are farmers and fishermen while some work for the government or in private businesses. More than half have completed secondary schooling while many are professionally trained.
Getting to Vallehermoso
Located approximately 152 km away from the capital of Dumaguete City, Vallehermoso is a small provincial paradise here in Negros Oriental.
Getting to Vallehermoso via a Ceres Bus will take you about 3 hours and 30 minutes for traveling time from Dumaguete and will cost approximately Php 210.00 for air-conditioned buses and about Php 190.00 for regular non-air conditioned buses. Another way to get to Vallehermoso is via a V-hire (Van for hire). Traveling time takes only about 3 hours and 15 minutes from Dumaguete City and will cost Php 140.00.
Barangays of Vallehermoso Negros Oriental
- Bagawines
- Don Espiridion Villegas
- Guba
- Cabulihan
- Macapso
- Bairan
- Malangsa
- Molobolo
- Maglahos
- Pinocauan
- Poblacion
- Puan
- Tabon
- Tagbino
- Ulay
Festival in Vallehermoso
Negros Oriental, being a mainly Christian Roman Catholic region, has Fiestas to celebrate harvests, births, victories and religious events. There are twenty-four fiestas, each dedicated to its patron saint. Vallehermoso, along with Ayungon and Zamboanguita, celebrates the Fiesta of San Isidro Labrador on May 15. Saint Isidore the Labourer, the patron saint of farmers, worked for the betterment of the poor and for animals. The town also takes regularly part in the Buglasan Festival, one of the highlights of the festival season of Negros Oriental, that takes place in Dumaguete City in the second week of October. Booths are set up by all towns and cities in Negros Oriental exhibiting their special products and tourist attractions. The festival, with street dancing contests and a float parade, goes on for a week. The Grand Fiesta Of Vallehermoso starts 13th to 15th of May its called Kanglambat Festival.
Places of Interests in Vallehermoso
Vallehermoso or the “beautiful valley” lives up to its name and offers a scenic and peaceful experience removed from the hubbub and noisy rush of a big city. Its caves and sugar cane fields are soothing to the eye as well as to the soul. The picturesque landscape and the beach are the other attractions. The close proximity to three cities, all within a 29-mile radius, makes it convenient for the tourist as well.
Sayaw Enchanted Falls
The virgin forest though not as big compared to other forests, still has many trees, wild plants and flowers, and abundant water. This becomes the dwelling place of these species of birds known as “SAYAW”.
Maglahos Cave
The people before and there are some until now that used this cave as their passageway. This cave has a wide opening and located near the “dalakit” tree which is at the back of the school site.
Pinucauan Falls
Pinucauan waterfalls is a sheet form of waterfall because the water falls from the edge of a cliff then from one layer to another before it falls freely into the air and landed to the streambed.
Economy of Vallehermoso
Most of the area of Vallehermoso is made up of agricultural land with sugarcane and corn as the main product. Rice, coffee, banana, and cassava are also important crops. Coconut adds another source of income through arguably the best “tuba” (coconut wine) of Negros Oriental. Bags, broomsticks and fashion accessories made from indigenous materials are also made and sold by the locals.
Climate
Negros Oriental lies outside the “Typhoon Belt“, however, it still gets hit by typhoons and heavy tropical storms each other year. Vallehermoso has a climate that can be divided into distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season lasts for one or two months while there is light to heavy rain for the rest of the time. The people of Vallehermoso distinguish between “rain from God” that helps things to grow and “rain from the devil” that destroys things. April is the coolest month while July is the hottest. The least and most rainfall occurs in April and October respectively.
Public Schools in Vallehermoso
Public Elementary Schools
| Bairan Primary School | Guba Elementary School | Pinucauan Elementary School |
| Banban Elementary School | Macapso Elementary School | Pu-an Primary School |
| Cabulihan Elementary School | Maglahos Elementary School | Tabon Elementary School |
| Dominador Paras Memorial ES | Malangsa Elementary School | Tolotolo Elementary School |
| Don Esperidion Villegas ES | Molobolo Elementary School | Ulay Elementary School |
| Don Julian Dela Viña Memorial ES | Paliran Elementary School | Vallehermoso CES |
| Don Vicente Lopez Sr. Memorial ES |
Public High Schools in Vallerhermoso
| Pinucauan High School
Pinocawann Vallehermoso Negros Oriental | Guba High School
Guba , Vallehermoso Negros Oriental | Tagbino National High School
Tagbino, Vallehermoso Negros Oriental |
| Vallehermoso National High School
National Highway, Poblacion Vallehermoso Negros Oriental |
Useful Contacts:
Vallehermoso Municipal Mayor:Hon. Marianne Serion, Gustilo
Vallehermoso Municipal Vice Mayor: Oliver Serion, Bongoyan
Municipal Mayor’s Office: +639176701865
e-mail: lguvallehermoso@gmail.com
Head of Tourism:
Mrs. Yolanda G. Deliña Mobile: +639225162060
Human Resources Management Office (HRMO):
Mrs. Yolanda G. Deliña
email: yolly.delina@gmail.com
Municipal Accounting Office (MAAAO):
Menchie C. Uy Mobile:+639176258037
Municipal Budget Office:
Mia Theresa P. Dingding Mobile: +639353872760
Vallehermoso Local Civil Registrar (LCR):
Marlon L. Yu Mobile: +639452197035
Municipal Treasurer’s Office (MTO):
Celia Louie P. Solidarios Mobile:+639066160684
Municipal Assessor’s Office MASSO):
Fe Loida S. Nayon Mobile: +639173614393
Sangguniang Bayan Office (SB):
Jordan V. Bernus Mobile: +639552137749
LDRRM – 0926 768 0128
Rural Health Unity – 0916 145 3255
Bureau of Fire Protecion – 0917 158 2247
Philippine National Police – 0915 205 9198
Vallehermoso Vice Mayor: Hon. Oliver S. Bongoyan
Vice Mayor Office: 09563745936
Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office (MSWDO):
Cecilia O. De Los Reyes Mobile: +639278030279
Municipal Planning & Development Office (MPDO):
Engineer. Mark Lester G. Benlot Mobile: +639975644431
