Located at the center of the
hinterlands of the entire north of Negros Occidental, Don
Salvador Benedicto was primarily established to consolidate
all the remote barangays of San Carlos City and the towns of
Calatrava and Murcia which were apparently neglected due to
inaccessibility. Its founding was finalized on February 9,
1983 upon the approval of Batas Pambansa Blg. 336 by former
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. The legislation was authored by
Assemblymen Alfonso Garcia and Joe Varela, Jr.
The town got its name in honor
of the late Vice Governor Salvador Benedicto who played an
important role in setting up aRevolutionary Government in
Negros Island particularly in the area, Brgy. Igmaya-an,
when the country was occupied by the Japanese during World
War II.
The territorial formation of
DS Benedicto is composed of two (2) barangays from the
Municipality of Murcia (Pandanon and Igmaya-an), three (3)
barangays from the City of San Carlos (Kumaliskis, Bunga and
Pinowayan-Prosperidad), and two (2) barangays from the
Municipality of Calatrava (Bagong Silang-Marcelo and Bago-Lalong).
Sixty percent of the residents
speak Cebuano and the rest Ilonggo and other dialects.
The people have adapted the
art of "kali" otherwise known as "arnis or escrima" as their
cultural heritage. The traditional martial arts of the
Filipino people since the 7th century, it is designed for
physical training, mental development and spiritual
upliftment as well as strengthening of moral value
foundation. The craft is highlighted every year with the
celebration of the "Kali-Kalihan" Harvest Festival where one
can also observe various cultural and traditional activities
of the people.
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Municipality
Of Don Salvador Benedicto
