HISTORY OF DON SALVADOR BENEDICTO
Located at the center of the mountains of northern Negros Occidental, Don Salvador Benedicto was established by consolidating 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 Jose Varela, Jr.
The town is named after the late Vice Governor Salvador Benedicto who played an important role in the setting up of a Revolutionary Government in Negros Island particularly in Brgy. Igmaya-an, when the country was occupied by the Japanese during World War II.
The territorial formation of Don Salvador Benedicto is composed of two barangays from the Municipality of Murcia (Pandanon and Igmayaan), three barangays from the City of San Carlos (Kumaliskis, Bunga, and Pinowayan-Prosperidad) and two barangays from the Municipality of Calatrava (Bagong Silang-Marcelo and Bago-Lalong).
Sixty percent of the residents speak Cebuano and the rest speak Ilonggo and other dialects. The people have adopted 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 during the celebration of the Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival that also showcases various cultural and traditional activities of the people.
Famous Landmarks
Viewing Deck or Lantawan is overlooking the Malatan-og waterfalls, a cigarette falls that charmed visitors to keep coming back.
Villa Ica. This exquisitely landscaped area is a place where one can escape the busy and tiring city life and here find serenity as one communes and enjoys the beauty of nature in a pollution-free environment. It is an ideal venue for themed garden wedding.
Pine Trees. Beautifully-grown pine trees lined the main thoroughfares of about 1.7 kilometer stretch of road from Barangay Igmayaan to Poblacion proper which gained recognition as well-maintained and “pot-hole-free” road for the third quarter of 2002 in the whole Region 6.
Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival
Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival of Don Salvador Benedicto
The people of Salvador Benedicto have adopted for their cultural heritage the art of “Kali” otherwise known as “arnis” or “escrima”, the traditional martial arts of the Filipinos. Kali is designed for the physical training, mental development and spiritual upliftment of the individual practitioner which relatively strengthens his moral values. Kali-kalihan Harvest Festival is held every February 9.
Negros Occidental Festivals 