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The approval of the Republic Act No. 8470 on January 30, 1998 and through a plebiscite held
on March 7, 1998 marks the birth of Compostela Valley Province. The first elected governor of the
province is Hon. Jose R. Caballero. This new Province was carved out from the mother province of
Davao del Norte. There are 11 municipalities comprising
the province which are grouped into two districts.
The province is situated in southeastern part of Mindanao. It has a total land area of 4,667.03
square kilometers and its bounded by Agusan del Sur on the north, Davao derl Norte on the west,
Davao Oriental on the east and southeast, and of Davao Gulf on the West and southwest. It has an
estimated population of 600,000 per 2000 Nat'l. Census & Statistics Office Survey. With spoken
languages/dialects: Cebuano, Tagalog, Mandaya, Mansaka, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon.
Compostela Valley is a cradle of nature's magnificent works of art. It is only in this young
province where waterfalls, caves, hot and cold springs, lakes, rivers, islands, and mountain
ranges can all together be found. It is a melting pot of tribal groups. The Ata-Talaingod,
Dibabaonon, Mandaya, Manguwangan, and Mansaka villages still exist in the province. Aside from
this cultural heritage, the province has rich deposits of metallic and non-metallic minerals such
as Gold, Silver, Silica, Copper and Chromite. These gifts of gold, people, agriculture and
natural wonders make the province the Golden Valley of Mindanao.
Hence, the Anibina Festival is being celebrated annually during March 1-8 in line with the
founding anniversary of the province. Anibina is coined after the words "Ani" which means harvest
and "Bina" which means gold veins. Anibina is a thanksgiving celebration of good harvest and rich
gold deposits.
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