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During the late 18th century when Spanish Explorers came to the central portion of the province, they inquired as to the name of the town. The people replied in sputtering Vasayan "Walay Balay." The Spaniards mispronounced the name and repeated it as Malaybalay.
Malaybalay had been known before as Oroquita. It was only in 1850 when it was established as a settlement.
Bukidnon became a part of the province of Misamis as a municipality in 1850, the whole area was then called Malaybalay (few houses) and the people known as Bukidnons (mountain people). Malaybalay was created as a municipality on October 19, 1907. In 1910, Malaybalay became a sub-province of Agusan. It then became an independent unit, named the Province of Bukidnon with Malaybalay as the capital. Finally, on February 11, 1998, President Fidel Ramos signed the act that converted Malaybalay to a city.History