E.B. Magalona is a 25-minute drive from Bacolod City by private car or
30 minutes by public utility vehicle plying northern Negros.
Distance from Bacolod City: 23.9 km
Land Area: 11,332.00 hectares
Classification: 3rd Class
No. of Barangays: 23
Population: 54,490 (5/1/2000);57,639 (2005 projection)
Language: Hiligaynon / Ilonggo / Cebuano; English is spoken and understood.
The town was named Saravia after the first Spanish military governor of Negros, Don Emilio Saravia (1856-1858). The original inhabitants of the place were Negritoes who were gradually driven to the mountains by settlers who came to make their permanent homes in choice lands in the present poblacion.
The first group of settlers in the town came from Albuquerque, Bohol. They were led by Florentino Rubiato who became the first “Cabeza de Barangay” of the place then called “Tukgawan”, located between the rivers of Madalag Pequena and Madalag Grande.
The exact date of the creation of Saravia into a municipality is rather controversial. A Spanish chronicler mentioned in his “Apuntos de la Isla de Negros” that Saravia was created into a town in 1858. However, another Spanish chronicler in his “Resena Historica de Negros” recorded Saravia’s conversion into a municipality in 1880. It is however safe to assume that Saravia became a municipality in 1889, when Recollect priest Fr. Pedro Lago took over the administration of Saravia.
The first Capitan Municipal of the town was Santiago Reyes. He was succeeded by Carlos Magalona, who with his brother Vicente, father of ex-senator Enrique Magalona with whom the town was named after, alternated over the position for the next 15 years.
House Bill 511 authorized by the late Congressman Armando Gustilo changed the name of Saravia into E.B. Magalona on August 19, 1967.
Famous Landmarks
Man-made Rice
Terraces in Sitio Tabuan, Barangay San Isidro
is an exact replica of the Banaue Rice Terraces. 
Battle of
Guintabuan is a marker built in memory of the heroes
of “Guintabuan”, an event about the struggle of the local
revolutionaries who opposed American rule after the fall of Spain. It
was in Sitio Guintabuan where expeditionary fighters from Iloilo met
with the local forces to engage the American soldiers.
Century-old Mangrove in 42 hectares mangrove forest in Sitio Buyog, Bgry. Alicante is home of wild ducks and birds.
Dabo Dabo Falls and Bat Sanctuary in Brgy. Canlusong is about 35 kilometers east of the town proper. Ideal for nature enthusiasts and trekkers.
Festival
Ugyonan Festival
is celebrated every first of May. Ugyonan which means “cooperation” was
conceptualized to celebrate the Labor Day which is also the feast of
Saint Joseph the Worker, the town’s patron saint.
Famous Products
Blue Crabs.
The town is famous for its blue
crabs found in
Brgys. Tomongtong and
Latasan.
Cauldrons. The town is famous for its quality cauldrons or “caldero” manufactured by Blue Panther in Barangay Tabigue.
M-Celeste Jeepneys are manufactured in the local foundry shop in Brgy. Alicante.