The first Teniente Alcalde or Capitan (the highest political authority in a town) was Don Mauricio San Mateo.

The revolt against the Spaniards in this area started on November 13, 1896, when the male residents joined the revolutionaries from the province to form a bigger force.

The arrival of the Americans, at the turn of the century, witnessed the evacuation of the townsfolk to the mountains for fear of being killed, later returned to the Poblacion seeing that the foreigners were well-intentioned.

This made the Americans very strict on the social life of the people, prohibiting them from leaving the Poblacion and talking to each other publicly.

Life continued under the American regime and to an extent, introduced their own culture to the Filipinos until the Second World War broke out in 1941.

Post-World War II, Magdalena became a preferred shooting location for numerous films, including The Ravagers (also known as Only the Brave Know Hell), and the popular teleserye Wildflower.

The colorful festival celebrates the native bamboo and its role in the culture and livelihood of the town and to promote bamboo-based industries.

Liga ng mga Barangay national president James Marty Lim was special guest at the festival, and together with Magdalena town officials led by Mayor David Aventurado Jr., congratulated the Magdaleños for their initiatives to promote the local bamboo industry.

In February 1898, after being wounded in a battle with the Spaniards at the Maimpis River, Philippine revolutionary hero Emilio Jacinto sought refuge in this church.

In years past, the municipality operated the Magdalena Waterworks, a water supply system which covered ten barangays.

Believing that water is one of the basic services that the government should be able to provide to the people, the LGU consequently searched for a more permanent solution.

Through the DILG and World Bank, the Local Government Unit Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project (LGUUWSSP) was introduced to Magdalena officials.