REGION 12: SOCCSKSARGEN

CENTRAL MINDANAO'S HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, CULTURE AND TOURISM *If you want the Ms Powerpoint Presentation of it just email me at [email protected]

1. SOCCKSARGEN CENTRAL MINDANAO

2. SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX) REGION 12 SOCCSKSARGEN is an administrative region of the Philippines designated as Region 12. It comprises of 4 provinces; South Cotabato Cotabato Province Saranggani Sultan Kudarat and 2 chartered cities; General Santos City (Highly Urbanized) 2. Cotabato City

3. SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX) REGION 12 Regional Center: Koronadal Population (2015): 4,545,276 Land Area: 22, 513.30 sq.km Municipalities: 45 Barangays: 1,195 Dialect: Maguindanao, Cebuano, Iranun , Blaan , Tururay , Ilianen The region is the 2 nd most populated with Muslims among the six regions in Mindanao.

4. SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX) REGION 12 The region was formerly known as Cotabato or “ Kuta-Wato ” (meaning stone fort), became Central Mindanao and presently named as SOCCSKSARGEN which is acronym for its provinces. The region was also branded as the “ 12 th Paradise of the Philippines”.

5. SOCCSKSARGEN (SOX) REGION 12 SOCCSKSARGEN encompasses Cotabato City situated within the borders of Maguindanao, a province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM ). Also, Cotabato City is the seat of government of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

6. HISTORY OF SOX The region was created by the virtue of Presidential Decree No. 742 on July 7 th 1975 and named as   Central Mindanao . I t comprised the following provinces : Maguindanao North Cotabato Sultan Kudarat Lanao Del Norte Lanao Del Sur And also cities of Iligan , Cotabato and Marawi .

7. HISTORY OF SOX With the creation of ARMM, Lanao del Sur,and Maguindanao ( excluding  Cotabato City ) were removed from the region, leaving Lanao del Norte , Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat , and   Iligan ,   Marawi   and  Cotabato City  as constituent provinces and cities .   Lanao del Norte and Iligan were later transferred to  Northern Mindanao , while Marawi became part of the ARMM .

8. HISTORY OF SOX September 19 th 2001 – Executive Order No. 36 was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo creating the present Region 12 and renamed Central Mindanao to SOCCSKSARGEN which stands for South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat , Saranggani plus General Santos City. and cities of Cotabato City, Kidapawan City, Koronadal City and Tacurong City.

9. HISTORY OF SOX COTABATO CITY – LEAVING THE SOX T he   January 21, 2019 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite resulted in the surprise ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. This means Cotabato City may now formally serve as the capital of the region and the offices of the current ARMM will be retained for use by the Bangsamoro Regional Government and now formally exited to the SOCCSKSARGEN Region .

10. ECONOMY OF SOX The region is endowed with rich natural resources and it serves as the main source of hydroelectric power for Mindanao . Palay and Corn are the leading crops of the region. Other major crops are Banana and Pineapple. The region is also home of the high quality Tuna in the Philippines. (specifically in GenSan ).

11. ECONOMY OF SOX The following are the lists of the major industries in the region; Coconut Industry Tourism Industry Coffee Industry Banana Industry Cassava Industry Aquamarine Industry Fruit/Vegetable Industry Processing Industries

12. THE SOC-C-SK-SAR-GEN

13. SOUTH COTABATO

14. SOUTH COTABATO (Land of Dreamweavers ) Capital: Koronadal Population(2015): 915, 289 Land Area: 3,935.95 sq.km Cities: Koronadal Municipalities: 10 Barangays: 199

15. SOUTH COTABATO (Land of Dreamweavers ) Land of dreamweavers The patterns they use to weave are those that came from their dreams. South Cotabato is home of the T’Bolis . Roman Catholics  predominate the province with 65% adherence, while   Islam  is a minority religion which is 6% of the population

16. SOUTH COTABATO (Land of Dreamweavers ) On July 2017 , South Cotabato Police Chief Franklin Alvero sent a proposal to the Provincial Government changing the name of the province to " Allah Valley Province " which Governor Daisy P. Avance Fuentes is open with.

17. HISTORY OF SOUTH COTABATO The area of what now South Cotabato used to be part of the Davao Province until 1914. February 27, 1939 - Pioneers mostly coming from Luzon led by the late General Paulino Santos arrived and laid the foundation for what was to become the progressive province it is today. July 18, 1966 - South Cotabato was separated from Cotabato as an independent province 1975 - With the creation of regions under Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, South Cotabato was grouped with Region XI , also known as Southern Mindanao.

18. HISTORY OF SOUTH COTABATO 1992 - the province of  Sarangani  was formed out of South Cotabato. Seven towns in southern and coastal section of the province became part of the new province. September 19, 2001 – E.O no. 36 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says South Cotabato is to be transferred from Southern Mindanao.

19. ECONOMY OF SOUTH COTABATO Agriculture is the province’ pre-dominantly economic activity. Major agricultural crops are; pineapple, papaya, asparagus, fruits, vegetables, corn, coffee, bananas, cut-flowers. Commercial products include wood products and processed food. The abaca – weaving imposes a big part for T’Boli people. The province has 1 st class income classification .

20. FESTIVALS OF SOUTH COTABATO

21. FESTIVALS OF SOUTH COTABATO FLOMLOK FESTIVAL HELOBUNG FESTIVAL

22. FESTIVALS OF SOUTH COTABATO KAMAYADAN FESTIVAL KULINTANG FESTIVAL

23. FESTIVALS OF SOUTH COTABATO LEMLUNAY FESTIVAL SESLONG FESTIVAL

24. FESTIVALS OF SOUTH COTABATO T’NALAK FESTIVAL

25. Where to go at South Cotabato?

26. ATTRACTIONS OF SOUTH COTABATO LAKE SEBU

27. ATTRACTIONS OF SOUTH COTABATO MT. MATUTUM AND DOLE PLANTATION

28. ATTRACTIONS OF SOUTH COTABATO TARSIER SANCTUARY

29. ATTRACTIONS OF SOUTH COTABATO SURALLAH ROTONDA SOUTH COTABATO COMMUNITY MUSEUM

30. COTABATO

31. COTABATO (NORTH COTABATO) Capital: Kidapawan Population(2015): 1,379,747 Land Area: 9,008.90 sq.km Cities: Kidapawan Municipalities: 17 Barangays: 543

32. COTABATO (NORTH COTABATO)  Cotabato derives its name from the Maguindanao word  kuta wato  (from Malay - " Kota Batu "), meaning "stone fort", referring to the stone fort which served as the seat of Sultan Muhammad Kudarat . Some of the barangay of the province have voted “Yes” from t he plebiscite for the creation of B.A.R.M.M.

33. HISTORY OF COTABATO 1596 – Christianity was introduced by the Spaniards in the Province, however they were unable to penetrate the area until the 2 nd half of 19 th century. July 15, 1903 - through   Act No. 787  of the Philippine Commission,   Cotabato, covering what are now the provinces of Cotabato,  Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat , South Cotabato and   Sarangani , became a district of the huge Moro province. December 1941 - Japanese planes bombed and invaded in Cotabato.

34. HISTORY OF COTABATO 1942 - Cotabato was occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces. 1945 - Cotabato was recaptured from the Japanese Imperial forces by the combined Filipino and American troops together with the recognized Moro guerrilla units . November 22, 1973 - through   Presidential Decree No. 341 , what remained of the old Cotabato was further divided into the provinces of  North Cotabato , Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat .   March 7, 1984 - North Cotabato was later n amed   Cotabato  through  Batas Pambansa Blg . 660.

35. ECONOMY OF COTABATO Cotabato is considered a major food basket in Mindanao . It is a top producer of cereals, tropical fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, coconut, coffee, freshwater fish and livestock . Country’s leading producer of raw and semi – processed rubber and industrial trees. The vast  Liguasan Marsh  which not only supplies a bounty of  freshwater fish and organic fertilizer but considered as a possible source as well of  natural gas . They have a 1 st class income classification.

36. ECONOMY OF COTABATO LIGUASAN MARSH

37. FESTIVALS OF COTABATO

38. FESTIVALS OF COTABATO KALIVUNGAN FESTIVAL FRUIT FESTIVAL

39. FESTIVALS OF COTABATO SHARIFF KABUNGSUAN FESTIVAL

40. Where to go at Cotabato?

41. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO ASIK ASIK FALLS

42. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO GRAND MOSQUE

43. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO TAMONTAKA CHURCH

44. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO RIO GRANDE DE MINDANAO

45. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO PANIKI CAVE

46. ATTRACTIONS OF COTABATO BASAG FALLS

47. SULTAN KUDARAT

48. SULTAN KUDARAT Capital: Isulan Population(2015): 812, 095 Land Area: 5,298.34 sq.km Cities: Tacurong Municipalities: 11 Barangays: 249 59% of the population are Roman Catholics.

49. SULTAN KUDARAT The name of the province was derived from a Muslim ruler, the late Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat of the Sultanate of Maguindanao , who reigned from 1625 to 1671. He was considered as one of the national heroes of the Republic of the Philippines not only because of his virtues of leadership but also because of his patriotic exploit in repelling Spanish domination. For his honor, Sultan Kudarat province was named after him.

50. HISTORY OF SULTAN KUDARAT Sultan Kudarat was part of the former province of Cotabato, until its creation as an independent province on November 22, 1973 , through  Presidential Decree No. 341  signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos . S ultan Kudarat was part of the former Empire Province of Cotabato presently covered by three provinces namely: Sultan Kudarat , Maguindanao and Cotabato. Being one of the largest and the richest provinces in the country. Sultan Kudarat is now under the administrative supervision of Region XII, per E.O. No. 36.

51. ECONOMY OF SULTAN KUDARAT The economy of Sultan Kudarat is predominantly agricultural .  Leading crops produced are: rice, corn, coconuts, coffee, bananas, mangoes, durians and African palm. The southern Philippines Grain Complex in Tacurong is the largest grains-processing complex in the country having more than 200 rice mills in the province . Tuna caught along the coasts along the Celebes Sea are exported to Japan and Europe.

52. ECONOMY OF SULTAN KUDARAT   Cottage industries include crafts made of  rattan and other types of wood . Metallic minerals , which include copper, gold and silver , are found within the mountainous areas. Non-metallic minerals which include sand, gravel and marbleized limestone are also found in the province.

53. FESTIVALS OF SULTAN KUDARAT

54. FESTIVALS OF SULTAN KUDARAT BANSADAYAW FESTIVAL HINABYOG FESTIVAL

55. FESTIVALS OF SULTAN KUDARAT HINUGYAW FESTIVAL KALIMUDAN FESTIVAL

56. FESTIVALS OF SULTAN KUDARAT KANDULAN FESTIVAL SALAGAAN FESTIVAL

57. FESTIVALS OF SULTAN KUDARAT TALAKUDONG FESTIVAL TIMPUYOG FESTIVAL

58. Where to go at Sultan Kudarat ?

59. ATTRACTIONS OF SULTAN KUDARAT BARAS BIRD SANCTUARY LABAC WHITE SAND BEACH

60. ATTRACTIONS OF SULTAN KUDARAT PITOT KALABAW PITOT CAVE

61. ATTRACTIONS OF SULTAN KUDARAT SECRET ISLAND

62. SARANGGANI

63. SARANGGANI Capital: Alabel Population(2015): 544, 261 Land Area: 3,601.25 sq.km Cities: Municipalities: 7 Barangays: 141 48% of the population are Roman Catholics.

64. SARANGGANI Sarangani came from the legend of Saranganing , an adventurous son of a Sangil famlily from the coast of Celebes off Indonesia whose voyages often brought him to the Sultanate of Buayan (present day General Santos City ).  

65. SARANGGANI The earliest civilization in the province can be found in   Maitum , Sarangani , where the  Maitum Anthropomorphic Pottery or Maitum Jars were found . The jars have been dated to approximately 5 BC to 370 AD, one of the oldest in the entire Southeast Asian region and the Philippines .   MAITUM JARS

66. HISTORY OF SARANGGANI 1543 - Sarangani was named by Ruy López de Villalobos as Antonia in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco who commissioned Villalobos expedition to the Philippines. The first inhabitants were called “ MunaTo ”, a native term for “first people ” 1942 – Japanese troops occupied modern day Saranggani .

67. HISTORY OF SARANGGANI 1945 - Filipino troops  of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered Saranggani to liberate it from Japanese invaders during the Battle of Cotabato . The province is divided into two sections, separated by the  Sarangani Bay and General Santos City, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992 by the virtue of Republic Act No. 7228 on March 26 th .

68. ECONOMY OF SARANGGANI Coconut , corn, rice, banana, mango, durian, rubber, and sugarcane are major crops now being planted by the inhabitants . The province has plantations (mango, banana, pineapple, asparagus), cattle ranches, and commercial fishponds that have been operating in the area , It has a 2 nd class income classification.

69. FESTIVALS OF SARANGGANI

70. FESTIVALS OF SARANGGANI BANGSI FESTIVAL BINUYUGAN FESTIVAL

71. FESTIVALS OF SARANGGANI KESTEBENG FESTIVAL LUBI – LUBI FESTIVAL

72. FESTIVALS OF SARANGGANI MUNATO FESTIVAL PAKARADYAN FESTIVAL

73. FESTIVALS OF SARANGGANI SARANGGANI BAY FESTIVAL S’LANG FESTIVAL

74. Where to go at Saranggani ?

75. ATTRACTIONS OF SARANGGANI SARANGGANI PARAGLIDING GUMASA BEACH

76. ATTRACTIONS OF SARANGGANI NALUS FALLS WHITE WATER TUBING

77. ATTRACTIONS OF SARANGGANI CAPITOL PARK

78. ATTRACTIONS OF SARANGGANI CENTURY OLD HOUSES

79. EXCUSE ME PO!!!!!

80. SARANGGANI PROVINCE IS THE HOME OF OUR “PAMBANSANG KAMAO” SEN. MANNY PACQUIAO

81. AND ALSO THE “FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE

82. GENERAL SANTOS CITY

83. GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Tuna Capital of the Philippines) Founded: August 18, 1947 Population(2015): 594, 446 Land Area: 492.86 sq.km Barangays: 26 90% of the population are Roman Catholics.

84. GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Tuna Capital of the Philippines) Formerly called “ Dadiangas ” which is derived from thorny Ziziphus Spina -Christi tree tas was once abundant in the place and now a protected species under R.A 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 2007.

85. HISTORY OF GENSAN February 27, 1939 - 62 Christian settlers from Luzon were relocated to the shores of Sarangani Bay aboard the steam ship “Basilan” of Compania Maritima led by General Paulino Santos. The 62 Christian settlers who are mostly agricultural and trade graduates were the first big batch of settlers to land in GenSan with the mission to industriously cultivate the fertile expanse of land

86. HISTORY OF GENSAN Thousands more from Luzon and Visayas migrated into GenSan which started the displacement of some native B’laan tribe to the mountains and lost their livelihood. B’laan people were the original settlers of GenSan . B’laan people were called Dadiangas during those times.

87. HISTORY OF GENSAN March 1939 - the first formal settlement in the city was established in Alagao , which is now known as Barangay Lagao . Lagao district was known then as the "Municipal District of Buayan “ Datu Sharif Zainal Abedin , an Arab mestizo who married a daughter of a very influential datu of lower Buayan , was appointed as the first district municipal mayor.

88. HISTORY OF GENSAN During the WWII, the Municipal District of Buayan became the last frontiers of the Japanese Empire, retreating Imperial Japanese forces made Klaja Karsts Land their last ground for defense, constructing round cement bunkers and tunnels.

89. HISTORY OF GENSAN   July 4, 1946 - the Municipality of Buayan became a 4th class regular municipality by virtue of the Executive Order Number 82, dated August 18, 1947 by President Manuel Roxas .     June 1954 - the Municipality of Buayan was renamed General Santos as a tribute to the leading pioneer via Republic Act No. 1107

90. HISTORY OF GENSAN   July 8, 1968 - the Municipality of General Santos was converted into a city upon the approval of Republic Act No. 5412 5th of September in the year 1988 - a decade after its inauguration as a chartered city, GenSan was declared a highly urbanized city.

91. ECONOMY OF GENSAN The city's major economic activity is primarily anchored in two sectors namely the agro-industry and fishing industry . AGRO – INDUSTRY - General Santos City produces export quality high valued crops such as   corn, coconut, pineapple, asparagus, banana  and rice . The city is also a top producer and exporter of quality livestock such as  poultry, hogs, and  cattle .

92. ECONOMY OF GENSAN FISHING – INDUSTRY - General Santos City is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the Philippines . Thus in as early as 1970, the title  " Tuna Capital of the Philippines "  has become a tag to it. GenSan also accounts for the second largest daily total catch of fish in the country after  Navotas City in the National Capital Region.  The GenSan F ishport Complex is equipped with modern facilities that comply with international standards on fish catch handling.

93. FESTIVALS OF GEN SANTOS CITY

94. FESTIVALS OF GENSAN TUNA FESTIVAL

95. FESTIVALS OF GENSAN KALILANGAN FESTIVAL

96. FESTIVALS OF GENSAN STO.NINO FLUVIAL PARADE

97. Where to go at GENSAN?

98. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN GEN SAN FISH PORT COMPLEX

99. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN QUEEN TUNA PARK

100. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN PLAZA HENERAL SANTOS

101. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN SANCHEZ PEAK

102. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN KALAJA ECO PARK

103. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN KALAJA CAVE

104. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN KALAJA FACE

105. ATTRACTIONS OF GENSAN CHRIST THE KING CATHEDRAL