Story Outline

     The Origin of Dadiangas  

         General Santos City was a part of an original 4^th century Malaya settlement area. Even the next people after the original settlers lived here until 15^th century when Datu Saerif Kabungsuan of Arabia came to spread the Mohammedan culture and religion, this settlement didn't prosper because of lacking of adequate knowledge and technology.

DATABANK, Vol.6&7, '97 Who is Who by Jong Balagtas Ramirez

This is the Lagao settlement before the first settlers arrived.

     Until the time comes that the population there grew that reaches to 13 907,Pres. Manuel Quezon authorized Gen. Paulino Santos to determine the feasibility of establishing  settlement areas for landless people in the far North and South. And appointed Gen. Santos as the General Manager of the proposed national land settlement project.

       Before Gen. Santos arrived on the settlement, different tribes lived there, who have nothing in common but just the desire to survive. Gen. Santos wanted this settlement to be beautify, to become land of plenty but because of those different tribes, he can't make it so he planned to be a friendly alliance with the Muslim led by Sarif Zainal Abedin.

      After that day, 4:00 o'clock in the morning, Gen. Santos woke the settlers up to start the construction of their bunk houses at the district of Lagao and thereby established a pattern of working hours in the settlement.

DATABANK, Vol.6&7, '97 Who is Who by Jong Balagtas Ramirez

     But after 4 months of their labor, they were almost to give up but Gen. Santos has a very strong confident that he directed the Compania Maritima  & Elizalde Shipping Lines to suspend  their calls on he port of Dadiangas to prevent the settlers from leaving the settlement.

DATABANK, Vol.6&7, '97 Who is Who by Jong Balagtas Ramirez

When the day of December 9, 1941 came, the good life in the settlement changed because of the Japanese Air Squadron bombed the Municipality of Buayan. All the fruits from a two- year hard labor crushed. Most of all, Japanese made areas of Baluan, Katanggawan and the boundary of Buayan River as their airfield in the South. Through Gen. Santos organized a guerilla movement and maximized the food for the settlers.

Gen. Santos made to be the Commissioner for the Mindanao and Sulu with an office in Davao City because it was Pres. Quezon's instruction for a government reorganization when Japanese Imperial Government grant Philippines to its independence.

DATABANK, Vol.6&7, '97 Who is Who by Jong Balagtas Ramirez

Even Gen. Paulino Santos was in Davao, he always visit the site twice a week to manifest his great care for the settlers and the projects. And also left the site under the leadership of his assistant, Lt. Jesus Larrabaster.

      But as the war continued, Gen. Santos appointed as the as the Commanding General of Wartime Bureau of Constabulary. And in January 1945, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and died in captivity at Bontoc  Mt. Province on August 29,1945.

      On January 1948, Buayan District became a municipality including Glan, Malapatan, Malungon, Alabel and Polomolok by virtue of Republic Act. Mayor Ireneo Santiago who was the first Hospital administrator of NLSA became the first mayor of the Municipality.

      Nine years later after the death of Gen. Santos the municipality of Buayan was renamed General Santos. Also General Santos Foundation day was first celebrated on February 27.

      The municipality of General Santos continued to grow under the 2^nd Mayor, Mayor Pedro Acharon, Executive No.264 created the municipality of Polomolok  and sliced away a big portion of of its territorial area.

      House Bill was passed converting Municipality of General Santos into a city because its annual income of 600 000.00 php qualify as 4^th class city during the time of Mayor Lucio Velayo. But many disagreed to this order and rejected General Santos to its city hood by the Supreme Court.  Until DOLE Philippines and Stanfilco was established.

      In 1968, congressman James L. Chongbian sponsored a Bill known as RA 5412, Converting General Santos as a city. And this time, it was inaugurated with Mayor Antonio C. Acharon, the first mayor of the city.

      General Santos City, was led to progress by its mayor for almost 20 years, from 3^rd to 1^st city. And many International Market invested in GenSan. And also GenSan's status for its agriculture was highly developed.

      On its 20^th year as a city in 1988, Secretary of Local Government declared this city as a highly urbanized city.

      The City's objective for economics growth develops into industrialization and also its infrastructure development towards providing adequate supply of services and of social services, conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment which was an International concern, are also objectives of this frontier city, currently the fourth fastest in the entire country.

Sources of the content:

• 1980 Census of Population and housing. South Cotabato "NCSO"

• "The Gentlemen Soldier",1978