02 / Our Region
Where we are from
Rooted in SOCCSKSARGEN
Long before maps bore the name SOCCSKSARGEN, old accounts describe Koronadal Valley as a shallow sea channel joining Lake Buluan to Sarangani Bay — until Mt. Matutum erupted and, layer upon layer, built the fertile plains we now call home. Fitting, then, that land shaped by such upheaval became one of the most diverse corners of the Philippines.
Here the Moro trace royal lineage to a bamboo-born princess and a prince from Johore; the Indigenous T'boli and B'laan hold flood stories older than memory, their dreamweavers still working the looms of Lake Sebu; and from 1939 onward, settlers stepped onto the shores of Dadiangas carrying little but hope and a pioneer's bahala na spirit. Three peoples, poured into one valley, becoming — as the region's own historians describe it — a true melting pot of culture.
People and places
Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (1581–1671), the 7th Sultan of Maguindanao, repelled Spanish influence in Mindanao by forging alliances with neighboring tribes and skillfully using geopolitics to his advantage. He united Moro sultanates, partnered with the Dutch against Spain, and leveraged trade networks to strengthen his rule and preserve Islamic governance.
General Manager of the National Land Settlement Administration, and the man who led the first settlers ashore at Dadiangas in 1939. The city he brought them to carries his name.
In February 1939, sixty-two courageous settlers stepped off the ship S/S Basilan onto the arid, untamed shores of Dadiangas. Led by General Paulino Santos, these visionaries set out to carve a future from a vast, silent wilderness. When harsh dry spells threatened their very survival, they united to hand-build an irrigation system from the Klaja River, breathing life into their dying fields. Over the years, families from forty-one different provinces joined them, weaving a vibrant cultural melting pot. Guided by weekly democratic assemblies and celebrated with the lively steps of the curacha under the stars, they forged a resilient community spirit that laid the foundation for modern General Santos City.
In 2014, General Santos City set a Guinness World Record by displaying 25,594 kg of yellowfin tuna. Individual catches often top 200–300 kg, earning it the title “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”
Anthropomorphic jars from Ayub Cave, Maitum, Sarangani Province — earthenware vessels modelled with human faces, among the most significant archaeological finds in the southern Philippines.
Woven here
T'boli, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
A sacred handwoven textile made from abaca fiber and dyed using the ikat technique to create its soft, blurred patterns — traditionally received in dreams by master weavers called “dreamweavers.” Recognised as part of the Philippines' intangible cultural heritage, it remains a living tradition today.
Photo by Daphne Oliveros
B'laan
Bright plaid patterns with intersecting stripes of red, yellow, blue, and green — symbolising community and cultural identity. Each handwoven piece reflects the Blaan people's artistry and heritage.
Maguindanaon
Bold diamond patterns in gold, red, green, and black, symbolising royalty and cultural pride. It reflects the Maguindanaon people's artistry and heritage through intricate handwoven designs.
Come and see it
We receive visitors into SOCCSKSARGEN and Davao — Lake Sebu, Lake Holon, Mt. Matutum, Sarangani Bay and the fish port at dawn. Tell us who is coming and how long they have.
