THE HISTORY OF THE

MUNICIPALITY OF
MAWAB

ARISH JAY O. AGUIPO

 Before people hear the loud noise of its success and the obvious
manifestation of progress, Mawab started with a silent history that many
were not aware of.

Mawab is one of the richest and top progressive region among

11municipalities in the Province of Compostela Valley. It was situated at
the southeastern part of ComVal which has a total mass area of 16,952
hectares which is equivalent to 3.63% of the total hectares of the province.
About 10,000 hectares are considered as alienable and disposable area of
the place and has almost 40% as municipality's foreland.

Mawab was originally called by the early native group as 'Ma-awag'

which means 'wide valley' where the four rivers transvered namely Hijo,
Mawab, Galinan and Gumawan. Mansakas, Mandayas and Dibabawons
are the several tribal groups who preoccupied the municipality and were
considered as the ancestors of the place. Another term was used to call the
place was a Mansaka term 'Maawat' means 'far from civilization'.

Just like any places, Mawab became a witness to its journey. The
ancestors of the place developed primitive ways to survive like building fire
by striking or rubbing two bamboo sticks. The native language was the only
way to understand one's thoughts.

Mawab encompasses wild forests and sentinel trees. It is also rich in

resources like agricultural and natural products. The cultivation of land by
natives paved way to abundant municipality today marked by vast planted
area of wild rice and variants of fruits like durian, lanzones and rambutan.
 The municipality never fails to produce its major agricultural products
such as coconut, rice and corn which made Mawab as the 'Agricultural
Center and the Food Bowl' in the province of Compostela Valley.

The municipality was founded on August 14, 1959 through an

Executive Order (EO) No. 351 signed by the late president Carlos P.
Garcia. In 1919, the Philippine government deployed the first batch of
'sacadas' to Mindanao archipelago to introduce civilization in the area. A
young man, Celestino E. Estruelo from Guimaras, IloIlo was chosen to
explore and blaze the trail in Mindanao and was even more challenged by
the crisis of the place. He was the first Christian to set off Mawab.

In 1920, as ordered by the Bureau of Public Schools to open a school

Mr. Esuerte managed to put up a school out from indigenous materials
together with the help of indigents. In the latter part of 1930 the Davao-
Agusan road was constructed. With this, there was a relocation of the bario
and other public sites and was followed by the construction of bridges and
roads.

Now, Mawab is the image of progressive and developed municipality

which highlights its abundance and the plenitude of wealth. By the increase
volume of the people and the rise of establishments, Mawab has the
potential to grow and

transform into a more progressive and developed city.