HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG

Fig.1. Map of Lambayong

INTRODUCTION

Lambayong is a Muslim term which means “violet”. Lambayong is considered as a

second class municipality in the province. The municipality covers a total land area of 226.99
square kilometers or 87.60 square miles.It has population of 77, 013 people as of 2015, currently
it is under the governance of Mayor Ramon M. Abalos.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
 Lambayong is known for agricultural crop production, in realities farmers are fortunate
for having the full support of the Sultan Kudarat Province, from free soil testing up to the supply
of the seeds. Free soil testing is essential to a farm for the farmers to know what are the nutrients
or fertilizer to be applied in a certain area even the type of seed to be planted.

In the year 2014, Lapanday Food Corporation, a banana plantation in Lambayong 3

different barangays of Lambayong (Lilit, Sadsalan and New Cebu) open its door for the people
of Lambayong to have a job. It contributed to the progress of Lambayong and the people with in
the municipality.

Fig.2. Lapanday Banana Plants

Municipality of Lambayong also treasure the environment by implementing segregation

of waste and avoid burning of waste in every barangay. Agriculture Technicians from
Lambayong also encourage the farmer to do the organic farming wherein students make different
fertilizers and herbicide and apply it in the vegetable plants inside the school.

Madanding National High School a small but competitive school in Lambayong practice
this organic farming where in the students are making different fertilizer and herbicide and apply
it in the vegetable plants inside the school. During 2015 they won in “Gulayan sa paaralan”
regional level.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
OBJECTIVES:

1. To know the history of Lambayong.

2. To determine the native language existing in Lambayong.
3. To determine the different barangay of Lambayong.
4. To identify the main product/s of Lambayong.

HISTORIC LAMBAYONG
(Sultan Kudarat Province, Philippines)
By Apolinario Villalobos

Fig.3. Seal of Lambayong

The historical significance of Lambayong could be traced back to the time when its vast
expanse was ruled by a Muslim Royal House connected to Sultan sa Barongis. The Ala River
played a major part in the lives of the early inhabitants being the main artery of commerce due to
the absence of a road system. During the time, the four thriving settlements in the whole of
Cotabato aside from what is now Cotabato City, itself, were Dulawan, Lambayong, Midsayap
and Buluan. Before Lambayong was created as a town, as it was then part of Sultan sa Barongis,
the area was referred to as “Torre” due to the presence of a Spanish tower which time has
deteriorated. Ferdinand Marcos, issued PD #341 on November 22, 1973 that transferred
Lambayong from Cotabato to Sultan Kudarat with its name changed to Mariano Marcos in honor
of his father. But when Corazon Aquino took over as President, it was renamed Lambayong by
virtue of Republic Act #6678 signed on October 12, 1988.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
 Lambayong is named after the flower-bearing creeper that grows in profusion on wet
lands with which the town has plenty. The purplish cup-like petals are a sight to behold from a
distance as they undulate with the dark waxy-textured green leaves when blown by the wind.

Fig.4. Flower-Bearing Creeper

Christians began to settle in Lambayong as early as the 1930s but the early 1950s saw the
greater volume of hordes from Visayas, particularly, Iloilo. Among them was led by the late
Serafin Bernardo whose son, Nonito, confided that their group which consisted not only of their
family but friends and relatives, took a barge from Cotabato City for Dulawan from which they
took another barge to Lambayong. The Rio Grande de Mindanao that emanates from Cotabato
City and the Ala River that flows through the Lambayong area, join at Dulawan.

During the 1950s, Lambayong was already a thriving settlement with many Christian
families dominating the settled area along the highway. Purportedly, many prominent families
who got settled in Tacurong City stayed for awhile in the homes and buildings of the early
settlers of Lambayong, one of which was owned by the Guerreros. Some families decided to
settle around Gansing and Kipolot while the rest, such as the group of Serafin Bernardo went on
to New Passi which at the time was part of Katil. From there, some families settled in Rajah
Muda and went up the hills of Magon.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
 Buluan was made accessible from Lambayong through Gansing and Kipolot by foot trails
which the settlers blazed toward President Quirino which at the time was called Sambolawan, to
trade in a designated area that settlers during the time, referred to as “Pamasang”. Buluan is the
“mother town” of Tacurong and President Quirino. (This information was confirmed by my
interviewees from Buluan who got the information from their parents.)

There was an early attempt of the government to connect the thriving settlements in the
hinterlands of Cotabato that included Midsayap, Sultan sa Barongis and Lambayong with Makar
in Dadiangas which is now known as General Santos City. It is named after General Paulino
Santos who cleared the once sandy area for settlement by Christians from Visayas and Luzon .
The proposed highway was what is now called in Tacurong City as “Alunan Highway”, but
before was known as, “Mid-Makar Road” or “Midsayap-Makar Road” that passed through
Lambayong and ended at Kalandagan in Tacurong, beyond which was a trail fit for carts only.
Affluent students from Gansing and Tacurong hiked from Tacurong to Marbel on Sundays and
hiked back home on Saturday, as for the rest of the week, they stayed at boarding homes in
Marbel. Heavy provisions such as sacks of rice were loaded on a cart pulled by carabao. There
were no tricycles, jeepneys, most especially, buses yet.

Lambayong, during the arrival of the settlers from the Visayas and Luzon, was covered
with thickets and cleared for rice paddies and corn plots which in time expanded. Water for
irrigation was coaxed from streams that abound in the area. The manifestation of this abundance
of water, in fact, “sweet” spring water, is the presence of the six (6) continuously  flowing water
out of upright tubes at the town’s six (6) purok or sitio and the one used by the District Hospital.
The fertility of the soil is also fit for rice which ensured abundant harvest and made Lambayong
earn the title, “Rice Bowl of Cotabato” when it was yet one whole province before the creation
of the four provinces. Today, it is still fondly referred to as a “Rice Bowl” but of Sultan Kudarat
Province.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
 Fig.5. Rice Farm @ Lambayong

The 26 barangays of Lambayong are: Caridad (Cuyapon), Didtaras, Gansing (Bilumen),

Kabulakan, Kapingkong, Katitisan, Katitisan, Lagao, Lilit, Madanding, Maligaya, Mamali,
Matiompong, Midtapok, New Cebu, Palumbi, Pidtiguian, Pimbalayan, Pingulaman,Poblacion
(Lambayong), Sadsalan, Seneben, Sigayan, Tambak, Tinumigues, Tumiao (Tinaga), and
Udtong.The municipality covers a total land area of 226.99 square kilometers or 87.60 square
miles.

Though without impressive big commercial structures, Lambayong is trying its best to
maintain a harmonious and cordial ambiance which is necessary to erase the bad image it had at
the height of the conflict between the Christians and Muslims during the early 1970s.
Impressively, farmers hold with steadfast firmness to their rice fields and vegetable plots instead
of converting them into subdivisions. Attempts are being made to raise the nutritious dragon fruit
which consistently commands a high price in Manila. Another tradition which is maintained is
the production of raw sugar in the form of muscovado.  For more delectable offerings of the
town, one should visit the public market on a Sunday for tinagtag, panyalam, smoked fish and
many more.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
There are five native languages existing in Lambayong those are Tagalog, Ilonggo, Ilocano,
Cebuano and Maguindanaon.

Fig.6.Prk. Maliga Dragon Fruit Farm

Fig.8. Tinagtag

Fig.7. Muscovado

To commemorate the harmony between Christians and Muslims in Lambayong, the

government came up with TIMPUYOG Festival celebrated every October of each year.    Groups
compete for the best in street dancing and costume.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
 Fig.9. Timpuyog Festival

Currently, the mayor of Lambayong is HON. RAMON M. ABALOS.

Figure 10

Economy

According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the annual regular revenue of
Lambayong for the fiscal year of 2016 was ₱150,288,304.74.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
SUMMARY, CONCLUTION AND RECOMMENDATION

SUMMARY

Lambayong was created as a municipality and now part of Sultan Kudarat Province by
virtue of Executive Order No. 543 signed by then President Elpidio C, Quirino on October 29, !
952. The name Lambayong was changed to Sultan Sa Barongis under the administration of the
undivided Cotabato Province by virtue of Republic Act No. 2589, in honor of Sultan Sa
Barongis, believed to be the forefather of the President Ferdinand E. Marcos singed Presidential
degree No. 339 wherein 26 barrios in the Municipality of Sultan Sa Barongis, Province of
Maguindanao were separated from said municipality and constituted into a distinct and
independent municipality known as Municipal of Mariano Marcos, in the province of Sultan
Kudarat. During the time of President Corazon C, Aquino, the name Mariano Marcos was
change to Lambayong, its original name. Lambayong is now the adopted name of the
municipality after it was changed twice. The Municipal government of Lambayong maintain and
operates a public market where commerce is undertaken.

There are five native languages existing in Lambayong those are Tagalog, Ilonggo,
Ilocano, Cebuano and Maguindanaon. It has 26 barangays namely: Caridad (Cuyapon), Didtaras,
Gansing (Bilumen), Kabulakan, Kapingkong , Katitisan, Lagao, Lilit, Madanding, Maligaya
Mamali, Matiompong, Midtapok, New Cebu, Palumbi, Pidtiguian, Pimbalayan, Pinguiaman,

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG
Poblacion (Lambayong), Sadsalan, Sebenen, Sigayan, Tambak, Tinumigues, Tumiao (Tinaga),
Udtong. It is known for agricultural crop production.

CONCLUSION

Lambayong, formerly known as Mariano Marcos, is a landlocked municipality in the

coastal province of Sultan Kudarat.

The municipality has a land area of 226.88 square kilometers or 87.60 square miles which
constitutes 4.28% of Sultan Kudarat's total area. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census
was 77,013. This represented 9.48% of the total population of Sultan Kudarat province, or 1.69%
of the overall population of the SOCCSKSARGEN region.The population density is computed at
339 inhabitants per square kilometer or 879 inhabitants per square mile. The main products of
Lambayong are Rice, vegetables, and sugar cane made products (tinagtag, muscovado, and
sugar).There are five native languages existing here (Ilocano, Ilocano, Maguindanaon, Cebuano
and tagalog).

RECOMMENDATION

 Conduct latest researches to provide information or data regarding the history of the
municipality and its political, economical and environmental condition.

HISTORY OF LAMBAYONG