Region

12:
SOCCSKSA
 SOC C SK SAR GEN

South General
Cotabato Cotabato Santos
Sarangani
Sultan
Kudarat
GEOGRAPHY
 The name is an
SOCCSKSARGEN
acronym that stands
(pronounced [sok
for the region's four
ˈsardʒɛn]) is a region provinces and one of
of the Philippines, its cities:
located in central SouthCotabato,
Mindanao, and is Cotabato, Sultan
officially designated as Kudarat, Sarangani
Region XII. and General Santos
City.
 The region is more Cotabato City, though
formally known by its geographically within
older name Central the boundaries of the
Mindanao. The province of
regional center is Maguindanao, itself is
Koronadal City part of
located in the SOCCSKSARGEN,
province of South and is independent of
Cotabato. that province.
 Region XII has potable water and
extensive coastlines, energy production.
valleys and mountain Cotabato contains
ranges. Known for its the Rio Grande de
river system, the Mindanao, which is
region is the catch the longest river in
basin of Mindanao. Mindanao and the
The system is a rich second longest in the
source of food, Philippines.
With the addition of The "Central
South Cotabato and Mindanao" name
Saranggani or the lives on as a
(SocSarGen description to the
Province), transferred provinces populated
from Southern by 65% Christians
Mindanao, the region and 30% Muslim
was renamed as and 5% other
SOCCSKSARGEN. Filipinos.
 THE PEOPLE
AND
THEIR CULTURE
 B’LAAN TRIBE
Among the many tribes in the
Philippines, the B’laans in
Sarangani and South Cotabato
are the most distinct in Region
XII as they significantly played
major historical roles in the
evolution of several towns and
barangays within the locality
that have been named with
B’laan origin.
The B’laans have
preserved their sacred
lands, keeping them
connected to the mother
earth, to their sacred sites
in Lamifew, Malandag,
Malungon Sarangani:
Melai Bolul, Moleng,
Bantay, and Macao.
 T’BOLI TRIBE
T’boli have their own story
of creation; they believed
that the world they lived, the
trees, the rivers, lakes and
mountains has its own
powerful being the
Dwata/Mulu (God).
Based on the history, T’boli
are Proto-Malayan reserve
and are found in the in the
mountain ranges of South
Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat
Province. The Proto- Malay
and the Malay were closely
related to each other; their
movement and cultural
heritage are the topmost
bases for the distinctions
known between them.
 T’BOLI TRIBE

T’bolis of that time were Tabunaway was the princess

among the lowlanders as
“tagabili” and the same
derive from the word “Tao
bili” which means man living for hunting to provide her a
in the hills in their own
native tongue.
T’boli tribe originated with
two siblings named Mamalu
and Tabunaway.
of the tribe. She decided to
marry a sultan, she asked
her brother Mamalu to go
white deer “Uhu” for her
wedding. It was then said
that Mamalu and
Tabunaway were the
ancestors of T’boli tribe.
 TEDURAY TRIBE
One can easily tell a Teduray
household in any community
because of the presence of
their traditional baskets.
Traditional basket is the
symbol of Teduray. It is a
lasting display of their artistry.
The term for weaving is
“monom”, which includes all
kinds of woven handicrafts.
Teduray people believe in katya
(short prayer, orasyon), murka
(gaba), endagiton (spirits/soul)
and supernatural powers.
Teduray believed in the
existence of kuwek, busaw,
fagad (kapre), and alagasi
(higante). Their farming,
planting and harvest season is
also affected by the formation
of the stars.
The appearance of
these stars signals
the dawning of
easterly winds
dropping along the
way thorns. This is
one of the identity
of Teduray tribe.
 MANOBO TRIBE
The Obo Manobo is just one
ethnic group among Manobos
in North and West forest of
Cotabato Province and
Kidapawan City specifically in
Mt. Apo and the boundaries of
Davao del Sur, Bukidnon
Province, Davao City and
Cotabato Province in
Mindanao, Philippines.
Manobo are gifted and
nature loving people
endowed with talents and
strength to make life not
just a living. They are
remnants of the people
living during the age of
“survival of the fittest”
when Mindanao was once a
vast track of virgin forest.
 The Obo-Manobo has a
unique history and culture.
They have their own way of
living, justice system,
festivities, wedding
ceremonies that clarify the
Datu families and children
from the slaves and ordinary
Manobo; burial system,
sacred ground, agriculture
practices, territorial defense
system, songs and dances and
rituals in all activities and
occasions practiced even
today, settling conflicts
among tribe members, and
many other practices that are
still evident in the
predominantly Manobo
communities.
 MAGUINDANAO TRIBE
Long before the arrival of
Shariff Kabunsuan (1475) and
the discovery of the
Philippines by Magellan
(1521), there were people
already living near the mouth
of Pulangi or maguindanaon
River and in the plains along
its upper the tributaries in
what is now Datu Piang.
In those days until now,
the Mindanao river
overflows its bank from
time to time, flooding
the areas along its bank
up to its mouth. These
floodings are termed
“midsanao” by the
Maguindanaons.
 Before the coming of the
spaniards, these people of
the flooded plains were
characterized by strongly
kinship association headed
by a datu or sultan. The
Maguindanaon were modest
in dress and soft spoken
(Stewart, 1977).
INDUSTRIES
 South Cotabato

Tupi's climate and soil type Tupi is likewise identified as

makes it suitable to all types one of the areas in the
of crop and livestock province well suited for
production. Tupi aside from poultry production. Tupi,
pineapple, tropical fruits and which is basically an
vegetables is identified as agricultural municipality,
devotes 19% of its total land
suited for high-value
area to agricultural
commercial crops (HVCC)
production. Major agricultural
like asparagus and papaya.
crops are pineapple, papaya,
 South Cotabato

asparagus, The exports products are

fruits,vegetables, corn, pineapple, asparagus,
coffee, bananas, cut- bottled fruit preserves,
flowers. . Other high value and Bongolan Banana.
commercial products Koronadal boast of its
include favorable geographical
wood products and location, rich human
processed food. and natural resources,
and potentials
 South Cotabato

conductive for trade business Province of South Cotabato,

and Industry. which made it a lead center
Koronadal is now an for industrialization, acting
important hub of as catalyst for development
commercial, industry and particularly in the second
other socio-economic district of South Cotabato.
activities. It enjoys the Koronadal, primarily an
distinction of having been agri-production area, prides
identified as the Agri- itself of its agri-based
industrial Center of the resources.
 South Cotabato

The stable peace and order

condition provides a favorable
climate for more investment.
 Cotabato
Cotabato City, historically, radical economic recovery.
during its heyday as the capital As of now, the city currently
of the Maguindanao Sultanate, serves as the center for
has been the most economically economic support activities,
prosperous city in the island of trade and finance, education
Mindanao. Its prosperity has and other support services such
been taken away by civil internal as social, physical, cultural and
strife beginning in the 1970s. other basic services of Central
However, once it became part of Mindanao. It is now struggling
SOCCSKSARGEN region in the to gain its lost glory.
1990s, its economy began a
 Sultan Kudarat
The industry of Sultan
Kudarat is predominantly
agricultural. With a large
agricultural potential, the
output consists of
practically all types of crops
grown in the country,
including rice, corn, beef,
coffee, and vegetables.
The province is self-sufficient
in poultry, swine, and root
crops, and is one of the few
producers of Irish potatoes in
the Philippines. The southern
Philippines Grain Complex in
Tacurong is the largest grains-
processing complex in the
country. There are more than
200 rice mills in the province.
 Sultan Kudarat

Fishing is an expanding
industry. Tuna caught along
the coasts along the Celebes
Sea are exported to Japan and
Europe.
Other economic activities
include cottage industries,
which include crafts made of
rattan and other types of wood.
 Sarangani
Coconut, corn, rice, banana,
mango, durian, rubber, and
sugarcane are just some of
the major crops now being
planted by the Sarangans.
Other possibilities lie in a
wide range of commercial
choices: industrial
plantations (mango, abaca,
coffee, rubber, and rattan),
agro-forestry (high-value
crops), light manufacturing
and processing facilities, real
estate and housing, tourism,
beach resorts, hotels and
restaurants, recreational
facilities, port zone
development, milling plants,
fruit production, processing
of canned fruits and
 Sarangani

vegetables, production of fishponds that have been

ornamental plants, furniture, operating in the area, some of
trading, telecommunications, which having existed as far
mining, and aquaculture. back as 40 years.
Sarangani’s favorable
investment climate is
manifested by the large
plantations (mango, banana,
pineapple, asparagus), cattle
ranches, and commercial
 General Santos
Agro-industry: Endowed with
rich volcanic soil, ample and
well distributed rainfall all
throughout the year and a
typhoon-free climate, General
Santos City produces export
quality high valued crops such
as corn, coconut, pineapple,
asparagus, banana and rice. It
also yields quality exotic fruits,
vegetables and cut flowers.
The city is also a top
producer and exporter of
quality livestock such as
poultry, hogs, and cattle. But
with the continuing growth
in population and economy
in the passing of time, a
number of the city's
agricultural lands have
gradually been converted
into built up areas in order
to address the relatively
growing need of dwelling
and viable spaces.
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.
Locals in the city boast that
fishes and sea foods do not
come fresher than what is
found in their locality.
HISTORICAL SITES/
CULTURAL SITES/
NATURAL SITES
 South Cotabato

• Lake Sebu

A natural lake and

• Lake Sebu as seen from Punta Isla one of the country’s
most important
watersheds
 Cotabato

• Mt. Apo
The biggest
mountain
in the
Philippines.
 Cotabato

• Asik Asik Falls

This spring falls is very
amazing because there is
no stream above the hill
where the water comes.
The water is springing
from the rocks.
 Cotabato

• Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Our Lady of Lourdes is a

and Tamontaka Church
venerated title of the Blessed
Virgin Mary invoked by the
The first church that Roman Catholic in honor of
was built along the the Marian Apparition.
banks of Tamontaka
river.
 Cotabato

• Grand Mosque in
Cotabato City The rising star of
Cotabato City is
undoubtedly the
gorgeous Grand Mosque
Muslim also known as
Sultan Hadji Hassanal
Bolkiah Masjid.
 Sultan Kudarat

• Statue of Sultan Kudarat A brave

Filipino hero
who hails from
Mindanao.
 Sultan Kudarat

• Baras Bird Sanctuary

The most visited site

in Tacurong, the
Baras Bird Sanctuary
is truly a humbling
experience.
 Sarangani

• Ayub Cave

 Anthropomorphic
secondary burial
jars were found. 
 Sarangani
• Maitum water Tubing
(Whitewater Tubing)

Water rafting in
Maitum Sarangani
Province
 Sarangani

• La Isla Parilla

A resort strictly for

the family and
friends.
 Sarangani

• Tuka Marine Park

A protected area
where fishing is
banned.
 Sarangani

• Lemlunay Diving Resort

The best-kept
secret of diving
enthusiasts.
 Sarangani

• Gumasa Beach

Touted as the
“Boracay of Mindanao.”
 General Santos

• Nopol Hills

Nopol Hill is a peak.

 General Santos

• Kalaja Cave

The cave was

resurgence in nature
which means a volume
of water is coming out
from the cave mouth.
 Presented by:

Loyola Bernardine U. Collado

(BEED III-B)
of
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN
PHILIPPINES
(Tamag, Vigan City)