Autobiography

Autobiography of Roxanne Mercado

                 Roxanne Mercado was born in Quezon City, Philippines, on the 20^th of October 1993, and was the second daughter of Ferdinand and Miranda Mercado, both Filipino. She has two sisters, namely Rachel and Rosebell. In her early years of education, her parents are so proud for her. Remembering the days how her mother supported her when there’s a program or whatsoever in school that she joined. They are always happy when she got an honor in school. During this part of her childhood, she suffer some problems that other family have. Her parents also has a misunderstanding situations that affects them. But she’s brave, even if she’s that young she handle things with faith in God for her not to affect that much. And at that stage her father work abroad to support them financially. It affects her so much because she’s very close to her father and she never realize that it would happen.

                She believe that she grew more emotionally, socially, and intellectually during her four yeas in high school than during any other period of time thus far. She studied at Commonwealth High School. It provided a very strict academic environment, even if it is only a public shool. She managed to learn some important lessons about life, and dealing with other people that she can use in her future life. It was CHS that she found her academic strengths and was given the tools to pusue them to the fullest extent possible. Even she was placed in a situation with few of the resources many students had in other better-funded school, she learned how to make the best of the students.

                During this part of her life, she found her real friends. They are called BONKLERS. They sees her as a kind sweet person. Life to her means friends and family who you can trust and who trusts ypu. She’s pretty much on the happy side of her life but like all teens, she do have her “days off”. That means she do have some sad days or depressed days. She make her high schools days go, by thinking of either the next hour or what will do when she get home or on the weekend. She finished her high schol with flying colors and so proud she did it well.

                After she graduated in high school, she began to search what she really want to do in the future. And she found herself at New Era University, enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. That brings another drastic change in her lifestyle. 

poem

Thank You 'MAMA'

She is everything to me that has no cost

A very special person that i loved the most.

A person who will listen and not condemn

Someone on whom i can depend.

Thanks for the smile you put back on my face

Thanks that my loneliness has got no more space

Thanks for being there to lend an ears

And who will not flee when bad times are here.

Thank you MAMA for the patience when i was fool

Thank you for not giving up on me at all

If life has got some justice, I'd thank you forever

It wouldn't be enough for the best person ever.

Me and My Mama

poem

FRIENDSHIP

They say that true friendship is rare,

That anyone can have always and forever.

Friends are truly an extraordinary gift

That are always there if we need little lift.

Friendship is creating a mood positive and light

When we're crying, they always hug us tight.

Friendship is someone to run too when things are tough

And also a hand to hold when things are so rough.

Friendship is someone to laugh with not at you

Friendship is like a good people who will never hurt you.

Genuine friendship is something I cherish

It is the air, fire, earth, and water of my universe.

Literary Works

Indarapatra and Sulayman

A long, long time ago, Mindanao was covered with water, and the sea cover all the lowlands so that nothing could be seen but the mountains jutting from it. There were many people living in the country and all the highlands were dotted with villages and settlements. For many years the people prospered, living in peace and contentment. Suddenly there appeared in the land four horrible monsters which, in short time has devoured every human being they could find. 

Kurita, a terrible creature with many limbs, lived partly on the land and partly on sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the rattan palm grew; and here it brought utter destruction on every living thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, an ugly creature in the form of a man, lived on Mt. Matutum, and far and wide from that place he devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third, an enormous bird called Pah, was so large that, when on the wing, it covered the sun and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg was as large as a house. Mt. Bita was its haunt; and there the only people who escaped its voracity were those who hid in the mountain caves. The fourth monster was also a dreadful bird, having seven heads and the power to see in all directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayan was its home and like the others, it wrought havoc to its region. 

So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible creatures that at length, the news spread even to the most distant lands - and all nations grieved to hear the sad fate of Mindanao. 

Now far across the sea, in the land of the golden sunset, was a city so great that to look at its many people would injure the eyes of men. When tidings of these great disasters reached this distant city, the heart of King Indarapatra was filled with compassion, and he called his brother, Sulayman, and begged hem to save the land of Mindanao from the monsters. 

Sulayman listened to the story and as heard it, was moved with pity. "I will go", zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength, "and the land shall be avenged," said he. 

King Indarapatra, proud of his brother's courage, gave him a ring and a sword as he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young sapling by his window and said to Sulayman "By this tree I shall know your fate from the hour you depart from here, for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also." 

So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and he neither waded nor used a boat, but went through the air and landed on the mountain where the rattan grew. There he stood on the summit and gazed about on all sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but he could see no living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out: "Alas, how pitiful and dreadful is this devastation." 

No sooner had Sulayman uttered those words than the whole mountain began to move and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came the horrible creature Kurita. It sprung at the man and sank its claws at his flesh. But, Sulayman knowing at once that this was the scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut Kurita to pieces. 

Encourage by his first success, Sulayman went on to Mt. Matutum, where conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing the great devastation, there was a noise in the forest and a movement in the trees. With a loud yell, Tarabusaw forth leaped. For the moment they looked at each other, neither showing any sign of fear. Then Tarabusaw used all his powers to try to devour Sulayman, who fought back. For a long time, the battle continued, until at last, the monster fell exhausted to the ground and Sulayman killed him with his sword. 

The nest place visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, he saw that not a single soul was left. As he walked, sudden darkness fell over the land, startling him. As he looked toward the sky he beheaded a great bird that swooped upon him. Immediately he struck, and the bird fell dead at his feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman and he was crushed. 

Now at this very time King Indarapatra was sitting at his window, and looking out he saw the little tree wither and dry up. 

"Alas!" he cried, "my brother is dead" and he wept bitterly. 

Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge. Putting on his sword and belt, he started for Mindanao, in search for his brother. 

He, too, traveled through the air with great speed until he came to the mountain where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at the great destruction, and when she saw the bones of Kurita he knew that his brother had been there. He went on till he came to Matutum, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw, he knew that this, too, was the work of Sulayman.

Still searching for his brother, he arrived at Mt. Bita, where the dead bird lay on the ground, and when he lifted the severed wing he beheld the bones of Sulayman with his sword by his side. His grief now so overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for some time. Upon looking up, he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This, he knew had been sent from the heaven, and he poured the water over the bones, and Sulayman, came to life again. They greeted each other and talked animatedly for great length of time. Sulayman declared that he had not been dead but asleep, and their hearts were full of joy. 

After some time Sulayman returned his distant home, but Indarapatra continued his journey to Mt. Gurayan where killed the dreadful bird with the seven heads. After these monsters had all been killed, peace and safety had been restored to the land: Indarapatra began searching everywhere to see if some of the people who hid in the earth were still alive. 

One day, in the course of his search, he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a distance. When he hastened toward her she disappeared through a hole in the ground where she stood. Disappointed and tried, he sat down on a rock to rest when, looking about, he saw near him a pot uncooked rice with a big fire on the ground in front of it. This revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however, he heard someone laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman watching him. As he greeted her, she drew near and talked to him while he ate the rice. 

Of all the people in the land, the woman told him, only few were left, and they hid in a cave in the ground from whence they never ventured to come out. As for herself and her old husband, she went on, they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they had never dared to leave until Sulayman killed the voracious bird Pah. 

At Indarapatra's request, the old woman led him to one such cave. There he met the headmen with his family and some people. They all gathered about the stranger, asking many questions, for this was the first time they had heard about the death of the monsters. When they found out what Indarapatra had done for them, the headman gave his daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be beautiful girl whom Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the cave. 

Then the people all came out of their hiding places and returned to their homes where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea withdrew from the land and gave the lowlands to the people.

Literary Works

The Ulahingan: Turning Grief into Courage

By Mila D. Aguilar

March 20, 2001

Summary of the Epic

The Ulahingan is divided into two main parts: the kepu’un-pu’un and the sengedurug.

The kepu’un-pu’un comprises “the beginning,” (Maquiso 1:1) or the origins of Nelendangan; it is

likened to the roots of a clump of bamboos. The sengedurug is an individual bamboo, meaning

that it is a portion of the whole epic, but is in itself complete. There are four recorded and

published versions of the kepu’un-pu’un, five including the later Langkat story. Of the 1,647

known sengedurug, only five have been published so far by Elena Maquiso. Twenty-five years

after the research started, five creation myths, supposedly parts of the kepu’un-pu’un, cropped up,

and were included in fourth and fifth series of the published Ulahingan.

The four main versions of the kepu’un-pu’un not including the added creation myths are:

the Saliling version, the Mampinda’upan version, the Bangcas version, and the Manggung

version. The names belong to the tala’ulahingans who related their versions of the kepu’un-pu’un

in prose.

Let me recount the main features of the Saliling version.


Two brothers led a group of people who lived in a place called Banobo. [These people,
apparently, came from an area today called Indonesia, sired by a datu who left it due to an
altercation with other datus there (Maquiso’s footnote, 1:60).] The two brothers were
Tabunaway, the elder and therefore the timu’ay or chief, and Mamalu. When Sarip
Kabungsuwan and Rajah Baginda arrived from the west to spread Islam, Tabunaway refused to
accept the new religion, but instructed his brother to do so. However, he was not to convert
anybody to it, because, he said, “If there anyone who will come whose doctrine I like, we will
follow that.” This, he added, was their covenant which is true for all generations to come.”
(Maquiso 1:61)


Tabunaway removed to the mountains of Simu’ay with that part of his people who did
not want Islam, but after every harvest would go down to Banobo to give Mamalu threshed rice,
wild honey and resin. When he grew old, his brother asked him to live in Banobo, which he did,
but without most of his people.


When, in the next generations, the sultanate of Maguindanao was established by the
grandchildren of Mamalu, the followers of Tabunaway were forced to pay tribute – the same
“tribute” that Tabunaway had paid to his younger brother as a demonstration of his love. This
tribute had to be delivered to the sultan before anyone could eat his harvest. Some generations
after, Pemulew and his brothers Agyu, Lená and Vanlak decided that they would pay tribute to
the sultan for the last time.


As it turned out, the decision was negotiable. Pemulew and his people did not give
anything to the sultan in the next harvest, but when summoned to explain, Pemulew replied that
the harvest was poor. When the sultan, in anger, raised their tribute to three times the previous
one, Pemulew and his people decided to pay the tribute in seven days, which, however, still
turned out to be insufficient. This angered the sultan even more, but upon Pemulew’s entreaty
that they would pay the balance in the next harvest in addition to the yearly tribute, the sultan
relented.


An irate nephew of Pemulew, Kuyasú by name, however, insisted on going back to the
palace to confront the sultan. After a heated exchange, he ends up driving his spear into the
sultan’s abdomen and escaping with the same spear through the window.


Pemulew and his people are overtaken by the followers of the sultan, bound, jailed and
tortured. One after another, the brothers dream of the same beautiful woman, who finally reveals
herself to Pemulew because he is the most humble of them all, and tells him that his people will
find themselves unbound, and must immediately flee to the mountains “in an orderly fashion.”
(Maquiso 1:67)


So they do. But in Kituved, Mungan, Vanlak’s wife, asks them to leave her, for, having
contracted leprosy, she has become a burden to them. Agyu builds a small hut for her, hollowing
out a log, which she would beat day and night to indicate that she is alive and well.


They proceed to the east until they reach Aruman, gaining “supernatural strength and
endurance in the midst of hunger, thirst and other difficulties.” (Maquiso 1:68) Agyu assumes
leadership of the group, for Pemulew has grown old.


The brothers continue to visit Mungan, bringing her food, even as the settle down in
Pinamatunan for several harvest seasons. Then a miracle happens: in his last visit, Agyu finds
that Mungan is no longer a cripple. He is instructed by her not to tell anyone.


In Pinamatunan, Pemulew is instructed by the same woman who appeared to them the
first time to transport the people to Aruman. From Aruman, Agyu visits Mungan in Kituved, and
finds, in place of her hut, a golden palace on top of which was a rainbow, with seven meresen
etews descending upon it. Mungan tells him to take his brothers and sisters there, leaving the
people behind for the meantime.


The trip turns out to be a meeting with the meresen etews, who have been instructed by
the katulusan who are in charge of the portals of heaven to give them the betel nut of semi-
immortality. All taste of it except Mungan, who prefers to become an adtulusan, staying in her
palace to serve “as a channel to the younger generation of rana’anen to become adtulusan in due
course of time.” (Maquiso 1:72) After the betel nut, they receive the pinipi of semi-immortality
from mayas who alight on the winnowing basket Pemulew was instructed to set on the porch.


The next step in their trip to heaven is to face different kinds of adversaries. They have to
overcome Makeyvakey and “the smaller but fiercer giant, Kumaka’an.” They have to kill the
giant boar Makaranding, who has a dagger for a tusk, and can therefore cut their stomachs open,
removing all their internal organs. However, according to the meresen etews, after their
intestines have been removed, the Midlimbag with all the katulusan will replace their intestines
with golden chains, and heal all their wounds.


As commanded by the meresen etews, they butcher the boar and apportion the meat to
everyone. They do, in fact three times, but there is always one share too many. Finally, Agyu
recalls his son Bayvayan, who has been out hunting. He calls out to him, and the son appears
smiling from the bushes. This, says Agyu, is an indication that Bayvayan will not go with them to
heaven, but has to go around the world to gather followers and convert them. His share of the
meat will be preserved for his followers.


So Agyu takes Bayvayan’s share and throws it away, and it becomes a live pig upon
touching the ground. That pig would become one of Bayvayan’s adversaries in his own time, so
Lená builds a stone enclosure around it and Bayvayan departs.


Each of the people’s share of the meat is cooked in a big pot, and each becomes bigger as
it is cooked, more than enough for every individual, with no left-over. The people would not get
hungry for seven days. On the seventh day, they were supposed to eat just a little from whatever
they had. However, Agyu and his brothers would not have to eat anymore, because they already
had for chewing the betel nut of semi-immortality.


The same thing happens to the balanak fish Mungan catches with one arm for them once
they arrive at her place. Once more, to Bayvayan belongs the leftover, which becomes a live
balanak in a pool for his later delectation.


Mungan tells them to proceed to Aruman, where they are to be taken up to heaven in a
sarimbar. So Agyu calls his cousin Tulalang to ask him if they would go with him. Tulalang,
when he arrives, takes a grain of rice, places it on a hearth without fire, and covers it with one
half of a coconut shell. When he takes off the cover, the rice is already grown and ripened. Agyu
does the same, and his rice also grows and ripens. But when the grain of each is opened, it turns
out that Tulalang’s has red stripes, indicating that he was favored by the diwata of war, while
Agyu’s is white, indicating that he was favored by the diwata of peace. Agyu therefore
concluded that Tulalang’s path was different from his own, and so Tulalang went home.


Agyu and his people reach the sixth level of heaven through the sarimbar, which is pulled
by a chain. They have become fully immortal. There, the highest katulusan tells them that they
now have free access to the Midlimbag, and are mightier than the imbayabay, the inggaib and the
next generations of rana’anen. They are also told that they will not dwell in that heaven, but will
go to Nelendangan, a paradise prepared by the Midlimbag for them. This is to be their reward
since, as the Midlimbag tells them, “You overcame your earthly difficulties with patience and
perseverance without cursing your Midlimbag.”


So Agyu and his people reach Nelendangan, where they build their settlement.


The epilogue of Bayvayan follows. When Bayvayan leaves his father in Kituved, his
grandfather Lagaba’an commands him to perform the sa’ut, or war dance. Bayvayan circles
seven times, then falls, dead tired. Lagaba’an therefore declares that Bayvayan has to go around
the world seven times before reaching his own paradise.


Bayvayan’s course is not as clean as Agyu’s. Malingling, his contemporary, curses
(baliew) people to lessen the number of his followers, until Bayvayan finally meets him in
Bukidnon. Bayvayan throws his ring into the Pulangi River where it becomes a big lobster. He
bids Malingling to catch the lobster so that he could baliew Bayvayan’s followers. Malingling
falls into the falls in the effort, thus ending his work of cursing.


Thereafter, Bayvayan uncovers the boar at Bavuy, and the balanak at Kituved. But in
both places, a number of his followers fall short of faith. When the sarimbar comes, several other
people are left behind for one reason or another. At the first level of heaven, Kukukay demands a
maiden as he did with Agyu, but the maiden Bayvayan constructs out of the organ of one has to
bones, and therefore could not stand, so Kukukay demands that she be changed. Bayvayan
protests. Since the best was not given, Kukukay breaks the chain of the sarimbar and it falls; then
he seals the portal with a rock and plants bamboos there, making it impossible from thereon for
other generations to reach heaven.


The Midlimbag welcomes Bayvayan and his followers to a separate Nelendangan but
declares that their powers will be limited, for they will serve merely as allies of Agyu, inspiring
the rana’anen to chant the Ulahingan. They reach their Nelendangan by walking. (Maquiso 1:60-
86)

About the Author...

Mila D. Aguilar

Mila D. Aguilar (born 1949) is a Filipina poet and revolutionary, author of A Comrade is as Precious as a Rice Seedling and Journey: An Autobiography in Verse (1964-1995). She is also an essayist, teacher, video documentarist, and website designer.

As a poet, she has written almost 240 poems in English, Filipino, and Ilonggo. About 125 of these are in her collection of poems, Journey: An Autobiography in Verse (1964-1995), published by the University of the Philippines Press in 1996. This collection contains poems from six books printed in Manila, San Francisco, and New York between the years 1974 and 1987 (including A Comrade is as Precious as a Rice Seedling), as well as poems written in subsequent years up to 1995.

In 1972, Aguilar was arrested by the Philippine government; following her release she was again arrested in 1984.

Ms. Aguilar has written more than a hundred essays, a handful of which were done when she went "underground"– first as an ordinary member, then later as head of the Regional United Front Commission ofMindanao, and last as head of the National United Front Commission of the Communist Party of the Philippines, from which she resigned in 1984.

She has produced, written, and directed almost 50 videos on subjects ranging from community organizations to regional cultures and good manners for government employees.

As a "webweaver", a term she invented,^{[citation needed]} she has designed her own web pages as well as the website of a non-governmental organization.

At present she is teaching at the Department of English and Comparative Literature of the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Region XII - Central Mindanao

REGION 12- CENTRAL MINDANAO

    Central Mindanao is known in history as the site where the Muslim faith was introduced. It is composed of North Cotobato, South Cotobato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Central Mindanao comprises the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato, and the three cities of Cotabato City in Maguindanao, and Marawi City and Iligan City in Lanao del Sur. It has a total land area of 14,571,3 sq.kms. The province of Lanao del Sur which opted to join the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is located between Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

Lanao del Norte’s boundary on the north is Iligan Bay, south are Moro Gulf and Lanao del Sur, northeast is the province of Misamis Oriental and east is Bukidnon. North Cotabato is bound on the north by Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, on the south by Sultan Kudarat, on the west by Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Since it is surrounded by the bays of iligan, Illana and Panguil and the Moro Gulf and Celebes Sea, this strategic location allows it to establish trade relations with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

Since it is in a typhoon free area, it good potential for agribusiness and agro-industrial enterprises .

HISTORY

Central Mindanao was once part of the Sultanate of Maguindanao. It was inhabited by Manobos. In 1861, the Sultan of Maguindanao acceded to Spanish rule. In 1901, the American government formed Cotabato as a province. It covered what are presently known as North and South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. From the 1930s to the 1960s, Christian settlers from Luzon and Visayas established homes in Central Mindanao, which was then considered Muslim territory.

POPULATION

Based on the 2000 national census; the region had a total population of 2,494,000. This increased by 5.4% from its population of 2,359,808 in 1995. In 1990, there were 700,470 males (50.9%) and 675,938 females.

CULTURAL GROUPS 

Around 70% of the total population in Central Mindanao are migrants Cebuanos, Hiligaynons, Ilocanos and Tagalogs. Native to the region are the Maranaos, Maguindanaons and other ethnic tribes.

CLIMATE

Heavy rain during the months of June to October. There are dry spells from February to June. The two provinces are seldom visited by typhoons.

LAND USE 

Its total land area of 965,794 hectares are divided as follows: forest- land: 32%; agriculture: 65%; mining and quarrying: 1.69%; and the rest for other land uses.

NATURAL RESOURCES 

Fishing is a major economic activity because of the rich fishing grounds of Iligan Bay, the Moro Gulf and the Celebes Sea. Its water resources include the Maria Cristina Falls, large and numerous rivers, lakes and streams.

It has rich mineral resources such as gold, copper, iron, chromium, silver, zinc, clay gypsum, limestone and phosphate. It is also the main source for hydroelectric power for Mindanao.

ECONOMY

The major earners in the region are fishing, agriculture and forest- related products. Hydroelectric power is provided by the Maria Cristina Falls. Steel, cement and coconut oil are some of the important products of the region. Coconut, pineapple, rubber, sugarcane, rice, corn, banana and other fruits are the main agricultural produce.

Central Mindanao is part of three Area Development Zones (ADZs): Cagayan – Iligan Industrial Corridor, the Greater Cotabato – Illana Bay ADZ and the Panguil Bay- Mt. Malindang ADZ. The Cagayan – Iligan Industrial Corridor will be the center for heavy industry and bulk supplier of industrial inputs and finished industrial products. It is envisioned to be a trade center for processed agri-based products as well as for intermediate and finished products.

URBAN CENTERS

The city of Iligan in Lanao del Norte serves as the urban center of Central Mindanao. Light to heavy industries, tourist facilities, and institutions of higher learning can be found in the area.

FACILITIES

Maria Cristina Falls and other tourist attractions are found in the region. Electricity, water systems, transportation, telecommunication and postal facilities are also available.

Political Divisions

Province/City	Capital	Population (2000)	Area (km²)	Pop. density (per km²)
Cotabato	Kidapawan City	958,643	6,565.9	146.0
Sarangani	Alabel	410,622	2,980.0	137.8
South Cotabato	Koronadal City	690,728	3,996.1	172.9
Sultan Kudarat	Isulan	586,505	4,714.8	124.4

IT's PROVINCES

Province of North Cotabato

North Cotabato is a landlocked province of the Philippines located at the interior of Mindanao Island in Soccsksargen Region. The 9th largest in terms of land area (see comparison of provinces), it is bounded on the north by Lanao Del Sur and Bukidnon, on the east by Davao Del Sur, on the south by Sultan Kudarat, and on the west byMaguindanao. Topography is dominated by mountains in the northern and eastern part of the province while the southern portion is a part of the vast plain of CentralMindanao. Climate is characterized by not very pronounced seasons: relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

City of Kidapawan

Located on the western foothills of Mount Apo in North Cotabato Province at the heart of Mindanao Island, Kidapawan is only two hours by bus from Davao City in the east and around two and a half hours from Cotabato City in the west. It is bounded on the north by the town of Magpet, on the east by Davao Del Sur, on the south by Makilala town, and on the west by the towns of M'lang and Matalam. Also known as the city of fruits and highland springs, Kidapawan has a cool and refreshing climate and is a favorite destination during summer.

The city covers a total land area of 358.5 square kilometers and is composed of 40 barangays most of which are rural areas.

The city is the cultural center of the province particularly of the Manobo tribe. The Kalibongan Festival is held in August every year. Colorful parades and cultural presentations are featured.

Economic Profile, Products, and Industries

Although Kidapawan is considered the commercial and trading hub of centralMindanao, agriculture is still the chief economic activity. Fruits like banana, durian, lanzones, marang, mangosteen, and rambutan are grown abundantly within the city. Other farm products are rice, corn, coconut, vegetables, rubber, and abaca. The city has a thriving cutflower and ornamental plants industry.

Province of South Cotabato

South Cotobato is the home province of the T'boli tribe, who are known for their colorful costumes, intricate beadwork, woven baskets, and traditional brass ornaments. Lake Sebu, which is surrounded by rolling hills and waterfalls, is the site of the Lemlunay Cultural Festival every last week of November, and Lake Maughan is the source of 5 big rivers, and is abundant with flora and fauna, including the rare Tigris Butterfly. Mt. Matutum, located in the countryside, is a haven for climbers and trekkers. Waterfalls include Lumabat, Lumakot, Matamos and Narcon.

South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in Southern MindanaoRegion. It is bounded on the north and on the west by Sultan Kudarat, on the east by the eastern part of Sarangani, on the south by Sarangani Bay and the western part of Sarangani. Topography consists of a vast valley from General Santos City to the municipality of Norala with high mountains in the northeast and the southwest. Mount Matumtum is the tallest mountain with a height of 2,293 meters followed by Mt. Busa (2,083) and Mt. Magolo (1,450). Climate in the southern part of the province is of Type IV while the northern part is of Type III. Type IV is characterized by rainfall which is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year while in Type III, seasons are not very pronounced, relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

South Cotabato Provincial Capitol

Government

• 1st District Representative: Mr. Pedro Acharon Jr.
• 2nd District Representative: Mrs. Daisy Avance Fuentes
• Governor: Mr. Arthur Y. Pingoy, M.D.
• Vice Governor: Mr. Elmo B. Tolosa, M.D.

City of General Santos

Famous for seafoods particularly yellow fin tuna, General Santos City or Gensan for short is one of the key cities of the Philippines. Classified as a highly urbanized city, it lies on the southern coast of Mindanao facing Sarangani Bay. It is the gateway toRegion 12 also know by its acronym SoCCSKSargen. Neighboring towns are Malungon and Alabel of Sarangani Province in the east, Maasim also of Sarangani in the southwest, T'boli of South Cotabato in the west and Polomolok also of South Cotabato Province in the north.

City of Koronadal

Awarded as the most business friendly city in Mindanao, Koronadal City is located on the northern part of South Cotabato province in Southern Mindanao. It is the seat of the provincial government of South Cotabato and one of only two cities of the province. The other is General Santos City. The city is bounded on the northwest by the town of Tantangan, on the northeast by Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat, on the southeast by Tampakan town, and on the southwest by Banga town. The city is situated on the southern part of the great plain of Central Mindanao. Mountain ranges however, defined the city's terrain in the east and in the southwest.

Executive Order no. 304 made Koronadal City the regional center of Region 12. It is accessible by air and by sea via General Santos City which is only an hour-drive away. It is traversed by the Maharlika Highway which is the main access road to this city.Travelling from Davao City via Gensan is about four hours but via Makilala town of North Cotabato is three to four hours. Coming from Cotabato City takes around two to three hours.

Hiligaynon is the dialect of the majority of the people. Other dialects spoken are Cebuano, Ilocano, and Maguindanao. English and Tagalog are widely used in schools, business and government offices.

Agriculture is the main engine of the city's economy. Primary products are rice, corn, coconut, and palm oil. Aquaculture is an alternative source of income and several residents are fishpond operators. Industries include woodcrafts, metalworks and farm implements.

Province of Sarangani

Sarangani's main attraction is the Sarangani Island which consists of blue lagoons, white sand beaches and tropical rain forest. Other beaches include Siguel and Gumasa, which has been compared to Boracay for its powdery, white sand. Another natural site is the Ayub Caves, where prehistoric pottery were discovered. Tampat is the site of a shrine and ancient tombs of the ruling Sultanates of Maguindanao.

Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in southern Mindanao. It is divided into eastern and western parts separated by Sarangani Bay. It is bounded on the north by South Cotabato, on the east by Davao Del Sur, on the south by Mindanao Sea, and on the west by Sultan Kudarat. The province can be reached via the airport or seaport ofGeneral Santos City or Davao City. Terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow flat coastal areas. Climate is of Type IV in which rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.

Sarangani Provincial Capitol

 Province of Sultan Kudarat

Sultan Kudarat, named after the great ruler of Mindanao and Sulu during the 17th Century, is a big producer of food, especially fruits and vegetables. The people consists of Maguindanoans, Tirurays, Hiligaynons, Ilocanos and Cebuanos. Natural attractions include Marquez and Columbio Hot Springs, Lebak Caves, Buluan Lake, and Lebak and Kalamansig Beaches. The Waling-Waling Orchid can also be found in Sultan Kudarat.

Sultan Kudarat is a province of the Philippines which is located in the southern part of Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by North Cotabato and Maguindanao, on the east by Davao Del Sur, on the south by South Cotabato and Sarangani, and on the west by Mindanao Sea. Mountains dominate the western landscape while the eastern part is mostly flat, being a part of the vast central plain of Mindanao. The climate of the southern part is characterized by rainfall which is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year while the rest of the province experience seasons that are not very pronounced, relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol

City of Tacurong

Situated at the heart of Central Mindanao, Tacurong City is the only city and premier trading center of of Sultan Kudarat province. It is bounded on the north by the town of Lamboyong, on the east by President Quirino town, on the south by the town of Tantangan in South Cotabato, and on the west by the capital town of Isulan. It has a total land area of 153.4 square kilometers. Terrain is generally flat, the area being a part of the vast central plain of Mindanao. It has also a favorable climate, being away from the typhoon belt.

Among the 4 cities of Region 12, also known as SoCCSKSarGen, Tacurong is the least populated. Dialects spoken are Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Maguindanao. English and Tagalog are widely used in schools, government and business offices. The citycelebrates the Talakudong Festival to coincide with the foundation day of the city. It features native dancers in colorful costumes and ethnic musical instruments.

Famous Tourist Attractions

• Mt. Apo in Kidapawan City - Several trails lead to the summit, coming from Kidapawan, North Cotabato. An average hike requires 2–4 days. Various sights include Lake Venado, one of the highest lakes in the Philippines, and the old crater of Mt. Apo near its summit. In the classification system used by local popular mountaineering website PinoyMountaineer.com, the difficulty of the hike is 7 out of 9. The mountain may be climbed year-round.

• Lake Sebu in Lake Sebu - is a natural lake located in the municipality of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and within the Alah Valley region. The Philippine government has recognized it as one of the country's most important watersheds. Lake Sebu is one of the many bodies of water supplying important irrigation to the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.it is one of the prime eco-tourism destinations in the Region. famous for its 2 km Zipline, Longest in the Philippines.

• Baras Bird Sanctuary in Tacurong City - the most visited site in Tacurong, the Baras Bird Sanctuary is truly a humbling experience. In an almost two hectares of land lying by a river bank here, the crack of dawn offers a melodious harmony of birds; thousands dot the skies also during sunsets, a pleasure for bird watchers.

• Gumasa Beach in Glan - dubbed as the "Small Boracay in Mindanao" Barangay Gumasa has a six kilometer-long crescent beach on Sarangani's eastern shore and only about an hour's drive from General Santos City.Gumasa Beach, the Small Boracay of Mindanao or Boracay of the South, whatever name herein is the beauty of the beach. The white sand and fine crystal land makes your feet comportable to walk around the beach.

• Fishport Complex in General Santos City - The tuna fishing industry had never been this promising and lucrative since its birth on this side of the earth-General Santos City. Lying at the head of the Sarangani Bay, the city has been dubbed the “Boom Town City of the South,” and considered as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Philippines.Had it not been for its strategic geographical location and existence of other amenities needed by the fishing industry, General Santos City could not have become South Cotabato’s heart of commerce and trade. Boosted with the signs of prosperity sprouting everywhere,” business has never been better,”. With the advent of the operation of General Santos City Fish Port Complex, post-harvest technology equipment needed to prolong the shelf-life of tuna and other species of fish, are made available, thus playing a vital role for trading and other post harvest activities.
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