History

The section of Mindanao occupied by Sarangani was a sparsely populated area even from pre-Spanish times. The effects of its two mountain ranges Daguma and Alip restricted human settlements to the narrow coast. Settlement favored the more accessible Cotabato Valleys further north, which was fed by rivers from these same ranges. Communication with these valleys was also made difficult by the moutains. Settlers usually had to come in by sea.

It was during the American period when settlers from Luzon and Visayas migrated into the area. In 1914 the first settlers set foot at Glan and came from the Visayas and Luzon. Hence Sarangani's population is largely a mix of migrant Hiligaynons, Cebuanos, Ilocano, Tagalogs and Maguindanaos.

The area of Sarangani was administered as part of the province of Cotabato during the American period. In 1966, the area was incorporated into the province of South Cotabato. On March 16, 1992 through R.A.7228, Sarangani was established as an independent province.

People, Culture and the Arts

Although lowland Sarangani is settled mainly by settlers from different provinces in Visayas, Luzon and other parts of Mindanao, the high mountains of the Daguma Range have sheltered in their forested peaks one of the most enigmatic peoples in the Philippines. The Tasadays have been hounded by celebrity and controversy since their existence was first revealed in 1972.

At that time, they were the focus of anthropologists who marveled at the almost incredible level of cultural isolation of this small band of stone-age technology gatherers. They suggested that the Tasadays had been effectively isolated from the rest of the outside world for at least 600 years. They bore no metal tools, except those they recently acquired from a Manobo-Blit hunter who had chanced upon them six years before. They subsisted on fruits, and rootcrops before the introduction of the metal implements, lived mostly in caves and wore nothing more than leaves and vines. They were the quintessence of the stone age man.

To protect the Tasadays, a large area of forest land in South Cotabato and Sarangani was declared off limits to outsiders. Contact with the Tasadays were reduced and eventually cut off to keep the people in their state of cultural development. However, many other anthropologists question the veracity of the Tasaday's real existence. Many allege that the Tasadays were nothing more than Manobos forced to appear as stone age people as part of a grand hoax hatched by former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Although the Tasadays have been much maligned in many anthropological cirlces, it is believed that they did exist in some form of isolation from the rest of the peoples of Mindanao. Their continuing isolation from the rest of the world makes it difficult to verify conflicting claimsa. To this day this people still roam the isolated highland valley tucked deep in the forested mountains of the Daguma Range and still pose a riddle to those who whish to understand their true origins..

Trade and Investments

Sarangani continues to surge forward to attain economic development. The province is located at the southernmost tip of the Philippine archipelago and has a land area of 4,441.79 square kilometers. Local weather is mild and pleasant and free from typhoons. Sarangani has 7 municipalities and a population of 367,000. The agricultural products of the province include coconut, corn, rice, cotton and high value crops of exotic fruits. The coastline possesses rich fishing grounds as well as areas suitable for fishponds. Large deposits of precious metals and mineral resources are also present in the province.

Sarangani boasts of a world class road network 145 kilometers long that connects the province to the international airport and seaport of General Santos City. The power supply of Sarangani comes from the National Power Corporation and redistributed by a local electric cooperative. Local water supply comes from a combination of formal waterworks system, artisan wells and natural springs. Public calling offices providing long distance telephone services to the municipalities of Glan, Malapatan and Alabel currently handle the communication needs of the province. Cellular phones are also widely used in the area. Plans are underway to increase the number of local telephone lines.

In line with the Sarangani’s thrusts to industrialize its agriculture-based economy, the province opts to support investments that will add value to its agricultural and marine products, develop its natural resources and establish support business facilities. The list of potential investment prospects include the following: livestock breeding and fattening; mariculture; industrial tree plantation; processing and canning of fruits, vegetables and marine products; production of ornamental plants, furniture, handicrafts; fabrication of metal products and pleasure boats; and processing plants for activated carbon and coconut coir. Service related business ventures like hotels, restaurants, recreational centers, business centers and financing services also promise good returns on investments.

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