Sarangani

Early history

The earliest civilization in the province can be found in Maitum, Sarangani, where the Maitum Anthropomorphic Pottery or Maitum Jars were found. The jars have been dated to approximately 5 BC to 370 AD, one of the oldest in the entire Southeast Asian region and the Philippines. The discovery testified to the long history of cultural exchanges in Sarangani and its people.

The Sarangani was once part of Sultanate of Maguindanao. The establishment of the Sultanate in the area caused more Maguindanaon settlers arrival. After the fall of the Sultanate of Maguindanao as a great power in Mindanao, Datu Uto of Buayan expanded his domain towards Sarangani Bay. Sarangani would eventually be under the Sultanate of Buayan until the American era.

Spanish colonial era

Sarangani Island (now part of Davao Occidental) was named Antonia by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos^{[citation needed]} in 1543, in honor of Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco, the viceroy of New Spain who had appointed López de Villalobos to lead an expedition to the Western Islands (now the Philippines) because of their relation by marriage. The early inhabitants who first inhabited Sarangani were the indigenous natives, called MunaTo, a native term for "first people."^[4]

Japanese occupation

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato.^{[further explanation needed]} In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered in and liberated Southern Cotabato and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces during the Battle of Cotabato at the end of World War II under the Japanese Occupation.^{[citation needed]}

Philippine independence

Before its inception in 1992, Sarangani was part of South Cotabato under its third district. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992,^[3] penned by Congressman James Chiongbian, who would later become the province's first representative to the House of Representatives, ratified in a plebiscite on May 19, 1992 and installed its first set of officials on November 28, 1992. His wife, Priscilla Chiongbian, became the first Governor of Sarangani.

The Sangil people are active in the struggle for self-determination as part of their strategy to preserve and develop their culture and social institutions. The creation of Sarangani province itself was an effort to ease tensions between the Sangil people and the Philippine government.^[5]

Administrative divisions

Sarangani comprises seven municipalities. A single legislative district encompasses all towns.^[6]

Religion

Christianity is the majority religion in the province with a total of 79% (48% Roman Catholicism^[10] and 31% evangelicals).^[11] Other religious minorities are Islam (9%)^[12] and Iglesia ni Cristo (2%).^[13] The remainder is usually divided among other Christian churches. The majority of Muslims are from the Sangil, Maguindanao, and Kalagan ethnic groups. Furthermore, there are quite a few individuals who have converted to Islam, also known as Balik Islam (reverting to Islam).^[5]

Ethnic groups

Sarangani has a huge ethnic diversity, such as Lumads, consisting of Blaan, T'boli, Tagakaulo, Kalagan, Manobo, Ubo, Moro Muslims, and Christian settlers, mainly from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros and Panay in Visayas and Ilocandia and Cagayan Valley in Luzon Muslims comprise 7 ethnic groups, Lumads 17 ethnic groups, and Christian migrant settlers, at least 20 ethnic groups.^[14] Sarangani and Sangil peoples, although no longer dominant, still have a presence here.^[5] Being one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse regions in Mindanao.^[14]

The Blaan people are the largest minority and are spread across the municipalities of Malapatan, Glan, Alabel, Maasim, and Malungon. Most of Blaan people lives in Malapatan, constituting 37% of the municipality's population. Other ethnic groups, such as the Maguindanao people reside in the municipalities of Malapatan, Maitum, and Maasim, the T'boli people mostly reside in Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim, while the Tagakaulo people is almost entirely in Malungon. Cebuano settlers are found in Glan and Alabel, Ilonggo (Hiligaynon) are located in Malungon, while Ilocano mostly live in Kiamba and Maitum.^[14]

Thus, the mixed population of Sarangani is quite diverse, with the language of the Christian settlers being used commonly by both Moro Muslims and natives, consisting of the Blaan and Cebuano-speaking Muslims on the east coast, the Tboli, Manobo, and Ilocano-speaking Muslims on the west coast, and the Ilonggo-speaking Blaan and Tagakaulo peoples of the northern highlands.^[14]