Chapter One
Introduction | Arrival of Islam | Spanish Incursions | 1600-1850 Spanish Occupation
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
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The Setting of the Study
The ancestors of present-day caballeros decided to settle down in the northwestern part of the vast Cotabato Valley. It was in this part of the area that they left indelible imprints of their life and works. Thus, much of the accounts relating to the original caballeros and their progenies by way of this research work revolve around these locales.
Specifically, these places are indicated in bold letters on the map shown below, viz: the town of Parang and two of its barangays namely Polloc and Bongo Island, Kusiong, a coastal barangay of Datu Odin Sinsuat municipality and Cotabato City.
Cotabato City
Cotabato City is located in Central Mindanao. It is bounded on the North by the municipality of Sultan Kudarat with Rio Grande as boundary; on the East by the municipality of Kabuntalan; on the South by the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat; and on the West by the Illana Bay. Kabuntalan and Datu Odin Sinsuat are municipalities of Maguindanao province, ARMM.
The topography of Cotabato City with its 37 barangays spans an area with marked landscape of flat, level to nearly level, very gently sloping to gently undulations to moderately sloping or rolling. It is situated in the lowest portion of Maguindanao province and basically a delta formed by two big rivers, the Tamontaka River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao (formerly Cotabato River). Seventy percent (70%) of its total land area is below sea level. There are only two existing elevated areas in the city, the PC Hill and the Timako Hill with an altitude of 90 and 150 feet, respectively. The city is criss-crossed by creeks and rivers, which are important sources of both agricultural/industrial and domestic water requirements for some rural barangays.
The city's climate belongs to the fourth type characterized by a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Dry season stretches from November to May with February as the driest month and June to October as its wettest months.
Economic activity is anchored on trading from basic commodities to industrial raw materials to agriculture and aquaculture products. The city is the hub of commercial and business activity in the region and is the major transshipping point of both marine and agriculture products owing to its strategic location. Major source of income derived from taxes, fees and licenses on businesses and commercial establishments. Presently, it serves as the center for economic support activities (trade and finance), education and other support services such as social, physical, cultural and other basic services of Central Mindanao.
Cotabato City became "home" to Spanish Caballeros and friars during the Spanish occupation of this part of Mindanao. The Tamontaka Church, one of the two oldest churches in Central Mindanao is found in Cotabato City. It was built by the Spaniards to serve the spiritual needs of the Spanish Caballeros, their progenies and the converts in the Cotabato Valley. Religious practices introduced by the Jesuit friars such as the celebration of patronal fiesta, Lenten and Eastern services, Christmas and the like are being observed by the Spanish progenies.
Most of the city's streets were named after the Spanish soldiers who were sent to Mindanao to convert the natives to Christianity. For instance, Sousa Street was named after Don Antonio Lopez Sousa, a Spanish soldier, married to a Filipina and had lived in Tamontaka, Cotabato City; Figueroa Street, named after Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa; Corcuera Street, named after Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, who had successfully overrun the Moro forces led by Sultan Kudarat in Lamitan, now believed to be the present Pagalamatan in Cotabato City (Hurley, 1985 in Daguino, et. al., 2001); Roales Street, named after Don Tomas Roales y Requeña whose progenies are well known Roales clan in Cotabato City.
Cotabato City is located in Central Mindanao. It is bounded on the North by the municipality of Sultan Kudarat with Rio Grande as boundary; on the East by the municipality of Kabuntalan; on the South by the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat; and on the West by the Illana Bay. Kabuntalan and Datu Odin Sinsuat are municipalities of Maguindanao province, ARMM.
The topography of Cotabato City with its 37 barangays spans an area with marked landscape of flat, level to nearly level, very gently sloping to gently undulations to moderately sloping or rolling. It is situated in the lowest portion of Maguindanao province and basically a delta formed by two big rivers, the Tamontaka River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao (formerly Cotabato River). Seventy percent (70%) of its total land area is below sea level. There are only two existing elevated areas in the city, the PC Hill and the Timako Hill with an altitude of 90 and 150 feet, respectively. The city is criss-crossed by creeks and rivers, which are important sources of both agricultural/industrial and domestic water requirements for some rural barangays.
The city's climate belongs to the fourth type characterized by a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Dry season stretches from November to May with February as the driest month and June to October as its wettest months.
Economic activity is anchored on trading from basic commodities to industrial raw materials to agriculture and aquaculture products. The city is the hub of commercial and business activity in the region and is the major transshipping point of both marine and agriculture products owing to its strategic location. Major source of income derived from taxes, fees and licenses on businesses and commercial establishments. Presently, it serves as the center for economic support activities (trade and finance), education and other support services such as social, physical, cultural and other basic services of Central Mindanao.
Cotabato City became "home" to Spanish Caballeros and friars during the Spanish occupation of this part of Mindanao. The Tamontaka Church, one of the two oldest churches in Central Mindanao is found in Cotabato City. It was built by the Spaniards to serve the spiritual needs of the Spanish Caballeros, their progenies and the converts in the Cotabato Valley. Religious practices introduced by the Jesuit friars such as the celebration of patronal fiesta, Lenten and Eastern services, Christmas and the like are being observed by the Spanish progenies.
Most of the city's streets were named after the Spanish soldiers who were sent to Mindanao to convert the natives to Christianity. For instance, Sousa Street was named after Don Antonio Lopez Sousa, a Spanish soldier, married to a Filipina and had lived in Tamontaka, Cotabato City; Figueroa Street, named after Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa; Corcuera Street, named after Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, who had successfully overrun the Moro forces led by Sultan Kudarat in Lamitan, now believed to be the present Pagalamatan in Cotabato City (Hurley, 1985 in Daguino, et. al., 2001); Roales Street, named after Don Tomas Roales y Requeña whose progenies are well known Roales clan in Cotabato City.
The progenies of Spanish Caballeros had played a major role in the practice of Catholic faith in Cotabato City. Religious devotional practices, rituals and celebrations became a way of their lives for many years. The Roales, Rodriguez, Blanco, Sousa and Martinez clans were avid church leaders and supporters.
The chabacano dialect, which is based largely on the Spanish language, became the medium of communication among the Spanish progenies. The use of chabacano dialect distinguished the progenies from other settlers in the area.
Parang
Spanish landmarks in Parang are still visible in the area. The remnants of Parang Fort, Polloc Naval Station, the Polloc Church and Alfonso XIII Waterworks serve as constant reminders of Spanish occupation and settlements in this part of Mindanao. These two major structures had facilitated the military and missionary campaigns in Cotabato Valley. The purpose of the Polloc naval station in Parang was to bring in men and supplies for their military occupation activities (Daguino, et. al. 2001). The Polloc Church was built to nurture the spiritual needs of the early converts in Cotabato. The water supply of the settlements in Parang was provided through the Alfonso XIII Waterworks. As described by Daguino, et. al. (2001) "...this water system continues to provide domestic water to the residents of the coastal barangays of Bacolod and Magsaysay. It continues to use the same structures used by the Spaniards, including the soil pipes that connect the reservoir to the residential houses."
Today, Parang is one of the 22 municipalities of Maguindanao Province, ARMM. It is bounded by the municipality of Matanog on the North, by Barira on the East, and by Sultan Kudarat municipality on the South, and by Illana Bay on the West.
Parang has a total land area of 23,138 hectares, comprising 5% of the total land area of Maguindanao. It has 23 barangays, including five (5) barangays found in Bongo Island. Eight (8) are coastal barangays while the other eight (8) are inland barangays.
The topography of Parang is characterized as hilly, with rugged slopes and some plains. The entire municipality is criss-crossed by six rivers, which drain run-off water to Illana Bay. There are three inland lakes found in the area that can be developed for agricultural purposes. The highest point of elevation is found in barangay Making, which has a range of 300 - 1,000 feet above sea level.
In 1990, NSO reported a total of 55,355 population of Parang and in 1995, this number declined to 49,562. The decrease in the number of population in Parang may be attributed to the unstable peace and order in the area and its neighboring municipalities (Barira, Matanog and Buldon). In 2000, the total population reported at 60,575.
The concentration of human settlements in Parang is in the coastal barangays, such as: Landasan (10,708 pop); Polloc (2,134 pop); Making (4,082 pop); Poblacion 1 (5,694 pop); Poblacion 2 (6,439 pop); Magsaysay (2,970 pop); and Litayen in Bongo Island (3,067 pop). Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2 and Landasan are considered as urban barangays. Around 46.93% of the total population reside in these barangays.
The economy of Parang is agricultural-based. Majority of its inhabitants depend their livelihood in fishing and farming activities. The primary agricultural crops produced in the area are copra, yellow corn, coconut, cassava, durian, and marang.
The chabacano dialect, which is based largely on the Spanish language, became the medium of communication among the Spanish progenies. The use of chabacano dialect distinguished the progenies from other settlers in the area.
Parang
Spanish landmarks in Parang are still visible in the area. The remnants of Parang Fort, Polloc Naval Station, the Polloc Church and Alfonso XIII Waterworks serve as constant reminders of Spanish occupation and settlements in this part of Mindanao. These two major structures had facilitated the military and missionary campaigns in Cotabato Valley. The purpose of the Polloc naval station in Parang was to bring in men and supplies for their military occupation activities (Daguino, et. al. 2001). The Polloc Church was built to nurture the spiritual needs of the early converts in Cotabato. The water supply of the settlements in Parang was provided through the Alfonso XIII Waterworks. As described by Daguino, et. al. (2001) "...this water system continues to provide domestic water to the residents of the coastal barangays of Bacolod and Magsaysay. It continues to use the same structures used by the Spaniards, including the soil pipes that connect the reservoir to the residential houses."
Today, Parang is one of the 22 municipalities of Maguindanao Province, ARMM. It is bounded by the municipality of Matanog on the North, by Barira on the East, and by Sultan Kudarat municipality on the South, and by Illana Bay on the West.
Parang has a total land area of 23,138 hectares, comprising 5% of the total land area of Maguindanao. It has 23 barangays, including five (5) barangays found in Bongo Island. Eight (8) are coastal barangays while the other eight (8) are inland barangays.
The topography of Parang is characterized as hilly, with rugged slopes and some plains. The entire municipality is criss-crossed by six rivers, which drain run-off water to Illana Bay. There are three inland lakes found in the area that can be developed for agricultural purposes. The highest point of elevation is found in barangay Making, which has a range of 300 - 1,000 feet above sea level.
In 1990, NSO reported a total of 55,355 population of Parang and in 1995, this number declined to 49,562. The decrease in the number of population in Parang may be attributed to the unstable peace and order in the area and its neighboring municipalities (Barira, Matanog and Buldon). In 2000, the total population reported at 60,575.
The concentration of human settlements in Parang is in the coastal barangays, such as: Landasan (10,708 pop); Polloc (2,134 pop); Making (4,082 pop); Poblacion 1 (5,694 pop); Poblacion 2 (6,439 pop); Magsaysay (2,970 pop); and Litayen in Bongo Island (3,067 pop). Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2 and Landasan are considered as urban barangays. Around 46.93% of the total population reside in these barangays.
The economy of Parang is agricultural-based. Majority of its inhabitants depend their livelihood in fishing and farming activities. The primary agricultural crops produced in the area are copra, yellow corn, coconut, cassava, durian, and marang.
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Introduction | Arrival of Islam | Spanish Incursions | 1600-1850 Spanish Occupation
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting