THE HISTORY OF DADIANGAS: THE RISE OF GENERAL

PAULINO SANTOS

A Research Paper I
As Part of the Requirements
in History I

Presented to:

Allan B. Supilanas
Instructor

Presented by:

Apal, Millbby Grace Sittie Mendoza, Edwin

Campo, Cherry Mae Mercado, JohnLloyd
Cuna, Aira Mohammad, Omar
Dahunan, Jaymichaem Raposas, Lawrence Jay
Gabor, Jade Reyes, Reymark
Gamutan, Mac Francis Rotaquio, Dave
Gonzales, Maricar Velasco, Reeden Jann
Gracia, Lady Lark Villamonte, Arnel
Lising, Deniel Angelo Yusop, Mohammad Jhade
Pindulunan, Rahim Villanueva, Aries
Brief History of Dadiangas

Nowadays, more and more people live in General Santos City but they don’t

know the History at the same time, the Origin of the name “Dadiangas” shortly before

the World War 2. General Paulino Santos came in this southernmost tip of Mindanao,

together with the first Batch of settlers, Mainly from Luzon. They came here for pursuing

one of the programs of the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) when the

vessel carrying them landed on the shore (Along with what we now call as General

Santos Park). General Santos and the Pioneering batch of settlers immediately noticed

various assemblages or Forest of a certain type of a thorny tree which Dadiangas tree

grew abundantly almost everywhere. When asked about the name of the subject tree,

the Moro and B’laan inhabit who welcomed General Paulino Santos and his encourage

answered: “Dadiangas”. From then on, General Santos and Pioneer batch of settlers

name the place, our place now, as Dadiangas.

Background of Barangay Buayan

The B’laans predominantly occupied the Barrio Buayan after World War II and

Maguindanaoan’s (our Muslim Brothers). The elder people originally got the

name Buayan because they fear the crocodile infested Buayan River which extends up

to Malandag, Malungon and Sarangani. That once, any person who tries to go into the

water, the women will shout “Hoy may Buaya dyan” and so Buayan become the name.

Mayor Ireneo S. Santiago was appointed First Mayor of the Municipality of Buayan with

head office at Dadiangas Municipal Building and was re-elected once.

Background of General Paulino Santos

Paulino Torres Santos (June22, 1890 – August 29, 1945) - a military officer who

became the Commanding General of the Philippine army from May 6 to December 31,

1936. Upon his retirement, he served as a civilian administrator under President Manuel

L. Quezon. Gen. Santos was born in Camiling, Tarlac to Remigio Santos and Rosa

Torres. After his Spanish education from 1897 to 1900, he enrolled in an English school

in 1901. In 1907, when he had finished the sixth grade, he was appointed as municipal

teacher, a post which he held until the following year. In 1908, at age 18, he was an

enlisted man in the Philippines Constabulary and he had just completed his first

enlistment when he was named civil service clerk at the P.C headquarters in 1912. That

same year, he enrolled in the constabulary officer’s School where in, two years later, he

graduated valedictorian. Santos was appointed as Third Lieutenant of the P.C in 1914,

and as such, he worked hard and continued studying to be more effective in his

assignment as a field officer in the P.C.

He is one of the first settlers who came to Dadiangas (Buayan District) which was

called as “Dadiangas” before. He also was the leader of the pioneers sent here to take

care of the land. General Santos City is the southernmost port city of the Republic of the

Philippines. The National land settlement Administration organized the relocation of 62

Christian pioneers led by General Santos on February 27, 1939. They were given a

mission to cultivate the fertile expanse of land. This eventually led into the Birth of a

municipality until this day, people still honor him because of his contribution that led to

the development of a city in southern Philippines and he is General Paulino T. Santos.

Achievements of General Paulino Santos

From 1916 to 1917 Paulino Santos fought bravely in Lanao where he attained

exceptional and legendary exploits. As a result, he was awarded by Governor Frank

Murphy with the Medal of Valor in 1917. He was eventually appointed as the governor

of the undivided province of Lanao. His administration oversaw the growth and

development of education, agriculture and communications in the province.

In 1930, Paulino Santos was appointed as director of the Bureau of Prisons,

established the Davao Penal Colony, and transferred the Bilibid Prison from

the Mayhaligue Estate in Manila to Muntinlupa, Rizal.

Paulino Santos reentered the military service in 1936. President Manuel L.

Quezon appointed Major General Paulino Santos as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine

Army shortly thereafter.

Family background of Paulino Santos

General Paulino Santos was born on June 22 1890 in Camiling Central Luzon

Philippines. His father is Remigio Santos and his mother is Rosa Torres Santos has two

child Paulino and Anastacio Santos. Paulino Santos was married to Elisa Angeles of

bulacan and has seven children including Rosa Santos Munda, Lordes Santos, Paulino

Santos Jr, Remigio Santos II, Jose Angeles Santos, Isabel Santos and Amado Santos.
Republic Act No. 5412

An Act creating the city of General Santos

Article 1

Title of Act

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Charter of the City of General Santos”.

Article 2

The City as a Public Corporation.

Section 2. Territory of the City of General Santos.

The City of General Santos, which is hereby created, shall comprise the present

territorial jurisdiction covering all the barrios and sitios of Upper Malungon, Tagaytay,

Malalog-Logon, Malungon, Diangan, Manteo, Lower Manteo, Mainit, Kiblat, Upper

Mainit, Kabang, Kitakal, Lumabat ,Cabatuna, Lutay, Tamban, Lanpasal, Labay,

Malandog, Alta-I, Lambatot and Lubay.

Section 3. Corporate character.

The City of General Santos, hereinafter called the city, constitute and as such is

endowed with the attribute of perpetual succession and possessed of the powers, which

pertain to a municipal corporation, to be exercised in conformity with the provisions of

this charter. The specific mention of particular powers in others sections of this charter

shall not construed as limiting the powers in other sections of this charter shall not be

construed as limiting the powers of the city in the premises to those thus mentioned.
 Section 4. Seal and General Powers

The city shall have a common Seal, and may alter the same at pleasure. It may take,

purchase , receive, hold, tease, convey, and dispose of real and personal property for

the general interests of the city , condemn private for use constructed and be construct

with use and be used, prosecute as well as depend to final judgment and execution,

actions where its interests are involved, and exercise all the powers hereinafter

conferred.

Section 5. The City not liable for damages

The city shall not be liable or held for damages or injuries to persons or property arising

from the failure of the City Mayor, the City Council, or any other city officer or employee,

to enforce the provisions of this Charter, or of any law or ordinance, or from the

negligence of said Mayor. Provided however, that nothing herein contained shall

prevent any aggrieved party from filing a personal action in the proper court gains any

official or employee of the city government for any act or omission in the performance of

his duties

This Study focuses on THE HISTORY OF DADIANGAS: THE RISE OF

GENERAL PAULINO SANTOS and to inform and awaken the history of the city to all

new and old settlers. A part of this research is to conducted interviews and seeking

information to the people who are interested in this field of Endeavour.

In conducting this study, the researchers are looking forward for the better

results. The researchers are hoping that they can gathered information to further and

widen its literature.

Objectives:

 To study deeply in the History of Dadiangas before it was called General Santos

city.

 To know the life of Paulino Santos as young Santos and as a pioneers.

 To know how Paulino Santos improve the district of buayan.

 To what and who are the reasons why dadiangas was change to developer of the

city.

 To comparatively distinguish the improvements of the city from its humble

beginning until present times.