General
Santos City's birth was in 1939, when the first settlers landed on the sublime
shores of Sarangani Bay. Every last week of February of every year, the
city commemorates this Foundation, paying homage to the toil and tale, hopes
and dreams of the city's ingenious forefathers. The week-long affair showcases
the rich cultural heritage, celebrates the history, and stages the breadth
and height of the city from its beginnings up to what it has attained now.
KALILANGAN
is derived from the Maguindanaoan word "kalilang" which means "festival,"
or "celebration." It has been adopted as the carrier of the city's foundation
anniversary as it perfectly embodies the meaning of the historical episode
being celebrated. The logo depicts the docking of the pioneers at the shores
of Sarangani Bay. With empty hands and hopeful hearts, they tilled the lands,
cultivated dreams, and planted a vision.
Fishing is the fastest growing industry
in the city. It is in fact largely responsible for the economic boost enjoyed
by the city today. Coming close to Navotas' daily fish landing volume, the city's
fish port ranks first in terms of high value fish. The city proudly ships sashimi-grade
tuna to Japan, Canada, United States, Hong Kong and leading hotels in Metro
Manila. It is also home to seven of the biggest tuna processing firms in the
Philippines with a combined canning capacity of 570 metric tons a day. The city
has now over 50 commercial fishing companies landing a collective volume of
8,000 metric tons of sashimi grade tuna per month.
All these statistics and more add to the fore of the concept, that of building
a trademark for General Santos City. The Tuna Festival is not merely a spectacle
but a venue to showcase the city's pride and meaning. In its entirety, it is
a celebration of the ocean's bounty. Moreover, it is fortifying the tangible
strength of the city, wherein collective spirit is the inspiration that underscores
the leadership of the city's affairs.
September 5, 1968 marks the inauguration of General Santos from a municipality
into a city without changing its name. From then until 1986, General Santos
moved up from a third class City to a first class City. During those times until
today, the agriculture and most especially the fishing industry flourished dramatically.
What better way of remembering our charter anniversary than celebrating it with
the very foundation that has led the city to where it stands now?
