HISTORIC LAMBAYONG
(Sultan Kudarat Province, Philippines)
By Apolinario Villalobos
The historical significance of Lambayong could be traced
back to the time when its vast expanse was ruled by a Muslim Royal House
connected to Sultan sa Barongis. The Ala River played a major part in the lives
of the early inhabitants being the main artery of commerce due to the absence
of a road system. During the time, the four thriving settlements in the whole
of Cotabato aside from what is now Cotabato City, itself, were Dulawan,
Lambayong, Midsayap and Buluan. Before Lambayong was created as a town, as it
was then part of Sultan sa Barongis, the area was referred to as “Torre” due to
the presence of a Spanish tower which time has deteriorated. Ferdinand Marcos,
issued PD #341 on November 22, 1973 that transferred Lambayong from Cotabato to
Sultan Kudarat with its name changed to Mariano Marcos in honor of his father.
But when Corazon Aquino took over as President, it was renamed Lambayong by
virtue of Republic Act #6678 signed on October 12, 1988.
Lambayong is named after the flower-bearing creeper that
grows in profusion on wet lands with which the town has plenty. The purplish
cup-like petals are a sight to behold from a distance as they undulate with the
dark waxy-textured green leaves when blown by the wind.
Christians began to settle in Lambayong as early as the
1930s but the early 1950s saw the greater volume of hordes from Visayas,
particularly, Iloilo. Among them was led by the late Serafin Bernardo whose
son, Nonito, confided that their group which consisted not only of their family
but friends and relatives, took a barge from Cotabato City for Dulawan from
which they took another barge to Lambayong. The Rio Grande de Mindanao that
emanates from Cotabato City and the Ala River that flows through the Lambayong
area, join at Dulawan.
During the 1950s, Lambayong was already a thriving
settlement with many Christian families dominating the settled area along the
highway. Purportedly, many prominent families who got settled in Tacurong City
stayed for awhile in the homes and buildings of the early settlers of
Lambayong, one of which was owned by the Guerreros. Some families decided to
settle around Gansing and Kipolot while the rest, such as the group of Serafin
Bernardo went on to New Passi which at the time was part of Katil. From there,
some families settled in Rajah Muda and went up the hills of Magon.
Buluan was made accessible from Lambayong through Gansing
and Kipolot by foot trails which the settlers blazed toward President Quirino
which at the time was called Sambolawan, to trade in a designated area that
settlers during the time, referred to as “Pamasang”. Buluan is the “mother
town” of Tacurong and President Quirino. (This information was confirmed by my
interviewees from Buluan who got the information from their parents.)
There was an early attempt of the government to connect the
thriving settlements in the hinterlands of Cotabato that included Midsayap,
Sultan sa Barongis and Lambayong with Makar in Dadiangas which is now known as
General Santos City. It is named after General Paulino Santos who cleared the
once sandy area for settlement by Christians from Visayas and Luzon . The
proposed highway was what is now called in Tacurong City as “Alunan Highway”,
but before was known as, “Mid-Makar Road” or “Midsayap-Makar Road” that passed
through Lambayong and ended at Kalandagan in Tacurong, beyond which was a trail
fit for carts only. Affluent students from Gansing and Tacurong hiked from
Tacurong to Marbel on Sundays and hiked back home on Saturday, as for the rest
of the week, they stayed at boarding homes in Marbel. Heavy provisions such as
sacks of rice were loaded on a cart pulled by carabao. There were no tricycles,
jeepneys, most especially, buses yet.
Lambayong, during the arrival of the settlers from the
Visayas and Luzon, was covered with thickets and cleared for rice paddies and
corn plots which in time expanded. Water for irrigation was coaxed from streams
that abound in the area. The manifestation of this abundance of water, in fact,
“sweet” spring water, is the presence of the six (6) continuously flowing water out of upright tubes at the
town’s six (6) purok or sitio and the one used by the District Hospital. The
fertility of the soil is also fit for rice which ensured abundant harvest and
made Lambayong earn the title, “Rice Bowl of Cotabato” when it was yet one
whole province before the creation of the four provinces. Today, it is still
fondly referred to as a “Rice Bowl” but of Sultan Kudarat Province.
The 26 barangays of Lambayong are: Caridad (Cuyapon),
Didtaras, Gansing (Bilumen), Kabulakan, Kapingkong, Katitisan, Katitisan,
Lagao, Lilit, Madanding, Maligaya, Mamali, Matiompong, Midtapok, New Cebu,
Palumbi, Pidtiguian, Pimbalayan, Pingulaman,Poblacion (Lambayong), Sadsalan,
Seneben, Sigayan, Tambak, Tinumigues, Tumiao (Tinaga), and Udtong.
The municipality covers a total land area of 226.99 square
kilometers or 87.60 square miles.
Though without impressive big commercial structures, Lambayong
is trying its best to maintain a harmonious and cordial ambiance which is
necessary to erase the bad image it had at the height of the conflict between
the Christians and Muslims during the early 1970s. Impressively, farmers hold
with steadfast firmness to their rice fields and vegetable plots instead of
converting them into subdivisions. Attempts are being made to raise the
nutritious dragon fruit which consistently commands a high price in Manila.
Another tradition which is maintained is the production of raw sugar in the
form of muscovado. For more delectable
offerings of the town, one should visit the public market on a Sunday for
tinagtag, panyalam, smoked fish and many more.
To commemorate the harmony between Christians and Muslims in
Lambayong, the government came up with TIMPUYOG Festival celebrated every
October of each year.
Groups compete for the best in street dancing and costume.
Currently, the mayor of Lambayong is HON. RAMON M. ABALOS.
