Good morning!!! Kidapawan City. Kidapawan, officially the City of Kidapawan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Kidapawan) or Kidapawan City, is a third class city in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. It is the capital city of Cotabato Province. Located at the foot of Mount Apo, it is popular destination from late October to December and in the summer, when thousands of tourists climb the countrys highest mountain. The first settlers around Kidapawan were predominantly Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas resulted in the evolution of the word from Tidapawan to Kidapawan. Kidapawan City was created by the Republic Act. No. 8500, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 12, 1998, making it the first component city of Cotabato Province. The Act was ratified by a large majority by a plebiscite on March 21, 1998. It was originally named a district of Pikit. In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces entered Kidapawan. Three years later, local Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary units and Moro guerrilla fighters taken to liberate Kidapawan fought the battles against the Japanese Imperial forces. Kidapawan was later declared a separate municipality by Executive Order No. 82 issued by President Manuel Roxas on August 18, 1947. It thus become the fourth town of the then Empire Province of Cotabato, composed previously of the municipalities of Cotabato (now Cotabato City), Dulawan (later named Datu Piang) and Midsayap. Created along with the city were the twelve original barangays, namely: Birada, Ginatilan, Indangan, Linangcob, Luvimin, Manongol, Marbel, Mateo, Meohao, Mua-an, Perez, and Sibawan. From the original land area of 273, 262 hectares, Kidapawan retained only 34,007.20 hectares when four municipalities were created from it namely: Magpet (June 22, 1963, R.A. 3721), Matalam (Dec. 29, 1961, E.O. 461), M’lang (Aug. 3, 1951, E.O. 462) and President Roxas (May 8, 1967, R.A. 4869). Prior to its conversion to a municipality, five appointed District Mayors had served Kidapawan. The first was Datu Siawan Ingkal, tribal chieftain of the Manobos, who headed the Civilian Emergency Administration when World War II broke out. He was followed by Felimon Blanco, Ceferino Villanueva, Jacinto Paclibar, and Alfonso Angeles Sr., who became the first elected mayor of the municipality. Kidapawan became the provincial capital of Cotabato Province pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 341 dated 22 November 1973, with the provincial seat of government located in Amas. Later, Batas Pambansa No. 660 dated 19 December 1983 renamed the Province of North Cotabato just plain Cotabato. By the time it became the province capital, Kidapawan had already 40 barangays under its geopolitical jurisdiction. Geography[edit] Kidapawan is located at the foot of Mount Apo in the southeastern section of Cotabato province, placed in the middle of five other major cities of Davao, Digos, Cotabato, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro.[citation needed] Climate[edit] Kidapawan lies outside the typhoon belt and has a mild climate characterized by wet and dry seasons. The coldest months are December and January. The hottest are April and May.[citation needed] Source: National Statistics Office[3] Based on the 2010 census, the city has a total population of 125,447 people,[3] up from 117,610 in 2007. The religion is predominantly Roman Catholic, although there are many Muslims residing in the city. The main language is Cebuano. Ilonggo, Tagalog and English are the secondary languages. Cebuanos and Ilonggos are the major ethnic groups in the city. Other ethnic groups residing in the area are the Ilocanos, Maguindanaons and Manobos. Cebuano language is the most widely spoken language, especially in the city proper. English is considered as the medium of instruction in schools and other learning institutions; it is also predominantly used in major government agencies in their transactions and reports. Laws and ordinances in the city are all written in English. Most of the inhabitants can also speak Filipino. The City is considered as the province’s industrial hub. It plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the province and its adjacent areas. It is the commercial and trading hub of six neighboring municipalities. It lies at the heart of two large domestic markets: General Santos City, Davao City and Cotabato City. The flower-cutting industry is a primary source of livelihood among Cotabateños, especially those residing in Kidapawan City. In addition to ornamental and forest tree seedlings, flowers such as roses, anthuriums and orchids are abundantly grown locally providing a very promising and highly profitable source of livelihood and business in the area. Kidapawan is the second largest producer of fruits in the Philippines, after Davao City. Exotic fruits like durian, Mangosteen, lanzones, marang, singkamas, rambutan, banana, and the like are grown and harvested in abundance in the highlands of Mt. Apo, in rural communities of Kidapawan City, and also in small home plots. Crops abundantly grown in the area include abaca, rubber, corn, rice, coconut, and vegetables. Tourism[edit] Mt. Apo Lake Venado Kidapawan City is the most well-known starting point for trekking on Mount Apo[4][5][6][7] which towers at 10,311 feet above sea level with a total area of 14.6 square meters. The country’s tallest peak is an abode to the almost extinct Philippine Eagle.[8][9][10] The mountain is surrounded by moss-covered century-old-trees, a wide variety of flora and fauna, sulfur craters, and massive boulders. Within the Mt. Apo Natural Park is the Mandarangan Geological Site which is being promoted as a major educational tourism site. Lake Venado, hidden among the mountain ranges, stands at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level. Lake Agko is a steaming blue lake where hot and cold springs converge. It stands at an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level. Marbel Falls is a hidden twin waterfall of about 60 to 70 feet surrounded by hot springs. Mawig Falls is located in Barangay Balabag and is the source of the Matingao River. To celebrate the abundance of the exotic fruits grown in Kidapawan City, the city government hold an annual festival in the month of August called Timpupu, the fruit festival. This festival, first held in 2002[11] celebrates the fruit harvest. The city purchases large quantities of local fruit which is laid out on tables along the streets for visitors and residents.[12] Dubbed “Timpupu” from the Manobo word “harvest”, the celebration signifies the peoples thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and richness of the exotic fruits that thrive in the area. Activities featured during the annual event include the Fruit Galore, Fruit Float Parade, Fruit Arrangement and Street Dancing Competition. The Foundation Anniversary of the City of Kidapawan (February 12) is celebrated with parades, beauty contests, and traditional, non-lethal horse fights.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 20:38:12 +0000