Sarangani, officially the Province of Sarangani (; ; Maguindanaon: Dairat nu Sarangani, Jawi: دايرت نو سرڠان; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen region. Its capital is Alabel while Glan is the most populous municipality in the province. With a coastline along the Sarangani Bay and Celebes Sea, the province is at the southernmost tip of Mindanao island, and borders South Cotabato and Davao del Sur to the north, Davao Occidental to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south.

Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos (Soccsksargen) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to the international airport and harbor of General Santos.

The province is divided into two sections, separated by the Sarangani Bay and the city of General Santos, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.

thumb|left|Map showing the present territories of Sarangani as part of [[Sultanate of Maguindanao in 1800s.]]

Japanese occupation

In 1942, the Japanese troops occupied Southern Cotabato. In 1945, Filipino troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 10th Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary entered in and liberated Southern Cotabato and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces during the Battle of Cotabato at the end of World War II under the Japanese Occupation.

Philippine independence

Before its inception in 1992, Sarangani was part of South Cotabato under its third district. The province was created by Republic Act No. 7228 on March 16, 1992, penned by Congressman James Chiongbian, who would later become the province's first representative to the House of Representatives, ratified in a plebiscite on May 19, 1992 and installed its first set of officials on November 28, 1992. His wife, Priscilla Chiongbian, became the first Governor of Sarangani.

The Sangil people are active in the struggle for self-determination as part of their strategy to preserve and develop their culture and social institutions. The creation of Sarangani province itself was an effort to ease tensions between the Sangil people and the Philippine government.

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Christianity is the majority religion in the province with a total of 79% (48% Roman Catholicism

Ethnic groups

Sarangani has a huge ethnic diversity, such as Lumads, consisting of Blaan, T'boli, Tagakaulo, Kalagan, Manobo, Ubo, Moro Muslims, and Christian settlers, mainly from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros and Panay in Visayas and Ilocandia and Cagayan Valley in Luzon Muslims comprise 7 ethnic groups, Lumads 17 ethnic groups, and Christian migrant settlers, at least 20 ethnic groups.

The Blaan people are the largest minority and are spread across the municipalities of Malapatan, Glan, Alabel, Maasim, and Malungon. Most of Blaan people lives in Malapatan, constituting 37% of the municipality's population. Other ethnic groups, such as the Maguindanao people reside in the municipalities of Malapatan, Maitum, and Maasim, the T'boli people mostly reside in Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim, while the Tagakaulo people is almost entirely in Malungon. Cebuano settlers are found in Glan and Alabel, Ilonggo (Hiligaynon) are located in Malungon, while Ilocano mostly live in Kiamba and Maitum.

Sarangani has ancient burial jars, discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum in Ayub Cave in Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, and at Sagel Cave in Maitum (now declared by National Historical Institute as a national historical site). Amid Mindanao's armed conflicts, artifacts found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.

Notable people

  • Manny Pacquiao - boxer and former senator having his family from Sarangani.
  • Jinkee Pacquiao - wife of Manny Pacquiao and former Sarangani vice governor (2013). Her family is from Sarangani.

References

  • Official Website of the Provincial Government of Sarangani
  • Local Governance Performance Management System