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History of Kapalong, Davao del NorteFor so long the territory of the Ata, Mandaya,[i] and Dibabawon, Kapalong was a typical tribal

domain where the natives had to depend for food from the rivers and the forests. Libuganon River,for most part, was an important waterway linking inner settlements to the sea, and has alwaysbeen an expedient channel for travel when there was no flash flood.

Although they lived off the wealth of the forests and its wild game, the natives always builtsmall settlements near the riverbanks as a matter of convenience. The rivers do not only serve asappropriate places for bathing, washing, and cleaning; they also provide an almost infinite supplyof edible creatures. On the other hand, many of these natives have turned to swidden farms forroot crops and vegetables.

Local lore says the town got its name from makapalong (can put out a fire, in Visayan). Theterm is associated with the powerful current of an enchanted river, and tradition says the torchesthe natives usually hand-carried at night while negotiating the riverbanks were often extinguishedby the air pockets produced by the water splashing against the riverside. Over time, the term hasbecome a word of caution for residents and passersby taking the waterside.

The entry of migrants in Kapalong, in particular in Maniki (chilly or cool in Mansaka dialect),took place in the years preceding the establishment of the Commonwealth. Visayans turned upearlier, though, in response to the invitation of the American colonial leaders to explore thepotentials of Mindanao, then largely a little-known region of opportunities.

Kapalong was not among the eight (8) recognized municipal districts covered by the 1918Census undertaken during the American Occupation, but in the official report of the survey

published later,[ii] it was classified as a municipal district[iii] and, in another official document

related to the same census, as a municipality.[iv]When it was officially created into a municipaldistrict on February 23, 1921 by virtue of Executive Order No. 8 signed by Governor Francis BurtonHarrison, it had nine (9) barrios, namely: Abaca (central), Mabaquid, Manique (Maniki), Mabnatao,Esperanza, Sua-on, Jaguimitan, Kapalong and Florida.[v]

Kapalongs jurisdiction under the presidential edict was from the intersection of Rio Biga at

latitude N-8, thence south through the right side of Mount Ampawaid at the junction of the riversof Liboganon and Magdagundung, thence west right to the provincial boundary line to theintersection of the boundary line of the provinces of Davao and Cotabato, winding thence northalong the same boundary line to the intersection with the boundary line of the provinces of Davao

and Agusan in the 8o latitude, thence to the east right to the point of departure at the intersection

of Biga River at 8o north.[vi]

The establishment of the Commonwealth in 1935 had direct impact on Kapalong as a keydistrict. In 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon authorized the inauguration of cadastral projects insix municipal districts in Davao that included Guianga Extension (Davao City), Saug (nowAsuncion), Kapalong, and the towns of Compostela and Monkayo in Compostela Valley Province.

A year later, parties were organized to execute the surveys with the mission to expedite theircompletion and with the primary purpose of adjudicating the titles to the lands and prevent land-grabbing.[vii] This government initiative opened the locality and the other places adjacent to it tothe influx of Visayan migrants.

To underscore Kapalongs status as a municipal district, it had its own judicial structure as earlyas 1938 following the appointment of Jose Magune, who went on to become Davao City councilor(1945-1947), as justice of the peace of the locality.[viii] In 1939, the town had a population of over5,000.

Kapalong was created as a town under Executive Order No. 151,[ix] which President Elpidio R.Quirino signed on July 8, 1948 but took effect only on August 1, 1948. Originally, it was composedof barangay Maniki, Abaca, Tibal-og, Semong, Mabantao, Florida, Sua-on and Gupitan; later,

http://local-histories-of-davao.posterous.com/history-of-kapalong-davao-del-nortehttp://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn1http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn2http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn3http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn4http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn5http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn7http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn8http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn9http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn1http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn2http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn3http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn4http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn5http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn7http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn8http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn9http://local-histories-of-davao.posterous.com/history-of-kapalong-davao-del-norte

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though, its territorial integrity had to undergo numerous changes resulting from executive andlegislative decisions.

Situated on the northwestern sector of Davao del Norte, Kapalong is bordered in the north byAgusan Province, by the municipalities of Santo Tomas and Asuncion in the south, by CompostelaValley Province in the east, and by the province of Bukidnon in the west. Geographically, it hostsfive water channels, namely Libuganon River, as principal waterway, and the tributaries ofKipaliko, Gabuyan, Kapalong and Semong.

LIST OF MAYORS

Raymundo Felio 1948-51 Appointed

Vicente M. Royo 1952-55; 1956-59 First elected mayor

Feliciano Ganade 1960-61

Napy A. Agayan 1961-63 By succession

Porferio F. Royo 1965-68; 1969-72; 1972; 1980;1980-86

Vislumino Y. Tamondong,MD

1986-88 (officer in charge); 1988-92; 1992-95

Alfredo Rada January - February 1988 Office in charge

Bienvenido M. Quilla March - June 1988 OIC Mayor

Dominador P. Cruda, Sr. 1998-2001; 2001-04; 2004-07

Edgardo L. Timbol 2007-10; 2010-13

The first law to alter Kapalongs land area was Executive Order No. 352, creating the town ofSto. Tomas; it was signed on August 14, 1959, by President Carlos P. Garcia. Originally, the townhad only eight (8) barrios in its domain namely Maniki, Abaca, Tibal-og, Semong, Mabantao,Florida, Sua-on, and Gupitan, but in later years expanded with the creation of new villages. In1990, following the founding of the municipality of Talaingod under Republic Act 7081, which wasenacted into law by President Corazon C. Aquino on July 29, 1991, Kapalongs territory wasredefined; three of its barangaysthat is, Sto. Nio, Palma Gil and Dagohoywere transferred tothe jurisdiction of Talaingod, reducing its number of to 21.

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On August 30, 1992, three new barangays were approved in a plebiscite conducted by virtue ofa provincial resolution. These are Datu Balong, Libuton and Pinamuno, which were originally partof Gupitan, the municipalitys biggest barangay. The creation was consistent with the LocalGovernment Code of 1991, the same law that elevated the town to first-class category.

Another initiative that affected Kapalong was Republic Act 9265, signed by President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyo on March 15, 2004, which created the municipality of San Isidro and removedfrom Kapalong the barangays of Dacudao, Datu Balong, Libuton, Pinamuno, Linao, Monte Dujali,

and San Miguel and placed them under the jurisdiction of the new town.Today, the municipality, with has jurisdiction over an area of 83,001 hectares (from the original

180,000 hectares), is a first-class boom town with fourteen (14) barangays, namely: Semong(Sampao), Florida, Gabuyan, Gupitan, Capungagan, Kaputian, Luna, Mabantao, Mamacao, Pag-asa,Maniki (Poblacion), Sampao (Bienvenida), Sua-on, and Tiburcia, are independently providing thepush that is pump-priming the towns growth.

Since its inception in the post-war period, Kapalong has already been ably managed by ten(10) mayors since Raymundo F. Felio was appointed, serving the mayoralty for three years (1948-1951). In 1951, Vicente M. Royo became the first elected town mayor; he got reelected in 1955.Feliciano Ganade won the 1960 local polls but did not serve out his full term; by succession, hewas replaced by Napy A. Agayan (1960-63).

In the 1963 local elections, another Royo was installed as mayor. Porferio F. Royo served four

terms (1963-1967; 1967-1971; 1971-1980; 1080-1986), for a total of twenty-three years (23)years, more than half of these under the martial rule. The post-Marcos period showed Vislumino Y.

Tamondong, a doctor, being appointed as towns officer-in-charge (1986-1987), but in 1988, thefirst local elections under the first Aquino presidency, he won his first mandate. Four years later,he was reelected. During the interregnum, the period between his resignation as OIC and hisinstallation as full-pledged mayor, two figures served briefly as acting mayors, namely AlfredoRada and Bienvenido M. Quilla.

Tamondongs aspiration to get a third term was frustrated by Dominador P. Cruda, Sr., a retiredcolonel with sound public relations savvy, who won as a dark horse in the 1998. He went on toserve for another two terms more (2001-2004; 2004-2007) and took a respite from politics as amatter of constitutional limitation. He was followed in the mayoralty by Edgardo L. Timbol, aformer Sangguniang Bayan members and later vice-mayor, who got reelected in 2010.[x]

While its major industries are primarily agriculture-based, the place offers an efficient transportsystem linking it to major market and business centers in the region. From education to healthfacilities, it ranks among the most improved towns in southern Mindanao.

Positively known as the banana country, Kapalong, by 2008, was producing 70 tons of export-grade bananas, providing the town the economic backbone that has heavily contributed to itsgrown. At the helm of this agricultural productivity are seven leading agricultural firms, namelyStandard Philippines Co., Inc. (Stanfilco), Lead Export & Agro Development Corp., Diamond Farms,Inc., JB Mercado & Sons Agri-Enterprises, Inc., Soriano Fruits Corp., Lapanday Foods Corp., andDavao Agri-Food Merchant, Inc.

As of 2009, Kapalong has been is host to a secondary government hospital, three primaryprivate hospitals, a rural health unit, and thirteen (13) health stations. Education-wise, it pridesitself of fifty-two (52) kindergarten and day-care schools, thirty-six (36) elementary and primary

schools, nine secondary academic institutions, an agricultural college, a technical vocationalschool and twenty-eight (28) other literacy learning centers.

Served by two power outfits, namely the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) andthe Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), the town, with a population of 61,763[xi] inhabitants,is also home to a radio station, a phone system, cable network, and other communication facilitiesthat make it an attraction business hub. A handful of banks operate in town alongside popularoutfits that engage in lending, pawning and cooperative.

Among spelunkers, Kapalong, the caving capital of the Philippines, has some of the mostbeautiful (caves) in Asia[xii] in near-virgin state. Caves like Okbot, Alena, and Kapunit, consideredthe top tourist attractions in town, are being introduced globally[xiii] by enthusiasts as among the

http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn11http://file///F:/DAVAO%20TOWNS,%20book/DAVAO%20DEL%20NORTE/Kapalong,%20Davao%20del%20Norte.doc#_edn11

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most amazing natural underground grottos. Given its mainly undisturbed condition, these caveshave remained the primary roosting sites for fruit-eating bats.

[i]. The Mandayas are a group of non-Christians constituting one of the tribes in the Province of Davaoand living mostly in the municipal districts of Tagum. Kapalong, Saug, and Kamansa. They still live a primitive

life. Philippine Magazine, VoL. XXXVI, No. 1 (369), January 1934, 494.[ii].Annual Report of the Director of Fishery of the Philippine Islands for the Fiscal Year Ended December

31, 1925, The Government of the Philippine Islands, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureauof Forestry, Manila: Bureau of Printing, 1926, 702.

[iii]. The other municipal districts were Guianga (now a barangay of Davao City), Malita, Monkayo,Pantukan, Samal, Sigaboy and Tagum.

[iv].Annual Report of the Director of Forestry, Bureau of Forestry, Manila: Bureau of Printing, 1926, 87.

[v]. Gaceta Oficial, Tomo XIX, No. 32, March 15, 1921, 719-721.

[vi]. Partiendo de la interseccion del Rio Biga con la latitude N-8; desde alli hacia del sur derecho ypasando por la cumber del Monte Ampawaid hasta el punto de union de los rios Magdagundung y Liboganon;desde alli en direccion oeste derecho a la linea limitrofe provincial hasta su interseccion con la linea limitrofeprovincial de las provincias de Davao y Cotabato; desde all en direccin tortuosa norte y siguiendo dicha

lnea limtrofe hasta su interseccion con la lnea limtrofe provincia de las provincias de Davao y Agusan en lalatitud octava; desde all hacia el este derecho hasta el punto de partida que se hall en la interseccin del RioBiga y los 8o de latitud norte. (Gaceta Oficial, 721.)

[vii]Bureau of Lands Annual Report, 1937, Manila: Bureau of Printing, 1938.

[viii]. Philippine Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 1, January 1939

[ix]. Also created under Executive Order No. 151 were the municipalities of Samal and Lupon. (OfficialGazette, July 1948, 2151.)

[x]. Comprehensive Development Plan of Kapalong, Davao del Norte, n.d., I-3.

[xi]. 2007 Census of Population

[xii].http://www.getwet-asia.com/philippines/?p=534, retrieved 01 July 2010.

[xiii]. It hosted the 3rd

National Caving Congress in 1903 and, later, the National Caving Congress, underthe auspices of the Philippine Speleological Society, on April 6-10, 2010.

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