By virtue of sheer distance from Manila, the southern Mindanao province of
Sultan Kudarat is one of those remote, nether locales in the archipelago which
belongs more to the map of one's imagination than to a destination charted by
one's experience.
Yet for those who do decide to venture there, Sultan
Kudarat offers the visitor a surprisingly rich stay, both
because of its natural wonders and the thriving
community who work hard to make the best of their
land.
The capital, Isulan, has a beautiful topography of
valleys and mountains, bisected by rivers. Here can
be found verdant rice fields and land planted with
African palm trees, coconut, banana, and other fruit
trees. Two-thirds of the land area (total: 49,551
sq.km.) is mountainous, the town situated below the
imposing Daguma Ranges, whose highest elevation is 1856 feet.
The town is an hour away from General Santos City and three hours away from
Davao. There are various modes of transportation -- buses, jeepneys, Ford Fieras,
Mazadas, FXs and L-300s that ply routes to Tacurong, Davao City, Cotabato City,
and General Santos City. There is also an airstrip at the Kenram Phils. Inc. palm oil
plantation.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this municipality is its utmost respect for its
environment. Isulan has been named the cleanest municipality in the province. The
roads are free of any sort of litter, the municipal market is spic and span and odorless,
the houses are full of bright blooms and plants.
This is a community which works closely together to achieve its goals of development
and harmonious living among peoples of different religions. With a population which is
predominantly Christian (64 percent are Ilonggos, 18 percent are Muslims), with
denominations such as the Aglipayan church, Iglesia ni Kristo, the Church of Jesus
Christ of the Latter Day Saints, and Jehovahs Witnesses amply represented, Isulan is
a melting pot of different faiths. Yet all of them are committed to the economic
upliftment, peaceful settlement, and environmental preservation of Isulan, which is
being developed as the premier town of Sultan Kudarat.
Its Christian mayor, Ernesto Fontanilla Matias, a doctor by profession, makes it a point
to visit all 17 barangays everyday to listen to the problems of the residents. He
expects the town officials to practise independence as well as courtesy and respect
for the people at all times. Being a physician, one of his top priorities is sanitation,
ensuring adequate garbage collection, installing better drainage systems, proper
street lighting, and safe and adequate water system.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the municipality (major crops are rice,
corn, peanut, mongo, coffee, cacao, banana, coconut, African palm, and cotton) but
Matias has striven to introduce different livelihood projects for the people, like skills
workshops with various agencies.
Created in 1957 as a municipality of Cotabato (which was later divided into three
provinces in 1973: Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato), the land now
comprising Isulan was formerly part of the municipality of Dulawan and Koronadal. The
town was named by Datu Kudanding Camsa (the mayor of Koronadal) after the
battlecry of a 19th century sultan whose principality was besieged by a vast army
from a neighboring sultanate. His cry of Isu-Silan, which means, There they are,
advance, in spite of being outnumbered 20 to one by their opponents that the
invading sultan was impressed enough to negotiate instead and make the principality
a protectorate. Kudanding Camsa was inspired to name the new municipality Isulan as
an analogy for progress.
Matias now works hand in hand with Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax S. Mangudadatu,
the provinces first Muslim governor, to make Isulan into a landmark town of Mindanao.
Mangudadatu has praised Matiass effort in uniting Isulans various religious and ethnic
groups in working towards the improvement of the municipality.
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