History

Our history

History in our Municipality

1939

Commonwealth Period
  • Commonwealth Period: President Manuel Luis Quezon envisions developing Koronadal Valley and Allah Valley, leading to the establishment of the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) through Commonwealth Act No. 141.
  • February 27: Major General Paulino Santos organizes and leads the first group of 62 settlers to Sarangani Bay, marking the beginning of settlement in Tupi and neighboring areas.
World War II
1941-1945
  • Despite Japanese occupation, no major battles occur in the Tupi area.
  • Post-war, settlers return to Tupi and continue development efforts.
Post-War Developments
  • NLSA is renamed several times, eventually becoming the National Resettlement Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) and later the Board of Liquidators.
  • Development resumes in settlement areas; Koronadal becomes a municipality on August 12, 1947.

1946

1946 - 1952

Koronadal Valley Institute (KVI) is established as Tupi’s first secondary technical school, later renamed Matutum View Institute (MVI) but closes in 1951 due to new secondary schools opening.

Gen. Paulino Santos Memorial Institute (GPSMI), Tupi’s first private secondary school, opens.

1953
September 11

Tupi attains independence from Koronadal and is established as a municipality by Executive Order No. 612, signed by President Elpidio Quirino. September 11 is commemorated as Tupi’s Foundation Day.

October 2

First municipal officials are sworn in, and Tupi begins as a fifth-class municipality.

1958
September 17

President Carlos P. Garcia issues Proclamation No. 532, reserving specific lots in Tupi for public purposes like municipal buildings, market, and schools.

1969
June 21
Tupi’s territory is redefined with the creation of the Municipality of Tampakan, which separates from Tupi.
1982
June 21

Tupi is reclassified as a second-class municipality due to growth in social, cultural, educational, and economic sectors.

1974

A minor armed conflict involving Muslim separatists and the Armed Forces occurs, but it does not hinder Tupi’s overall development.

1980

1980s - Early 2000s

Continued peaceful progress and economic growth in Tupi, occasionally challenged by minor skirmishes due to ethnic diversity, but generally harmonious.

2008

Tupi attains first-class municipality status, reflecting significant development and prosperity.

Legend of Tupi’s Name

According to a legend, Tupi’s name derives from the “tufi” leaf, which early natives chewed near local springs. A visitor mistakenly interpreted their answer “tufi” as the place’s name, which evolved into “Tupi.”

During the Commonwealth Period, sometime in 1939, the late Commonwealth President, Manuel Luis Quezon conceived the idea of developing the potential and gargantuan fertile lands of Koronadal Valley and Allah Valley. The concept of development paves the way for the enactment of Commonwealth Act No. 141 creating the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA). The late Major General Paulino Santos, the foremost initiator or prime mover of development in South Cotabato and Sarangani Provinces, was commissioned as General Manager of the Settlement project which includes the Municipality of Tupi.

On February 27, 1939, General Paulino Santos led the first and largest batch of settlers organized under the National Land Settlement Administration to the shores of Sarangani Bay. The 62 pioneers, who mostly came from Luzon, industriously tilled Cotabato’s fertile expanse of land. After this first influx of pioneers, thousands more from Luzon and Visayas migrated into the area.

Settlement areas were then set up, large tracts of forested lands with huge trees were cleared to give way for the residential areas and roads were built to connect neighboring areas. Each settler was given a sizeable home lot and lands for cultivation.

Basic services were initially provided. Educational facilities were likewise erected. Based on the historical account or interview with Barangay Captain Manuel Sunga (whose family was among the pioneer Pre-War Settlers), the first Elementary School was situated at the lot of a certain Mr. Roces located somewhere in Upper Tupi at the left side of the present National Highway going to Gen. Santos, the principal was a certain Mr. Posadas.

As the country was embroiled during the Second World War, an elementary school likewise exists at the present lot being occupied by the Alliance Church, with the late Agustin Ferrariz, as its principal. During the period of liberation, the Elementary School rests the lower portion of the present Santos Hill Elementary School was run by missionaries of the Alliance Church; the principal of the school was Mr. Madrea. The curiosity for knowledge heightened as the years go by, this attributed to the creation of a secondary technical school in the Municipality, the Koronadal Valley Institute (KVI) which was later replaced to Matutum View Institute (MVI). The principal of said school was Mr. Fernandez. Said secondary technical school commenced its operation in 1946. However, with the proliferation of secondary schools, MVI ceased its operation in 1951. The first private secondary school in the Municipality of Tupi, the Gen. Paulino Santos Memorial Institute (GPSMI) was opened in 1952.

The resoluteness of Gen. Paulino Santos coupled with his strict imposition of discipline among the settlers attributed to the expeditious development in the settlement area. When the Second Global War broke out in 1941, the ascending pace of development was hampered. In spite of the presence of the Japanese Imperial Army in the locality, no major battle was recorded.

The dilemma brought about by the War did not necessarily hinder the fulfillment of the development of the Settlement districts. Years after the Liberation of the Philippine by the American Forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the settlers returned to the settlement areas and revived the area for development.

Upon return to normalcy, the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) continued its usual function although its name was replaced to Land Settlement and Development Corporation (LASEDECO), then to the National Resettlement Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) and later to the Board of Liquidators.

The Settlement Administration intensified its drive for the development of all settlement districts. Koronadal district, which manifested a leading pace in development, lead to its creation as a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 82 dated August 12, 1947. Tupi which used to be a barangay of the Municipality of Koronadal likewise gained momentum thus six years after the creation of Koronadal, Tupi became an independent municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 612 by the late President Elpidio L. Quirino dated September 11, 1953. On October 2 of the same year, the first set of appointed Municipal officials was sworn into office. As a matter of historical significance, September 11 had been commemorated as the foundation day of the municipality. The municipality started to function as a fifth-class municipality.

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