Midsayap

Midsayap, formally the Municipality of Midsayap, is a local government unit in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. It lies in southwestern Cotabato, near the Rio Grande de Mindanao, and is connected by national highways to Cotabato City, Kidapawan City, and the Midsayap–Makar route. The municipality is known for its agricultural economy, heterogeneous population, commercial activity, and the annual Halad sa Santo Niño Festival. The name is generally explained through a Maguindanaon expression combining “mid,” meaning center, and “sayap,” meaning straw hat. The interpretation refers to a centrally located hill whose form resembles a hat. Another local explanation describes a person wearing a straw hat. Before becoming an independent municipality, the area was associated with the districts and municipalities of Dulawan and Pikit. It was historically inhabited by Muslim communities connected with the lineage of Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat I, with an important sultanate seat at Libungan Torreta, now within Pigcawayan. Settlement patterns changed during the American and Commonwealth periods. In 1927, Philippine Constabulary officer First Lieutenant Catalino Javier encouraged migration from Luzon and the Visayas after observing the area's agricultural potential. Antonio Labasan of Zambales and other settler families established communities in areas including Salunayan and Bual. Visayan migrants from Pikit also settled in Bual. A movement to establish Midsayap as a separate political district developed in the 1930s, and Executive Order No. 66, dated November 25, 1936, created the municipality. Its inauguration took place on January 1, 1937, with Lorenzo Gonzales as the first appointed mayor. Juan Jaranilla became the first elected mayor in 1939. Midsayap subsequently became a source area and administrative predecessor for several nearby municipalities, including Pigcawayan, Libungan, Alamada, and Aleosan. Its territorial and demographic position changed again after the creation of the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area. Following the February 2019 plebiscite, thirteen barangays associated with Midsayap became part of the area administered through the Bangsamoro framework. In 2023–2024, legislation and plebiscite processes organized affected barangays into the new municipalities of Kadayangan and Nabalawag, reducing Midsayap's jurisdiction. Agriculture remains central to the local economy. Much of the lowland is suitable for irrigated rice and seasonal crops, while upland areas support permanent crops. Rice, corn, mango, coffee, coconut, banana, vegetables, and root crops are among the reported products. Other activities include livestock and poultry, ornamental plants and cut flowers, furniture and decorative crafts, telecommunications, and agricultural trading. The town functions as a commercial collection and exchange point for farmers from neighboring municipalities and is part of the proposed Cotabato City–Kidapawan City agri-industrial and ecotourism corridor. Midsayap is culturally diverse. Maguindanaon communities coexist with families whose origins lie in Luzon and the Visayas, and Cebuano and Tagalog are widely used alongside Maguindanaon, Iranun, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Manobo, and Waray. The annual Halad sa Santo Niño Festival, held around the town fiesta in January, combines religious observance, street dancing, and parade competition. Its participating groups have achieved national recognition through Aliwan Fiesta-related competitions. Midsayap therefore operates not as a commercial consumer brand but as a civic place identity associated with agriculture, migration, plural cultural traditions, and regional trade.

Midsayap's history combines older Maguindanaon settlement and sultanate traditions with twentieth-century migration and municipal formation. The area was historically inhabited by Muslim communities linked to Sultan Ali Bayao and the lineage of Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat I. Libungan Torreta, now part of Pigcawayan, served as a seat of the local sultanate. From 1912 to 1926, the area was administered within the districts associated with Dulawan and Pikit. A significant change began in 1927, when First Lieutenant Catalino Javier of the Philippine Constabulary promoted settlement and agricultural development. He invited migrants from Luzon and the Visayas, and Antonio Labasan of Zambales became an early settler associated with the development of Salunayan and Bual. Several related families settled alongside him. Visayan migrants from Pikit, including groups led by Gregorio Bingil, Julio Anito, and Tomas Cantoy, also established themselves in Bual. In 1930, Christian enlisted personnel stationed at Camp Ward advocated making Midsayap a separate political district. With support from provincial and military officials, the initiative resulted in Executive Order No. 66 of November 25, 1936. Midsayap was inaugurated as a municipality on January 1, 1937, with Lorenzo Gonzales as its first appointed mayor. Juan Jaranilla became the first elected mayor in 1939 and served until 1941. The new municipality initially contained 71 barangays, but its territory changed as neighboring municipalities were separated. Libungan was detached in 1936, and later municipal creations included Pigcawayan, Alamada, and Aleosan, the last in 1982. Midsayap nevertheless remained one of the largest settlements in North Cotabato and developed a reputation as a highly heterogeneous community, combining Maguindanaon residents with migrants and descendants of migrants from Luzon and the Visayas. Its administrative geography changed substantially after the 2019 plebiscite that created the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area. Thirteen barangays linked to Midsayap became part of that area. Subsequent Bangsamoro legislation in 2023 and ratification in 2024 established Kadayangan and Nabalawag from parts of the former geographic area, further reducing Midsayap's jurisdiction. The municipality is currently described as having 44 barangays in the cited reference, although historical and planning materials may describe different territorial configurations. Midsayap's economy is based principally on agriculture and trade. Clay soils and extensive lowland areas support irrigated rice, while corn, fruit, coconut, coffee, bananas, vegetables, and root crops are also produced. Wetlands along the Rio Grande de Mindanao support potential fishpond and recreation uses. Local secondary industries include livestock, poultry, ornamental horticulture, furniture, decorative crafts, and telecommunications. Because farmers from neighboring municipalities bring goods to Midsayap for sale or exchange, the town functions as a commercial and trading center for the wider area. The municipality's civic and cultural profile is expressed through the Halad sa Santo Niño Festival, a January celebration honoring Señor Santo Niño. Begun in 1988 through cooperation among the REACT Philippines Midsayap chapter and the Santo Niño Parish Pastoral Council, it developed into a recurring street-dancing and parade competition recognized by the Philippine Department of Tourism. The 1997 champion reached a national competition in Manila, while a 2003 champion won major Aliwan-related prizes. The festival remains an important public expression of Midsayap's religious, artistic, and community identity.

• 2024

  Creation of Kadayangan and Nabalawag

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  A plebiscite ratified the organization of new municipalities from parts of the former Special Geographic Area, changing Midsayap's administrative boundaries.

• 2019

  Partial inclusion in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  Thirteen barangays associated with Midsayap entered the Special Geographic Area after the February 6 plebiscite.

• 1988

  Halad sa Santo Niño Festival begins

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  The annual festival was initiated through local civic and parish cooperation.

• 1939

  First elected mayor takes office

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  Juan Jaranilla became the municipality's first elected mayor.

• 1937

  Municipal inauguration

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  Midsayap was inaugurated on January 1, with Lorenzo Gonzales as its first appointed mayor.

• 1936

  Midsayap constituted as a municipality

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  Executive Order No. 66 created Midsayap as a separate municipality on November 25.

• 1927

  Settlement promotion begins

  [1]Midsayapen.wikipedia.org

  Philippine Constabulary officer Catalino Javier encouraged migrants from Luzon and the Visayas to settle and develop agricultural areas around Midsayap.

A diverse agricultural municipality and regional trading center in Cotabato, with a civic identity shaped by Maguindanaon heritage, settler communities, farming, and the Halad sa Santo Niño Festival.

• Agriculture

  Agricultural produce

  Midsayap's principal economic output includes rice and corn, supplemented by mangoes, coffee, coconut, bananas, vegetables, and root crops. Lowland areas are associated with irrigated cultivation, while upland areas support permanent crops.

• Horticulture

  Ornamental plants and cut flowers

  Horticulture is among the municipality's reported secondary economic activities, including the cultivation and sale of cut flowers and ornamental plants.

• Manufacturing and crafts

  Furniture and decorative crafts

  Local enterprise includes furniture production and decorative craftwork, forming part of Midsayap's non-farm business base.

• 2003Halad participation in Aliwan events

  Philippines

  The Halad champion from Dado Alamada National High School represented Region XII in Manila competitions associated with the Visit Philippines 2003 program.

  Outcome. The group won the Aliwan Fiesta grand prize and later won the Pamaskong Aliwan Festival grand prize.

  Source
• 1988Halad sa Santo Niño Festival

  Midsayap · Cotabato · Mindanao

  A civic-religious festival centered on Señor Santo Niño, featuring street dancing and a parade competition. It was developed through cooperation between a local REACT Philippines chapter and the Santo Niño Parish Pastoral Council.

  Outcome. The event became an annual attraction and gained recognition beyond Midsayap through successful participating groups.

  Source

• 2024

  Ratification of new municipalities in the former Special Geographic AreaOther

  Background

  Bangsamoro legislation proposed new municipalities from the Special Geographic Area, including barangays formerly associated with Midsayap.

  Action taken

  A plebiscite held on April 13, 2024 ratified the organization of Kadayangan and Nabalawag.

  Aftermath

  The administrative boundaries of Midsayap were further defined after the transfer of the affected barangays.

  Source

• 2019

  Transfer of barangays to the Bangsamoro Special Geographic AreaOther

  Background

  A plebiscite on inclusion in the Bangsamoro framework produced an affirmative result for thirteen barangays associated with Midsayap.

  Action taken

  The barangays were placed within the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro region.

  Aftermath

  Midsayap's population, land area, and number of barangays were reduced, and the affected communities later participated in the formation of new municipalities.

  Source

• 1936

  Creation of Midsayap as an independent municipalityStrategy

  Background

  Local advocates sought to separate Midsayap from the administrative areas of Dulawan and Pikit as settlement and agricultural development expanded.

  Action taken

  The Philippine government issued Executive Order No. 66, formally creating Midsayap as a municipality.

  Aftermath

  The municipality was inaugurated in 1937 and became a long-term administrative and commercial center in Cotabato.

  Source

1. 1Midsayapen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Municipality of Midsayap official websitemidsayap-cotabatoprov.gov.ph