Tulunan

Tulunan, officially the Municipality of Tulunan (Lungsod sa Tulunan; Banwa sang Tulunan; Inged nu Tulunan, Jawi: ايڠايد نو تولونن; Bayan ng Tulunan), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,978 people.

History
The name "Tulunan" originates from the Maguindanaon term "tulun," signifying "a place of abundance" or "where grace falls." Initially, the area was inhabited by Muslim tribes in the lowlands, while nomadic groups like the B'laans and Bagobos resided in the hills and mountains. The governance system followed datuism, with Datu Enok considered the inaugural ruling datu.

During Datu Enok's reign, the community flourished, benefiting from plentiful harvests from their kaingin. This prosperity led to the adoption of the name "Tulunan," reflecting the abundance and grace bestowed upon the area, as indicated by the Muslim term "tulun."

Initially, the population consisted of small nomadic groups reliant on hunting, but contact with other groups led to improvements in their way of life. With the introduction of Islam by Sharif Kabungsuwan in the 14th century, the influence of religion reached Tulunan through settlers who identified as Maguindanaon. However, minority groups such as Bagobos and B’laans occupied the eastern highlands.

Sultan Solaiman was a prominent Muslim leader, succeeded by Datu Mangko Ambag and his advisors like Dappil Tuden, Kasan Kandugon, and Datu Parangan, who settled in the lowlands near rivers, engaging in kaingins and fishing.

Datu Dempon emerged as a notable leader of the B’laans, leading to clashes with the Maguindanaons that disrupted peace and order. However, peace was restored through the marriage of Datu Mangko to a B’laan woman, leading to the subjugation of the B’laans under Datu Mangko's leadership, strengthening the Muslim group.

In the early part of 1956, a group of leaders led by Datu Udtog Matalam petitioned for Tulunan's separation from its mother municipality, M’lang, but faced opposition. Another effort led by the "BIG FIVE" group, composed of Datu Dabpil Tuden, Arsenio Villamor Sr., Juan Jinen, Mauro Quibrantar, and Jose Ordenia, succeeded in achieving independence for Tulunan.

Establishment
Tulunan is one of the granddaughter municipalities of Kidapawan. After the Second World War, in 1947, the municipal district of Kidapawan was converted into a municipality, with merging of then forested M'lang-Tulunan area. This was due to the closeness of the Manobo with the Maguindanaons, along with the increase of Ilonggo settlers with relatives in the municipal districts into a then-mostly Maguindanaon territory.

It was formed by virtue of Executive Order No. 441, signed on August 6, 1961, by President Carlos P. Garcia, upon the separation of 28 barrios and sitios of M'lang in the then-undivided Cotabato; with the seat of government at the Barrio Tulunan.

With the establishment of M'lang and Tulunan, Kidapawan's direct access to the Ligawasan Marsh was cut off.

The initial appointed officials included Datu Ibrahim Paglas Jr. as the municipal mayor, Arsenio Villamor Sr. as the vice mayor, and councilors Datu Mangko Ambag, Roberto Jover Sr., Benito Cabello, and Datu Diadel Kamag, with Antonio Caballero serving as the first Municipal Secretary.

Six months before the 1963 election, Datu Ibrahim Paglas Jr. resigned as the municipal mayor to pursue his candidacy for Municipal Mayor of Buluan. Consequently, Vice Mayor Arsenio Villamor Sr. succeeded him, becoming the first Christian Mayor of Tulunan.

In the 1963 election, Godofredo Laluyan emerged as the first elected Mayor of Tulunan. However, the political landscape shifted in the 1967 election, favoring Mayor Conrado Lemana, who served until 1980. In the 1980 election, the people's confidence was placed in the incumbent Municipal Mayor Josue Faustino, who diligently implements various government programs with wisdom.

During Marcos presidency
In early 1983, the municipality was among the eleven in the province, along with other provinces in central Mindanao, where most families suffered food shortage due to the long drought.

On April 11, 1985, Italian Roman Catholic priest Tullio Favali of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, the town's parish priest, was killed by an armed paramilitary group led by Norberto Manero Jr. in Barangay La Esperanza. The case was among a few under the Marcos presidency that successfully prosecuted; in 1987, Manero, convicted of murder and arson, was sentenced to reclusión perpetua since death penalty had been suspended earlier. Manero later became controversial for his freedom from jail, both by presidential pardon and by escape, and was eventually released in 2008.

Contemporary
Galidan was the sole barangay in the municipality to request inclusion in the Bangsamoro, established under Republic Act No. 11054 after replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Nonetheless, it was one of four barangays in the province that opted out during the February 6, 2019 plebiscite.

Geography
Tulunan is located in southern Cotabato Province, 31 kilometers (19 mi) from Kidapawan City, the provincial capital. It is bordered by M'lang to the north, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur to the south, Liguasan Marsh to the west, Makilala to the northeast, and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur to the east.

Barangays
Tulunan is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate
Tulunan experiences a climate characterized by relatively even distribution throughout the year and rainfall ranging from 60 mm to 215 mm, with an average annual rainfall of 115.04 mm. The dry season typically occurs in January, February, March, and December, while the remaining months see occasional rains. January and December are generally the coldest months, with an average temperature of 28.25 degrees Celsius. Prevailing winds come during the wet/rainy season. Despite being outside the typhoon belt and protected by small mountains, Tulunan may still experience heavy rains, leading to the overflowing of rivers like Malasila, Tulunan, and Bual. These occurrences, particularly in August and September, result in severe flooding hazards in barangays Damawato, Bual, Popoyon, Tambac, Bagumbayan, Minapan, and Dungos, affecting approximately 1,200 hectares or 3.43% of the total area. Such climatic conditions adversely affect agricultural productivity in these barangays, as floods can unexpectedly destroy crops, often resulting in losses ranging from 50% to 100%.

Demographics
In the 2020 census, Tulunan, Cotabato's population was 60,978, with a density of 180/km² or 470/mi².

Economy
Agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, upland rice, legumes, scallions, root vegetables, tobacco, rubber, assorted vegetables, sorghum, and coconuts.

Notable personalities

 * Mary Jean Lastimosa - actress, model, and Miss Universe Philippines 2014, reaching the Top 10 in Miss Universe 2014.