Dadiangas

Have you been to the southern part of Mindanao? Have you been to General Santos City? Well, Gen San is fondly called by its locals as Dadiangas, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. Gen San or Dadiangas is in between Sarangani Province and South Cotabato making the three big places known to be SOCSARGEN.

It’s been almost six months since we transferred in South Cotabato and Gen San is just half an hour to forty five minutes to reach through public transport but less than thirty minutes if you’re riding in your own car. I love the place from the very start though rumors’ spreading it is one of the hottest spots in the country. Well, we are NOT staying in the city, the Bible School I am attending is located in Gen San and one of my husband’s private offices is located in the area. We can be seen frequent in the place but we do not roam around because even if the fare for the motorcycles is only at 8 Php, drivers would still cram up to make the passenger pay double and sometimes up to four times the cost.

Anyway, Gen San has a lot to offer. Here are my top three choices:

I. Low cost of living. Why have I said this? You still can ask “malunggay” leaves & its fruits (the famous green leafy tree of the Filipinos) from people’s houses that have the plant foreshadowing their front gates and yards. You can buy fresh fish and sea foods at very low prices. Like the famous 'tuna panga', if you’re going to buy it straight from the fish port, you’ll get them at less than a 100 Php. If you prefer the local market, a kilo will cost 120-150 Php. A cup of seaweeds at 7-10 Php and a kilo of sea clams/shells (depends on sizes and kind) at 30-40 Php. Malasugue, Tangigue and Barilison at 120 to 200 per kilo (prices vary at times of high and low tides and natural calamities in the area of fishing).

      If I will compare, the cost of my family’s food when we were still in Davao, it ranges from 700-800 Php a week for wet market only, this includes fish, a portion of meat, spices, a few kilos of assorted fruits and vegetables. But here in our new nest and because of Gen San’s bounty access to the sea waters’ produce, only 500 Php goes straight to my bamboo basket every market day. And in this said amount, farm fresh eggs were already added.

      II. Location of Shopping and Entertainment Centers. The J. Catolico Street of Gen San has two of the oldest malls in the city – the Gaisano and the KCC. Hundreds of meters to the south from KCC Mall is where the one year old Robinsons Place takes pride. And just a matter of months from now, the largest SM City in Mindanao (upon built) at more than 8 hectares will open to cater the people of Gen San as well as its visitors. The soon to be newest mall of Gen San is just at the back land area of Gaisano.

      For low prices of goods, Gaisano is the best spot for a shopper who has a tight budget. But if you want products that carry good enough quality though a bit pricier, Robinsons then is the answer.    

      III. The people. Gen San people are very down to earth persons. I call them simple. Why have I said so? They can afford to go to malls without the killer-looks and seldom will you find one who over dresses. The rich ones plainly stroll wearing everyday clothes, I mean casual but not overdone. I guess this is because of the kind of living they adapt from the place itself – their sources of income and what the Mother of the City has on display, Hon. Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio – a very simple and small lady but a woman of bravery.

Dandiangas’ neighboring provinces’ (Sarangani and South Cotabato) crops and produce have a large contribution to Gen San’s improvement and livelihood. And Gen San also has a say for them. Give and take.