Sulop, Davao del Sur

Sulop is a third class municipality in the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 32,163 people.

Sulop is part of Region XI and is about 17 kilometres (11 mi) from Digos City, the seat of the provincial government of Davao del Sur. The municipality is located halfway between two major growth centers of Mindanao, namely, Davao City of Region XI and General Santos City of Region XII.

Barangays

Sulop is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.

History

In the early part of the 19th century, a wave of immigrants from the Visayas Region, mostly from Cebu, came to Sulop which was still a barangays under the Municipality of Padada, Davao del Sur. Settlers from Leyte, Iloilo and Bohol also arrived during the century. They acquired lands from the natives known as Tagacaolo, B’laans and Bagobos who were the early inhabitants of the place.

Davao del Sur

Davao del Sur (Filipino: Timog Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, the new province of Davao Occidental to the south and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf.

History

The beginnings of both Davao Region and Davao del Sur was associated with that of the foundation of Davao, which was the first town to be founded in southern Mindanao in 1848, following the conquest of the area by Don Jose Uyanguren of Guipúzcoa, Spain. In 1849, Nueva Guipúzcoa province was founded in the region conquered by Uyanguren in what is now Davao Region, with Davao, then called Nueva Vergara, as the provincial capital. Don Uyanguren, became the provincial governor, but failed in his efforts to develop the areas he conquered.

Just thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, the town of Sta. Cruz was founded on the 5th day of October, 1884. It is the first town to be founded south of Davao and is now the oldest in the province.