Mention the word “tuna” and Gen. Santos City easily comes into mind because of its rich bodies of waters which has been the breeding ground of tastiest tuna which has ticked the palate of the world.

So, when the city created a festivity in 1999 to showcase its rich aquatic resource and booming economy, it cannot be anything other than one that pays tribute to its well-loved tuna.

This colorful fete takes place once more as Gen. Santos City with the “Tuna Festival” from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5 to mark the city’s 43rd charter anniversary.

The two-week affair will strengthen the city’s claim to being “Tuna Capital of the Philippines” with an assortment of sports tournaments, entertainment and celebrity shows, and special interest events.

The locus of the merry-making is on Sept. 5 which will see a multi-colored parade of floats and dancers with tuna-inspired theme regalia.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said that this year’s festivity bears the theme “Exploring New Depths, Conquering New Challenges,” which will focus on the city’s other potentials such as ecotourism and trade and commerce.

She said that there’s more to tuna in GenSan, and it should go beyond that tag which has become synonymous to the city.

A brand slogan the city wants to develop is “Gensan Beyond the Bay: From the Metropolis to the Hills” because of its God-endowed wonders which are rarely known to tourists.

These are the Sansapan Cave Falls, Nopol Hills which overlooks the city and adjoining areas, and the Kalajah Karst which is being developed by the Department of Tourism to be one of the country’s best ecoparks.

Meanwhile, historic spots worth-seeing are the World War II Japanese bunkers, Gen. Paulino Santos Museum, and the MSU Museum.

Custodio added that GenSan is also being promoted as “Land of the Champions” being the hometown of eight-time world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and 2011 Binibining Pilipinas Universe Chamcey Supsup, among others.

Formerly known as Dadiangas town, the city was named after Gen. Paulino Santos of Tarlac who started a resettlement project for the landless upon the instruction of then President Manuel L. Quezon. It was converted into a city on September 5, 1968.

Lying at the head of the Sarangani Bay, the city is the commercial and transport hub of SoCCSKSarGen growth region composed of South Cotabato, Cotabato. Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Gen. Santos City or Region 12 (South Central Mindanao).

As early as 1970, the city has been regarded as the tuna capital because its daily catch can surpass the tuna yield of all the fish ports in the country combined. The city is host to the General Santos City Fish Port Complex and six world-class canning factories which employs thousands of plant workers.

The city is a three-time awardee by the Asian Institute of Management for the “Most Competitive City” from 1999 to 2001, and was named “Most Business-Friendly City” by the World Bank and international aid agencies.

It is also a grand prize winner in the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) in 2004 because of the city government’s “green policies”.
Visit www.gensantos.gov.ph for details or like them on Facebook (Tuna Festival 2011 and Magandang GenSan).

Photos courtesy of Department of Tourism Region 12