General Santos City: Then and Now

Considered as one of the Mindanao Growth Triangle by a top economist, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City was once a booming municipality hosting few of the country’s biggest industries at that time.

Considered as one of the Mindanao Growth Triangle by a top economist, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City was once a booming municipality hosting few of the country’s biggest industries at that time.

On July 8, 1968, the Municipality of General Santos was converted into a city upon the approval of Republic Act No. 5412, authored by Congressman James L. Chiongbian. It was inaugurated on September 5 of that year, with Antonio C. Acharon became the new city's first mayor.

But before it soared fervently towards becoming a highly-urbanized city in 1988, General Santos City experienced a population boom. Here are throwback photos of the Tuna Capital of the Philippines during the 70s.

Photo grabbed from @kurutorenming Twitter account HERE.

Photo credit to the owner

The first throwback photo above is the city’s Pioneer Avenue, which palm trees and beautiful landscape will make it considered as the city’s “Ayala Avenue”. Before mid-rise buildings fell in line in this beautiful street, this area was one a plain, empty land, just like Ayala Avenue before if you saw its own throwback photo.

Photo grabbed from @kurutorenming Twitter account HERE.

That one above is General Santos City’s old city hall which is now located at the back of the current one.

Photo grabbed from @kurutorenming Twitter account HERE.

Photo credit to the owner.

Today, General Santos City is already one of the three major urban areas in Mindanao that serves as economic magnet. It has quickly became SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s shopping capital, and it is currently entering the condominium age as Vista Land launched its vertical-residential project in the city.

The throwback photos are grabbed from @kurutorenming Twitter account HERE.