Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat

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Map of Sultan Kudarat showing the location of Esperanza

Esperanza is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 47,578 people in 9,598 households.

1 Barangays
2 History
- 2.1 Schools
3 Mayors
4 External links

[edit] Barangays

Esperanza is politically subdivided into 19 barangays.

Ala
Daladap
Dukay
Guiamalia
Ilian
Kangkong
Laguinding
Magsaysay
Margues
New Panay
Saliao

Numo
Paitan
Pamantingan
Poblacion
Sagasa
Salabaca
Saliao
Salumping
Villamor

[edit] History

"Esperanza" is a Spanish word meaning "hope". It is believed that the first baby born in the first settled area in the wildness of Dulawan was a baby girl whom the early settlers called Esperanza, with the anticipation that with the birth of child, the name alone could inspire the coming in of peace, unity and prosperity to the settlers.

In 1952, a group of Christian settlers established a settlement in Villamor within the then municipal district of Dulawan (presently known as barangay Villamor).

In 1953, motivated by the primary concern for the education of their children, the settlers petitioned the school authorities for a school at Barrio Villamor. And on the opening of that school year, the Villamor Primary School was opened. In the same year, purok leader Silverio Africa of Purok Esperanza initiated and requested a government survey for the proposed bario site of Esperanza with the expressed approval of Datu Into Saliao. The survey was officially known and identified as TS–310.

When the Cotabato–General Santos City National Highway was constructed. Esperanza became an independent barrio of Dulawan, Cotabato with Silverio Africa as the first "Barrio Lieutenant".

In 1956, Datu Into Saliao, a prominent Datu of the place has distributed lands to the people either by lease, share system and even donation to those close to him. By this philanthropic benevolence, people from all walks of life flocked to his barrio. Residential houses mushroomed around and that was the beginning of the programs of Esperanza.

Upon written petitioned of the residents, the municipality of Ampatuan was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 2509 which was enacted and approved into law without executive approval on June 21, 1959. Esperanza was created by virtue of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The place progressed rapidly because of its location and philanthropic act of prominent leader of the place named Datu Into Saliao who welcomed the immigrants to the area.

In 1995, Esperanza suffered losses in agricultural crops, implements, farm animals and houses other properties when Lake Maughan overflowed due to heavy rains.