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.
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Esperanza is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.
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| Former Mayors |
| - Esperidion Limson - 1971 |
| Mariano Carumba - 1978 |
| Romulo L. Latog, Sr. - 1982 |
| Roberto E. Examen 1986 |
| Jose A. Dequito 1987 |
| Romulo L. Latog, Sr. 1988 |
| Fernando L. Ploteña 1995 |
| Romulo L. Latog, Jr. 2001 |
| Helen T. Latog Present |
"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.
Esperanza celebrated the very first Hinabyog festival last November 2005. The word "Hinabyog" translates to the English word "Swayed". This resembles to the idea of a "Bamboo swing" or more likely to be a hammock made in bamboo wood, which are very popular in the place.
Hinabyog festival was celebrated by showing different kinds of Bamboo swing/hammock and showing the importance of it. The celebration is likely to be started by a parade of "Drum and Lyre Corps" from schools all over Esperanza. Parades of hired Kings and Queens of the festival is also entered. And the most important part of the celebration is the Hinabyog Dance competition.
The participants for the competitions must be performed by students from schools around the municipality. The Hinabyog Dance Competition is themed by tribal music and dance steps. It is also being referenced to the Bamboo hammocks which mainly being used as props for the dance. Music comes from a group of drummers which must also come from the school.
Unfortunately, in the first Hinabyog Dance Competition, only two schools have entered. The Notre Dame of Esperanza Inc. (NDEi) and The Esperanza National Highschool (ENHS). ENHS have entered three entries for the competition, while NDEi have only given one. Although the stakes are high for the NDEi entry to win, they still managed to win the competition. The winner of the competition is automatically entered for the "Kalimudan Festival" or "The Festival of All Festivals" held in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat to represent Esperanza and to compete against other municipalities. Which luckily, they have managed to win from and beating the 12 other competitors.
| Ampatuan, Maguindanao | ||||
| Lebak, Sultan Kudarat | Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat | |||
| Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat | ||||
| Isulan, Sultan Kudarat |
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