Padada, Davao del Sur

Padada, Davao del Sur
Padada Valley
Municipality of Padada Davao del Sur
—  Municipality  —
[[File:|(3,488 × 2,616 pixels, file size: 2.46 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)|none|alt=|Skyline of Padada, Davao del Sur]]
Country Philippines
Region XI
Province Davao del Sur
Districts District of Davao del Sur
Barangays 17 Barangays
Government
 • Mayor Hon. Pedro Fuentes-Caminero
 • Vice Mayor Morales
Population
 • Total 25,127
 • Rank 19
  August 1, 2007
Time zone PST
ZIP code 8007
Area code(s) 12411001-112411017
Website http://www.padada.com/links.htm

Padada is a 4th class municipality in the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 24,112 people in 5,202 households. Its boundaries were defined by Republic Act No. 1008, approved June 12, 1954.[1]

Contents

History

Padada as a town was organized on July 15, 1949, after its creation into such by virtue of Executive Order # 236 of the late Elpidio Quirino, then president of the Republic of the Philippines. The territorial jurisdiction of Padada originally embraced the present town of Sta. Maria, Malalag and Sulop in the south, Kiblawan in the west, Hagonoy in the north, and part of Matanao in the northwest with the seat of government in the barrio of Limonso which is now the Padada Poblacion. Thus, the old one street barrio of Limonso is the harbinger of the popular town of Padada. For it came to pass that in 1946 after the proclamation of the Philippine Republic, hordes of home seekers mostly Filipino veterans of the second world war headed by the late Major Froilan Mascardo Matas, settled the area called Padada Valley occupying several repossessed Japanese Plantation in the vicinity. With the influx of numerous migrants of all walks of life, Limonso as the center of trade, bustled into a teeming commercial community, attracting businessmen from neighboring towns and provinces. With cock-fighting and various games and amusements held and conducted regularly and patronized by countless aficionados, Limonso rose into a stature highly qualified to become a separate municipality. As early as January 1949, the various documents and blue print for the creation of Padada Town were prepared meticously and readied for submittal to the ruling Liberal Party of the late Pres. Quirino for consideration and adoption, finally securing its approval through Executive Order No. 236, dated July 1, 1949.

Mr. Antonio Go Pace was the first mayor by appointment who was erstwhile a councilor of Sta. Cruz. The creation of Limonso now Padada into a municipality and the subdivision of the poblacion into commercial and residential districts was attributed to him. Gregorio Matas was the first elected mayor and held the position for three consecutive terms with Mr. Felix Brandares as Vice Mayor and in which the municipal building was possible thru his effort. Atty. Isidro M. Ordaneza succeeded the former and holds the longest tenure of office—16 years from 1963 and re-elected again in 1967 and 1971 until March 1979.. Padada ABC gymnasium was built during his term.

¹However, in the process of re-organization of certain local governments by Pre. Ferdinand E. Marcos, then Vice-Mayor Benjamin A. Saragena was designated Acting Mayor of Padada, assuming office on March 19, 1979. In the 1980 local elections, Acting Mayor Saragena was duly elected Mayor with Dra. Pascuala Dizon as vice-Mayor and his entire Sangguniang Bayan ticket was swept into office.

After the People Power in EDSA, Hon. Corazon C. Aquino appointed Atty. Carmelo R. De Los Cientos III as OIC of this Municipality and assumes the office with Hon. Elpedio R. Pantojan as OIC Vice-Mayor and 8 OIC Sangguniang Banyan.

Prior to the 1988 local elections, all OIC Municipal Officials we made to resign during the campaign period from December 1987 to February 1988. It was on this short period of time that another OIC ruled the municipality. OIC Mayor Leonardo U. Pillerin and Vice Mayor Margarito Mendez were installed from December 1987 to February 1988, together with the 8 OIC S.B. members. In the 1998 local election, former Mayor Benjamin A. Saragena won the election of Mayor and Hon. Antonio N. Razonable as the Vice-Mayor.

His stint however was cut short with the election of Vice Mayor Antonio N. Razonable as Mayor in 2001 election. In his first 3-year term he rose the stature of the LGU by making it the third cleanest and greenest municipality in the year 2003 (up from 13th) and become a recipient of the "Kaagapay Zeal of Excellence" in local governance in 2004, one of the twenty municipalities in the entire country who received the award. Hon. Razonable had completed the three-term service as Mayor of Padada from 2001-2010.

The May 10, 2010 synchronize elections had created an abrupt change in the history of electoral process in the nation because of the use of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine. It was also a historical moment in Padada and specially an exciting election to the winning candidates where they, for the first time experience a modern electoral system.

The 2010 elections pave the way to Hon. Pedro F. Caminero Jr, a vice mayor for three-terms during the administration of Hon. Razonable, to reign the local government of Padada as the new Mayor. He is accompanied by Hon. Alexander V. Morales as his vice Mayor and partner in the local governance. The two have been officials of Padada for several years and learning from their experience, they probably have much knowledge on the LGU and the people they are going to lead.

Municipal profile

Padada is a word which refers to a tree that belongs to the mangrove family which were abundant along its entire quite shorelines and estuaries during the primeval time, but due to encroachment and indiscriminate fish farming, Padada tree become extinct.

Guihing was once the original sitio of Padada and its formation was brought about by Mr. Walstrom, an American expatriate who owns a vast coconut plantation in the area called the Mindanao Estate Co., together with the effort of Don Bartolome Hernandez Sr., a coconut planter and a pioneer of the area too.

Description

PADADA is formed in physical geography as part of the province of Davao del Sur lying between 125 degrees 20’ east longitude and 6 degree 28’ 44’ north latitude. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Hagonoy, on the west by the municipality of Kiblawan, on the south by the municipalities of Sulop and Malalag and on the east by the Davao gulf. The Poblacion is approximately fourteen (14) kilometers from Digos, the capital town of Davao del Sur.

Land Area

The total land area of the municipality is 4,754 hectares, 65% of which is planted to coconut and 35% to banana, corn, rice and other crops. It has three urban barangays namely, NCO, Almendras and Quirino that totals to one hundred eighty one hectares. Four of the remaining fourteen barangays are located along the coastal portion and the other on the internal area. Two (2%) of the total provincial land area is what constitute the municipality of Padada.

Climate

Hot and humid most of the year. May–November is Typhoon season. The mean annual temperature of the municipality is between 22.4 - 31.5°C. The annual rainfall range from 1,500 to 2,500 mm. The coldest part of the year is usually during the month of December to February and the hottest month are April and May. Rainfall distribution is more or less even during the year.

Economy

Padada is basically an agricultural area where coconuts abound and to which copra is the main produce, maize comes to second as the important crops that is grown including bananas and cassava. Other crops include sugarcane, mangoes and papayas. Livestock on farms include chickens, goats and hogs.

Marine fishing is an important industry. Barangays along the coastal portion are mostly converted into fishponds that yields bangus (milkfish) and shrimp. The Poblacion serves as the economic and the business center.

Nature's Scene

Piape Hills

It is a 65-hectare site, 4.5 kilometers east of Poblacion Padada facing Davao Gulf. Known as the crocodile mountain for when viewed above it look like a sleeping crocodile resting in the shore of Padada. It is being identified as the Provincial Jamboree Site and an Agro-forest area of the municipality. The hill is covered with shrubs, trees and rocks. It is planted with trees since 1972, as an environmental concern of the people of Padada. It can be reached by 10–15 minutes hiking from the foot of the hill.

Piape Reef

A coral reef with an area of more or less four (4) hectares located within the municipal fish sanctuary. The whole area is covered with a variety of corals and 10-12 depth fathom blue clear water use to be the breeding ground of variety of species of marine life. The area will submerge during high tide and is visible during low tide. It is one of the best take off point of scuba divers and a scuba diving destination in the south. It is estimated to be nine (9) kilometers from the Poblacion and only around five (5) kilometers from the Piape shoreline. It is accessible by all type of land transportation from Poblacion Padada to barangay Piape and by boat or motorized banca from Piape to the reef. A prelude to Piape coral reef is a sandy reef locally known as Pasig which will also submerge during high tide but is only ½ hectare in area surrounded with a knee-length muddy water not conducive to swimming and diving.

Piape Marine Sanctuary

It is located adjacent to Piape Reef facing Piape Hills. It is 4.5 Km. East of Poblacion facing Davao Gulf and can be reached on a motorized boat in 5–7 minutes. It has an area of 50 hectares surrounded with buoys from BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Philippines)) for its protection and identification. It is a breeding ground of 50-60 species of marine life.

Language/Dialect

English, Pilipino, Chinese, Cebuano is the mother tongue spoken by 68.82% of the total population. Other dialects spoken in the area are; B´laan, 6.40%; Bagobo 2.88%; Hiligaynon (Ilongo) 1.70%; Manobo 6.72%; Ilocano 1.22% and Tagacaolos 8. 36 %

English and Filipino [formerly spelled Pilipino], which is based on Tagalog, is the official language. About 95 percent of the population speaks Visaya. English is widely and commonly used for educational, governmental, and commercial purposes.

Population

Based on National Statistical Coordination Board (http://www.joeant.com/DIR/info/get/20897/106763), the total population is 25,127 as of August 1, 2007 and the registered voters is 17,655 as of 2009. ( Source: NSCB )

Religion

Majority of the population are Roman Catholics [17,907], a few are Muslims and Protestants.

Churches

St. Michael Parish Padada

As early as 1848 the Spanish missionaries set foot on Davao. Fr. Francisco Lopez from the Augustinian Recollects together with Don Jose Oyanguren came to establish a Christian settlement after defeating local chieftain, Datu Bago. The following years, the Jesuits took over the apostolic responsibility from the Recollects. Instrumental to the evangelization and expansion of the Davao church were missionaries like Fr. Quirico More, Mateo Gisbert, Pablo Pastells and Saturnino Urius. The entire Mindanao area was under the Diocese of Cebu since1595, until some parts were placed under the jurisdiction of Jaro in 1865. On April 10, 1910 the Diocese of Zamboanga was created and took all ecclesiastical territories in Mindanao away from Cebu. Then, on January 20, 1933 Pope Pius XI created Cagayan de Oro as second diocese in Mindanao. During this time Mindanao was divided into two dioceses, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro.

In 1934 because of the scarce number of missionaries and since Davao has only eight Jesuits administering it, Bishop Luis del Rosario of Zamboanga sought for foreign help and one of those who responded was the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec or popularly known as P.M.E. Fathers or La Société des Missions-Étrangères (in French: Pretres de Missions-Étrangères,). In 1937, the first P.M.E. Fathers who arrive here in Davao were Fr. Clovis Rondeau, Omer Leblanc, Leo Lamy, Conrad Cote, and Msgr. Clovis Thibault who was the main proponent of establishing the Parish of Padada. After the first five P.M.E. Fathers, many others followed. On December 17, 1949 Davao became the Prelature Nullius to which Clovis Thibault was appointed as administrator.

On June 29, 1951 Pope, Plus XI elevated Cagayan de Oro to an archdiocese together with Jaro. The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro became the first archdiocese in Mindanao. It had as its suffragans all the dioceses and prelatures then in Mindanao: Surigao, Cotabato, Sulu, Davao, Ozamiz, and Zamboanga which had been its mother diocese. It became an archdiocese seven years ahead of its mother diocese, Zamboanga.

And on December 31, 1954, Clovis Thibault, P.M.E. was appointed as Prelate and on February 11, 1955 he was ordained as Bishop. When Davao was later elevated into a Diocese, Bishop Thibault was canonically instituted as its ruling Bishop on July 11, 1966.

On the account of Fr. Paul Gravel, P.M.E. in his 25th Padada Parish anniversary message dated May 1, 1977 he recalls of the establishment of the Parish. It started with the proposal of Msgr. Clovis Thibault during the Parish fiesta of Digos on the 22nd of August 1952. On the following month September 7, together with his close friend Diosdado Ypil they ventured the new undertaking. They were welcomed by the people of Padada in the person of Mayor Gregorio Matas, Bonifacio Semilla the president of Catholic Association and many others who were supportive of the said plan.

Christians during this time must have been excited upon hearing the news. Given that Sta. Cruz was long before became a parish in 1941 and Digos in 1948, to some degree Padada reached the appropriate moment to become a parish. At that moment Padada had only a chapel situated near the highway, standing near the bread fruit or locally known as ‘kamansi’ (Artocarpus altilis) that is within the vicinity and residence of a certain Rodem. Right after that day they repaired the old chapel and afterward moved it in the residence of the Yap Family which is the location of the church at present. They effectively did it in three weeks time before their fiesta with the help of the people. They called the project ‘Tagbo’ (encounter). We could not be certain whether they dismantled it piece by piece or carried the entire structure all the way to its new place like what we Filipinos usually do in bayanihan which greatly witness our spirit of communal unity and effort. It was an enormous undertaking that they informed and sought help from leaders like Mr. Ronda of Hagonoy, Mr. Pascual, Diel and Calumpong of Malalag, and other places like Pawa, Kiblawan, Tanwalang, and Santa Maria. There were hundreds of them including the tribal minorities of B’laans of Maragaa and the Tagacaolos of Malalag shared their earnest involvement of the said project. On September 29 that year, Fr. Gravel celebrated the annual fiesta of St. Michael the archangel in the new site. They completed the initial stage that sets another milestone in the lives of the people in Padada. After the fiesta, the same spirit of enthusiasm and solidarity continued to intensify as they started to plan the construction of a bigger church. Finally, on July 6, 1953, they laid the foundation of the structure. Again, the structure that was planned needed help from the affiliated communities. It was a protracted effort to finish the main and internal structure of the church that they continually relied on the financial aid from few of the wealthy families of the neighboring municipalities and the masons who volunteered their service.

Fr. Gravel was the first and said to be the longest assigned priest of Padada. Ambiguously he was remembered serving the parish for ten years. The parish records show that there had been a great deal of assistance coming from the P.M.E.’s who took the role as Parish priests, but probably he stayed a little longer. Even at present his persona endured in the memories of the people as the driving force who laid the foundations of their dream.

Iglesia Ni Cristo,Padada

Mormons,Padada

Schools

Padada Central Elementary School

St. Michael's School of Padada

Mission Statement: "Saint Michael's School of Padada"

Saint Michael's School of Padada is a Filipino Catholic Institution directed by the Presentation of Mary Sisters who guided by foundress blessed Anne Marie Rivier, have the mission to teach to proclaim, to make Jesus Christ known and love through the teaching of religion and the integration of faith in all subject areas, provision for daily living of the faith within the school campus.

As a Catholic School, it aims to develop the students in all aspects of his personality, physical, intellectual, cultural, emotional, moral and spiritual according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

As a Filipino School, it aims to inculcate love of country, duties of citizenship, and sincere appreciation of cultural heritage.

Mission Statement: "Sisters of the Presentation of Mary"

To know Jesus Christ in the gospel, to live Jesus Christ in his Mysteries, to reveal and to teach Jesus Christ by our whole life; such is our vocation as Sisters of the Presentation of Mary Gathered because of Jesus Christ to keep his Word, share his Body and help one another to live the Gospel, we form in the Holy Spirit a community of adoration, of fraternal and apostolic life.

Jesus Christ calls us to share in the teaching mission of the church especially by the Christian Education Of The Youth. Daring to be prophetic, we adapt ourselves constantly to the ever-new needs of evangelization and to apostolic endeavors that allow the proclamation of the Word.

In fidelity to the charism of our foundress Anne-Marie Rivier and in accordance with the signs of the times, we strive to actualize her burning love of God, her unfailing confidence in the Virgin Mary, her boundless and tender charity for the poor.We attempt, to serve with the simplicity, the zeal and faith characteristic of our origins.

All for God, all through holy love is the motto that expresses the absolute dedication of our consecrated life.

Southeastern College

Carmelo C. Delos Cientos Sr. National Trade School

Local Transport

Padada transport terminal is at the center of the town,where, all the major businesses,commercial establishments and public market are situated.Jeepneys and buses are used widely for major routes. Mostly Tricycles in the poblacion and in neighboring barangays. Bikes are used for leisure and sporting events.

Barangays

Padada is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.

Name of Barangays Code Urban/Rural Population (as of Aug.1,2007)
1. Almendras (Pob.) 112411001 Urban 4196
2. Don Sergio Osmena, Sr. 112411002 Rural 647
3. Harada Butai 112411003 Rural 1452
4. Lower Katipunan 112411004 Rural 686
5. Lower Limonzo 112411005 Rural 1030
6. Lower Malinao 112411006 Rural 1033
7. N C Ordaneza District (Pob.) 112411007 Urban 2332
8. Northern Paligue 112411008 Rural 1703
9. Palili 112411009 Rural 1054
10. Piape 112411010 Rural 1429
11. Punta Piape 112411011 Rural 1118
12. Quirino District (Pob.) 112411012 Urban 1831
13. San Isidro 112411013 Rural 1366
14. Southern Paligue 112411014 Rural 1329
15. Tulugan 112411015 Rural 845
16. Upper Limonzo 112411016 Rural 1934
17. Upper Malinao 112411017 Rural 1142

References

External links