Isulan

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Capital of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines

title: "Isulan" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-sultan-kudarat", "provincial-capitals-of-the-philippines", "political-divisions-established-by-philippine-executive-order"] description: "Capital of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines" topic_path: "geography/philippines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isulan" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Capital of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
image_skylineIsulan roundabout.jpg
image_captionIsulan Roundabout
image_flagFlag_of_Isulan,_Sultan_Kudarat.png
flag_size120x80px
image_sealSeal_of_the_Municipality_of_Isulan_in_Sultan_Kudarat_Province,_Philippines.png
seal_size100x80px
image_map
map_caption
pushpin_mapPhilippines
pushpin_label_positionleft
pushpin_map_captionLocation within the
mapframeyes
coordinates
settlement_type
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_namePhilippines
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1
subdivision_type2Province
subdivision_name2
official_name
etymology
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nicknameOil Palm Capital of the Philippines
mottoSulong Bagong Isulan, Aarangkada!
subdivision_type3District
subdivision_name3
established_titleFounded
established_dateAugust 30, 1957
parts_typeBarangays
parts_stylepara
p1(see Barangays)
leader_titleMayor
leader_namePrincess Rihan Mangudadatu Sakaluran
leader_title1Vice Mayor
leader_name1Atty. Arnold H. Armada
leader_title2Representative
leader_name2Ruth M. Sakaluran
leader_title3Municipal Council
leader_name3{{PH Town Council
extra
1Carlo F. Apiado
2Moises B. Dolar
3Alfonso S. Demasuay
4Darlene H. Lama
5Marvin L. Dalanon
6Ana Fe M. Collado
7Janice Joy P. Dollete
8Jay R G. Dizon
leader_title4Electorate
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elevation_min_m50
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population_density_km2auto
population_blank1_titleHouseholds
population_blank1
population_demonymIsulanen
Isulanon
timezonePST
utc_offset+8
postal_code_typeZIP code
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website
demographics_type1Economy
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demographics1_info2% ()
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demographics1_title10Liabilities
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demographics_type2Service provider
demographics2_title1Electricity
demographics2_info1
demographics2_title2Water
demographics2_title3Telecommunications
demographics2_title4Cable TV
blank_name_sec1
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blank1_name_sec1Native languages
blank1_info_sec1
blank2_name_sec1Crime index
blank1_name_sec2Major religions
blank2_name_sec2Feast date
blank3_name_sec2Catholic diocese
blank4_name_sec2Patron saint
::

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| demographics1_title6 = Assets rank | demographics1_info6 = | demographics1_title7 = IRA | demographics1_info7 = | demographics1_title8 = IRA rank | demographics1_info8 = | demographics1_title9 = Expenditure | demographics1_info9 =
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Isulan, officially the Municipality of Isulan (; , Jawi: ايڠد نو اسولن; ), is a municipality and capital of the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 101,455 people.

Etymology

The Christian settlers would have preferred to decide the name of their new town by referendum. However, Datu Kudanding Camsa, both revered and feared, had decided it by himself.

Datu Kudanding Camsa had reacted to the history of local battles way back in the early. Until 19th century when a sultanate in the adjacent town of Maganoy under Sultan Utto with a vast army decided to attack a small municipality located in the area now encompassed by the new entity under the leadership of Sultan rajahmuda Mopak. Outnumbered with the ratio of 20:1, Sultan Mopak on a white horse decided to do battle with his men notwithstanding the odds.

The battle cry of Sultan Kudarat was the uttering of the word, "Isu-silan" which means "They are there, advance". This intrepid, although suicidal show of force and determination, so impressed by Utto, that in order to save lives on both sides, he decided to resolve the issue by negotiation, thus placing Kudarat and his principality under his protectorate of Utto, Isulan municipality derived its name from "Isu-silan" which means "Progress".

History

The present territories of Isulan formerly belonged to the municipalities of Koronadal and Dulawan. The municipality of Koronadal was created under E.O. No. 82 dated August 8, 1947 by Pres. Manuel L. Roxas.

On March 10, 1953, the municipality of Norala was created by virtue of E.O.NO.572, whose territorial jurisdiction was taken from the municipality of Koronadal.

Datu Kudanding Camsa in the latter part of 1956 initiated the creation of another municipality to be taken from the Municipality of Norala.

On March 20, 1957, Engr. Jose M. Ancheta of the Bureau of Public Highways of Cotabato made its first endorsement to the provincial board and laid down the proposed boundaries of the new municipality.

Acting on this report, the provincial board of Cotabato thru Resolution No. 316 series of 1957, petitioned the President of the Philippines to create the proposed municipality.

Executive Order No. 266, pursuant to section 68 of the Administrative Code, issued and signed by the then President Carlos P. Garcia on August 30, 1957, creating the municipality of Isulan, whose territorial jurisdiction was taken from the municipality of Norala, South Cotabato, and Dulawan, Cotabato.

With the creation of the municipality of Isulan, Kalawag became the seat of its government. The municipal government officially functioned on September 12, 1957, with the appointment of its municipal mayor Datu Suma Ampatuan who served until 1967.

The Kalawag Settlement

In 1951, the Board of Directors of the Land Settlement and Development Cooperation (LASEDECO) started the opening of a settlement in an area formerly under the jurisdiction of the National Land Settlement Association (NLSA) as a reservation.

The LASEDECO had surveyed and parceled out home and farm lots and constructed municipal and barrio roads and installed electrical light generators. It had brought-in hundreds of farm tractors which uprooted big trees, cleared obstruction, planned, cleaned and harrowed the wide stretches of the area. What was once a marshy and wild expanse inhabited by snakes, crocodiles, wild cattle, swine, and deer had welcomed the first sprout of seedlings of corn and rice, thus blanketed the horizon in endless green.

When a group of 72 World War II Veterans, led by Venancio Magbanua, Post Commander of Norala had come and settled in the area, on September 7, 1950, a Kalawag root crop used as food coloring was found out abundantly growing.

Then, the early settlers decided to call and register the settlement as "Kalawag Settlement District of LASEDECO". The area comprising the town site covers approximately 400 hectares.

Immigrants from Visayas and Luzon had now come in shiploads. The most numerous batch was the "PACSA" group headed by Pedro Gabriel and Bienvenido Pamintuan otherwise known as the "Presidential Assistance Commission on Social Amelioration of the President Ramon Magsaysay. His group consisted of the erstwhile and rebellious surrenderees belonging to HUKBALAHAPs from Pampanga.

On June 21, 1969, President Marcos, signed R.A. No. 5960, creating the municipality of Bagumbayan which cost Isulan more than 85% of its original land area. But of the original land area of 336,000 hectares, only 49,551 hectares were left and the 48 barrios were reduced to 17.

Upon the passage of H.B. No. 5020 dividing the province of Cotabato, the Municipal Council of Isulan passed Resolution No. 17 dated May 31, 1972, requesting Congressman Salipada K. Pendatun and Gov. Carlos B. Cajelo that Isulan be made a capital town.

On November 22, 1973, P.D. No. 341 was issued dividing Cotabato provinces, namely; Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and North Cotabato. At the same time, Isulan, which is in the center of the new province, was made its capital.

Geography

Isulan is centrally located and is accessible to all neighboring towns not only within the province of Sultan Kudarat but also in some municipalities of the province of Maguindanao del Sur, South Cotabato and Davao del Sur. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Esperanza, north-east by the municipality of Lambayong; on the east by Tacurong; on the south by the municipalities of Bagumbayan and Senator Ninoy Aquino; and on the southeast by the municipalities of Norala and Santo Niño; and on the west by the municipalities of Lebak and Kalamansig. It has a total land area of 54125 ha.

Barangays

Isulan is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Bambad
  • Bual
  • D'Lotilla
  • Dansuli (Poblacion)
  • Impao
  • Kalawag I (Poblacion)
  • Kalawag II (Poblacion)
  • Kalawag III (Poblacion)
  • Kenram (Poblacion)
  • Kolambog
  • Kudanding
  • Lagandang
  • Laguilayan
  • Mapantig
  • New Pangasinan
  • Sampao
  • Tayugo

Climate

| location = Isulan, Sultan Kudarat | width = auto | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 31 | Jan low C = 23 | Feb high C = 31 | Feb low C = 23 | Mar high C = 31 | Mar low C = 23 | Apr high C = 32 | Apr low C = 24 | May high C = 30 | May low C = 24 | Jun high C = 29 | Jun low C = 24 | Jul high C = 29 | Jul low C = 24 | Aug high C = 29 | Aug low C = 24 | Sep high C = 30 | Sep low C = 24 | Oct high C = 30 | Oct low C = 24 | Nov high C = 30 | Nov low C = 24 | Dec high C = 30 | Dec low C = 23 | Jan precipitation mm = 64 | Feb precipitation mm = 45 | Mar precipitation mm = 59 | Apr precipitation mm = 71 | May precipitation mm = 140 | Jun precipitation mm = 179 | Jul precipitation mm = 192 | Aug precipitation mm = 198 | Sep precipitation mm = 163 | Oct precipitation mm = 147 | Nov precipitation mm = 113 | Dec precipitation mm = 66 | Jan rain days = 12.2 | Feb rain days = 10.3 | Mar rain days = 12.7 | Apr rain days = 15.7 | May rain days = 26.0 | Jun rain days = 27.4 | Jul rain days = 28.1 | Aug rain days = 28.2 | Sep rain days = 26.0 | Oct rain days = 26.7 | Nov rain days = 22.9 | Dec rain days = 16.6 | source 1 = Meteoblue | url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/isulan_philippines_1710470 | title = Isulan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall | publisher = Meteoblue | access-date = 15 May 2020 }} | date = 15 May 2020

Demographics

| align= none | title= Population census of | 1903 = | 1918 = | 1939 = | 1948 = | 1960 = | 1970 = | 1975 = | 1980 = | 1990 = | 1995 = | 2000 = | 2007 = | 2010 = | 2015 = | 2020 = | 2024 = | 2030 = | footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Languages

Hiligaynon is the predominantly spoken language in the municipality, with the bulk of Isulan's population predominantly consisting of descendants of settlers who came from the Hiligaynon-speaking parts of the Visayas, namely the islands of Panay and Negros Occidental. Maguindanaon is a native language spoken in Isulan, while other languages spoken in the municipality are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Karay-a, Kapampangan, Chavacano, Pangasinan, Waray and others.

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/CityMall_Isulan.jpg" caption="CityMall Isulan facade"] ::

Isulan has various department stores and a mall, the list below contains the current malls and the future shopping centers in Isulan.

  • CityMall Isulan - owned by Double Dragon Properties and SM investment, opened on December 18, 2018.
  • MGM Shopping Plaza - one of the biggest shopping centers operating in Isulan.
  • Isulan Central Plaza - first department store and one of the oldest in Isulan. Opened in the late 1990s.
  • Novo Shirts and Jeans - acquired the old Licon Cinema Building
  • New Valencia Dry Good Store and Gen. Mdse. - offers ready-to-wear and grocery.

Transportation

The municipality has an integrated terminal with buses, vans and jeepneys going to various areas of Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Davao Region.

Bus companies include:

Culture

Festival

Every month of August 30, the municipality of Isulan conducts the Hamungaya Festival to celebrate its foundation. Isulanons believe that the wealth of arts and culture is expressed in many forms and in so many kinds. The festival showcases skills and talents in literary, musical and cultural aspects of the constituents both young and old.

The Hamungaya also depicts the thanksgiving festival of its residents who are mostly engaged in agriculture. This includes rice and corn farming, vegetables and crops production including the famous African palm which has contributed a lot to the utilization of its by-products as construction materials – the uniquely woven "kalakat" known all over Mindanao.

The festival is divided into two parts: the first part shows the different activities being done in the farm. After which a thanksgiving is performed for their good harvest. The second part shows the merrymaking in the form of dance using different properties and materials that make it very festive. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Hamungaya_Festival.jpg" caption="The Hamungaya Festival is a significant cultural celebration in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, held every August to coincide with the municipality's founding anniversary."] ::

As a whole, the Hamungaya Festival actually expresses life itself or deep-seated emotion communicated by the emotions of the human body blending with the music. The flow of body movements, the sound of the music and the grace with which the dance is executed all build up the story or emotions being communicated.

No doubt, this is a unique form of art, and along with other activities or talent being displayed during festivities, it is a contribution to the dreams of establishing solidarity among the peoples in the province of Sultan Kudarat.

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Sultan_Kudarat_Provincial_Capitol.jpg" caption="Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol"] ::

  • Lagandang Hot Spring/Sulphur Spring
  • Kamanga Cave and Falls
  • Daguma Mountain range
  • Landmark of the Royalty
  • Narra Eco Park
  • Stallion Farm
  • Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Narra_Eco_Park.jpg" caption="Narra Eco Park"] ::

Healthcare

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Sultan_Kudarat_Provincial_Hospital.jpg" caption="Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital"] ::

  • Isulan Doctor's Specialist Center
  • Holy Nazarene Clinic and Hospital
  • Galinto Family Hospital
  • Matias Hospital
  • Retirado Clinic and Hospital
  • St. Dominic Savio General Hospital Inc.
  • Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital

Education

;Privately run academic schools

  • Green Valley College Foundation, Inc. (Isulan Campus)
  • Montessori Learning Center
  • The Notre Dame of Isulan, Inc.
  • Isulan Community School.
  • Precious Ones Learning Center
  • King's College of Isulan

;Government-run schools East Isulan District elementary school

  • Kalawag Central Elementary School
  • Kalawag III Elementary School Central Isulan District elementary schools
  • Isulan Central School SPED Center
  • Don Juan P. Garcia Memorial Elementary School
  • Dansuli Elementary School
  • Impao Elementary School
  • Datu Talipasan Memorial Elementary School
  • Mapantig Elementary School South Isulan District elementary schools
  • Bambad Central School
  • Kolambog Elementary School
  • Kudanding Elementary School West Isulan District elementary schools
  • Laguilayan Central School
  • Kamanga Elementary School
  • New Egana Elementary School
  • D. Lotilla Elementary School
  • Tayugo Elementary School
  • New Pangasinan Elementary School
  • Datu Anok O. Galmak Elementary School
  • Lagandang Elementary School
  • Mantisao Elementary School Public secondary schools
  • Isulan National High School
  • Bambad National High School
  • Laguilayan National High School
  • New Pangasinan High School

;Government-owned tertiary institution

References

References

  1. "2019 Election Results:Isulan, Sultan Kudarat". GMA News.
  2. {{DILG detail
  3. (1 September 2025). "Go joins Isulan’s 68th founding anniversary, 12th Hamungaya Festival". Philippine Daily Tribune.
  4. "Schools in Isulan".
  5. "Sultan Kudarat State University Isulan Campus".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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