Tagum begins to trace its history

TAGUM CITY - For the first time in recent years, representatives of the ten tribes of the Indigenous and Muslim communities who are culturally considered as the original settlers of Tagum, met with the representatives of the pioneering migrants from the islands of Luzon, Cebu, Bohol and Leyte who settled in Tagum between the 1920s to 1940s for an academic discourse regarding the history of the locality.

Dubbed as the Kagikan Colloquium, the activity which was part of the 5-in-1 celebrations leading to the 20th Araw ng Tagum, was conducted as an initial step in informing Tagumenyos of the city’s true history, including those of the people who molded the place into becoming progressive and developed.

Through the March 1, 2018- colloquium which featured the 3-time Palanca Gold Awardee and National Book Awardee, Dr. Macario Tiu, as the guest speaker, the City Government of Tagum, in coordination with the City Historical, Cultural and Arts Council, was able to apprise the participants about the story of Datu Lubama who killed the Spanish Military Governor General, Jose Pinzon in 1861 at Bincungan as a means of throwing out the encroaching Spanish forces.

The council presented evidences that indicate Tagum as the original name of the locality before it was converted into a municipal district over a hundred years ago, or on March 1917, by virtue of Act 2711 or the Revised Administrative Code of the Philippine Islands.

They also informed the gathered participants of the activity of the intention to change the name of the river that was formed with the confluence of the Liboganon and Saug rivers at Barangay Pagsabangan back to Tagum River especially because numerous documents point to the fact that it is the old name of the body of water that is known now as Tagum-Liboganon Rive.

The colloquium was participated in by the Kagan, Tausug, Maranao, Iranun, Maguindanao, Mansaka, Dibabawon, Mandaya, Kalagan, and Ata-Manobo who are the original settlers of Tagum, as well as the representatives of each of the families who are considered as the pioneering migrant settlers of Tagum City.

Also present during the event were the city officials and the different department heads of the LGU whose interest in the history of Tagum was piqued enough to join the group. (Richi Gulle/ CIO – Tagum)

Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon welcomes the participants to the Kagikan Colloquium, a one-day event organized by the City Government of Tagum to discuss the history of Tagum City. Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

Dr. Macario Tiu, a renowned Davao Historian presently connected at the Ateneo de Davao University, was the main speaker during the Kagikan Colloquium, a one-day event organized by the City Government of Tagum to discuss the history of Tagum City. Leo...

Louie Bryan Lapat of the City Information Office discussed about the history of Tagum and the pioneering migrant settlers of the city during the Kagikan Colloquium, a one-day event organized by the City Government of Tagum to discuss the history of...