Kibawe
Kibawe, Bukidnon:
Kibawe is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines. According to the Population Commission 2000 census data, it has a population density of 33,000 (+ / -) people in 6,413 households.
History / Origin :
In the early days of the American colonizing period, Kibawe was inhabited earlier by a tribe of Mamadas people. The Mamadas people are nomadic in nature and subsisted through hunting and forest products. They maintained small plots of corn, sweet potatoes (camote) and taro (gabi) near to their temporary shelters.
They practiced a feudal type of government and were responsible only to their datus who governed as their political chieftain, judge, religious leader and armed-forces chief. The most famous among the “datus” was Datu Mambantayao. Datu Mambantayao’s bravery and love for his subjects were unsurpassed and remained in the hearts and minds of the people to this day.
One of the historic events of his life as a datu was the capturing of a lady whom he loved. She was abducted by a tribe from Bugcaon, Malaybalay, Bukidnon, seventy kilometers away from Kibawe. Datu Mambantayao, along with his armed trained warriors marched to Bugcaon, which they attacked heavily, plundering and killing the Bugcaons’ chieftain for the recovery of the lady who he later got married. Datu Mambantayao named this place Kibawe from the word “Guibawe” meaning recovery.
Bukidnon was eventually converted as a separate province from Agusan. Kibawe became a barangay of Maramag. It now occupied the Southern portion of Bukidnon, bounded on the North by Maramag, on the South by Carmen, Cotabato, on the East by Magpet, Cotabato and on the West by Lanao del Sur. It covers the present areas of the municipality of Kibawe, Dangcagan, Damulog and Kadingilan and Kitaotao, with a land area of approximately 1,250 km².
Kibawe became a municipal district in 1931 and then became a full pledge municipality on July 1, 1956 under Executive Order 272 issued by the late President of the Philippines, President Carlos P. Garcia. Later on, Barangay Dangcagan convereted into a municipality.
The growth and development of the municipality began to bloat after the Second World War II, as influx of migrants from all over the country (mainly from Visayas and Mindanao), settled in the plains and valleys.
The original settlers of the town, the Manobos, have practically been replaced by the above mentioned lowlanders. To date, only a few Manobos remain in the interior barangays. In year 1972, the barangays of Damulog and Kadingilan were converted into separate municipalities. Thus, Kibawe retained the land area of 301.43 square kilometers. The Kibaweños of today are people of diverse ethnic origin including Cebuanos, Boholanos, Samariños, Leyteños, Sequijodnons, and Camiguingnon. From Luzon have come the Chinese, Ilongos, Manobos and from Mindanao, the Misamisnon. All are hardworking, friendly, peace-loving and law-abiding. Together, they work towards a common goal – the socio-economic advancement and alleviation of their lives as a whole.
Climate Condition :
The climate conditions of the entire municipality of Kibawe is pleasant and cool throughout the year. It is relatively dry from January to April and wet the rest of the year.
Kibawe is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.
* Balintawak
* Cagawasan
* East Kibawe (Pob.)
* Gutapol
* Pinamula
* Kiorao
* Kisawa
* Labuagon
* Magsaysay
* Marapangi
* Mascariñas
* Natulongan
* New Kidapawan
* Old Kibawe
* Romagooc
* Sampaguita
* Sanipon
* Spring
* Talahiron
* Tumaras
* West Kibawe (Pob.)
* Bukang Liwayway
* Palma
Official Seal of Kibawe:
Official Seal of Kibawe
Site Map of Kibawe :
Site Map of Kibawe