Kitaotao

Kitaotao, Bukidnon :

Kitaotao is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines. According to the Population Commission 2000 census data, it has a population density of 26,073 people in 5,194 households.

History :

During the Spanish colonizing period, a Manobo Tribe in Bukidnon, headed by Datu Tayaotao, was known among its neighboring settlement areas for his bravery and leadership. When the Spanish soldiers invaded Cotabato, in one of their drives to expand their colonial control over the Philippines, Datu Tayaotao was called upon for help by a Datu Muslim. The combined forces of the Muslims and Manobo successfully repulsed the Spanish invasion.

A feast was declared by the Muslim chief to honor and thank Datu Tayaotao and his men. During the feast, the Muslim chief offered his only daughter to Datu Tayaotao to be his wife, as reward and bond, to strengthen the relationship between the two tribes.

The wedding took place at Datu Tayaotao’s community,  followed by a three-day feast. The Muslim Datu, overwhelmed by the joviality and abundance of the celebration, proclaimed and called Datu Tayaotao as Datu Kitaotao, the “Chief of the Land of Wealth”. After his death, the locality was named after Datu Kitaotao.

Transformation into a Municipality :

Kitaotao was once part of the district of Maramag. The creation of Kibawe in 1956 as a new district reclassified Kitaotao as part of Kibawe. After the World War II, municipalities were created from the existing district and some settlement areas. In 1961, President Carlos P. Garcia issued Executive Order No. 444 for the creation of the municipality.

Under the sponsorship of Bukidnon Congressman Benjamin Tabios, House Bill No. 1655 was passed by Congress and approved by President Ferdinand E. Marcos as Republic Act No. 4801 for the creation of Kitaotao into a municipality on June 16, 1966. Its first political election was held in November 1967, electing Eusebio B. Pabualan as Kitaotao’s first municipal mayor. At present, Kitaotao is composed of 35 barangays and 108 sitios, with an approximate area of 52, 512 hectares.

Official Seal of Kitaotao :

 

Site Map :

 

 

:/con tour