BARANGAY APOPONG PROFILE
General Santos City
Barangay Apopong is located in the Northwestern side of the City of General Santos along National Highway going to Marbel, Koronadal, South Cotabato (now Koronadal City) about five (5) kilometers away from the City. The word “Apopong” is a B’laan term, which means “Heart”.
In 1954, when General Santos City was still a Municipality of Buayan, Apopong was named as Sitio New Society of Barangay Sinawal still became a part till1974. The land area of Apopong is two thousand three hundred twenty-seven (2,327) hectares or 3.56 % of the total land area of the entire City and topographically characterized as plain and hilly parts. It comprises forty-one (47) Puroks lead by energetic Purok Chairmen and Purok Officials elected.
The first settlers in the area were the families of Alilaya, Ibad, Pragados, Hernandez, Lapong, Cabanit, Isidro and Villavende among others. In 1972, the settlers grouped themselves and formed an organization, which they call Muslim-Christian association. Mr. Melchor Legaspi and Sammy Akmad came out to be their President and Vice-President, respectively. This association served as a bridge of the residents to the local government during the term of the late Mayor Antonio C. Acharon. The said association through the Presi8dent, Mr. Melchor Legaspi initiated the separation of Sitio Apopong from Barangay Sinawal. On December 9, 1976, the Sangguniang Bayan favorably endorsed to the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos through the Department of Local Government and Community Development (DLGCD) through a Resolution No. 55-A, Series of 1976, and the proclamation of Apopong as a Barangay.
Due to the clamor of the populace, the District Supervisor, Mr. Jacobino J. Java issued a memorandum sometime in 1981 to Mrs. Perla Sol J. Amboy, one of the teachers in Dadiangas West Elementary School through the order of the Schools Superintendent, Mrs. Leonor Peñalosa, to open a primary school in the area and accept enrollees in Grade I& II pupils and find ways and means where to hold classes for the enrollees.
Few days after, a temporary school was erected through the help of the residents led by our Barangay Captain Delia G. Rabanes, formerly a Purok President during that time, and Classes in Grade II & II started in June 1981 with 91 pupils in Grade I and 32 in Grade II. Miss Erlinda Ani was the first teacher in the said school.
It was only in August 24, 1982 when Minister Jose A. Roño of the Ministry of Local Government, in his letter addressed to Mr. Pablo Mano-og Solis of Apopong, extended his recognition for the existence of Barangay Apopong in General Santos City. In his letter, he also approved that the Barangay may now be organized through the election of Barangay Officials.
On September 21, 1983, the local government conducted a Barangay Election during the time of the late Mayor Antonio C. Acharon. The first elected Barangay Captain was Mr. Guillermo Gorgoya and the elected Barangay Kagawads were the following: Mr. Kayser Lu, Mr. Baluno Ibad, Mr. Godofredo Pelayo, Mr. Manuel Rufila, Mr. Primo Bodino, Mr. Peter Ongayo, Mr. Alfredo Cardiño and Mr. Quintin Saraspe.
On May 15, 1985, Mr. Guillermo Gorgoya, the Barangay Captain was advised by the City Mayor to tender his resignation for unknown reason and Mr. Baluno Ibad, the number 2 Kagawad took his post.
On May 7, 1983, Mr. Antonio David donated 12,500 square meters of lot and 10,000 square meters of lot was purchased from him by the school through the negotiation of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTCA) through its President, Delia G. Rabanes in the amount of P40, 000.00 payable within a period of two (2) years. Here in this lot where the permanent school building was constructed.
After the EDSA Revolution in 1986 when Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino took over the presidency from the Presidency from the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, all the public officials were appointed by the local government and they assumed duties and responsibilities as OICs. Mrs. Delia G. Rabanes was appointed as OIC Barangay Captain in Barangay Apopong through the recommendation of OIC City Mayor Dominador A. Lagare and other OIC Barangay Kagawads were as follows: Mr. Antonio Javing, Mr. Emilio Peng, Mr. Peter Adorable, Mr. Rodolfo Cabalfin,Mr. Mamerto Ayuste, Mr. Nazario Fermil and Vilma Akiatan, in replacement of the late Kagawad Victor Aserios, SK Chairman, Ms. Sanima Climaco and Mrs. Erlinda A. Pico as Barangay Secretary and Treasurer.
In August 1988, Ex-City Councilor Mr. Ciriaco A. Cornelio Sr. donated 2,000 square metrs of his lot at the western side of New Society Elementary School in favor of the Barangay government where to construct a Barangay Hall and other public buildings. This deed of donation came to exist due to the good hands extended by the OIC City Mayor Dominador A. Lagare and Barangay Captain Delia G. Rabanes.
On March 28, 1989 during the time of Mayor Rosalita T. Nuñez, a Barangay Election was held and another set of officials was elected for the term of six (6) years. The following Barangay Officials were: Mr. Baluno Ibad, Mr. Antonio Javing, Mr. Richard Francisco, Mr. Guillermo Gorgoya, Mrs. Clavel Jalandoni and Mr. Rolando Lazo and Mrs. Juanita Paje as Barangay Secretaryand Leticia Enero as Barangay Treasurer.
In 1994 Barangay Election, the following elected officials were as follows: Delia G. Rabanes, Barangay Captain and Barangay Kagawads were: Mr. Rogelio Enero, Antonio Javing, Mr. Greg Saliganan, Mr. Elino Gazo, Mrs. Teodora L. Vacaro, Mrs. Azucena E. Bayani,and Mr. Ricardo Omega; the SK Chairman was Ms. Jennifer Hernandez; Mrs. Amelia Madrediños as Barangay Secretary and the Barangay Treasurer was Mrs. Leticia Enero.
In 1997 Barangay Election, the following elected Barangay Officials were as follows: Delia G. Rabanes, the Barangay Captain and the Barangay Kagawads were as follows: Baluno M. Ibad, Calixto F. Carreon, Helen S. Javier, Milagros L. Gazo, Teodora L. Vacaro, Azucena E. Bayani, Juliet G. Halawig, and the SK Chairman is Rowena E. Besan in resignation of former SK Chairman Edward R. Lapong, Erlinda A. Pico, the Barangay Secretary and Quirico R. Calunsag Jr. as Barangay Treasurer.
On July 15, 2002 Barangay Election, the following were elected Barangay Officials: Barangay Captain, Delia G. Rabanes and Barangay Kagawads as follows: Helen S. Javier, Teodora L. Vacaro, Juliet G. Halawig, Calixto F. Carreon, Leonora C. Arana, Ponciano G. Maramara, Roger R. Lambot and the SK Chairman Lou Bernadette C. Dulay, Orfin B. Bello, the Barangay Secretary and Quirico R. Calunsag Jr., the Barangay Treasurer.
On October 29, 2007 Barangay Election, the following were elected as Barangay Officials: Barangay Captain, Rogelio D. Pacquiao and the Barangay Kagawads are as follows: Calixto F. Carreon, Lou Bernadette C. Dulay, Roger R. Lambot, Leonora C. Arana, Ponciano G. Maramara, Helen S. Javier, Juliet G. Halawig, and the SK Chairperson is Jane R. Calunsag, Orfin B. Bello, the Barangay Secretary and Grace G. Atienza as Barangay Treasurer.
Barangay Apopong has a total population of forty-two thousand nine hundred forty-six (42,946) with seven thousand seven hundred seventy (7,770) households for CY 2009, distributed in forty seven (49) puroks. Ethnic/Tribal groups consist of B’laan, Cebuano, Ilocano, Illonggo, Muslim and Tagalog and speak their own native dialects or languages.
