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Esperanza | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Esperanza | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Jawi | اسڤيرنس |
 Municipal Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map of Sultan Kudarat with Esperanza highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Esperanza | |
.svg)  Esperanza Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:6°43′20″N124°31′12″E / 6.722175°N 124.520114°E /6.722175; 124.520114 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Soccsksargen |
| Province | Sultan Kudarat |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | November 22, 1973 |
| Barangays | 19 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Charles Federic R. Ploteña |
| • Vice Mayor | Lalaine Villaruel-Suhanda |
| • Representative | Horacio P. Suansing Jr. |
| • Electorate | 46,667 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 324.29 km2 (125.21 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 54 m (177 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 237 m (778 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 31 m (102 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 73,822 |
| • Density | 227.64/km2 (589.59/sq mi) |
| • Households | 19,309 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 29.43 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 363.2 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 1,405 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 72.4 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 653.9 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 9806 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)64 |
| Native languages | Hiligaynon Maguindanao Tagalog Tiruray |
| Website | www |
Esperanza, officially theMunicipality of Esperanza (Hiligaynon:Banwa sang Esperanza;Maguindanaon:Inged nu Ispiransa,Jawi: ايڠد نو اسڤيرنس);Tagalog:Bayan ng Esperanza, is amunicipality in theprovince ofSultan Kudarat,Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 74,696 people.[5]
"Esperanza" is a Spanish word meaning "hope". It is believed that the first baby born in the first settled area in the wildness of Dulawan was a baby girl whom the early settlers called Esperanza, with the anticipation that with the birth of child, the name alone could inspire the coming in of peace, unity and prosperity to the settlers.
In 1952, a group ofChristian settlers established a settlement in Villamor within the then municipal district of Dulawan (presently known as barangay Villamor).
In 1953, motivated by the primary concern for the education of their children, the settlers petitioned the school authorities for a school at Barrio Villamor. And on the opening of that school year, the Villamor Primary School started. In the same year, purok leader Silverio Africa of Purok Esperanza initiated and requested a government survey for the proposed bario site of Esperanza with the expressed approval of Datu Into Saliao. The survey was officially known and identified as TS–310.
When the Cotabato–General Santos City National Highway was constructed. Esperanza became an independent barrio of Dulawan, Cotabato with Silverio Africa as the first "Barrio Lieutenant".
In 1956, Datu Into Saliao, a prominent Datu of the place has distributed lands to the people either by lease, share system and even donation to those close to him. By this philanthropic benevolence, people from all walks of life flocked to his barrio. Residential houses mushroomed around and that was the beginning of the programs of Esperanza.
Upon written petition of the residents, the municipality ofAmpatuan was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 2509 which was enacted and approved into law without executive approval on June 21, 1959. Esperanza was created by virtue of PresidentFerdinand E. Marcos. The place progressed rapidly because of its location and philanthropic act of prominent leader of the place named Datu Into Saliao who welcomed the immigrants to the area.
In 1995, Esperanza suffered losses in agricultural crops, implements, farm animals and houses other properties whenLake Maughan overflowed due to heavy rains.
The municipality of Esperanza was transferred from Cotabato Province to Province ofSultan Kudarat on November 22, 1973, by presidential decree 341 of PresidentFerdinand E. Marcos.[6]
Esperanza is politically subdivided into 19barangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks while some havesitios.
| Climate data for Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (74) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 64 (2.5) | 45 (1.8) | 59 (2.3) | 71 (2.8) | 140 (5.5) | 179 (7.0) | 192 (7.6) | 198 (7.8) | 163 (6.4) | 147 (5.8) | 113 (4.4) | 66 (2.6) | 1,437 (56.5) |
| Average rainy days | 12.2 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 15.7 | 26.0 | 27.4 | 28.1 | 28.2 | 26.0 | 26.7 | 22.9 | 16.6 | 252.8 |
| Source: Meteoblue[7] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 18,711 | — |
| 1980 | 28,149 | +8.51% |
| 1990 | 35,585 | +2.37% |
| 1995 | 43,374 | +3.78% |
| 2000 | 47,578 | +2.00% |
| 2007 | 52,731 | +1.43% |
| 2010 | 63,207 | +6.82% |
| 2015 | 66,095 | +0.85% |
| 2020 | 74,696 | +2.61% |
| 2024 | 73,822 | −0.28% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12] | ||
Maguindanaon andTeduray is the indigenous ethnic groups of the municipality, while theHiligaynon (Ilonggo) are settlers originally fromIloilo inVisayas.
Poverty incidence of Esperanza
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Esperanza celebrated the very first Hinabyog festival in November 2005. The word "Hinabyog" translates to theEnglish word "swayed". This resembles to the idea of a "Bamboo swing" or more likely to be ahammock made inbamboo wood, which are very popular in the place.
Hinabyog festival was celebrated by showing different kinds of Bamboo swing/hammock and showing the importance of it. The celebration is likely to be started by a parade of "Drum and Lyre Corps" from schools all over Esperanza. Parades of hired Kings and Queens of the festival is also entered. And the most important part of the celebration is the Hinabyog Dance competition.
The participants for the competitions must be performed by students from schools around the municipality. The Hinabyog Dance Competition is themed by tribal music and dance steps. It is also being referenced to the Bamboo hammocks which mainly being used as props for the dance. Music comes from a group of drummers which must also come from the school.
Unfortunately, in the first Hinabyog Dance Competition, only two schools have entered. The Notre Dame of Esperanza Inc. (NDEi) and The Esperanza National Highschool (ENHS). ENHS have entered three entries for the competition, while NDEi have only given one. Although the stakes are high for the NDEi entry to win, they still managed to win the competition. The winner of the competition is automatically entered for the "Kalimudan Festival" or "The Festival of All Festivals" held inIsulan, Sultan Kudarat, to represent Esperanza and to compete against other municipalities. Which luckily, they have managed to win from and beating the 12 other competitors.
Places adjacent to Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat | |
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