General Santos, my city
Early in 1980’s I started living in General Santos City. I started my secondary school years there. Everything was new to me even though I used to go with my mom shopping there almost every week for our sari-sari store in the province. Back then to go to GenSan it took a half day for us to travel only one way. The road from where we caught the jeepney to GenSan was really bad. Big potholes all over the road.
General Santos City used to be called Dadiangas back the old days until late 80’s. Now its GenSan or General Santos City or GSC. Population is around 600,000.
General Santos City Beauties
In the early 90’s while I was living in the States, I noticed that there were some new festivals that GenSan celebrated. One was the Kalilangan Festival, it was an annual festival in the City, being held the last week of February every year. The festival showcases different tribes around the area. You can see lots of the native people with their colorful costumes, they will also be dancing and using their native musical instruments. There is also a competition for best costumes and best dancing. I really like to watch them dance with their costumes. There are also a lot of booths selling different kinds of stuff. Even the native people are also selling a lot of the crafts they made. Its a fun festival.
The other big Festival was the Tuna Festival. As you may know, GenSan is the tuna capital of the Philippines. The tuna from GenSan is exported to Japan, USA & some other countries. When we used to live in GenSan we were invited by a friend to attend one of the events of the festival called the Fishfest sa Fishport. My goodness you will eat all the tuna you want. Sashimi, Panga, Kinilaw, Sushi, Tinola and many more. Everywhere you look there was a big tuna on every table. They were so good because they were fresh, just caught. Really they have lots of activities during the Tuna Festival. There is Sashimi night, Tuna culinary competition, Miss GenSan, Tuna Float competition, Tuna Fest Badminton and many more. I can’t remember if its Tuna Festival or Kalilangan that they will have a Street Dancing. They will close some parts of the main road in the City and everyone is welcome to join the dancing. They have a lot of entertainers from Manila and the GenSan born actresses and actors mostly will come home for the festivals.
Nowadays, a lot of malls are under construction in GSC. SM is scheduled to be opened in 2011. They are already preparing the land. Another Mall is getting ready to be open in a few months, Robinson’s Mall. It’s going to be the biggest Robinson mall in Mindanao. If I remember shopping at Robinson in Manila its a high end mall. So its good that they are building one in GenSan. In the late 80’s Gaisano opened a mall in GenSan. Four years ago they renovated the Gaisano mall and made it bigger and nicer. The KCC mall used to be small to. The management built a new and bigger after the old one burned down in 2002. The KCC now looks great and way bigger than the old one with good parking lot too.
So many hotels were built there too. The high end one is the East Asia Royale Hotel. I think its around P3000 per night, although sometimes you can get promo rates too. You can also find and stay at a cheaper hotel there too with good and clean place. Like Sydney Hotel, Dolores Hotel, I think its less than P2000 per night. When Bob and I went to GenSan a few months ago we stayed in a pretty good hotel. The hotel’s name Jovinaj Traveler’s Inn. We paid P800 a night. We liked the place. It was comfortable and we had a good night sleep. It’s kind of a quiet because its secluded and far from the traffic. If you really want it to be so peaceful and quiet stay at the Isla Parilla Resort in Ladul, Alabel. They have good food at the restaurant there, and affordable too. Price is just P1800 per night. The cottages are in the stilts, sitting right above the water. You can see the fish swimming when you go out on the patio. You can hear them flopping in the water too. I’m really at peace there. You can also go fishing, although I’m not sure how much they charge for that these days. They also have swimming pool for big people and the kids. They are also owned by Sydney Hotel in the City.
Isla Parilla Resort near General Santos
When it comes to restaurants, GenSan has a lot now too. Most of the hotels there have a restaurant also. A few months ago Bob and I went to Grab a Crab restaurant. It has Chinese and Filipino cuisine. I like the ambiance. They had good food also. The price is reasonable. There are lots of small restaurants and also carenderia if you really want to eat cheaply. They also have a lot of nice and comfortable cafes there and most have free wifi. I’ve been to some of them and I am really impressed. If you want to eat while enjoying the view go to Sarangani Highlands. Good food with a reasonable price. I’m really in awe of the view there, overlooking beautiful Sarangani Bay.
For a family to have fun go to the Tropicana Beach resort. Pay the entrance fee per head. You can bring food and drinks, just rent the cottage I think around 500pesos. Go to some beaches around the bay, diving around Sarangani bay, play and stroll in the Dadiangas Park, go to the Durian Garden near Polomolok, sight seeing at the Dole pineapple plantation, tasting lot of fruits, see the ECPC building near the Capitol building in Alabel.
GenSan has a lot of bank branches from Manila. Plenty of ATM machines there. Bank of Philippine Island (BPI) [Some of their BPI machines you can take out up to 20k in one transaction], Banco De Oro (BDO), Land Bank, Philippine National Bank (PNB), Asian Bank and many more.
I think renting a house in GenSan is much cheaper compared here in Davao. When we lived there before we rented a really nice house for just P11k per month. Last time I was there I saw some apartments being built. A lot of subdivision selling houses or land right now there too. Some were cheap, some are not that cheap. Tuna or any fish in GenSan are cheaper compared to other areas. Like when I went to visit my sister, my brother-in-law bought tuna and pirit (looks like small tuna) in other places it would already be P120 or more per kilo, in GenSan its just P80 per kilo. I was really shocked. Some other fruits are cheaper there too. Of course the asparagus is way cheaper in GenSan than the rest of the Philippines.
I’ve lived a number of years in GenSan and never heard that we were hit by a typhoon, because GenSan is far south of the Typhoon Belt. I can say that GSC is pretty safe on the bad weather. Not bad on the traffic too, right now anyway. I hope it stays that way. Big and nice airport too, which was built by the US Government. Twice daily flights to Manila, everyday to Cebu. A few a week to some other areas in the Philippines. Airlines are Philippine Airlines 747s and A340’s to handle the huge amount of tuna exports going abroad, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Zest Air.
GenSan is now really so different from when I used to lived there. Now there are so many malls. Lots of other businesses are there too. Like cafes, convenience stores, hardware stores, churches [Catholic and others], car dealers [Ford, Mitsubishi, Kia, Toyota], schools [elementary, high school & college private & public], restaurants, hotels, hospitals [Doctor's hospital, Socsargen, Baptist], franchise businesses. The road now in the city and around the bay is really good too, also built by the American Government. I saw now that the convenience stores are open 24/7. Other businesses close late at night now too.
Honestly I am happy to see the city that I love really has improved for the best. As you know a lot of my family still lives in GenSan and Sarangani Province. I love to visit my city. How about you?
I hope you guys will have the time to visit my city.
GO GENERALS or GENSANITES!
Cheers!
Hi Feyma – GSC will definitely be on our list of places to visit. While I’m not partial to highly developed cities(with many malls built or being built) I’m sure GenSan will offer a little provincial flavoring to its city-style lifestyle.
btw, you didn’t mention which of the three “General Santos City Beauties” was you!
Wow! nice promo for GenSan! We live in a barrio between GenSan and Polomolok; or we will again in about two months. I am excited to visit the Isla Parilla Resort when we have time. It looks nice. I have been teasing Marie that now that we will have five malls it will be like a full time job for her to visit one each day and take the weekend off. I really like the size of GenSan. It is nice that there does not seem to be a wild nightlife. I am from a small college town in Arkansas so GenSan is a fairly close match. We wish you luck with your search for a new place. I suspect that you might be rooting for GenSan.
Thanks for the nice article Feyma. I will be visiting Gen San in September to visit my girlfriend who lives there. You gave me a list of things I can ask her to take me to see.
Great city, Feyma. Btw, the girls there appear more beautiful than Bogo City. Can you top these lovely pictured filipinas Rusty?
Thanks again!
Hi Feyma, Gensan does seem like a great place and one I can tell is close to your heart! I’ve seen the tuna festival on the travel channel, and it looked fun–there was a parade and a lot of people had cool tuna shaped costumes, and the tuna really looked fresh and tasty. I hope you didn’t mind me teasing you about choosing Cebu for your future place to settle. I know that you have Cebu connections and I just couldn’t help myself! ha ha It’s just that you guys seem nice and it would be fun to be “island neighbors”. Just a suggestion now…
These WHERE I LIVE articles are driving me nuts. So many beautiful places. Is the first pic actually a beach in GS? These are the kind of places we visit while cruising on Imagine. We just can’t get enough of them. Then we take the local buses into town, and explore the town, or city. Thanks to all the contributors for so much useful information……i2f….John
Hi Feyma, good to hear about General Santos in more detail like this. Hope you’re feeling well now, and avoiding stuff with aspartame in it !!
Feyma: Nice article. I’ve stayed at both the Sydney and East Asia in GenSan… I prefer East Asia, though Sydney is located sort of in the middle of everything. The rooftop bar at Sydney is really good too.
I generally liked GenSan. Clean and tidy little city. Rebecca absolutely loved the main palengke there… The variety and quality of fruit was really good. (Afterwards, the manager at East Asia caught us smuggling her durian back to the room).The tuna vendors near the airport will package up the tuna in styrofoam containers for you to take home… No melting and ready to check as luggage (Bought 5 kg last trip… Top sashini grade loin)
maayongbuntag feyma
ahh very nice article here about gensan.my wifes family was living there awhile before they reloacted to panabo.
very informative.
salamat feyma
Feyma,
Nice city of Gensan, i can’t wait to shop for some tuna when we move there. It’s my favorite fish. I visited Gensan on the way to the SMRAA(southern mindanao regional athletic association)when i was in highschool going to the next city(forgot the name). I notice it’s a sandy area even on the highway but nevertheless a lovely city. I have few friends here in the US who’s family still lives there.
Wow great article Pima. You have done more for Gen San than anyone ever could. Looks like our trip to Davao will be canceled in favour of a trip to Isla Parilla Resort. Love the idea of around 3,000 piso a night how cheap is that! Awesome!!!! Also, not a plastic bag in sight on the beaches!!!
If, as you say there are many malls open now, my fiance will be jumping for joy as she suffers from “mall madness”. I think it’s a Pina’s disease brought on by the foreigner’s credit card lol. Me?, I will enjoy the “city of beauties” as therapy for an over used credit card lol.
Thanks again Pima.
hello feyma,
your site is very informative. if given a chance i would love to explore GenSAn again, so you have now a new airport, new hotels, new hospitals and new shopping center
hmmm thats quite a must see place.
can ask a favor? can you email me the city accounting office telephone number please. thank you
hi ms. feyma
im a davaowenya but now i live here in gensan for at least 5 years, i got married & children here & still studying in GFI school foundatopn ( hope you’re familiar with this). its great that you are endorsing gensan to have a wonderful time, its true that gensan is very economical & wonderful place to live in. well honestly i havn’t been in isla parilla because they said its very expensive there & being a student i still cant afford to vivit there, but i hope & I pray that someday i go visit thier with my big family…
God Bless…
sorry i put a wring email add…its me geraldine
hi mrs. fey….
hope to read more article from you..
Hi Paul – Sure, I know you won’t regret that you visited the city. Its really a nice place and not yet loaded with people. I hope it stays that way for a long time.
Sorry to disappoint you, I’m not one of those 3 beauties there. I was out of town when they did the photo.
Ha ha ha Just kidding guys.
Good to see you again here!
Hi Tom Ramberg – Do you live near the Durian Garden? Hope you will visit Isla Parilla its really nice and quiet there.
Your wife will have a blast going from one mall to the other. They might have a lot of sale too. Have some bodyguard ready to carry the shopping bags.
Good luck and have a safe trip back here. You guys must be excited by now.
Take care!
Hi Jim – I’m glad you like the article.
Good luck on your visit. Have a safe trip.
Thank you so much for stopping by here!
Hi Ed Griffin – Ha ha ha.
No comment on the girls. The picture says it all.
Good to see you again Ed.
Take care!
Hi queeniebee – Is that obvious?
I like Davao and Bukidnon too.
The costumes parade are really fun to look at. Oh yeah, fresh and good tuna. Yummy!!!
Hey, Cebu is also on the plan for place to retire with. Only thing its getting to be like Manila though. We could still be neighbors you know?
Thank you so much for stopping by here and good to see you again.
Take care.
Hi imagine – Yes, thats one of the beach near GenSan.
Hopefully one day you can tour the city and the surrounding places and beaches. And enjoy the tuna and the fruits from GenSan too.
Nice to see you here.
Hi jonaky – Thank you so much. I hope sometime in the near future you can visit the city of GenSan.
Thanks for your concern. I’m good now. Thank God for it.
Nice to see you again here. Take care!
Hi John Miele – I’m glad you like the place. I’m not sure if I’ve been to the rooftop of Sydney. I could have, but forgot. I am trying to remember we were invited by a friend for a party in the rooftop and forgot what hotel was that. Oh my gosh, getting old I guess.
Yeah its clean especially in the pioneer Avenue area near Sydney hotel. Most of the hotels are not allowing guest bringing some durian inside the room.
Have you tried some other fish in GenSan? Have you heard of sergeant fish? It taste like pork. Really good fish. The ISla Parilla has it and its owned by same people that owned Sydney Hotel. If you didn’t try it yet. Try next time you visit GenSan.
Thank you John for your nice comment. Take care!
Hi RonW – Thank you very much. Is your wife born in GenSan and grow up there before relocating to Panabo?
Hope you guys get a chance to visit GenSan sometime in your visit in the Philippines.
Good to see you again here Ron. Thank you for stopping by!
Thought you might have been the one in the middle, just before you trimmed your hair.
Oh well, you know what they say about aging: the third thing to go is your eyesight, the second thing is your memory; and … I can’t remember what the first thing is.
Hi Paul – Ha ha ha. Good one Paul. lol
hello feyma
actually my wife was born in agusan delsur and lived in butuan for most of her time.her mom lived in gensan before they moved into a house together 4 years ago.i will go and see gensan next trip to philippines.
salamat feyma
Hi Vanessa – I hope you will. Not sure if you went to Calumpang or in Marbel? Most of those SMRAA games held over in that area. Hey, I totally forgot all that stuff now. Thats been over 2 decades ago for me. Ha ha ha.
If you be near the bay its sandy. I think its a little bit hot in GenSan than Davao though.
Take care.
Hi RonW – Good, you still have reasons to visit GenSan.
Let us know what you think of the city?
Take care and have a good summer there.
Hi Boss – Ha ha ha. Thank you. To be honest you will love Isla Parilla. You will thank me later for giving you guys the idea.
Be really prepared of your credit card lots of good stuff now.
Be careful of the beauties, wife might kill you. 
lol.
Just looking at my name in here its really new to me. I haven’t use that name for awhile now. Ha ha ha.
Thanks Boss for the comment and using my real name. Good to see you again here.