Talakag
Municipality
Municipality of Talakag
Flag Seal
Nickname:  The Highlander's Golden Paradise of Bukidnon
Map of Bukidnon with Talakag highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Talakag Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°13′55″N 124°36′09″E / 8.2319°N 124.6025°E / 8.2319; 124.6025
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao
Province	Bukidnon
District	1st district
Founded	February 22, 1917
Barangays	29 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Vergito O. Factura
• Vice Mayor	Amado Z. Noble Jr.
• Representative	Ma. Lourdes O. Acosta-Alba
• Municipal Council	Members Renato S. Sulatan Jr. Jean Suzette U. Macapayag Marnnie N. Macapayag Romeo L. Tianzon Jr. Susan B. Gayonan Mario M. Cedeño Abdon V. Pacuño Yolanda S. Sabang
• Electorate	45,873 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	786.40 km2 (303.63 sq mi)
Elevation	409 m (1,342 ft)
Highest elevation	728 m (2,388 ft)
Lowest elevation	186 m (610 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	77,027
• Density	98/km2 (250/sq mi)
• Households	16,532
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	43.39 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 334.8 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 701.5 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 266.7 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 146 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Bukidnon 2 Electric Cooperative (BUSECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8708
PSGC	101320000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
Native languages	Binukid Cebuano Ata Manobo Tagalog
Website	www.talakagbuk.gov.ph

Talakag, officially the Municipality of Talakag (Bukid and Higaonon: Banuwa ta Talakag; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Talakag; Tagalog: Bayan ng Talakag), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,027 people.^[3]

It is located on the border to major cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and between Marawi and Malaybalay, the provincial capital.

Etymology

Once in the not so distant past, a nomadic tribe wandered down south. Finally, they settled upon a place attuned to their needs and liking. The place, was traversed by a zigzagging creek swollen with clear sparkling water where on its banks grew in abundance wild Malayan trees called “Balangas” (now popularly known as Rambutan – Nephelium lappaceum of the Family: Sapindaceae). The trees were full of attractive bloody red but juicy and delicious fruits, clustered in their very green foliages. Because of fanatical attachment of this tribe to these balangas trees, they decided to name their settlement “Kabalangasan” - a very typical way of simply affixing prefixes. This is the original name of the municipality of Talakag.

However, names of places are, often, influenced and affected by events that revolve around it. History goes that aside from this Kabalangasan settlement, there was another settlement further down south called “Dagundalahon”. At first, tribes of both settlements were very friendly and cordial to each other. They would hold social gatherings, "Kaamulan" and 'Kaliga" and other forms of intimate social merry-makings to satisfy their whims and caprices often with paganic undertones.

This relationship did not last long. A serious breakdown developed and as a consequence, they became bitter enemies. The root cause was the intense rivalry of men/warriors over beautiful and alluring women from either side. This resulted and accounted for ambush, kidnappings and to some extent even killings.

It was on the Kabalangasan side that men are more daring and aggressive. They adopted and ventured into the “go-chase-kidnap” tactics preying on the women of Dagundalahon who caught their fancy. Because of these, hill tribes in Dagundalahon side renamed “Kabalangasan” to Talakag, the etymology of which came from the Visayan dialect- LAKAG meaning "to go after” or “follow in pursuit” and the prefix “TA” denoting “fondness in doing such”. In other words, Talakag means “fondness in giving pursuit”.

Thus, the settlement that was known as Kabalangasan was named Talakag while the creek traversing the place retained the name Kabalangasan.

History

In the late 16th century, the seat of the highland government was established in Kinolosanglay at Tikalaan headed by Datu Man-utob, a wise and brave ruler. The Datu was described as an imposing giant of a man who has a big mole at the center of his nose bridge. His court was composed of Datu Aliga, Datu Lumbac and Datu Limbubongan (descent from Sharif Alawi). His ambassador was Datu Malinkayao, who was also called Sumagayon.

The jurisdiction of the kingdom of Datu Man-utob embraced the areas of Cosina, which was ruled by Mansalingay; Dagundalahon which was ruled by Datu Manlugwas; Langawon under the rule of Datu Mantingal; Landang, ruled by Datu Mancabo; Alanib ( now of Lantapan, Bukidnon) under the rules of Datu Malongmong and Datu Manbailana; Mandugao and Salagapon, which was ruled by Datu Tomopa; Tapagkal, ( now of Pangantukan, Bukidnon) ruled by Datu Magayao, Datu Maka-andig, Datu Dupao and Datu Miaday; Damulog which was ruled by Datu Labawan, who was also called Maganuna; Macahambus which was ruled by Datu Manpaklawan; and Tumalaung, which was ruled by Datu Mambalintas and Datu Manbalagon.

Datu Man-utob was such a respected ruler that all the datus under him were all in awe of him. Even the Datus of Cagayhaan (now Cagayan de Oro) ruled by Datus Abaga, Binandina and Ganza, Datus Tombalan, Mansingkatol, Manimohod, Mansihabo, Tingkayogan, Yagoma and Magoliok, all of Tagoloan and of Maguindanao and Ditsaan (now Lanao del Sur) respected and feared him.

He was so well known that even Sultan Kabungsuan (also known as Sharif Kabunsuan, the youngest brother of Sharif Alawi) and other Muslim leaders visited him at Tikalaan several times to establish good relationship during the propagation of Islam.

During this time Mindanao, tribal wars were prevalent. The inhabitants in the coastal areas could not go up to the mountains for fear of ambush and killings; neither could the inhabitants in the mountains go to the coastal areas. Thus, in response to the request of the Muslims who were already well established in Maguindanao, Lanao, Sulu and Tagoloan, Datu Man-utob acceded to the call for peace among the rulers of Mindanao. He hosted a peace treaty at Tikalaan called TAMPUDA HA APAT HA PASAGI TA PUSOD TA DAGAT (a Binukid term meaning “Peace Treaty of Four Rulers in Central Mindanao”). The terms of the treaty was specific – to achieve peace for them to live in an atmosphere of justice and tranquility. Transgressors were dealt with accordingly. Further, intermarriages between their people were encouraged.

To mark this momentous event in history, a durian tree (Durio zibethinus – Bombacaceae) which has until very recently succumbed to old age and a species of rattan were planted and a gold cross, porcelain jars, a Koran, needles and some other items that were soaked in carabao blood were buried right on top of the spot where the treaty was held. A piece of rattan was cut into pieces and each ruler was given a portion to even make the event memorable. All of these are recorded in the "Sil-Sila or Sal-sila" of the Maranaos, the Skrit of the Maguindanaos and the Halads of the Higaonons.

Not long after the peace treaty in Tikalaan, the Spaniards came to Cagayan de Oro to establish their seat of government. Likewise, they came to Tikalaan where they gave the reigning datu a Spanish flag and a cabo negro cane. The Spaniards were known to be suppressive to people who try to thwart their imperial rule. However the inhabitants were subservient to foreign domination, hence, there was no known occurrence of any serious trouble between them.

Sometime in 1902, the Americans arrived in Cagayan de Oro. The American regime encouraged the people to participate in running the government thus, in 1904 Man Sayagnon was appointed 1st Mayor of Talakag. He held office at Patpat, which is now San Isidro and his term of office expired in 1906.

In 1906, Amay Tigsay was appointed Mayor of Talakag and he continued to hold office at Patpat until 1908 where Man Sayagnon was again appointed Mayor and was in office until 1910. In 1910, Jose Levanta, son of Man Sayagnon, was elected Mayor and was in office until 1918. It was Jose Levanta, who transferred the seat of government from Patpat to the present site of the municipal government of Talakag.

In World War II, Talakag appeared to have been occupied for virtually the entire war by guerrillas opposing the Japanese occupation of Mindanao. From June 8 to 29, 1944, the Japanese attacked the area. Lieut. Col. James Grinstead had his headquarters in Talakag and before a force of 500 Japanese and Korean troops could take the town, Grinstead ordered his headquarters burned. On June 28 the Japanese-Korean force left Talakag and the guerrillas moved back into town and re-established their headquarters there.^[5]

Geography

Barangays

Political map of the municipality showing its 29 barangays

Talakag is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[7]
101320001	Basak	2.1%	1,581	1,322	▴	1.80%
101320002	Baylanan	1.9%	1,486	1,354	▴	0.93%
101320003	Cacaon	2.9%	2,262	2,273	▾	−0.05%
101320004	Colawingon	1.5%	1,185	1,091	▴	0.83%
101320005	Cosina	4.3%	3,340	3,191	▴	0.46%
101320006	Dagumbaan	3.2%	2,435	2,285	▴	0.64%
101320007	Dagundalahon	2.2%	1,708	1,529	▴	1.11%
101320008	Dominorog	7.6%	5,838	5,392	▴	0.80%
101320009	Lapok	2.3%	1,737	1,671	▴	0.39%
101320010	Indulang	5.4%	4,139	3,936	▴	0.50%
101320011	Lantud	2.4%	1,854	2,472	▾	−2.84%
101320013	Liguron	1.9%	1,502	1,325	▴	1.26%
101320014	Lingi‑on	1.7%	1,344	1,161	▴	1.47%
101320015	Lirongan	4.8%	3,676	2,932	▴	2.29%
101320016	Santo Niño (Lumbayawa)	3.9%	3,028	2,429	▴	2.23%
101320018	Miarayon	3.6%	2,746	2,602	▴	0.54%
101320019	Barangay 1 (Poblacion)	0.8%	641	1,048	▾	−4.80%
101320020	Barangay 2 (Poblacion)	1.4%	1,079	1,158	▾	−0.70%
101320021	Barangay 3 (Poblacion)	2.2%	1,703	1,477	▴	1.43%
101320022	Barangay 4 (Poblacion)	1.6%	1,243	1,266	▾	−0.18%
101320023	Barangay 5 (Poblacion)	3.0%	2,322	2,310	▴	0.05%
101320024	Sagaran	1.9%	1,474	1,450	▴	0.16%
101320025	Salucot	2.0%	1,578	1,568	▴	0.06%
101320026	San Antonio	5.0%	3,847	4,118	▾	−0.68%
101320027	San Isidro	8.9%	6,831	5,358	▴	2.46%
101320028	San Miguel	3.8%	2,939	2,551	▴	1.43%
101320029	San Rafael	3.4%	2,635	2,324	▴	1.26%
101320030	Tagbak	2.3%	1,746	1,672	▴	0.43%
101320031	Tikalaan	4.9%	3,745	3,858	▾	−0.30%
	Total		77,027	67,123	▴	1.39%

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Talakag was 77,027 people,^[3] with a density of 98 inhabitants per square kilometre or 250 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information