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The Old GenSan City Hall Building is 59 this year!




8 March 2008 45 views 8 Comments

I did not realize that the old City Hall building at the back of the current one is turning 59 years old this year until I saw this marker (above) near its front entrance. It says: Municipal Hall, Buayan, Cotabato. Constructed October 26, 1949. This was obviously almost two decades before the Buayan was declared as charter city and renamed as City of General Santos in September 5, 1968.

It then continues to name the Municipal Mayor at that time, Mayor Ireneo Santiago and his Vice Mayor, the Honorable Pedro Acharon, Sr., father of the current city mayor and his namesake, Pedro Junior. The older Acharon was later on elected Mayor after a few years.

The municipal coucilors at that time were Joaquin Natividad, Donato Quinto, Clemente Escallera, Artemio Ramos, Jose Catolico, and Arturo Pastor. Municipal Treasurer was Felipe Cariño while District Engr. was Engr. Marcellino Samson.

The Old GenSan City Hall Building

Currently, there is a plan by Mayor Jun Acharon to transform this building into a museum once the offices occupying it are transferred to their new location sometime middle of this year. The only museums in GenSan right now are the ones at the NDDU and MSU. If this materializes, it will be a treasure trove for visitors, historians, students and tourists since the building will be restored to its former look and glory.

The building’s contractor, by the way was Civil Engineer Gonzalo M. Javier.



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8 Comments »

  • orman said:

    i remember the old city hall. noon ang alam ko dyan nakatira ang mayor ng gensan. kako sa sarili ko…wow rich ang mayor namin…may building syang sarili. hehehehe! and during that time isang mayor lang ang nakilala ko - si toning acharon. parang antagal nyang naging mayor and sobrang mahal sya ng mahihirap. parang si erap. ngayon acharon uli ang mayor… pero nasa new city hall na sya nakatira…

    Reply - Quote
    - 10 March 2008 at 10:14 pm
  • orman said:

    and by the way… check out the names in that marker… santiago, acharon, catolico, natividad…lahat yan may mga streets na named after them. taray!

    Reply - Quote
    - 10 March 2008 at 10:16 pm
  • bariles (author) said:

    You’re right! Most of the city’s streets are now named after the early settlers of GenSan, a tribute that they deserve.

    Reply - Quote
    - 12 March 2008 at 11:58 am
  • arfel said:

    i thought this old building is going to be turned into a museum under the auspices of mayor acharon? is it on going? and who is leading the design and execution team? bing carino? or mike ang? hahahahaha…..

    Reply - Quote
    - 13 March 2008 at 10:52 am
  • dimple said:

    speaking of early settlers.. my lolo who is one of the early settlers will be celebrating his 100th birthday on Dec. 4.. dibah ang taray?.. if you have time Mr. Bariles.. why dont you feature him?

    Reply - Quote
    - 26 November 2008 at 12:18 pm
  • gensanite said:

    @dimple -

    this is a good idea!!!

    mirroring the past and present general santos city… :)

    BARILES, may be you and DIMPLE can work out an entry here… :)

    cheers!!!

    Reply - Quote
    - 26 November 2008 at 1:35 pm
  • bariles (author) said:

    @dimple -
    Why not? What is his name? Is he still with us? :)

    Reply - Quote
    - 26 November 2008 at 2:06 pm
  • The Gen. Paulino Santos, Sr. Monument | said:

    [...] the background farther back is the old wooden building of the local municipal government of Buayan, years before its view was obstructed by a bigger [...]

    Reply - Quote
    - 16 April 2008 at 5:08 pm

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