MUNICIPALITY OF PAGALUNGAN

HISTORY

“Pagalungan” is a Maguinadanaon word meaning mirror.

Pagalungan, officially the Municipality of Pagalungan (Maguindanaon: Ingud nu Pagalungan; Iranun: Inged a Pagalungan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Pagalungan), is a 1st class municipality in the Province of , Autonomous Region and Muslim Mindanao, . During the Spanish time, Pagalungan was a mere Sitio. There was a small creek in it running towards a small pond called "Migkawa" by the natives of the place. The pond was deep and clear of which the women of the place used it as mirror in grooming themselves. The pond was so deep that even during extreme long dry season the water does not dry up. Today, the place and the entire municipality are known by the name of “Pagalungan”.

In 1913 during the American regime, colonies were establish to spur economic development in Pagalungan and made identified as Colony No. 5, Ac-7. At that time, there were no regular municipalities, only municipal districts and these colonies were under municipal districts. The establishment of colonies as springboard to development was a program of the Government under then President Manuel L. Quezon and later under then President Sergio Osmeña.

When the “Colonos” or immigrants from the Visayas came to Pagalungan (which explains why Pagalungan and neighbouring areas are thickly populated with our Cebuano brothers and sisters until the early part of the century), the ruling Datu in the area was then Datu Udtog Matalam. Sr., who graciously welcomed them and gave them portions of his for incorporation with the colony. Datu Udtog Matalam, Sr. realm domain and land ownership stretches as far as eyesight can reach. Beyond the horizon, or “taman sa mailay” (a Maguindanaoan term describing the vastness of land owned) Land ownership at the time belongs to the ruling Datu’s.

The colonies sparked development not only in these colonies but elsewhere in the empire province of whose area stretches from South Cotabato and North Cotabato, bordering the original Lanao and Davao provinces. This province over the years already metamorphosed into several provinces. In the later years, with age catching-up with Datu Udtog Matalam, Sr. he relinquished his power as the ruling Datu to his son Datu Udtog Matalam Jr., thus, the beginning of the rise to power and influence of Datu Udtog Matalam Sr., who later became as undefeated Governor for Three (3) consecutive terms of the empire province of Cotabato.

Pagalungan became the Capital town of Cotabato from 1968 to 1972. With changes in the political leadership and the division of the empire of Cotabato into several provinces, the capital seat of the provincial government shifted from one municipality to another, it depend of who was the Governor of the Province.

Provincial capital seat has see-sawed between the municipalities of Sharif Aguak, (Nuling), and . Today, Provincial Capital was in as its provincial seat of government.

Pagalungan was part of municipality before it became a regular municipality on August 18, 1947 by virtue of Executive Order No. 41 issued during the administration of then President Manuel A. Roxas.