 General Santos City | ||
| General Santos | ||
| Residents | 594.446 (2015) | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 197 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.gensantos.gov.ph | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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General Santos City also called "GenSan" for short, formerly "Dadiangas", is a provincial city in the Filipino Administrative district Soccsksargen.
background
The city was named "General Santos City" from General Paulino Santos, who brought the first settlers to the city in 1939. He led a group of 62 Christian settlers who settled there in order to colonize the fertile area and make it usable for agriculture. Previously, the area was only inhabited by the B'laan people, who were nomads and called the place Dadiangas. In June 1956 the name "General Santos" was introduced for the first time. This was then retained when General Santos was granted city status on July 8, 1968.
Nowadays, the city is best known for its tuna, which is why it is also called the Philippine capital of tuna. Since 1998, the so-called "Tuna Festival" has taken place every autumn, a big, lively festival with parades and dancing in the streets. Due to the abundance of yellowfin tuna in the south of the Philippines, General Santos is one of the leading tuna producers, also seen worldwide.
Due to the still predominantly simple conditions that prevail here, there are hardly any large or modern high-rise buildings. So that the city, with its now large number of inhabitants, still has more of a small town character. The standard of living in General Santos is well above the Filipino average.
Since 2009 there have also been an increasing number of power outages in General Santos that can last 2-4 hours. In 2010 the blackouts peaked and reached 12 hours a day. The reason was a drought, through which the reservoirs and lakes did not carry enough water to operate the hydropower plants permanently. (Pulangi River Power Plant, Agus 1-6 Power Plants in Iligan).
getting there
By plane
The city has a small international airport. This is provided daily by Manila and Cebu City approached:
By bus
- Yellow Bus Lines. - Wrong of Davao City (140 km) and Coronadal City.(58 km)
- Holiday bus. - Wrong of Davao City.
- Husky Lines. - Wrong of Coronadal City.
By boat
There are regular ferry connections with Manila, Iloilo City and to the island Cebu.
mobility
On the streets of General Santos you can find small jeepneys and tricycles, especially pick-ups, SUVs, motorbikes and buses. The main means of transport are the tricycles. The price has to be negotiated depending on the length of the route, with 15-40 pesos per tricycle covering most of the city.
Taxis and shuttle buses are also available at the airport, and hotel shuttle buses can also be requested separately from the hotel if required.
The main means of transport are still the very cheap tricycles. The price should be negotiated depending on the length of the route and the number of people. Fun fact: The color of the tricyles differs depending on the area of the city in, for example, blue, white and yellow.
Tourist Attractions
The Queen Tuna Park in General Santos, formerly known as Lion’s Beach, is a park that is regularly visited by locals and local tourists. It does not meet the well-kept standards, but is still popular and appreciated because of the large waves that can be observed from the Celebes Sea and the beautiful cool breeze.
The Plaza Heneral is actually a big roundabout, in the heart of the city, in this is the town hall. When it gets dark, the square comes alive with stalls selling various foods and street food, from mango shakes to fish balls, there is a lot to discover here. It is also a popular meeting place for skaters, BMX riders, break dancers and joggers, each of whom has its own spot. In the plaza you can also find a large monument to the namesake of the city, General Paulino Santos.
Otherwise, there are hardly any classic sights to be found in General Santos, as we know them from tourist regions. If you want to get to know and experience the authentic real life of the local people, then this is the right place for you.
activities
Bathing opportunities can usually be found outside of the city. At Glan in the southeast you can find Gumasa Beach with its snow-white beach. Five resorts have already been built there. Climbing Mount Matutum, the 2,200 m high volcano near Polomolok, is also very interesting with a fantastic view. You can also visit the kilometer-wide DOLE pineapple plantations. Lake Sebu with its islands and resorts is just a 2-hour drive from General Santos. Next to it are Lake Seloton and Lake Lahit, and in the same area you can also find the famous Seven Falls and one of Mindanao's longest ziplines. Numerous hotels and pensions with reasonable prices attract tourists to stay. Double rooms with air conditioning are available from 650 pesos. With the Bla-an or the T'boli you can get to know the still living culture of two Filipino minorities.
shop
- KCC Mall of Gensan, J. Catolico Ave. - Largest shopping mall in the city.
- Gaisano Mall Gensan, J. Catolico Ave. Lagao.
- Fitmart GenSan, Pendatun Ave./CM. Recto st.
- RD Plaza, Pendatun Ave.
To name just a few of the malls, despite the high security checks at the entrances, they cannot be described as totally secure. They have been the target of attacks in the past.
Even smaller shops have armed guards in some cases.
The trend is increasing, this is a Filipino store that sells second hand goods such as clothes, bags, shoes and other accessories at very affordable prices. Ukay-ukay goods come from different countries, such as Japan or South Korea.
Groceries and rents are cheaper in General Santos than in other big cities, so you get significantly more for your money.
kitchen
A specialty in General Santos is definitely anything with tuna, pickled raw tuna, which is very tasty. We particularly recommend grilled panga and belly, these are the jaws and the belly flaps of the tuna, which are boneless on the one hand and much more juicy than the usual normal tuna fillet on the other. The one, a cake made from young coconut, is also particularly good.
If you are unsure what to eat, you should choose one of the diverse dishes, there is something for everyone here. There are numerous restaurants in the city where you can eat well and for little money.
Depending on the season, you should have fresh ones Durian try.
Well-known fast food chains as well as locals are represented in the city. It is better to try the local cuisine and enjoy the wide variety of different tastes. Because the Filipino cuisine unites Hispanic-Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and American influences that have influenced the regional cuisines of the various ethnic groups in the Philippines.
nightlife
There are many small local bars with karaoke. At night the streets are certainly a little safer than in Manila.
accommodation
Hotels that are run according to European standards are recommended for travelers. The larger hotels are very well guarded and have their own generator to bridge power failures. For example, the Phela Grande Hotel, the East Asia Royale Hotel or the Greenleaf Hotel or Garden Haven Suites, the latter belong to the somewhat higher price range.
There are also some medium-sized hotels and numerous guest houses with reasonable prices from 600 Pesos for double rooms with air conditioning.
Learn
There are several colleges and universities in the city, these are state or privately run.
Country-specific safety instructions
Safety has improved a lot over the past decade, making both overland travel and walks in General Santos and the surrounding area safe. However, trips to North Cotabato should be avoided. The days of the Abu Sayyaf are over and the other Muslim groups have signed a provisional peace treaty with the government. Unfortunately, in general, the situation is usually very much exaggerated.
In general, there is an increased risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings, both on land and at sea, in several regions of the country. They cannot be ruled out in the entire territory of the Philippines. The German Embassy in Manila provides current information on the security situation here refer to. The page also provides current warnings for certain regions or areas, as well as information on:
- Current information
- Country-specific safety instructions - partial travel warning
- General travel information
- Entry requirements for German citizens
- Special customs regulations
- Special criminal law provisions
- Medical advice
- Country information about your travel destination
- Further information for your trip
health
It is recommended to drink only water of safe origin, e.g. Bottled water, never tap water. In case of emergency, use filtered, disinfected or boiled water. Also use drinking water to wash dishes and brush your teeth when you are out and about. The following applies to food: boiling, peeling or disinfecting. Make sure you keep flies away from your food. Wash your hands with soap as often as possible, but always after a bowel movement and always before preparing food and before eating. Carry out hand disinfection where appropriate, use disposable towels.
Diarrheal diseases are very common in the Philippines. Most diarrheal diseases can be avoided through food and drinking water hygiene. Isolated cases of cholera occur mainly in the rainy season and can also be avoided through appropriate hygiene.
Practical advice
Illonggo is one of the most widely spoken languages in General Santos.
English as a traveler is also very easy to get along with; most people understand it and some of it is spoken very well.
English first came to the islands in 1898. English is an important second language for more than 50% of Filipinos. Due to American influence, English is now the second official language alongside Filipino and is spoken by around 125,000 people (mostly Americans) as their mother tongue. English is the language of instruction and the working language in the business world in schools from the third grade onwards and in universities.
The following can also be said about the diverse linguistic world:
Filipino (formerly Pilipino) which is based on the Tagalog is the official language of the Philippines. As part of the Austronesian languages, Tagalog is directly related to the Indonesian and Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum, and the Austronesian languages of Taiwan.
Tagalog is mainly spoken on the island of Luzon. Only about 25% of Filipinos speak Tagalog. The Tagalog-based Filipino is spoken and understood by around 80%. Tagalog is used in common parlance, in newspapers, television and radio, but a mixture of Tagalog and English is also used in official speeches. Sometimes Spanish words are also used.
Another eleven languages are spoken by at least one million people: Cebuano, Iloko, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bikol, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao and Tausug. More than 90% of the population speak one of these twelve languages.
literature
Web links
http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/ - General Santos official website
