*** Welcome to piglix ***

Province of Cotabato

Cotabato
Province
Province of Cotabato
Flag of Cotabato
Flag
Official seal of Cotabato
Seal
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°12′N 124°51′E / 7.2°N 124.85°E / 7.2; 124.85Coordinates: 7°12′N 124°51′E / 7.2°N 124.85°E / 7.2; 124.85
Country Philippines
Region Soccsksargen (Region XII)
Foundation
Capital Kidapawan
Government
 • Governor Emmylou J. Taliño-Mendoza (Liberal)
 • Vice Governor Gregorio T. Ipong (Independent)
Area
 • Total 9,008.90 km2 (3,478.36 sq mi)
Area rank 6th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Apo) 2,954 m (9,692 ft)
Population (2015 census)
 • Total 1,379,747
 • Rank 17th out of 81
 • Density 150/km2 (400/sq mi)
 • Density rank 57th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 543
 • Districts 3 legislative districts
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 9400–9417
IDD:area code +63 (0)64
ISO 3166 code PH
Spoken languages
Website cotabatoprov.gov.ph

Cotabato, formerly but colloquially known as North Cotabato (Hiligaynon: Amihanon nga Kotabato; Ilocano: Makin-amianan nga Cotabato; Cebuano: Amihanang Kotabato; Maguindanaoan: Kuta Wato Nort), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Kidapawan City.

Cotabato derives its name from the Maguindanao word kuta wato (from Malay - "Kota Batu"), meaning "stone fort", referring to the stone fort which served as the seat of Sultan Muhammad Kudarat in what is now Cotabato City (which the province derives its name from).

Islam was introduced in this part of the country in the later part of 15th century by Sharif Mohammed Kabungsuwan, an Arabo-Malay Muslim warrior-missionary. Sharif Kabungsuwan invaded Malabang in 1475, facing armed resistance from the non-Muslim natives, nevertheless successfully vanquishing and subjugating them to his (Islamic) rule through the might of his Samal warriors.

Modern historians have pointed to the Cotabato delta as the medieval location of Toupo, the successor of the Maguindanao/Cotabato Sultanate.

Christianity was introduced in 1596, but the Spaniards were unable to penetrate into the region until the second half of the 19th century. The district of Cotabato was formed in 1860, covering the areas of what is now Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces with its capital at Tamontaka. Fort Pikit was established by the Spaniards in 1893 as they continued their conquest of the remnants of Maguindanao Sultanate, which would soon be the site of one of the province's oldest towns, Pikit.


...
Wikipedia

...