Gensan's Undiscovered Tourism Potential: Public City Artscapes

 

    General Santos City is mostly known for the Tuna it produces and exports around the world. It is dubbed as the Philippines' "Tuna Capital", which has its own "Tuna Festival" celebration every September.

©RMN.PH

   GenSan, as one of the trading center in SOCCSKSARGEN or "Sox", is also a hodgepodge of cultures, specifically, the tri-culture tribes that are endemic to the area. It is a stopover of nearby cities and municipalities like South Cotabato, Sarangani, Davao City, and more. And also a gateway to the most pristine beaches in the Sarangani region.

©Ariel Pascua

   Muslim, Christian and Lumad cultures are being celebrated annually in "Kalilangan Festival", which also happens to be the city's foundation anniversary. These celebrations bring color and promote the city's tradition, culture and arts. But these events only happen annually in a short duration. During the rest of the year, tourists in GenSan may enjoy shopping in local and homegrown retailers and restaurants. Although in the rural parts of the city, there are still a few adventures destinations that one may enjoy, there is really not much to discover in GenSan alone as the city is gearing towards urbanization by the day and buildings are starting to populate downtown more and more.

©Van Almeria

   It may be sad to know but it is inevitable that a city would lose its color due to urbanization. But one should not fret since it isn't yet too late for GenSan to get back on its feet and consider the rich and vast resource of the city when it comes to local talents, most specifically in the field of art. Aside from the moniker of "Tuna Capital of the Philippines", GenSan also brands itself as the city of champions. GenSan takes pride in the achievements of "Generals" who excel in their chosen fields in the international stage.

   Beauty queens, sportsmen, singers and artists, GenSan has a lot of that but these talents only get discovered when they compete outside of the city. But thanks to the GSC Tourism Council, GenSan is finally going back to its roots and slowly making steps to recognize the rich pool of local talents with projects that are geared towards the field of art.

Proposed Gensan City Museum © Gensan City Sanguniang Panglungsod

   Just a few months ago, it was revealed that a museum that's going to house historical artifacts would be built in honor of the city's founder, General Paulino Santos, to preserve the City's arts and culture. And just in time for the Tuna Festival celebration, the city's empty and boring walls are being turned into works of art in an open Gensan Public Artscapes competition.

   22 walls, 75 visual artists, one goal, to make GenSan a "City of Murals" for tourists and locals to appreciate the hidden gems of the city: its homegrown visual artists. The concepts range from the local food scene, celebrities, artists, feminisim, indigenous tribes, heritage and evreything GenSan has to offer.

   You may visit these beautiful works of art that took days to finish on these locations:

 

 "Selfie is Life"
Location: Balagtas St., Dadiangas North, General Santos City (Behind Holy Trinity College)  


Concept: To attract people to take selfie to our artwork and post it on Facebook so that people on social media will know that there are also a lot of brilliant artist in GENSAN.

 

"Kaonlaran"

Location: 062 Alerta St. Brgy. Dadiangas North

Concept: As the theme goes... "Faces, Food, Festivities", the mural was strategically incorporated with the three facets of General Santos City, all in one, in which it resemble an ordinary locale (not patronizing the famous ones), a typical general who wears a huge smile that is about to indulge a delectable street food ("isaw")... with an array of vibrant colors painted on his face that also depicts a festive vibe in it, with one subject that comprises the mood of the generals as a whole... General Santos City are not known only by the ones that are already on the limelight. We, ourselves, the Generals are the infamous ones that are yet to be discovered! Simple, vibrant and Happy!

 

"Kaon Ta Bai"

Location: Bulaong Ave. (Beside Husky Bus Line office)

Concept: Composed of delicious street foods that you can find and enjoy in General Santos City.

"Drawfree"

Location: Behind Petron Gasoline Station, Bulaong Ave., Dadiangas North, General Santos City

Concept: Travel for pleasure and also show commercial organization, welcoming tourists for vacation and visits to places of interest.
 

 

"Dreamart"

Location: Mabuhay Road, Barangay Mabuhay, General Santos City (More than 100-meter distance near Jollibee Mabuhay)

Concept: To show people not only in Gensan, but also worldwide. Remember General Paulino Santos, who fought and gave his all for our City's namesake.

 

"Maskara"
Location: Top 7 Mini Mart, Queenie's Subdivision, Brgy. City Heights, General Santos City

 

"Achiever City Heights 1"

Location: Trome Marketing Co., Inc., Aparente St., Brgy. City Heights, General Santos City

"Mugna sa Kalipay"
Location: Roadhaus Hotel, Mercado St., Brgy. City Heights, General Santos City

Concept: Our center of this artwork is a person that full of happiness because of the peaceful living in GENSAN or in South Cotabato. We did it colorful because GENSAN is full of attractions and many people have a good heart. Many tourist is love GENSAN.

"Every Woman is a Goddess"

Location: The Brick Restobar, Rambutan St., Brgy. Dadiangas East, General Santos City

Concept: Feminism is one of the main concern of this generation. A lot of women are deprived of their rights as an individual. The goddess Venus is the perfect representation of a womens beauty and exquisiteness. The crown/headress symbolizes worth and that every women deserves the same treatment and respect regardless of their age, race, or preference.

"Masterpiece"

Location: Shoppe Namin, Corner Laurel North-Recto St. Brgy. Dadiangas North, General Santos City

Concept: We chose to draw a old lady (Blaan Tribe) its because in a long time, Blaan tribe is the first in GENSAN. For us it is more attractive to see a beautiful old lady smiling, it makes people remind their/ our grandmother whose heart is strong, joyful and pure even trials come, she is victorious. Especially her eyes that shows a thousand memories. And we would like to touch every heart who sees this creation.

For the other entries, you may visit GSC Tourism Council's official Facebook page: Facebook.com/GensanTourismCouncil

   Kudos to GSC Tourism Council and all of the participants for making this first step towards making Gensan a "City of Murals". This is just the first wave of contestants since there will be another batch who will be competing on October. On the next batches, I expect to see more variety and more colorful murals that would tackle more diverse and unexplored concepts and themes such as sexuality, patriotism, and more.