Don Carlos, officially the Municipality of Don Carlos (; ), is a municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 73,592 people.
History The first people who settled this place before was a certain Datu Andarol, his wife Ba-e Mahanu, and their son Datu ‘Mangginayun’. Datu Andarol was a ruler and the leader of the Manobo tribe settling the village of Minduso, which was the old name of Don Carlos. The place was covered with forests and access by outlanders was prohibited unless permitted by the datu. Minduso was the home of Datu Andarol's descendants. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the datu was succeeded by his son, Datu Mangginayun. With their contacts with the Spaniards and missionaries, Spanish naming conventions and Christianity was introduced, and Datu Mangginayun adopted the name "Antonio", hence his full name was now Datu ‘Mangginayun’ Antonio Sagandilan Sr. He was married to Ba-e Antonina Manlayuan. His leadership reflects that of his father, as he implemented tribal laws and settled criminal offenses, particularly murder. As the leader of his tribal community, he also presided wedding ceremonies and settled dowries.
The first popular Spanish stranger who approached Datu ‘Mangginayun’ Antonio Sr. was Tomás Sandoval. He requested a parcel of land that he intend to borrow and to till, the datu conceded to his request. As part of the agreement, Tomás was to give the part of his harvest as a share to the datu. Several years later, another Spaniard by the name of "Elizalde" came and, like Tomás, requested the datu for lands to establish ranches. The lands lent by the datu to Elizalde were: lands in Pantil-pantilan, Migtutugop, the lands along the Mulita river, the today-famous Squash Mountain, and the Tugas Falls. As the agricultural ventures of these two Spaniards flourished, Cebuanos (referred by the Lumads, or natives, as "Dumagats") and other Spaniards who came from Cagayan de Misamis and other coastal towns of Misamis were encouraged to settle and populate the area that comprises the present-day Don Carlos.
Census registry for the settlers of Minduso was only located at Ramag (Manobo for ‘breakfast’), which has a fully established local government facilities and would later be known as Maramag. Antonio Sr.'s son, Datu ‘Mangginayun’ Antonio Sagandilan Jr. was born on March 17, 1917, at Miuvan (now Barangay Sinangguyan) and had his birth registered at Maramag. Antonio Jr. was drafted into the USAFFE before World War II and completed his training with the rank of corporal. However, he was called upon to fight on the outbreak of war, and his family did nothing about it.
When the war ended, Antonio Jr. succeeded his father in the leadership of his tribe as a datu in 1946. He was first a tribal councilor, and later became a barangay captain of the whole of Minduso. During his time of service, Señora Remedios ‘Meding’ Fortich de Ozamiz personally visited Antonio Jr. and she petitioned the name change of Miuvan (which is now Barangay Sinangguyan) to ‘Don Carlos’ in her husband's memory, Don Carlos Azcona Fortich, and as a gratitude for living in the land which the Sagandilans flourished. At first, the datu declined, as the flourishing enclave has significance for their patrimony. Eventually, under Republic Act No. 4800, Minduso and other neighboring villages and barangays were clustered to form the municipality of Don Carlos in 1966.
Political Background
The political history of Don Carlos, Bukidnon is marked by its evolution from a remote settlement into a recognized municipality. Initially, the area was part of extensive cattle ranches owned by prominent families such as the Elizaldes, Guingonas, and Roceses before World War II. With the country's independence in 1946, significant changes began to shape the region’s political landscape.
The relocation of the Bukidnon Lumber Company, jointly owned by Howard Denison and the Fortich family, to a site near Lake Pinamaloy marked the beginning of increased settlement in the area. The sawmill attracted a steady stream of immigrants seeking opportunities as workers, merchants, and farmers. The establishment of makeshift housing near the sawmill led to the formation of a community. Due to the challenging road conditions, characterized by knee-deep mud, the area was aptly named "Menduso," derived from the Visayan term "duso," meaning "push."
In January 1953, the barrio of Menduso celebrated its inaugural Barrio Fiesta in honor of the Holy Child, later becoming the patron saint of the area. Shortly thereafter, the barrio’s name was changed to Don Carlos in tribute to the late Congressman Carlos Fortich.
The transition to municipality status began with the issuance of Executive Order No. 161 by President Diosdado Macapagal on August 17, 1965. This order officially created the Municipality of Don Carlos, separating it from Maramag. The newly formed municipality included various barrios such as Don Carlos Norte, Don Carlos Sur, Sinangguyan, and several others.
The official recognition of Don Carlos as a municipality was further cemented by Republic Act No. 4800, enacted on June 18, 1966. This legislation delineated the municipality’s boundaries and established its administrative framework. The first general elections for municipal officials were held in 1967, with Honorable Teodolo M. Palma, Sr. serving as the first mayor.
The boundaries of Don Carlos were clearly defined, including northern, southern, eastern, and western limits based on local geographic landmarks and rivers. This structured approach ensured that the new municipality could manage its administrative functions and resources effectively.
The establishment of Don Carlos was characterized by its phased development of barangays. The legal basis for the creation of these barangays involved various national laws and provincial ordinances, reflecting the municipality’s need to accommodate its growing population and administrative requirements.
Don Carlos has since developed a robust political and administrative framework, with a history of dedicated local leadership. The municipality continues to evolve, guided by its foundational legislation and the ongoing commitment of its elected officials.
Executive Order No. 161, issued on August 17, 1965, by President Diosdado Macapagal of the Philippines, delineated the establishment of the municipality of Don Carlos in Bukidnon province, in accordance with Section 68 of the Revised Administrative Code. This executive order delineated various barrios, formerly under Maramag municipality, and constituted them into an autonomous municipality named Don Carlos, with its administrative hub situated in Don Carlos Sur. The order meticulously outlined the territorial boundaries of Don Carlos municipality, which began from a designated point at the junction of Pulangui and Maramag rivers, extending in a northwesterly direction along the Maramag river, and then due west to the east side of Sayre Highway.
Geography
Don Carlos is situated in the southern part of the province. It is located south of the City of Malaybalay, from Cagayan de Oro, from the Cotabato City, from Davao City, and from south of Manila. The town is bounded by the municipalities of Maramag in the north, Kitaotao in the south, Quezon in the east, Pangantucan and Kadingilan in the west. The town is known for its famous landmark, Lake Pinamaloy.
Geographic Location
Don Carlos is strategically situated in the southern part of Bukidnon’s 3rd District, within the coordinates 7°33′00″ to 7°38′00″ N latitude and 124°53′00″ to 125°57′00″ E longitude. It is bordered by Maramag to the north, Kitaotao to the south, Quezon to the east, and Pangantucan and Kadingilan to the west. The municipality is landlocked and features a diverse terrain of rolling hills, flat agricultural plains, and upland areas. Elevation ranges from 300 to 600 meters above sea level, making it well-suited for highland crop production.
Don Carlos lies 61 kilometers south of Malaybalay City and is regionally accessible from major urban centers such as Cagayan de Oro (161 km), Cotabato (180 km), Davao (160 km), General Santos (266 km), and Manila (1,575 km).
The municipality spans a total land area of 24,035.09 hectares, accounting for roughly 2% of Bukidnon’s total land area, and is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Approximately 97% of this area is classified as rural, while the remaining 3% comprises the urban core, primarily located in Don Carlos Norte and Don Carlos Sur.
The largest barangay by land area is Maraymaray (3,701.41 hectares), while the smallest is Cabadiangan (208.35 hectares). Other barangays with significant land areas include San Nicolas (1,156.68 ha), San Antonio East (1,154.36 ha), and Sinangguyan (1,305.61 ha).
Soil type The Municipality of Don Carlos covers a total agricultural land area of 24,035.13 hectares, distributed across 29 barangays. All soil types within the municipality are classified as suitable for agriculture, supporting the area's strong agrarian economy.
The dominant soil type is Kidapawan clay and Kidapawan clay loam, covering a combined area of approximately 12,020.76 hectares, which accounts for about 50.03% of the municipality’s total land area. This soil type is present in 23 barangays, making it the most widely distributed and utilized for crop production.
Following this is Adtuyon clay, covering 9,569.14 hectares or 39.82% of the total area. It is prominent in upland and rolling terrain barangays such as Maraymaray (with the largest single Adtuyon clay area at 2,413.01 ha), Sinangguyan, and Old Nongnongan.
Macolod clay accounts for 2,123.98 hectares or 8.84%, found primarily in barangays such as Maraymaray, San Nicolas, and Kibatang. This soil type is typically located in hilly areas and is prone to erosion, but suitable for crops like sugarcane and fruit trees.
The least represented soil type is La Castellana clay loam, which occupies only 321.24 hectares or 1.34% of the total area. It is found in small patches in barangays like Embayao and San Roque, and is noted for its good tilth and fertility, ideal for high-value vegetable and fruit crops.
Don Carlos has a diverse soil composition, with a strong dominance of Kidapawan clay types. This variety supports a wide range of agricultural activities across different elevations and terrains, reinforcing the municipality’s status as an agriculturally productive area in Bukidnon.
Topography The terrain of the municipality of Don Carlos is generally flat except the mountain range on the eastern part of the municipality. The highest elevation is above sea level and the lowest elevation is below sea level.
Slope Flat to gently sloping areas ranging in slope from 0-8% is the most prevalent terrain in the municipality, which covers 198.96 km2 (93.09%) of the total land area of the municipality. Moderately sloping to undulating lands ranging in slope from 8-18% occupies approximately 7.65 km2. Rolling to moderately steep lands, sloping from 18 to 30%, covers 4.19 km2 of land. Areas with slope above 30% covers 2920.09 km2.
Climate The municipality's climate falls under the third type. Climate under this type experiences rainy season in the months of April to September. The latest data from the DA shows that the months July to November registered the highest average annual rainfall that reached its peak in the month of July at .
Barangays Don Carlos is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Don Carlos was 73,592 people, with a density of .
Economy
Commerce and trade