General Santos
Discover General Santos
General Santos or "GenSan" is a city in the province of South Cotabato in Soccsksargen. It is known as "The Tuna Capital of the Philippines" due to its tuna industry. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame is that boxer Manny Pacquiao is a native. While administratively independent from South Cotabato, this guide treats General Santos as part of the province. It is home to about 722,000 people (census, 1 July 2024)
Taste of General Santos...
Tuna is widely available in the city and is a part of the local cuisine along with a lot of other fresh seafood. Popular dishes include grilled tuna belly dipped in soy sauce with onions and chili, and Sinuglaw that comprises grilled meat mixed with Kinilaw (Filipino vinegar-based ceviche), while fried banana and turón is made from fresh local bananas. A wide range of dining establishments have popped up elsewhere in the city offering local and foreign cuisine.
Culture & Religion
Culture
People from GenSan are mostly Roman Catholics. There are also many Protestants and Muslims in the city. Every February, the city celebrates the Kalilangan Festival. And every September as also the celebration of the city chartered anniversary the Gensan Tuna Festival. Cebuano and Hiligaynon are the main languages spoken in General Santos City and the surrounding communities. Tagalog and English are spoken as the National Language. There is a jeepney from the General Santos Airport to the bus terminal for ₱50. Walk out of the airport terminal and you see the jeepneys in the car park. The Port of General Santos is served by limited ferry services from Davao City. There are also vans going from Glan (57 km) for ₱80. Takes one hour. The Van Terminal is next to the KCC mall. There are also big jeepneys going from Lagao Market going to Glan. The a/c bus fare from General Santos to Koronadal is ₱95 and takes 1½ hours.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of General Santos.
Several festivals are celebrated in General Santos: Tuna is widely available in the city and is a part of the local cuisine along with a lot of other fresh seafood. Popular dishes include grilled tuna belly dipped in soy sauce with onions and chili, and Sinuglaw that comprises grilled meat mixed with Kinilaw (Filipino vinegar-based ceviche), while fried banana and turón is made from fresh local bananas. A wide range of dining establishments have popped up elsewhere in the city offering local and foreign cuisine.
Climate
The average temperature in the city is 28 °Celsius with a maximum of 36 °C. There are only two seasons: the wet season starts in June and continues to October, the dry season then carries on to May. General Santos is outside the typhoon belt. People from GenSan are mostly Roman Catholics. There are also many Protestants and Muslims in the city. Every February, the city celebrates the Kalilangan Festival. And every September as also the celebration of the city chartered anniversary the Gensan Tuna Festival. Cebuano and Hiligaynon are the main languages spoken in General Santos City and the surrounding communities. Tagalog and English are spoken as the National Language. There is a jeepney from the General Santos Airport to the bus terminal for ₱50. Walk out of the airport terminal and you see the jeepneys in the car park. The Port of General Santos is served by limited ferry services from Davao City. There are also vans going from Glan (57 km) for ₱80. Takes one hour.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere is a jeepney from the General Santos Airport to the bus terminal for ₱50. Walk out of the airport terminal and you see the jeepneys in the car park. The Port of General Santos is served by limited ferry services from Davao City. There are also vans going from Glan (57 km) for ₱80. Takes one hour. The Van Terminal is next to the KCC mall. There are also big jeepneys going from Lagao Market going to Glan. The a/c bus fare from General Santos to Koronadal is ₱95 and takes 1½ hours. The a/c bus fare on Mindanao Star or Yellow bus lines from General Santos to Davao costs ₱240. It takes up to 3 hours. The Mindanao Star one-stop bus with aircon from Gensan to Davao costs ₱240 and takes 3 hours. The Yellow bus lines non-stop fare from Gensan to Davao is ₱300 and takes 2½ hours. There are 5 Rural Transit buses a day from General Santos going to Cagayan de Oro the last one departs at 7AM. The bus fare from General Santos to Valencia Bukidnon is ₱500 and the trip takes 7 hours....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Jeepneys, multi cabs and tricycles (₱15) are the main modes of transportation within the city. White air-conditioned taxis, with meters installed, are also available. Several festivals are celebrated in General Santos: Tuna is widely available in the city and is a part of the local cuisine along with a lot of other fresh seafood. Popular dishes include grilled tuna belly dipped in soy sauce with onions and chili, and Sinuglaw that comprises grilled meat mixed with Kinilaw (Filipino vinegar-based ceviche), while fried banana and turón is made from fresh local bananas. A wide range of dining establishments have popped up elsewhere in the city offering local and foreign cuisine.
Money & Budget
Tuna is widely available in the city and is a part of the local cuisine along with a lot of other fresh seafood. Popular dishes include grilled tuna belly dipped in soy sauce with onions and chili, and Sinuglaw that comprises grilled meat mixed with Kinilaw (Filipino vinegar-based ceviche), while fried banana and turón is made from fresh local bananas. A wide range of dining establishments have popped up elsewhere in the city offering local and foreign cuisine.
Language & Talk
Cebuano and Hiligaynon are the main languages spoken in General Santos City and the surrounding communities. Tagalog and English are spoken as the National Language. There is a jeepney from the General Santos Airport to the bus terminal for ₱50. Walk out of the airport terminal and you see the jeepneys in the car park. The Port of General Santos is served by limited ferry services from Davao City. There are also vans going from Glan (57 km) for ₱80. Takes one hour. The Van Terminal is next to the KCC mall. There are also big jeepneys going from Lagao Market going to Glan. The a/c bus fare from General Santos to Koronadal is ₱95 and takes 1½ hours. The a/c bus fare on Mindanao Star or Yellow bus lines from General Santos to Davao costs ₱240. It takes up to 3 hours.