Lanao
The name LANAO traced its roots to the Maranao term “ranao” meaning ‘lake’. According to its pioneers, a lake existed within the locale providing a rich source of
water for domestic and drinking purposes. The said lake was now within an agricultural estate at Purok 3 owned by the Macasaets, who to this day continued to draw water from it. The said body of water had diminished in size. From the 1920s to the early 1940s, Lanao was densely a forested area
inhabited by Manobos, then later by Christian settlers. Its original land area encompassed those of present-day Barangays Kalasuyan and Magsaysay, a portion of Barangay Sudapin and that of the Poblacion.
Early Christian settlers found the area to be a gateway to rich farmlands despite the fact that at that time the area was said to be malaria-infested. The lack of humidity caused a proliferation of mildew-like fungi on trees and rocks known as ‘dapaw’ – a Cebuano term for mildew.
Among those who first settled in the area include Mr. Santiago Espiritu, a Bicolano who arrived in Lanao in 1912 and subsequently married Manobo laws, Egay Ubo; Spouses Valle; Mr. Simplicio Luna, a waray who was feared by the Manobos; Spouses Naval Diaz, Quiros, Caboneta, Pascual and Guevarra who arrived in the 1930s. At about the same time, the Bureau of Lands established a pioneering base of operations at the Old Valle residence at Purok 4. In 1935, a local Manobo tribal leader, Datu Siawan Ingkal, established Barrio Lanao together with the early Christian settlers, some three kilometers west of the Poblacion. Lanao used to be the settlement and trading center of Kidapawan even before the Japanese occupation when Kidapawan was still a district of Pikit. Owing to that, it has the distinction of being referred to as the “Mother of Kidapawan – a de facto Poblacion where trade and commerce flourished. Chinese businessman like Te Lun, Uy Juansi, Te Ping, and the old owners of the LUI Enterprise in Davao City put up business establishment along both sides of the national highway. Likewise, the pioneering Lanao Central School was established at Purok 2 – one of the reasons why Lanao then was the settlement center. When
World War II broke out, Lanao became a militarized zone with the Japanese building - a barracks at Purok 1, in an area presently occupied by the Bernardo and Bongco families. According to old folks, many local residents were suspected of being anti-Japanese guerillas or sympathizers were summarily executed within the vicinity of the barracks. Among those who perished was Judge Iliseo Dayao, Sr. The years following, Liberation saw Lanao’s continued growth as a community in terms of population and income. In the 1950’s a bus terminal of Aboitiz-owned Mindanao Motor Line was put in place at Purok 2. In the 1960s, a road was constructed by the Rico Logging Company, which maintained a logging deck at the same purok. In 1967, the Lanao Community High School was founded by then Barangay Captain Arturo Salcedo. The said secondary education institution preceded even Kidapawan National High School.
Lanao was formally created a Barangay of the Municipality of Kidapawan in 1959 by virtue of Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 050. In 1988, the Sangguniang Bayan passed a Resolution declaring Lanao as an Industrial Zone.
