GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Mindanao rolled out the red carpet for the international community as the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) spearheaded a three-day Familiarization Mindanao Tour from September 26 to 28, 2025, hosting 25 resident foreign ambassadors and their spouses across SOCCSKSARGEN.
The initiative, organized in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the local government of General Santos City, and the Office of the Lone District Representative, showcased the region’s economic strengths, cultural wealth, and strategic role in global cooperation.
The delegation included representatives from countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas—including Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
During the welcome program at the General Santos City Mayor’s Office conference hall, Olie B. Dagala, representing MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, extended gratitude to the diplomats for joining the tour.
“MinDA remains steadfast in its commitment to the international community—to build bridges of cooperation, unlock investment opportunities, and co-create a future where Mindanao stands as a model of peace, progress, and partnership,” Dagala said.
For many of the visitors, it was their first glimpse of Mindanao beyond headlines. South African Ambassador Bartinah Ntombizadwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe, speaking on behalf of the group, praised the warm hospitality extended to them.
“Indeed, words cannot fully express our gratitude. Today, as we traveled around General Santos City, we witnessed its great potential. Some of us have never feasted on so much fresh tuna before. We feel truly blessed to be here, and we know that your effort in inviting us will lead to something significant,” she remarked.
The delegation paid courtesy visits to South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao, and Lone District Representative Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles. They were welcomed with vibrant cultural performances from the Blaan and Maguindanawon communities, underscoring the city’s living traditions.
Adding a touch of celebrity to the occasion, the ambassadors also met Philippine boxing icon and former Senator Manny Pacquiao, whose life story has long carried the spirit of General Santos onto the world stage.
The three-day journey gave the diplomats a closer look at Mindanao’s growth sectors, including the world-renowned tuna industry, farm tourism initiatives, and investment hubs. These visits aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to strengthen global partnerships and accelerate inclusive prosperity in Mindanao—seen as a key driver of agriculture, trade, and tourism in the national development agenda.
For MinDA and DFA, the Familiarization Tour is more than a showcase; it is a statement that Mindanao is ready to take its place as a hub of international collaboration. By bringing ambassadors closer to the island’s realities and opportunities, organizers hope to bridge perceptions with possibilities, ensuring that Mindanao’s promise is not only told, but truly experienced.