It is the birthplace of Islam and Christianity in Mindanao and the only Tagalog-speaking city in the south. Cotabato City is host to 3 Regional Administrations - Region 12, Region ARMM, and the Southern Philippine Council for Peace and Development. It is also considered the most historical city in Mindanao.

Historical Background
Cotabato City had witnessed more history than any other place in Mindanao. Its history dates back to the 15th century when Shariff Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary, landed along the banks of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and introduced Islam to the natives. Islam was the faith that moved the early settlers to communal life, and to establish the Sultanate of Maguindanao with its golden age ushered in by Sultan Dipatuan Qudarat during the 17th century the time when Cotabato City developed as the capital town of Maguindanao.

In the nineteenth century, when Sultan Makakua ruled, roads and wharfs were constructed which gave rise to the birth of modern day Cotabato. However, the then Municipality of Cotabato was first organized at the later part of the 19th century when the Spaniards established a military post at Barangay Tamontaka, one of the earliest Christian settlements.

On July 1, 1950, the then Municipality of Cotabato was made first class municipality under Executive Order No. 466. Nine Years later, on June 20, 1959, it was created into a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 2364.

Today, Cotabato City is the seat of two administrative regions: Region XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The City currently serves as the center for economic support activities (trade and finance), education and other support services such as social, physical, cultural and other basic services of Central Mindanao are offered in the city.

Geography/Area and Location
Cotabato City is located on the northwestern part of Maguindanao Province. Approximately, it is 698.9 nautical miles from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. On the north, the city is bounded by the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, with Rio Grande de Mindanao as its boundary; on the east by the Municipality of Kabuntalan; on the south by the Municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat and on the west by the Illana Bay. Cotabato City has a total land area of 176.0 square kilometers.

Climate
The city's climate is generally characterized by more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Compared to other regions in the Philippines, Cotabato has the lowest frequency of very cloudy or over-cast days. The average temperature in Cotabato City is 25.5 C. Seasonal temperature varies from 27.1 C in April.

Source:
Wikipedia