Perhaps, unlike more prominent Philippine festivals which started out as an output of a planned concept, Tuna Festival sprung from a spontaneous idea. In 1998, during the 30th City Charter Anniversary, the General Santos City Tourism Association (GSCTA) - a consortium of hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, and other tourism-related establishments, then chaired by Mrs. Liwanag Ferrer - staged a one of a kind affair at the then Halieus Mall (now RD Plaza), that showcased gastronomical tuna cuisine through culinary competitions, exhibits, and such other visual and taste delights anchoring on the bounty of the sea with emphasis on tuna as the central thematic relishment.

It was an affaire d' extraordinaire that so much impressed then City Mayor Adelbert W. Antonino. It dawned on him that the theme could actually be a festival material. He was enthused to suggest it to GSCTA members to have it staged every year during the city's anniversary. It was on that juncture that the Tuna Festival germinated.

Not long after, the succeeding year's festival was planned out. Through SP Resolution No. ____ series of 1999, Tuna Festival was institutionalized as the carrier activity of the Annual City Charter Anniversary with GSCTA as the lead entity.

Thus, the First tuna Festival took form and flesh in 1999, a year after its spontaneous inception. Together with the GSC local government under the Tourism Office, and the GSCTA, the celebration of the city's anniversary finally found a carrier event that appropriately brought to fore the essence of General Santos City's cityhood. Thenceforth, the city celebrated the charter anniversary via Tuna Festival, the brainchild of former City Mayor Adelbert W. Antonino. After all, what better way to celebrate the charterhood than by placing in the limelight the prime economy that gave the city its distinction and the prime product that made the city become what it is best known for today: What else, tuna, no less, hence the name "Tuna Festival".

The first tuna festival was an inspiration in itself and was successful on its own. But since it was the maiden staging, it had an experimental feel, raw in a certain way, but definitely far from being bland.

In May and June of 2000, an unfortunate occurrence hit the city. A series of bombing incidents rocked the metropolis which relatively caused uneasiness in the economy and affected the peace and order situation. The prevailing circumstances presented a rather daunting challenge for the organizers to perk up the September festivities and breathe life into it.

This time around, it was the Office of the City Mayor - with its team of prolific and creative young minds led by the Mayor's Chief of Staff Tommy Nograles with Edgar Cadiente, Ronald Velasquez, Antoniette Gay Llido, Gerardo Pilapil, Jr., Mae Encarnado and Cora Tito - that spearheaded the staging of the 2nd Tuna Festival with the City Tourism Office headed by Warren Manilay, Jing Velos and Bing Belonio of the GSC Tourism Association as co-organizers of the event. With the substantial help (in terms of participation and resources) of the SoCSKSarGen Federation of Fishing Industries and Allied Services, the 2nd Tuna Festival dramatically defined what Tuna Festival is.

The repackaging did the works. Fresh concepts were introduced; new flavors were added; zest and vivre were induced. All in all, the new wrapping and the more polished framework gave the 2nd TunaFest a different brew, and yes, a flavorful concoction. The creative team saw to it that the actual activities would outstrip the concepts they have prepared. As one of the event names they have wittily coined would put it, like "Tunang Gasutoy", was how the cloud of anxiety had cleared.

Indeed, the prevailing challenge was hurdled. The 2nd Tunafest was a proof that brilliant packaging of an already good material could yield more than what is expected. To say that the flavor and feel of the Tuna Festival was formulated during the 2nd TunaFest would be an overstatement - as the Festival is being perfected every year - but nevertheless it was during this time that Tunafest made its distinct character, engendered by savvy experimentation and coupled with unbounded creativity of the people resolved to make things happen.

The third and fourth TunaFest were a brand on their own altogether. In the forefront of carrying the event was the GSC Chamber of Commerce. The 2nd TunaFest served as a box of goodies from which stimulations for better, bigger and bolder concepts were derived.

This year, on its 5th staging, TunaFest still continues to brew a tastier meal. In all the five years, the SoCSKSarGen Federation of Fishing Industries and Allied Services, along with the small and big fishing establishments, were there with undaunted support.

Needless to say, the people of General Santos City - who have been resilient through all the tests, always with positive reception every time, every year, with their unswerving passion for the city's being - have always remained to be the inspiration. The festivity is after all, just a revelry. What really makes the difference is the people who remain connected. And it is this event that binds the peoples stronger.

General Santos City's Tuna Festival has indeed cruised far and wide and had left significant marks on the shores it had docked on. The lyrics put together by Edgar Cadiente could not have been more true;

Layag... (v. sail; put out to sea)

the epitome of a journey
to a vast expanse of the ocean
towards the horizon
the course has been plotted:
General Santos City in the sphere of festival prominence
via the Tuna Festival
there is no stopping the journey
the sails of the ship are hoisted
the engine is ready
the water is calm
and the wind is blowing

in the realms of festival distinction
you will make a trademark
the world will revel...

sail on General Santos City