Write About Your Province and Win a total of 25 STEEM | Blog Writing Contest - 02 | DAVAO: THE PARADISE OF THE SOUTH
Every place has its own flavor, and my province offers vibrant hues in a variety of forms that will soothe your soul while providing a breathtaking landscape. Every view is unique in the organic world. The land's dips and sways, the flora's patterns and variety, the ever-changing sky, and the wind. There's a euphoric curiosity for all the possibilities ahead, each one brimming with surprises.
I was born in Davao de Oro, in the northern part of Davao City, where I finished primary school and was fortunate enough to continue my education at one of Davao City's prestigious universities. My father worked for the Agriculture Organization in Peru, and when he returned to the Philippines, his supervisor asked him to bring our family to Luzon so he will not return to Davao (Mindanao) and back to Laguna (Luzon). My education was completed at a prominent university in Metro Manila. I miss Davao because I am now residing in Laguna. I miss my friends and the delicious and abundant fruits, fresh kinds of seafood, and gorgeous landscape, such as Pearl Farm's picturesque beach, gorgeous flowers, as well as the delectable water that flows from the tap (one of the cleanest and potable water in the world).
Now, let me show you the Paradise of the South, my province, Davao.
A Snippet Of How Davao Got Its Name
According to local Davao historians, the title "Davao" comes from a phonetic mixture of three Bagobo subgroups' words, an important canal that empties into the Davao Gulf: the tribe Obos who live in the hinterlands of the "Davoh" river. It was also known as "Duhwow" by the Clatta or Guiangans, or "Davau" by the Tagabawa Bagobos, and "Dabu" by the Tagabawa Bagobos, referring to the settlements at the mouth of the Davao River, which are surrounded by high rolling hills.
History Of Davao
Spanish Era
- Davao was a small village made up of a number of organized barangays. Datu Bago was its ruler. Near the Davao River, this chieftain established his settlement. Don Jose Cruz de Uyanguren, a native of Vergara, Guipuzcoa, Spain, and a group of 70 men and women made the first recorded attempt to take control of the territory. Datu Bago was to be defeated by Uyanguren and his party in order for them to be able to take possession of the property. Their ship was outmaneuvered as they passed through the small Davao River bend passage. Datu Bago's troops assaulted them three months later, still plotting to dethrone the Datu and subjugate the entire region. Don Manuel Quesada, the Navy General of Zamboanga, arrived a few weeks later with a company of infantry and joined the attack on Datu Bago's settlement. When Datu Bago was defeated, the region was renamed Nueva Guipuzcoa, and the town of Nueva Vergara, which is now Davao, was founded in 1848. He became the first governor.
American Era
- When the Americans arrived, Nueva Vergara and its surrounding areas were renamed Davao, a district of Moro Province that would later become the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. Davao was founded as a district of the Moro province, which was established by the Americans in 1898 as part of Mindanao. In 1916, Jones Law renamed the Moro provinces Mindanao and Sulu. On July 1, 1967, under Republic Act 4867, Davao was divided into three provinces: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
DIALECT SPOKEN
Cebuano, Tagalog, Dabawenyo, Hiligaynon, Bagobo, Tagacaolo, Manobo, Maguindanao, Mandaya, Bilaan, Ilocano, Waray and others.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
Local tribes – Badjao, Bagobo, B’laan, Manobo, Mansaka, Mandaya, Matigsalog, Maranao, Tausog, Tagacaolo, Kalagan and others.
RELIGION
The two religions most widely practiced in Mindanao are Roman Catholicism and Islam. More than half of the population of the islands belongs to one of these two denominations.
Around 57 percent of the country's residents claim to be Roman Catholics, while 23.4 percent say they prefer Islam.
Davao Region has the highest proportion of Roman Catholics (26.50%), followed by Northern Mindanao (24.71%), Zamboanga Peninsula (17.10%), SOCCSKSARGEN (16.86%), and Caraga (13.39%).
EDUCATION
Davao prides itself on providing high-quality education to its citizens as one of the Philippines' most progressive areas. The Davao education system consists of both private and public educational institutions that strive to develop their students' full potential. One of these prestigious colleges and universities' major goals is to one day transform these young people into reputable, responsible, and globally competitive individuals.
- Universities/Colleges
Ateneo de Davao University, the Jesuit university in the Davao region, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Davao, University of Mindanao - Davao region's oldest and the first private, non-sectarian university in Mindanao, University of the Immaculate Conception - the oldest Catholic school in Mindanao, founded in 1905 by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, University of Southeastern Philippines - the first state university in the Davao Region, University of the Philippines Mindanao - the country's national university and premier institution of higher learning, serving as the U.P. System's flag-bearer in Mindanao and other Colleges like this new school of Malayan Colleges Mindanao, a sister school of Mapua University, Manila and other Trades and Arts Schools.
My Alma Mater when I was in High School
CULTURE AND HERITAGE
Five Lumad (Bagobo-Klata, Ata, Obu-Manuvu, Matigsalug, and Bagobo-Tagabawa) and 6 Moro (Sama, Maranao, Kagan, Iranun, Maguindanaon, and Taosug) tribes are the original inhabitants of Davao, it echoes in its tag line “Life is Here.” Each of the 11 tribes has its own tribal house and has in full display their musical instruments, colorful attires, and trinkets, even harvests from their own farms.
The young Ata tribe members being encouraged by their elders to learn and perform their cultural dances and rituals.
The tribal dwelling of the Kagan tribe is made from bamboo with detailed patterns burned in as accents for the walls.
The tribal houses are constructed using traditional materials and methods and are a reflection of each tribe's distinct culture. The walls of the Ata tribal house are made of tree bark, while the Bagobo-Tagabawas tribal house is made of skillfully woven flattened bamboo poles – the tribes build their houses from natural materials that are most readily available in their environment.
HEALTH CARE
There are 31 hospitals and tertiary centers in the city like the Davao Doctors Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, Ricardo Limso Medical Center, Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital (DMSF Hospital), Metro Davao Medical and Research Center, Adventist Hospital, MMG Hospital, CHDC Hospital, and the Southern Philippines Medical Center. In addition, CURE International, a non-profit organization that operates charitable hospitals and programs worldwide, operates the Tebow CURE Hospital, which is an orthopedic specialty hospital located in Davao City. It provides elective surgeries to both children and adults. Their primary charitable mission is to heal disabled children with conditions such as clubfoot, bowed legs, other bone deformities, untreated burns, and cleft lip.
Davao is also noted and has been praised by the World Health Organization for its smoke-free policy since 2002, the first in the Philippines.
ECONOMY
Agriculture remains the largest economic sector comprising banana, pineapple, coffee, and coconut plantations in the city. It is the island's leading exporter of fruits such as mangoes, pomelos, bananas, coconut products, pineapples, papayas, mangosteens, and cacao. The chocolate industry is the newest development in the city. Malagos Chocolate, developed here by Malagos Agriventures Corporation, is now the country's leading artisan chocolate recognized worldwide. Durian which is locally grown and harvested in the city, is also a notable export, although banana is the largest fruit export in the city. Some of the fish products include yellowfin tuna, brackish water milkfish, mudfish, shrimp, and crab. Most of the fish catches are discharged in the fishing port in Barangay Toril, which are then sold in the numerous markets within the city.
Davao is part of the East Asian Growth Area, a regional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia. DAVAO
The city has a projected average annual growth of 2.53 percent over a 15-year period; Davao was the only Philippine city to reach the top 100. As the largest city economy in Mindanao, Davao City also serves as the largest local economy in the southern Philippines. Davao
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The Davao Region is situated in the southeast of the island of Mindanao, close to the Davao Gulf. Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, and Bukidnon from its northern border. It is bordered on the east by the Philippine Sea and on the west by the provinces of Central Mindanao. The Davao Region is bordered to the east by Micronesia in the Southern Pacific Ocean, and to the south by the Celebes Sea. DAVAO
One Of Tacoma's Sister City since 1994 (Tacoma, Washington)
Davao, in the Philippines' southeastern corner, is known as the Orchid Capital. It has a pleasant temperature all year. Its location on the Davao Gulf, as well as the fertile land, has made Davao the agricultural and industrial capital of the Philippines.
Davao: A HAVEN IN THE SOUTH
Davao City is a place of lovely and welcoming people who have smiles that are infectious. Mostly Visayan-born, bred, and migrants are its constituencies. Few realized that there were indigenous people belonging to separate ethnic communities among the majority of the population that continue to practice their traditions, as evidenced by its arts and crafts.
Davao is home to the tallest peak in the Philippines, Mount Apo as a jumping-off place for climbing.
The home to the monkey-eating Philippine eagle.
The "Durian Capital of the Philippines".
Icons inherently identified with Davao are the DURIAN. Durian smells like hell but tastes like heaven fibrous and spiky fruit is famous in Davao that nobody will leave the place without having a taste of Durian. It can be fresh fruit, a coffee mix with fresh durian fruit. a durian ice cream, durian ice cream with chocolate syrup topped with nuts, durian candies, durian shake, or whatever you want to taste on various drinks or foods with durian fruit on it or just eat the durian fruit and you will keep coming back for more...
One of the safest spots in the Philippines is Davao City. In terms of cleanliness, protection, mineral content, and taste, Davao City's tap water was checked for consistency and was ranked as one of the best in the world. There is no need to boil, distill, purify and apply minerals. No less than has been said by the World Health Organisation!
The crimes are depreciating and low as the authorities and citizens are in great accordance with the law and highly follow it. For its high livability index, Davao is also cited in Asia, where people can quickly turn between fast-paced business and calming relaxation.
PEARL FARM RESORT GAZEBO
A beautiful and breathtaking wonders of nature in a hot summer breeze in Samal, Davao City. Crystal-clear islands and beaches and coral reefs, and the view of a stunning sunset. The view that can captivate any onlooker's eyes, like an angel falling out of the heavens to disappear. The sunsets in the beautiful Island Garden City.
Mountain Villa Nature Resort, Marilog Davao
The breathtaking and picturesque views of Marilog Tribal Village. There are exuberant valleys with exotic flowers and fruits outside the town. Moving hills and valleys with waterfalls, springs and caves, trees with endangered plants and animal species. You can roam the beautiful and breathtaking place around. Take your pictures as your souvenir of the place. Bring your tent if you want to stay and sleep on the ground and make a bonfire and have a barbeque party. It's cold up there just like Baguio City, it's time to bring out your jackets or sweatshirts and windbreakers.
Eden Nature Park and Resort in Toril, Davao
Another place to go to and spend your short vacation is Eden Mountain Resort in Toril, Davao City. You can have a whole day enjoying the place where you can also view the spectacular Mt. Apo, taking pictures, have a fresher air, have a picnic, or ride the Zipline if you are not afraid of heights. You better pay a visit to Davao and explore the splendid beauty and learn more about the city. Add it to your bucket list.
Lip-Smacking Foods To Taste While Staying In Davao
Davao is best known to have a variety of Fresh Sea Foods. It's up to you if you want to eat it RAW or COOKED. Be it complicated or easy cooking. And also they have a variety of fruits that are well-known throughout the Philippine Archipelago. Below are Dabawenyos' favorite dishes and lip-smacking delicacies and fruits.
TUNA PANGA
Tuna Panga cooked in Adobo style. You will love how the adobo flavor seeped in the tuna that made the tuna more flavourful in every bite. A tempting meal for a famish tummy.
KING CRABS
Boiled crab with coconut milk is one of the favorites among Dabawenyos with lots of spices and young shredded coconut meat inserted in it. Crab Fat is really a BONUS if you choose to buy female crabs. Be sure that it is not full moon when you buy it because you will not find crab fats inside it. Folks say that during a full moon, crabs shed their outer skin (periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles during a full moon.)
KILAWING TUNA
There's no need to cook on fire, that is why it is called "kilawin". This is famous in Davao and all over Mindanao. Clean the fish, slice it into cubes, add vinegar and spices like onions, ginger, calamansi, chili or you can even add a cucumber. My version: I tried it myself, but I add a little milk to make it more appetizing...Whew!
DAVAO POMELO
Another fruit that brings Davao to mind is pomelo or suha or buongon. Very succulent fleshy citrus fruit. Davao Pomelo is light pink in color. You can also make a yummy salad!
Abundant Fruits That You Will Love In Davao During Kadayawan Festival
Its name derives from the pleasant greeting "Madayaw" which means fine, precious, superior, or beautiful from the Dabawenyo term. The festival is a celebration of creation, a celebration of the blessings of nature, the richness of civilization, the benefits of the harvest, and the serenity of life a salute to the Lumad, a community of indigenous people living in the region, held every third week of August. Kadayawan Festival is one of the most colorful among many festivals in the Philippines.
ORIGIN OF KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL
It was said that long ago, during a bountiful harvest, Davao's ethnic tribes living at the foot of Mount Apo would converge to perform a ritual that serves as their thanksgiving to the gods, especially to "Manama (the Supreme Being). Different farming tools, fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice, and corn grains are being shown on mats in this ritual as villagers offer their gratitude and thanks for the abundance of the year. The ethnic tribes will sing, dance, and make their heavenly protectors' offerings. These practices have changed during modern times, but this tradition of thanksgiving or "pahinungod" is still very much observed by modern-day Davaoeños.
One of the highlights of the celebration is the quest of Hiyas ng Kadayawan, the festival's most anticipated activities. Unlike the beauty contests, this quest is for the young woman who understands her culture and traditions. Without a beauty pageant, a festival won't be complete. What separates this pageant from others is its mission of encouraging and helping people appreciate their culture.
The most awaited and the principal highlight of the event is the Kadayawan Festival Dance on the sidewalks. With their vivid and lavish Kadayawan Festival dance outfits, contingents from different parts of Mindanao display their award-winning choreography while displaying their imagination!
I hope I've brought you deeper into the surreal, or perhaps deeper into your own self. Turning the pages like a window, understanding what one should know, and describing the ideas and concepts that intrigued your interest in my province.
Sincerely,
@diosarich
Nice post sis Diosarich! Indeed, Davao as the second largest Island in the Philippines is rich in cultural heritage amongst the other provinces with distinct traces of Spanish colonization. This is the sad part when our Lumad brothers and sisters were forced to go deeper in the forest so to speak because of the large plantations that flourished in different parts of the island. We only see their smiling faces during festivals but in reality, they're one of the indigenous tribes bin remote areas. That's the irony of it. Other than that, Davao is a progressive place because of its area coverage which is equivalent to the whole City of New York.
Gain advantage through systems that centralize wealth and cause the very poverty people are chastised for being pushed into. Artifacts of culture and the word property were once associated with nature or quality that Indigenous Tribes had. It was when the greedy sought to control the masses for their own benefit, that the meaning of the word became "possession" and "right to control."
Napakaganda ng davao..hindi.lang mga resorts pati food grabe ..hope to visit davao soon.thanks for sharing ate
Salamat Sis. Sana makabisita ka ng maenjoy mo ang mga tanawin at pagkain ng Dabawenyo.
I want to visit Davao City soon...
Come and have fun in Davao. Life is here!
Ang ganda naman ng lugar..
Salamat Migoy. Sana makapasyal ka rin sa lugar namin.
Soon ate..
Thank you for your entry ant thank you for taking us to Davao!
You are welcome Sir @long . I am hoping that you can physically visit my place and have fun.