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friendlyfilipinos.com
DAVAO CITY
“Land of Exotic Beauty and Rich Cultures”
Welcome to the most crime-free city in the country, one of the most alluring gateways to the Philippines, the least exposed of the country's urban areas, one of the top twenty most livable cities in Asia, the country's melting pot of diverse culture, and the world's largest city by land area, DAVAO CITY! As claim by local historians, the name Davao is derived from the ancient Bagobo word daba-daba, which means, "fire.” The same fire that makes the people warm and hospitable to everyone who visits Davao. Supporting the fact that “Tourists are guarded not only by the police, but also by the people around."
HISTORY
Way before the Spaniards arrived in 1848, Davao Region was already an ethnic melting pot. Members of the Manobo, Tagacaolo, Guiangan, Bilaan and Aeta tribes occupied its eastern shoresWhile the western part of Davao Region was inhabited by the Bagabo and Mandaya tribes. Samal and talicud Islands belonged to the Samal tribe. The Spaniards saw upon their arrival a community of Bagobos, Mandayas, B’laan, Mansakas, Manobos, Atas, Tagacaolos, Guiangan and the Moros. Oyanguren and his group built a Christian settlement and a small chapel which was named Nueva Vergara in honor of Uyanguren’s hometown in Spain. In 1858, a military government was established in Nueva Vergara and was named the fourth district of Mindanao. Since that time on, Nueva Vergara became known by its native name, Davao. It was recorded in 1890 that Davao had a total number of 30,000 inhabitants, only 30 percent of which were Christians. During the Spanish regime the economic condition of the people did not improve at all. There was no significant economic activity established. No industry was developed though Davao had a great economic potential.
DAVAO CITY BY NIGHT
American occupation started in 1890 with the arrival of Major Hunter Ligget. Paving the way to the birth of a Military administration. It was during this early years of administration that Davao’s having rich potential in agriculture was noticed. Consequently in 1900, private farm ownership and transportation and communication facilities improved so much, an economic growth in the region was evidently seen. It was also in this period specifically before the outbreak World War Il. that Davao was already a home to a big population of Japanese migrant workers. Japanese migrants have contributed so much to the economic advancement of Davao. They develop vast abaca plantations used in processing hemp and other agricultural products like rubber, cotton and coffee.
Kichisaburo Ohta, a Japanese entrepreneur was granted permission to exploit vast territories. Hence, transformed these territories into abaca and coconut plantation. More and more Japanese plantation workers arrived in Davao shores , that in 1903, these Japanese have created for themselves a little Japan. They had their own school, newspaper, an embassy, and even a Shinto Shrine. Japanese established extensive abaca plantations around the shores of Davao Gulf and developed large-scale commercial interests such as copra, timber, fishing and import-export trading. Agriculture then became the lifeblood of the province’s economic prosperity.
1936:THE CREATION OF THE CITY
In March 16, 1936, Assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo of Davao sponsored a bill in Congress making Davao a chartered city. On October 16, 1936, the said bill was signed into law by President
Manuel L. Quezon. In March 16, 1937, Davao was formally inaugurated as a charter city by President Elpidio Quirino. Ater Thirty Years, , Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the prospects of striking it rich in the country's third largest city.
The coming of the Japanese in 1941 brought fear among Davaoeños, and because of which, a big population evacuated to the outskirts of the city. When peace and order was re-establsihed under the terms of Mayors Alfonso Oboza and Donato Endriga, most evacuees came back to the poblacion. Davaoeños were then engaged in “buy and sell”, farming and government employment. Schools in the city were opened and the Nippongo language was taught to the students, side by side with the National Language and English. However, only few students attended classes. Life was not in normal condition due to the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers.
After the Second World War, Davao staged its march to progress. The principal industries then were logging, copra, banana, corn, abaca, ramie, mining, and fishing. When the logging industry declined, banana production took over as the leading export product. The rest of the 80’s and the early part of the 90’s saw a vibrant and dynamic Davao City teeming with economic developments as investments poured into the city due to favorable business climate brought about by its natural advantages and the peace and order condition.
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