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Davao City

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A beautiful view of Davao City's skyline from Abreeza Place Tower 1.

Davao City, officially the City of Davao, is a highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. It covers a huge area of 2,443.61 km² (943.48 sq mi), making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area. As of the 2024 census, it is also the third-most populous city in the country, after Quezon City and Manila, with 1,848,947 people.

Even though Davao City is part of the province of Davao del Sur, it is run separately from the province. The city is divided into three congressional districts and has 11 administrative districts with a total of 182 barangays.

Davao City is very important as the regional center of the Davao Region and the main trade, commerce, and industry hub of Mindanao. It is also called the Durian Capital of the Philippines. Nearby, you can find Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, which can often be seen from the city.

Etymology

The name of the Davao region comes from the Bagobo people who live there. The word davao is a mix of the names three Bagobo groups used for the Davao River. The Obos called the river Davah, the Clatta called it Dawaw, and the Tagabawas called it Dabo. For the Obos, davah also meant "a place beyond the high grounds," referring to areas near where the river meets the sea, surrounded by hills.

History

Precolonial era

The area now known as Davao City was once a forest home to Lumadic peoples such as the Bagobos and Matigsalugs, along with other groups like the Aeta, Maguindanaon, and Kagan. The Davao River was called Tagloc River by the Bagobos, Maguindanaons, and Tausugs who lived near its mouth.

Aerial view of Davao, 1935

Maguindanao era

A Maguindanaon leader named Datu Bago was given control of the Davao Gulf area by the Sultan of Maguindanao for helping fight the Spanish. He moved there in 1800 and built a fortress called Pinagurasan in 1830, which grew into a small city. By 1843, he was crowned Sultan, ruling Davao Gulf independently.

Spanish era

Davao City Hall was established in 1926 as the Municipal Hall when it was still a town.

The Spanish began exploring the Davao Gulf area in the 16th century but did not control it until 1842. They wanted to increase their income after losing colonies in the Americas. In 1848, Spanish forces led by José Cruz de Oyanguren landed and took over the area, founding the town of Nueva Vergara. Later, it was renamed Davao.

During the Philippine Revolution

When the Philippine Revolution ended in 1898, local representatives from Davao attended the Malolos Congress. However, American forces took control later that year.

Japan-town, Davao City (circa 1930s)

American period

Under American rule starting in 1900, Davao grew quickly as a center for agriculture. Many foreign businessmen, especially from Japan, settled there and turned forests and grasslands into large farms. The Port of Davao was built to export goods.

Second World War

During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Davao from 1941 to 1945. The city was heavily bombed, and the Battle of Davao was one of the longest and most destructive battles during the war.

Postwar growth

After the war, Davao became an important agricultural and economic center again. It grew peaceful and progressive through the 1950s and 1960s.

Social unrest, martial law, and the 1980s

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Davao faced unrest due to political tensions and economic problems. Some groups turned to violence, and there were many conflicts. Many ordinary people spoke out against the violence and worked for peace.

After the People Power revolution

After the 1986 revolution that removed President Marcos, new leaders took over in Davao. Rodrigo Duterte served as Mayor of Davao City for many years before becoming President of the Philippines.

Geography

Davao City is found about 946 kilometres (588 miles) southeast of Manila. It sits on the northwestern shore of Davao Gulf, across from Samal Island. From the city, you can see tall mountains like Mount Apo and Mount Talomo.

The city covers a large area of about 2,443.61 square kilometres (943.48 square miles). The land is hilly in the west and slopes down toward the southeast. Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, is located in the southwest part of the city. The Davao River flows through the city and empties into the sea at Barangay Bucana.

Mouth of the Davao River in Talomo District

Davao City has a tropical rainforest climate, which means it is warm and wet most of the year. Temperatures stay above 26 °C (78.8 °F) all year, and there is plenty of rain, especially in the summer. The area is rich in wildlife, with many bird species and plants that live only there, such as the beautiful waling-waling flower and the large Philippine eagle. Even though the region is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Davao City experiences only small earthquakes.

Main article: Barangays of Davao City

Demographics

As of the 2024 census, Davao City has a population of 1,848,947 people. The area around the city, known as Metro Davao, had about 2.77 million people in 2015, making it the third-largest group of cities in the Philippines and the biggest city in the southern part of the country called Mindanao. In 1995, the city reached over one million people, becoming the first city outside the main group of cities called Metro Manila to do so.

Residents of Davao City are often called Davaoeños. Most are from families that moved from places called Visayas, especially a group known as Cebuanos, with some from Luzon. There are also people from many different backgrounds, including groups that have lived in the area for a long time, called Lumads. Other groups include Tagalogs, Kapampangans, Ilocanos, and people from Moro groups such as Maguindanaons and Maranaos. There are also smaller communities of Chinese Filipinos, Japanese Filipinos, and more recent visitors from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, and Korea.

Davao City aerial view at night

Cebuano is the most commonly spoken language in Davao City, but Filipino (Tagalog) is used in schools and many jobs. Other languages spoken include Chavacano Davaoeño, Hiligaynon, and several local languages. Many people mix Tagalog words into their Cebuano speech because of influence from schools, media, and families.

Most people in Davao City are Roman Catholic Christians, making up 78% of the population. Islam is practiced by 4%, and other Christian groups make up eighteen percent. There are also smaller groups that follow other religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, animism, and those with no specific religion. The city is also the origin of the Restorationist Church called the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Looking north on San Pedro Street, Davao City

Economy

Davao City is part of the East Asian Growth Area, a group working together for better economic growth in Southeast Asia. The city is the largest economy in Mindanao and southern Philippines.

Agriculture is very important in Davao City. The city grows many fruits, such as pineapple, coffee, mangoes, pomeloes, bananas, papayas, mangosteens, and cacao. It is known for exporting these fruits. The city is also home to Malagos Chocolate, a famous chocolate brand, and is a big exporter of cacao. Local companies and big international businesses have offices and factories here.

The city has many shopping centers. Some well-known malls include Gaisano Mall of Davao, Abreeza, and SM Lanang Premier. New malls are being built, showing the city's growing commerce.

Culture and heritage

Davao City has many traditions and cultures from different groups of people. Because of Spanish history, many churches can be found in the city. Each village celebrates its special feast day with music and dancing. The biggest celebration is the Kadayawan Festival in August. It started as a harvest celebration and now shows the cultures of the tribes around Davao City. During this time, people dance, have parades, and show art from local artists.

The city also has a Chinatown where many Chinese people live. There is also a place where Japanese people used to live, and you can still see some Japanese buildings and a small temple there. Davao City has many different foods, like grilled meat and a special dish called kinilaw, made from fish mixed with vegetables and vinegar. Durian fruit is also very popular in the city.

Tourism

The Philippine eagle, the country's national bird and the largest eagle in the world, lives only in Davao. You can find beautiful orchids called waling-waling and tasty fruits like durians, marang, rambutans, pomeloes, and mangosteens here, often at lower prices than elsewhere. Popular places to visit include the Philippine Eagle Foundation and Nature Center, Mount Apo, Gap Farming Resort, the Davao Crocodile Park, Malagos Garden Resort, Eden Nature Park, and People's Park in the city center, famous for its sculptures and dancing fountain. Just off the coast lies Samal Island, part of Metro Davao, known for its beautiful beaches.

The city holds two big yearly festivals: Araw ng Dabaw (Day of Davao) on March 1, marking when the city was founded, and the Kadayawan Festival in August. In December, Pasko Fiesta sa Davao brings colorful Christmas lights and fun activities all around the city. Starting in 2024, a new festival called Duaw Davao (Visit Davao) is held every June. It highlights the city's attractions and includes music, art, color events, and sports. Previously, there was the Torotot Festival on New Year's Eve, where many people blew party horns together, but this is no longer held.

In 2011, over a million visitors came to Davao City, including both local and international travelers. The city welcomed many guests and enjoyed great economic benefits from tourism.

Government

Davao City has 182 barangays, grouped into three legislative districts. The city government is planning to add one more congressional district to better serve its growing number of people.

The city is led by Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Z. Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo S. Duterte II. Each of the three districts has its own representative in the government. The city council includes many members from each district to help make decisions for the city.

Transportation

Davao City has many ways to get around. On the roads, you can use multicabs, jeepneys, tricycles, buses, and taxis. Multicabs and jeepneys have special routes they follow all day and night. Tricycles help people travel on smaller streets, while taxis have their own routes too. In the mountains, people often ride habal-habal motorbikes to get around.

The city has special taxis that can use electronic cards for payment, and they have computers to help drivers find their way. There are many buses that go to other places in Mindanao and even to far-away cities like Pasay, Tagbilaran, Ormoc, and Tacloban.

There are big plans for new roads and trains in Davao City. One idea is a monorail called the Davao People Mover, and there’s also a big bus project to make travel easier for everyone.

By sea, Davao is linked to other cities by large ferries. The city has busy ports, including the Port of Davao, which is the busiest in Mindanao.

In the sky, Francisco Bangoy International Airport serves the city. Since 2024, it has flights to international places like Quanzhou, Singapore, Hongkong, Bangkok, and Doha.

Utilities

Davao Light and Power Company, an Aboitiz company and the third-largest electric utility company in the country, provides electricity to the city. It uses a gas power plant in the Bajada district and a coal power plant in the Toril district.

The Davao City Water District supplies water to the city. It gets water from mountain springs in the western part of the city and from underground or surface water sources. The water flows through the company's wells, sumps, and reservoirs. The largest water system is in Barangay Dumoy.

Healthcare

Davao City has many hospitals and medical centers, including the United Davao Specialists Hospital, Davao Doctors Hospital, and the Southern Philippines Medical Center. There are also special hospitals like the Tebow CURE Hospital, which helps children with bone problems and other health issues. Another important center is Ecoland Medical and Wellness Center, which offers basic health services and can handle small emergencies.

The city is also known for being the first in the Philippines to have a smoke-free policy, which started in 2002. This helps keep the air clean and protects people’s health.

Law and order

Law and order in Davao City is kept safe by the Philippine National Police and a special military group called Task Force (TF) Davao. This group works to protect the city from harmful activities and is connected to the Philippine Army.

The city has rules to keep everyone safe, like a curfew for young people and rules for businesses, such as stopping the sale of alcoholic drinks late at night. Motorcyclists must wear helmets, and cars need proper lights to drive in the city.

The city has a special center called the Public Safety and Security Command Center that helps watch over important areas using cameras and manage traffic signals.

The city works hard to make sure children are protected and has received awards for being a good place for children to live. It also has rules about health and safety, like anti-smoking laws and fire safety measures.

Sports

Davao City has many places where people can play and watch sports, such as the Davao City Recreation Center and Tionko Football Field. The biggest sports center is the Davao City Sports Complex, which hosted the 2019 National Games.

The city has local teams for sports like football and basketball. The Davao Football Association represents the city in national football events, and there are basketball teams like Goldstar Davao and Duterte Agilas. There are also teams from schools that compete in national competitions.

Cockfighting events, known as Sabong, are held in arenas around the city. In June 2015, Davao City hosted the country's largest cockfighting event, the sixth Annual Thunderbird Challenge.

Education

See also: List of colleges and universities in Davao City

The city government offers free education for children in primary (grade school) and secondary (high school) levels at public schools. Right now, all these schools follow the K-12 educational system, which is managed by the Department of Education. Davao City is home to six universities.

Media

Most media stations in Davao City are based in Shrine Hills, where the land helps them send signals far away. Many TV and radio stations have local offices in the city. These stations reach not just Davao City but also nearby areas.

Davao City has its own newspapers, like the SunStar Davao, Mindanao Times, and Mindanao Examiner, along with many national papers. There are also special religion-focused stations and community channels that you can watch on cable TV.

Main article: List of radio stations in Davao City

See also: List of analog television stations in the Philippines § Davao del Sur, and List of digital television stations in the Philippines § Davao del Sur

Cable TV Providers

Foreign relations

Because Davao City has many visitors from other countries and people living there from places like Japan, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, these countries opened special offices called Consulates-General. Other countries like Palau and the United States also have offices to help with questions.

The United States Embassy also has a virtual consulate. People can ask about travel, visas, and other questions by e-mail or chat. This virtual office works with schools such as Ateneo de Davao University, University of Mindanao, University of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross of Davao College and AMA Computer College.

Twin towns – sister cities

Davao City has several sister cities around the world, including:

Cooperation and friendship

Davao City also has friendly ties with:

Domestic cooperation

Within the Philippines, Davao City works with many cities, such as:

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Davao

Davao City has been home to many important people in different fields. Some of them are in business and politics, like Sara Duterte, the current Vice President of the Philippines, and Rodrigo Duterte, the 16th President of the Philippines. Others have made their mark in law, entertainment, religion, science, and journalism.

The city has also produced talented singers, actors, and leaders who have contributed to various areas of Filipino society.

Images

A scenic view of People's Park in Davao City, featuring lush greenery and a peaceful environment.
The beautiful San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City, Philippines.
A traditional portrait of a Bagobo woman from Mindanao, Philippines, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Bagobo people.
Map showing where Davao City is located in Davao del Sur, Philippines.
A scenic view of Mount Apo, a tall mountain covered in lush greenery.

Related articles

China
Japan
Philippine eagle
Cocoa bean
Indonesia
United States

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Davao City, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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