One of the most beautiful and largest Philippine cities is Davao. It is located south of the Philippine archipelago in the island of Mindanao the 2ndlargest Philippine island. This progressive city is notably famous for Mount Apo, the Philippine Eagle and for its durian fruits and durian related products such as candies and others.Here are some of the most interesting facts about the City of Davao.1. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao and is regarded as the de facto capital of the island.2. Davao City is the largest city outside of Metro Manila and the 4thlargest in the Philippines in terms of population. Only the cities of Quezon, Manila and Caloocan are larger.3. In Spanish it is Ciudad de Davao, in Filipino its Lungsod ng Dabaw and in Cebuano, it is Dakbayan sa Dabaw.4. This highly urbanized and independent city is the regional center of Davao region and is located 946km southeast of Manila the Philippine capital city.5. With a population of over 1.4 million, the city is the 87thfastest growing city in the world and declared as one of the 10 Asian Cities of the Future.6. In terms of land area, the city is largest in the entire Philippine archipelago with an area of 293.78km2while Metro Davao has a total area of 4,041.39km2.7. The population density of Davao City is 600/km2and the residents of the city are called Davaoeo.8. It is home to the highest peak in the Philippines Mount Apo with an elevation of 2,954 m. it is the most favorite destination of hikers and mountain climbers in the country.9. With numerous beaches and resorts, the city of Davao is tagged as the Durian and Mangosteen because these fruit trees are widely cultivated and sold in the area.10. Another big industry in the city is sashimi and is the reason why Davao City is also known as the Sashimi Capital of the Philippines.

11. The local term for sashimi is kinilaw and is abundantly and commonly serve in many restaurants in the city. It is also commonly served and eaten in every home in the city.12. The motto of the city which is known by numerous nicknames is Love, Peace and Progress From Island to Highlands.13. It was incorporated as a town in 1848 and incorporated as a city on March 16, 1936.14. The first name given to Davao City is Nueva Vergara by Don Jose Cruz de Uyanguren.15. Davao City is part of Region IX and politically speaking, it is divided into 3 districts with 182 barangays.16. One of the most popular attractions of the city is Kadayawan Festival one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. It is tagged as the King of Festivals.17. It is celebrated annually to give thanks to their bounty harvest of flowers, fruits and other produce as well as the wealth of the citys cultures.18. The two most popular museums in Davao City are Davao Museum and Mindanao Folk Arts Museum.19. There are numerous shopping malls in the city and it has its own 911 Emergency Response team.20. There are several institutions of higher learning in the city with the Ateneo De Davao University, University of Mindanao, Immaculate Conception University, UP-Mindanao among the most popular.

21. Davao City is accessible by air, by land and by water. Its seaport is among the busiest in the country and its international airport is one of the best in Asia.22. The most commonly spoken languages in the city include Davaoeo, Boholano, Tagalog, English, Chabacano/Spanish, Ilongo, Ilocano, Chinese, Japanese, Bagobo, Mansakan and Kapampangan.23. With an efficient and effective medical services and programs, Davaoeos have one of the highest life expectancy in the Philippines at 70.24. Among the many and most popular nicknames of Davao City include Crown Jewel of Mindanao, City of the Beautiful Waling-Waling, Eco-Adventure Capital of the Philippines, Davao EcoCity, Home of the Philippine Eagle and Financial Center of Mindanao.25. Additional nicknames of Davao are Fruit Basket of the Philippines, The City of Royalties, The Royal City of The Philippines, City of Peace and Prosperity Philippines' Asian City of the Future, City of the Land of Promise, Philippines Most Livable City, Philippines' Most Clean City and Philippines Little Japan.

Davao CityFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFor the other uses, seeDavao.Davao CityDakbayan sa Dabaw

Highly Urbanized City

City of DavaoLungsod ng Dabaw(Tagalog)

From top, left to right, and bottom: Davao City skyline facing southward with cloud-covered Mt. Apo at the upper right, Davao City Hall, People's Park, Marco Polo Hotel of Davao, Bonifacio Monument, Davao City skyline facing westward towards Davao Gulf and Samal Island

FlagSeal

Nickname(s): "City of Royalties" "Crown Jewel of Mindanao" "Fruit Basket of the Philippines" "Eco-Adventure Capital of the Philippines" "Durian Capital of the Philippines" "Philippines'Little Japan" "Silicon Gulf"

Motto: Life is Here

Anthem: Tayo'y Dabawenyo (We are Davaoeo)

Map of Davao City and the province of Davao del Sur

DavaoCityLocation within the Philippines

Coordinates:0704N12536ECoordinates:0704N12536E

CountryPhilippines

RegionDavao Region(Region XI)

ProvinceDavao del Sur(geographically only)

Districts1st to 3rd Districts of Davao City

IncorporatedJune 29, 1848

CityhoodMarch 16, 1936

Founded byDon Jose Cruz de Uyanguren ofGuipuzcoa, Spain

Barangays182

Government[1]

MayorRodrigo R. Duterte

Vice MayorPaolo Z. Duterte (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod)

Area[2][3]

City2,443.61km2(943.48sqmi)

Urban293.78km2(113.43sqmi)

Metro3,964.95km2(1,530.88sqmi)

Elevation22.3m (73.2ft)

Population(2010)[4]

City1,449,296

Density590/km2(1,500/sqmi)

Metro2,262,518

Metrodensity570/km2(1,500/sqmi)

Demonym(s) Davaoeo (male) Davaoea (female)

Time zonePST(UTC+8)

ZIP code8000

Dialing code82

LanguagesDavaoeo Cebuano,Filipino,English,Chavacano de Davao,Davawenyo languageand other minority languages (Tausug,Manobo,Maranao,Chinese)

Patron SaintSaint Peter

Income class1st

Websitewww.davaocity.gov.ph

Davao City(Cebuano:Dakbayan sa Dabaw,Filipino:Lungsod ng Dabaw,Malay:Kota Davao,Spanish:Ciudad de Dvao) is a city onMindanao,Philippines. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,449,296 people, making it thefourth-most-populous city in the Philippinesand the most populous in Mindanao.[4]It is the center ofMetro Davao, the third most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines (as of 2010 Census with a population of 2.26 million, afterMetro Manila's 11.86 million andMetro Cebu's 2.55 million). With a total land area of 2,444 square kilometers,[2]the city is thelargest in the country in terms of land area. The city serves as the main trade, commerce, and industry hub ofMindanaoand the regional center ofDavao Region. Davao is home toMount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. Davao is also known as the "Durian Capital" of the Philippines.For geographical and statistical purposes, Davao City is grouped with the province ofDavao del Surbut is governed independently from it. The city is divided into three congressional districts, which are subdivided into 11 administrative districts with a total of 182barangays.Davao City is constantly described by its residents and the national media as arguably among one of the safe cities in the Philippines, however this has been met with criticisms especially by thepeople from Metro Manila. EtymologyThe region's name is derived from itsBagoboorigins. The worddavaocame from thephoneticblending of threeBagobosubgroups' names for theDavao River, a major waterway emptying into theDavao Gulfnear the city. TheaboriginalObos, who inhabit thehinterlandsof the region, called the riverDavah(with a gentle vowel ending, although later pronunciation is with a hardvorb); the Clatta (or Giangan/Diangan) called itDawaw, and the Tagabawas called itDabo. To the Obos,davahalso means "a place beyond the high grounds" (alluding to settlements at the mouth of the river surrounded by high, rolling hills).When asked where they were going, the usual reply wasdavah(pointing towards the town).Dawawalso refers to a trading settlement, where forest goods are bartered for salt and other commodities.[citation needed]HistorySpanish EraAlthough Spaniards began to explore the Davao Gulf area as early as 16th century,Spanish influencewas negligible in the Davao region until 1844, when the Spanish brigadier general Agustin Bocallan claimed the area in what is now Davao City for the Spanish Crown, despite opposition by the Sultan ofMaguindanao.[citation needed]Official colonization of the area, however, began in 1848 when an expedition of 70 men and women led by Jos Cruz de Oyanguren ofVergara, Spain, established aChristiansettlement in an area of mangrove swamps which is now Bolton Riverside. Davao was then ruled by a chieftain, Bago, who had a settlement on the banks of the Davao River (then called the Tagloc River by the Bagobos).After Cruz de Oyanguren defeated Bago, he renamed the regionNuevaGuipzcoa, founding the town ofNueva Vergara(the future Davao) in 29 June 1848[10]to honor of his home in Spain and becoming its firstgovernor. He was reported to have peacefully conquered the entire Davao Gulf region by year's end, despite a lack of support from the Spanish government inManilaand his allies.[citation needed]By Saturnino Urios, who labored among theMorosof Hijo in 1892, divided the population[citation needed]; those who wanted to live among the Christians left Hijo, and were resettled in Tigatto, Mawab and Agdao under the supervision of Francisco Bangoy and Teodoro Palma Gil. These groups generally refer to themselves today as Kalagans.American PeriodThe development of large-scale plantations faced a labor shortage, and workers were contracted fromLuzonand theVisayas(including Japanese laborers from the Baguio, Benguet road construction). Many Japanese became landowners, acquiring lands by government lease or buying American plantations.[citation needed]

Japan-town, Davao City (circa 1930s)Because of increasing Japanese influence in the region's economy, on March 16, 1936, congressman Romualdo Quimpo from Davao filed Bill 609 (passed as Commonwealth Act 51), creating the City of Davao from the Town of Davao (Mayo) and Guianga District. The bill called for the appointment of local officials by the president.[11]Davao was inaugurated as acharter cityon October 16, 1936 by PresidentManuel L. Quezon. The City of Davao became provincial capital of a unitedDavao Province. It was one of the first two towns inMindanaoto be converted into a city (the other was Zamboanga). By that time, the city's population was 68,000.[citation needed]Second World War[edit]

Davao Times, December 8, 1942 under Japanese OccupationMain articles:Battle of MindanaoandBattle of DavaoOn December 8, 1941, Japanese planes bombed the harbor and from December 20, 1941landed forcesand began an occupation of the city which lasted to 1945. Davao was among the earliest to be occupied by Japanese forces, and the city was immediately fortified as a bastion of Japanese defense. The city was subjected to extensive bombing by forces led byDouglas MacArthurbefore American forces landed inLeytein October 1944. TheBattle of Davaotowards the end ofWorld War IIwas one of longest and bloodiest battles during the Philippine Liberation, and brought tremendous destruction to the city, setting back the economic and physical strides made before the Japanese occupation.Sovereign Philippines[edit]In 1967, the Province of Davao was divided into three provinces:Davao del Norte,Davao OrientalandDavao del Sur. The city of Davao became part of Davao del Sur; no longer the provincial capital, it became a commercial center of southern Mindanao. Davao has become an ethnic melting pot[citation needed]; it attracts migrants from throughout the Philippines, lured by prospects for prosperity in the country's second-largest city.[citation needed]During the 1970s, Davao became regional capital of southern Mindanao; with the reorganization, it became the regional capital of theDavao Region(Region XI) and highly urbanized city in the province of Davao del Sur.The city witnessed mayhem as it entered the early 1980s. It became a focal point for conflict between criminals,communistguerrillas and leftists.[citation needed]The conflict inside the city became severe that murders in the streets were the norm at the time. It lasted until 1985, when the locals formed the vigilante group "Alsa Masa" (People's Rise) to drive out such elements from the city.[12]Real social stability in the city, however, began in the earnest whenRodrigo Dutertefirst assumed office as the city mayor in 1988. The city was still considered that time as the country's murder capital.[13]GeographyDavao City is approximately 588 miles (946km) southeast of Manila over land, and 971 kilometres (524nmi) by sea. The city is located in southeastern Mindanao, on the northwestern shore ofDavao Gulf, oppositeSamal Island.Topography

Mouth of theDavao Riverin Talomo District

Mount Apois the tallest mountain in the Philippines.Davao City's land, totaling about 2,443.61 square kilometres (943.48sqmi),[2]is hilly in the west (the Marilog district) and slopes down to the southeastern shore.Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, is located at the city's southwestern tip. Mount Apo National Park (the mountain and its surrounding vicinity), was inaugurated byPresidentManuel Quezon (in Proclamation 59 of May 8, 1936) to protect the flora and fauna of the surrounding mountain range.[citation needed]TheDavao Riveris the city's primary drainage channel. Draining an area of over 1,700km2(660sqmi), the 160-kilometre (99mi) river begins in the town ofSan Fernando, Bukidnon. The mouth of the river is located at Barangay Bucana at Talomo District.Climate[edit]Davao has atropical rainforest climate(Kppen climate classificationAf), with little seasonal variation in temperature. Average monthly temperatures are always above 26C (78.8F), and average monthly precipitation is above 77 millimetres (3.03in). This gives the city a tropical climate, without a truedry season; while there is significant rainfall in winter, most precipitation occurs during the summer months (see climate chart, below).

[hide]Climate data for Davao City, Philippines

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear

Average high C (F)30.9(87.6)31.2(88.2)32.3(90.1)33.0(91.4)33.0(91.4)31.6(88.9)31.4(88.5)31.6(88.9)31.8(89.2)32.1(89.8)32.1(89.8)31.4(88.5)31.9(89.4)

Daily mean C (F)26.4(79.5)26.6(79.9)27.3(81.1)28.0(82.4)28.0(82.4)27.2(81)27.0(80.6)27.1(80.8)27.3(81.1)27.4(81.3)27.4(81.3)26.9(80.4)27.2(81)

Average low C (F)21.9(71.4)22.0(71.6)22.3(72.1)23.0(73.4)23.0(73.4)22.9(73.2)22.7(72.9)22.7(72.9)22.8(73)22.8(73)22.7(72.9)22.4(72.3)22.6(72.7)

Averageprecipitationmm (inches)114.7(4.516)99.0(3.898)77.9(3.067)144.9(5.705)206.7(8.138)190.1(7.484)175.9(6.925)173.2(6.819)180.1(7.091)174.8(6.882)145.7(5.736)109.7(4.319)1,792.7(70.58)

Average precipitation days171412111519181717192020199

Source:PAGASA[14]

1. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao and is regarded as the de facto capital of the island.2. The local term for sashimi is kinilaw and is abundantly and commonly serve in many restaurants in the city. It is also commonly served and eaten in every home in the city.3. It was incorporated as a town in 1848 and incorporated as a city on March 16, 1936.4. The first name given to Davao City is Nueva Vergara by Don Jose Cruz de Uyanguren.5 One of the most popular attractions of the city is Kadayawan Festival one of the most famous festivals in the Philippines. It is tagged as the King of Festivals.6. There are numerous shopping malls in the city and it has its own 911 Emergency Response team.7 .Davao City is accessible by air, by land and by water. Its seaport is among the busiest in the country and its international airport is one of the best in Asia.8. The most commonly spoken languages in the city include Davaoeo, Boholano, Tagalog, English, Chabacano/Spanish, Ilongo, Ilocano, Chinese, Japanese, Bagobo, Mansakan and Kapampangan.9. Additional nicknames of Davao are Fruit Basket of the Philippines, The City of Royalties, The Royal City of The Philippines, City of Peace and Prosperity Philippines' Asian City of the Future, City of the Land of Promise, Philippines Most Livable City, Philippines' Most Clean City and Philippines Little Japan.10. With numerous beaches and resorts, the city of Davao is tagged as the Durian and Mangosteen because these fruit trees are widely cultivated and sold in the area.