History of the Economic Growth of Davao

Posted on December 5th, 2007 in History by Davao Hotel Guide

The name Davao was derived from the blending of the phonetic words of the subgroups of the Bagobo tribe. The words are Davoh, Duhwow, Davau, and Dabu. These words refer to the Davao River, which is the main waterway of the area and empties to the Davao Gulf and the settlements that live in the area.

The Bagobo tribe went to this place for commerce and trade. They will barter their goods from the forest in exchange for necessary commodities such as salt.

The influence of the Spaniards was able to penetrate in Davao only in the year 1847 through an expedition with the leadership of Don Jose Oyanguren. The expedition was able to establish a settlement of Christians in an area in Davao that is now called the Bolton Riverside. This area before is a swamp of mangroves.

During the expedition of Don Jose Oyanguren, Datu Bago, a chieftain of the Moros, who have their settlements at Davao River banks, ruled Davao. The Bagobo tribe called this river once as Tagloc River. When Datu Bago was defeated by Oyanguren, the place was renamed as Nueva Guipozcoa, which is the name of Oyanguren’s home back in Spain.

Oyanguren became the first governor of Davao. Oyanguren made some efforts to develop the area of Davao in whatever industry it has but it was a failure.

During the American regime in the 1900s, there is a growth of the ownership of private farms in Davao. The facilities for communication and transportation were largely improved. Through these improvements, the dreamed economic growth in Davao is paving its way already.

During this time also, coconut and abaca plantations begin to emerge in Davao through Kichisaburo Ohta, a Japanese entrepreneur, which was granted by the government to exploit the vastness of the land area of Davao. In 1903, the Japanese workers of the plantations came to Davao. Because of their large number, they create a community in Davao called Little Japan where the Japanese workers established their own newspaper, embassy, school, and a Shinto Shrine.

The Japanese community did not just establish coconut and abaca plantations in the coastline of Davao Gulf but they also developed the timber, fishing, copra, and import-export trading industry in Davao. Through the Japanese community, the Filipinos in Davao learned the various techniques of agriculture, thus making agriculture the main contributor for the economic growth of Davao.

On March 16, 1937, Davao was officially declared as a charter city. As the years went by, Davao became the third largest city in the entire Philippines and has been highly developed as an urban area that attracts local and foreign investors and tourists as well.

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The Then and Now of Davao City

Posted on October 31st, 2007 in History by Davao Hotel Guide

In 1848, when the Spaniards came headed by Oyanguren, they saw several communities of Mandayas, Bagobos, Mansakas, B’laan, Atas, Manobos, Guiangan, Tagacaolos, and Moros in Mindanao. The Spaniards made a Christian settlement named Nueva Vergara and it has a small chapel.

Neuva Vergara was known as Davao as its native name. During the Spanish regime, the economic condition of Davao was not improved. There was no developed industry and no significant economic activity established in Davao.

During the American regime, a Military administration was established in Davao. During this time, Davao was at last noticed as having a great potential in the agricultural industry. Before World War II, Davao has become the home of many Japanese migrant workers.

These workers have contributed largely to the development of abaca plantations in Davao and other agricultural crops like rubber, coffee, and cotton. The development of the agriculture industry in Davao led to its economic advancement.

On March 16, 1936, a bill was sponsored in the Philippine Congress making Davao a chartered city in Mindanao. Then President Quezon signed the house bill on October of the same year. Davao was officially made a chartered city on March 1, 1937.

When the Japanese soldiers invaded in 1941, fear struck the people of Davao. A big chunk of city’s population moved to the city’s outskirts. When peace and order was regained, the evacuees moved back to the city.

The people of Davao engaged themselves in merchandising, government employment, and farming. Schools were opened within the city where languages like Nippongo, Tagalog, and English were taught. Despite of the peace and order restoration, life was still not normal because of the atrocities of the Japanese soldiers.

When the World War II ended, the progress of Davao started to march forward. The main industries of the city were copra, logging, corn, banana, ramie, abaca, fishing, and mining. With the decline of the logging industry, the banana production industry became the leading product exporter.

Davao City became dynamic and vibrant in the 80’s and 90’s era of the Philippines. The favorable climate of the city and its sustained peace and order situation attracted many investors. The outpouring of investments helped the city advance its economic developments.

Throughout the Mindanao Island, the City of Davao was made into a center of trade and commerce. Domestic and international business boomed thus making the commercial and industrial establishments in the city increase.

Today, Davao City is a highly urbanized area. The people of Davao are proud of their hometown. The City of Davao has become one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines.

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The Archdiocese of Davao

Posted on October 29th, 2007 in History by Davao Hotel Guide

With the arrival of the Augustinian Recollects in 1848 and followed by the Jesuits, Davao was made into a Catholic community. Davao City is under the province of Davao del Sur. The city is facing the Davao Gulf on the east side of the province. Throughout the years, the City of Davao has remained to be the principal commercial center not just within the three Davao provinces but also in the east-southeast region of Mindanao.

On December 17, 1949, Davao’s Prelature Nullius was established. On July 11, 1966, the Prelature Nullius was elevated into a Diocese of Davao. Then finally, it became the Archdiocese of Davao on June 29, 1970. The Archdiocese is comprised of the following places: the City of Davao, the Island of Samal, and the Talicud Municipality in Davao del Norte.

The following suffragan Dioceses are under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Davao: Mati, Digos, and Tagum. These three cities are presently the capital cities of the three provinces of Davao. The titular patron of the Archdiocese is Saint Peter the Apostle. Every 29th day of June, the feast of their patron saint is celebrated in Davao. Of all the population within the Archdiocese of Davao, 88% are Catholics.

Held on November of 1982, the First Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly of Davao (or APAD 1) was celebrated. The purpose of this and other conferences is to confirm the work of God and the Holy Spirit among the people of Davao. There were several pastoral conferences that were also held with this ideal in mind. The people under the Archdiocese of Davao are disposed to listen and accept Jesus Christ and the Good News willingly when properly and adequately taught.

Through the innovations from the Vatican Council 11, the Archdiocese strengthened the structures that build the people’s faith through establishing schools, seminaries, and parish churches in Davao. The pastoral programs of the Archdiocese were identified and given more focus to give service to the people.

Through the implementation of the Archdiocese’s mission, the people of Davao were ask to have a radical conversion, to have a renewed integral evangelization, to be an active Church of the Poor, to live a life of integrity, and to have a restoration of the Filipino values.

The Archdiocese has 59 diocesan and 68 priests that are administering to the faithful in Davao. The Archdiocese is comprised of 75 parishes that are under the five vicariates.

The Archdiocese also assists in the Catholic educational institutions of Davao that include three seminaries, six colleges, two universities, and 14 high schools.

The Archdiocese that was established in Davao gives the people the balance in their spiritual life and temporal life.

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