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davao city   island garden city of samal   davao del norte   davao del sur   davao oriental   compostela valley

   DAVAO >> Davao City

Endowed with a variety of picturesque landscape, Davao's topography dazzles: fruit plantation and orchid farms mantle volcano-fed hills and valleys. Virgin forests nurture rare wildlife. Coral highest peak mirror flat water. And the country's highest peak magnificently lords over the hinterland.

Just enchanting is its brilliant tapestry of harmony, woven from the diverse cultural threads of its people. In Davao, the contemporary fuses with the traditional as migrant settlers from all over the the country co-exist in peace with a fairly large expatriate community and numerous ethnic tribes who continue to live as they did centuries ago.

Davao is an anchor destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is a natural haven for both sedate and daring pursuit.

BRIEF HISTORY
The history of Davao is brief but interesting. It harks back to the past and brings to mind tribal wars, drum beats and ritual fires along the river banks which, according to some sources, gave origin to the word "Davao" from "Daba-Daba" meaning fire. The early inhabitants occupying the eastern shores of Davao were the Manobos, Tagacaolos, Guiangans, B'laans and Itas. In the western portion where the Mandayas and Bagobos. The Ysamals occupied the Samal and the Talikud Islands. Later, the Maguindanao's from Cotabato, Zamboanga and Jolo migrated to Davao and succeeded in driving the native inhabitants to the mountains.

BASIC FACTS
Total Land Area: 244,000 hectares
Population:1.2 Million (based on May 2000 National Census & Statistic Office Survey)
Territorial Jurisdiction: 3 Congressional Districts, 11 Political Districts, 180 Barangays
Languages: Pilipino, Cebuano, English, Chinese
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestantism, Islam
Climate: Davao enjoys a mild pleasant tropical climate with no pronounced dry or wet season and is practically free from typhoon. Average rainfall is up to 2,000 mm yearly
Transportation:
By air, the city is serviced by all major domestic airlines. International airlines likewise service the city thru Bouraq Airlines (Indonesia) and SilkAir (Singapore).
By Sea, the city is accessible by boat from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and zamboanga.
By Land, the city is accessible from any point in Mindanao, Leyte, Samar and Luzon.
Communication: The city has access to the world via airmail, cargo firms, direct telephone/cellular lines, paging systems and the world wide web.
Industry: Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry
Top Exports: Fresh and Processed banana, fresh pineapple, activated carbon, rubber, dessicated coconut, tuna, finished wood products and cement.

FESTIVALS
Araw ng Dabaw (March 10-16)
Kadayawan sa Dabaw (3rd week of August)

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