REGION XI- DAVAO REGION

I. Introduction
Davao Region or Southern Mindanao, designated as Region XI, is one of the regions
of the Philippines, located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao. Far from the Moro
settlement that the Spaniards found when they first arrived here in 1848, the city of Davao
has grown into a trading and financial hub of Mindanao and that of the East Asean Growth
Area (Eaga).
Administrative Divisions
Davao Region comprises of 5 provinces, 6 cities, 43 municipalities, and 1,162
barangays.

Province City Municipality

Compostela Valley Nabunturan Laak, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Mawab,
Montevista, Monkayo, New Bataan, Pantukan

Davao del Norte Tagum Asuncion, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong,

New Corella, San Isidro, Sto. Tomas, Talaingod

Davao del Sur Digos City Bansalan, Hagonoy, Kiblawan, Magasaysay,

Malalag, Matanao, Padada, Santa Cruz, Sulop

Davao Occidental, Malita Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria,
Saranggani

Davao Oriental Mati Baganga, Banay-Banay, Boston, Caraga, Cateel,

Gov.Generoso, Lupon, San Isidro, Tarragona

Table 1.
Administrative Division of Region XI
II. History 

Before 1967, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, together with Davao Oriental,
Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur used to be a whole province simply known as Davao.
This original province was split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del
Sur when Republic Act No. 4867 was signed into law on May 8, 1967 by President
Ferdinand Marcos.
Meanwhile, Compostela Valley was used to be part of Davao Del Norte, until it was
made independent in 1998 through the virtue of Republic Act No. 8470, signed by
President Fidel V. Ramos on January 30, 1998.
And recently, by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, Davao
Occidental was the newest additional province in the region. RA 10360 was passed by the
House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and December 5, 2012,
respectively, and signed by President Benigno Aquino III on January 14, 2013.

III. Physical Geography

A. Size of the Region

The region covers a total land area of 20,357 sq.km. Its premier city is Davao City
which has an area of 2,443.6 sq. km. Compostela Valley occupies a total land area of 4,667
square kilometers. This represents 24.7 percent of the total land area of  Region XI (Davao
Region). Davao del Norte is the smallest of the region’s provinces, covering a land area of
3,463 sq. kilometers or 18.4% of the entire region. Davao del Sur has total land area of
5,164 sq. km, Davao Oriental has 5,164 square kilometers and Davao Occidentl has
2,163.45 square kilometres.

B. Territory

Davao Region is located in the Southeastern portion of the island of Mindanao

surrounding the Davao Gulf. It is bounded on the north by the provinces of Surigao del Sur,
Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon. In the east it is bounded by the Philippine Sea; and in the
west by the Central Mindanao provinces. Within the broader geographic context, the Davao
Region area faces Micronesia in the Southern Pacific Ocean to the east, and the Eastern
Indonesia through the Celebes Sea to the south.

Davao City, the premiere city of Mindanao, is located in the northeastern part of the
province, at the head of the gulf. In terms of land area, Davao City is the world's largest city
(244,000 hectares). The mighty Davao river runs through the city. Davao is divided into
eight political district : baguio and Paguibato in the north; Calinan and Tugbok in the
central part; Bunawan, Bahangin and Talomo in the east ; and Toril in the south. The capital
of Davao del Sur is Digos, found in the central part, 57 kilometers south of Davao City.

C. Map

D. Topography
Figure 1. Philippine Map Figure 2. Map of Region XI
 The region’s topography is dominated by peninsular and island topography
characterized by extensive mountain ranges extending along the western border, in the
northern central area and in the northwestern area leading to the peninsula in the
southeast with uneven distribution of plateaus and lowlands. It has a coastline
of 1,600 square kilometers.

Figure 3. Topography of Region XI

With a land area of 6,377.6 sq.km., the province
is composed of sandy beaches and outlying islands; agricultural plains and valleys;
rainforests; swamps; rolling hills and mountains including the Philippines' highest peak,
Mt. Apo (3,144 meters).

Landforms

Davao Gulf is a gulf situated in the southeastern portion of

Mindanao in the Philippines.

Mount Apo.
Figure 4. Davao Gulf
Pantaron Mountain Range. in the Philippines, Mt. Apo is the
highest point with an elevation of 3144 Meters above sea level,
making it the Grand Father of all Philippine Mountains and the
dream mountain of every Filipino mountaineer.

.Apo
Mount Apo is one of the must see and experience for every adventure tourist or backpacker
who visits the country specially in the Davao Province where it lies.

Davao River. The Davao River basin is the third largest river

catchment in Mindanao and is the largest of Davao City's nine

Figure 6. Davao River

 principal watersheds, namely Lasang, Bunawan, Panacan, Matina, Davao, Talomo, Lipadas,
and portions of Inawayan and Sibulan.

Tudaya Falls

Deeply hidden within the mountains near the Mount Apo

National Park in Sitio Tudaya of Barangay Sibulan, at Sta Cruz,
Davao Del Sur lies a towering majestic beauty called Tudaya
Falls - a  thundering drop of mighty gush of waterfalls that
cascades into a basin of cool, crystal clear waters.
daya Falls

Mount Sibulan.
Mount Sibulan is a mountain and is located in Province of
Davao del Sur, Davao, Philippines. The elevation above sea
level is 1292 metres. Variant forms of spelling for Mount
Sibulan or in other languages: Mount Sibulan (fil), Mount Sibulan. Figure 8. Mt. Sibulan

Water formation

Davao Oriental Baganga-Mahan-Ub River, Bitanagan River, Cateel River,

Dapnan River, Manurigao River, Sumlog River
Davao Del Sur Bunawan River, Digos River, Ilang River, Lipadas River,
Mainit River, Malita  River, Padada River, Sibulan River,
Talomo River, Tamugan River
Davao del Norte Lasang River(also in Davao del Sur), Saug River, Tuganay
River
Compostela Valley Kingking River, Matiao River, Naboc River

Table 2. Water Formation in Region XI

IV. Demographics
 A. Population

Province Number of Population (2015 census)

Compostela Valley 736,107
Davao del Norte 1,016332
Davao del Sur 632,588
Davao Occidental, 316,342
Davao Oriental 558,958
Total Population: 3,260,327

Table 3. Population in Region XI

B. Famous people

Rodrigo Duterte

President of The Philippines

Rodrigo Duterte was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Southern

Leyte, Philippines. The son of a regional governor, he graduated
from law school in 1972 and joined the City Prosecution Office of
Davao City. Duterte became Davao City mayor in 1988, and was
drigo Duterte
reelected six times after forging a reputation for being tough on crime. He earned a
decisive victory in his country's 2016 presidential election, but soon drew criticism for his
support of extrajudicial killings and threats to cut diplomatic ties with the U.S. Duterte's
rise from the legal ranks to politician began when he was named special counsel at the City
Prosecution Office of Davao City in 1977. He became assistant city prosecutor two years
later, and in 1986 he was elected vice mayor of Davao City. Elected mayor in 1988, Duterte
sought to crack down on criminal activity by imposing a strict curfew and drinking laws.

Elenita Dumlao

Elenita Dumlao is one of the most highly regarded living

artists in Davao, and rightly so.  Her unique vision brings
 Davao art that stimulates the viewer’s imagination and gets people to wonder.  Many of her
artworks are visually dynamic with numerous swirls of multiple colors, organic forms, and
several have symbolism that touches our collective feelings for family, loss, the beauty of
nature, and more importantly Life. Several of her pieces are like windows into landscapes
in imaginary worlds, drawing us in and evoking a sense of exploration and wonder.

Erich Gonzales

One of today’s young faces in the showbiz industry was born and
raised in Davao City until her early teenage years. Erich started
her showbiz career at the age of 14, when she joined as a
contestant of the reality talent search Star Circle Quest. Her
popularity boomed after her lead role in the TV series Katorse.
After having a successful love team with Enchong Dee and team up
with Mario Maurer, she appears once again in the everyday
primetime slot, as she becomes part of the biggest television series
of ABS-CBN for 2013. Titled Juan Dela Cruz, she is paired up
Figure 11. Erich Gonzalez
once again with Noy co-star and Prince of Teleserye Coco
Martin as his leading lady. The show immediately became number one in national TV ratings
during its pilot episode and is expected to continue throughout its run.

Kristine Zhenie Lobrigas Tandingan

(born March 11, 1992 in Digos, Davao del Sur, Philippines), more
popularly known as KZ Tandingan, is a Filipino singer who rose to
fame after winning the first season of The X Factor Philippines in
2012

KZ Tandingan started singing as a child but had to stop when she

was in her junior year in high school after suffering from a throat
problem. Tandingan is an alumna of University of Southeastern
Philippines and had graduated with a degree of Bachelor of
z Tandingan
 Science in Biology. Before she joined The X Factor Philippines, Tandingan was part of a
local acoustic band.

Justice Antonio Carpio

Born in Davao City, Philippines, Justice Antonio T. Carpio was sworn

in as member of the Supreme Court on October 26, 2001.

Justice Carpio obtained his law degree from the College of Law of
the University of the Philippines  where he graduated valedictorian
and cum laude in 1975. He placed sixth in the 1975 Bar
Examinations. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics
from Ateneo de Manila University in 1970.  In  his student days,
e Antonio Carpio Justice Carpio was Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Philippine
Law Journal of the U.P. College of Law. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Guidon, the school
paper of Ateneo de Manila University. He also served as Managing Editor of the Philippine
Collegian, the school paper of the University of the Philippines.

Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio

Also Known As: "Inday Sara". She is from Davao City, Davao
del Sur, Davao Region, Philippines, born at May 31, 1978.
She is Daughter of Rodrigo Duterte Sister of Paolo Duterte.
Sara Duterte is a Filipina politician who served as Mayor of
Davao City from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013, and will
began serving again from June 30, 2016.

Figure 14. Sara Zimmerman Duterte

Scottie Thompson

Figure 15. Scottie Thompson
was born on 12th July 1993, in Padada, Davao del Sur,
Philippine. His name is named after Scottie Pippen. His
father was also a basketball player who played in the
commercial leagues in Davao del Sur. Thompson is currently
dating Pauline Fajardo. The couple has been dating for a
very long time. The duo shares several pictures on their social
sites like Instagram and Twitter. However, they haven't
mentioned anything about getting engaged or married. 

Jay Durias

Jay is the frontman of the South Border, a pop and R&B

band that traces its roots from Davao City. He is a composer,
singer, songwriter, and arranger. Jay’s band, Southborder,
came into national prominence in 1996 when they launched
their first self-titled album, which included a Jimmy
Antiporda song entitled “May Pag-Ibig Pa Kaya.” They
interpreted the song in the Metro Manila Pop Music Festival
Figure 16. Jay Durias
earlier that year. Their song “Kahit Kailan” was awarded 1996
Song of the Year by various radio stations. This gave them their first big hit.

C. Ethnic Groups

Ubo or Manobo
Manobo simply means
“people” or “person”; alternate
names include Manuvu and Minuvu.
The term may have originated from
“Mansuba,” a combination of man
(people) and suba (river).
Figure 17. Manobo or Obo
 Manobos are concentrated in Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental,
and Surigao Del Sur. The Manobo usually build their villages near small bodies of water or
forest clearings, although they also opt for hillsides, rivers, valleys, and plateaus. The
communities are small, consisting of only 4-12 houses. They practice slash-and-burn
agriculture.
The Ubo are a Manobo sub-tribe who inhabit the more isolated mountains of
Southwest Cotabato in the area known as Datal Tabayong, as well as, more southerly Davao
del Sur. As of last count, they numbered close to 17,000 (OSCC, 1987); a follow up on their
numbers in subsequent years has proved difficult.
Known for their intricate casting, the Ubo fashion fine weaponry and jewelry that
they believe possess souls, making it harder for the maker to part with them. Agriculturally,
they practice swidden, a slash-and-burn farming, oft planting and harvesting rice, root
crops, and vegetables for consumption. Like the Bagobo, the Ubo believe in multiple deities
headed by a central figure, Diwata (God); they're animist, they also believe in ancestral
spirits and unseen beings inhabiting the animate and inanimate objects found throughout
their environment. In civic matters, the political leader and Datu (Filipino chieftain) of the
village attains his position by virtue of wealth; speaking ability and knowledge of
customary law, known as fendan. The primary obligation consists of settling disputes
among members of a family, neighbors, and the community. When a fine is set and/or
imposed by the Datu, the accused has to pay it to the aggrieved party; if he's unable to, then
he will become servant to the one who pays for him, otherwise known as dok.

 Mandayas

Consisting of both the non-

Christian and non-Islamic, the
Mandaya are found throughout Davao
Oriental and Davao del Norte,
Mindanao. Their name denotes the
“first people upstream” and derived
Figure 18. Mandayas
from man
“first” and daya “upstream or upper
portion of a river”. They are shifting cultivators who depend largely on swidden farming
(slash-and-burn) and supplement it with fishing, hunting-gathering, and planting of abaca
as a cash crop. Mandaya jewelry, on the other hand, are fashioned at home pending the
availability of material(s). Jewelry is used as a measure of one's socio-economic status
among the Mandaya women; no young Mandaya woman, single or married ventures out
without donning a piece of jewelry. Oftentimes, silver was used for fashioning jewelry;
brass, in the form of brass casting, was copied from the Muslims. Music is also an important
component of their culture, oft times incorporating various musical instruments and
dances in their celebrations and rituals. Mandaya riddles and proverbs were often retold as
folk songs that reflected the people's collective attitude towards life and the world. Two
such examples are the oyog-oyog (lullaby) and the bayok (love and adventure songs).
Mandaya costume motifs were characterized by block designs, line patterns, rickracks,
scrolls, curvilinear motifs, and diamond crosses; sometimes, incorporating a crocodile
motif done at various levels of abstraction.
 
Kalagan

The Kalagan ethno-linguistic

group belongs to the Malayo-
Polynesian group of and is part of the
Davawenyo family.  Basically, it is
identical as Tagakaolo, with some
Tausug, Maguindanaon, and Islamic
terminology added to the mix. 
Figure 19. Kalagan

Older Kalagan speakers, for instance, continue to use their native language,
especially those who do not interact with the Bisaya. Nonetheless, many of the Kalagans
have managed to retain their knowledge of Arabic.  The native Filipino Muslim group
known as Kalagan is found in the Davao region, notably Davao City, Tagum in Davao del
Norte, and Sirawan and Mati in Davao Oriental.  Also, there are populations dispersed in
Davao del Sur.  Kalagan was derived from the word kaag, which meant “whisper.”
The Kalagans are the Islamized-indigeneous people in the Western Davao gulf area. 
They became Muslim most likely during the middle of the 19th century due to political
pressure and/or influence of the Tausug migrants of Davao, extensive exposure and/or
contact with the communities of their Maguindanaon neighbors and Inter-marriages of
Kalagan and Maguindanaon and/or Tausug. They're renowned as agriculturalists,
cultivating rice, corn, abaca, and coconut for cash crops, whereas their counterparts living
along the coast, practiced fishing.

Mansaka

The name Mansaka is a

combination of man (“first”) and saka
(“to ascend”), and is almost identical
to the meaning of Mandaya: “the first
people to climb the mountains or go
upstream.” Mansaka can be found in
Figure 20. Mansaka
Davao Oriental. The Mansaka’s traditional clothing
distinguishes them from other tribes. The cloth and its patterns are handwoven. Jewelry is
an important part of the attire of both genders.

D. Religion

Practiced Religion in Davao Region

4,000,000 3,646,453

3,000,000
Total Number

2,000,000
1,000,000 638,032
167,879 329,510 102,297 4,147
0
lic m ns ls
i st
o
te
d
ho Isl
a tio i ca Cr or
Ca
t
li a el i p
ffi ng n
tr
e
an a Ev
a ia
m us l es No
Ro ig
io Ig
el
rR
the
O

Religions
 Roman Catholic and Islam are the two religions most widely spread across
Mindanao. These two denominations together cover the religious affiliation of more than
half of the islands’ population.
V. Economy
Known as the “Crown Jewel” of Mindanao, Davao City is the center for trade and
business in the southern part of the country. It is regarded as the most important part of
Mindanao in terms of economic activities and the third most important in the country. This
city has a very competitive market and it’s economy has been steadily growing in the last
two decades. Investments have been continuously pouring in as well.

Leading Industries 
1. Agriculture
Davao’s economy is
predominantly agri-based. The rich and
fertile lands yield rice, corn, banana,
coconut, pineapple, sugarcane, pomelo,
marang, durian, papaya, orange, and
giant guava. Davao is well known for its
Figure 22. Agriculture

fruits, especially sweet pomelo. These leading products makes agriculture the main
economic activity in the region. It can be a vital link to markets in other parts of Mindanao,
Brunei Darussalam and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia.

The five major commodities produced in Davao Region, namely, banana, hog,
chicken, palay, and coconut contributed 71.23 percent to the region’s total agricultural
output in 2013. The region continued to be the country’s number one producer of banana
and coconut. It ranked sixth in hog production and seventh in chicken production.

2. Fishery
 Fishing is the industry mostly engaged especially in Davao del Sur and Davao
Oriental because it is surrounded by large bodies of water rich with fishery resources. The
waters around the region like Davao Gulf, Mayo Bay, and Tagabuli Bay abound with various
kinds of fish, prawns, seaweeds, and shells.

3. Mining
The region, particularly in Compostela Valley province is rich in gold and copper
deposits, iron, Ore, and copper are also mined in Davao Oriental.

4. Forestry or Logging
The wide forests are also source of hardwood like dao, kamagong, lauan, and narra.

5. Manufacturing
Manufacturing in the region is concentrated mostly around Davao City, the largest
city in the Philippines outside Metro Manila. Industrial products from the region include
construction materials, processed food, and furniture.

6. Tourism 
Tourism is fast becoming an important source of employment. It has many resorts
and other eco-tourism sites that are a must for travellers.

Employment and Wages

About 37 percent of the region’s total employment were
absorbed by the agriculture sector. Of those employed in
agriculture, 77.10 percent were male workers.

ployment Wages

VI. Language
The most widely used language in Davao City is Cebuano. Tagalog, the country’s
official national language, is number 2. The local “Dabawenyo” dialect is used by a few.
English is the medium of instruction in schools and is also the language used in the
business community as well as official documents. Davaoeñ os are also fond of mixing the
three, an informal combination known to the locals as “Bisaloglish”

A. Dialects

The main dialect in Davao City is Bisaya or Cebuano. Other dialects include Tagalog,
Dabawenyo, Hiligaynon, Bagobo, Tagacaolo, Manobo, Maguindanao, Mandaya, Bilaan,
Ilocano, Waray and others.

B. Sample Phraseologies

English Tagalog Local Dialects

Good morning Magandang Umaga Maayong buntag
Good afternoon Magandang Hapon Maayong hapon
Good evening Magandang Gabi Maayong gabii 
Take care Ingat Ayo-ayo
How much is this? Magkano ito ?   Tagpila ni?

Where is...(name of Nasaan ang…? Asa ang...?

place)?

Let's go there Punta tayo roon Adto ta didto

Let's walk Tayo’y maglakad Baktas ta 

Let's go home Umuwi na tayo Uli na ta

Let's eat Kain tayo Mangaon na ta

Very delicious (refers to Masarap Lami kaayo

food)

The place is beautiful Maganda ang lugar Nindot ang lugar

Let's buy this Bilihin natin ito Palit ta ani 

 Where can we ride a Saan pwedeng makasakay ng Asa puede mosakay jeep? 
jeep? dyip ?

Table 4. Language of Region XI

VII. Transportation

A few forms of public transportation are available to locals and visitors of Davao
City. These include taxis, jeepneys and multicabs, tricycles, tri-sikads, and rent-a-car
services.

A. Land transportation and terminals

 Manila to Matnog, Samar

From Manila you will pass through these

provinces of Quezon > Camarines Sur > Albay>
Sorsogon> and you will reach the Matnog (Ferry
Terminal)

Figure 24. Manila to Matnog, Samar

Allen, Samar to Liloan, Leyte

From Allen Samar you will pass from different provinces before
reaching the Liloan Leyte and its about 8hr and 3 minutes.

Surigao to Davao Region

You will pass through the province of

Agusan del Norte, before you reach
the province of Compostela Valley ,
Davao del Norte, Davao City, and its

5. Allen, Samar to about 8 hrs.

Liloan Leyte
 Figure 26. Surigao to Davao Region
Local Transportation in Davao

There are local transportation in Davao that consist of Taxi, metered taxi cabs are
readily available around Davao City. They can be easily flagged down on the sides of major
roads. Jeepney, The main means of public transportation within Davao City are jeepneys
and multicabs. These vehicles ply on fixed routes around the city, picking up and dropping
off passengers along the way.  Routes are written on the side and front of the cars.  They
usually carry a signboard on their windshield to indicate the routes they are taking.
Tricycles, motorized tricycles are an indigenous form of the auto rickshaw, which is
common in the Philippines. While this comes in a variety of forms and designs around the
country, the tricycles of Davao City typically have roofed sidecars affixed to the  motorcycle.
These vehicles usually ply the inner streets of the city. Trisikad, trisikad is actually a bicycle
with an attached with a sidecar, commonly installed with an umbrella.  The name is derived
from the local term “sikad,” which translates to “pedaling”. Rent-a-Car, there are many rent-
a-car services in Davao City for tourists who opt for convenience in going around the city.

B. Water Transportation Terminals And Seaports

Matnog, Samar to Allen, Samar

After reaching Matnog

Samar, take a RORO from
Matnog Ferry Terminal to Allen,
Samar (Visayas) — here you
are crossing from Luzon to
Visayas island. The trip took
about 1.5 hour to reach Allen, Samar Figure 27 Matnog, Samar to Allen, Samar
Liloan, Leyte to Surigao City
Take a RORO from Liloan Ferry Terminal to Lipata Ferry
Terminal, Surigao del Norte (Mindanao) — here you are crossing
from Visayas to Mindanao.

Figure28. Liloan, Leyte to Surigao Samar

C. Air Transportation and Airport

Davao International Airport

Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as Davao International Airport

(IATA: DVO) is the main airport serving Davao City in the Philippines. It is the busiest
airport on the island of Mindanao. The airport has a single 3,000-meter precision runway.

A new terminal, inaugurated in 2003, replaces the previous airport terminals, which
lie just across it, in handling both domestic and international flights operating to and from
Davao. The modern facility is designed to handle approximately 2 million passengers
annually and 84,600 metric tons of cargo annually. The added capacity is also
complemented by the latest navigational, security, and baggage handling equipment.

The airport is currently serving 7 airlines and is handling from 3 to 4 million

passengers annually.

IX. Festivals

DAVAO DEL SUR

DORONGAN FESTIVAL OF BANSALAN is a

thanksgiving celebration honoring the child
Jesus known to the FIlipinos as Santo Niñ o.
 A Sinulog-based celebration, Dorongan Festival is Bansalan’s way of reliving the tradition
and culture of the Visayans whose devotion to the miraculous Santo Niñ o is widespread

PADIGOSAN FESTIVAL IN DIGOS

is featuring activities like lechon parade,

street dancing, trade fair, and sports
competition. The celebration
commemorates the founding of Digos into a
municipality back in July 19, 1949.

DAVAO DEL NORTE

s
Banana Festival is held every first week of July at Tagum City. The festival is a celebration
of the province's foundation anniversary. It is a tribute to banana exportation, Davao del
Norte's biggest economic contributor.

PANAGTABU FESTIVAL
Figure 39. Banana Festival
is held on every first week of march at
Tagum City. A celebration of getting together
and merrymaking.

Davao Occidental

TABANOGAN FESTIVAL is the feast of St.

Peter is celebration of Davao with a
number of festivities, among the most
notable being the kite flying competition in
which local showcase their talents in this
age-old activity.

Figure 41. Tabanogan Festival

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL
 is an annual festival in the city of Davao in the
Philippines. Its name derives from the friendly
greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo
word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. ... This tradition flourished
and evolved into an annual festival of thanksgiving.

Davao Oriental
Bauldayawan Festival celebrates a good
harvest. The term Bauldayawan is derived
from three words. Baul is from the Mandaya
word for farm. Da is from dagat or
sea. Yawan means to keep. Activities during
the festival include streetdancing, a float
parade, an agri-trade fair, and a number of
cultural presentations.  Figure 43. Bauldayawan

Mati
City, Davao Oriental continues to showcase
its various culture and tradition
through Sambuokan Festival. The
term Sambuokan was derived from a
Mandaya term buok meaning one. This
stands for oneness and unity of the ethnic
Figure 44. Sambuokan Festival group to have a progressive and

Compostela Valley

Bulawan Festival. The 20th founding

anniversary of Compostela Valley province is
celebrated during
the Bulawan(meaning “gold”) Festival. This

Figure 45. Bulawan Festival

year's festival theme is “Growing Green for Good Governance.” Among the festivities are
business and investment conference, beauty pageant, concert, fun run.

Simballay Festival is an annual festivity of the Municipality of Nabunturan coined from a

Mansaka word meaning, “Togetherness, sharing
and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.” ...
Week-long activities were lined up for the
people to the feast. highly-developed society.

X. Products

Davao City cannot be measured when it comes to eateries. It is so because the

Dabawenyos' humble way of daily life dictates their simple tastes and choices of food.
While roaming in and around the City, you may come to see so many lovely cafés and classy
restaurants that are rich in dishing up lip-smacking traditional food along with
international delights. Above and beyond, you can also relish your food with yummy wines,
fruity numbers that come from the most elite and discriminating section of society loaded
with big-gun ale.

A. Delicacies

Kinilaw na Tuna

Kinilaw is a popular seafood dish in Davao City.

The dish is typically made from fresh, raw Tuna
or Swordfish (Malasugi) marinated in vinegar

Figure 47. Kinilaw na Tuna

and citrus juices such a s lemon or lime, spiced with chili peppers (siling labuyo) and
seasoned with ginger, onion, and salt.

Sinuglaw

Sinuglaw is a contraction of the words, Sinugba (Grilled)

and Kinilaw. It is a combination of fresh T una or
Malasugi and grilled pork marinated in vinegar and
citrus juices such as lemon or lime, spiced with chili
peppers (siling labuyo) and seasoned with ginger, onion,
and salt.
Figure 48. Sinuglaw

Inato (Grilled Chicken)

Inato is a shorten word for "atin ito", thus

"inato" or " it is our" in English. Inato is a way a
chicken is cooked.

Sutokil
Figure 49. Inato (Grilled Chicken)

Sutokil is a contracted words of Sugba

(Grilled), Tola (Boiled), and Kinilaw
(Fresh Tuna fish marinated in vin
egar), and is a very popular
combination of dishes in Davao City.
Figure 48. Sutokil

Dinuguan

Dinuguan is a popular dish in Davao City. It

consists of entrails of pork cooked in pork's blood
seasoned with vinegar and spices.

Figure 49. Dinuguan

Binignit

Binignit or Ginataan in Tagalog is an all-time

favorite refreshment in Davao City. It is a
combination of several fruits cooked in coconut
milk.

Durian

The durian is totally awesome with its thorny

husk and smooth and creamy yellow flesh,
strongly exotic taste, and sharply aromatic
smell.

Figure 51. Durian

Durian Pie

Durian is very abundant in Davao City. And the

Davaoeñ os are surely a creative people. They make
some twist out of this fruit; one of which is the durian
pie.

Durian Ice Cream From Charmaine Solomon's

Encyclopedia of Asian Food, Periplus Editions,1998
I'm always on the lookout for durian recipes and this
is a good one.

Figure 53. Durian Ice Cream

Durian Shake

Durian shake are a treat on a hot sum mer's

day. You might even get a few durian converts
if you serve the fruit and smoothie form which
give you a milder kick of that distinctive cheesy
taste.
Figure 54. Durian Shake

B. Crafts and Pasalubong

DAVAO CITY Durian Fruit and Jam

Though regarded as a very

odorous fruit, the durian is one of the
best-tasting fruit and product of Davao
City. The durian can be made into jams
and are often filled inside buns, as in the
famous Pastel by Vjandep. Durian Fruit,
one of the best pasalubong from Davao
Figure 55. Durian Fruit Jam
City

COMPOSTELA VALLEY Gold and Jewelries

Comvaleñ os have made gold mining one of

their sources of income in the region. From
the vast gold deposits in Mount Diwalwal,
 people have really mastered their craft in making gold and silver jewelries that are mostly
made for export

Jewelries made from the gold mined by m any in the wide rivers of Compostela Valley

DAVAO DEL NORTE Banana Chips

Davao del Norte is one of the leading

regions where there are wide banana
plantations. Banana chips are thinned slices
of any variants of the banana fruit, most
common variants are lakatan and latundan.

The best banana chips in Davao del Norte

Figure 57. Banana Chips

DAVAO OCCIDENTAL Nito Grass Crafts

Bayong or baskets made from Nito grass is one of

the main exports of the region. These crafts are
hand-woven by the people of Davao Occidental. Most
people use these baskets to store goods and other
stuff to keep these away from cats and insects. These
grass crafts come in different designs.

Baskets made from grass

afts
DAVAO DEL SUR Mer’s Delicacies

Situated at the heart of Digos City in

Davao del Sur, Mer’s Delicacies serves
the best-tasting bibingka, suman and
other rice cakes. These delicac ies are
served any time of the day.
Mers delicacies: the best Bibingka in Davao del Sur
Figure 59. Mer’s Delicacies

DAVAO ORIENTAL Tableya

Pure cocoa tastes very good, whether

it’s made as chocolate drink or candy
bars. Davao Oriental has a vast
plantation of cocoa, which made it one
of the cocoa capitals in the Philippines.

Pure cocoa which is to make chocolate

bars and drinks