DABAWENYO is a club for bonafide Davao-based members of Crunchyroll. A drama and anime lover and a loving member of the Davao community.

Join me and let’s show to the CR community how beautiful Davao is. Make them love the city and invite them over.


Mga taga-Davao, ayaw kaulaw ug pagduha-duha na muapil ani na club ky kini para sa atua. Ipakita nato sa tanan tao diri sa Crunchyroll na ang mga Dabawenyo proud nga taga-Davao ta.

Hala cge.. Apil na!


FACTS ABOUT DAVAO CITY


* 3 Times larger than the entire Metro Manila
* 7.8 Times bigger than the size of Cebu
* 1.4 M in Population (2003 Estimate)
* 244,000 hectares Total land area
* 98.5% Literacy rate
* 2.83 % Population Growth Rate
* 491 persons/sq.Km. Population Density
* 71% of the population in the urban area
* Life Expectancy : 65(Male), 70(Female)
* Tropical Climate
* 15 to 34oC Average Temperature
* : 0.82% Average Monthly Crime volume per 10,000 persons
* 47% Forestal land
* 43% Agricultural
* 10% Urban
* 11 Political districts
* 180 Barangays




-=DAVAO CITY UPDATES=-

Davao will have major developments this 2009, starting with the construction of Ayala's Abreeza, the first Ayala mall to be constructed in Mindanao and the biggest investment to Davao today. Meanwhile, Robinsons with their Cybergate project, will be completed within the first quarter of this year, while SM is currently planning to build another Mall on the Lanang area. Condos are now the latest trend in Davao's real estate such as Filinvest with their One Oasis Project, DMCI's Magallanes Residences, Blue Spirit Properties with their Noblesse Heights, and the Linmarr Towers. High rise buildings are also in the works with the new Central Park Hotel, the proposed Filinvest Condotel Project, and other condo buildings that are currently being planned to meet the demands of a growing city that is Davao.





The Creation Of Davao City

Who should control Davao, the Japanese or Filipinos?

This may sound a silly question today, but this was the hottest issue that raged in Davao in the 1930’s that eventually led to the creation of Davao City.

During this period, the then undivided province of Davao, which had a capital town with the same name, was the biggest producer of abaca in the world. Abaca as well as coconut plantations sprawled all over Davao Gulf, with the Japanese practically controlling the entire industry.

Despite laws restricting foreign ownership of land, the Japanese managed to become the largest plantation owners in Davao. They were able to achieve this by using dummies to buy land for them, by marrying local women, particularly with datu lineage, and by renting land from local landowners.

By the 1930’s, Davao was completely under the control of the Japanese. Their economic clout made them politically influential. They had their own schools, hospitals and road networks. The biggest concentration of the Japanese was in Guianga Municipal District, centered around Mintal. Their population continued to grow, reaching 17, 900 by 1939.

As Japan was a growing world power, having defeated Russia in 1904 and annexed Korea in 1910 and Manchuria in 1931, fears were raised as to the real intentions of the Japanese in the country. During the 1934 Constitutional Convention, Davao delegate Pantaleon Pelayo Sr. denounced the control of Davao by the Japanese and their unlimited acquisition of land. The presence of the Japanese in Davao had now become a national problem.

On March 16, 1936 Davao Assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo filed Bill No. 609 or Commonwealth Act No. 51, An Act Creating the City of Davao. The City of Davao was to be formed by combining the capital town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga. This made Davao City the largest city in the world with a territory of 2,244 square kilometers or 244,400 hectares.

As the creation of Davao City was intended to break the control of the Japanese, the Act stipulated that its officials would be appointed by the President of the Philippines, instead of being elected. It was believed that in elections, Japanese-supported candidates would win, thus entrenching Japanese power in Davao.

On October 16, 1936, the bill was signed into law by President Manuel L. Quezon. The following year, on March, 1937, Executive Proclamation No. 132 was issued that formally organized the City of Davao.

It was during the term of Mayor Elias B. Lopez that the celebration of the foundation of City of Davao was made a week-long celebration that culminated on March 16.

Today, Davao City is the most progressive city in Mindanao and is considered the most livable city in the country. Foreign investors and visitors are all welcome, but the city is under the firm control of Filipinos as its founding fathers had intended.

Macario D. Tiu
Author of Davao: Reconstructing History from Text and Memory
Winner, National Book Award 2005