DAVAO HERITAGE WALKING TOUR

© Davao Bloggers Society

I was born and raised in Cebu City and just last year I moved to Davao City for personal reasons.

When I was still in Cebu all I know about Davao is that it is a safe place with tough government leaders.

But just last Sunday I was given the opportunity to know what it is more in Davao City. Thanks to Davao Bloggers Society's event - Davao Heritage Walking Tour led by The Travel Teller.

BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVAO

Davao is derived from its Bagobo origins: the Tagabawa who called it "Dabo", the Giangan or Diangan who called it "Dawaw", and the Obo who called it "Davah", with a gentle vowel ending, although later usage pronounce it with a hard "v" as in "b". The pioneer Christian inhabitants of the settlement understandably were the proponents behind the official adoption of the name "Davao" in 1868.

I learned that Davao was then ruled by Datu Bago but was defeated by Don Jose Uyanguren when the latter lead a Spanish expedition to Davao in 1848. Don Jose Uyanguren then became first governor.

On March 16, 1936, Romualdo C. Quimpo, then congressman of Davao, filed House Bill No. 609 calling for the creation of Davao as a chartered city. The bill was subsequently passed and signed into law by President Manuel L. Quezon as Commonwealth Act No. 51, formally creating the City of Davao. This move made Davao City the largest city in the world.

The Japanese planes bombed the city, and eventually occupied Davao in 1942. However, in 1945, the American troops and the Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated Davao City from Japanese occupation.

Thirty years later, in 1967, the Province of Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.

Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the impressive economic progress in the country's third largest city. Today, Davao City is the most progressive city in Mindanao and is considered the most livable city in the country.

NATIONAL HERITAGE SITES IN DAVAO CITY

There are three National Historical Markers installed by National Historical Commission of the Philippines in Davao City.

© Davao Bloggers Society 

PORT STA. ANA

Santa Ana Avenue, Davao City

Inscribed with National Historical Marker in 2003

Port Santa Ana now called Sta. Ana Wharf served as the main port in Davao in the early 1900's. It is located within Davao Chinatown along Magsaysay street. The National Historical Marker is located inside Magsaysay Park, which used to be part of the huge Sta. Ana port.

© Davao Bloggers Society

CITY HALL OF DAVAO CITY

San Pedro Street, Davao City

Inscribed with national Historical Marker in 2012

City Hall of Davao City was built in 1926, 10 years before Davao became a chartered city. It was built as Municipal Hall of Davao with the enterprise of Architect Valencia and Engineer Santiago Artiaga along with the Davao Jaycees. In 1945 during the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese forces, the City Hall of Davao was destroyed. It took 2 years to reconstruct the building back to its original form.

© The Travel Teller

THE MONUMENT OF OHTA KYOZABURU

Mintal, Davao City

Inscribed with National Historical Marker in 2003

Ohta Kyozaburu was a Japanese merchant from Kobe, Japan who came to the Philippines in the early 1900s. Ohta permanently settled in Davao and established Ohta Development Company, the first abaca company by the Japanese in the Philippines. Ohta Kyozaburu along with his compatriots were instrumental in bringing about the agricultural and economic development in the Davao Province.

After his death, an obelisk was built in 1926 to honor Ohta Kyozaburu 's greatest contribution to Davao Province. Mintal which became the settlement and trade center of Japanese in the early 1900s was said to be the Little Tokyo in the Philippines.

The Monument of Ohta Kyuzaboro with the National Historical Marker is located in Mintal Elementary school.

We failed to visit this place due to lack of time. Hopefully, I will be able to go there myself even if I am on the other side of Davao City (Barangay Sasa). At the end of the tour, we all hope and pray that these heritage sites will be preserved despite Davao's rapid growth.

OLD STREET NAMES IN DOWNTOWN DAVAO

This one was a bit tricky for me when I landed Davao City last year.

Even if I had the most fancy map of Davao still it is confusing when I ask people a certain place because they refer that place to their old names. Public utility jeepneys hangs "Claveria" on its signboard, but there is no Claveria on my map is one of my experience that confuses me.

But after few months, I was able to be familiar with the old and new names of the street. Let me share to you some of those that was changed.

Old Name: Magallanes Street

New Name: A. Pichon Street

This is a one-way street that starts with the Metro Bank and ends with the Colassa’s Barbeque. Some well-knowned establishments along the Magallanes Street include the Grand Men Seng Hotel, the Davao City Library, and the Davao Museum.

Old Name : Claveria Street

New Name : Claro M. Recto Avenue

It stretches from the San Pedro Cathedral on one end to the Aldevinco Shopping Center and Marco Polo Hotel on the other end.

Old Name : Uyanguren Street

New Name : Ramon Magsaysay Avenue

The place is considered  home to many Chinese businessmen. It intersects the C.M. Recto Avenue and J.P. Laurel on one end and connects all the way to the Magsaysay Park on the other end.

Old Name : Ponciano Reyes Street

New Name : C. Bangoy Street

Here you will find the office of the Davao Light and Power Company, the PLDT and Smart Communications Building, and the famous Tesoro’s Printing Press.

San Pedro Street was the only street that its name was not changed. It was supposed to be change but a fire incident occurred which people believe that Saint Peter (San Pedro) was mad for the plan of changing its name so it was decided to retain the street name San Pedro.  It is considered the oldest commercial street in Davao City. Yes, San Pedro Cathedral is found at this street.

Davao Bloggers Society ended the event at Dencia's Restaurant and enjoyed their delicious food e.g Tokwa't Baboy, Pancit Bihon, Pancit Guisado, Crab Meat Omelette, and Fried Chicken. Dencia's Restaurant is one of the oldest homegrown restaurant in Davao.

Thank you to The Travel Teller who led the event, Davao Bloggers Society family for setting up an event like this especially to the photos that I posted here which came either from Sir Andrew, Sir Jexx, and Sir Olan since I failed to really take photos of the spots we're in because I am paying attention to the leader who narrates the events (serious mode turned on kasi) and of course Smart together with The Travel Teller for sponsoring the event.