Davao Tracing Roots

Davao City’s true wealth lies in its culture and history, thanks to the legacies of its indigenous and muslim tribes – Ovu Manuvu, K’Lata, Matigsalog, Tagabawa, Ata Manuvu, Kalagan, Sama, Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanao.

According to historians, the word Davao is a result of the phonetic blending of words from three Bagobo sub-groups, meaning “beyond the higher grounds” or “over the hills yonder”, a reference to the location of Davao River, a trading settlement. When different tribes went to the area, they would say that they were going to davoh (Obo group, considered the earliest tribe to settle in the area), duhwow (Clatta group) or dabu (Tagabawa group) as the place was surrounded by the hills of Buhangin, Magtuod, Maa, and Matina.

Led by Alvaro de Saavedra, the Spaniards – the first non-natives to visit Davao – arrived in the region in 1528. After the Spanish troops slayed Moro leader Datu Bago in 1847, a local hero who protected Davao from foreign invaders, Don Jose Oyanguren became the first governor of the undivided Davao province and he renamed the place Guipuzcoa.

Way before World War ll, Dabawenyos had amicable relations with Japanese. In 1900, a group of Japanese established extensive plantations of abaca around the gulf area and was engaged in logging, fishing and trading. The increase of Japanese residents earned Davao the title Japan kuo or “Little Japan.”

Davao finally became a city in October 16, 1936 when President Manuel Quezon signed Commonwealth Act No. 51, also known as the Charter of the City of Davao.