DAVAOEÑOS’

CULTURE AND
TRADITIONS
CREATED BY: DESIREE ADANZA
ORIGIN
◦ The name Davao came from its Bagobo origins. The word Davao came from the phonetic blending of three
Bagobo subgroups' names for the Davao River, a major waterway emptying into the Davao Gulf near the city.
◦ Total land area of 2,443.61 km2 (943.48 sq mi), making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area.
◦ Third-most populous city in the Philippines after Quezon City and Manila, and the most populous in Mindanao.
SPORTS
◦ Sports facilities in the city include the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras Gymnasium), Tionko
Football Field (near Agro College and the Davao River) and the gymnasiums of Ateneo de Davao
University, Philippine Women's College of Davao's Rosa Santos Munda Events Center (RSM Events
Center), the University of Southeastern Philippines, Holy Cross of Davao College, the University of
Mindanao, and Mintal Comprehensive National High School.
◦ The main sports center of Davao City and also the largest is the Davao City Sports Complex, which hosted
the 2019 National Games.
◦ Locally based sports teams
◦ Davao Football Association, working under the Philippine Football Federation, represents the city and
Davao Region for national football events
◦ Goldstar Davao and Duterte Agilas work for the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association
◦ In June 2015, the city held the country's largest cockfighting event, the 6th Annual Thunderbird Challenge
◦ Sports management group Sonshine Sports Management is also based in Davao.
ETHNICITIES
◦ Residents of Davao City are known as Davaoeños.
◦ Nearly all local Davaoeños are Visayans (the majority are Cebuanos, with the rest
being Hiligaynons), while others of different ethnicities collectively categorized as
the Lumads make up the remainder of the local population.
◦ The Moro groups of the city are the Maguindanaons, Maranaos, Iranuns, Tausugs and
the Sama-Bajaus.
◦ Non-Filipino Asians such as  Indonesians, Malaysians, Taiwanese, ChineseFilipinos,
Koreans, Japanese and Indians have settled and made small communities in Davao City.
LANGUAGE
◦ Cebuano is the most widely used language in the city.
◦ English is the medium of instruction in schools.
◦ Chavacano and Hiligaynon are also widely used in addition to languages indigenous to the city,
such as the Giangan, the Kalagan, the Tagabawa, the Matigsalug, the Ata Manobo, and
the Obo.
◦ Other languages spoken in the city include Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama-
Bajau, Iranun and Tausug, followed by East Asian languages such
as Hokkien, Japanese and Korean.
CUISINE
◦ The cuisine of Davao City features skewered and grilled meat dishes, but the most common dish served in
the city is kinilaw, a relative of ceviche made from tuna, mackerel, or swordfish with cucumber (and
sometimes radishes) and chili marinated in vinegar. Sinuglaw, a portmanteau of sinugba (grilled)
and kinilaw in the Cebuano language, is also a term for a dish in which diced, grilled pork belly is mixed
with kinilaw.
◦ Fruit dishes, snacks, and desserts are also popular, most made from durian and bananas. Ginanggangis a
banana dish that originated in this city and spread to other parts of the country; a banana is grilled,
skewered, brushed with margarine and sprinkled with sugar.
◦ Durian is known as Davao’s signature fruit. Durian is available all year round but is usually in season
starting August to October.
◦ Arancillo
◦ Puyat
LITERATURE AND ARTS
◦ Writer, poet and multimedia artist Tita Lacambra Ayala was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte but grew up in Antamok, Benguet,
relocated in Davao in her mid-50’s. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) Major in English, minor in
History, at the University of the Philippines in 1953. Tita is one of the most celebrated Filipino poets in English with her
work receiving numerous awards. She has authored many books in her distinguished career, among them Sunflower
Poems (1960), Friends, The Confessions of a Professional Amateur (prose) and Camels and Shapes of Darkness in a
Time of Olives (poetry).
◦ Candy Gourlay (formerly Candy Quimpo) born in Davao City but is now based in United Kingdom. Her debut novel Tall
Story (2010) won the National Children's Book Award of the Philippines in 2012 and the Crystal Kite Award for Europe in
2011.
◦ Aida Rivera Ford one of Davao’s most famous and respected frontrunners in the field of Arts and Culture. “Love in the
Cornhusks” is one of five well-crafted stories for which Rivera-Ford won the Jules & Avery Hopwood Prize in Michigan. 
◦ Elenita Dumlao is one of the most highly regarded living artists in Davao. 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.
HERITAGE
◦ There are a number of cultural-heritage sites in the city, including the Davao Museum (in Insular
Village, Lanang), the Mindanao Folk Arts Museum (Philippine Women's College, Juna
Subdivision, Matina), Davaoeño Historical Society Museum (at Magallanes and Claveria
Streets) and the Philippine-Japan Museum (Matsuo Compound, Calinan). Japanese historical
sites include the Japanese Tunnel (used by Japanese forces during World War II), the 20th-
century Japanese cemetery and the Furukawa Fiber Plant (used by Yoshizo Furukawa as an
abacá and banana plantation).
MUSIC AND DANCE
◦ Lumad, a Bisayan word for “native” or “indigenous,” refers to non-Christian and non-Muslim indigenous groups
in Mindanao. In general, lumad music encompasses a wide repertoire of sounds performed for various
occasions, and makes use of an extensive array of musical instruments, including the agong, the most widely
distributed brass instrument among the Mindanao lumad.
◦ The Manobo (Manuvu, Minuvu) inhabit core areas from Sarangani island and the provinces of Agusan del Sur,
Davao provinces, Bukidnon, and North and South Cotabato. The Manobo are “probably the most numerous of
the ethnic groups of the Philippines in terms of the relationships and names of the various groups that belong
to this family of languages.” (NCCA) Their vocal music types include ritual songs, narrative songs, lullabies,
and songs of nature, that may also be accompanied by rhythmic sounds from the singer’s armpit.
◦ The T’boli, the indigenous people of South Cotabato, perform various songs for different occasions and
sentiments, like weddings and fishing, and when they are joyful or sad. Their music reflects their closeness to
nature through the imitation of natural sounds. Among their several musical instruments is the hagalong, a long
slender spindle-shaped two-string guitar.
◦ The Tiruray, the traditional hill people of southwestern Mindanao, also have a wide range of songs like
the balikata (melodic pattern for debates, converstions), lendugan (love song), siasid (prayer), foto moto (teasing
song during weddings), and meka meka (song of loyalty by a wife to her husband). They are among those with the
most developed agung ensembles.
◦ The Mansaka from the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley, are among the most dominant
ethnic group in Compostella Valley province. Among their wide array of musical instruments is the gimbal, a drum
made of bahi or betel nut and animal hide (doeskin and male deerskin). Their musical forms include
the saliada which is similar to ballad, and bayok on love and adventure
◦ The B’laan (Bilaan) of Davao del Sur also have a wide range of instruments such as idiophones (percussions),
zithers (bamboo tubes with strings), chordophones (wooden lutes), and aerophones (flutes and reeds). They also
make use of the tangungo, a set of 8 metal gongs hung on a harness. Music from these instruments accompanies
their ritual sand dances.
◦ The Bagobo are among the largest groups of indigenous peoples of southern Mindanao, inhabiting areas from the
west coast of Davao Gulf to Davao’s well-known mountain ranges of Mt. Apo. Their music forms part of their
religious and festive occasions as well as daily activities, which include advice songs, children’s songs and
lullabies, among others. Their musical instruments bolang-bolang and pagakpak are related to agriculture as their
design and sound are meant to please gods, to reward them with bountiful harvests.
RELIGION
◦ The majority of Davao City's inhabitants are Roman Catholics comprising 80% of the population. Other groups,
such as the Iglesia ni Cristo, Miracle Crusade, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) and followers
of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, comprise eighteen percent of the city's religious background. Seventh-day
Adventists, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Philippine Independent Church and Baptists are the
other Christian denominations. The remaining two percent belong to non-Christian faiths, mainly Islam. Some of
the other faiths are Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, animism, Judaism and the non-religious.
◦ The Restorationist Church Kingdom of Jesus Christ had its origins in the city. Apollo Quiboloy, who claims to be
the "Appointed Son of God", is the leader of the movement.
◦ The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao is the main metropolitan see of the Roman Catholic Church in
southern Mindanao. It comprises the city of Davao, the Island Garden City of Samal and the municipality
of Talaingod in Davao del Norte; under its jurisdiction are the three suffragan
dioceses of Digos, Tagum and Mati (the capital cities of the three Davao provinces). Archbishop Romulo Valles of
the Archdiocese of Davao, appointed on February 11, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI, took office on May 22, 2012,
at San Pedro Cathedral. Saint Peter, locally known as San Pedro, the patron saint of the city.
 FESTIVALS
◦ The Kadayawan Festival - is an annual festival in the city of Davao. Its name derives from the friendly greeting
"Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration
of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.
Previously, this festival held in the third week of August every year which was highlighting the 11 tribes of Davao
City. In 2019, the celebration was extended and held from 2 to 31 August. In 2020, Kadayawan Festival was
celebrated from 10 to 17 August.
◦ Araw ng Dabaw - a week-long celebration of the founding of the city that culminates every 16th of March with a
socio-civic and military parade, sports competitions, and fireworks. One of the highlights of the celebration is the
selection of the Mutya ng Dabaw (Miss Davao) from among the most beautiful ladies in the land every 15th of
March.
◦ Pasko Fiesta sa Davao - is an integration of festive and competitive Christmas activities showcasing colorful
lightings and array of decorations in barangays, public parks, roads and buildings, and a series of competitive
performances showcasing the community's creativity and talents while keeping alive Christmas traditions.
During this season, the city pulsates with exciting sights and sounds, barraged with mall sales, bazaars, food
festivals, and night markets filled with wholesome entertainment day and night.
◦ Chinese New Year Festival - Created under Executive Order No. 01, series of 2009, the Davao Chinese New Year
festival celebrates the harmonious relations of the locals with the city's Chinese community as it promotes the
development of the Chinatown - covering R. Magsaysay Ave., Monteverde Ave., Sta. Ana Ave. and Leon Garcia
St. - as one of the major historical, economic and cultural centers of the city. Festival highlights include a
motorcade, film showing, exhibits, temple visits, nightly entertainment and the Chinatown Night Market.
◦ Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Cake Festival - This is the second most important festival after the Chinese New Year
for the Chinese people. It is related to the moon and the Chinese people like the moon very much. In Chinese
culture, the dull moon symbolizes wholeness and togetherness. In the middle of the 8th month of the Chinese
calendar the moon is in its fullest and roundest and 8 is a popular number in Chinese culture, symbolizing wealth
and prosperity. The Moon Festival has 3,000-year history and the celebrations through the years show happiness
and excitement for the Chinese people. Main celebrations involve appreciation of the moon (moon gazing), eating
moon cakes together, and making Chinese Moon Festival lanterns. The Chinese people do not believe it is a
Moon Festival if these three main activities are not present.
OTHER INFORMATION
◦ The Davao Death Squad is a vigilante group supposedly active in Davao City. The group is allegedly responsible
for summary executions of street children and individuals suspected of petty crimes and dealing in drugs in
Davao. It has been estimated that the group is responsible for the killing or disappearance of between 1,020 and
1,040 people between 1998 and 2008. In as early as 2005, the US State Department has received reports of
the Human Rights Commission's (HRC) investigation regarding the alleged connection of the Duterte political
dynasty of Davao to the killings.This was followed by another investigation in 2009, which was later discontinued.
Another investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman was opened and closed in 2019, stating that they found no
evidence that the alleged group exists.
THE END
REFERENCES
◦ https://awesome.blog/2018/08/davao-food-kadayawan.html
◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davao_City#Sports
◦ https://www.slideshare.net/JesperSilva78/davao-region-philippine-literature
◦ http://rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/aliww/pmb_aida_rivera_ford.htm
◦ https://www.bestofdavao.com.ph/traditional-dance-music-performances-museo-dabawenyo-3/
◦ https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/himig/music-of-the-lumad/
◦ https://traveltriangle.com/blog/davao-city-festivals/
◦ http://clickdavao.com/festivals.php
◦ https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/photos-davao-city-culture-kadayawan-village
◦ https://www.traveltill.com/destination/Philippines/Davao/culture.php