Davao City, Philippines

FACTS AND FIGURES

Postal Code 8000
Area Code 082
Land Area 2,212 sq km
Population 1.2 million
Dialects Spoken Cebuano, other dialects include Tagalog, Chinese, Muslim, majority can speak and understand English Religion Roman Catholic 83.83%, Islam 2.36% Protestant 4.50%

Close to Davao City is Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak and home to the monkey-eating Philippine Eagle, an endagered species, and the waling-waling, a rare ochid of exceptional beauty.

BACKGROUND
Davao City is one of the most alluring gateways to the Philippines. There are two reasons which make Davao unique: its people and its warm hospitality. Within bucolic highlands, migrants from all over the country live in harmony with indigenous tribal folk.
Close to Davao City is Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak and home to the monkey-eating Philippine Eagle, an endagered species, and the waling-waling, a rare ochid of exceptional beauty.

Of late, Davao has become a booming tourist destination as evidenced by the rise of leisure establishments in the region.
Davao is also the biggest cutflower producer in the country and a major exporter of tropical fruits.
A tour of the city and its outskirts will bring the visitor to Dabaw Etnica, a tiny settlement of the Mandaya Tribe; Dabaw Museum whose diaplay includes tribal artifacts and costumes; and the Taoist and Lon Wa Buddhist Temples.
Davao is also known for its exquisite beaches, there is even an old Perl Farm that has been converted into a world-class resort. These beaches are all easily accessible by banca (out-rigger boat) or land travel.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Davaoeños is an even mix of tribes, migrants from all over the Philippine archipelago and traders from all corners of the world. Some of these tribes include the ethnic Bagobo, Mandaya, Manobo, Tiboli, Mansaka and the B'laan tribes. The solemn rituals of the tribes, their rhythmic dance steps and chanting music, and the rich customs and traditions of migrants make up the Davao culture of today.

AREA PROFILE
Davao City covers 244,000 hectares, the world's largest in terms of land area. It is located in the Province Davao del Sur. It is bounded on the North by the municipality of Kapalong and on the North East by the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; on the East by the Gulf of Davao and on the West by Mt. Apo and the province of North Cotabato; and on the North West by the province of Bukidnon.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Davao City serves as the primary agricultural and trading center of Mindanao. It is already an international gateway with the opening of the Davao International Airport. The City is known for its exotic fruits like pineapples, bananas, pomelos, marang, mangosteen, and the odoriferous but tasty durian, which are sold very cheaply when in season. Davao also produces export-quality handicrafts, and also sells antiques, artifacts from Mindanao's tribes, Indonesian batik, traditional Muslim brass items, and costume jewelries. It has become Philippine's major source of products for export. The City is home to the world's largest bird, the Philippine Eagle, whose sanctuary is at the foot of Mt. Apo, the Philippine's highest mountain and where the "queen of orchids", Waling-Waling is found.

AMENITIES
A variety of culinary specialties awaits even the most discriminating gourmet. Fasfood and popular choices are rampant in Davao City. Specialty cuisine such as Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Asian dishes are also served in Davao's restaurants. For the night owls, the choices are numerous. From the simple to the classy and high-tech karaoke lounges, disco and ballroom dancing. to lounges that feaure live bands and jazz music.

SHOPPING
Davao is certainly the shopping capital of the south as it prides itself in having the most number of malls and department stores this side of the archipelago.

Buyers may indulge themselves with hours and hours of shopping and entertainment at Gaisano Mall of Davao (J.P. Laurel Avenue), Victoria Plaza (J.P. Laurel Avenue), JSGaisano Citimall (Ilustre Street), New City Commercial Center (R. Magsaysay Avenue), Makro-Davao (Bangkal) and SM City Davao (Ecoland), where the ordinary task of purchase is sprinkled with an element of pleasure and amusement.

For souvenir seekers, Aldevinco Shopping Center (C.M. Recto Avenue) has the best buys for your money’s worth with their wide choices of batik garments, brass products, ethnic accessories and souvenir shirts. Just exercise the art of haggling. You might even get your favored items at half its original price.