Davao de Oro: Region XI, Philippines

• Region XI is also known as the Davao Region, located in Southern Mindanao.
• The region comprises five provinces: Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental.
• Davao's name originates from a blend of the words "Dabo," "Duhwow," and "Davoh," names used by the Bagobo subgroups.
• The Bagobo subgroups are Tagabawa, Guiangan, and Obo

Davao de Oro

• Davao de Oro was formerly named Compostela Valley.
• It was created from the province of Davao del Norte.
• Republic Act No. 8470 was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on January 30, 1998.
• Davao de Oro became the 78th province of the Philippines.

Municipality of Nabunturan

• The town of Nabunturan was once a barangay of Compostela.
• The name comes from bungtod, the Cebuano term for “hill.”
• Nabunturan means “surrounded by hills" in English through it's Cebuano origin

Culture

• The province's inhabitants came from ethnic tribes.
• Those tribes are Mansaka, Mandaya, Manobo, Mangguangan, Dibabawon, Aeta, Kamayo, Davaweño, and Kalagan.

Buganihan Festival

• It is a thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvest.
• It is a tribute to the bagani warriors of the past.
• It is celebrated every August 1 in Compostela.

Bulawan Festival

• The Gold Festival of Davao de Oro celebrates rich gold deposits.
• It also celebrates golden-hearted and industrious people.
• It honors the province's rich cultural heritage.

Diwanag Festival

• Montevista celebrates Diwanag Festival from the first Friday to the last Friday of December.
• It is a combination of the phrase “Diwa nga Masanag”.
• "Diwa nga Masanag" is an acronym for: (D)reams, (I)ntegrity, (W)holesome celebration of the cheerful atmosphere of Christmas, (A)ssimilation of the town's diverse ethnic groups, (N)ever-ending trust in God, (A)esthetic orientation, and (G)em of heritage.

Simballay Festival

• Simballay symbolizes unity and togetherness.
• It serves as a thanksgiving celebration for bountiful harvests.
• It takes place in the Capital Town of Nabunturan, Davao De Oro.

Awao Falls

• Awao Falls is surrounded by a flourishing forest.
• Diverse wildlife call the lush landscape surrounding the falls home.
• The waterfall consists of three cascading foliage-taped boulders fringed with plants and grasses.

Tagbibinta Falls

• Tagbibinta Falls is a sacred place for the indigenous Mansaka community of Maragusan.

Mainit Sulfuric Hot Spring

• The natural hot spring is in the mountainous and geothermally active interior.
• It is located in the town of Maco in the province of Davao de Oro.

Davao del Norte

• Davao del Norte is the leading producer of bananas in the country.
• Many plantations are run by multinational corporations such as Dole and Del Monte.
• Local producers include Lapanday, TADECO, and Marsman.

Tagum City

• Tagum, officially the City of Tagum, is located at the heart of Davao del Norte.
• It is referred to as the City of Palms, the Music Capital of the South, and the City of Festival.

Culture of the Ata-Manobo

• The Ata-Manobo of Davao del Norte believed they originated from Paquibato, Davao City.
• Their ancestral domain covers portions of Kapalong, San Isidro, Sto. Tomas, and Talaingod.

Musa Festival

• It is also called Musa Banana Festival.
• It is in Kapalong every August 1, celebrating the town's founding anniversary

Ugmad Festival

• Ugmad Festival was formerly known as Durian Festival.
• It is an annual celebration in Tagum.
• The festival's calendar runs from the last week of August to the third week of September.

Binulig Festival

• It takes place every second week of October.
• It is celebrated in Panabo, known as the Banana Capital of the Philippines.
• Almost 80% of this area is allocated to farming.

Kadagayaan Festival

• The celebration is held every 1st of July.
• It is a gathering of all localities, customs, and traditions in Davao del Norte.

Sanipaan Marine Park

• It is also referred to as Vanishing Island.
• It is located near the coast of Tambo, Babak in Samal.
• It is a small strip of white sands.

Okbot Cave

• Okbot Cave was named after a native medicine man named Okbot.
• Okbot uses the cave as his ritual site and the shelter for his family during calamities.

Monfort Bat Cave

• Monfort Bat Cave is located in Tambo on Samal Island.
• The bat colony plays a key role in the ecosystem.
• They pollinate fruit trees and disperse seeds.

Davao del Sur

• The defunct Congress created the province of Davao del Sur on May 8, 1967.
• It was made official under Republic Act No. 4867.
• It started as a province on July 1, 1967.
• The province had ten municipalities, with Digos as the capital.

Digos City

• Digos was a watercourse.
• It served as a meeting place for Austronesians who settled along the southern foothills of Mt. Apo.
• The Digos River meets the Davao Gulf and is ideal for fishing and bathing.

Culture of Davao del Sur

• The Bagobo are settled people who practice agriculture as well as hunting and fishing.
• The Manobo occupy various ecological niches.
• These range from the coastal to the rugged mountain highlands of the interiors of Mindanao.
• The B'laan have their own system of weaving using abaca fiber as materials.

Kadayawan Festival in Davao del Sur

• It is a vibrant celebration where locals give thanks for a bountiful harvest and indigenous traditions are celebrated.
• The festival was once known as the Apo Duwaling Festival which symbolizes Mt. Apo, the durian and the Waling-Waling orchid.
• It is held every August.

Padigosan Festival

• It features a lechon parade, street dancing, a trade fair, and sports competitions.
• The celebration recognizes Digos turning into a municipality back in July 19, 1949.

Sin'abbadan Festival

• It celebrates the oneness of different tribes living in the municipality.
• It showcases different indigenous art, music, and dances.
• It gives tribute to the tribes of the municipality in Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur.
• It is held every September 5-6.

Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge

• Competitors bike to the Tibolo-Kapatagan Junction.
• They trek up to the Mt. Apo Summit camp site.
• Participants tube down the Sibulan River.
• They run through a national highway back to the Sta. Cruz Municipal Plaza in a day.

Mt. Apo National Park

• Mt. Apo Natural Park is protected under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.
• The act is also known as Republic Act No. 7586.
• It was approved on June 1, 1992, by President Corazon C. Aquino.

Philippine Eagle Center

• The center houses 36 Philippine Eagles, 18 of which are captive-bred.
• It also houses 10 other species of birds, 4 species of mammals and 2 species of reptiles.

Davao Crocodile Park

• It shows a state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines.
• It has modern crocodile farm design facilities and equipment.

Japanese Tunnel

• The tunnel has 300 meters in length.
• It was discovered during landowners excavating the area for a hotel.
• War prisoners dug out the tunnel by order of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

D'Bone Collector Museum

• Darrell Dean Blatchley heads and curates the musuem.
• There are over 700 specimens are displayed in exhibits throughout the museum's three floors.

Davao Oriental

• The top one of the top producers of coconut and copra in the province
• Major producer of abaca
• Exports crude oil and copra pellets

City of Mati

• “Mati” is said to have originated from a native word “maa-ti,” which means “dries up quickly.”
• Referring to a creek in the heart of the town, which was known to dry up easily even after a heavy rain.

Mandaya Culture

• The Mandayas believe in God and respect nature.
• In the LUMAD community, everyone shares and offers something.
• Their clothing is made from abaca fiber called “dagmay”.

Banayan Festival

• The festival is a thanksgiving event.
• Early peoples populated the town and had a bountiful harvest of rice.
• It is celebrated every October in Banaybanay
• It is a rice field capital of Davao Oriental.

Sambuokan Festival

• It is a festival that celebrates the unity and oneness among the townspeople.
• It shows the rich culture in celebration of unity.
• It is every third week of October

Niyogan Festival

• A festival in thanksgiving celebrating a bountiful and abundant coconut harvest season.
• It occurs every October 28 -29.

Mt. Hamiguitan Bonsai Forest

• It is known as the "Bonsai Forest.
• It is noted for its unique bonsai field.
• The is a pygmy forest of outstanding universal value and it's solely protected.

Dahican Forest

• It is referred to as the "Surfing Mecca" of Davao Region.
• Strong waves tower to about 10 feet making the shoreline perfect for surfers and skimboarders

Waniban Island

• It is covered with lush greenery.
• Powdery white sand beach on its shoreline.
• amid in crystal clear turquoise waters of Pujada Bay.

Davao Occidental

• Created on October 28, 2013 by Republic Act NO. 10360.

Malita

• The Municipality of Malita is in a 1st class municipality
• It is the capital of Davao Occidental, Philippines.
• It is known for various cultural arts and heritage.

Tagakaolo Culture

• Tagakaolo signifies “those who dwell at the head of the river”.
• Their cultural practices are linked to the Kulaman Manobo and the Bagobo of Davao.

Gaginaway Festival

• The celebration is of unity and bountiful blessings.
• Malitaños celebrate during every full moon of November.

Kap'yaan Festival

• A festival is hosted on the Day of Establishment of the town of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental.
• It happens each eighteenth to twentieth of February.

Balut Island

• The island stands out as a volcanic paradise.
• It can be found on the southern tip of the province.

Tuke Nonsul

• It offers a peaceful escape into nature away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
• Known for its rich wildlife and serene environment

Olanivan Island

• It features stunning coral reefs.
• There is diverse marine life
• It is a top spot for snorkeling

Sleeping Dragon

• A mountain formation resembling a dragon resting,
• It's a popular hiking destination.

Sabang Hot Spring

• Sabang Hot Spring provides warm, soothing waters.
• It is set in a lush environment ideal for relaxation and rejuvenation.