Brief History of Davao

Take a short review of the ancient past and learn a little something about Davao.

What's in A Name

The name Davao was probably derived from the Bagobo word "Daba-daba" which means "fire." The early Jesuit priests refered to this place as a region of flames or fire as recorded in their early books. Many natives, however, believe that the name Davao was derived from the great river which the early Tagabawa tribe refered to as Dabu.

Early People

During the ancient times, Davao has already been a place of different tribes and ethnic groups coming from different regions of the Philippines and people in the nearby countries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Borneo. The native tribes that comprise the majority group of ethnic tribes in Davao during the early times were the Bagobos, Bilaans, Guiangans, Tagacaolos, Manobos, Mandayas, Mansakas and Atas. The early Muslim Maguindanaons, who were traders and merchants, also came to this place to do business.

Spanish Conquest

In 1848, the Spanish forces, led by Don Jose de Oyanguren, launched an expedition and defeated the Muslims and killed their leader Dato Bago. Oyanguren then started to build a Christian community.

A Chartered City

On March 16, 1936, Assemblyman Romualdo Quimpo sponsored a bill in Congress that will turn Davao into a chartered city. In March 1, 1937, Davao City was formally inaugurated under President Manuel L. Quezon.

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"Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen."
~ Benjamin Disraeli ~