THE City Government of Davao is planning to construct a monument in honor and recognition of Datu Bago.
The officer-in-charge of Museo Dabawenyo, Winnie Rose Bulig, said on Thursday, November 15, during the Ispeak media forum, that the members of the Davao Culture and Arts Council is also planning to put the monument near a river in the city.
“Naplanuhan sa member sa council na magbuhat o magmugna ug monument ni Datu Bago since we already have an ordinance declaring Datu Bago as hero of Davao City (The members of the council planned to put up a monument for Datu Bago since we already have an ordinance declaring Datu Bago as hero of Davao City),” Bulig said.
“Ang target is it should be near the river, so probably in Bucana or somewhere in Bankerohan,” she said.
The said ordinance was approved last August 3, 2018 which stated the construction of monument of the said local hero in order for the people of Davao, particularly the youth, to regard Datu Bago with respect and to remember his heroism.
“As we noticed in Luzon and Visayas, naa silay mga heroes. In Davao, wala, so karon, based on researches, kani si Datu Bago, siya gyud ang nakipaglaban against the Spaniards to fight for Davao City (We noticed that in Luzon and Visayas, they have heroes declared, whereas in Davao, there is none. So based on researches, Datu Bago is the one who really fought for the city against the Spaniards),” she said.
Datu Bago is a paramount warrior or “Bawwangin” who has a Kagan, Tausug, Maguindanawon ancestry who settled in Bagobo land which is now known as Davao.
According to the ordinance, Datu Bagobo and other members of the Kagana and Bagobo tribes fought against foreign invaders to defend Davao in 1839.