A legacy of strength, resilience, and progress
FROM a humble riverside settlement to a thriving cultural and economic hub, Davao City’s journey is a testament to resilience, unity, and progress. As it celebrates 88 years of strength as One Davao, the city reflects on a history marked by transformation and an unyielding spirit that has shaped it into one of the Philippines’ most dynamic urban centers.
Birth and rise
On March 1, 1937, Davao City was officially inaugurated, marking its separation from the undivided Davao Province.
During the inauguration, former President Manuel L. Quezon expressed confidence that the appointed city officials would shape Davao into a "progressive and model urban center." Decades later, his vision has become a reality—Davao City is now one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the country.
Early history
Davao was originally home to the Lumads and Moros. The city's name comes from a fusion of the words “Dabo,” “Duhwow,” and “Davoh,” used by the three Bagobo subgroups—Tagabawa, Guiangan, and Obo—to refer to the Davao River.
Spanish colonization began in 1848 when José Cruz de Uyanguren led an expedition to conquer the area. Despite fierce resistance from local chieftain Datu Bago, Uyanguren established the town of Nueva Vergara—what would later become Davao City—and became its first governor. However, Spanish control remained tenuous due to continued resistance from indigenous groups.
After Spain’s defeat to the United States in 1898, American settlers recognized Davao’s agricultural potential. Migrants from Luzon, Visayas, China, Japan, and the U.S. arrived, contributing to the city’s rapid economic growth.
By the 1930s, Japanese settlers had gained significant influence over the abaca industry, raising concerns within the Philippine government. In response, Davao City was established as a chartered city in 1937, integrating the Guianga Municipal District and the town of Davao to regulate Japanese political control.
The road to cityhood
Davao delegate Pantaleon Pelayo Sr. strongly opposed Japanese land control, while Assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo filed House Bill No. 609, which was passed as Commonwealth Act No. 51. This law created the City of Davao by merging the town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga. Signed by President Quezon on October 16, 1936, the act took effect on March 1, 1937, making Davao one of the first two cities in Mindanao, alongside Zamboanga City.
Overcoming challenges
Davao City has faced numerous trials throughout its history, including the Japanese occupation during World War II, Martial Law in the 1970s, and armed conflicts in the 1980s. After the EDSA Revolution, the city shifted its focus toward progress, investing in infrastructure, tourism, and economic growth.
It also endured terrorist attacks, such as the old Davao Airport and Sasa Wharf bombings, as well as incidents at San Pedro Cathedral and the Roxas Night Market.
For decades, insurgency persisted in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas until the city was finally declared insurgency-free in 2022.
In 2020, Davao, like the rest of the world, battled the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed lives and led to business closures. Normalcy gradually returned with the expedited rollout of vaccines in 2021.
Despite these challenges, Davao City has emerged stronger, proving its resilience time and again.
Davao today
Living up to its slogan, “Davao Life is Here,” the city has become the largest in the Philippines by land area and the most populous in Mindanao, with 1,776,949 residents as of the 2020 census. It is also a key player in the East Asian Growth Area, significantly contributing to regional economic development.
With an average annual growth rate of 2.53 percent, Davao is the only Philippine city ranked among the world’s top 100 fastest-growing cities. As it moves closer to its centennial milestone, Davao continues to pave the way for sustainable progress, ensuring a brighter future for generations of Dabawenyos. RGL