VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016
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www.edgedavao.net
EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society
S p e c i a l
S u p p l e m e n t
Mayor Sara’s 10-point agenda
By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ
Photo by Lean Daval Jr.
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Davao City: The best place to be Pulong and Page 4 the members of Davao’s 18th City Council Page 10
DURIAN: DAVAO’S CONTROVERSIAL FRUIT Page 8
ith her assumption to office as the newlyelected mayor of Davao City, Mayor Sara Duterte laid down the priorities of her administration for the next three years. Calling it “the 10-point agenda,” Mayor Sara outlined her major concerns, as she vowed to bring in more development to Davao City and uplift the lives of her constituents. Her 10 priorities include poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, solid waste management, health, education, agriculture, tourism, transportation planning and traffic management, peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation. “My vision is simple. I want our constituents to have gainful employment, decent housing, educated and healthy children, able to eat three meals a day, and to be safe and secured in their daily activities,” the mayor told reporters in one of her interviews earlier this month. With the crafting of the 10-point agenda, Mayor Sara also called on the department heads in the city government of Davao to make sure that the people of the city will experience meaningful and sustainable change and development under her administration. The mayor pointed out that department heads are empowered to do whatever they want to improve productivity and that they are also accountable for their outputs. On Poverty Alleviation To uplift the living condition of most of the constituents in Davao City is the first priority in the agenda. The Regional Development Council in the Davao region (RDC 11), in June of 2016 reported a substantial drop in the poverty incidence in the area, including Davao City, from 28.6 percent of families by first half of 2012 to 20.5 percent in 2015. The decrease in poverty incidence was mainly attributed to the high economic growth levels in the region, from 6.8 percent in 2013 to 9.4 percent in 2014.
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Malipayong pagsaulog sa ika-31 Kadayawan Festival!
Kasadya, kalambuan, kalinaw... ang akong tinguha alang sa atong kaigsoonang Dabawenyo. VICE MAYOR PULONG Z. DUTERTE
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By Sonny L. Mendoza
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have a confession to make: I am a transplanted Dabawenyo. To put it another way, I’m a Manila boy. Yes, I was born, grew up and educated there. But let me clarify; 50 percent of the blood that runs through my veins is Dabawenyo, courtesy of my mother who belongs to the Cervantes clan. Although my father hails from Batangas, he had been a shuttling back and forth from Davao to Manila for the past 50 years, working as a senior executive of a local broadcasting network and a columnist of a community paper here until he retired in the late 90s. Having lived and breathed Davao for the past 21 years, I can proudly say that I am now a certified Dabawenyo. My wife is a Dabawenya and my children, particularly my two boys aged 15 and 13, speak the Visayan language like natives. However, my identity and resolve as a citizen
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The National Economic Development Authority in the Davao region (NEDA-11) also said that prices of basic commodities in the area posted an average of 2.6 percent last year or one percentage point lower than the level recorded in 2014. Records at the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) also points to a drop in the inflation rate of the city – from 3.6 percent in 2012 down to 3.4 percent in 2013; a slight increase of 3.6 percent in 2014 and a significant decrease to 2.2 percent in 2015. DCIPC also said that labor force participation rate in Davao City was 69 percent in 2012; 64.6 percent in 2013; 65.4 percent in 2014; and 65.4 percent in 2015. Indicators provided by the DCIPC said the average annual family income in Davao City, from 2012 to 2014 was placed at P166,000 and increased to P194,000 in 2015. Employment rate in Davao City was 95.4 percent in 2012 but dropped to 93.3 percent in 2013. It increased by more than a percent point or to 94.2 in 2014 and up at 94.4 last year. Unemployment rate in the city was 4.8 percent in 2012 but went up to 6.5 percent in 2013 and dropped to 5.8 in 2014 and 5.5 in 2015. On Traffic Woes Transportation planning and traffic management are among the significant concerns in the agenda, which the administration of Mayor Sara needs to prioritize. In the recent feature
of Davao is sometimes put to a test, especially during discussions with my better half concerning our city’s reputation as one of the premiere cities in the south. “I think Davao has the upper hand,” my wife says, as she rattles off a list of prestigious local and international awards and citations won by the city over the years. “Let me see...One of the 20 Most Livable Cities in Asia, Cleanest and Greenest City, Most Child-friendly City in the Philippines, Most Competitive City To Do Business In, Top Destination of the Year,” my wife said with that smile which simply meant “You ain’t winning this one, boy.” I would tell her that my loyalty to our beloved city is beyond question, but I would point out that there are also a lot of areas in Mindanao that are experiencing similar robust economic growth and expansion. These places may not have received as many awards
story of EDGE Davao where residents in the city were asked on what concerns they see the present administration should prioritize came the issue of traffic as the main worry of Davao City residents. “Traffic congestion in Davao now is not that tough compared to Metro Manila. Mayor Sara’s administration must address this as early as now to prevent it from becoming a nightmare,” a businessman said. A realtor added: “Traffic in Davao City is caused by narrow roads, undisciplined drivers and commuters. Old cars more than 10 years should not be in the streets anymore.” Two students said road widening and the clearing of side streets must be done to allow smooth flow of vehicles. Three drivers also observed of the slow completion of infrastructure projects along the main thoroughfares of the city that caused congestion of vehicles. Another businessman suggested that one of the solutions to ease traffic congestion in the city is the strict enforcement of laws for careless motorists parking on top of proper sidewalks. “It may help if sidewalks are really cleared for people to walk and adequately sized that can be utilized by pedestrians,” he added. An engineer also said that traffic is caused by lack of discipline among drivers and the absence of proper signages in major streets in the city. He also noticed that traffic congestions occur during flooding in some streets in the city, a factor he said that must be addressed by the current administration of Mayor Sara. “Proper zoning and
One of the 20 Most Livable Cities in Asia, Cleanest and Greenest City, Most Childfriendly City in the Philippines, Most Competitive City To Do Business In, Top Destination of the Year... as Davao City, but are also demonstrating that with good governance and excellent public-private partnerships, progress is within their reach.
Sizing up the competition Up north, the port city Cagayan de Oro, is firming up its position as a strategic trade and investment destination. Down south, General Santos is capitalizing on its world-class infrastructure to transport its high-quality marine and ag-
compliance in parking requirements for commercial establishments must also be systematized in the city,” he added. Another cause of the city’s worsening traffic flow is the rampant use of city streets as parking areas of heavy duty trucks and worse, as instant repair shops and public utility jeepney terminals. “Government spends billions of pesos in taxpayer’s money to improve or expand city streets only to be used by businessmen and private individuals, depriving pedestrians and motorists of a wider avenue,” an observant citizen told this writer. Data obtained from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) national office said that Davao region has an average increase rate of 4.63 percent in terms of the number of vehicles registered from 2012, 2013 to 2014. The LTO data stated that the number of motor vehicles registered in the area in 2012 was already 319,363 that increased to 331,143 in 2013. The number of vehicles registered in the region further increased to 349,622 in 2014. LTO said that on yearly basis, percentage on the increase of the number of vehicles registered in the region range from 3.69 percent in 2012-2013; and 5.58 percent in 2013-2014. EDGE Davao also obtained data from the LTO in the region that indicated a 13.99 percent growth rate posted in the number of vehicles from 2014 to 2015. The data stated that from 349,622 vehicles registered in 2014, the number rose to 398,549 in 2015. But in Davao City, the
Photo by Lean Daval Jr. riculture products to lucrative foreign markets. And in the west, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga City in particular, is gearing up as a premier agro-industrial and eco-tourism hub having
data added, a decrease of 3.90 percent in the growth rate of registered vehicles was recorded, as the number declined to 128,926 vehicles registered in 2015 compared to 134,163 in 2014. No reason was mentioned. On Agriculture Despite being considered as a highly urbanized area, still a large portion of Davao City is still classified agricultural area, thus, Mayor Sara also sees the need to lay down her agenda on agriculture. Of the 244,000 hectare total land area of the city, around 29.95 percent are still considered agricultural, data from DCIPC said. Increase in the production of rice and corn have been recorded in the city from the year 2012 to 2014, as well as in the production of coconut, banana and pineapple. Data from DCIPC said rice production in 2012 was 15,847 metric tons (MT) that increased to 16,644 MT in 2013 and 16,493 MT in 2014. Corn production is also promising in Davao City as 19,744 MT of harvests were recorded in 2012; 24,444 MT in 2013; and 26,860 MT in 2014. A total of 27,264.42 MT of pineapple production was also recorded in 2012 that rose up to 27,469.75 MT in 2013 and 27,550.41 in 2014. Durian is considered as the most popular fruit in the city,s as harvests in 2012 was recorded at 53,296.13 in 2012 that increased to 55,955.80 in 2013; and dropped to 47,836.77 in 2014. As early as August last year, durian growers in Davao region had already predicted the decline of their production
branded itself as “Asia’s Latin City.” I would then bolster my argument by citing the ubiquitous signs of progress in these places: Four lane highways, sprawling
due to the reported weather disturbance – the El Niño phenomenon. Less than a year later, or in July of this year, Durian Industry Council of Davao City (DICDC) president Larry Miculob said durian production in the city suffered 60 percent loss due to the effects of El Niño that was translated to 310,000 kilos with a value of around P9.2 million. Miculob said durian trees are weak to resist long drought – around 25 to 30 percent of durian trees in the city were directly damaged by the dry spell. In the livestock industry, only poultry showed promising numbers in terms of production from 2012 to 2014 with the production of hogs and cattle showing some decline in numbers in the same period. Data said that around 3,712,392 heads of poultry were produced in the city in 2012 that went up to 3,815,442 heads in 2013 and significantly increased to 5,413,981 heads in 2014. A slight increase in hog production was also recorded from 229,177 heads in 2012 to 239,770 heads in 2013 but slightly dropped to 233,742 in 2014. Cattle production was 39,053 heads in 2012 but decreased to 37,850 heads in 2013 and down to 35,872 in 2014. Cacao is also an emerging industry in Davao City where farmers now are encouraged to go into production. The World Bank (WB) through the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently
multi-storey malls and business establishments, high-end cafes and restaurants, recreational facilities, one-stop shops, etc. Add to this the continued influx of local and foreign investors who are setting up shop which reflects the enormous business potential of these areas. Not to be outwitted, my wife threw me this question: “If you think that Davao is not the best place to be, then why have you lived here for the past 21 years?” Then and there, I knew that our debate was over. My wife’s question hit me like a sucker punch, as it brought back memories of the day my family and I first set foot in Davao. Blast from the past It was the summer of 1995 when my mother, brother, sister and I board-
Davao P15
released a funding worth P26 million for Cacao Production and Dry-Fermented Beans Marketing project to more than 50 farmer beneficiaries who are members of the Subasta Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Barangay Subasta in Calinan, Davao City. On Tourism Data showed that tourism is considered as one of the biggest contributors in terms of income to Davao City. The steady rise of foreign and local visitors into the city, from 2006 until last year showed the pouring in of billions of pesos in terms of cash receipts and economic gains to Davao City. Davao City, for the past years have been the venue of conferences and other big business events that invite people to come, both foreigners and domestic visitors. The yearly celebration of Kadayawan Festival is also another factor why people come and visit Davao City. In 2015, a total of 1,586,688 local visitors and 128,622 foreigners entered Davao City. These visits were translated to P26.32 billion of tourist receipts and P57.72 billion in terms of economic benefits to the city. Players in the tourism industry are optimistic the numbers for this year will increase or even double from that of the previous years. As one of the agenda of the present administration in the city government, tourism promotions to position key tourist areas in the city must be prioritized and intensified to attract more visitors to come to Davao City.
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Durian: Davao’s
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controversial fruit
Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
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hen someone tells you of Davao City, what fruit comes into your mind immediately? Durian, that’s what. In fact, durian was one of the three Davao icons that was included in Apo Duwaling, the former name of the Kadayawan Festival. The other two icons were Mount Apo (the country’s highest peak) and “waling-waling” (the orchid that used to abound in the forest of Davao region). Foreigners and locals who come to the city should not miss eating the “excellent taste” of the fruit whose “flavor surpasses all the other fruits in the world,” to quote the words of old traveler Linchott. But those who despise the fruit say durian “smells like hell” (or “rotten onion”). Unfortunately, durian aficionados describe “this fruit of a hot and humid nature” as something that “tastes like heaven.” In his book “Following the Equator,” Mark Twain wrote about his durian experience in Southeast Asia through these words: “It was a most strange fruit, and incomparably delicious to the taste, but not to the smell.” The American humorist further wrote: “We found many who had eaten the durian, and they all spoke of it with a sort of rapture. They said that if you could hold your nose until the fruit was in your mouth a sacred joy would suffuse you from head to foot that would make you oblivious to the smell of the rind, but that if your grip slipped and you caught the smell of the rind before the fruit was in your mouth, you would faint.” British naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace had the same experience. After a visit with the Interior of Borneo in 1855, he observed the offensive smell of durian in the house; some persons did not even attempt to taste it. “This was also my own experience when I first tried to taste it in Malacca; but in Borneo, I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and eating it out-
of-doors, I become confirmed durian eater.” Due to the durian’s “foulsmelling odor,” most airlines don’t allow the fruit on board. In Singapore, the Asian country with the most rigid policy and rules concerning care for the environment, the durian is forbidden on subway-stations and trains. Despite this, there is an increasing demand for durian in the export market. It is called “exotic tropical fruit” in North America and Europe where customers offer premium price. Durian is also highly regarded in other Asian countries. By weight, the edible portion (or aril as experts call it) is only 26% on the average. Sixty percent of it is the rind while the remaining 14% are seeds. According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the fruit is rich in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. It is also contains fair amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. For the information of the uninformed, the aroma (or odor if you will) of the fruit comes largely from thiols or thioethers, esters and suphides. The word “durian” comes from the Indonesian “duri” (thorn) and is botanically known as “Durio zibethinus.” It is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It also grows in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, durian grows well in Mindanao but most of the crops can be found in Davao region. At one time, Davao City was known as Durian Republic because the fruit can be bought in part of the metropolis. Durian trees can be seen in nearby areas, particularly Calinan, Tugbok and Toril. This must the reason why during festivity, durian is part of the celebration. As a fruit, durian is eaten right after opening or as a frozen commodity. Like
most exotic fruits, durian is touted to have aphrodisiac powers. In Thailand, durian is eaten as a side dish with glutinous rice or it is made into a paste (often packed like long sausages). In Sabah, Malaysia, red durian is fried with onions and chili and served as a side dish. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development says durian can be made into jam, candy, tart, and “polvoron.” Unripe durian can be cooked like vegetables. Half-ripe or unripe durian is also utilized in making chips and soups. Durian can be made into an excellent ice cream, or a cold milk shake. As a blender ingredient, though, it seems the king of fruits does not mix well with lesser commoners. The distinct durian flavor usually dominates, and in some cases mixing with other fruits accentuates the garlicky component of durian in unfavorable ways. One known harmonious flavor with durian is coffee. Drinking coffee while eating durian is quite pleasant and invigorating – and a durianflavored gourmet coffee would be an exotic treat. If you happen to visit Davao City, there are places where coffee is mixed with durian fruit. For those who want to taste durian for the first time, be sure to buy the very best. But how will you know that the durian you are buying is the real thing? Here’s a tip from the experts: “When picking a durian to buy, look at the stem, if it is dry the durian is probably old. If the stem is cut off, shake the fruit and listen for the seeds knocking around; if you hear something the pulp has probably lost some moisture and therefore not as tasty.” The durian seeds, which are the size of chestnuts, can be eaten after they are boiled, roasted or fried in coconut oil. Its texture is similar to that of taro or yam, but stickier. In Java, Indonesia, the seeds are sliced thin and cooked with sugar as a confection. Uncooked durian
seeds should not be eaten as they are toxic. The petals of durian flowers are eaten in the Batak provinces of Indonesia, while in the Moluccas islands the husk of the durian fruit is used as fuel to smoke fish. The nectar and pollen of the durian flower that honeybees collect is an important honey source, but the characteristics of the honey are unknown. Durian is also a medicinal plant. A decoction of the leaves and roots used to be prescribed as an antipyretic. The leaf juice is applied on the head of a fever patient. It is also claimed to have depurative (blood-purifying) and vermifuge (wormexpelling) properties. In the Malay Archipelago, about 150 years ago, famed Victorian naturalist and evolutionary theorist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote, “To eat durian is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience.” Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian. Here’s another warning: “Discover” magazine reported an incident where a woman with preexisting renal failure ate a durian and ended up critically ill from potassium overdose. There are also stories about durian being harmful when eaten with coffee or alcoholic beverages. The latter belief can be traced back at least to the 18th century when Rumphius stated that one should not drink alcohol after eating durians as it will cause indigestion and bad breath (halitosis). In 1929, J. D. Gimlette advised in his “Malay Poisons and Charm Cures” that the durian fruit must not be eaten with brandy. In 1981, J. R. Croft wrote in a book about “a feeling of morbidity” that often follows should a person drinks alcohol too soon after eating durian. Several medical investigations on the validity of this belief have been conducted with varying conclusions.
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LUXE | Living
Reflecting the elegance, simplicity, and comfort that define the Dusit signature style, the residences features a combination of Thai and classic Filipino decor, furnishings made of silk and teakwood, and world-class amenities that distinguish the hotel. The Dusit Thani Residences community will be the first of its kind-one that perfectly blends urban living with the finest hotel amenities that offer the renowned Dusit Spa, lap and child-friendly pools, specialty dining outlets, a business center and fitness area, among many others. With a long established reputation for exceptional service, the luxury complex will likewise feature room house keeping and luxury services .Personal concierge services will also be offered for the parking and package-delivery needs of its residents. Situated right JP Laurel, Lanang in Davao City, the complex will showcase a panoramic view of the ocean as well as sprawling , 360 –degree view of the entire community and skyline of the city.
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sanctuary amid a bustling cityscape, the Dusit Thani Residences Davao is a luxury apartment complex offering 175 irresistibly spacious full-service residents units.
The luxury serviced residences and hotel is expected to open its doors in 2018 and will truly offer an intimate world-class retreat that blends the best of Filipino and Asian culture with world-class standards.
Building Amenities • Hotel Lobby Lounge & Bar • All Day Dining • Specialty Restaurant • Grab n Go • Spa
The Sales and Marketing Team of Dusit Thani Residences Davao Seated-front L-R: Allen de Vera, Flor Crisol and Chai Abaya Standing-back L-R: Skippy Madrazo, Mae Tabares Valdes, Mary Grace Agusto, Roland Rivera, Maryll Kris Chavez and Ian Beltran
• Meeting and Function Rooms • Swimming Pools (lap and children) • Kids Play Area • Residential Lounge • Residential Pool
Business Center • Special Services • 24-hour concierge • Valet and Limousine Services • Executive Butler • In-Residence Catering and Chef on Demand • Housekeeping and Laundry Services • Medical Clinic Services
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Pulong and the members th of Davao’s 18 City Council By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com
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fter the oath taking of his father, President Duterte in Malacañan last June 30, Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, upon assuming to his office as the elected vice mayor of Davao City told reporters of his full support to the new Duterte administration. “We will wait for his (President Duterte’s) advise if he needs some help with regards to anything. We are ready, we are his children,” the vice mayor said. But aside from the promise he would support his father’s administration, Vice Mayor Duterte also made a vow to the people of Davao City to work and serve the people who mandated him to lead the 18th city council of Davao. “I cannot leave my job here in the city. I wouldn’t,” Vice Mayor Duterte said. The Oldies and Newbies in the Council Most of the members of the 18th city council of Davao are considered “oldies” or had been elected into their posts for second and third consecutive terms but there were also those who can be considered as “newbies”. Of the eight councilors elected last May 10 in the 1st district of Davao City, five are considered re-elected incumbents – to include Councilors Mabel Sunga Acosta, Leah Librado, Bonifacio Militar, Nilo Abellera Jr., and Joan Bonguyan. Two are considered as new to the council – Councilors Melchor Quitain Jr., the son of former city administrator Melchor Quitain and Edgar Ibuyan Jr., the son of former Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Sr. The 8th member, Councilor Pilar Braga has already served the city council in previous administration. In the second district, six are considered incumbents who were re-elected incumbents, to include Councilors Marissa Salvador Abella, Al Ryan Alejandre, Danilo Dayanghirang, April Mae Dayap, Jimmy Dureza and
Diosdado Mahipus. Councilor Cherry Bonguyan is the wife of former Councilor Louie John Bonguyan while Councilor Dante Apostol is a former member of the council. In the third district, five were re-elected incumbents to include Councilors Bernard Al-ag, Victorio Advincula, Antoinette Principe, Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte, and Rene Elias Lopez.
Two are considered new to the council in 3rd district – to include Councilor Avegayle Ortiz, the daughter of former Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Councilor Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III, the brother of former Councilor Rachel Zozobrado. Councilor Conrado Baluran is a former member of the 3rd district city council.
The Committees: During its regular session last July 5, the 18th city council has already formed various committees and elected chairmanships and members on the same. The following are the City Council’s standing committees and its members: Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson: Marissa Salvador Abella Vice chairperson: Conrado Baluran Members: Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte, Jimmy G. Dureza and Halila Y. Sudagar Committee on Appointments and Government reorganizations, Chairperson: Cherry Ann Bonguyan Vice chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Members: Joanne Bonguyan, April Marie Dayap and Jesus Joseph Zozobrado Committee on Barangay Affairs Chairperson: January Duterte Vice Chairperson: Nilo Abellera Jr Members: Edgar Ibuyan Jr., Dante Apostol and Victorio Advincula Jr. Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights Chairperson: Antoinette Principe Vice chairperson: Leah Librado-Yap Members: Jesus Melchor Quitain, Jr., Jimmy Dureza, and Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III Committee on Cooperative Development and People’s participation Chairperson: April Marie Dayap Vice chairperson: Maria Belen S. Acosta Members: Joanne Bonguyan, Jimmy Dureza and Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim affairs Chairperson: Halila Sudagar Vice chairperson: Marissa Salvador Abella Members: Leah Librado-Yap, Jimmy Dureza and Conrado Baluran Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Art and Culture, Chairperson: Pilar Braga Vice chairperson: Al Ryan Alejandre Members: Maria Belen S. Acosta, Nilo Abellera Jr, and Halila Sudagar Committee on Energy, Transportation and Communication, Chairperson: Diosdado Mahipus Sr. Vice chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Members: Joanne Bonguyan, Al Ryan Alejandre and Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz
1st District
Nilo Abellera
Joanne Bonguyan
Pilar Braga
Mabel Acosta
Edgar Ibuyan Jr
Leah Librado
Melchor Quitain Jr
Boni Militar
Committee on Environment and Natural resources Chairperson: Diosdado Mahipus Sr. Vice chairperson: Danilo Dayanghirang Members: Halila Sudagar, Marissa Salvador Abella and Conrado Baluran Committee on Ethics and Good government Chairperson: Jesus Melchor Quitain, Jr. Vice chairperson: Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte Members: Pilar Braga, Danilo Dayanghirang and Antoinette Principe Committee on Finance, Ways, Means and Appropriations, Chairperson: Danilo Dayanghirang Vice chairperson: Diosdado Mahipus Sr. Members: Nilo Abellera Jr., Al Ryan Alejandre and Victorio Advincula Jr. Committee on Franchise and Public utilities Chairperson: Dante Apostol Vice chairperson: Rene Elias Lopez Members: Edgar Ibuyan Jr., Al Ryan Alejandre and Conrado Baluran Committee on Games and Amusements Chairperson: Edgar Ibuyan Jr. Vice chairperson: Jesus Melchor Quitain
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2nd District
Dante Apostol
Al Ryan Alejandre
Danilo Dayanghiran
Cherry Bonguyan
Marissa Salvador-Abella
Jimmy Dureza
April Dayap
Diosdado Mahipus Members: Nilo Abellera Jr., Diosdado Mahipus Sr., and Conrado Baluran Committee on Government enterprise and privatization Chairperson: Edgar Ibuyan Jr. Vice chairperson: Rene Elias Lopez Members: Cherry Ann Bonguyan, Diosdado Mahipus and Conrado Baluran Committee on Health Chairperson: Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte Vice chairperson: Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz Members: Pilar Braga, April Marie Dayap and Antoinette Principe Committee on Housing, Rural and Urban development Chairperson: Rene Elias Lopez Vice chairperson: Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr. Members: Edgar Ibuyan Jr., Al Ryan Alejandre and Conrado Baluran. Sub-committee on Housing and Subdivision on high end projects Chairperson: Bonifacio Militar Members: April Marie Dayap, Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz Sub-committee on Housing and Subdivision development Chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Members: Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr., April Marie Dayap
Committee on International relations Chairperson: Al Ryan Alejandre Vice Chairperson: Maria Belen Acosta Members: Nilo Abellera Jr., April Marie Dayap, Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte Committee on Labor and Employment opportunities Chairperson: Leah Librado-Yap Vice Chairperson: Antoinette Principe Members: Jimmy Dureza, Mary Jocelle Villafuerte, Pilar Braga Committee on Peace and Public safety Chairperson: Nilo Abellera Jr. Vice Chairperson: Edgar Ibuyan Jr. Members: Victorio Advincula Jr., Diosdado Mahipus Sr., Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr. Committee on Public Works and Highways Chairperson: Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III Vice Chairperson: Nilo Abellera Jr. Members: Joanne Bonguyan, April Marie Dayap and Antoinette Principe Committee on Rules Chairperson: Bernard Al-ag Vice chairperson: Diosdado Mahipus Sr. Members: Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr., Al Ryan Alejandre, Rene Elias Lopez Committee on Social Services Chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Vice chairperson: Mary Jocelle Villafuerte Members: Halila Sudagar, April Marie Dayap, Antoinette Principe Committee on Tourism and Beautification Chairperson: Al Ryan Alejandre Vice chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Members: Nilo Abellera Jr., Jimmy Dureza, Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry Chairperson: Jimmy Dureza Vice chairperson: Maria Belen Acosta Members: Pilar Braga, April Marie Dayap, Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz Committee on Transportation and Communication Chairperson: Conrado Baluran Vice chairperson: Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III Members: Pilar Braga, Jimmy Dureza, Victorio Advincula Jr Committee on Youth and Sports development Chairperson: April Marie Dayap Vice chairperson: Mary Jocelle Villafuerte Members: Joanne Bonguyan, Halila Sudagar, Antoinette Principe Committee on Information and Technology Chairperson: Joanne Bonguyan Vice chairperson: Victorio Advincula Jr. Members: Pilar Braga, Cherry Ann Bonguyan, Mary Joselle Villafuerte Committee on Government-owned real properties Chairperson: Bonifacio Militar Vice chairperson: Danilo Dayanghirang Members: Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III, Maria Belen Acosta, Cherry Ann Bonguyan Committee on Women and Children, and Family Relations Chairperson: Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz Vice chairperson: Marissa Salvador Abella Members: Maria Belen Acosta, April Marie Dayap, Mary Joselle Villafuerte Committee on Publications Chairperson: Maria Belen Acosta Vice chairperson: Halila Sudagar Members: April Marie Dayap, Avegayle Dalodo Ortiz, Edgar Ibuyan Jr.
Councilor Bernard Al-ag was also named the majority floor leader of the 18th council; Councilor Victorio U. Advincula Jr. as the assistant floor leader and Councilor Bonifacio Mil-
itar as the Speaker Pro Tempore. Councilor Bai Halila Sudagar will continue to serve as the mandatory representative of the Indigenous People in the city council.
Victorio Advincula Jr
Bernie Al-ag
Conde Baluran
Avegayle Dalodo-Ortiz
3rd District
Petite Principe Rene Lopez
Mary Joselle Villafuerte
Jesus Zozobrado
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Before the ‘Hiyas ng Kadayawan’, there was the Davao Carnival Queen By Antonio Figueroa
B
efore the institutionalization of Apo Duwaling Festival (after Mt. Apo, durian and waling-waling), the original name of Kadayawan Festival, in 1986, nearly half a century earlier Davao City hosted in 1938 an event aptly dubbed as the Davao Carnival and Exposition’. The Davao exposition was actually part of the annual Manila Carnival, famously dubbed as the ‘Mardi Gras of the Far East’ and the ‘Greatest Event in the Orient’. Unlike the Kadayawan which carries only few features, the two-week celebration was a smorgasbord of events that offered numerous activities that regularly drew droves of visitors from the provinces. To highlight the occasion, an edifice that resembled a pavilion was constructed yearly to host the event and display the main features of the much-awaited affair. Organizers described the experience as more than just being fun and folly fiesta, but an assembly of fairs that included exhibits on commerce, industry, education, health, public welfare, athletics, agriculture, animal husbandry, good roads and transportation, public words and beauty pageant. Annually, four contestants were crowned each time the event was held. Aside from the Carnival Queen who was the star of the show, three other beauties representing Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao were chosen without consideration as to their province of origin. It was only in 1926 that the search was expanded to included provincial contestants. Unlike the Hiyas ng Kadayawan, deemed as an ‘annual search for that distinctive indigenous young lady who is knowledgeable of her native culture and wisdom through a pageantry of Mindanaoan myths and legends’, the Carnival Queen, originally chosen from the queue of maidens chosen to represent tertiary schools, was later expanded to consist of competitors from different regions of the archipelago. For two successive years, the town of Davao was represented by two different local mestizas who were crowned as Miss Davao. Lucille Maxey, eldest daughter of Milburn Maxey of Kentucky, USA, and Regina Morales of Baganga, Davao Oriental, carried Davao’s name in the 1st National Beauty Contest held in 1926. Publicity creatures called her as the ‘Max-
1926 Miss Davao Lucille Maxey and 1927 Miss Davao Carmen Bastida
Unlike the Hiyas ng Kadayawan, deemed as an ‘annual search for that distinctive indigenous young lady who is knowledgeable of her native culture and wisdom through a pageantry of Mindanaoan myths and legends’, the Carnival Queen, originally chosen from the queue of maidens chosen to represent tertiary schools, was later expanded to consist of competitors from different regions of the archipelago.
ey-mum impact’. She was the half-sister of the late Davao journalist Ram Maxey. The following year, Carmen Bastida, the 1927 Miss Davao who later married Swiss Hans P. Anderegg after her reign, stood for the town of Davao. Sadly, in 1939, two years before the war broke out, it was curtains down for the Manila Carnival. Davao’s turn to host the provincial fair, which was part of the national Carnival, took place on June 25, 1938. The twoweek event, hosted by the provincial capital to ensure success, was dubbed as the Davao Carnival and Exposition. Similar to the Manila episode, the Davao affair, described as ‘most spectacular’, featured a brightly-lit carnival auditorium that became the main venue of many activities that included evening shows, folk dances, military parades and balls. During the Davao carnival, wrote Alex R. Castro in his Manila Carnival 1908-39 blog, ‘around the city, military, school and government bureau parades were held on the street, featuring officials in horses, marching bands and Boy Scouts. When evening fell, the auditorium grounds came alive with masked balls, folk dances and other cultural presentations.’ Local beauty Angela Bangoy was crowned Queen of the Davao Carnival, while Miss V. Cortez was one of the princesses. During her coronation, the queen wore the attire of a Muslim princess. The next big thing about Davao beauties took place in 1969 when the Mutya ng Dabaw was launched. It was also the year when the iconic Datu Bago Awards was first given to the city’s most illustrious sons
and daughters. Through the years, the list of stunning beauties from the Davao region, including ‘migrants’, has become a source of inspiration and pride. Some of these achievers include the following: Nelia Sancho, who later turned to activism and incarcerated, was crowned ‘The Queen of the Pacific’ in 1971. A decade later, Marilou Bendigo of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, won the 1981 Mutya ng Pilipinas and ended as Top 10 in the Asia-Pacific International pageant. 1990 Mutya ng Dabaw Erlinda Mejia won first runner-up in the Mutya ng Pilipinas 1996 pageant and represented the country in the Miss Intercontinental. 2002 Hiyas ng Kadayawan titleholder Juliana Palermo went on to become a popular newspaper columnist and movie actress. Lian Andrea Ramos, on the other hand, represented the country in the 2006 Miss Universe in Los Angeles, USA, where she won the Miss Photogenic award. Mary Jean Lastimosa, the 2008 Mutya ng Dabaw, was second runner-up in the 2014 Bb. Pilipinas-Miss Universe Philippines and represented the country in that year’s Miss Universe contest. In 2015, Justine Beatrice Felizarta of Padada, Davao del sur and Alaiza Flor Malinao of sulop, Davao del Sur, made it to the Top 15 of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. Among the known ‘migrant beauties’ who made Davao their permanent home are Margie Moran-Floirendo, the 1973 Miss Universe and the late Edith Merced Noble Nakpil-Rabat, the 1956 Philippines. Both were married to prominent politicians.
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ed a Super Ferry in Manila and set sail to Mindanao. It was a memorable threeday trip, as we were greeted with warm weather and beautiful smiles upon our arrival at the Sasa Port. It was amazing how all of us managed to fit in the “PU,” a two-door Minica which was the prevailing mode of transportation during those days. I remember the driver, whose massive frame almost occupied the whole vehicle, telling my mother with a toothless grin, “Ayaw kabalaka, madam. Musakto lagi mo.” Expecting to see a sleepy, laid back community, I was pleasantly surprised to witness a city and its people gearing up for the big time. Its airport was teeming with local and foreign tourists; roads and other public infrastructure were being upgraded; investors were looking at Davao with a new eye, as business establishments opened one after the other; and the volume of vehicles plying the major thoroughfares steadily increased. Under the leadership of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Davao was fast gaining a reputation as a viable agro-industrial, trade and commercial destination. This was further bolstered by the city’s stable peace and order situation, which encouraged more investors to explore the city’s business potential. But even though Davao was on its way to becoming one of Mindanao’s highly-urbanized areas, the city’s cost of living remained relatively low. With at least P500, a mother could feed a family of five for a week. Fruits and vegetables were abundant and available all yearround and can be had for rock bottom prices; school and office was just a jeepney ride away; and people could drink water from the tap. Davao was also a showcase of multi-cultural diversity where Lumads, Muslims and Christians co-existed peacefully and lived in harmony. It was not considered offensive for Catholics to make the sign of the cross in the company of their Muslim friends, while hijab-clad students were commonplace in Christian schools. People could walk the city’s streets at 1 am and not worry about their safety. By and large, Davao was a showcase of peace-driven economic development. But more importantly, the city’s residents demonstrated that
there was unity amidst diversity.
Today’s Davao Over the past two decades, Davao City’s economic growth has remained on track and continues to gain momentum. The city now boasts of several world-class malls which include Abreeza and SM Lanang Premiere, as the Gaisano group continues its mall expansion in the suburbs; local and foreign tourist arrivals are on the rise thanks to an intensive and well-crafted promotional campaign by the city government and Department of Tourism; major business process outsourcing (BPO) company’s such as IBEX, Teleperformance, Concentrix have made the city their home, a testament to the city’s highly-skilled labor force. Davao City is also the first in the Philippines to establish its 911 emergency system, which is patterned after the 911 in the United States. Residents who call 911’s hotline can expect a respect a response time of more or less 15 minutes for medical, security and disaster-related emergencies. When President Duterte assumed office, he immediately ordered the creation of 911 centers across the country, which is a testament to the effectiveness of the system in dealing with both man-made and natural disasters. Davao is also the only city in the country which strictly enforces a 30 KPH speed limit, smoking ban, liquor ban and curfew for minors, among others. Asked if they are bothered or worried at all with these restrictions, residents will only smile and say that these laws are designed to keep them safe from harmsway. And most of the Dabawenyos I have talked to share the same observation that Davao City is on its way to becoming one of Mindanao’s strategic growth areas, and could in fact pose serious competition to the highly-urbanized areas of Cebu and Manila. Aristeo Salapa, vice president for planning, quality assurance and resource management of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), believes that Davao’s economic fundamentals are already in place, as he cites the positive inroads achieved by the city in the areas of tourism, agriculture, logistics and infrastructure. “The macro and inclu-
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sive perspectives of the Davao economy are being taken cared of by public and private entities,” Salapa notes, as he suggests that the city government must focus on “development resilient growth [that is] responsive to both man-made and natural disasters.” “I see Davao five years as the new growing metropolis in the Philippines; where convergence of social and human capital development is harmonized with respect to dignity and human rights. We will be the next best destination of local and foreign investors and tourist,” the academic proudly says. On the other hand, Sofronio “Boy” Jucutan executive vice president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI), echoes Salapa’s observation, as he points out that “Davao’s economy is bullish.” According to Jucutan, industries in Davao that show great potential include real estate, trade and commerce, services, construction, agribusiness and manufacturing (cement, plastic, food items, metal products). Asked on what more needs to be done to further boost Davao’s development, he says that “We need better infrastructure such as roads, traffic lights, and seaports that could accommodate large vessels; more affordable financial services; technology for MSMEs; and more direct flights from Davao to neighboring ASEAN cities.” “Davao City in the next five years will be the center of trade, commerce, finance, and tourism of the Philippines,” Jucutan boldly predicts. And with Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte-Carpio’s 10-point Agenda and President Duterte’s election into office, it is expected that the city’s business community will be getting the support it rightfully deserves from government. The private sector, after all, is considered as among the major engines of the country’s economic growth. Although the city’s skyline has drastically changed since the 1990s, the enterprising spirit and positive attitude of Dabawenyos have remained the same over the years. These are the traits which have made Davao City what it is today: progressive, multi-cultural and forward-looking. I am proud to be a Dabawenyo.
Sara and her new centurions By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ
W
adlopez0920@gmail.com
hen Rome was in its glory, the Centurions were then looked up in the top of the hierarchy of the Roman governance, particularly in the army. Centurions in those times were professional officers of the Roman army that commanded more than 100 soldiers. But those were the years when centurions ruled most portions of Europe under the glory that was Rome and its emperors. In Davao City, after assuming her new mandate, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio immediately set her administration’s direction and assembled individuals that will help her carry her development agenda for the next three years. These individuals can be compared to centurions though they will not command hundreds of sword-wielding warriors – but dozens of development workers. These new centurions will wage war against underdevelopment, traffic woes and diseases – and they will be in the forefront to provide basic services that the people of the city need. Davao City is the largest in the country in terms of land area, measured at 2,444 square kilometers and the home to around 1.449 million people (based on 2010 census). For the next three years, Mayor Sara clearly set the directions of her administration and the priorities that she will implement to ensure the development of the city and its constituents. These directions include poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, solid waste management, health, education, agriculture, tourism, transportation planning and traffic management, peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation. The mayor had also made her choices as to who she will work with to
achieve such directions – her modern-day centurions. City Mayor’s Office “I know what the private sector needs and what the things they want that government could address,” said Atty. Raul Nadela Jr., the newly-appointed Chief of Staff of the city government when asked by EDGE Davao on his greatest asset that could be of great help to Mayor Sara’s administration. Nadela graduated from Ateneo de Davao University college of law and was admitted to the Bar in 2009. Prior to his appointment as the chief of staff, Nadela served as the associate general counsel of the Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., the holding company of the Aboitiz Group of Companies. He was also appointed as head of the litigation department of the same company before joining the administration of Mayor Sara. Administration Mayor Sara also appointed lawyer Zuleika T. Lopez as the new City Administrator. Atty. Lopez also served as Mayor Sara’s acting city administrator from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, she was the secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City from 2007 to 2010. Before her return at the city hall, Atty. Lopez was with the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation – a government-owned and controlled corporation. When she met the media early this month, Atty. Lopez said she will help Mayor Sara in the implementation of the 10-point agenda and realize its results in the lives of the residents in the city. The City Administra-
tor’s Office was created in 1981 pursuant to Resolution No. 260 and Ordinance No. 115 by the city council on that year. As head of said office, Atty. Lopez will exercise supervision and control over all Davao City government enterprises and departments. The office is also tasked to develop plans, strategies and formulate guidelines, standards and regulations on administration-related programs and projects. City Planning To lead the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) during her administration will be Ivan Cortez, who for the past years, served as the officer-in- charge of the Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC). As CPDO chief, Ivan’s main function is to mainstream the programs, projects and activities of the City Government and ensure their proper implementation to realize the vision of Davao City as embodied in the 10-point agenda of Mayor Sara. The CPDO will also act as the coordinating body of all departments under the city government and will serve as the link to the national government agencies. The department of Cortez will also assist Mayor Sara and the city council in the formulation of policies and programs and their implementation in various districts and villages in the city. The history of CPDO, starting from its creation until now has passed through a series of changes and reorganizations. The office was first established in 1974 through Resolution No. 1780 and Ordinance No. 1263 – its name then was the City Planning & Development
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Board (CPDB). By the next year, 1975, the CPDB was formally organized pursuant to the issuance of Administrative Order No. 2 by the City Mayor’s Office. The planning and technical staff of CPDB was created in 1977. The office was created as City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) alongside with the City Development Council in 1980. With the implementation of the Local Government Code or RA 7160 in 1991, the functions and tasks of CPDO were further enhanced and broadened. The last reorganization of the office was in 1996 with the issuance of Executive Order No. 5 by the City Mayor that further broadened the functions of CPDO to include investment promotion undertakings and in the housing program of the city government. Agriculture Mayor Sara also appointed Leo Ryan Leuterio to be the head of the City Agriculturist Office and tasked to lead the agriculture programs of the city government to benefit the thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in the city. About 29.95 percent of the city’s 244,000 hectare total land area is still classified as agricultural – including areas planted to rice, corn, coconut, banana, pineapple, durian and cacao. Livestock production is also promising in Davao City with most of farmers who are into livestock farming are concentrating on poultry, hog and cattle production. The tasks of the office include the provision of over-all directions and supervision of agricultural program planning, services and implementation and manpower administration in Davao City and to develop plans and strategies in the administration of effective agriculture programs. The office was formally created in the late 1960’s. When RA 7160 was implemented in 1991 and the issuance of Executive Order No. 507, around 153 personnel from the Department of Agriculture were devolved to the City Agriculture Office. Tourism Gene Rose Tecson was among those who were named by Mayor Sara in the city government to head the City
Tourism Operations Office (CTOO). Prior to her appointment at the CTOO, Tecson was the president of the Samal Island Tourism Council based in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. She is also active with the Philippine Professional Tour Guide Federation (PPTGF) and the GUIDE Davao, Incorporated. She is a graduate of business administration at the Ateneo de Davao University. The CTOO’s main responsibility is to make Davao City the premier tourism center in Mindanao. To achieve such goal, the office is tasked to come up with programs and projects that will highlight the indigenous culture of Davao City. The CTOO is also mandated to join various national and international trade fairs to showcase the products and services of Davao City. To further promote Davao City, the office will also create campaign strategies through video presentations and other means aimed to increase the awareness tourists and visitors on the tourism potentials of the city. Sports Development Mikey Aportadera, of Duaw Dabaw Festivals Foundation was named by Mayor Sara as chief of the City Sports Office. Aportadera is a former news anchor of TV5 Davao from 2012 until his appointment to the office. The office was created in 1996 with a vision to provide a local government unit-led and coordinated sports development program intended for the masses and to provide support to the athletes. The office is also tasked to work towards making Davao City a regional hub for sports in Mindanao and Asia. City Information Jeffrey Tupas was named chief of the City Information Office (CIO) by Mayor Sara. Tupas is a veteran and multi-awarded journalist in Mindanao who had a stint with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and in a local radio station Balita FM in Davao City. The CIO is the lead information agency of the City Government of Davao, tasked to promote awareness of the city government’s development initiatives.
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To achieve its goals, the CIO is mandated to distribute reading materials that could be easily understood by the people; develop broadcast materials for TV, radio and social media; and strengthen news materials sharing with other media personalities and outlets, as well as encourage active participation of stakeholders in the information process. Retained officers and
other appointments Mayor Sara retained City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Chief Rodelio Poliquit and Central 911 cheif Emmanuel Jaldon, Jr. in their respective positions. Malou Bangayan will still lead the General Services Office. Mayor Sara also appointed the following: Vingelin Bajan in the City Accountant’s Office; Bella Linda Tanjili to the City
Treasurer’s Office; and Marissa Torentera to the Business Bureau. Other city officials who retained their positions include Dr. Josephine Villafuerte of the City Health Office; Maria Luisa Bermudo at the City Social Services and Development Office; Erwin Alparaque of the Human Resources Office; Phillip Nidea of the Public Employment Services Office manager; Pedrita Badar as City Librarian; ll be
City Budget Officer; Osmundo Villanueva at the City Legal Office; Lorna Mandin as head of the Integrated Gender and Development Division; Orly Escarilla as head of the Museo Dabawenyo; Gene Gulanes as head of Davao City Rehabilitation Center; Ricarte Franco, Jr. as head of the City Information Technology Cener; Cerelyn Pinili as City Veterinarian; and Leo Anthony Braceros as head of the Civil Registrar.
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The fashionable Bagobos By Antonio Figueroa
T
he entry of the Spaniards in Davao following the fall of local hero Datu Bago in 1848 made the Bagobo, the city’s iconic indigenous tribe, a central focus of Christianization in the region. In embracing Catholicism, they abandoned their animistic ways and opened themselves to the ethnological scrutiny of social scientists, most of them Americans, who found unique features in the tribe’s culture and tradition. This opportunity to be at the spotlight of colonial attention, though, hardly affected their socio-economic status. When the Americans arrived, their farming practices remained antiquated, something that would classify them at the time as being “under the poverty line.” Fred W. Atkinson, in an article included in the 1902 Report of the Commission of Education 1900-1901, underscored this adversity: “The Bagobos, near Davao, are in need of help. From time out of mind they have cultivated their crops thus: First a piece of forest land is cleared and planted with upland rice. By the time the rice is ready to cut the cogon has sprung up. A crop of corn follows the rice and by the time it is ready to pick the cogon is as high as a man’s head. It is practically impossible for the Bagobos, with their fork-stick plows and bamboo spades, to cope with this grass, so the next step is to clear another piece of forest land. Now comes the Commission commanding that no more forest land [are to] be cleared, and the Bagobos are facing starva-
tion.”
Origin Historians have different perspectives on how this tribe, considered “without doubt [as] the most handsomely dressed wild people in the Philippines,” originated. The reference the Bagobos are the product of intermarriages with other indigenous populations and the Moros is speculative in the absence of genetic studies. The name Bagobo possibly refers to the late pre-colonial ethnic group known as the Obo tribe. In legends, the tribe was said to have come from nearby regions but later moved to create its own settlements in areas between Daliao, Davao City, and Digos City. There is also another suggestion the Bagobo and the Tagabawa, are one and the same. A very recent study shows the Bagobos today inhabit the areas of Bansalan, Davao del Sur and Kidapawan City, in North Cotabato. Interestingly, the Bagobo, the Obo, and the Agusanon also share linguistic features. In Spanish accounts, the Bagobo is specifically referred to as the Tagabawa, a people living below the mountain. The Tagabawa, it is said, is a splinter group that adopted its present name after the friendlier Obo tribe. Obo is a Manobo sub-tribe that populates the more isolated mountains of southwest Cotabato and the adjacent regions of Davao del Sur. The Tagabawa, beyond Davao River from the north, occupy portions of Marilog, Calinan, Tugbok, Baguio, and Toril.
Two Bagobos in their stylish ethnic attire (www.pinterest.com)
Central to the Bagobo worship in pre-colonial times is Tudaya, which has a river that draws water from Tudaya Falls, and is situated within site of the sacred mountain of Sandawa (Apo), the center of creation. Other accounts point to Sibulan (Cibolan) as main Bagobo religious center, where the first human race once lived, and where the human sacrifices were offered.
Chinese influence Bagobo absorption of Chinese idiosyncrasies started with the tribe’s early trade links with Maguindanao, bartering commodities in “exchange of blood, customs and artifacts.” In other accounts, the beads that adorn the Bagobo jacket, skirt, sash, necklace, and bag are said to be distinctly Chinese in make. Traditionally, the jackets women wore and carried “complicated designs in shell disks or beads. The skirt is… held at the waist with a cloth or beaded belt. Many strands of beads encircle the neck, and often a broad bead necklace is worn over one shoulder. A small carrying bag decorated with beads and bells is suspended from a shoulder.” There are specific mention also of ceramics and beads, Chinese in origin, in some pre-colonial oral narratives. Even the Bagobo features, according to American anthropologist Fay Cooper Cole, “both in color and facial lines, are comparable to the Chinese.” After the alliance with the Moros broke off on account of Spanish involvement, the Chinese connection still continued, albeit informally. When the Bagobo rulers accepting the colonial offer to become partner in repelling the Moros, rewards were given for their successes in raids. For every Moro head presented to the Spanish commander, a “Chinese plate decorated with the picture of a large blue fish was offered.” More than just a name “Bagobo,” strictly speaking, is more than just an ethnographic identity. Early American explorers and scientists braved unchartered regions and named some of the endemic animals they discovered after the tribe. A common crane fly, for instance, is christened L. bagobo Alexander, while a bird found in 1930 was named Collocalia esculenta bagobo Hachisuka. Another animal, most likely an
insect, was given its scientific equivalent as C. esculenta bagobo D. distinctus ssp. In the world of taxonomy, one of the most interesting finds was the Bagobo rat (Bullimus bagobus), or the Mindanao forest rat. The rodent is endemic to Davao and is widely known from records to exist also in other provinces and islands in Southern Philippines.
Art and polity “No wild tribe in the islands gives more attention to dress than does the Bagobo,” Cole wrote in 1913, adding: “By an intricate process hemp is colored and woven into excellent garments, which, in turn, are decorated with embroidery, appliqué, or designs in shell disks and beads.” This reflects the special attention the tribe got in the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, held in the United States, where nearly every major indigenous group in the country was represented. Even in the making of gadgets for hunting, fishing, body appliqué, and music, Bagobo creativity is observed. The weapons and other metal arts they produce, from the gongs to the spears, are either made from copper or brass. Beyond that, the early missionaries and later the Americans also observed that the tribe, as an indigenous nation, had its own set of laws binding on all classes although by present standards some of the penalties are considered harsh and uncivilized. A theft was penalized through a fine or servitude but an unfaithful wife and her paramour should be killed using a spear, which is left stuck to the body of one of the victims as a reminder that the crime was an act of vengeance provoked by a fault. On the other hand, an individual who has an illicit affair with a slave woman he does not own can be subjected to fine or servitude. Incest was punished with death for both offenders. There were also prohibitions in terms of dress code, and there were rules governing property rights, especially lands. The inheritance guidelines, more or less, are closely identifiable with the present set of Philippine laws that are in effect. Polygamy, which allows having multiple wives, is not prohibited but restricted where the economic capacity of the man is involved. In terms of polity, the Bagobo tribe has a datu, a
Admission ticket (top picture) and Bagobo Datu Bulan at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair warrior with enough kills in his name, who has control over petty rulers in the districts. As head of the group, he implements the customary laws and executes the penalties. His office, though, is hereditary, and is passed on to the eldest son. In case the datu does not have an heir or his successor is not qualified, “the under chiefs and wise old men may choose a leader from among their number.” But the issue of hereditary succession is unclear because the Bagobo “practiced matrilocal marriage,” which means the husband, if he is not the chieftain, moves to where his wife is settled. That being the case, it is possible all the Sibulan chiefs were outsiders. ‘Bagobo Village’ Among the indigenous peoples in Davao Region, the Bagobo figured prominently in the St. Louis World’s Fair, or the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in Missouri, U.S.A., in 1904. There were actually five minority groups from the Philippines represented in the global event, namely, the Igorots, Negritos, Moros, Visayans, and Bagobos. Each had its own village, one of 1,576 buildings constructed over 517 hectares of land. The opening of the vil-
lage, with four houses and 38 natives, was delayed until Sept. 12, 1904 due to two unanticipated incidents: the Shawmut, the steamship that carried the Bagobos to the US caught fire while docked in Manila, and the passengers were affected with smallpox, forcing the organizers to quarantine them before showing at the fairgrounds. Worse, its original manager, Carson Calhoun, a Thomasite educator assigned in Davao area, and several natives died due to the illness. He was later replaced by C.L. Crowner as village manager. When the Bagobo Village eventually became accessible to the public, it promptly became the exposition’s draw. The public was allowed to inspect the native houses and ornaments inside, and during certain times the Bagobos showed visitors their skills in making wild animal traps, weaving indigenous fabrics, and dyeing cloths using natural tints processed from plants. In 2005, the Filipino musical ‘St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos’ about Bulan, the Bagobo chieftain who went to the St. Louis World’s Exposition in 1904, was exhibited at the Teatro Aguinaldo Theater in UP Diliman where it was played to packed houses.
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016
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Message Madayaw Davao! Kadayawan Festival is one of the most anticipated festivals in the country. It is a celebration of culture and beauty, a beauty borne from its God-given nature and it’s people. Davao City’s cultural diversity is like no other. It is where different tribes co-exist and prosper together. This yea r’s celebration has become an avenue for a greater social change, a channel of education on Davao’s culture, and an introduction of a greater Davao to the world. The event has become more meaningful because for the first time in history we have elected a president who hails from the city and one who knows Mindanao by heart. I thank the people of Davao for sharing President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the whole country. You are the role models of change. It is with deep honor and respect that the Province of Davao del Norte reiterates its all-out support to Davao City, since we treasure our kinship and shared cultural identity and respect for diversity, progressive values and development direction. I, therefore, congratulate the organizers of the 31st Kadayawan Festival. You have brought to life the wisdom of Davao’s history through the events that were line up. May the success of the festivities all the more unite the Dabawenyos in pursuing their economic, social and cultural development, as well as leave the guests and spectators with a better understanding of the city’s rich cultural heritage and its increasing prominence as a model for peace and progress. I wish the Dabawenyos to continue soaring high, as the mighty Philippine Eagle, to stand tall like the towering Mt. Apo, bloom beautifully as the rare Walingwaling, and have the best qualities of the king of fruits, Durian. Mabuhay ang Kadayawan Festival 2016! Mabuhay ang mga Dabawenyos!
HON. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO Governor
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