Important Facts about Davao City

The population in Davao City has grown to almost a hundred times in a century. 

8,560 in 1903

1.5 million in 2011

2.7 million in 2036

There are 4.54 persons 

in every household in Davao City

6 of 25 people in Davao City live in Rural Barangays

10 Tribes of Davao City - Maranao part (10-10)

This is the last part of the list of 10 tribes in Davao.

Maranao

Deputy Mayor Gapor "Randy" A. Usman, Al Haj

Maranao means "people of the lake" with Lanao as their homeland referred to as lake. Like other Muslim tribes, they are brave and historically offered sacrifice in defense of their homeland and Islam. They are rich in literature the most famous of which is the Darangen.

The Maranao musical heritage revolves around the kulinlang, a specific type of gong which plays sounds peculiar to their culture.

Maranaos are best known for sophistication in wood and metal crafts like the impressive torogan, a special house built for a Maranao maiden; design motifs called okil, examples of which are the Sarimanok and Naga which are creative renditions of a cock and its fish and a dragon or snake, respectively.

The Maranao is also known for their exceptional textiles of ornate designs and colors reflective of the social status of the wearer. The Malong is a classic example.

If there is one trait noticeable among the Maranao is their large involvement to market trade which makes a Maranao community widely visible in every city and town in the Philippines.

The Maranaos are in the districts of Poblacion, Talomo, Bunawan, Buhangin, Toril, Tugbok, Calinan and Marilog Districts.

Click here to see the rest of the Davao tribes.

10 Tribes of Davao City - Sama part (9-10)

This is the 9th part of the list of 10 tribes in Davao.

Sama

Within the Sulu Sea basin alone, the majority of the coastal people belong to he Sama cultural community. The term "Sama" is a derivative of the word "Sama-sama" meaning togetherness.

Sama may be described as a cohesive and peace-loving people.

Each Sama sub-group is identified geographically according to the name of their coastal settlement. These include: Sama Simunul. Sama Balimbing, Sama Tawi-Tawi, Sama Sibutu and Sama Ubian. Each of them have varied ancestral backgrounds, outlooks in life, economic lifeways and types of social upbringing.

The Sama Simunul claims to have descended from a mixture of Arab and native blood. They point to the color of their skin and physical traits as evidence of such descent.

The Sama Tawi-Tawi are said to have come originally from Johore. Their ancestors are believed to have crossed the ocean through small outriggers. Their forefathers were powerful men, having the supernatural power to invite unseen spirits called Jin to do things for them.

The Sama Sibutu claimed to have descended from another makmudin named Mukthar. The descending lineage of Tuan Mukthar considers this Sama group as belonging to the Datu class, Like the Sama Tawi-Tawi, the Sama Sibutu also possess the limuh (knowledge) of jinism or spiritism.

The majority of Sama people in Davoa City are in the coastal barangays from Bunawan to Toril.

Click here to see the rest of the Davao tribes.

10 Tribes of Davao City - Matigsalug part (6-10)

This is 6th part of the list of 10 tribes in Davao.

Matigsalug

Deputy Mayor Datu Carlito A. Guinto, Sr. and family

The Matigsalugs are found in the eastern section of Marilog, Davao City, and in the towns of Kitaotao, Quezon, and San Fernando in Bukidnon. Matigsalug means people who live along the river, and this river is specifically Davao River which the Matigsalugs simply call Salog. Its source is in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

It is not clear if the Matigsalugs paid tribute to the Kalagan Moros at the mouth of Davao River. But apparently the Kalagan Moros had control of territory up to Tamugan, or possibly beyond.

Despite the apparent subordination of the Matigsalugs by their neighbors, they were feared warriors. In san Fernando, Bukidnon, their chief leader was Datu Gapaw who fought off Moro (Magindanaw) invasions. The Matigsalugs allied with the Obus to effect a peace pact with the Magindanaws held in Kapuling, Kalagangan, San Fernando.

Linguistically, the Matigsalugs are classified under the manobo, although racially, they would be darker than the Manobos.

Lumads residing in Marilog District are of the Matigsalug Tribe.

Click here to see the rest of the Davao tribes.

10 Tribes of Davao City - Kagan part (3-10)

This is the third part of the list of 10 tribes in Davao.

Kagan

The Kagans inhabit pocket settlements scattered around Davao Gulf. Like the Kulaman Manobos and Sangils, the Kagans did not and still do not occupy a contiguous territory that they can claim as their ancestral domain. Most of their settlements are found at the mouth of or along a river. Their more important centers were Padada, Sirawan, Davao (Bankerohan), Tagum (Bingcungan), Madaum, Iho, Matiao, Pantukan, and Sumlug (Lupon). 

In 1885, Fr. More estimated their number at around 4,000. Despite this small population, the Kagans lorded over the entire Gulf by controlling the key river systems. Indeed Davao Gulf might be considered a Kagan lake. The Kagans were closely associated with the Magindanao sultanate, with many polities recognizing the Magindanao Sultan as their suzerain.But at the same time, the Kagans exercised a lot of independence. 

The most important unifying factor of the Kagans was Islam. By the 1700s, most of them had been converted to this new faith, possibly through the Magindanaons. Samal oral tradition suggests Sharif Kabungsuwan, or perhaps his descendants, also proselytized in Davao. The genealogies of the various Kagan polities indicate some limkage with minor Magindanaw royalty. 

Kagan power lay in better weapons and a network of local alliances. Their weapons were obtained from the Magindanaons as well as from Dutch or English traders. The leaders of the important centers were linked by kinship ties. They formed a formidable council that decided on certain matters, demonstrating a unity that allowed them control over the interior tribes from whom they exacted tributes. 

The Kagans are in the District of Poblacion, Talomo, Buhangin, Bunawan and Paquibato.

In later Spanish documents, the Gulf Kagans would be identified by the Spaniards as the Davao Moros. Datu Bago of Davao River and Datu Pampang of Madaum were mentioned by the Spaniards in the early 1800s in connection with negotiations defining the boundaries of the Davao Moro realm and the Spaniards realm on the Pacific Coast.

Click here to see the rest of the Davao tribes.

10 Tribes of Davao City - Maguindanaon part (1-10)

The new logo of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival 2012 has a theme of 10 tribes 1 vibe, but do you know the ten tribes of Davao City? Here are the list of the 10 tribes in Davao.

Maguindanaon

Deputy Mayor Hadji Ismael A. Nakan and Family

Maguindanaon means "people of the flood plain" for they mainly inhabit the broad Pulangi River valley and delta which occasionally flood.

The Maguindanaon Tribe originally came from the former Cotabato Province now known as the Maguindanao Province.

Historically, The Maguindanaons are the descendants of Shariff Kabunsuan and Putri Tonina who are both half blooded Arab and Malay, respectively, then Sultan Kudarat's descendant Datu Bago who migrated to Davao and fought hand in hand against the Spaniards, was married to a native of Davao wherein his descendants are now much known as the Kagan Tribe.

The Maguindanaons are subdivided into two principal groups, each with its own dialect and traditional location: Tau-sa Ilud (people of the lower valley). and the Tau-sa Laya (people of the upper valley). The Tau-sa Ilud are concentrated in the areas around Cotabato City and extend to South Dinaig. They are primarily sedentary wet-rice agriculturists. Traditionally, they constituted the Sultanate of Maguindanao based  near present day Cotabato City.

The Tau-sa Laya are primarily concentrated in the areas of Datu Piang and extend south to the areas which include Buluan. They practice semi-sedentary agriculture and grow corn and upland rice. Traditionally, they constitute the Rajahship of Buayan based near present-day town of Datu Piang.

Maguindanaons are scattered around the three district of Davao City and other nearby provinces like Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental.

Click here to see the rest of the Davao tribes.

Native Delicacies

When I went to a trade fair in the city hall with hubby, I was amused to find these foods that I have never tasted. Some of the foods look familiar but there are also those that I find really rare. You can never see them sold in malls or department stores. The booth that display those delicacies are owned by our Maguindanao, Tausog and Maranao Muslim brothers. Aside from foods, their booth also showcased some native products made by them.

Hubby, the ever curious one tried to buy some of these foodies and he loves the taste of the sweet ones like dudol . Have a great Saturday everyone. Happy weekend:).