ARAW NG DABAW 2014

Once again Davao City will be celebrating their 76th Araw ng Dabaw. A month-long celebration  is expected to bring thousands of visitors, tourists, transients and travelers to the city.

Araw ng Dabaw, which literally means "Davao Day," is a week-long celebration of the founding of the city with trade fairs, colorful socio-civic and military parades along the main streets of the city, cultural presentations of the various ethnic tribes in Davao City, sports competitions, and fireworks. The highlight of the event is the selection of the "Mutya ng Dabaw," which means "Miss Davao", from among the best, the brightest, and the most beautiful ladies in the city.

HISTORY

The  Araw ng Dabaw has its roots. In the 1930's, Davao was completely under the control of the Japanese immigrants, who, despite laws restricting foreign ownership of land, managed to become the largest plantation owners in Davao. They were able to achieve this by using dummies to buy land for them, and by marrying local women particularly with Datu lineage, and also by renting land from local landowners. During this period, the then undivided province of Davao was the biggest producer of abaca in the world with the Japanese practically controlling the entire industry. Their economic dominance in Davao made them politically influential. They had built their own schools, hospitals, and constructed road networks. The biggest concentration of the Japanese was in the Guianga District, centered around Mintal, and their population grew to about 17,900 by 1939.

As Japan was becoming a world power, having defeated Russia in 1904 and annexed Korea in 1910 and Manchuria in 1931, doubts were raised as to the real intentions of the Japanese presence in the country. In the 1934 Constitutional Convention, Davao delegate Pantaleon Pelayo Sr. bravely denounced the control of Davao by the Japanese and their unlimited acquisition of land. The presence of the Japanese in Davao had now become a national problem.

On March 16, 1936, Davao Assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo filed Bill No. 609 or Commonwealth Act No. 51 - An Act Creating the City of Davao, which was intended to break the control of the Japanese. The Act further stipulated that the city officials would be solely appointed by the President of the Philippines instead of being elected, as it was believed then that in elections, Japanese-supported candidates would win, and, therefore, entrench Japanese power in Davao.

On October 16, 1936, Bill No. 609 was signed into law by then President Manuel L. Quezon. The following year, on March, 1937, Executive Proclamation No. 132 was issued that formally created the City of Davao.

It was during the term of Mayor Elias B. Lopez that the celebration of the foundation of Davao City was made a week-long celebration that culminated on March 16.

Today, Davao City ranked number 2 as the most livable City in the Philippines. In the early 2000s, Davao City has been recognized as the most liveable city in the Philippines but in the  recent years, it has been outranked by the other fastest growing and well performing cities in the Philippines.  Davao City ranked 87th fastest growing city in the world by the City Mayors Foundation and 10th Asian City of the Future by the FDI Magazine. It is the most important financial and trade center and the richest city in Mindanao thus the nickname the ” Crown Jewel of the South”. It is the 5th best performing city financially, 2nd best city that caters the tourist with best natural attractions, 4th producer of young professionals, 9th in having the most cultural and commercial ties here and abroad, 1st in calamity safety index and 3rd in having the best infrastructure among the cities in the country.

76th ARAW NG DABAW GUIDELINES FOR PARADA DABAWENYO

PARTICIPANTS:

• All  civic,  non-government organizations (NGOs),  People’s Organizations (POs),  private

companies, schools and universities, government institutions and barangay units can join the 76th Araw ng Dabaw parade on (Saturday), March 16, 2013 from 7:00  A.M. to 12:00 noon.

The parade shall start at exactly 7:00 A.M. Joining the parade is FREE.

                 

• All interested participants shall submit the accomplished Parade Entry Form to:

76th Araw ng Dabaw Parade Committee

Office of the City Administrator Rm. 14, 2nd Floor, City Hall Building

San Pedro Street, Davao City

Telephone Numbers: 227-4526/227-6054

• Participants shall indicate the type of their participation i.e. walking contingent, in float, will use

bands and others.  All contingents shall be required to designate one (1) Parade Coordinator.

• Walking contingents are limited to a maximum of 50 participants, or including their designated

Parade Coordinator.  All contingents must be in their  uniform  official Araw ng Dabaw parade attire.

• The contingents should prepare their banners or streamers with the theme and the name of their

group clearly printed so as to immediately identify their contingent.

FLOATS:

• Floats should be stable and secure and must be well-ventilated to avoid suffocation of driver(s) /

rider(s).  The required minimum dimensions for the float is 8 ft. width x 16 ft. length. The heights

of the floats should not exceed 12 ft. from the ground to avoid entanglement with the buntings

and the electric wires.  The vehicle that will be used for the float should be in good condition.

• All participating contingents walking and in floats should be at the assembly place along Roxas

Avenue between 5:00 to 5:30 A.M.  Floats that do not arrive at the said time shall be positioned at

the last order of the parade.

• All contingents are allowed to mount only one (1) float each, excluding their walking contingents.

PROHIBITIONS:

• The following activities are NOT allowed, to wit:

o Use of party poppers and any form of firecrackers

o Littering

o Wearing sexy and revealing clothes

o Taking off clothes and/or shirts

o Use of foul language, anti-government sentiments

o Doing acrobatic stunts

o Throwing of candies, cigarettes, towels, fans, caps, or any form of promotional

materials/giveaways that can distract the flow of the parade

• Participation in the parade for the purpose of promoting a certain candidate or political party in

the coming election is strictly prohibited. Floats, banners, posters, streamers and other materials

that promote a certain candidate or political party will be confiscated, or if necessary, the

participating group responsible for the act will be removed from the parade line.

DEADLINE:

• Deadline for the submission of parade entries is on February 28, 2013 (Thursday).

All information credit to City Government of Davao.