THE SECRET CHARMS OF DAVAO CITY

Davao City is one of the most beautiful and largest Philippine cities. It is located south of the Philippine archipelago in the island of Mindanao. This progressive city is notably famous for Mount Apo, the Philippine Eagle, durian fruits and waling-waling.

Getting to Davao

Going to Davao might be one of the things that you want to do before you die. Travelers who arrive at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport are greeted by the city’s exhilarating vibe. 

The road out of the airport and into the heart of the city seems busier, cleaner, and more cheerful than before. Construction and refurbishments are going on everywhere - from more shopping malls, to condominiums, hotels, and office buildings. 

Governance

Recently, the city of Davao ranked fourth as the world's safest place, according to website Numbeo.com. 

The City has been named the first 100-percent smoke-free metropolitan in Southeast Asia, more than a decade after its implementation of a city-wide smoking ban. 

Davao City received an award for its Project 911 from the League of Cities in the Philippines in 2003, as one of the Top 25 Best Practices in the Philippines.

"Several years have passed since I took my oath of office for the first of many times as mayor of the city and let me now say with a deep sense of gratitude that whatever gains and awards we amassed would never have been ours were it not for the support and cooperation that you -- the people -- gave the city's leadership," - Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

People

There are two reasons which make Davao unique: its people and its warm hospitality. Davao City is a melting pot of 1.4 million people, both indigenous and migrants now being acculturated into the mainstream of society, creating a unique cosmopolitan culture.

Festival of festivals

Davao City comes alive with the celebration of the “Kadayawan sa Dabaw” every third week of August, coinciding with the harvest of fruits, flowers and agricultural produce. Major thoroughfares are set ablaze with dancing and cheers with the “Indak-indak sa kadalanan” (street dancing), a spectacle of performers in ethnic-inspired garments dancing to the beat of tribal music, and the Floral Float Parade, which features floral and agricultural bounties.

Top Tourist Spot 

• Eden Nature Park
• Davao Crocodile Park
• Philippine Eagle Center
• Peoples Park
• Japanese Tunnel
• Museo Dabawenyo
• Jacks Ridge
• Davao China Town
• Deca Wakeboard Park
• D'Leonor Inland Resort and Adventure Park
• Museo Dabawenyo
• City Hall of Davao
• The Peak (Gaisano Mall of Davao)
• SM Lanang Dancing Fountain

Malls

• Abreeza Mall Davao
• SM Lanang Premier
• SM City Davao
• Gaisano Mall of Davao
• NCCC Mall Davao
• Victoria Plaza
• Gaisano South Mall
• Robinsons Cybergate
• Gaisano Mall of Toril
• Gaisano Grand Toril

Coffee Shop

• Blugre Coffee
• Tata Benito’s A Whole Latte Love Coffee
• Basti’s Brew
• Bo’s Coffee Club
• Café Marco
• Claudes’ Café de Ville
• Fagioli Coffee Club
• Figaro
• Roadhouse Café
• Starbucks

College & Universities

• Ateneo de Davao University
• University of Mindanao
• University of the Philippines - Mindanao
• University of Southeastern Philippines
• University of Immaculate Concepcion
• Holy Cross of Davao College
• San Pedro College
• Davao Doctors College
• John Paul II College of Davao
• Davao Medical School Foundation
• Brokenshire College
• Rizal Memorial College

Hospitals

• Southern Philippines Medical Center
• Davao Doctors Hospital
• San Pedro Hospital
• Brokenshire Hospital
• Davao Medical Foundation Hospital
• Adventist Hospital

Transportation

You can relax and delight in the sights and sounds as you go around Davao City free from dust and fumes because all taxis in Davao City are air-conditioned.

 Davao City made history when Black taxi was introduced to the public last year. The City will have the most advanced mode of payment for cabs. The cabs are equipped with a global positioning system and dispatching is done by a computer. Black taxis will begin accepting payments from Bancnet and Megalink ATM and debit cards. It's a first for Philippines and it's happening in Davao City.

Davao City is definitely the top city in the Philippines and I can prove this by citing some of the many national awards received by Davao City in the recent years. Among them are as follows:

• Most Livable City in the Philippines & among top in Asia
• Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines
• The Cleanest and Greenest City
• The Most Child-Friendly City
• 1st in Overall Tax Payments
• Hall of Fame, Best Peace and Order Council in the Philippines

Davao offers everything for everyone. It is a place where abundant natural scenery and rich culture meets bustling urban life.