Davao del Sur

Davao del Sur
Province
Province of Davao del Sur
Flag Seal
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°20′N 125°30′E / 6.33°N 125.5°E / 6.33; 125.5Coordinates: 6°20′N 125°30′E / 6.33°N 125.5°E / 6.33; 125.5
Country	Philippines
Region	Davao Region, Metro Davao
Founded	May 8, 1967
Capital	Digos
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Douglas R.A. Cagas (Nacionalista)
• Vice Governor	Aileen Almendras (NPC)
Area[1]
• Total	2,163.98 km2 (835.52 sq mi)
Area rank	56th out of 81
	(excluding Davao City)
Population (2015 census)[2]
• Total	632,588
• Rank	45th out of 81
• Density	290/km2 (760/sq mi)
• Density rank	27th out of 81
	(excluding Davao City)
Divisions
• Independent cities	1 Davao City
• Component cities	1 Digos
• Municipalities	9 Bansalan Hagonoy Kiblawan Magsaysay Malalag Matanao Padada Santa Cruz Sulop
• Barangays	232 including independent cities: 414
• Districts	Lone District of Davao del Sur
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8000–8010
IDD : area code	+63 (0)82
ISO 3166 code	PH-DAS
Spoken languages	Cebuano Davawenyo Bagobo Mansakan Tagalog English
Website	www.davaosur.gov.ph

Davao del Sur (Cebuano: Habagatang Dabaw, Tagalog: Timog Dabaw) is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Digos. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, Davao Occidental to the south and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf.

History

The beginnings of both Davao Region and Davao del Sur were associated with that of the foundation of Davao, which was the first town to be founded in southern Mindanao in 1848, following the conquest of the area by José Uyanguren of the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain (Guipúzcoa in Spanish). In 1849, Nueva Guipúzcoa province was founded in the region conquered by Uyanguren in what is now Davao Region, with Davao, then called Nueva Vergara, as the provincial capital. Uyanguren became the provincial governor, but he failed in his efforts to develop Nueva Guipúzcoa.

Thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, the town of Santa Cruz was founded on the 5th day of October, 1884. It is the first town to be founded south of Davao and is now the oldest in the province.

In 1898, the Spanish administration in the Philippines ended in 1898 following its defeat during the Spanish–American War. In early 1900s, waves of immigrants from the Visayas, Luzon, and as well as from Japan began to live in the region, centered mainly in Davao. The region began to boom in economic growth as agricultural business proliferated in the region.

As part of the "food bowl" of what is now the province of Davao del Sur, otherwise known as the Padada Valley, the agricultural area south of the town of Santa Cruz, which is known as Digos that time, lured many migrants, majority of whom came from the Visayas and Ilocos regions to settle permanently in the area. Before World War II, an enterprising American by the name of N.E. Crumb leased 10.24 square kilometres (3.95 sq mi) and transformed the place into an abaca plantation. This became the hub of economic activity in the locality during those days.

In 1942, during the start of the World War II in the Pacific, the first waves of invading Japanese units landed and entered the province of southern Davao.

In 1945, the liberation of southern Davao by United States and Philippine Commonwealth troops was supported by Davaoeño guerrilla fighters.

In 1967, Davao Province was divided into three provinces, one of them being Davao del Sur; the town of Digos was made its capital and would become a suburban city for the next 33 years.

In October 28, 2013, along with the Barangay Elections, a plebiscite was held to create a new province Davao Occidental, formed out of the southern part of Davao del Sur, covering the municipalities of the 2nd district of the province, namely Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria, Sarangani and Malita (which was designated as the provincial capital) by virtue of Republic Act 10360 enacted on July 23, 2013, and the majority of votes cast were "Yes", ratifying the province.^[3]

In 2015, the National Competitiveness Council, ranked the province as the most competitive province in the country.

Geography

Davao del Sur covers a total area of 2,163.98 square kilometres (835.52 sq mi)^[4] occupying the southwestern section of the Davao Region in Mindanao. When Davao City is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is 4,607.59 square kilometres (1,779.00 sq mi).^[4] The province is bounded by Davao del Norte to the north; Davao Occidental to the south-east; North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat to the west; South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south-west ; and the Davao Gulf to the east.

The province is composed of sandy beaches and outlying islands, agricultural plains and valleys, rainforests, swamps, rolling hills and mountains, including the Philippines' highest peak, Mount Apo, which is at 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level.

Administrative divisions

Davao del Sur comprises 9 municipalities and 1 component city, all encompassed by a lone legislative district. Davao City, although part of the province for geographical and statistical purposes, is governed independently from the province.

Climate

The province enjoys a mild, pleasant climate all year round. Because of its topographical characteristics and geographical location, it is rarely visited by typhoons. There is no pronounced wet or dry season. The coolest months are from November to February with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F). during the peak summer months from March to May, temperatures average 28 °C (82 °F) but may rise as high as 32 °C (90 °F).

Demographics

The population of Davao del Sur in the 2015 census was 632,588 people, with a density of 290 inhabitants per square kilometre or 750 inhabitants per square mile.^[2] When Davao City is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 2,265,579 people, with a density of 492/km² (1,274/sq mi).

Davao del Sur is an ethnic mix of Mindanaoans, Visayans, Tagalogs, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish with a number of indigenous tribes scattered across the province. Davaoeño, a variant of Cebuano, is the main and official language of the province, although English and Filipino are widely spoken.

Religion

Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the province followed by more than 80% of the people. The remaining faiths are Islam and other Christians such as Aglipayan, Baptists, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) Seventh-day Adventist, other Evangelical Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Indigenous groups

Moro peoples

The major Moro ethnic group is the Kagan tribe, an Islamized group related to the Tagacaolos, Mandaya, Mansaka, and Kalagan, since Davao del Sur was once part of Sultanate of Maguindanao.

Lumad peoples

A Lumad woman from Davao. Lumad peoples form the most largest indigenous ethnicity in the province.

Bagobos live in an area that extends from Davao del Sur and South Cotabato to the foot of Mount Apo and Davao City all the way to the land bordered by the Davao and Pulangi rivers and up to northern Cotabato and southeast Bukidnon. Numbering about 80,000, their traditional costume is woven from abaca fiber and heavily ornamented with beads, shells, metal discs, embroidery and brightly colored geometric applique. Though Bagobos have the most stunning costumes among the Davao ethnic groups, they wear them only on special occasions. Like the Mandayas and Mansakas, they shave their eyebrows to a thin line and file and blacken their teeth. Bagobo smiths cast little bells which are attached to pouches, bracelets, jackets, anklets and inlaid metal boxes.

Tagacaolos number about 23,000 and occupy the area between the western shores of the gulf and the slopes of Mount Apo. This is one of the tribes which resisted Muslim conversion and maintained a highland animistic culture.

Kalagans are part Islamized and part Chistianized that is also related to the Tagacaolos. Numbering only about 7,000, they live along the shores of the Davao Gulf.

Mangguangans are now only 3,000. They can be found in Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte.

In both groups, women generally wear handwoven abaca tube skirts, embroidered blue cotton tops and heavy jewellery. Men sport wide blue or white fringed and embroidered trousers and a loose shirt. Red is a color only for a headman ("bagani") and for women of high status.

Aeta people

Aeta people live in some areas of Davao City all the way to Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Bukidnon. They are related to the Manobos of Cotabato and include sub-groups such as the Talaingod of the Kapalong forests in Davao del Norte and the Matigsalug. Numbering about 222,000, Ata men wear long-sleeved shirts, carry spears, hunt, log and grow crops. Their womenfolk wear native blouses, "malong" skirts and accessories of brass bracelets and bead necklaces. Mandaya and Mansaka are culturally related groups who are highly musical - playing the five string bamboo guitar, two-string lute, violin, flute, gong, drum and bamboo Jew's harp. They are also excellent silversmiths crafting breastplates, jewellery, daggers and knives. The Mandayas are famous for their colorful abaca fiber weaves embroidered with tribal motifs.

Art and culture

The colorful artistic heritage of Davao stems from the rich culture of its tribes. For the Bagobos, aesthetics is the meticulous carving of weapons; the elaborate decoration of inlaid metal boxes with bells; and the ornamentation of their abaca fiber dress with embroidery, shells, beads and metal discs. The Mandayas, on the other hand, have a solid tradition in weaving. To produce their famed coarse textured cloth, abaca fiber is colored with earth dyes and woven on a backstrap loom.

The final product is embroidered with bright-colored threads in geometric patterns. Some elements of tribal folklore are also included in the designs. The Mansakas, together with the Mandayas, are also expert silversmiths. They craft weapons, breastplates and dress accessories. Much of its people are Christians. Davao is also a harmonious blend of Christian and Muslim cultures. However, its most stunning cultural aspect is definitely its ethnic art which encompasses music, dance, religious ritual, dress and ornamentation.

Government

See also

• Nueva Guipuzcoa Revolt

References

External links

• Media related to Davao del Sur at Wikimedia Commons
• Geographic data related to Davao del Sur at OpenStreetMap
• Davao City Travel and Tourism Guide

		Davao del Norte
	Cotabato Sultan Kudarat		Compostela Valley Davao Gulf / Davao Oriental
		Davao del Sur
	South Cotabato	Sarangani, Davao Occidental

Province of Davao del Sur
Digos (capital)
Municipalities	Bansalan Hagonoy Kiblawan Magsaysay Malalag Matanao Padada Santa Cruz Sulop
Component City	Digos
Highly urbanized city	Davao (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Davao del Sur by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

Articles related to Davao del Sur
Davao Region (Region XI) Regional Center Davao City Provinces Compostela Valley Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Occidental Davao Oriental Metropolitan Area Metro Davao Highly Urbanized City Davao City Component Cities Digos Mati Panabo Samal Tagum Provincial Capitals Digos Malita Mati Nabunturan Tagum Municipalities Asuncion Baganga Banaybanay Bansalan Boston Braulio E. Dujali Caraga Carmen Cateel Compostela Don Marcelino Governor Generoso Hagonoy Jose Abad Santos Kapalong Kiblawan Laak Lupon Mabini Maco Magsaysay Malalag Malita Manay Maragusan Matanao Mawab Monkayo Montevista Nabunturan New Bataan New Corella Padada Pantukan San Isidro (Davao del Norte) San Isidro (Davao Oriental) Santa Cruz Santa Maria Santo Tomas Sarangani Sulop Talaingod Tarragona Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines   Administrative divisions of the Philippines Capital Manila (National Capital Region) Island groups Luzon Visayas Mindanao Regions Administrative I – Ilocos Region II – Cagayan Valley III – Central Luzon IV-A – Calabarzon IV-B – Mimaropa V – Bicol Region VI – Western Visayas VII – Central Visayas VIII – Eastern Visayas IX – Zamboanga Peninsula X – Northern Mindanao XI – Davao Region XII – Soccsksargen XIII – Caraga CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region NCR – National Capital Region NIR/XVIII – Negros Island Region Autonomous Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Provinces Abra Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Aklan Albay Antique Apayao Aurora Basilan Bataan Batanes Batangas Benguet Biliran Bohol Bukidnon Bulacan Cagayan Camarines Norte Camarines Sur Camiguin Capiz Catanduanes Cavite Cebu Compostela Valley Cotabato Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Occidental Davao Oriental Dinagat Islands Eastern Samar Guimaras Ifugao Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur Iloilo Isabela Kalinga La Union Laguna Lanao del Norte Lanao del Sur Leyte Maguindanao Marinduque Masbate Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental Mountain Province Negros Occidental Negros Oriental Northern Samar Nueva Ecija Nueva Vizcaya Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Palawan Pampanga Pangasinan Quezon Quirino Rizal Romblon Samar Sarangani Siquijor Sorsogon South Cotabato Southern Leyte Sultan Kudarat Sulu Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Tarlac Tawi-Tawi Zambales Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Cities List of cities in the Philippines Municipalities List of cities and municipalities in the Philippines Barangays Lists of barangays by province Poblacion Other subdivisions Puroks Sitios List of primary LGUs Legislative districts Metropolitan areas Historical Former provinces Formally proposed provinces Philippines articles History Timeline Prehistory (Pre-900) Pre-colonial era (900–1521) Colonial era (1521–1946) Spanish period (1521–1898) American period (1898–1946) Postcolonial era (1946–1986) Third Republic (1946–65) Marcos dictatorship (1965–86) Contemporary history (1986–present) By topic Demographic Discoveries Economic 1973-1986 Inventions Military Geography Bays Biosphere reserves Climate Earthquakes Ecoregions Environmental issues Extreme points Island groups islands Lakes Landmarks Mountains National parks Protected areas Ramsar sites Rivers Volcanoes Wildlife World Heritage Sites Politics Government Executive President Executive Office Cabinet Civil service National Police Legislature Congress Senate Senate President President pro tem House of Representatives Speaker Judiciary Supreme Court Judiciary Court of Appeals Law Constitution Bill of rights Philippine legal codes Human rights Intelligence National Bureau of Investigation National Counter-Terrorism Action Group National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Uniformed Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine Air Force Philippine Army Philippine Navy Philippine Marine Corps Philippine Coast Guard Administrative divisions Elections Foreign relations Political parties Economy Agriculture Business process outsourcing Central Bank Energy Fiscal policy National debt Labor Peso (currency) Stock Exchange Taxation Telecommunications Tourism Transportation Science and technology Water and Sanitation Society Corruption Crime Demographics Education Ethnic groups Health Income inequality Languages Poverty Provinces by HDI Religion Women Culture Architecture Art Cinema Cuisine Cultural Properties Dance Fashion and clothing Festivals Historical Markers Literature Media Music Mythology Public holidays Psychology Sexuality Sports Traditional games Value system Symbols Anthem Coat of arms Arnis/Eskrima/Kali (martial art) Flag Name Narra (tree) Philippine eagle Sampaguita (flower) Outline Index Book Category Portal