Region 11 (Davao Region)

Davao Region / Southern Mindanao, designated as Region XI,is one of the regions of the Philippines,
located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao. Davao Region consists of four provinces, namely:
Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. The region encloses the Davao
Gulf and its regional center is Davao City. Davao is the Hispanicized pronunciation of daba-daba, the
Bagobo word for “fire” (the Cebuano translation is “kalayo“).

Davao Region has six (6) cities, namely:

1. Panabo City

2. Samal City

3. Tagum City

4. Davao City

5. Digos City

6. Mati City

A.) The common practices and activities of the region 11 during fiestas and other regional
occasions and celebrations are as follows;

 March 10-16

Araw ng Dabaw, also known as Davao City Foundation Day, is a week-long celebration that culminates
every 16th of March. It is marked with a socio-civic and military parade, sports competitions, and
fireworks.

Kadayawan Festival

 Every 3rd week of August

Observed every third week of August, Kadayawan Festival is Davao City’s biggest and grandest festival.
The term “Kadayawan” is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw”, a greeting used to explain a
thing that is good, valuable, superior, or beautiful. It is a week-long celebration and thanksgiving for
nature’s harvest. During this time, locals and tourists flock the streets of the city to witness major events
such as the Indak-Indak sa Dalan and Floral Float Parade.

Pasko Fiesta sa Davao

 Entire month of December

Filipinos are known to celebrate the longest Christmas holiday season in the world, and Davao is no
different. For an entire month, the city beats with exciting festive and competitive Christmas activities
for Pasko Fiesta sa Davao. During this season, the city is filled with colorful lightings and array of
decorations. There’s also a series of competitive performances to showcase the community’s creativity
and talents while keeping Christmas traditions alive.

Chinese New Year Festival

Based on the Lunar calendar

Created under Executive Order No. 01, series of 2009, the Davao Chinese New Year festival celebrates
the harmonious relations of the locals with the city’s Chinese community. It promotes Davao’s
Chinatown as one of the major historical, economic and cultural centers of the city.

Highlights of the festival include a film showing, exhibits, motorcade, temple visits, nightly
entertainment and the Chinatown Night Market.

Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

 15th day of the 8th month in the Lunar Calendar

This is the second most important festival for the Chinese community, after the Chinese New Year. It is
celebrated in the middle of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, at a time when the moon is believed
to be in its fullest and roundest.

In Chinese culture, the full moon symbolizes wholeness and togetherness. Main celebrations involve
moongazing, eating moon cakes together, and making Chinese Moon Festival lanterns.

Other Festivals in the Davao Region

Here’s a full list of festivals in cities and municipalities around Davao City:

Kaputian Parochial Fiesta (IGaCos – January 15) –

Kasinatian Festival (Toril – October 7)
IGaCoS Festival (IGaCos – March 5 -7)
Caracoles Festival (IGaCos – April 30)
Pangapog Festival (IGaCos – 1st Week of August)
Babak Fiesta (IGaCos – September 15)
Peñaplata Fiesta (IGaCos – December 8)
Musikahan (Tagum – March 7)
Kuradang sa Dalan (Panabo – March 31)
Palay Festival (Carmen – June 18)
Ugsod – ugsod Festival (June 18)
Araw ng Davao del Norte (July 1)
Banana Festival (Kapalong 1st Week of August)
Banana Festival (Panabo – March 31)
Durian Festival (Tagum City – August to September)
Sinawug Festival (Asuncion, Davao del Norte – September 19)
Kalibulongan Festival (Talaingod October 18)
Andaon tu Dibabawon Festival (Kapalong – Last week of October)
Feast of Christ the King (Tagum – 2nd to the Last Sunday of November)
Saulogan Festival (Digos – January 15)
Kapyaan Festival (Jose Abad Santos – February)
Pista sa Kinaiyahan (Sta. Cruz – April 25-28)
Dorong Festival (Kapatagan – June 14-19)
Provincial Charter Anniversary (July 1)
Padigosan Festival (Digos – September 8)
Araw ng Sta. Cruz (Sta. Cruz – 1st Week of October)
Mango Fiesta (San Isidro – June 18)
LUBMAHUMA Festival (Provincial July 1)
Fish Festival (Gov. Generoso – August 1)
Niyog-Niyogan festival (Manay – October 25)
Kagang-Kagang Festival (Caraga – October 25)
Balyan Festival (Baganga – October 25)
Sambuokan Festival (Mati – October 25)
Anibina Festival (Compostela Valley – March 1-8)
Maragusan Eco-Expo (Maragusan, ComVal – Last Week of April)
Kaimunan Festival (Tagum – June 17)
Sal-Lupuyon (Compostela Valley – June 12 – 18)
Simballay Festival (Nabunturan – July 21)
Kariyawan (Monkayo – Sept. 4)
P’yagsawitan (Maragusan – 3rd Week of November)

B.) The artifacts and other man-made products commonly created by the region 11;

Region 11 doesn’t have that much of artifacts and man-made products because they are more on
agricultures, livelihood, industrial business and economics like they are commonly known for the
famous fruit called durian and they are also one of the famous producers of bananas, mangosteens
and many more but they have this Museum in Davao that showcase lots of traditional artifacts like
roster of artifacts including the Betel nut boxes, Davaoenos finest handicrafts, 1000 year old jars,
Mindanao’s indigenous instruments, embroidered native colourful wear, weaving instruments, and
traditional bolos or dagger are boxed in a glass.

Bagobo house is also a famous man made products of region 11 that is made from rattan, bamboo,
and other natural materials. A typical Bagobo house has plenty of features such as separate sleeping
quarters for single women, weaving areas for women and blacksmith stations for the men.

C.) The beliefs that are accepted by the people in Region 11 are stated below;
o Roman Catholic, comprising about 80 percent of the population.
o Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ),
o Evangelicals, the Jesus Miracle Crusade
o The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) comprise eight percent.
o Seventh-day Adventists and Baptists are other Christian denominations.
o Others (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and animism).
o Sharing food to the departed loved ones – Melgie Jumawan, a student of University
of Mindanao (UM) said offering foods to their departed loved ones shows they  are still
 part of the family.  She added that this belief is a common practice of Filipinos during
Undas.
o Cook the favorite food/dish of your departed loved ones– A female teacher from
Ateneo de Davao Grade School said that during ‘”Undas”, her now departed grandmother
used to cook “kalamay” during All Saints’ Day observance. Now that she’s dead, she
prepared a favorite food of her mother for Undas.
o Connect to the departed loved ones through prayers – After lighting a candle for her
departed relative, Arcel, a banana plantation worker said that most Filipinos would talk to
their dead loved ones through prayers.
o No eating inside the cemetery during “Undas”-  While some bring food to the
cemeteries to share with their departed relatives, a father lighting a candle to his
departed mother’s grave said that one of the beliefs he follows is to avoid bringing and
eating food inside the cemetery. He said that the day is for the dead and not for the living
to enjoy.
o Don’t step over a grave or tomb- A group of elders at the Davao Memorial Cemetery
said that if you step a grave or tomb, whether it’s on All Saints’ Day or not, it will hurt
those who died.
o Walk over a bonfire smoke– A 21-year old female student of University of Southeastern
Philippines (USeP) said that during in her childhood days, after visiting a departed
relative in cemeteries, they are advised to walk over a bonfire smoke so that bad spirits
will not follow them as they leave the cemetery. 
o  During wakes, the dam-mag would be played announcing a death in the community.
The playing involves the constant tapping of two large gongs usually in the same beat
fashion and tempo, with a tapping instrument called ‘tap-tap”.

D.) The ways, means, or methods of interaction and socialization among the population of the
Region 11;
The Region 11 People uses these major Dialects in their interactions and socialization with each
other:
 Cebuano
 Hiligaynon Minor Dialects:
 English
 Waray
 Maguindanao
 Tagalog
 Manobo
 Mandaya

E.) The common issues faced by the people in that region and what they are doing to solve these
issues;
Since Region 11 is mostly famous for their agri-industrial business their problem is mostly
about economic growth and how the supplies and demands should remain balance and some
of those said issues are these;
 Economic Zone Development- The city government said they will facilitate talks
between landowners and developers to establish an economic zone to attract more
 foreign investors, the development of which is on the wish list of the Davao City
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII).
 High rate of post-harvest losses and wastage due to poor transportation system and
product packaging and handling- to address these issues, the VICSMin will spearhead
the convergence of vegetable industry players such as farmers and traders through the
conduct of the first National Vegetable Marketing Summit on April 22-33, 2009 being co-
organized by the Department of Agriculture in Region 11.

Citation: (Borromeo, 2016)

Bibliography Entry:
Borromeo, M.P. (2016). Filipino beliefs during ‘Undas’. Davao Today, Retrieved from
http://davaotoday.com/main/culture-2/filipino-beliefs-during-undas/

Citation: (GILE, 2014)

Bibliography Entry:
GILE, J.G. (2014), DAVAO REGION, Davao: LinkedIn Corporation, Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/lyngile/davao-region-41486013

Citation: (Padillo, 2018)

Bibliography Entry:
Padillo, M, M. (2018). Davao City to help resolve land issues affecting economic zone
development. Davao: Philstar, Retrieved from https://www.bworldonline.com/davao-city-to-
help-resolve-in-land-issues-affecting-economic-zone-development/

Citation: (Villareal, 2017)

Bibliography Entry:
Villareal, M. (2017). The Davao Museum: Davao’s Little Cultural Gem. Davao: Out of Town,
Retrieved from https://outoftownblog.com/the-davao-museum-davaos-little-cultural-gem/

Citation: (Jam, Festivals in Davao City You Don’t Want to Miss, 2016)
Bibliography Entry:
Jam, L. (2016), Festivals in Davao City You Don’t Want to Miss. Davao: Filipino Homes, Retrieved
from https://filipinohomes.com/blog/davao-city-festivals/

Citation: (Deligero, 2019)

Bibliography Entry:
Deligero, G. G. (2019), Davao veggie farmers face big challenges: EDGEDavao, Retrieved from
https://edgedavao.net/on-the-cover/2009/04/13/davao-veggie-farmers-face-big-challenges/