Significance of 'Araw Ng Dabaw' ...makes a person feel proud of being a ‘Dabawenyo

Title

Creator

Abarico, Gil M.

Language

English

Source

The Philippines Herald March 15, 1970

Year

1970

Subject

Davao City (Davao del Sur) -- Anniversaries, etc.

Davao City (Philippines) -- Newspapers

Philippines -- Periodicals

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Significance Of Araw Ng Dabaw' ...Makes a Person Feel Proud Of Being a ‘Dabawenyo’ A city that has survived through the centuries does not have to struggle for an identity. Its own history breathes with myth and legend; its moss-covered churches and ancient battlements are mute but eloquent witnesses to the grandeur of its past and also, per haps, to the chaos of its present. But for a city still in its formative years like the city of Davao- it is not easy at once to attain the legendary status of Cebu, Manila or Zamboanga whose history is replete with romance and legends about heroes, kings and rajahs, conquistadores and Davao City Officials Elias B. Lopez, Citj Mayor Manuel C. Sotto, Vice-Mayor City Councilors: Cipriano Villafuerte, Jr., President Protenipore Fiiicidad Santos, Majority Floor Leader Manne.* Gareia, Minority Floor Leader Tomas Monteverdc, Jr. Benigno S. Bangoy Antonio S. Castillo Domingo R. Vidanes Bonifacio Taniavo Pantaleon Telayo, Jr. Victorio Advincula Napoleon Nidea Apolinario Cabigon Gaudioso Tiongco Ramon Morada Other City Officials Dr Julian Roariguez Jr., City Secretary; Atty. Gonzalo Latonlla, City Council Secretary; Maximino AsisLuo City Treasurer; Samuel Dumlao. City Engineer; Vicente Albay. Public Services Officer; Raul B. Pichon, City Fiscal; Felix N. Pepito, City Auditor; Col. Lucio Dumapias, Chief of Police; Nicolas Catnl City Assessor; Pedro Sanvicente, Supt. of City Schools; Dr. Jose S. Quimpo, City Health Offi cer. Francisco Apilado, Supt.. DSAT; Pablo Piatos, City Agriculturist, Dr. Armando Barbadillo, City Veterinarian; Salvador Francisco, City Electrician; Mrs. Emerita Rodriguez, City Librarian; Enrique B Inting, City Judge; Gumersindo Arcilla, City Judge, Vicente Dalanog, City’ Judge; Bienvenido Amora, City Legal Officer; Rosendo Dacanay, Chief, Fire Department; Mrs. Merle M Pacetes, City SWD in-charge, Conrado B. Gempesaw, Private Secretary; Atty. Antonio Pichon, Executive Assistant Angelo M. Abarico, City, Press Secretary. By GIL M. ABARICO City Press Secretary warrior-missionaries. Beginnings The beginnings of a city, which has barely reached its 33rd year of existence, is almost within the liv ing memory of its pioneer inhabitants although it is already a misty past to the vast number of recent settlers who have trans formed this veritable wil derness into a metropolis of the south. Against the backdrop of constant population in flux and the diversity of the origins of its residents, it is perhaps quite under standable why Davao City should strive harder to attain unity and cohesion and thereby establish, down through the years, an identity distinctly its own. Identification This drive toward cul tural identification start ed quite late. It began when the in cumbent mayor, youthful Elias B. Lopez, won the city mayorship more than two years ago. Then the idea was conceived for the annual celebration of “Araw Ng Dabaw”. The first celebration was the 31st anniversary of the foundation of Da vao City. Henceforth, every March 16th of each year is cele brated with appropriate week-long festivities, culGovernor LOPEZ Davao Oriental minating on the last day which is proclaimed a spe cial public holiday for the people of Davao City. March 16, marks the 33rd foundation anniver sary of this city — the melting pot of the south and the “world’s largest city” area-wise. Austerity This year’s celebration will be austere, consider ing the President’s pro nouncement against ex pensive festivities, but ne vertheless it may attain greater significance and more variety as indicated by the number of events and various aspects revol ving around the theme “Tayo’y Dabawenyo.” And this year, the Da vao Jaycees are the active co-sponsors of the cele bration. It will be an occasion for assessing and demons trating Davao City’s capa city for growth and pro gress along economic, in dustrial, social and cultu ral endeavors encompass ed within its 33 years of existence and within Its 244,007 hectaies of fertile soil and virgin forests. Progress But then one cannot talk of a city and its pro gress simply, by citing fi gures and statistics. Mayor Elias Lopez (Continued from Page 3) Lopez was born 40 years ago to a Bagobo couple— Diansig Lopez and Layagan Baguio — in what is now Barrio Baguio, Calinan, about 30 kilometers away from the city. As a boy he was a lon er. And like any other Bagobo, he was reared to be a tiller of land. Could his parents pos sibly have imagined that their son was destined to be the leader of half a million Davaoenos living in over 200,000 hectares of urban environment? Lopez was only 11 when he finished his elementa ry schooling. At the age of 18, he was already gra duated from the Davao City high school. He worked his way through the University of the Philippines and gra duated with a law degree, and in 1956 he passed the Governor DE LOS CIENTOS Davao del Sur Governor BOISER Davao del Norte One has to feel the throb of the community, the heartbeat of its people, and see, with the vision of its pioneers, the future rising from this conglo meration of the modern Filipino—working togeth er to achieve a common destiny. If celebration or “Araw Ng Dabaw” once a year makes a person feel proud of being a Dabawenyo — and a Filipino—then eve rything is worth the ef fort. For it is here, more than anywhere else in this country, where dreams are transformed into rea lity. bar examinations. Immediately after tak ing the bar examinations, he came back to Davao and was elected city councilor with the high est number of votes. He ran for reelection in 1960 and was again topnotcher. He was elected vice ma yor in 1964, against two official party candidates. Two years later, he be came the first Filipino to be awarded by the United Nations’ Colombo Plan grant on Local Govern ment Administration and Community Development. He attended the Group Training Course In To kyo, participated in by 16 Asian and South Ameri can countries. In 1967, he aspired for and won the city mayor ship against a three-term incumbent. Page 4 DAVAO CITY SUPPLEMENT Sunday, March 15, 1970

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