Where's your hometown?

[sunandmoon 450]

my wife is also from Davao. a little of the history of Davao.

Local historians claim that the word davao came from the phonetic blending of the word of three Bagobo subgroups when referring to Davao River, an essential waterway which empties itself into Davao Gulf near the city. The aboriginal Obos who inhabit the hinterlands of the region called the river, Davoh; the Clatta or Guiangans called it Duhwow, or Davau, and the Tagabawa Bagobos, Dabu. To the Obos, the word davoh also means a place "beyond the high grounds", alluding to the settlements located at the mouth of Davao River which were surrounded by high rolling hills. When asked where they were going, the usual reply is davoh, while pointing towards the direction of the town. Duhwow also refers to a trading settlement where they barter their forest goods in exchange for salt or other commodities.

Spanish influence was hardly felt in the Davao until 1848, when an expedition led by Don Jose Uyanguren came to establish a Christian settlement in an area of mangrove swamps that is now Bolton Riverside. Davao was then ruled by a Muslim chieftain, Datu Bago, who held his settlement at the banks of Davao River (once called Tagloc River by the Bagobos). After Uyanguren defeated Datu Bago, he renamed the region Nueva Guipúzcoa, in honor of his home in Spain, and became its first governor. Uyanguren's efforts to develop the area, however, did not prosper.

A few years after the American forces landed in 1900, private farm ownership grew and transportation and communication facilities were improved, thus paving the way for the region's economic growth.

A Japanese entrepreneur named Kichisaburo Ohta was granted permission to exploit vast territories which he transformed into abacá and coconut plantations. The first wave of Japanese plantation workers came onto its shores in 1903, creating a Little Japan. They had their own school, newspapers, an embassy, and even a Shinto Shrine. On the whole, they established extensive abaca plantations around the shores of Davao Gulf and developed large-scale commercial interests such as copra, timber, fishing and import-export trading. Filipinos learned the techniques of improved cultivation from the Japanese so that ultimately, agriculture became the lifeblood of the province's economic prosperity.

Davao was formally inaugurated as a chartered city on March 1, 1937 by President Manuel L. Quezon. Thirty years later, Davao was subdivided into three independent provinces, namely Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the prospects of striking it rich in the country's third largest city.

On December 8, 1941 Japanese planes bombed the city. Japanese occupation started in 1942.

In 1945, American and the Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated Davao City from Japanese forces.

[rheanick 42]

Born and raised in Marikina City, another city girl!

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

Hola Senorita Teresita! Your fiance is Ilocano and that makes me an Ilocana. I was born and raised in Alicia Isabela, the hometown of the famous and infamous kingpins of Isabela -- The Dy family. For the record, Governor Faustino Dy was the governor of Isabela. He held that seat for many years until such time that he got old and cannot serve the office anymore. His son decided to throw his hat in the gubernatorial seat, but he lost to this radio personality named Grace Padaca. Dy filed an electoral protest arguing that Ms. Padaca is a member of the NPA and the rest as they say is history. The underdog won eventually after a lot of controversies.

[dzyrhetom 7]

How about you?

HI....

Well, about me: I was born in Quezon City but grown up in the island named " Isla de Fuego" , famous to its name Siquijor...now Its time for me to do some adventures again (Found/Got my work here). Here I am back to where I belong, not actually in" Quezon City" but atleast closer to Manila and QC...Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting "Miss Bacoor Cavite""...hehehehehe..

And let me present also the place of my beloved one. He comes from a place where famous to its river.. " Mississippi"......See ya there.... muahh

Dzyrhetom

[ManilaIdaho 2]

Gagalangin,Tondo Manila

[luckymom 0]

Hi to all of you.!

I was born and raised in Quezon Province, 220 kms away from the center of Manila, youngest of 9 children (big family huh). After High School I moved to Manila to study and work. I got married with an office mate from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and have two wonderful kids. The marriage didn't last long and here I am in Rhode Island with my very loving and responsible husband. He is petitioning my two kids that's why I happen to run across this Visa Journey. I will be going home on March 8 via Northwest for my kids medical on the 10th and 11th and their interview on the 23rd of March. I also have a house in Dasmarinas, Cavite where somebody is renting.

I am so excited going home and starting to pack my things at this very early because of the "pasalubongs", you know how filipinos are. If someone from you out there has the same schedule, maybe we can meet somewhere in Manila (maybe at the Mall of Asia). I'm not been there but I will visit that place where people say that it's incredibly huge and updated.

I'm glad I found this forum because I learned so much about the life of my kababayans. I am also out of work because Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate and I'm not yet driving. Regards to all of you. Keep smiling and God bless.

[tallcoolone 102]

My wife is from Digos City, about hour south of Davao.

I am from Dallas Texas.

[sasha414 0]

taga negros ko.

[Matt & Bing 56]

My fiancee was born in Salvacion, Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur and now lives in Cainta, Rizal.

[MMW 2]

Iligan City, Lano Del Norte

[club royale 0]

Me= Malolos City, Bulacan

Hubby = Calumpit, Bulacan

Purong Tagalog po. Kawawa naman kmi wala kming alam na ibang dialect.

[Cherry&Ed 4]

I was born and raised in Silang, Cavite... Purong Caviteña... Tagalog lang ang alam kong dialect.

Edward was born in St. Louis, Missouri but he grew up in Warrenton, Missouri.

[ryandgracey 2]

I was born in Quezon City, spent most of my childhood nestled within the protective walls of Malacanang Park near Nagtahan in Manila and moved back to Quezon City in time to start highschool. Growing up within the confines of the Park was kinda cool. My father was known throughout the area, having been assigned to the then Presidential Security Command hospital. Went biking around the area with my childhood friends who were also children of military officers. Mabini Shrine was a favorite to go to, although my brother and I would sneak out through a hole in the wall to go to a sari-sari store in the nearby slums to redeem a yoyo by exchanging a soda bottle cap bearing the prize. My mother did not learn of this until we were adults......my parents would've been very cross. A boat ride across the Pasig River would take us to Malacanang Palace, so that the interior is still very familiar to me. My father and brother's barber was the barber or then Pres. Marcos. It was through my father that my brother and I were exposed to the arts...ballet, museums, operas, concertos, plays, and yes...even Martin Nievera's "On The Right Track" concert. My father was medical escort officer to certain members of the first family so that when they went to these functions, if the schedule permits, we would go, too.

My heritage is of a Spanish-Ilocano one and of a Pangasinense one. My paternal grandfather was a Spanish gentleman famer/businessman from Laoag City and my grandmother was a schoolteacher from Bacarra. Spent a lot of summer vacations there. Fort Ilocandia was an ambitious project than an uncle was part of. I have yet to go back to the beautiful Pagudpud and try the ride again on Paoay Lake. I have not been to visit for 20 years now and it seems that it will take longer for me to do so. My maternal grandfather is of the Montemayor clan from Alaminos. He was a member of the 26th Cavalry of the USAFFE based in Fort Stotsenberg (now Clark in Pampanga). He was killed in action by a Jap sniper. My grandmother is from Sta. Barbara in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. We still get our "bagoong" and salt from a nearby neighbor there. Alaminos is famous for the Hundred Islands and for the beach where Gen McArthur Landed. Oh.....the beaches.....standing tens of meters away from the shore and still have the water up to your knees. A few kilometers away from the house in Sta. Barbara is Calasiao where all these stalls in Manila that sell "puto" and "kutsinta" say their wares are from. The taste of the ones from Calasiao are really different....they are much much fresher.....and much, much cheaper, too! Further down from Calasiao is Dagupan.....home of the "bangus". On the other side from Calasiao are even more beaches.

Pity that I will be missing these...at least for awhile. When we get the chance to visit, I'd want to go and retrace my childhood and share it with my husband and children. Hopefully soon enough.

Oh...my hubby was born in Mobile, AL and basically went around the country with his family. His heart belongs to Thibodaux, LA where is grandfather's family still lives. I can't wait to meet them.

[dzyrhetom 7]

Iligan City, Lano Del Norte

HI ate,

Where in Iligan City? Jan po kasi ako nag aral nung college..sa IIT po....Goodluck po sa atin ate...Im here in Cavite ngayon....

[lykatodd 0]

I'm from Cebu...pure cebuana and my fiance in West Palm Florida...