Thursday, August 16, 2012

Letter from the Editor

Greetings!

Dabawenyo Bulletin is formally launched this month of August 16, 2012.

Initially, the site will be developed as a blog-based news front for the City. Conservatively, its theme will cover a little bit of the City's social events, interests and happenings. In an era of global mass media and networking, we Dabawenyos, find it both timely and delightful to convey many of the good things that happen in and around our city. 

Davao City is well known for its pro-active system of governance. Its leading political administrators in the last 40 years have made it possible for the City to improve its public services, housing, farm to market roads, seaport, land and air terminals and commercial infrastructure. We boast of having the best well-kept city in the country (no matter what they say! ). We also happen to enforce the strictest disciplinary measures available in our police inventory, in keeping our city safe from criminals. Our cab drivers are respectful and return the extra fare. Public utility vehicles in our City observe loading and unloading zones. 

The City also boasts of a rich watershed area in Malagos, in the district of Datu Baguio. Being advocates of green conservation programmes, we only do not plant trees regularly, but we also take efforts to preserve and guard our potable source of water supply. This is an area of environmental concern where we encourage community support and even enlist the assistance of Davao's  indigenous peoples in the countryside.

We believe in providing for the welfare of the next generations of Dabawenyos. In Davao, we think we have the cleanest and the best water supply in the world. And we don't want to argue.

Furthermore, we in Davao, like to keep our city clean. We recycle and re-use. That is the reason why we have local ordinances that provide for waste segregation. The biodegradable waste, separated from the non-biodegradable products and the like. 

Being a health-conscious city, we support the lung health programs of the Department of Health (DOH) by keeping this City, smoke-free! Smoke belching vehicles are definitely a no-no in Davao. Even lawyers, government officials who violate smoking ordinances are penalized or serve-limited jail time.

Realty development in Davao is expanding as it continues to provide afffordable and socialized housing needs to a growing demand for permanent living in the region. Pre-selling of condominium units is a trend today.

Davao City is a region that had been historically peopled by indigenous peoples, even before the coming of the Spanish and American colonizers. Catholic missionaries such as the Recollects and the Jesuits chronicle distinguished groups of tribal peoples, including Muslims, who inhabit the region.

The American Anthropologist Faye-Cooper Cole who visited the Mindanao in the early 1900's during a research stint would mention Bagobos, Mandayas, Subanuns, and Tausugs and the like as being the few, but proud races that comprise the civilization, history and heritage of the big island. 

Today, Davao has not only become a modern home for these tribes and their descendants, but also with enterprising migrants from Luzon and Visayas.  The technology and know-how being brought by these visitors coupled with indigenous knowledge of the land, terrain and the forests, has resulted in a fusion of  the land's agriculture and its people.  

The Lumads, Muslims and Migrants. All Dabawenyos.

As it stands today, Davao City is a prime supplier of agricultural produce in the country.

On a final note, we Dabawenyos are kind and generally hospitable. We dislike arrogance a lot.We do not like visitors who presume a lot. We are jealous of our peace as well as our dignities. That's why we have placed armed contingents, border guards if you'd like to call  them, at the northern and southern entrances to our City. This is to protect us from warring political factions and criminal elements who come to seek refuge in our City and thereby importing foreign vendettas to our lovely and peaceful place.

We love to eat, we love to talk and especially like to have a cup of coffee.

We have the suha fruit, the mangosteen, lanzones, langka or jackfruit and sweet marang. We worship the Durian fruit. Like heaven, come hell or high water.


We have had good political administrators like the late Alejandro Almendras, Sr, Elias B. Lopez, Rudy Duterte and currently his daughter Sarah Duterte.

Davao City is not just a good City. We think it's the best City in the world.

From the Editor

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