Mindanao Chinatown

Davao Chinatown
Nickname(s): Mindanao's Chinatown
Country	Philippines
Region	Region XI Mindanao
City	Davao
Barangays	4

Mindanao Chinatown, commonly known as Davao's Chinatown, is the only Chinatown in Mindanao located in the island's de facto capital, Davao City, Mindanao, the Philippines. At around 44 hectares, it is at the center of numerous business establishments, of which a great majority is owned by Chinese Filipinos who were either born in the country or naturalized Filipino citizens who trace their roots to mainland China. These business establishments include about 30 banks, a wide variety of restaurants offering not only Chinese cuisine but also Korean, Filipino and the like. Chinese themed malls and shops also pockmark this business enclave of the City of Davao which is globally known as the international gateway and most progressive city of Mindanao. It is the only Chinatown in The Philippines with its own seaport that is Sta. Ana Wharf. The Davao Chinatown encompasses the areas of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Monteverde Avenue, Sta. Ana Avenue, and Leon Garcia Street.

Chinatown with a view of harbour

History

In 2003, then Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued an Executive Order declaring portions of Barangay 27-C and Barangay 30-C, where streets are mostly occupied by Filipino-Chinese with their respective businesses, as Davao City Chinatown and constituting the Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC). The creation of the DCCDC aims to assist in the active formulation and implementation of policies in an area that has great commercial, historical, economic and social significance to the Davao City.

The further development of Chinatown was an initiative of the Davao City Council Tourism Committee Chairperson, Ms. Susan Isabel Reta.

On January 5, 2009, Duterte issued Executive Order No. 01, Series of 2009, "An Order Creating the Executive Committee (Execom) of the 1st Davao Chinese New Year Festival".

Its whereas(es) provides that "the City Government of Davao, through the Davao City Chinatown Development Council, is committed to promote the development of Chinatown as one of the major historical, economic, and cultural centers of the city."

"The Davao City Chinatown Development Council saw it fitting to formally launch the city's own Chinatown during the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 26, 2009, through a week-long festival starting on January 24 to 31, 2009."

The Archways

To further cement their place in Davao's history, active Dabawenyo Tsinoys or Filipino Chinese in English, decided to have a visible signage delineating Chinatown. Thus, the idea of creating archways in the four borders of the Chinatown was born.

The archways, also known as the "pailou" or "paifang" can be either of a memorial or decorative nature. It could be made of wood, brick or stone, with or without glazed tiles, often carrying some inscriptions on the middle beam.

Many pailous were erected to praise the "lofty virtues" of certain individuals in the locality. Fettered by the feudal ethical code, many widowed women refrained from remarriage just in the hope to have "pailou of chastity" built for them when they reached a ripe old age.

The first archway in Davao City christened as "Friendship" was inaugurated in August 2008. The structure is sponsored by the heirs of Francisco Villa-Abrille (Lim Chuan Juna) and is along Magsaysay Ave., near Jones Circle.

Local columnist Janet Huang-Teves, a descendant of Lim Chuan Juna, said the landmark by Architect Arnel Villacampa was inspired by the 400-year-old architectural designs of Yuan Garden in Shanghai, China.

The columns were designed similar as the bamboo, a traditional construction material of the Chinese. The archway is embellished with fish and pearl, the symbols of the Villa-Abrille Family whose ancestry originated from Amoy, China, now Xiamen.

The Arch of Unity

The second archway dubbed as "Unity" was inaugurated on January 31, 2009 with the Chinese Consul-General in attendance.

The Unity Archway, sponsored by Tsinoy organization Dabaw Kaisa Foundation, is located at the other end of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue near the Magsaysay Park in Manuel Quezon Boulevard. It was donated by members of the Dabaw Kaisa Foundation, and was inaugurated on January 31, 2009 with the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, the Honorable He Shijing in attendance.

‎ The third archway is called the "Arch of Peace", and is situated at the corners of Jose P. Laurel, and Sta. Ana Avenues near the Davao Central High School. It was donated by the Yuchengco Group of Companies headed by Mr. Alfonso Yuchengco, former Philippine Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. The Arch of Peace was officially inaugurated on July 20, 2009.

Shopping Malls

• NCCC Main Davao - founded by Lim Tian Siu, grew up in Chin Kang, Fukien, China in 1919. A name in Davao City for more than 30 yrs now, a shopping destination that once started as a textile business in 1952.

• DCLA Plaza - known for very cheap buys from electronic to dry goods.

• Chinatown 168 Mall - a controversial chinatown mall because of its name and its similarity to a mall in Binondo. A tiangge or flea market type of mall.

• Yahu Plaza - it means bountiful in Fookien. A 5 storey mall located along F Banggoy St between Monteverde and Uyangguren streets.

Hotels and Inns

Pinnacle Hotel and Suites in Davao Chinatown

• Pinnacle Hotel and Suites
• Regency Inn Davao
• BS Inn
• Sequoia Inn
• Evergreen Hotel
• Southern Tourist Inn
• Hari Royale Hotel

Points of Interest

• Mindanao Taoist Temple is located in the middle of RGA Village, between Dakudao and Cabaguio avenues. The temple with its tall red brick pagoda is an example of feng shui architecture particular with its octagonal shaped structure. A noted example of the synergism of the beliefs of Chinese-Filipinos can be found in the images on display at the temple. Alongside images of Lao Tzu is the image of Jesus Christ who is also revered by Taoists. The Mindanao Taoist Temple used to be the highest structure around the Cabaguio-Dacudao area.

Long Hua Temple or Lon Wa in Davao Chinatown

• Long Hua Temple also located in Cabaguio Avenue. The Buddhist temple is the biggest in Mindanao and the most popular temple in Davao City. It is home to kung fu monks and a school (Sakya Academy) various Chinese (Taiwanese) tourists and migrants visit this place to worship and pay respect. Long Hua, which means Temple of the Dragon, features several images and intricate wood carvings of Buddha.

• Santiago Temple located in a property near Gaisano Mall of Davao. This temple used to be seen on JP Laurel Avenue until a building was built in front of it. Now it is completely hidden from view, accessible only by a narrow street alley, the temple visited by the devotees of Kuan Kong, a Chinese general who lived during 200 A.D. in the time of the three Kingdoms of China who became known as the Chinese God of War. Kuan Kong or Santiago temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Davao, built in 1957 by the local Chinese community who associate Kuan Kong as the great protector particularly of the business people. In China the deity, through his protective influences, is also regarded as the symbol of wealth and prosperity.

• Po Lian Temple

Davao City Chinatown Development Council

In January 2011, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte officially named the new members of the Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC) Executive Committee.

The mayor sits as chair of the DCCDC Executive Committee, while the head of the City Council committee on tourism and beautification is the vice-chairperson.

The eight members from the private sector who were appointed include: Johnny Loyola of the Amity of the Progressive Mason; So Peng Kee of the Davao Filipino-Chinese of Commerce and Industry; Jason Juang of the Villa Abrille Estate; Amado So of SF and F Trucking Services; James Erwin Go of Global Hardware; Benedicto Lim Jr. of Orient Glass; Lafayette Lim, president of Davao Kaisa; and Rosa Cuaki, president of Chinese Language Teachers Association.

Other members of the executive committee from the public sector are: the City Tourism Officer; City Planning and Development Coordinator; head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office; head of City Engineer's Office; City Police Director of the Davao City Police Officer; Barangay Chair of Barangay 27-C; and the Barangay Chair of Barangay 30-C.

The DCCDC was primarily created to assist the City Government of Davao in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs, projects, and activities of the declared Chinatown area.

It is also to recognize the significant historical, cultural and economic contribution of the Chinese-Filipino community in the development of the city.

External links

• http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/chinatown-council-members-appointed
• http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog/2008/08/21/davao-chinatown-unveils-chinese-arches
• http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/China_Town_in_Davao_City_biggest_in_RP.shtml
• http://teammabel.multiply.com/journal/item/139/1st_Davao_Chinese_New_Year_Festival
• http://davaocitybybattad.blogspot.com/2011/05/chinatown-davao-city.html
• Tour of city's Chinese temples published by Sun Star and written by Rudolph Ian Alama (March 2009)
• http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/davao-sights-lon-wa-buddhist-temple/
• http://allaboutdavao.com/2010/07/little-china-town-of-davao/