Southern Mindanao,
designated as Region XI,[1] is one of the regions of the Philippines, located
on the southeastern portion ofMindanao. 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").
Many historians
believe that the name "Davao" is actually the mixture of the three
names that three different tribes, the earliest settlers in the region, had for
the Davao River. The Obos, an aboriginal tribe, referred to the Davao River as
Davohoho. Another tribe, the Bagobos, referred to the river as Davohaha, which
means "fire", while another tribe, the Guiangan tribe, called the
river as Duhwow.
The history of the
region dates back to the times when various tribes occupied the region. It is
believed that the Manobos, Mandayas and the Bagobos actually occupied the area.
These are the same tribes that created the small settlements and communities that
eventually became Mindanao.