History of Chinatown in Davao City

Davao City holds the distinction of having the biggest Chinatown in the world in terms of land area, with a total of approximately 44 hectares covering at least four barangays. These wide-ranging streets is full of business establishment like restaurants, fruit stands, hotels, malls and other places that the people will enjoy on rendezvousing with their friends.

So far, there are three grand archways erected strategically on the borders of Davao City’s Chinatown. Archways, identified as the “Pailou or Paifang”, which is commonly decorated in red, green and gold colors with traditional Chinese symbols such as a dragon or a lion. These symbols commemorates as friendship, unity and peace among Filipino and Chinese living in this City of Davao.

The archways is christened as “Arch of friendship” which is located along the Magsaysay Avenue, near the Jones Circle. It was founded by the successors of Francisco Villa–Abrille (Lim Chuan Juna), one of the prominent Chinese trader whose origin originated from Amoy, China, now Xiamen. It was inaugurated on August 2008.

Arch of Unity was donated by members of Dabaw Kaisa Foundation, which is located at the end of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue on the way to the Magsaysay Park in Manuel Quezon Boulevard. Arch of unity was inaugurated on January 31, 2009 with the consul General of the People’s Republic of China as the honorable guest.

The third archway is called “Arch of peace” which is positioned at the corners of Jose P. Laurel and Sta. Ana Avenues near Davao Central High School. It was donated by the Yuchengco Group of Companies led by Mr. Alfonso Yuchengco. The Arch of Peace was officially inaugurated on July 20, 2009.

Former Mayor of Davao City’s, Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued an executive order declaring a Chinatown those portions of Barangay 27-C and Barangay 30- C, where streets are generally occupied by Filipino-Chinese with their corresponding businesses.

The establishment of Davao Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC) promotes the development of Chinatown, to support and assist in the active making by implementing policies and rules in the area that has great commercial, historical, economic and social significance to the city of Davao.

The Chinatown of Davao City is now famous and has become an attraction to the foreign and local tourist. Chinatown’s founding is remembered every January 24 – 31 of the year. It is a week-long festival. (Roxanne M. Bendijo | HCDC Intern)