Araw ng Panabo, which translates to Panabo Day, is a cityhood anniversary in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines every March 31. The date may be declared a special non-working holiday by executive issuance. An example was Proclamation No. 1322 in 2022.
History of Panabo City
Panabo City is located in the Davao Region, which is also composed of the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental.
It is believed that it acquired its name after pana which means arrow, the hunting tool of the aboriginal Aetas. The Aetas were the first inhabitants of the land and they were hunter-gatherers whose diet consisted of forages and wild game. They moved their habitats farther into remote western areas through the years as a result of being displaced by the arrival of migrants from other places.
In the past, Panabo was part of Magugpo where settlers from Luzon and Visayas came arrived as early as 1929 by the invitation of the government. Magugpo became a town in 1941 and later renamed Tagum in post-war years (see Araw ng Tagum).
As the population and the settlements grew, new municipalities were born in the region. On July 1, 1949, President Elpidio Quirino issued Executive Order No. 236 that caused Panabo to separate from Tagum and to become its own independent municipality. The order also created the towns of Digos and Padada which were carved out from the town of Santa Cruz.
The then municipality of Panabo became a city with the passage of Republic Act No. 9015, otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Panabo, Province of Davao del Norte into a Component City to be Known as the City of Panabo.”
It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February February 28, 2001. The law was enacted through a plebiscite where the electorate voted in favor of the conversion to a city on March 31, 2001. This is the date that Araw ng Panabo remembers in its yearly anniversary celebration.
Araw ng Panabo Activities
In 2022 and 2023, the calendar for Araw ng Panabo was for the entire month of March. Activities include trade expo, social services, jobs fair, entertainment, talent contests, comedy shows, sports, beauty pageants (Binibining Panabo, Queen of Panabo, Ginoong Panabo), motorcade, fireworks display, concerts, and music events.
How to reach Panabo City, Davao del Norte
Book a flight to Davao International Airport. Panabo City can be reached by bus or van from Davao City which is about an hour away.
References
- Republic Act No. 9015. Official Gazette. Retrieved March 27, 2023
- HOLIDAYS — PANABO CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE. Senate of the Philippines – Legislative Resources. Retrieved March 27, 2023
- Quick Facts about Panabo City. City Government of Panabo. Retrieved March 27, 2023
- Executive Order No. 236, s. 1949. Official Gazette. Retrieved March 27, 2023
- History. Sanguniang Panglungsod – Tagum City. Retrieved March 27, 2023
- TADECO: Tagum Agricultural Development Company. ANFLOCOR. Retrieved March 27, 2023
Araw ng Panabo Summary
Name Araw ng Panabo Contact +63 84 655 0031 Country Philippines Date March 31 Email tourismpanabo@gmail.com Established 2001 Facebook www.facebook.com Historical event Conversion of Panabo to a city in 2001 Location Panabo City, Davao del Norte Organizer City Government of Panabo Other Names Panabo Day
| Name | Araw ng Panabo |
|---|---|
| Contact | +63 84 655 0031 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | March 31 |
| tourismpanabo@gmail.com | |
| Established | 2001 |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Historical event | Conversion of Panabo to a city in 2001 |
| Location | Panabo City, Davao del Norte |
| Organizer | City Government of Panabo |
| Other Names | Panabo Day |