Davao City
The City of Davao (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw) is the largest city on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, the country's largest city in terms of land area, occupying 2,444 square kilometers (recently the city of Puerto Princesa with a total land area of 2,539 square kilometers has been disputing this title). It is also one of the Philippines' most progressive cities. Its international airport and seaport are among the busiest cargo hubs in the southern Philippines.
Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province, though it is usually grouped with Davao del Sur for statistical purposes. The city is also the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI). Davao City has a population of 1,363,337 (2007 census). Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies which is the Philippine Eagle, and the City itself which is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of land area.
In recent years, the sprawling urban Metropolis of Davao has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The city boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.
Asiaweek ranked Metro Davao among the 20 Most Livable Cities in Asia, above Metro Manila and Metro Cebu and the number one as the most livable city in the country. Foreign Direct Investment Magazine conducted a study which named Davao City as the 10th "Asian City of the Future".
Davao City's official website can be seen here.
Zamboanga City
Officially, the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano de Zamboanga/Spanish: Ciudad de Zamboanga). Zamboanga is a corrupted word for the Bahasa Sug jambangan, which means garden. The highly-urbanized city is located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is one of the first chartered cities and the sixth largest in the country. Zamboanga City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province, though it is usually grouped with Zamboanga del Sur for statistical purposes.
Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 39 of 1936 signed by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 12, 1936 in Malacañang Palace created and established Zamboanga as a chartered city. It has been known variously as "El Orgullo de Mindanao" (The Pride of Mindanao), nicknamed the "City of Flowers," and affectionately called by Zamboangueños as "Zamboanga Hermosa" - Chavacano/Spanish for "Beautiful Zamboanga." Today, the city is commercially branded for tourism by the city government as "Asia's Latin City," a clear reference to Zamboanga's identification with the Hispanized cultures of "Latin America" or the USA's "Latino" subculture, the current City Mayor, Celso Lobregat is himself descended from a Spanish-Catalunian bloodline (The Llobregat River runs through Spain's biggest Mediterranean city - the City of Barcelona). Zamboanga City was formerly a part of the Commonwealth Era Moro Province of Mindanao. Its ancient inhabitants were vassals of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.
Zamboanga City brings its best foot forward during the popular Fiesta Pilar, celebrated in honor of the city's patron saint, La Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, Spain. A statue honoring the saint is prominently embossed above the façade on the eastern wall of the meter-thick walled fort called El Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (also called El Real Fuerza de San José in its early days). This Spanish military fort was built on June 23, 1635, by the Spanish Jesuit priest Fr. Melchor de Vera in defense against pirates and slave raiders. Zamboanga City is one of the oldest cities in the country and is the most Hispanized. It is also one of the largest cities in the world in terms of area, with over 1,480 km², including its 28 surrounding islands. Its recorded population in 2007 was 774,407.
Zamboanga City's official website can be seen here.
Iligan City
The City of Iligan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Iligan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iligan) is a Highly urbanized city in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately 795 kilometers southeast of Manila. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 308,046 people.
Iligan City's official website is here.
Cagayan de Oro
The City of Cagayan de Oro (IPA: /kă-gə'yăn dĕ ôrô/); abbreviated CDO, CDOC or Cag. de Oro ; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro; lies along the northern coastline of Mindanao. It is the provincial capital of the province of Misamis Oriental. It is also the regional center and the most populous highly-urbanized city in Northern Mindanao (Region 10). According to the 2007 census, the city has an estimated population of 553,996 people.
In recent years the establishment of many businesses around Cagayan de Oro & it's neighboring areas have boosted Northern Mindanao's economy making it the largest in Mindanao. The city's strategic location & modern transport infrastructure makes it a primary transhipment hub especially around the Visayas - Mindanao area. The city also belongs to Mindanao's largest industrial agglomeration, the Cagayan de Oro - Iligan Corridor (CIC).
Cagayan de Oro is also known locally as the "City of Golden Friendship". There are several places in the Philippines having the name "Cagayan". One must distinguish Cagayan de Oro City from Cagayan Province in Northern Luzon. There are also islands in the Sulu Sea named Cagayan.
Cagayan de Oro's official website is here.
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao, where the Maria Cristina Falls, the largest waterfall in the country is located.
Lanao del Sur's official website is here.
Sulu
Sulu is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. It is home to the Royal Sultanate of Sulu.
Although consisting of a mixed community of Muslims and Christians, the Tausugs dominate the Sulu Archipelago. The Tausugs were among the first Filipinos to embrace Islam as a religion and a way of life.
Their traditional religio-political structure is the sultanate. The sultan is the head of all ranks within the sultanate. Succession is by election by his staff although patrilineal succession is the ideal.
The Tausugs are referred to as ‘people of the current’, reflective of their close ties to the sea. The handicrafts of Sulu mirror Islamic and Indonesian influences. Skilled artisans make boats, bladed weapons, bronze and brassware, pis cloth, embroidered textiles, shellcraft, traditional house carvings, and carved wooden grave markers.
Sulu's official website can be found at http://www.sulu.gov.ph but it is currently under construction.