This year's Araw ng Dabaw celebration promises to be a grand spectacle of life and progress as Davaoenos everywhere break into dance, pageantry and merriment throughout this very progressive city.  Araw ng Dabaw, or Day of Davao, is the festival held every March 16, Davao's cityhood day and features a bewildring array of exciting and colorful events all throughout the weeks leading to the main event.

The Mutya ng Dabaw is a prestigious event held during the weeks leading to March 16.  At the recently concluded pageant, the winners were:   Mutya ng Dabaw 2013 Ms. Fila Guia Hidalgo, Diwa ng Dabaw (1st runner-up) Ms. Czarina Rizel Marante, Sinag ng Dabaw (2nd runner-up) Ms. Kristine Angelie Estoque, Pag-asa ng Dabaw (3rd runner-up) Ms. Lery Stephanie Bautista, and Patnubay ng Dabaw (4th runner-up) Ms. Angeline Nicole Morales.

There are also other colorful attractions lined up for the event, which include a talent showcase, trade fair, sportsfest, marathon, dance competition, and concert.  The festivities culminate in a grand parade on March 16 along the length of Roxas Avenue to San Pedro Street.

Davao is also the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area. It has an estimated population of 1,530,365 as of 2011.