THE BEAUTY OF TAGUM CITY

Tagum City :( Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Tagum/Siyudad sa Tagum, Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagum) is a 1st Class city in the 1st Congressional District of the Province of Davao del Norte, Philippines serving as its provincial capital.

It is estimated that the population reached 224,809 people in 2006, while 2010 projections of 240,599 will bring the cityhood to a "highly urbanized" status. According to the actual 2000 census, more than 179,531 people live in 36,560 households.

Cited as one of the 20 most viable and most competitive business sites in the Philippines in 2005 by the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project, it is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mindanao. Tagum City has become a bustling center of culture, commerce, health services and entertainment in the Davao Region and in the whole Mindanao. 

In 2006, Tagum City became the Palm Tree City of the Philippines. It also holds an unofficial record for having the tallest Christmas tree  in the Philippines. At 153 feet tall, the stunning structure erected at the Freedom Park at the back of the City Hall rivaled Puerto Prinsesa's 100 feet tall Christmas tree. Tagum City is also the home of the world's biggest wooden rosary, made out of ironwood, located at the Christ The King Cathedral, also one of the region's biggest Catholic churches.

The New Cathedral

Christ The King Cathedral, the biggest Catholic cathedral in Mindanao.

The Resurrected Christ 

The Resurrected Christ and the world's largest wooden rosary.

Mary's Woods, located in the mountains of Magdum.

Department of Education - Tagum City Division office, Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City

Tagum City tricycles, the main transportation system inside the city.

Palm trees planted beside the Maharlika (National) Highway.

Tagum Cultural and Trade Center.

Freedom Park behind the City Hall. (Daytime)

Freedom Park behind the City Hall. (Nighttime)

National Highway in Tagum City.

Memorial cross at La Filipina Public Cemetery.

Street signs.

Tagum City's Progress.

Over the years there has been an effort to improve the infrastructure of the city and the city provides all the necessary amenities to tourists. The city is visited for commercial and business reasons as well as for tourism. The vibrant local culture that has been passed down from generation to generation is reflected by the many festivals held every year. A visit to the city during a festival will offer insight into the local culture while allowing tourists to enjoy all the necessary amenities that the cities infrastructure provides.

There are many shopping opportunities in Tagum and shopping centers include the New City Commercial Center Mall, JS Gaisano and Gaisano Mall.

Festivals

There is a variety of festivals held in Tagum City which attracts international tourists.The festivals improve tourism as well as developing the skills of the locals. Music is celebrated and developed during the Musikahan Festival which is held in February. The Arae ng Tagum festival is held in March and it celebrates the birth of Tagum City. During the Durian Festival in May cultural productions are held and Durian fruits are sold in abundance at cheap prices. Binuhat Festival held in July shows support for gay people and is a chance to celebrate and have fun. Kaimonan festival offers insight into the culture and rituals of different tribes. Features of the festival include dance performances and traditional music. During the festival the tribes give thanks for the harvest that they have collected.

TAGUM CITY AS THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH

The MUSIKAHAN Festival. The festival is distinct cultural event that celebrates the Filipino excellence in Music---Composition, Performance and Production, the end goal of which is to provide the youth with more gainful opportunities in the Music Industry. It recognizes the efforts of the City Governmetn of Tagum in the area of music-in-education. For several years now, the Local Government provides musical instruments to the various public schools in order to raise the levels of music appreciation and enhance the skills in music performance. It affirms the role of music in keeping both the body and the spirit healthy and fit, thus it brings music performances to the various hospitals and clinics in the City of Tagum during the week-long celebration. It envisions to develop and hone the skills of the youth in the field of music and to prepare them for gainful employment in the futre. Moreover, the City of Tagum paves the way for a thriving music-industry. It facilitates the broadest particpation of the local barangay units in the various music competitions as opportunities not only to raise the cultural literacy of the constituency but also opportunities to generate support to install local communities development projects. The holding of the annual MUSIKAHAN SA TAGUM engenders a concrete vision of a fairer and brighter future for the youth through the enhancement of skills in arts and building creative pathways for gainful employment.

DURIAN FESTIVAL IN TAGUM

It is a festival celebrated during the month of September up to October that gathers the Durian Growers from the province of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley and convene in the City of Tagum provide and offer the lowest rate of Durian fruits for the consumers.During the festival celebration, several cultural presentations are showcased nightly to give entertainment to the people around taking good times with the Durian fruits. It will showcase the talents of the Hotel Restaurant Management (HRM) and Culinary Arts students during the competition and provides an avenue for the local growers to sell durian fruit and their by products. The Durian Festival Culinary Competition is open to all HRM and Culinary students coming from Davao Regions. We have expected more than four hundred students coming from Eleven (11) Colleges and Universities who have already confirmed their participation,

BINUHAT FESTIVAL  The biggest gay celebration in the region dubbed as Binuhat Festival designed its festivity by merging skills and talent showcase with strength and vitality through sports competition with the question of what kind of sports? Summer Sports Festival An eco-adventure and urban challenge promoting the advocacy on the call to care our environment through sports in celebration of the Earth Day, Ocean Month, and Environment Month every April, May and June respectively. The festival is held in the month of May. Also part of the festival is the "XTreme Gay-mes", a sports competition for the gay community of Tagum. Kaimonan Festival The word "kaimonan" means gathering. Kaimonan Festival is a gathering of the four dominant tribes in Tagum City, Mansaka, Mandaya, Kalagan and Dibabaon to celebrate a bountiful harvest and to give thanks to their God known as "Magbabaya". This celebration showcasing different rituals, tribals songs and dances such as Courtship "Pagkinarimay", Wedding "Pagbaroy", Birth "Pagka-otaw", Abduction " Pagkamang sang Utaw", Rescue "Pagluwas, Pangapog "Offering" and War dance "Pagpangayaw". Kaimonan Festival has started five years ago since 2003. It is celebrated every 10th day of the month of October. This is in accordance with the Republic Act 8371 known as IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act) Law that upholds, promote, develop and preserve the culture and tradition of the Indigenous People as reflected in chapter 6 section 29 of the said law.                                            Pakaradjan Festival Its a unique and special gathering of dominant Muslim tribes in Tagum City, such as the Ka'gans (original settlers), Maranaos, Maguindanaos, Iranons and Tausogs showcasing their cultural talents in playing Kulintang (music instrument) and traditional dances with a common goal of preserving and promoting their beliefs and traditionss. It is a celebration of music, dances and cultural presentation with the beat and rhythm of Kulintang, Dobakan and Agong. Indayog sa Tagum Dance Congress Festival A festival gathering of dance performers, choreographers, directors and educators from all over Mindanao to celebrate the dance arts and culture ranging from traditional, folk to contemporary expressions and scenario and shall features performances, competitions and lecture-demonstrations. Halal Food Festival A showcase of the Muslim delicacies prepared through the right Halal rituals and rules Feast of the Christ the King In celebration of Tagum City's patron, the Christ the King, the celebrations last for three days, starting in the Triduum until the Feast Day, which falls on the third Sunday of November, the last Sunday in the Catholic Ordinary Time before Advent.