Old Photos of Davao

Pre-War City Hall of Davao

The Old Davao City Hall (formerly the Municipal Building) was constructed in 1926, or ten years before Davao finally became a city. This rare photograph is courtesy of the Davao Tourism Office, Mr. Robert Bula and Digilution.

Inauguration of Davao as a city on March 1, 1937

Signing of Davao as a chartered city

American soldiers marching along Davao's San Pedro Street

Old City Hall of Davao City

Don Francisco Bangoy (right) holding hat

Aerial Photo of Matina Airfield circa 1944 - 1945

Old Bangoy/Sasa Airport in the late 1940s

DC-3 Landing at the Old Bangoy/Sasa Airport in the late 1940s

Japanes Plane at the Matina Airstrip
(Now Juan Subdivision near Ateneo de Davao Elementary/HS Campus
and SM Davao)

Sasa Airfield in 1942

A Mitsubishi G4M1 Isshikirikko ("Betty") with the 4th Chutai of the Kanoya Kokutai Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force when it was stationed at Sasa Airifeld, Davao on January 1942. Originally based in Formosa, the Kanoya Kokutai's 4th, 5th and 6th Chutais were active over the Philippines. 

Aerial Photo of two Airfileds: Sasa Airfield (upper part near Samal Island)
and Matina Airfield (lower right)

Old Bangoy/Sasa Airstrip 1964

PAL F27 at Bangoy/Sasa Airport 1967

Jet-props (propeller planes and jet driven engines - the YS-11s and Fokker planes of Philippine Airlines) first flew south. Hong Kong was not yet a popular destination, neither were Bangkok and Singapore.

Old Davao Provincial Hospital in the 1930s

Corner of San Pedro and Bolton Streets in the 1940s

Old San Pedro Church

San Pedro Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Mindanao. The original structure of the church was built in 1847 in honor of St. Peter, the city's patron saint. It is the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Davao. The old altar is preserved at the right wing of the cathedral.

The 4th Davao Parade in July 1932

Mount Apo in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales @Dabawenyo

Court of First Instance and the City Jail in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

City Hall of Davao City and Quezon Park in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Davao Chinese High School in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Davao Mental Hospital in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Governor Generoso Bridge in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Governor Generoso Bridge in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Jones Monument intersecting five roads in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

View of Mount Apo from Ateneo de Davao Matina Campus in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Davao Telephone Company in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis@Dabawenyo

Apo View Hotel in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Ateneo de Davao in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Bankerohan Public Market in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Bankerohan Public Market in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Davao City High School in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Skating Rink at the Magsaysay Park in the 1950s
Photo courtesy of Hector Gonzales and Rocky Cabarroguis @Dabawenyo

Japanese School Children in Davao, January 17, 1940

There are still many interesting photos of the Old Davao City which I am going to feature in my succeeding posts.