WELCOME TO TAGUM CITY!
Tagum City is recognized as one of the
most competitive medium-sized component cities in the country and serving as the business gateway of Davao del Norte with its strategic location connecting the
four major provinces: Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Davao City and
Bukidnon with the road opening thru the Municipality of Talaingod. Not having
been identified as a city with natural tourist destinations, Tagum City still
makes it to the map.
One of the
strategies of the city is the celebration of year round festivals like the Musikahan sa Tagum, Flores de Tagumeño, Tagum City Gay Summit, the Ugmad (Uma Gamiton, Mag-uuma Dayegon) Festival , Kaimonan and
Pakaradjan Festival, Fiestagumenyo and Paskuhan sa Tagum – these events give
Tagum the name, “City of Festivals”.
With the
prestigious banner festival “Musikahan sa Tagum Festival”- the biggest activity
and tourist enticement of the city and even of the whole province of Davao Del
Norte, Tagum City continues to aim to be the Music City of the South. This
festival, with its successful management and implementation, has attracted the
hosting of the 3rd International
Rondalla last February 12 to 19, 2011. It was participated by delegates
from all over the country and different parts of the globe: Russia, China,
Singapore, India, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, South Korea,
Taiwan and USA.
Aside
from festivals and events,
Tagum City offers its top three destinations:
The Hijo Resources Corporation
(HRC), owned by Tuason Group and Fuji Fruits Co., Ltd of Japan, offers a
leisure and tourism development 60-hectare second growth natural forest,
where a number of wildlife species thrive without human intervention, the
Banana Beach – the world’s only beach inside a banana plantation and Lanikai
Beach Resort, which caters Market classes A and B.
A few years ago, Tancuan River in Liboganon and
Bingcungan started capturing the heart of visitors around and beyond Tagum and is
up-to-presently often being affirmed for its successful Mangrove preservation
and rehabilitation, and thus, lead to the creation of the “Tagum City River
Cruise”. This river cruise takes visitors through an immersion trip around the coastal
areas and wetlands. There are plans to install a recreational ferry where 20 –
30 tourists can experience enjoying breath taking sights while being pampered
with the boat’s on-board spa amenities.
A 31-hectare (projected 50 hectares) botanical park has been slowly developed
and is now accessible to tourists. The San Agustin Botanical Garden is the third destination for the city’s eco-tourism.
It is planned to spur 2,000 different kinds of tree/plant species from the
different tropical countries in the world giving balance to the highly
urbanized development of Tagum and keeping pollution out of the city’s
progression. To date, there are one hundred forty five (145) tree/plant species
planted from the different parts of the country, Australia, India, Pakistan,
Thailand and South Africa.
Aside from the city’s main attractions,
Tagum City also showcases
some of the
best learning destinations in Mindanao and in the country.
We
have Tagum City’s Christ the King Cathedral located in Magugpo South houses
Asia's Biggest Rosary. The place is a frequent stop for Catholic pilgrims, the faithful
and other visitors from in and around Tagum City. This is where the city usually opens and culminates
the “Flores de Tagumeño” – Tagum City’s unique way of celebrating the Filipino
tradition, “Flores de Mayo”
Though building
in progress and functional only during festivals, especially during the
“Musikahan sa Tagum”, where most activities for the event are held, or when
there are concerts, the New City Hall of Tagum in Brgy. Apokon, is a photogenic site for tourists with its
modern design adorned by sculptures crafted by the famous Kublai. On common
days, locals and visitors often jog or just stroll and picnic around the
spacious area encircling this promising landmark during early mornings and
afternoons.
A few turns from the New City Hall, the Energy
Park is another part of the city where visitors can bask in the serenity of
nature. Picnics and strolls are common activities in the “E – Park” with
visitors from around the locality and sometimes from other places. It is
generally a place of solitude except for when the often scheduled motorcycle
drag race on its road strip comes about – this activity is a magnet not only to
local race enthusiasts but also to those from neighboring regions in Mindanao for
camping and football activities.
The Beach Volleydrome in Rotary Park, Magugpo Poblacion,
the only beach volleydrome built in the heart of the city – tons of sand was hauled
to realize this facility. Rotary Park is
a place to relax, recreate and play. This facility's building houses the Tagum City Tourism Office!
The
Regina Rosarii in Magdum also receives visitors, especially Catholics, from in
and out of Tagum for its 59-step stairway representing the 59 beads of the Holy
Rosary.
The
festivals, events, and city-made tourist destinations and recreational
facilities of Tagum have run for years and have led to the empowerment, growth
and establishment of accommodation related businesses such as resort
facilities, hotels, malls, etc., some of which in themselves are already
tourist attractions. All these have
expanded Tagum City as the second MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and
Events) City of the Davao Region next to Davao City. Tagum City currently has 4
hotels, 58 inns and lodging houses, 7 resorts, and has malls, that can more-than-decently
accommodate necessary MICE City services.
With stable
water and electricity, affordable and secure public transportation – cabs and
the unique apple-green “Toyota-Type” tricycles, wide and palm-tree garlanded picture-perfect
clean roads, and its maximized tourism devices – festivals, activities &
destinations, Tagum City continues to prove itself worthy not only of its MICE
status but also in the broad-spectrum,
a Tourist Destination.
