- published: 01 Feb 2015
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The huge Province of Davao was a former province of the Philippines in the island of Mindanao. It was divided into three provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur with the passage of Philippine Republic Act No. 4867 on May 20, 1967. It was one of the largest, most populous and prosperous provinces in the country during its time, being colonized and inhabited by immigrants from the provinces in Luzon and Visayas island groups.
The province was established after the dissolution of Moro Province in 1914. Before the province broke up, massive waves of immigrants from Visayas and Luzon island groups are already immigrating in the province. Japanese immigrants, mostly rich businessmen and pioneers, also immigrated to its capital Davao in large numbers, making it the Philippines' Little Japan. Having an area of more than 20,000 square kilometers, its borders are almost identical to its predecessor, the Nueva Guipuzcoa province, which also control parts of what are now Cotabato, Bukidnon and Caraga provinces years before during the Spanish governance in the country.