Tagum: The Palm City of the Philippines

Tagum City, the capital of the province of Davao del Norte was officially created into a component city on March 7, 1998. Situated 55 kilometers north of Davao City, it is one of the fastest growing cities in Region XI. It has a total land area of 19,580 hectares. In a study conducted by the Asian Institute of Management, Tagum was ranked among the 20 most viable component cities to do business in the country.

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

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 and in the Philippines. Tagum City has become a bustling center of culture, commerce, health services, and entertainment in the Davao Region, in Mindanao and in the southern Philippine region.[1]

According to the actual 2010 census, more than 256,069 people live in 43,193 households.

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 Princesa City'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.

Since 2000, Tagum City annually hosts the Musikahan Festival aimed at showcasing the musical talents of Tagumeños, Mindanaoans and Filipinos in general, draws thousands of visitors both locally and internationally. Currently, the city is the only one in the Philippines to have a direct joint agreement with Venezuela for cultural exchange, in line with the 11th Musikahan sa Tagum in 2011, thus supporting the City's claim as the "Cultural Center of Mindanao," and as affirmed by the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Music and College of Arts and Letters.

Tagum City hosted three major national competitions in recent years, to wit, the National English Jazz Chants Festival, the National Schools Press Conference and the 9th Musikahan Festival. The 3rd International Rondalla Festival, the first international competition Tagum City hosted, implanted the city into the roster of cultural hubs in Southeast Asia.

Tagum City is part of Metropolitan Davao (Metro Davao), and is the crossroad among major cities in Northern Mindanao, Eastern Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao.

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Website: http://www.tagumcity.gov.ph

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagum_City

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LINKS FOR MORE ABOUT THE CITY HERE:

MORE OF THE CITY’S PIC HERE:

Kobe

The Modern City of Kobe

Kobe  is the sixth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately 500 km (310.69 mi) west of Tokyo. Kobe is a prominent port city with a population of about 1.5 million. The city is located in the Kansai region of Japan and is part of the Keihanshin (Keihanshin) metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto. Keihanshin in turn is part of the Taiheiyō Belt, a megalopolis.

The earliest written records regarding the region come from the Nihon Shoki, which describes the founding of the Ikuta Shrine by Empress Jingū in AD 201. For most of its history the area was never a single political entity, even during the Tokugawa Period, when the port was controlled directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Kobe did not exist in its current form until its founding in 1889. Its name comes from "kanbe", an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine. Kobe became one of Japan's 17 designated cities in 1956.

Kobe was one of the cities to open for trade with the West following the end of the policy of seclusion and has since been known as a cosmopolitan port city. While the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake diminished much of Kobe's prominence as a port city, it remains Japan's fourth busiest container port. Companies headquartered in Kobe include ASICS, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Kobe Steel, as well as over 100 international corporations with Asia or Japan headquarters in the city such as Procter & Gamble, Boehringer-Ingelheim and Nestlé. The city is the point of origin and namesake of Kobe beef as well as the site of one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, Arima Onsen.

OFFICIAL DETAILS:

City Head: Tatsuo Yada

City Poplation:

Website: http://www.city.kobe.jp

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe

Asia's Most Overlooked Cities

Kagoshima, Japan  

If you’re so well traveled in Japan that you can tick off Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, how about paying the quaint Kagoshima down south a visit?

The City of Kogoshima

With its balmy seaside breezes and mild sunshine, Kagoshima can pass for Naples on a summer day. No visit to Kagoshima is complete without a ferry ride to the massive stratovolcano Sakurajima, one of the most famous volcanoes in the country. And before you leave, be sure to sample Kagoshima’s famous tonkatsu, a pork dish that is not breaded and deep fried as you’d expect from other parts of the country, but delicately caramelized.

Chengdu, China 

Most foreign backpackers in China will be no stranger to Chengdu, a popular stopping point for travelers intending to journey up to Tibet. What many tourists fail to notice, however, is that Chengdu is worth much more than a one-night stopover.

Unlike other cities in this booming country, Chengdu possesses a laid-back vibe -- so much so that the Chinese have voted it the country's fourth most livable city. Locals are generally friendly and you're likely to bump into many like-minded tourists itchy for adventure and conversation.  Much of the local scene takes place at the sprawling People's Park, where the city's residents engage in their favorite pastimes throughout the day, be it tai chi, sipping tea by the lake, playing majong in the open or dancing. Entry to important archeological dig Jinsha Excavation Site may be steep at 80 RMB, but the huge number of artifacts there is well worth the ticket. At night, explore the bustling wine-and-dine area of Jinli Ancient Street for some after-dark action.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Taiwan is not just all about Taipei. Kaohsiung, the island’s second-biggest city, is quickly outgrowing its reputation as an industrial and commercial hub to become a fascinating tourist destination in its own right.

The Beautiful City of Kaohsiung

Despite the wealth of historical buildings and the untouched forests in this sprawling city, for years Kaohsiung has been something of an underdog on the tourist circuit due to the city’s reliance on industry, which polluted the city’s waterways and air. But not any more. Recent efforts to clean up the city are finally reaping results: the romantically named Love River used to reek of sewage but is now the city’s tourism focal point. A visit to Kaohsiung is incomplete without a sail on the river at night on a barge, with outdoor cafes and beautifully lit historical sights flanking the river on both sides.   Another great way to take in the city is to attend the annual Lantern Festival, a dizzying parade of fireworks, live concerts, lanterns and lip-smacking street food. The Lantern Festival is usually held in the middle of the Chinese New Year.

Daegu, South Korea

Neon-lit metropolises Seoul and Pusan may overshadow the quiet South Korean city of Daegu, but the latter deserves its own place in the spotlight.

For many Korean domestic travelers, Daegu’s reputation for its sweet juicy apples and beautiful women is enough to warrant a visit. The city is also drawing visitors for its thriving traditional Asian medicine market. Check out the Yangnyeongsi herbal medicine market if you fancy bringing home some herbal curios back home.   With its textiles and clothing manufacturing industries going strong, the city is also positioning itself as a fashion hub in the Asia region in recent years. To see for yourself just how successful this rebranding has been, check out Daegu’s central shopping district,  

source:

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http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/overlooked-cities-asia-810813

Baguio: The Summer Capital of the Philippines

Baguio is hailed as the summer capital of the Philippines and known as one of the industrialized cities in the Northern part of the Philippines.

Baguio City on Aerial View

Many people visit this city every summer because of its cold weather and attractive tourist spots. Based on the history of the city, it is the Americans, which recognized Baguio as one of the Philippine cities on June 1, 1903 at Kafagway.

Naguilian Highway, Marcos Highway and Kennon Road are the three accessible roads to the city. The most famous route to the city is Kennon Road, however, it is dangerous to take that route during the rainy season because the road is prone to land slides. In this case, travelers who want to visit the city is advised to travel by air since the city has an airport which is named as Loakan Airport.

Baguio City is a big city in the Northern region of the Philippines. Based on reports, the city has 130 barangays, which include the Session Road area, the barangay that is very popular for bars, restaurants and other business establishments that attract tourists and travelers to the area. Aside from the Session Road area, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay and Burnham Park are the other tourist attractions in the area.

Downtown Baguio City

For travelers who want to have a look at some tourist spots in city, they can also visit the vacation house of every Philippine president in Baguio. It is also exciting and luring to have a tour at some of the strawberry farms of the city. In addition, the city is also renowned for its top universities and colleges such as University of the Philippines Baguio, University of Baguio and Saint Louis University. Above all, Baguio is popular for Philippine Military Academy that is based on one of its barangays.

Many foreigners visit the place during February because it is the month in which the famous and luring Panagbenga Festival or Flower Festival is held. For those who want to visit the city during these times, they are advised to book in hotels in Baguio in advance. With the help of the Internet, players can visit Web sites that are created for travelers who want to have a background on the alluring tourist destinations in the city. The sites also have instant access to the places where travelers can stay when they visit Baguio. With these tools, tourists will surely enjoy their visit to the attractive city of the Philippines, the Baguio City.

OFFICIAL DETAILS:

City Head: Hon. Mayor Mauricio Domogan 
City Land Area: 57.5 Square KM.
City Classification: Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines

Population: 450,000 est. as of 2010
Location: Benguet Province, Philippines

Website: http://www.baguio.gov.ph

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio

MONIKER/NICKNAME(S):

"The Summer Capital of the Philippines"

"The City of Pines"
"The Ghost Capital of the Philippines"

MORE LINKS FOR BAGUIO CITY HERE: 

@ http://www.gobaguio.com

@ http://www.baguioboard.com

@ http://hotelsinbaguio.com 

@ http://www.baguiocity.com
@ http://baguiocity.org

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Tulsa: The Oil Capital of the World

Tulsa is nestled in the northeastern quadrant of Oklahoma, right in the heart of "Green Country." The rolling green hills and wooded terrain of the city lies at an elevation of 700 feet above sea level and offers a temperate climate. Tulsans enjoy 227 days of sunshine a year and an average daily temperature of 61 degrees. The rainfall average is approximately 40 inches, and continually changing conditions occur in the city during all four seasons.

The city boasts a widely diversified business base, including aerospace, telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, high technology, healthcare, education, transportation and energy.

Tulsa, one of "America's Most Livable Communities," is known as the Mecca for arts in Oklahoma. Art deco masterpieces are prevalent in many of our downtown buildings and churches. Spectacular works of art dot the trails of our beautiful River Parks. From the Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Opera, to Broadway plays and musicals at the Performing Arts Center, to the Philbrook and the largest collection of Western American art at the Gilcrease, Tulsa's rich cultural legacy greatly enhances our citizen's quality of life.Tulsa is nestled in the northeastern quadrant of Oklahoma, right in the heart of "Green Country." The rolling green hills and wooded terrain of the city lies at an elevation of 700 feet above sea level and offers a temperate climate. Tulsans enjoy 227 days of sunshine a year and an average daily temperature of 61 degrees. The rainfall average is approximately 40 inches, and continually changing conditions occur in the city during all four seasons.

The city boasts a widely diversified business base, including aerospace, telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, high technology, healthcare, education, transportation and energy.

Tulsa, one of "America's Most Livable Communities," is known as the Mecca for arts in Oklahoma. Art deco masterpieces are prevalent in many of our downtown buildings and churches. Spectacular works of art dot the trails of our beautiful River Parks. From the Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Opera, to Broadway plays and musicals at the Performing Arts Center, to the Philbrook and the largest collection of Western American art at the Gilcrease, Tulsa's rich cultural legacy greatly enhances our citizen's quality of life.

The Tulsa Port of Catoosa is acclaimed as one of the largest, most inland river-ports in the United States. The Tulsa International Airport offers direct service to most major U.S. cities and is another important contributor to our economic growth.

Ten higher education facilities serve the metropolitan Tulsa area. Options range from community college and vocational studies to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs at both public and private universities.
 

OFFICIAL DETAILS:

City Head: Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
City Population: 391,906

City land Area:(483.8 km2)
Website: http://www.cityoftulsa.org
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa,_Oklahoma
 

AWARDS & CITATIONS:

1. The city has been called one of America's most livable large cities by Partners for Livable Communities, & Forbes.

MONIKER/NICKNAME:
"Oil Capital of the World"

"Tulsey Town"

"T-Town"

"The 918"

Passi: The Sweet City in the Heart of Panay

Passi City is located along the Iloilo- Capiz National Highway. It is 45- minute ride from Iloilo City and an hour from Roxas City and can be reached via the IBRD Expressway. It lies in the central park of Panay Island, and a mere 4- hour ride going to the famed Boracay Island. One can reached Passi City through a variety conveyance ranging from buses, vans or private vehicles. 

The physical resources of Passi consists of relatively good soil types along rolling hills and narrow valley plains with substantial surface and ground water, with no distinct dry and wet season which is suitable for a wide range of agricultural products like rice, sugarcane, and pineapple. When the sugar industry experience a slump due to falling sugar prices and quotas in the world market, farmers diversified into other agricultural products like corn, pineapple, mongo, root crops, and other farm- based products. The City has investment potentials for Agri- Industrial developments. 

Passi City in Iloilo, Philippines and the Jalaur River

Passi is a 3rd class component city with this year’s annual income of P300, 860,719-General Income, P26,732,922-Special Educational Fund, P37,287,853-Trust Fund, with a total current operating income of P364,881,424 . It is composed of 51 barangays. With 13 urban barangays and 38 rural barangays. It has a total land area of 25,139.13 hectares with a total population of 82,869 residents. Total labor force is 54,380 or 63% of the total population. 

Road systems is classified into national, provincial, functionally arterial and City and barangay roads. Most city roads are concreted while national road concreting is 99.8% complete. Inter- city travel is serviced by tricycle and passenger jeepneys. Public utility buses, which include air- conditioned utility vans, are available every 15 minutes for conveyance to and from the City of Passi. 

OFFICIAL DETAILS:

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Website:

Wikipedia: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passi,_Iloilo

AWARDS & CITATIONS:

MONIKER/NICKNAMES:

 "The Sweet City in the Heart of Panay"

LINKS FOR MORE ABOUT THE CITY HERE:

 @ 

http://passicityinformation.blogspot.com

MORE OF THE CITY’S PIC HERE: