Davao 4 Expats . com

Still troubled by the thought of finding the right school for your child in Davao? Get rid of that anxiety, for the reason that Davao offers competent and first-rate education. If truth be told, Davao City is tagged as the Educational Center of Mindanao, with graduates who truly excel and surpass the academic standards.

With its total of 46 colleges and universities, Metropolitan Davao never fails to be a prime city of an educational system geared towards excellence. The city holds schools that are included in the list of the country’s prestigious schools. There are government-operated schools and those that are managed by private individuals or groups.

The influx of foreign visitors and the presence of expatriates and migrants in the city have prompted the schools and universities to have their academic programs and admission process uncomplicated for them.

Davao City has variety of schools that offers from pre-school to college education, masters, doctorate, law, technical and other special courses. Below are few of the schools and academic institutions who are open for the admission of international students:

Philippine Nikkei-Jin Kai-International School

With a certificate of accreditation by the Bureau of Immigration allowing them to accept foreign students, Philippine Nikkei-Jin Kai-International School (PNJK-IS) has some 20% of its student population who are Japanese descendants.

PNJK-IS started as a pre-school in 1992. For a short span of time the school has grown into a complete primary, secondary, as well as tertiary academic institution.They also have half-British, half-German, and half-American students aside from the local students.

The Mindanao Kokusai Daigaki (Mindanao International College) is affiliated to this school; situated at the same campus along Mamay Road in Lanang, Davao City. For inquiries you may contact them at 235-2971.

Ateneo de Davao University

A premier Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit University founded by the Philippines Province of Jesuits in the year 1948. It aims to produce men and women who will render service to the country. Thus, priority is given to students who have greater likelihood of having the Philippines as their base after graduation. All international students shall pay an annual fee of US$600.00 in the first semester. Exemptions are granted to special exchange students, non-degree students, students on audit as well as religious missionaries and Filipino expatriates. A valid passport must be presented.

Non-Filipino undergraduate or graduate applicants must comply with the immigration requirements of the Republic of the Philippines. Please inquire immediately from the Philippine Consulate/Embassy in the country of origin.

The Ateneo College Admission Test covers the areas of Mathematics, English, and general intelligence. The Foreign Student Admission Officer will interview the applicant fourteen (14) days after the applicant has taken the examination. Only after which can the notice of acceptance (NOA) or notice of non-acceptance be claimed from the Admission Office in person.

The application fee for foreign applicants from high schools abroad and international students is US$500.00 (at the time of this writing, March 15, 2009).

For further information about the school and the admission process for international students, log on to www.addu.edu.ph or contact the Admission Office:

Admission Director
Ateneo de Davao University
Roxas Avenue, Davao City
Tel. +63 (82) 221.2411 local 8303 or 8302
Fax +63 (82) 226.4116
e-Mail : admissions@addu.edu.ph

[Telephone available only from 8AM to 5PM PHT (+8:00 GMT)]

The Davao Medical School Foundation

The Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) was established in July 1976 in response to the recognition of the lack of doctors serving rural communities and lack of specialists in urban centers of Mindanao. Its College of Medicine was thus the first such college to be set up in Mindanao and is dedicated to providing medical education and training of the highest order, leading to the provision of effective medical care in both rural and urban communities. DMSF is located is along the Davao Medical School Drive, J P Laurel Avenue, Davao.

For foreign students seeking admission to DMSF, the required documents are outlined in the Admission link of the schools website.

For more infos, you may reach them at 222-5713, 222-57111 or 222-5712.

San Pedro College

The San Pedro College (SPC) is a Catholic Institution of learning dedicated to the Christian education of the people of Davao and its neighboring regions. It is owned and managed by the religious congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Trinity. It is located at 12 C. Guzman St., Davao City.

For details, please contact the SPC Operator Assistant telephone numbers at (082) 224-1481, (082) 2264813 and (082) 2264187.

Davao Doctors College

A dynamic private non-sectarian educational institution, Davao Doctors College (DDC) is one of the leading centers of academic excellence, with well-motivated, globally competitive and highly competent students and professionals. Offering competent courses like Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Education and Business, DDC is located at Gen. Malvar St., Davao City.

For more admission inquiries kindly contact the Admission office at (082) 227-5972 or (082) 222-0850 – 53 local 112 or visit the Admissions section of their website.

Other possible schools for foreign students are the following:

Assumption College of Davao
J.P Cabaguio Avenue
(082) 227-2221

Bajada Pre-school
J.P Laurel Avenue
(082) 227-9235

Colegio De San Ignacio
Phil-Japan Friendship Highway
(082) 241-1470

Precious International School of Davao
GSIS Heights, Davao Cit
(082) 297-5684

Davao Central High School
Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City (near the Gaisano Mall)
(082) 227-4254

Davao Christian High School
V. Mapa St.
(082) 227-9725

Ford Academy of the Arts
Ladislawa Avenue, Buhangin, Davao City
(082) 227-1096 / Fax: (082) 224-1835

Holy Child School of Davao
E. Jacinto St.
(082) 227-1191 / 222-4215 / 221-0792

Stella Maris Academy
N. Torres St., Obrero
(082) 227-4150 / 227-8778

There are many reasons foreigners and locals alike are flocking in Davao. From work and family to retirement and the weather, the list is virtually endless and varied as the people who made the list.

Over the years, we have been in contact with several different expats and here are the main reasons why they choose to live in Davao.

1. Good Weather – If you want a tropical weather experience flaunting a sun-kissed skin in no time, Davao is the right place to be. With its unspoiled playground of nature, Davao is virtually typhoon free. The city enjoys a weather that is balmy all year round. It is characterized by a fair distribution of rainfall, humidity, air pressure and temperature, with no pronounced dry and wet season, the city (and the majority of the Davao Region) highly conducive to agricultural business.

2. Safety – Less crime doesn’t mean no crime, but Davao City is a haven for people who put a premium on safety. (And who would not want to do that?) Peace and Order and the safety of the people are top among the priority list of the of the local government. The mayor of Davao, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, is know for his no-nonsense stance on the peace situation of the city.

Security forces, the team called Task Force Davao and military soldiers are already a common sight in the City. Perhaps their presence brings more security to people rather than fear. Anyone can walk around town during the wee hours without fear of bumping into a street hooligan. Secure enough that amidst the news about bombings and violent staged rallies, they are there to protect the Davaoenos. Regular checkpoints in Davao City and its boundaries are conducted regularly as a safeguard against terrorism and to ensure the strict implementation of traffic rules.

The city also maintains a 24-hour emergency response system which every resident should remember: Dial 911 for emergency. Patterned after that of the US, people can have easy access to the number for immediate emergencies and criminal incidents.

3. Clean Environment – A growing and booming city like Davao will eventually face a dirty problem: that of waste and garbage, of course. In a hope to curtail the problem of trash and garbage in the city, the Local Administration allotted a big source of funding as a solution and that includes disseminating several garbage bins in almost every nook and cranny of the city. In Public Utility vehicles or PUV’s, garbage cans are visible as well. To litter is not an excusable act in Davao. So the next time, you feel like throwing that gum, either you gulp it in or find a garbage bin.

“No Smoking” ordinance is another widely popular act in this City. You can’t just go around or drive and puff that cigarette anywhere you like, always make sure you are in the designated smoking areas or else fine or imprisonment shall fall on you. This was imposed with stricter rules and penalties, you will be surprised how guests feel the pressure of being ridiculed by Davaoenos themselves should they not follow the rules.

It is also widely known that Davao is blessed to have a good source of potable water supply and was once hailed as the second the cleanest water in the world. That means one can enjoy the water straight from the faucet, without any fear of harm. It that sounds like a “Fear Factor Challenge” to you, bottled water are also available in many stores.

There is nothing quite like walking outside and taking a deep breath of fresh clean air. Residents are proud to say Davao still has it. With a big plantation of unspoiled trees that surround the valleys and mountains, it is safe to say, you can still enjoy a true nature’s wonder .

4. Modern City Amenities with Provincial Lifestyle – Despite the emerging skycrapers sprouting like mushrooms, the modern entertainment structures built within just few blocks away from each other and more settlers from other cities like Manila and Cebu finding a comfortable place to live, Davao still has the comfort and serenity of a provincial lifestyle. With nature just close by, life is still laidback, little stress, (a minute of traffic in the city is already a big deal, I guess we never grow accustomed to Manila traffic), you can still find yourself making that mooning-far away look in your eyes and enjoy the nature at its best. Minimal traffic, no toll gates, less-crime, hospitable settlers and hordes of different cultural families.

5. Fresh Produce and Food Supply — Known in the past as the “Rice Bowl” of the Philippines, next to Central Luzon’s “Rice Granary” title , Mindanao is Tagged as the “Food Basket” during the Ramos Administration, for its variety of fresh produce and food supply. That’s for the whole region of Mindanao. But since Davao is part of Mindanao and it is even considered the center of trade in Mindanao, Davao is able to enjoy fresh produce coming from different provinces close by. Davao has a large selection of homegrown crops that are of export quality. Until today, the government is eyeing on Mindanao including Davao to be Asia’s food and agri-bussiness basket which they will hope to achieve in a few years. With its vast hectares of land, it is indeed a haven of high quality fruits and crops.

6. Good governance — Good governance is synonymous to the name Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whose image and leadership commands attention to all people especially in Davao. (At least that how it goes in the Philippines.) His no nonsense political character is an epitome of a leader who is not sleeping on the job. His consistency and straight-forwardness in all his dealings make him a force to reckon with. “Dirty Harry” … that is what others call him. Duterte’s concern with the victims of violent crime earned him the reputation. He thought that issues of victim’s rights was being neglected in the political atmosphere in Davao that he made it a nationwide concern drawing dramatic attention from people.

He never falters to remind Davaoenos and visitors to the city to always abide by the rules. You can even see him on your TV Screens on weekends doing the “fatherly sermon” on his audience.

7. Booming Economy — This was no surprise for Davao, which was once declared as the Most Livable City in the Philippines by a popular Asian Magazine. For an almost low crime rate, business advantage should come in next.

Davao is a home to one of the world’s finest hotel, The Marco Polo Hotel. Its presence in the city proves that Davao is starting to gain reputation to turn the once quiet city to a busy metropolis full of lights, sounds and buzz. When you visit Davao, you will see hordes of restaurants of different origin, variety and influence, you will be floored by what they can offer. White sand beaches and mountain resorts are everywhere, all you need to do is find the best place that suits your taste.

Booming economy also means more gigantic structure and economic and urban development constructions can be found almost anywhere. Davao is indeed home to Mindanao’s busiest international airports “Davao International Airport”. The influx of foreign investors are widely known, with the presence of several call centers being the most visible.