Located along the highway in the Provincial Tourism Complex in Brgy. Datu Martin Marundan, Mati City, Davao Oriental, Subangan Museum shows off many aspects of the beautiful province. It is an interactive, state-of-the-art museum that highlights treasured relics, photos, videos, interactive visuals, documents, and textiles.
Subangan is derived from the Bisayan word, subang, which means “east.” But it could also mean “sunrise,” as the site of the first sunlight of the New Millennium happened in Pusan Point, which is part of the province.
Subangan’s main attraction is Davor, a 53-feet long and weighing 20 metric tons (live weight) sperm whale skeleton will greet you as you enter the door.
Davor’s name obviously came from the province name. It is the largest in the Philippines and the 7th largest in world exhibits. Davor had drifted along the shore San Isidro and Governor Generoso towns in 2010.
The rich culture and tradition of the city’s indigenous peoples Mandaya and Kaagan/Kalagan displayed in a section that will help you learn more about the province.
Information on tribes were presented through descriptions, photographs and a video documentation. The woven cloth “dagmay” is displayed along with the baskets that they also weave. Weapons of war and tools for everyday life are also shown. They also preserved different musical instruments of the indigenous people and played music along as its background while you are exploring the section.
The displayed model of Mt. Hamiguitan offers the beautiful fauna and flora.Mt. Hamiguitan is recognized as a place that has high land-based biological diversity and declared as our 5th UNESCO heritage site.
This part of this museum tour was very relaxing and enjoyable. The sound effects of waterfalls flows, the forest that can be touched, and even the glass-covered tadpoles and ants presentations will surely give you a similar experienceof walking in the forests of mountain ranges.
Highlight on the wall projection is the stunning Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, then the crystal clear water of Puting Bato Falls, Aliwagwag Falls of Cateel like a stairway to the sky, Dahican beaches, two Burias islets and caves are also presented.
Next stop to this section is the cave with complete landscapes of stalactites and stalagmites and even inhabitants of the caves.
Hundreds of photos were also displayed in a small square roomthat serves as a reminder of the Super Typhoon Pablo (international name: Bopha), which hit the province.
If you’re looking for something to drink or to buy some souvenirs, don’t go too far. Outside the museum are gardens, café and a souvenir shop.
Subangan Museum is open daily (Monday to Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance fee is P100 for foreign nationals, P50 for locals, P30 for residents, P20 for senior citizens and students outside Davao Oriental and P10 for students and children within Davao Oriental.
