Davao
Davao
City, the capital of the Southern Mindanao Region,
is one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land
area, spanning 244,000 hectares. In recent years, the sprawling urban metropolis has emerged
as the business, investment and tourism hub for southern Philippines,
winning the hearts and minds of its visitors through its people’s
gentle smiles and its diverse cultural and natural riches.
The gateway to the East ASEAN region, Davao City is a melting
pot of diverse migrant and indigenous communities, resulting
in a unique charm and culture that is woven into a rich tapestry
of ethnic and contemporary styles.
Davao City’s slogan, “From Islands to Highlands”
perfectly captures its wealth of attractions. The city boasts
some of the finest beach and mountain resorts in the country,
and close proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating
diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mt Apo.
An ideal tourist destination, Davao has it all - cultural
interludes, beautiful beaches, fascinating dive spots, and
myriad opportunities to commune with nature at its finest.
Top 10 Things to See
and Do in Davao City [Click
here for more details]
Attractions in Davao
Philippine Eagle Nature Center
ThePhilippine Eagle Nature Centre in Calinan treats visitors
to a rare glimpse of one of the world’s most endangered
bird species, the Philippine Eagle or Pithecophaga Jefferyi.
Now close to extinction, the Philippine Eagle’s last
remaining natural abode is in the Mt Apo range.The Philippine eagle stands a metre tall and has a wingspan
of two metres, making it the second largest eagle in the world.
Distinguishing characteristics include bluish eyes, a warlike
headdress of spiky feathers, and a large, sharp, curved beak.The centre, which breeds and cares for this valuable national
icon, is home to more than 30 Philippine Eagles, including
Pag-Asa, the world’s first Philippine Eagle born in
captivity by artificial insemination.
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]Culture and Heritage
Davao City may now be a sprawling metropolis but its roots
are steeped in Mindanao culture. The city was originally inhabited
by eight tribes, including the Bagobos, Mandayas, Manobos
and T’bolis. The cultural inheritance of Davao City
is showcased at the Davao Museum at Insular Village. Here
can be seen costumes, accessories and implements of the different
tribes of Davao.The tribes of Davao have elevated their weaving to an art
form, with each tribe having distinct patterns and techniques.
The T’boli weaving centre at the Waterfront Insular
Hotel Davao features the production of the colourful Tinalak
fabric, while the Dagmay weaving technique of the Mandaya
tribe takes centrestage at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort.The Aldevinco Shopping Center in downtown Davao houses several
shops selling the arts, crafts and fashions of southern Philippines.
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Fruits
Mindanao is the food of the Philippines; Davao, its fresh
fruit platter. Davao City’s many farms are major exporters
of bananas, pineapples, mangosteens, durians, and pomelos,
among others. These fruits are abundant in the markets and
stalls lining the city’s streets at a fraction of their
price elsewhere in the country.
The Davao Durian has several varieties, most popular ones
being the Arancillo and the Puyat, and is known to be stronger
and a tad more bitter than its Malaysian counterpart. So plentiful
is this exotic “King of Fruits” in Davao City
that it has penetrated the market for everything from ice
cream and candy bars to jams and coffee.
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The Malagos Garden Resort
This 12-hectare resort in the Davao City highlands offers
more than just accommodation. The Malagos Garden Resort is
dedicated to the protection and conservation of the environment,
and this commitment shines through in its various attractions
and activities.
Permanent fixtures include a butterfly sanctuary, horseback-riding
trails, orchid farm, petting zoo, and works of Philippine
national artist for sculpture Napoleon Abueva. An accredited
wildlife farm, the resort also has the world’s only
waling waling forest, the latter being the Philippines’
most important orchid species. Malagos Garden Resort holds
various interactive wildlife shows every weekend.
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Eden Nature Park & Resort
At
2,500 feet above sea level, this mountain resort has some
of the best views of Davao City and the Davao Gulf. Nestled
in the city’s lone pine forest, the 40-hectare Eden
Nature Park & Resort is perched on the slopes of Mt Talomo.
Touted as Davao City’s natural paradise, the resort
has hiking trails of varying difficulty, a horse park, a multi-purpose
sports field, a fishing village, flower gardens, greenhouses,
vegetable and garden herb terraces, and fruit orchards.
Faint lights twinkle at the firefly sanctuary, birds sing
in the aviaries, while deer dart about in a designated area.
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Island Garden City of Samal
Some
700 metres south of Davao City is the Island Garden City of
Samal, an archipelago of nine islands in the Davao Gulf. Pride
of the place on Samal island belongs to the Pearl Farm Beach
Resort, a 45-minute boat ride from Davao City. The 14-hectare
resort was once, as its name suggests, a pearl farm where
thousands of white-lipped oysters transported from the Sulu
Sea were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls.
Now transformed into a luxury resort, Pearl Farm remains luminescent
with its promise of privacy, elegance and comfort.
The attractions of the Island Garden City of Samal extend
beyond white sand beaches and posh resorts. Samal’s
underwater vistas have made it one of the country’s
top destinations for diving. Dive sites in the area include
the Coral Garden & Marine Park, Ligid Island, and Talicud
Island. Samal Island’s many caves allow for spelunking,
while its inland rugged terrain make hiking and mountain-bike
expeditions popular options.
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Mount Apo
The
Philippines’ highest peak at 2,594 metres, the majestic
Mt Apo is a favourite of hiking and adventure travel enthusiasts.
While the ultimate reward is the breathtaking view from atop
Mt Apo, the journey itself serves up its own share of wonders
such as hidden waterfalls, 
rapids,
lakes, hot springs, sulphur pillars, and endangered plant
and animal species, including the Philippine Eagle and the
waling waling orchid known scientifically as the Vanda Sanderiana.
The trek to the summit of the extinct volcano takes around
four days. The most established trail is the Kidapawan trail,
approximately four hours by land from Davao City.
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Childhood memories….
gimingaw ko sa Davao…
thanks Shawty for the pictures
1) Our old house in Gen. Luna
2) Araw ng Davao Parade
3) Tokwat Baboy at Dencias
4) Watching Mutya ng Dabaw at PTA Ground
5) Pan de sal at Diaz Bakery
6) My batchmates in high school
7) Ukay ukay
Smell of durian ( kahit di ako kumakain)
9) Pan de coco at Spanish bread ng Doughboy10) the smell of pastry wherever you pass by at Peter Pan at Ilustre
11) Traffic at Claveria and San pedro
12) The fried chicken at Sunburst (meron pa ba?)
13) Tilaok ng manok
14) oink oink ng mga baboy
15) Mamalengke sa Bangkerohan
16) Riding tricycle
17) those fast jeepney drivers
18) Molave chicken (sayang, they closed)19) Pancit mami ng HE Canteen
20) Yung mga ibon lumilipad sa Acacia St.
21) Bumb cars sa Games and Garments Arcade
22) My highschool JS proms at Central Bank
23) Watching concerts at Central Bank
24) Luz Kinilaw
25) Colasas
26) walking from Gen. Luna to Victoria Plaza
27) Dover Lanes and Fairlanes
28) The almost empty Sunday streets
29) Pancit Canton sa Kusina Dabaw (malinis pa rin ba?)
30) Military Presence everywhere
31) Pomelo, suha, buongon basin unsay tawag lami ni32) Pag me strike sarap tambay lang
33) The ancient acacia trees along Claveria and Magsaysay Streets.
34) The old houses
35) The Monkey eating eagle
36) Davao Airport
37) The you know what at Mantex
38) Flowers
39) Sasa Pier/Wharf40) Sunday morning rain
41) Dinabaw (I can understand but I cannot speak it! Okaybudi ha-in ka panaw panaw!)
42) Ceciles pancit lug lug, durian pie and chicken sandwich
43) Davao Memorial Park
44) Brown outs and Black outs
45) people watching at Foodcourt ng Gaisano Ilustre
46) Pancit Guisado ng Huckelberry
47) Crest, Lyric, Golden Garmon and Galaxy Theaters (remember?)
48) Diosdados
49) Lord Anthony for Girl Scout and CAT paraphernalia
50) TAPS! tapsilog, tosilog, adosilog, bangsilog etc
51) GT Waffles
52) Jelly Roll and Chiffon cakes ng Merco
53) Galaxy Arcade during the ’80s.
54) Saturday afternoons at the Galaxy Arcade during the ’70s
55) Dancing at Acropolis
56) Rizal Park
57) 10:00 am Sunday mass at the old Redemptorist church58) The Caroland Resort
59) Halo halo at Mercorner
60) GAP big sign “LAND OF PROMISE”
61) A and M Department Store
62) Mangoes, Santol, Lanzones, Mangosteen
63) Indiana Jones Rides at Eden Park
64) “Doubled With” (we had two movies at the price of one before!)65) “Tripled With” (sometimes)
66) One Down Disco better know as SPAMS
67) Times beach (when it was still clean)
68) Mardoneys
69) Goldie’s
70) Christmas High school reunions in the 90’s.
71) Villa Victoria Beach Resort
72) “iro… iring” remember her sa San Pedro Church?
73) Three Sisters
74) Kadayawan
75) The beach is only ten minutes away.
76) Kundoktors ng jeep at bus
77) The way our “elders” speak Dinabaw.
78) Auntie Ludy
79) Uncle Berting and his crazy one liners
80)Taho81) Yung kalesa na tanim sa Insular Hotel
82) Mga fiesta ng mga baranggay83) watching street basketball games
84) 3 for 10 pesos hamburgers at Knight Rider
85) Magsaysay Park
86) Mang Tura
87) Window shopping at San Pedro streets
88) Fun rides at Magallanes Street
89) hearing the siren is like a normal thing at night
90) Mga Batik sa Aldevinco
91) Lechon at Chavez St
92) Hearing “Balutttttttt……..Penoy…..”
93) Getting lost at Gaisano Center
94) Native delicacies at Jaltan’s
95) Sinigang na baboy at Harana
96) Minica’s
97) Trisikad (wheeler)
98) Children christmas carollers singing ” Kuripot kining balaya..”
99) Fruitstand at Ponciano St.
100)…. tanan kay gimingaw lang gyuds kog Davao