by Jims Vincent Capuno
From “killing fields” to “one of the most livable cities in Asia” (both sobriquets were bestowed by the defunct Asiaweek, and other international magazines. Indeed, Davao City has gone a long, long way. Today, the city is one of the country’s top tourist and investment destinations.
There is no doubt about it: Davao has an edge over other cities in Mindanao or the Visayas and Luzon. The awards the city received through the years are mute testimony to that: most competitive metro city, the best police office, destination of the year, the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines (highly urbanized category), and the most peaceful city in East and Southeast Asia. Recently, the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine named Davao as the 10th “Asian City of the Future.”
“Davao is probably the least exposed of the country’s urban areas,” observed an American tourist who came to the country to marry his girlfriend. “It’s a great holiday hideaway, what with its lush greenery and exotic wild flora and fauna that contribute to its picturesqueness.”
Because this tropical paradise possesses more of everything there is in a country – from enchanting scenery to natural resources – Davao is often considered “instant Philippines.” As the Davao City website puts it: “The air is fresh. The city is clean and green. There is real abundance of the freshest harvests from the land and sea. To top it all, the quality of potable water is among the best in the world.”
Davao is touted to be “The Royal City,” because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. Consider this formidable list: Waling-Waling (the queen of Philippine orchids), Durian (the king of exotic fruits), Mount Apo (the king of all Philippine mountains), and the Philippine Eagle (the king of the Philippine skies). The city is a king in itself in terms of land area (244,000 hectares, approximately 7.8 times the size of Cebu City and three times that of the entire Metro Manila).
If you visit Davao, what can you see? From the past, there’s the Battle Memorial, a historical marker of the longest-fought battle between the troops of the American and Filipino forces and of the Japanese Imperial Army which took place in Mintal, Tugbok.
In Calinan, there is a museum that features historical accounts of the Japanese community residing in Davao before and during the war. You will see various artifacts, including tools which they used in the abaca plantations, currencies, and publications.
Along San Pedro Street, you can visit Camp Domingo Leonor, which used to be the headquarters of the Spanish, and later American soldiers in the 1920s. At the junction of Washington Street and Quimpo Boulevard, you can have a glimpse of the site where used to stand the bastion of the Muslim hero, Datu Bago, who lorded over the Tagloc River (the old name of Davao River). At Talomo Beach, you will see the remains of sunken Japanese warships during the Second World War some 200 meters from the shore.
For those who are interested in anything related to Catholic religion, they could first go to the San Pedro Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Mindanao. Its original structure was built in 1847 in honor of St. Peter, the city’s patron saint. The old altar is preserved at the right wing of the cathedral.
At Shrine Hill in Matina, there’s the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague, a local mecca of the city’s Roman Catholic devotees. In Buhangin district, you may say your prayers at the Saint Mary of Perpetual Rosary. This is a shrine built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary which features a series of steps which lead to the main chapel.
If you’re environment conscious, visit the Philippine Eagle Center located in Malagos, a 45-minute drive from the city center. Aside from being a temporary home for the country’s national bird, it also hosts some other exotic animals native to Davao’s forests.
Not far from the eagle center is the Malagos Garden Resort which hosts a rich collection of rare indigenous Philippine flora and wide assortment of orchids. Several species of butterflies also thrive in its enclosed sanctuary. Within its area, a bird park has been built to shelter rescued and rehabilitated birds.
Another must-see is the Eden Nature Park, a popular mountain resort. It is situated 3,000 feet above sea level, giving it a cool and moderate climate. It is 95% man-made with pine trees dotting the landscape. It covers 40 hectares of developed land.
If crocodiles are your thing, visit Crocodile Park in Ma-a diversion road (about 20 minutes from the heart of the city). “The park is an establishment that showcases a state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines,” says owner Philip ‘Sonny’ Dizon. “It has the most recent crocodile farm design equipped with modern facilities and equipment.”
Actually, the park is more than just a crocodile farm (it has about 700 of them!); it also houses other kinds of animals like wild cats, python, marine turtles, monitor lizard, Philippine deer, monkeys, and various kinds of birds (including ostrich and eagles).
In the heart of the city, the People’s Park is fast becoming a must-see place by out-of-towners. Opened in 2007, the P72-million park features many delightful treats for its visitors to discover, including a waterfalls in the center of the city, strategically located benches for tired feet, a small but fun playground, a sunken flower garden (once a swimming pool), a growing mini-forest, functional cottages and here-and-there stunning sculptures created by the one and only Kublai Milan (the Dabawenyo artist who created the Freedom statue in front of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building).
Davao also has a number of beaches to offer. Times Beach, two kilometers from the city center, bustles with picnickers on weekends and holidays. Historic Talomo Beach is best remembered as the landing site of Japanese invaders and subsequent liberating American forces during World War II.
Across the channel of Davao Gulf, due east from the mainland is the island of Samal, relatively unspoiled and ringed with secluded coves and white sand beaches. Five minutes away via pumpboat from barangay Vicente Hizon is the world-class Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark. Already popular as the site for extreme activities like water slides, wakeboarding, and ziplines, it offers guests a very tranquil, relaxing, and enjoyable stay.
For first class accommodation, try the Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Nestled within a secluded cove some 45 minutes by motor launch off the coast of the mainland, it is one of the country’s most up market beach resorts. “This exquisite place in Davao Philippines is what you call paradise on earth,” hailed Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, the assiduous top honcho of the Department of Tourism.
Davao comes alive with the celebration of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw every third week of August, coinciding with the harvest season for fruits, flowers, and agricultural produce. Major thoroughfares are converted into open air dancing areas for the colorful Indak-indak sa Kadalanan (street dancingsessions), a spectacle of performers in ethnic-inspired garments dancing to the beat of tribal music, and culminating in a Floral Float Parade, which features flora and agricultural bounties.
A trip to Davao is not complete if you do not experience the city at night. Latest records at the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center show the city now has more than 50 entertainment establishments, including those in shopping malls and hotels in the city.
Davao dining offers a variety of culinary delights that will excite even the most discriminating gourmet. “The freshness of ingredients harvested from the sea and the farms provides a fulfilling taste that is distinctly Davao,” said its website. After all, the city is known for its inihaw (grilled tuna) and kinilaw (local version of sashimi using tuna or blue marlin strips).
Madayaw!
