Ang Dabawenyo

The old PTA Park, as everyone in Davao should’ve noticed by now, has undergone a major renovation, and is due to be completed in December this year. It’s so named because of its having been the grounds used by the Parents and Teachers Association of Kapitan Tomas Monteverde High School way back when. If I’m not mistaken, the Association office had such a huge “PTA” sign, and so people started calling the place that way.

Right smack in the heart of downtown Davao, the new park, as before, will offer residents and visitors a place to unwind, relax and take in the city’s sights and sounds. The nearly 4-hectare park is nestled in the center of 3 hotels (The Apo View, Casa Leticia and Royal Mandaya Hotel) and numerous restaurants. Once finished, I imagine it’s going to be the perfect place for a quick break during weekdays, and for longer, leisurely strolls during weekends. Read more »

Not that I’m naïve, but it was a shock when I saw what results come out on Google when you do an image search for “Filipina”. I’ve been encouraging my friends to join Janette Toral’s “Filipina” Writing Project, and one of them showed me the current Google image search results. To put it very lightly, I was utterly dismayed. I don’t even want to describe it here, for fear of adding to the already negative connotation of the keyword.

The “Filipina” Writing Project aims to debunk the current search results associated with the keyword “Filipina” coming out of major Internet search engines. By generating more positive content related to this keyword, and via the pervasive effects of good SEO techniques, the Project hopes to spread an improved — and true — image of the Filipino woman. Read more »

While that overnight stay at Hof Gorei last weekend provided a welcome respite for me, the succeeding few days brought some of the stress back right away. Deadlines and hours in front of the computer left my back and neck screaming for release. So off to BodyBliss.

I could’ve gone to my usual and reliable massage clinic, but I thought I’d try this new place for a change. Thankfully, no regrets. BodyBliss — highly recommendable if you’d rather not spend too much on a good massage. No sauna or even showers at this place, though, but the treatment you get is satisfactory. Read more »

Do you go for no-frills dining but expect gastronomic treats? Try Fwendz Diner and see just how much you’ll enjoy their food. It’s at the new arcade, Metro Avenue, at the back of the Gaisano Mall of Davao.

Fwendz Diner is a simple enough place, no nonsense and unapologetically inexpensive. Imagine: baby back ribs for Php99! In my honest opinion, they could be selling it for twice that. It’s really good. What about a meal with two pieces of crispy chicken wings, rice and gravy for less than 30 bucks? No kidding. Read more »

Samal island is not part of Davao City, but is most accessible from here. It’s actually a chartered city now, and is officially called the Island Garden City of Samal. The past few years have seen a steady increase in the number of beach resorts on the island, the newest of which is Hof Gorei Beach Resort. The name is pronounced hoff go-rye; “hof” is German for “farm”. The resort is owned by an Austrian couple, Mr. & Mrs. Kröll, but run by the Filipino-turned-Austrian wife, Madame April.

Photos courtesy of Alex D.

Travel agent par excellence Alex, BisayaBloggers.com aggregator site’s Ayeza and I went to Hof Gorei last Sunday (26 August). We were supposed to stay only for the day for a quick look-see, but the very gracious Mme. April had different ideas for us. Good thing we let her convince us to stay overnight. And good thing Monday was a holiday! Read more »

Good news to coffee lovers who frequently find themselves in the area of Claveria: another café has opened in Davao City, near Aldevinco. It’s called Coffee SPOT, and it’s located in the newly-built EC Business Center on C.M. Recto St., just before Imperial Hotel and The Marco Polo.
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It is not uncommon to hear about Americans, Europeans or Asians falling in love with Davao and settling down here for good. Davao City has that special appeal even to other Filipinos who hail from other cities. And from time to time, you chance upon a gold nugget in the haul. What’s not very common — but always an inspiration to find — is a foreigner who not only assimilates himself into Davao society, but contributes to its growth as well.

I can name a few: Claude le Neindre, a Frenchman who has gifted Davao with exquisite French cuisine. Watch out for my feature on his French bistro, Claude’s Le Café de Ville. Another worthy mentionable is Bob Martin of Mindanao.com and LiveInThePhilippines.com, among other things. He has singlehandedly done so much to improve the image of Davao and Mindanao in the eyes of fellow Americans and other foreign nationals. Read more »

The Kadayawan’s Floral Float Parade is a traditional pageant of orchids and other flowers, thousands of which are formed into whatever shapes that their creators fancy. Mainstays are representations of the Philippine Eagle and Mt. Apo. The flower of choice is the orchid, of course, but since Davao is blessed with an abundance of floral varieties, many floats make use of as many as they can.

The precursor of Kadayawan sa Dabaw, the erstwhile Apo Duwaling Festival, celebrated Mt. Apo, the Durian and the Waling-Waling orchid. Even during that older festival, Dabawenyos have paraded floral floats as a way of showing pride in Davao’s bounty.

Thanks again to Christian Te, here are photos of this year’s Floral Float Parade, which took place yesterday. This event marks the culmination of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival.

No self-respecting Davao publication will ever go far without carrying anything about the King of Tropical Fruits — the Durian. So, here’s my own personal experience of this prized delicacy of the Philippine South.

For more than half my life, I actually never touched the stuff. I guess it was because my mother hadn’t started eating durian until she was pregnant with my younger brother (na pinaglihi naman sa durian!). So during my formative years, Mom must’ve passed on to me her Manileño’s aversion to the fruit. Read more »