People’s Park
The old PTA Grounds, which was recently renovated and given a major makeover, is now known as “People’s Park.” The winner of the name-the-park contest is Romeo Sardon, 75, of Matina. He won the P50,000 prize money for having his entry chosen to be the park’s name from now on. Sardon is a retired electrician and seaman.
Personally, I wish a more non-generic name were chosen… For one, I thought that the contest’s criteria stated the name should be evocative of the essence of Davao. Oh well. Anyway, just like any public property, people tend to still call them by their old names.
The People’s Park features a mini rain forest, public areas for jogging and tai chi and the like. Capoeira, anyone? Accenting the surrounding are statues by Kublai Millan. Kublai is the Dabawenyo artist who created the Freedom statue in front of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building.
The park is also equipped with CCTV cameras. This is to keep the premises secure, and to prevent “illicit activities” inside the park, according to Mayor Duterte, who led the inauguration ceremony last 15 December 2007.
For the benefit of visitors to Davao, the newly reopened People’s Park is located in the heart of the downtown area, in front of Casa Leticia and at the back of Apo View Hotel. The streets alongside it are J. Camus and J. Palma Gil.
Congratulations to the city government for a fine addition to Davao City’s tourism attractions and public recreation areas! The park certainly is something Dabawenyos can be proud of.
and shut it- you live in a nice area.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
The old man who suggested the name mistakenly spelled “Pipoy’s Park” on his entry as “People’s Park” and he won instead.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:20 am
The new name of the park doesn’t evoke the Davao spirit at all. It’s a big let-down. Of course we should be happy for the old man who won. The issue is with the judges — why did they disregard the guidelines for choosing the new name?
December 29th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
[...] and I are looking forward to visit People’s Park instead. We also intend on going to that Damosa carnival before January 5. I am not sure though if [...]
January 6th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
??? i visited this park last December and I was quite disappointed by the site. what mini forest? i can count the number of trees with the digits in my hand! also, about 30-40% of the park was cemented over that it looked like a parking space with some trees and benches. granted the Kublai dude is a well-respected artist, but does it have to be that many statues? those massive creations looked painted over and quite artificial. the only thing i like about the park are those four (?) brass posts depicting the story of davao. i thought that was very nice. everything else looked ordinary. and the statues looked a bit creepy…
February 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am
HI, Sally what have you done for Davao anyway? Where are you when this Place is still so muddy and the place is like the sanctuary of snatchers & Hookers……
February 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
relax, hanoi. everyone’s entitled to their own opinions. and sally only stated hers.
anyways, many thanks to the davao government for giving us all such a wonderful park.