Life At Roxas Avenue

What’s special about the city of Davao is that it never fails to offer us a special mix of the south’s cultural identity and some new age savvy. It truly is a melting pot of diverse cultures, enriched by the constant convergence of tourists from all parts of the globe; while at the same time keeping its Mindanao character intact. Such richness in culture is very evident in the city’s streets, not only during big festivals like the Araw ng Davao or the Kadayawan. On a day to day basis, this image of an exquisite city is reflected no far better than the city’s streets itself.

So fuel your imagination up and join us today as we walk you through one of Davao’s fastest growing streets, the Roxas Avenue.

M. Roxas Avenue

Named after the 5th president of the Philippines, the Manuel Roxas Avenue stretches for about a kilometer right through metro Davao. Since the construction of the famous Marco Polo Hotel of Davao on one of its ends, the street has seen nothing but continuous development. After all, with the constant movement of people in and around the street (the street actually serves as a vital converging point for public transportation routes, while two prominent schools are in the area), it’s inevitable for the street to become a commercial domain. We say, this promising street should turn word class in the near future, and we just can’t wait.

Aldevinco Shopping Center

Before the big shopping malls of Davao, there was the Aldevinco Shopping Center. Located on the corner of C.M. Recto and Roxas streets, this shopping establishment offers true Mindanawon taste. This place is well-known for its boutiques that sell indigenous souvenir items on a wide variety – from clothes to shawls and jewelries, even special souvenirs such as tribal swords. This is where you go if you want to bring something with a touch of Mindanao back home. And don’t worry, if it happens that you’re short of Philippine pesos because you had a very good time shopping, you can exchange your foreign currencies at the Money Changers (forex) found in here as well. They offer good exchange rates too!

Chippens Restaurant

Need a place to go to satisfy your appetite? Roxas Avenue will never disappoint. A few meters walk from the Marco Polo Hotel should bring you to Paseo de Roxas Arcade, where the Chippens Restaurant is. Chippens is known for its buffet that offers a very wide variety of dishes – from appetizers to main courses, to mouth-watering desserts. How much, you ask? At an affordable price of PhP 286 per person, you can indulge yourself for as much as you can.

You can find Chippens at the Paseo de Roxas Arcarde, Roxas Avenue. Tel. Nos. (082) 225-4498, 225-8264

C5 Dormitel

The first luxury dormitory in Davao as they call it, the C5 Dormitel looks nothing short of posh from whatever angle you look at it. And if you thought that its rates would be too posh to handle as well, you’re just deceived by its looks. Daily transient rates can be as cheap as PhP 650 for a single deluxe room and PhP 1,100 for a double deluxe room. Suite rooms are available starting at PhP 1,300, with complete amenities including cable TV and hot and cold shower.

Apart from this, they also offer affordable monthly rates. You can get a room for as low PhP 9,000. Tourists who are planning to stay long in the city should consider staying in this Dormitel. They don’t only offer good rates when it comes to room accommodations; the whole establishment has everything a tourist should ever need. A business center, beauty salon, boutique shop, coffee shop, laundry shop, and travel agency among many others can be found in the whole compound.

Too bad, they don’t get a lot of travel publicity?

At Davao Traveler, it doesn’t escape our attention. If it’s good to feature, we’ll be there to do it. FREE of charge… FREE as in like the air you breath. How about that?

To inquire about C5, contact them at these Business Number: (082)-228-6186

Chicco de Café

We all love cozy coffee shops don’t we? Roxas Avenue isn’t short of that either. Two blocks from the Marco Polo Hotel, you can find Chicco de Café, Davao’s newest coffee sensation. With owners who studied the art of coffee making from overseas, this café surely captures the taste a traveler would love to savor. In fact, the name “Chicco” (Kiko as pronounced) is the Italian word for “coffee bean”. And you probably guessed it right when you thought that this coffee shop imports coffee beans from none other than Italy itself!

Fancy isn’t it? It doesn’t stop there. This café was designed to reflect the coziness of an American home. Aside from that, you can also surf the Net with the Wi-Fi in the place while you revel in your cup of coffee.

Chicco de Café is open from 8:00 am – 12:00 am from Mondays thru Thursdays, and 8:00 am – 2:00 from Fridays to Saturdays.

Address: Corner Roxas Avenue and Padre Faura Streets, Davao City.

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So there you go! That’s Roxas Avenue for you folks. We hope you got a lot of info from our tour. Of course, there’s no better substitute for knowing the place than feeling it yourself. So, whenever you’re in Davao, be sure to visit this avenue. There’s just so much to discover that we’re sure you’ll have a fun time walking the entire length of this avenue.

Anyway, see you next time for another travel tour in another street, all in the same city. Enjoy your stay in Davao!

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“Life At Roxas Avenue” is another piece written by Randolph Reserva.