Archive for the 'Attractions' Category

Year in year out, Davao City (or DC, as I fondly call it) proves worthy of being considered as a strong contender in the tourism arena. Why so? Apart from the urban destinations found in the city, you also get the wonders that only a tropical paradise can offer in ample proportions – the best of both worlds, as they say. And since not all urban centers succeed to retain their “au naturale” look at its best, believe me when I say Davao City is truly one of a kind.

So why don’t you give the ailing traveler in you the chance to roam the world and see places? This time around, you better be in one of Asia’s most livable city. But before that, here are some things you might want to know before gearing up and taking off. They might just eventually convince you to visit us in the soonest possible time.

1. Flight Schedules

First things first; let’s talk about how you can set foot on Davao soil via the skyline. The Davao International Airport caters to both domestic and international flights round the clock, seven days a week. This world class airport never misses the buzz when it comes to bringing tourists to town, welcoming them with a view of a young airport of the future nested in between the beautiful greenery the city is in abundance of.

For domestic flights, all airlines fly daily to-and-fro Manila and Cebu.

For international flights, Cebu Pacific flies from Hong Kong to Davao every Tuesdays and Saturdays. The return flight (Davao to Hong Kong) takes off on Mondays and Fridays. Cebu pacific also flies the Davao-Singapore route every Mondays and Fridays. The return flight (Davao –Singapore) leaves DC on Thursday and Sundays.

Singapore Airlines also flies the Davao- Singapore as well as the Singapore-Davao airways five times a week (except Tuesdays and Fridays).

Davao Traveler Tip #1: There are hotel shuttle services waiting in the airport ready to take you to your hotel of choice once you arrive. Ask the airport staff and they’ll gladly lead the way for you. Also, check out our Davao Hotels section for more information on Davao City accommodations.

2. Festivalandia

Like every region in the Philippines, Davao City is home to wonderful festivities. Not to mention the many festivals celebrated by communities all over the city, DC is known for two nationally acclaimed festivals – the Araw ng Dabaw Festival, and the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

The Araw ng Dabaw Festival is celebrated every 16th of March. This city-wide festivity is highlighted by a number of events including parades around the city streets by bands, dancers, and socio-civic institutions. However, this event’s spotlight would probably fall brightest on the Mutya ng Dabaw. The Mutya ng Dabaw showcases the beauty and intelligence of a true blue Dabawenya. This is one of the most anticipated event (if not the most anticipated) every Araw ng Dabaw.

During the second week of August, Davao City gears up for the country famous Kadayawan festival. What used to be a thanksgiving ritual for fertility among the citizens of Davao has now become a national attraction, and is slowly becoming a world class sensation by gaining endless plaudits from the traveling population.

Apart from the famous street dances and parades, as well as the Hiyas ng Kadayawan (another famous beauty pageant), the Kadayawan also highlights the indigenous tribes who serve as the foundation of what is now a modern metropolis. That is why the Kadayawan has this rustic feel to it. Witnessing it would mean witnessing the beautiful beginnings of Davao through the show of customs and traditions.

Davao Traveler Tip #2: These festivals include a week long stretch of various side events. So come in to town about a week before the day of the culminating event. Also, during these fests, touring packages are at their best while their prices are at a discounted rate.

3. The Booming Flower

As much as the land is fertile and provides us with abundant harvest all year round, DC has also established itself as one of the cities for the future. With BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) and ITes (Information Technology Enabled Services) companies sprouting at a near frenzied rate in the area, the local economy is steadily experiencing booms (sonic-booms, to be exact). Sooner or later, everybody would want to jump in and ride Davao’s bandwagon to success.

With projects showing up as time goes on, it won’t be long until this city will become a go-to-destination when it comes to high tech business. So if you’re looking for a place to invest at the same time enjoy, don’t ever hesitate – visit Davao soon!

Davao Traveler says: Davao City is not only a growing field of science and technology, it also is a consistent player in the global import-export arena.

4. Dial 9-1-1

We love cities that offer us a sense of safety and security really well. That one factor sets Davao City as one of the best among the rest.

The city offers a centralized system of paramedical, fire, police, and other auxiliary services that can be contacted by dialing three numbers (I don’t need to say that it’s 911, do I?). With high-tech equipment such as the ECAD (Emergency Computer Aided Dispatch), highly efficient and professional staff, and state-of-the-art tools for the trade (i.e. ambulances and fire trucks), you never have to worry about getting help in case of emergencies.

Davao Traveler says of 911 : Unlike other cities in the world with the 9-1-1 system, availing the Davao version actually doesn’t cost a thing.

5. House Rules

Like every home away from home, there are some things you might want to get adjusted to once you step foot on Davao soil. For instance, DC strictly follows an Anti-Smoking ordinance. When in the city, smoking is illegal in public transportation, enclosed establishments and public places. However, establishments offer a designated smoking area if you need to smoke.

During big celebrations, including the New Year’s Eve, DC citizens follow a strict code known as the Fire-Cracker Ban. This code prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, sale and use of pyrotechnic devices as well as other similar devices and explosives. Don’t fret though. The celebrations are never dull even without explosions all around. After all, this ordinance was made for everyone’s benefit. And while the locals deemed it a little bit “uncomfortable” during the early years of the code, everybody now understands what good it has done to everyone’s welfare.

But house rules aren’t all about creating a limitation – they’re about the welfare of the general populace as well. And so Davao, being one of the most livable cities in Asia, has a number of codes that provide the city’s general populace the needed protection. Humanitarian codes such as the Children’s Welfare Code and the Women’s Code, and business related ones such as the Investment Incentives Code make the area a favorable environment for interaction.

For more information, visit Davao City’s official website at www.davaocity.gov.ph.

That’s it for now as another Davao feature comes to a close. We hope this one serves as a good guide for all you would-be Davao Travelers out there. Be sure to tune in regularly for the latest buzz around the hive.

Stay fresh everyone!

~~~

Randolph Reserva sounds like a travel agent in this article. Maybe it’s because he loves the place so much to the point of knowing how to market it even without being a real travel agent.

Have you ever seen a Bonsai (pygmy) forest? Well, there were only a few places where it can be found. The province of Davao Oriental is lucky enough to have been blessed with such a captivating wonder of nature. As a matter of fact, Davao Oriental is home of the country’s largest pygmy forest – The Mt. Hamiguitan. Indeed, it is mother nature’s gift to the Filipino people! Not only that, Mt. Hamiguitan offers many wonderful sites and can truly give the best destination and satisfaction to the adventurers visiting the province of Davao Oriental.

Mt. Hamiguitan has a height of 1,620 meters with a total land area of 6,834 hectares. It is located in Sitio Tumalite, Brgy. La Union, San Isidro Davao Oriental. This majestic wonder proudly stands at 5,345 feet above sea level and looks like a huge vegetable garden in the middle of the jungle. Its vicinity holds one of the most diverse wildlife population in the Philippines, a sanctuary of rare and exotic birds, such as the famous Philippine Eeagle. It is also the home of impressive flora of 878 species, such as Nepenthes which are endemic to areas like Nepenthes Peltata. It is home to eleven endangered vertebrate species.

Bonsai Forest

Not only that, Hamiguitan also has the vast of 600 hectares old century Bonsai Forest. This vast field of about two to three feet tall, century–old trees covers almost 1,000 hectares of Kapatagan Valley. From afar, the Pitcher plants and ferns as well as mossy patches will dominate the view. Unsurprisingly, it was being recognized as a heritage site.

Tinagong Dagat

And, here is more: Have you heard of the mysterious Tinagong Dagat? If not yet, that proves that it is indeed mysterious. “Tinagong Dagat” roughly translates to “Hidden Sea” in the English Language. It is actually a lake lying deep into the uninhibited mountain. The lake is reported to have high-tide and low-tide schedules. Amazing, isn’t it?

Mountain Adventurers, Welcome

Mt. Hamiguitan is also a favorite campsite of local and foreign tourists, mountaineering or plain adventure-seeking people! It has also received a lot of media attention lately. Popular TV Shows like Rated K and Magandang Gabi Bayan have already featured the Mt. Hamiguitan. It had also been reported that medicinal plants have the potential to cure cancer were discovered in the mountain.

Experience the world of paradise being on the top of the Hamiguitan. From the peak of mountain one can see the breath-taking view of the Pujada Bay, Sleeping Dinosaur, Pacific Ocean and Davao Gulf.

Leaving Hamiguitan, you’ll feel awed with the beauty of the mountain that you can treasure forever.

It is Davao Orietal’s optimistic dream to include Mt. Hamiguitan in the World Heritage list.

Mount Hamiguitan in Magandang Gabi Bayan

Here is a 3-series short video snatched from YouTube featuring the Mount Hamiguitan in ABS-CBN’s Magandang Gabi Bayang program.

If you are adventure-seeker, this video might give you an idea on what to expect climbing the Mt Hamiguitan.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

~~~

This article is contributed by Cristine Faith Andan. Cristine hails from Mati City, Davao Oriental.

I guess I was lucky to have visited the Philippine Eagle Center some 19 years ago in 1990. Back then, we were high school students doing the usual field trip to the city. It appears to me that the Philippine Eagle Center was a favourite attraction for students doing field trips in Davao. It’s still true this time around as it was when we were in high school.

From what I can remember back then, the scientists at the Philippine Eagle Foundation were still experimenting with techniques for artificially reproducing an eagle from parent eagles in captivity. The daunting task results from the fact that a mature female eagle can only lay a single egg in a year. That is, if she’s lucky enough to have found a male eagle in the wild who is equally, madly in love with her. Having a hard time reproducing its kind coupled with the destruction of their natural habitat caused the Philippine Eagle to become endangered as a species. For someone with a curious brain of a child, that could lead to a lot research work in the library, especially during the time when Internet was as strange as the UFO.

Long story short… Finally in 1992, the first Philippine Eagle conceived by artificial method successfully saw light. The baby was named Pag-asa, a Filipino word for hope. The success of Pag-asa has inspired the scientists to perform a series of successful experiments along that line.

The Second Coming

I was finally back to the Philippine Eagle Center last December 2008. (You might say this article is a little late. Better late than never, as they say.) It’s funny how a lot of things have changed while a lot also remain the same.

The old wooden house (visitors’ lounge) where we had a video film of the Philippine Eagle was not there any longer.

The lonely crocodile is still lonely in his cage surrounded by seemingly centuries-old trees. I’m not sure if I am older than the croc, but I believe both of us cannot be trusted. Has grandma ever told you not to trust anyone above 30? I maybe in my early 30’s and the croc… I don’t know. But a croc is always a croc regardless of the age. You just don’t wait for grandma’s advice to not touch its sensitive skin.

There are monkeys, eagles from other countries plus a host of other Philippine Eagles raised in captivity… But, hey, don’t you think they should be freed in the wild? Hmmm… I guess, they are there for a reason other than just for you and me to view.

The Third Coming?

I really missed the place. I don’t know when I am going back again nor do I know what to expect in my Third Coming. But for those who haven’t been to the site yet, I would personally invite you to come and visit the place, which is located in Malagos, Calinan, Davao City.

Here some of the recent photos taken during my last trip to the Philippine Eagle Center:

~~

This article is written by Carlos Velasco. He is responsible for running this website and most of its contents. Carlos runs a web development company in Davao.