TheLoneRider.com Monday March 18, 2024 EDT 
a nomad in search of...
HOME PAGE About TheLoneRider Contact TheLoneRider Web TheLoneRider.com      
HOME PAGE
DESTINATIONS
Cambodia Canada France Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy Laos Malaysia Monaco Myanmar Nepal Philippines Singapore Switzerland Thailand Vietnam USA
ACTIVITIES
Astral Projection Caving Fitness Freediving Kayaking Meditation Mountain Biking Mountaineering Rafting Rock Climbing Scuba Diving Snowboarding Surfing Traveling Yoga
REVIEWS
Book Review Gear Review Hotel Review Movie Review Show Review Restaurant Review
MISC
Art Chilling Out Cool Sites Community Counter Culture Food Odyssey best food recipes Lucid Thoughts Peoplescape Politics Print Media Quantum Mechanics Random Lives Showbiz Snapshot Slice of Life Thought Bubble Teaching Verbatim Wealth Building
WEB SERVICES
SEO Services Web Design Services Advertising Here

Fab People

The Fabulous Dabawenyos Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016

The Fabulous Dabawenyos

GPS waypoint: 7°03'51.7"N 125°36'27.8"E
Location: Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines

Dabawenyos
The word 'Davao' conjures an animated mosaic of eclectic imagery - Duterte, durian, Philippine Eagle, mangosteen and Mount Apo to name the iconic ones. Allow me to add one more - Fabulous Dabawenyos!

Peoplescape

dabawenyos

LeyLey
It was timely to have Ley in Davao while I was here. We met in Davao back in Jan 2013 when she was still the tourism point-person for Davao. We have become friends in the ensuing years. Now, we embark on a life of travel. Here in Davao, she's often my breakfast guest and we would chill out for eats and durian. It's strange that we argue about things we agree about. Go figure!

Faye JaynoFaye
Looking for social interaction, I posted a shout-out to some members of the Couch Surfing community in Davao. Faye replied and we hooked up for dinner at Lachi's Sans Rival. Faye is not your typical Filipina. She is smart, has a strong personality and established. She doesn't need a man for security. That is plenty enough to scare-off the traditional Pinoy. We got along well, traded insights over dinner and she even drove me home in her Noah's Ark, my euphemism for a huge SUV. I like strong women. Strong women seem to like me too. Nearly all women I've gone out with are strong, fiercely independent and smart.

Blogs about Faye

  1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
  2. Off to Davao (Siquijor Break) Aug 12-19, 2023
  3. 2016: A Year in Review Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016

Dr. Ed LimDr. Ed
He overheard a conversation I was having with someone else, got curious, and joined our table. He asked probing questions about my story - no money, homeless, no property, no job, but happy and gets to travel around SE Asia. He invited me to dinner to 'pick my brains' and offered me a night in his hotel. Whoa! Dinner was with his friends where we shared stories and insight. Wonderful. The following day, there was commotion in his hotel. President Duterte showed up cordoned by tight security to see his doctor - who happened to be Dr. Ed! The good doctor would be joining me and my breakfast guests in the passing days. He's a grounded guy with a good heart.

Mel PanganMel
Mel is one of my clients who eventually became a friend - an increasingly recurring theme. What's unique about our friendship is that I get 'aha moments' when we talk. These are creative ideas that could make for good business. While I openly share ideas coming out of my 'aha moments' to friends, Mel is the only one who takes action on it. Consequently, a food tour came out of it and customized Anchor peanut butter. Now, my 'aha moment' consists of rebranding her resto - Bistro ni Tuding.

Joanna Lizares CoJoanna
Joanna and I share a few things in common - yoga, Jeanne Torrefranca, Cebu and critical thinking. I attend her yoga classes as she attends mine. She can be an iconoclast if she feels any outdated modality is confining her in a box. I see TheLoneRider in her - one who welcomes the company of people but not reliant on it. Our coffee conversation is always engaging.

May Bel LeMay Bel
My friendship with May Bel was a pleasant surprise. I was reintroduced to her by Juliet. Since then, I've attended her yoga classes, done work for the family business and been introduced to her husband Cliff and their kids. She's Wonder Woman, juggling yoga duties, business duties and Mom duties.

Juliet Pamintuan and Pinky CabreraPinky and Juliet
I adore Juliet and Pinky. They have showered me with kindness when they didn't have to - and I am profoundly grateful. But apart from that, they are good energy - the kind I'd rather have across a coffee table for quality one-on-one conversation with. But it didn't happen - it always defaulted to big-group talk. One day.

Davao Aunties and uncleDavao Aunties and Uncle
My 3 aunties and my uncle are my family in Davao. They have opened their doors and accommodated me if and when the wind takes me back to Davao. It's only late in life I got to bond with them. DNA family to me is abstract. They make it concrete.

UP MountaineersUP Mountaineers
My mountain climbing days are over but my beloved UP Mountaineers remain close to my heart. I haven't seen my mountaineering brethren for a long while now. Bunny (former president of UPM) and Joy, came to town and were hosted by fellow members (Ricky, Bryan and family) who are now based in Davao. It didn't even occur to me that there are UPM members here. It was a fun night of storytelling and durian. Great to know that UP Mountaineers members are based in Davao.

Leah Valle and Melissa Claire BarreraLeah and Melissa
At Davao's Cinematheque, I met this dynamic duo, Leah and Melissa, who infuse new blood and vigor to Cinematheque's languishing public exposure. They've graced my breakfast invite and what ensued was an engaging tete-a-tete about art, film making and Davao.

Doris Tagle-VillarealDoris
Doris attended my yoga class at Holiday Gym and we got into a long and animated conversation after. I learned she was a dentist and I asked if she could provide treatment for me. She said yes. Later on, I found out she was Davao's most sought-after dentist - the dentist of choice by Davao's movers and shakers. She's not cheap but if you have the money, you won't settle for anyone less - you get professional competence and dedicated full-9-yards of dental service. Being the budget backpacker, I was already thinking how many trips to the blood bank I take to afford her service. Can I still back out? ha-ha! Her detailed treatment came with explanation to deepen my understanding. It also came with a loot bag - toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrush. I wish I met her earlier. The price tag? Let's just say it was literally priceless. I will be thanking her in my own currency.

Plana Forma crewPlana Forma Yogis
When Joanna asked me to subb her class at Plana Forma, I met its yogic community. It was a pleasant curve ball I didn't expect. Apart from the studio yoga class, we also did a private class where they surprised me with birthday cake and a table lavished with regional specialties - a fun night I won't forget. Bonding with them was short and sweet. A fitting last hurrah before my departure.

Ending Thoughts
Davao, this time around, has been benevolent in nearly all respects. Again, I am vigilant to fortify old friendship and bridge new and promising ones. Some will be in passing and some will grow roots. I'm just grateful to stray within their orbits and connect. My social addage that the next magnificent life is just around the bend holds true - more so in Davao when every corner brings promise of good things to come.

--- TheLoneRider

upon my Davao arrival, Joanna was the first one to invite me for a coffee catch-up. It was good seeing her again. long time friend Ley and I shared travel tales. We would hang out often over breakfast, grilled tuna and durian meeting Couchsurfer Faye for the first time at Lachis the memorable dinner with Dr. Ed with his friends and Faye at Pinnacle Hotel
Joanna and the good doctor over breakfast...great way to start the day Dr. Ed joins me and Ley over breakfast dinner with May Bel. Her husband Cliff joined us later breakfast at Apo View with Uncle Boy. As a kid, he gave me P10 for my birthday...I never forgot that. It was a lot of money during that time
breakfast with Tita Lucy. I would crrash at her place when my hotel deals run out Mel invited me to join her friends at their weekly Friday Club with my beloved UP Mountaineers with Lara of Del Mar Painitan, sharing with her my breakfast idea gleaned during my travels
cheese and wine at Malagos Farm with the Holiday Gym yoginis - Joanna, Pinky, Juliet, Tess and Jeanett breakast with Melissa at Pinnacle Hotel breakast with Max at Alu Hotel surprise birthday celebration at Mimi's
Facebook Users
Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016

Google Map Davao City, Philippines

tourist attractions in Davao City tourist attractions hotels in Davao City - hotel van rental in Davao City van rental
  • Apollo Van Rental Apollo Van Rental - Davao City tour, Samal Island tour, airport transfer
    0925.500.3211 | suki_tac@yahoo.com
yoga in Davao City yoga | health | fitness food tour in Davao City tour food in Davao City resto | cafes in Davao City cafe autism in Davao City advocacy

Great Things Going for Davao City

  • one of the cleanest potable water in the country
  • smoking is banned from commercial establishments
  • pineapple samurais are endemic here and nowhere else in the country (pineapple vendors who cut-up whole pineapples into chunks with just a few strokes of their carving knives)
  • public utility drivers conspicuously display their IDs
  • durian Mecca of the Philippines (not to mention Marang, Mangosteen and Sweet Pomelo)
  • you want to add some more? please submit on the form below

Not So Great Things Going Against Davao City

  • the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight

Davao Related Articles

Davao City Travel Information
Currency Converter



»» next story: Scrubs and Hilot at Holiday Gym and Spa
»» next Fab People story: Jin in Davao
»» back to Fab People
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS



Davao Hotels

Hotels

Davao hotel
One Oasis Davao



Davao hotel
Alu Hotel Davao
Davao hotel
Urban Living Zen Hotel



Davao hotel
The Apo View Hotel
Davao hotel
The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites



Davao hotel
The Royal Mandaya Hotel
Davao City hotel
Bahay ni Tuding
Inn and Resto



Davao hotel
North Zen Basic Spaces

Health and Fitness

Davao hotel
Lounge One
Yoga Davao
Davao Yoga, gym, spa, salon
Holiday Gym & Spa
gym | spa | yoga
massage | salon
Alveo Herbal
Alveo Herbal
cleanse the body
boost immune system
Lucy Rivero
T 0917.660.9529
 

Food and Coffee

Davao Pampanga cooking
Bistro ni Tuding
Davao restaurant
Le Cafe Bar & Grill Restaurant
Mel's Davao Food Tour
Mel's Davao Food Tour
Davao hotel
FROG Kaffee
 

Advocacy

Van Rental

Davao Autism
Shine Life Skills Center
Davao hotel
Cinematheque Davao
Davao hotel
Apollo Van Rental
 









Subscribe

TheLoneRider