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Dec 15-22, 2012
Davao City: Family Ties
Searching for a Hotel
After spending nearly 3 weeks in GenSan, I took the 2-hour bus trip northeast to the bigger and more progressive Davao City. This is my 3rd time in Davao. I had no expectation what awaited me here this time. It was nearly dark when I arrived. First thing to do was strike a hotel deal. I went around Ecoland with all my heavy gear, trying to talk to hotel managers, hotel owners, but none of the decision makers were there. If I found a shanty lodging for P200, I would have grabbed it - but Davao is a big place and I didn't know where to start. I texted an aunt who gladly offered me her place. I was saved by the bell. I ended up staying with them my entire 7 day stay in Davao.
Staying with Family
My Mom hails from this place although I didn't grow up here. I have a lot of relatives most of whom are unfamiliar to me. Now, I would be reacquainted with them all over again. I find it heartwarming thay they opened their doors in welcoming me the way they did. Except for the bloodline, I'm practically a complete stranger to most of them. But they shared their food, their roof and themselves - a valuable lesson I learned given my sand-shifting paradigm on family. I'm grateful and humbled.
 Davao City, Philippines
 tourist attractions
 - hotel
 Bahay ni Tuding - central Poblacion location, wifi, hands-on owner
160 San Pedro Street, 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | 7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites - central location, new management, newly renovated
Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City 8000, Philippines
(+63) 932-8708621 | 906-3185885 | 7°04'34.2"N 125°36'54.2"E The Apo View Hotel - Davao's iconic hotel, old world charm, casino
150 J. Camus Street, Davao City Philippines 8000
+63 (82) 221-6430 to 40 | 7°04'09.2"N 125°36'27.4"E North Zen Basic Spaces - great rooms at affordable prices
Sobrecarey St. (corner Lapu-Lapu St.), Davao City, 8000
(082) 295.3997 | 7°04'43.0"N 125°37'04.3"E Urban Living Zen Hotel - newly opened - all NEW!
F.s. Dizon Bacaca, 8000 Davao City
(082) 287 3133 | 7°05'28.4"N 125°36'22.3"E The Royal Mandaya Hotel - heart of downtown Davao City
J. Palma Gil Street, Davao City, 8000
(+63 82) 225.8888 | 7°04'09.4"N 125°36'36.8"E Alu Hotel Davao - central downtown location
M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Davao
+63 82 227 5232 | 7°04'07.7"N 125°36'51.7"E One Oasis Davao - hotel accommodation in a condo unit
Eco-west Drive, Ecoland, Davao City
suki_tac@yahoo.com | 0925.500.3211 | 7°02'49.2"N 125°35'19.1"E
 van rental
 Apollo Van Rental - Davao City tour, Samal Island tour, airport transfer
0925.500.3211 | suki_tac@yahoo.com
 yoga | health | fitness
 tour
 resto |  cafe
 advocacy
- 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
- the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight
Pounding the Pavement
I tried to groom Davao for my internet-based social enterprise. But being so close to the holidays, attention wasn't too high for business owners to embark on anything new. Also, I got a sense Davao is still into doing things the traditional way - internet seems confined to emails and Facebook only. An online marketing campaign using search-engine-optimization? Unlikely. But this is only observation from a handful of people I've talked to.
Durian
Being in Davao means drowning in Durian - first and foremost. I had my fill in GenSan, but a durian lover can't have too much Durian - not for me anyway. I went into my nightly durian indulgence from guys pushing carts. The price was relatively the same as GenSan - P40/kilo for Arancillo and P50/kilo for a Puyat. However, when I went to durian's ground-zero in Davao, namely along Magsaysay Blvd, they were selling durian at P60! I refused to buy.
Pineapple Samurai
I've only seen this done in Davao - nowhere else in the country could a pineapple vendor surgically pierce and cut through on a whole pineapple fruit, and from the still-intact pineapple skin, roll away pineapple chunks - ready to serve and eat. Showmanship aside, I think pineapples are the best fruits around for overall regularity. At P15/fruit, it's the best value around. I would include pineapples in my daily fruit routine, together with durian.
Davao People are Honest
I had two episodes hinting that people from Davao are honest. Honesty is a scarce commodity in any city, specially if they know you're an outsider they'll never see again. Normally, they just take advantage of you. When I asked a pineapple vendor to give me a Dole pineapple (Dole is always sweet, but it's never labeled on pushcarts), he said he didn't have it and instead, pointed me to another vendor who does. Usually, specially in Manila, if they didn't have the Dole, they'll give me any pineapple they have and say it's a Dole - just to make a sale. Also, when I was buying pomelo (which sold by the kilo), I asked the vendor to give me the sweetest one he's got. Instead of giving me the biggest one (which sells for more money), he actually gave me the smallest and guaranteed me it was the sweetest. Indeed, it was very sweet. Kudos to the honest people of Davao!
The Malling of Davao
Given Davao's size and population, malls are everywhere - Abreeza (an Ayala Mall), SM (one in Ecoland and one in Lanang), Gaisano, KCC, Robinson's, etc. There's a lot of movie houses to choose from - which is how I kill time, given also that movies are cheaper outside Manila. I even offered an ex-deal to a mall marketing manager - good looks on the internet in exchange for 100 movie passes. They gave me the weird look, "What would you do with 100 movie passes?". Think about it. They won't pay me in cash, not in any tangible product or service! Whether I get the tickets or not, they'll have to show the movie anyway. So, essentially, they'll be getting my unique service from thin air! An offer no one can refuse. But still, it was a Manila decision. Nothing (yet) came out of it.
Off to Tagum
With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, my hosts invited me to stay longer and join them for the holidays. That was kind of them. But I was already restless. Next destination - Tagum!
--- TheLoneRider
- from Gen San Bulaong, there's a bus every 30 minutes to Davao City, 3 1/2 hours, P254, aircon
Davao City, Philippines
tourist attractions
- hotel
- Bahay ni Tuding - central Poblacion location, wifi, hands-on owner
160 San Pedro Street, 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | 7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E
- The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites - central location, new management, newly renovated
Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City 8000, Philippines
(+63) 932-8708621 | 906-3185885 | 7°04'34.2"N 125°36'54.2"E
- The Apo View Hotel - Davao's iconic hotel, old world charm, casino
150 J. Camus Street, Davao City Philippines 8000
+63 (82) 221-6430 to 40 | 7°04'09.2"N 125°36'27.4"E
- North Zen Basic Spaces - great rooms at affordable prices
Sobrecarey St. (corner Lapu-Lapu St.), Davao City, 8000
(082) 295.3997 | 7°04'43.0"N 125°37'04.3"E
- Urban Living Zen Hotel - newly opened - all NEW!
F.s. Dizon Bacaca, 8000 Davao City
(082) 287 3133 | 7°05'28.4"N 125°36'22.3"E
- The Royal Mandaya Hotel - heart of downtown Davao City
J. Palma Gil Street, Davao City, 8000
(+63 82) 225.8888 | 7°04'09.4"N 125°36'36.8"E
- Alu Hotel Davao - central downtown location
M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Davao
+63 82 227 5232 | 7°04'07.7"N 125°36'51.7"E
- One Oasis Davao - hotel accommodation in a condo unit
Eco-west Drive, Ecoland, Davao City
suki_tac@yahoo.com | 0925.500.3211 | 7°02'49.2"N 125°35'19.1"E
van rental
- Apollo Van Rental - Davao City tour, Samal Island tour, airport transfer
0925.500.3211 | suki_tac@yahoo.com
yoga | health | fitness
tour
resto | cafe
advocacy
- 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
- the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight
- Revisiting Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- A Roof Over my Head in Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- Davao Yoga Scene Oct 31, 2016
- Pranayama Oct 24, 2016
- Yoga Beyond the Mat Oct 21, 2016
- Grilled Tuna Overload in Davao Oct 13, 2016
- Duterte Mania in Davao Oct 12, 2016
- Sirsasana, Sarvangasana - Yoga Makaranda II Oct 7, 2016
- Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Oct 5, 2016
- Ashtanga Yoga with James Fritz Freire at Holiday Gym and Spa Oct 1, 2016
- There was a Bomb Explosion? Sep 30, 2016
- Jin in Davao Sep 29, 2016
- Scrubs and Hilot at Holiday Gym and Spa Sep 22-29, 2016
- The Fabulous Dabawenyos Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016
- Nirvana Breathing Fitness with Lita C. Quisumbing Sep 21, 2016
- Massage, Sauna and Ear Candling at Holiday Spa and Gym Sep 17-19, 2016
- Downpour in Davao Sep 18, 2016
- Lounge One Yoga Sequence by May Bel Le at North Zen Hotel Sep 16, 2016
- Celebrating Davao's King of Fruits - Durian! Sep 11, 2016
- The Blast that Rocked Davao Sep 2, 2016
- Hatha Flow Yoga with Joanna Lizares Co at Holiday Spa and Gym Aug. 31, 2016
- Conducting a Power Yoga Class at Yoga Davao Aug 29, 2016
- Good Eats with Mel Pangan's Davao Food Tour Aug 26, 2016
- Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Aug 25, 2016
- A Gifted Dell Laptop from the Usual Suspect Aug. 24, 2016
- The Duterte Phenomenon Oct 21, 2015
- 20 Days in Davao City July 4- 24, 2014
- Goodbye Davao...Again! Sep 28, 2013
- Wine and Cheese at Malagos Farm House Sep 27, 2013
- Custom-made Peanut Butter at Davao City's Bankerohan Market Sep 27, 2013
- Yoga in Davao Sep 26, 2013
- Celebrating 25 Years of Habitat for Humanity Philippines Sep 18, 2013
- Clobbered in a Vicious Karate Match Sep 17, 2013
- Back Into the Black Sep 1, 2013
- No Reply Aug 30, 2013
- Full Body-Cavity Search without the Latex Aug 25, 2013
- Fun Day with Crocodile Sonny and Sports Unlimited Dynamic Duo, Dyan Castillejo and Marc Nelson Aug 15, 2013
- Fun! Fun! at Maxima AquaFun, Samal Island Aug 11, 2013
- Goodbye Davao Jan 22, 2013
- Davao City's Peace and Order Jan 21, 2013
- Holiday Spa Yoga, Davao City Jan 20, 2013
- Free Yoga at People's Park Jan 12, 2013
- Davao City: Family Ties Dec 15-22, 2012
- Breakup Diaries: Chance Encounter in Davao City Dec 19, 2012
- Davao City June 20-23, 2009
- Davao City March 18-20, 2008
- Mount Apo March 15-18, 2008
Currency Converter
 ReAnne 
(Dec 29, 2012) Davao loves your blog! Come back anytime! :-)
 Laiza
(Dec 28, 2012) Inday Sara Duterte (Davao's mayor) shared the link of your blogpost on Facebook about Davao. It now has 120 'Shares', 1486 'Likes', 105 comments. Amazing!
 Consolacion
(Dec 28, 2012) Saw your link posted in Inday Sara Duterte (Davao's mayor) Facebook fan page - dami comments. Thanks, you make us proud of our city.
 Mia
(Dec. 26, 2012) salamat sa kwento... great read for Christmas and I will find stall no.5 :)
Dec 15-22, 2012
»» next Traveling story: Checking-out Tagum City, Davao del Norte
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D'Bone Collector Museum - museum with animal skeletons and preserved animals from around the world
Yoga Davao - yoga and pilates
Holiday Gym and Spa - yoga | spa | gym | salon
Lounge One Yoga Davao - yoga & pilates
Mel's Davao Food Tour - a culinary odyssey to Davao's gastronomic specialties
Bistro ni Tuding - Gerry's Picks Dishes
Le Cafe Bar & Grill Restaurant - budget meals, payday dinner buffet
FROG Kaffee - fresh roasted coffee in small batches
Shine Life Skills Center - a home for 13+ with Autism, Down Syndrome, Mental Disorders and Disabilities
Cinematheque Davao - venue for classic and contemporary Filipino films
