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Jan 23, 2013
Goodbye Davao
Meeting the Panabo Surfer Boys
I would have just passed thru Davao coming from Dahican Beach, but while at Dahican, I met the Panabo Surfer Boys who told me about the tourism focus of Davao mayor Sara Duterte. I thought I could be instrumental in making that happen faster through my online machinery. It would be a challenge since tourism isn't exactly Davao's branding, but that's what I do best.
Davao's Tourism Office
In Davao, I met with Mr. Jason Magnaye, OIC of Davao Tourism, who liked my idea. In his words, "that's exactly my vision for our own Davao tourism website...soon to launch". Through his staff, LA Duque de Dios, he arranged to have some industry representatives to listen to my presentation. They all expressed approval but qualified that they are not the decision makers...that it will take a few days. I said I'll stay longer in Davao. I never heard from them. I also spent a lot of time on my own talking to anyone who I think can benefit from the program. They all liked it, but couldn't get themselves to act on it.
Chasing a Mirage
As a general rule, whenever I'm in a new place, I find compelling reasons why I should stay. If I don't find any, or if another place calls out, I move on. Here in Davao, I tried to stay as long as I can, finding creative ways to make my stay sustainable. But after a month with nothing to show for all my efforts, it was time to pack up again. Ironically, the money dried up while looming possibilities lay on the horizon. I keep thinking...a few more days here, exerting best efforts and it'll all come through. As I got closer, it disappears...I was chasing a mirage. I was left exactly where I took off a month ago.
Ignored
I've talked, texted, emailed and knocked on doors to business owners, marketing directors, sales officers, spanning industries from hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes, etc. about my vision to develop a one-stop online travel portal for Davao through search-engine-optimization, selective information posting, Facebook integration, etc., but I came out empty-handed. Despite the establishment nods and agreeability, nothing came out of it. North American companies would gobble-up and pay a premium for what I put on the table, but in Davao, it was ignored. I don't understand. How can you ignore the potential to dominate the search engine rankings? How can you not feel a sense of urgency to grab that competitive edge? How can they look the other way when I offered that service with no cash outlay? I remain clueless.
Asset to the City
We both lost. I was an asset to the city as I tried to extend myself - teaching free weekend yoga at People's Park, influencing public opinion through the positive things I write about Davao, and yes, offering my unique internet service designed to rebrand Davao beyond a destination for durian (at no cost to the city). I was gung-ho about Davao.
Cutting my Losses
At the end of the day, the promise of Davao and all its potential remained exactly that....an unrealized potential despite my due diligence. I've left other places with a sigh of relief. But in Davao's case, I can't help but feel defeated. In my birds-and-the-bees parlance, Davao is that unfathomable lady you can't put a finger on. She's beyond my comprehension. I need to cut my losses and move on. Davao is not for me...at least not for now. In surfer paradigm, the next big wave lies somewhere else.
Ending Thoughts
Even though I'm obviously disappointed, transcending this feeling of defeat offers me a glimpse of the bigger picture. Perhaps the expected outcome (deveoping an online travel portal for Davao) is not necessarily the goal. I've seen that happen before. And given the repeating pattern I see in the natural order of things, my coming to Davao definitely serves a purpose. Perhaps it's to reconnect me to family, perhaps it's to meet the wonderful yoga people of Holiday Spa, perhaps it's to dissolve my ego as I pawned my stuff for money...I don't really know. In time, the purpose usually becomes clear. For as long as I've done my due diligence I won't be haunted by the nagging "...should have done this...and should have done that" spectre. This episode can only be part of a process that needs to take place. With that, I'm grateful for the peaks and valleys I went through during the month I'd been here. My 'setback' does not in any way diminish the wonderful things that make Davao a place worth going back to. Until the next time, Davao :)
--- TheLoneRider
ps - If you want me to objectively cover the features of your city or municipality or barangay for this website (fiesta, waterfall, mountain trail, lake, river, cave, food, islands, beach, etc.), email me.
 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
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 TheLoneRider
"So where to now?" -- Blanne Ann Acosta
(Jun 24, 2013) Malaybalay, Bukidnon
 Blanne Ann Acosta
(Jan 23, 2013) So where to now?
»» next story: Going Global
»» next Traveling story: Exploring Malaybalay, Bukidnon
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