The Blast that Rocked Davao

UPDATE: Since the brutal killing of a 17-year old student (Kian delos Santos) who pleaded for his life so he could catch his exam, together with the senseless genocide of 20,000 Filipinos in Duterte's misguided crusade against drugs, I have since renounced and withdrew my support from him.

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

Abu Sayyaf
After ascending to the presidency, Davao's former mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, loomed big as the tough guy uniquely qualified to unite the country with rebel groups willing to sit down for peace talks in Norway - CPP, NPA and NDF. Likewise, there is a standing truce with the MILF and MNLF. Peace talks in Norway were ongoing for unification. Then on Sept. 2, at 10:17pm, a bomb exploded in a crowded night market in Davao killing more than a dozen and injuring 70. The renegade Islamic group, Abu Sayyaf, claimed responsibility (and later denied). Outraged, Duterte unleased his fury - all hell broke lose in the rebel camps and hide-outs.

Objective: complete, absolute and total annihilation of the Abu Sayyaf.

Aftermath
The immediate effect in Davao was chilling. People stayed at home. Hotel bookings were canceled. Visitors and tourists made other plans. Restaurants and public places were empty. No traffic. Friends messaged me to leave Davao. Military check-points scattered across the city. Increased visibility of the military with their battle gear. There was public panic when a suspicious package was left in a supermarket. Alert messages from the authorities discouraged going to popular places. Mall security was tight and searches were thorough. The city was paralyzed with fear.

The city is gradually normalizing as I write this. It won't take long until things get back to normal. Davao is strong. Dabawenyos are resilient.

Immediate Background
The most widely accepted cause of the bombing was a beheading. In August 22, 2016, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded an 18-year old boy after the parents failed to come up with ransom money. Outraged, President Duterte ordered the military to attack and destroy the Abu Sayyaf. The blast in Davao is speculated to be the retaliation of Abu Sayyaf.

Ending Thoughts
I don't know how long the siege will take place until the Abu Sayyaf is stopped - and it's high time they are stopped. There have been too many kidnappings, bombings and beheadings to their credit already. With Duterte's presidential might and his unwavering resolve to put an end to this, it is conceivable that the Abu Sayyaf will be wiped out of the map.

I've just been to Malaysia and Singapore where 3 racial and religious groups live side-by-side in a give-and-take social mix that practice tolerance, consensus and respect. The Muslim Malays, the Hindi Indians and the Chinese. It would not be unusual for a lone fair-skinned Chinese to be eating alone in a sea of dark-skinned Hindus in an Muslim kedai - no big deal and no one gives a second look. Same thing for all the other ethnic neighborhoods - Chinatown, Little India and Muslim enclaves. They have all learned to live with one another. It wasn't always that way. There used to be racial unrest back in the 50s that led to race riots that killed hundreds - they burned and butchered each other. The government was quick to respond by breaking down secret societies, jailing the culprits and cracking down on hate groups. Now, they have all learned that they have to live with one another, whether they like it or not. It's not necessarily a harmonious, seamless racial integration - but it's a viable co-existence. As one Hindu told me, it's a "give-and-take".

My point? If they can do it, then we know it's humanly possible to do it - so we can do it. Living with people who worship a different God or who look different from us shouldn't mean we should be at war with them. I had been homeless now for 4 years, interacting with people in Southeast Asia from all colors, faith and walks of life...and it's ok! It's better than ok. It's enriching, it's productive and it's synergistic. There is always something to be learned from someone who comes from a different background.

I can only hope that after this dark episode, the Philippines can be united again...where everyone is safe to explore the vast interior of Mindanao without fear of being kidnapped, beheaded or shot at. Right now, only one person is uniquely qualified to do that - Rodrigo Duterte . Marcos couldn't do it in his time, the Aquinos failed to bring about unification, Estrada, Ramos and Macapagal Aroyo came and went without solving the problem. Now there is the controversial mayor-turned-president-now ASEAN chair, Rodrigo Duterte. Sure, he is far from perfect, but as far the reunification goes, he's the only one we've got. And we need to be a part of this nation-building process. One man cannot do it alone.

The common people - you and me, we don't want war. Nobody does. War is decided on by only a few powerful people who influence other people's thinking. Let us be more mindful if we are being played by clever media bytes with hidden agenda*.

* other countries, notably the US, bomb other countries out of the map in the pretext of freedom and democracy. They are able to do this by selling war to the American public and the international community through their media machinery - CNN, FOX, etc. As a de facto satellite of the US, the Philippines is not spared from the "US war-effort disinformation". WMD? Tell that to the Iraquis whose civilization was wiped out of the map. At the end of the day, there was no WMD (weapon of mass destruction).

Davao City, Philippines

tourist attractions

D'Bone Collector Museum - museum with animal skeletons and preserved animals from around the world

- 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

Yoga Davao - yoga and pilates
Palos Verdes Country Club, Talomo, Davao City, Philippines
0922 897 7779 | 7°06'01.9"N 125°35'54.9"E
Holiday Gym and Spa - yoga | spa | gym | salon
F. Torres St., 8000 Davao City
(082) 222 3041 | 7°04'54.0"N 125°36'32.8"E
Lounge One Yoga Davao - yoga & pilates
Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training. Nov 2016-Jan 2017. 200, 300 & 500 Hrs
at North Zen Hotel - Lapu-lapu St. cor Sobrecary St., Obrero
0933.518.6128 | °7°04'43.0"N 125°37'04.3"E

tour

Mel's Davao Food Tour - a culinary odyssey to Davao's gastronomic specialties
Bahay ni Tuding Inn & Resto, San Pedro Street 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | 7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E

resto |

cafe

Bistro ni Tuding - Gerry's Picks Dishes
inside Bahay ni Tuding Inn, 160 San Pedro Street, 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | °7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E
Le Cafe Bar & Grill Restaurant - budget meals, payday dinner buffet
M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street at Alu Hotel
+63 82 227 5232 | °7°04'07.7"N 125°36'51.7"E
FROG Kaffee - fresh roasted coffee in small batches
Prime Square, F. Torres St., Davao
(082) 224 4044 | °7°04'54.3"N 125°36'40.6"E

advocacy

Shine Life Skills Center - a home for 13+ with Autism, Down Syndrome, Mental Disorders and Disabilities
9 Orchid Road, Buhangin, Davao City, Philippines 8000
+6382 222 2556 | °7°05'55.9"N 125°36'59.6"E
Cinematheque Davao - venue for classic and contemporary Filipino films
Palma Gil Street, Davao City, Philippines
cinemathequedavao@fdcp.ph | °7°04'11.0"N 125°36'33.3"E