Off to Davao (Siquijor Break)

Davao City in a Nutshell:

1. Ethnic makeup - its a melting pot of local tribes and migrants from the Visayas and Luzon
2. Religion - predominantly Catholic with a strong presence of the Muslim minority
3. Climate - typhoon-free since tropical storms and tidal waves are blocked by a peninsula. Balmy all year round weather. Temperature ranges from 20 to 32 degrees
4. Land area - 2,443.61 square kilometers
5. Location - southern most part of the Philippines
6. Language - Cebuano and Tagalog. English is universally understood and spoken. It's the medium of instruction in the school system
7. Peace and order situation - under the helm of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Davao City is almost crime-free
8. Population - 1,363,330 (2007 census)

1. Bankerohan - this Davao's public market. Lose yourself in its many passages. Buy fruits which are abundant and cheap. Drink the native chocolate drink, sikwate (P25). If you're looking for something weird tasting but popular, try the kinutil (P50) (sikwate mixed in with milk, egg and milk)
2. Magsaysay Park - for Davao's best durian. Durian can be bought in practically every corner of the city. But you can get the best at Magsaysay Park. The price will be higher than everywhere else but the weighing scales are certified accurate (push cart durian vendors with questionable weighing scales will price it at P30/kilo but Magsaysay rates maybe at P50/kilo)
3. River Rafting - see Davao Wild Water below. Read Blog
4. Crocodile Park - this is more of a mini zoo where you see a lot of crocodiles, some tigers, snakes, eagles, etc. Read Blog
5. Samal Island - Samal has many beach resorts. Dive tours are often done there and its nearby island, Talikud Island. One such resort is Maxima AquaFun. Read Blog

1. Maxima AquaFun Resort - water slides, beach cottages, jet ski, plank diving, coral reef, free-diving, scuba diving, banana boat ride
   
2. Camp Holiday - at Samal Ferry Wharf, Samal Island, campholidayresort.com/
3. Pearl Farm Beach Resort - at Kaputian, Samal Island, pearlfarmresort.com

1. Davao Wild Water - experience 13 kms of white water along the rapids of Davao River. Read Blog

1. Mount Apo March 15-18, 2008 summiting Mt. Apo. Read Blog

1. Samal Island March 21, 2008 snorkeling in Samal Island. Read Blog

1. People's Park - a workout mecca for the morning crowd and dating place by night. Read Blog
2. Crocodile Park - it's more of a zoo than a park - crocs, exotic birds, tigers, ostrich, reptiles, etc. Read Blog

1. Zip City - ziplining and a free-fall while enjoying burgers and a coldie. Read Blog

Great Things Going for Davao City

1. one of the cleanest potable water in the country
2. smoking is banned from commercial establishments
3. 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)
4. public utility drivers conspicuously display their IDs
5. durian Mecca of the Philippines (not to mention Marang, Mangosteen and Sweet Pomelo)
6. you want to add some more? please submit on the form below

Not So Great Things Going Against Davao City

1. the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight
2. smoke belchers are still rampant amongst public utility vehicles - black smoke, blue smoke, etc. Thus walking along the streets of Poblacion is unhealthy

The begging question is, "what have you done for Davao?". How has Davao become a better place because of you?

1. It's not enough that you own a string of businesses, if you're not giving your employees better wages and a better-than-decent working environment (think: Googleplex)
2. It's not enough that you're a powerful politician if you haven't improved the living conditions of Dabawenyos
3. It's not enough that your influence can sway public opinion if it's not for the greater good of Davao
4. It's not emough that you have good intentions and working hard on it, if you're not effective

Below is a list of people who have gone beyond the call of duty to make Davao the vibrant and peaceful city that it is now.

Feel free to nominate a Fabulous Dabawenyo by using the Comment Form.

1. 1620 - Spanish sovereignty is already well entrenched, but historical accounts remain unrecorded
2. 1848 - Spanish muscle in these parts were flexed with Don Jose Cruz de Oyanguren launching an all-out attack against the Muslims headed by Datu Bago in Davao Gulf, where Oyanguren ultimately prevailed. But skirmishes between Moro's and the Spanish colonisers ensued.
3. 1852 - Oyanguren was relieved of his command by the powerful in Manila. Peace with the natives prevailed but population growth was very slow
4. 1868 - three Jesuit missionaries arrived in Davao and became successful in 'winning the hearts and minds' of the local population
5. 1892 - through the perseverance of the Christian priests, some Muslims of Hijo left their tribe to be resettled with the Christians
6. 1898 - the early years of American rule where Davao's rich natural resources were tapped by the new colonizers for commercial gain. Laborers came from all over the country including Japanese investors. The economic prosperity ushered a new era of plenty to Davao. Population expansion followed.
7. 1903 to 1925 - increased Japanese acquisition of land was met with suspicion by the local government. Laborers from the Visayas and Luzon were lured with free land to Davao to stem the rising influence of the Japanese.
8. 1936 - Davao became a city as a result of its continued economic progress brought about by urban migration from the Visayas and Luzon in search of opportunities resulting from foreign investments
9. 1941 - World War II. Japanese planes bombed Davao and occupied it a year later
10. 1945 - American and Philippine forces liberated Davao City from the Japanese. Davao saw the bloodiest battles in the country. With intense bombings by Gen. McArthur on the city, all economic and physical gains prior to the war outbreak was lost. Davao lay in ruins and a massive recovery plan was in dire need
11. 1946 - slowly, Davao regained its status as the premier agricultural and trade center of Mindanao due in large part to the rebuilding efforst jointly administered by the US Army and President Roxas
12. 2013 - today, Davao is a racial melting pot of all people coming from different parts of the Philippines who ventured into Davao for adventure, investment, work, land and opportunities.

2023

1. Aug Snapshots: Pan de Sal, Palpitate, Taho, Tuna, Pineapple August 1-31, 2023
2. Off to Davao (Siquijor Break) Aug 12-19, 2023

2016

3. Revisiting Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
4. A Roof Over my Head in Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
5. Davao Yoga Scene Oct 31, 2016
6. Pranayama Oct 24, 2016
7. Yoga Beyond the Mat Oct 21, 2016
8. Grilled Tuna Overload in Davao Oct 13, 2016
9. Duterte Mania in Davao Oct 12, 2016
10. Sirsasana, Sarvangasana - Yoga Makaranda II Oct 7, 2016
11. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Oct 5, 2016
12. Ashtanga Yoga with James Fritz Freire at Holiday Gym and Spa Oct 1, 2016
13. There was a Bomb Explosion? Sep 30, 2016
14. Jin in Davao Sep 29, 2016
15. Scrubs and Hilot at Holiday Gym and Spa Sep 22-29, 2016
16. The Fabulous Dabawenyos Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016
17. Nirvana Breathing Fitness with Lita C. Quisumbing Sep 21, 2016
18. Massage, Sauna and Ear Candling at Holiday Spa and Gym Sep 17-19, 2016
19. Downpour in Davao Sep 18, 2016
20. Lounge One Yoga Sequence by May Bel Le at North Zen Hotel Sep 16, 2016
21. Celebrating Davao's King of Fruits - Durian! Sep 11, 2016
22. The Blast that Rocked Davao Sep 2, 2016
23. Hatha Flow Yoga with Joanna Lizares Co at Holiday Spa and Gym Aug. 31, 2016
24. Conducting a Power Yoga Class at Yoga Davao Aug 29, 2016
25. Good Eats with Mel Pangan's Davao Food Tour Aug 26, 2016
26. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Aug 25, 2016
27. A Gifted Dell Laptop from the Usual Suspect Aug. 24, 2016

2015

28. The Duterte Phenomenon Oct 21, 2015

2014

29. 20 Days in Davao City July 4- 24, 2014

2013

30. Goodbye Davao...Again! Sep 28, 2013
31. Wine and Cheese at Malagos Farm House Sep 27, 2013
32. Custom-made Peanut Butter at Davao City's Bankerohan Market Sep 27, 2013
33. Yoga in Davao Sep 26, 2013
34. Celebrating 25 Years of Habitat for Humanity Philippines Sep 18, 2013
35. Clobbered in a Vicious Karate Match Sep 17, 2013
36. Ang Tag-Araw ni Twinkle Sep 12, 2013
37. Pending US Invasion of Syria Sep 7, 2013
38. Back Into the Black Sep 1, 2013
39. No Reply Aug 30, 2013
40. Full Body-Cavity Search without the Latex Aug 25, 2013
41. Rafting Davao River's White-Water with Wild-Water Sonny Aug 25, 2013
42. Fun Day with Crocodile Sonny and Sports Unlimited Dynamic Duo, Dyan Castillejo and Marc Nelson Aug 15, 2013
43. Fun! Fun! at Maxima AquaFun, Samal Island Aug 11, 2013
44. Siblings Jul 31, 2013
45. Rest In Peace July 27, 2013
46. Goodbye Davao Jan 23, 2013
47. Davao City's Peace and Order Jan 21, 2013
48. Holiday Spa Yoga, Davao City Jan 20, 2013
49. Free Yoga at People's Park Jan 12, 2013
50. Distributing Relief Goods to Victims of Typhoon Palblo - Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental Jan 1, 2013

2012

51. 2012: a Year in Review Dec 31, 2012
52. Davao City: Family Ties Dec 15-22, 2012
53. Breakup Diaries: Chance Encounter in Davao City Dec 19, 2012

2009

54. Davao City Jun 20, 2009

2008

55. Davao City Mar 18-20, 2008
56. Climbing Mount Apo Mar 15-18, 2008

1. Grilled Tuna Overload in Davao Oct 13, 2016
2. Celebrating Davao's King of Fruits - Durian! Sep 11, 2016
3. Good Eats with Mel Pangan's Davao Food Tour Aug 26, 2016
4. Wine and Cheese at Malagos Farm House Sep 27, 2013

From Davao City, timing your departure to make it to the 4pm boat departure from Iligan to Lazi, Siquijor, it would cost PHP 1900 and take about 17 hours not including layover for the buses to depart.

1. Davao bus terminal - from the Davao bus terminal, there is always a bus leaving for CDO (Agora East Terminal), 24 hours - no need to pre-purchase your ticket. 8 hours, PHP 875. If you travel at night, the trip is only 6.5 hours.
2. CDO East Bus Terminal (Agora) - at the bus station, take a jeep going to West Bus Terminal (Bulua), 30 mins, PHP 20. In CDO there are 2 bus terminalsl.
   
   By end of Aug 2023, there will be a Kho shipping boat leaving CDO to Lazi directly - no need to be passing Iligan. No schedule yet.
3. CDO West Terminal (Bulua) - take a bus going to Iligan. Many buses going west (Pagadian, Zamboanga, Plaridel, etc.) will pass by Iligan - just ask the bus conductor. 2 hours, PHP 200. You will get off at the Tambo Integrated Bus Terminal in Iligan
4. Tambo Integrated Bus Terminal - from the terminal, take a jeep to City Proper and it will pass by the Iligan Port, 30 mins, 15 PHP
5. Iligan Port - the Kho Shipping Lines will take you to Lazi Port, Siquijor. 6 hours, PHP 800





6. Lazi Port - you will arrive around 11 pm