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Major Hubs 5 Major Destinations
Manila and Its Spokes
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Cebu and its Spokes
Laoag / Baguio and its Spokes
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Davao and its Spokes
Clark/Subic and its Spokes |
Others and its Spokes
Davao City
7,000 TIMES CLOSER TO NATURE
Endowed with a variety of picturesque landscapes, Davao's
topography dazzles: Fruit plantations and orchid farms
mantle volcano-fed hills and valleys. Virgin forests nurture
rare wildlife. Coral islands lie on mirror flat water. And
the country's highest peak magnificently lords over the
hinterland.
Just as enchanting is its brilliant tapestry of harmony,
woven from the diverse cultural threads of its people. In
Davao, the contemporary fuses with the traditional as
migrant settlers from all over the country co-exist in peace
with a fairly large expatriate community and numerous ethnic
tribes who continue to live as they did centuries ago.
A CITY THAT STRADDLES TWO WORLDS
It is the hub of commerce and industry in the Southern Mindanao
region. Yet, to this day, Davao City continues to straddle
two worlds - the new and the old. Part of it is a
flourishing metropolis of business districts, mechanized
farms and cosmopolitan villages where "instant millionaires"
live. And the other part is a rural landscape of hills that
roll down into fertile valleys, dominated by the
2,954-meter-high Mount Apo, the grandfather of all
Philippine mountains, and peopled by the Bagobo, Manobo,
Mandaya, Bilaan and other ancestral tribes.
LAND OF PLENTY
"Kadayawan sa Dabaw" is Davao City's premier festival and
showcases the natural and cultural bounty of the land. A
movable feast in August, the week-long merrymaking
highlights the manifold tribal cultures of the region which
are vividly expressed in traditional songs, dances, games
and crafts. It is also on this occasion when a lively trade
fair, capped by a flower-and-fruit float parade, takes
place. Street dancing and popular entertainment complete the
celebration.
Agriculture-based industries thrive in the Davao region. A
major exporter of bananas, citrus, mangosteen and other
tropical fruits, it is also the biggest producer of cultured
flowers in the country. Its surrounding waters are rich
sources for commercial fishing. The world's largest city in
terms of land area, Davao covers all of 244,000 hectares.
KING OF THE HEAVENS
The Philippine Eagle has the countenance of regal majesty -
snowy white plumes dappled with gray, a distinct crested
head matched with a pair of sharp eyes and strong curved
beak, a powerful eight-foot wingspan, and lethal preying
claws. An endangered species, the world's largest eagle has
found refuge at the Philippine Eagle Research and Nature
Center in the Malagos rainforest in Calinan, 45 minutes away
from downtown Davao.
It was here where the first ever Philippine Eagle was born
in captivity. Aptly named Pag-asa (Hope), she is testament
to how seriously Davao protects its environmental heritage.
To this day, more eaglets are bred and nurtured at the
sanctuary. Only too soon, the Philippine Eagle will take its
rightful place in the sky. Soaring proud and unafraid as
King of the Heavens.
QUEEN OF THE RAINFOREST
On the slopes of Mount Apo was discovered the waling-waling, an
orchid of exceptional attributes - with full, velvety petals
tinged in royal colors of purple, red and yellow. So
delicate is this stunning bloom that it can only thrive on
fresh and balmy air. The waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana)
has since been successfully transplanted from its natural
environment and cultivated in many of Davao's flower farms.
Retailing at several hundred dollars a plant, the Queen of
the Rainforest has become an attractive business
proposition.
ISLAND FLOVORS
Davao's claim to culinary fame is grilled "bariles" (tuna) jaw
dipped in soy sauce and "kalamansi" (native lemon). The
marketplace, abundant with seafoods, meats and fresh
tropical fruits, is the best place to savor local flavors.
At the Sta. Ana Wharf, Luz Kinilaw Place is famous for its
local version of the Japanese sashimi - bite-size chunks of
raw fish marinated in vinegar, chili pepper and other
spices. For more gustatory experiences, drop by the
restaurant row along F. Torres St. and Magsaysay Park. Also
check out Fiesta Dabaw and Zugba Restaurant at Apo View
Hotel and Yellow Fin Restaurant at Ecoland.
ISLAND ADVENTURE
One simply does not get bored in Davao. There are just so many
options for a pleasurable stay. Try cultural immersion. Or
farm visit. Or golf. Or trek. Or scuba dive. Or shop. Or
simply laze around the islands and watch the world go by.
The possibilities just go on and on... At the T'boli Weaving
Center, watch the colorful tribe of bola women as they
handloom the intricate tinalak fabric. More tribal art and
material culture can be gleaned at the nearby Davao Museum.
Brassware, ethnic trinkets and shellcraft make great
souvenirs. Splurge and indulge at the Aldevinco Shopping
Center on CM Recto Street, Nieva's Arts and Crafts in
Lanang, Precy's Creation and Handicrafts in Bajada, and
Handmade Treasures at Gaisano Mall.
Orchids, whether cut or potted, are also good buys. Check
out the Mindanao Flower Market (Minflo Mart) in Barangay
Pampanga. For more farm visits, go to the Bago Oshiro
Experimental Station in Mintal, Derling Worldwide Orchid
Corporation in Buhangin, Greenhills Orchid Farm in Catalunan
Peque๑o, Puentespina Orchid Garden in Agdao, or the
Malagos Garden Resort (Orchid Farm) at the Baguio district
in Calinan. At the Gap Fruit Farm, one can gorge on Davao's
famous sweet pomelos and oranges.
Two of the country's most popular 18-hole golf courses are
found in Davao. Lanang Golf and Country Club has its
fairways laid out in an estate lush with tropical fruits
while Apo Golf and Country Club in Dumoy is set on a vast
coconut plantation with natural hazards. For those with less
time to fore, the 9-hole New Davao City Golf Club in Matina
fits the tee. Nightlife entertainment is provided by music
bars, discotheques and the casino, which also serves good
food and offers live musical performances.
WARM HOSPITALITY
Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest
or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they
have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what
distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others
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