One of the “Most Livable Cities in Asia” is a sobriquet bestowed by Asiaweek magazine to Davao City. Today, the center of Mindanao’s trade and commerce is the ultimate holiday hideaway. It is the gateway to East Asian countries, particularly Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Just one hour and 30 minutes by plane from Manila (45 minutes if from Cebu City), Davao is home to three Philippine icons: the exquisite waling-waling orchid, the controversial durian fruit, and the endangered Philippine eagle.
First stopover should be the Davao City Hall in San Pedro Street. The place is spacious and you’ll see some activities being done at the nearby Jose Rizal Park. Along San Pedro Street is the Camp Domingo Leonor, which served as the quarters of the Spanish and later American soldiers in the 1920s.
Just walking distance from the City Hall is the Sangguniang Panglungsod building—a freedom statue designed by Kublai Milan. At the back of the building is the Museo Dabawenyo, where you get a glimpse of what the city looked like in the past.
Adjacent to the Sangguniang Panglungsod is the San Pedro Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Mindanao. The original structure of the church was built in 1847 in honor of St. Peter, the city’s patron saint. The old altar is preserved at the right wing of the cathedral.
If you have already done the walking tour, call a taxi and tell the driver to bring you to People’s Park in Camus Street. The expansive and beautiful Php70-million park features many delightful treats to discover: a grand landscaped waterfall, strategically scenic benches, a small but fun playground, amazingly breathtaking gardens, arranged multi¬purpose trees, lovely traditional cottages, and sophisticated sculptures.
Before the day is over, proceed to the Davao Crocodile Park in the diversion road in Maa. It is home to some 700 crocodiles, including Pangil—the country’s second largest reptile at 18 feet long and more than 60 years old.
Having your fill of crocs, you might want to check other animals in small cages or glass-encased enclosures. There are raucous parrots, eagles, and mynahs. Snakes are coiled inside their cages, their heads tucked under their shiny skins. There’s a bearcat hanging precariously on a branch and in front is a swinging orangutan. Smaller animals such as macaques, porcupine, civet, leopard cat, monitor lizard, and deer have their own cages too.
Davao also has a number of beaches to offer. Times Beach, two kilometers from the city center, bustles with picnickers during Sundays and holidays. Historic Talomo Beach is best remembered as a landing site for Japanese and American forces during World War II. But the best beaches are located in nearby Samal Island. Highly-recommended are Pearl Farm Beach Resort and Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark. Pearl Farm (the only triple A beach resort in Mindanao) is a 45-minute boat ride from Davao City while Bluejaz (whose biggest attractions are the two giant slides) is only five minutes away.
One of the things that make Davao unique is its durian. If you can’t stand the smell, you can always drink it. At Bluegre Café, you can try the Durian Cappuccino – a unique brew of durian and coffee. Other noted café bars are Basti’s Brew, Bo’s Coffee Club, Café Marco, and Claude’s Le Café de Ville.
Don’t worry about food; restaurants and bars are aplenty. The city is known for its inihaw (grilled tuna) and kinilaw (local version of sashimi using tuna or blue marlin strips). For international cuisine, you can choose from any of the following: Krua Thai, Farfalla Pasta Bar, Ranchero , Tsuru, Hanoi, and Jack Ridge.
There is no shortage of accommodations in Davao. Among the famous ones are Marco Polo Davao on Claveria Street, Royal Mandaya Hotel on Ponciano Street, Apo View Hotel in Bonifacio Street, Grand Men Seng Hotel in Magallanes Street, and Grand Regal Hotel and Waterfront Insular Hotel, both in Lanang.
Before you leave the city, you must bring with you something from Davao. Since you can’t bring durian, buy durian bars and preserves. Sweet pomelos, particularly the seedless varieties, also make a good pasalubong since these have a longer shelf life compared to other fruits. Women can also flock to Aldevinco Shopping Center at C.M. Recto Street where they can buy various sizes and forms of malong, tinalak, and other souvenirs. Madayaw!
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Tags: breathtaking gardens, crocodile park, davao city, durian fruit, freedom statue, jose rizal, philippine eagle, rizal park, san pedro street