Davao Travel Information
City that Straddles | Land
of Plenty | King of Heavens
Queen of Rainforest | Island Flavors
| Island Adventure | Warm
Hospitality
Planning Your Trip | Davao
Map
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.
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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.
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KING OF 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.
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QUEEN OF 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.
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ISLAND FLAVORS
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.
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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 Pequeño,
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.
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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.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Davao City can be reached by air, sea and land travel from Manila, the
country's main international gateway. It can also be reached by regular
flights from Manado in Indonesia and Singapore.
Air travel from Manila to Davao is 90 minutes, with the domestic route
serviced
source: Department of Tourism
Davao Hotels & Resorts |
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