Davao City High School Batch 1988

ATF 2006 puts Davao on world tourism map
By INQ7.net

WITH DAVAO CITY hosting the 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from January 13 to 21, this prestigious international event is already putting the emerging megacity on the world tourism map and drawing global attention to its economic boom.

The information blitz is also stirring international interest in the socioeconomic condition in Davao and the rest of Mindanao and may attract investments, not only in tourism ventures, but also in other key industries,” said Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab.

Investments in Davao City in terms of total capitalization of businesses continued to surge from only P62 billion in 2000 to 69 billion in 2001, P80 billion in 2002, P84 billion in 2003, and a whopping P118.5 billion in 2004. The sharp growth is very evident in the city’s tourism, construction, agriculture, and export sectors.

Tourist arrivals based on air passenger traffic and hotel occupancy volume have been consistently increasing since 2000, with the DOT office in Southern Mindanao (Region XI) placing Davao City’s total tourism receipts at P5.22 billion in January-June 2005 alone, a 13-percent increase from the P4.62 billion generated in the same period last year.

Similarly, Davao City has recorded an unprecedented increase in the value of private building construction, which skyrocketed to P7.4 billion last year from only P773 million in 2001. So did exports, shooting up to P993 million in 2004 from P848 million in 2003 and P$738 million in 2002, with the balance of trade further widening in Davao City’s favor.

“Those figures are making Davao City even more attractive to tourists, many of whom are corporate executives and entrepreneurs on vacation who can’t ignore a business opportunity when they see one,” said ATF 2006 secretary general and Philippine and Visitors Corporation Executive director Daniel Corpuz. Davao is the capital of Southern Mindanao region and one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area, spanning 244,000 hectares.

This sprawling metropolis has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub of Southern Philippines.

Citing Davao City as the next pillar of Philippine tourism, Davao said it was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s personal choice as the venue for ATF 2006. Also the gateway and capital of the East Asia Growth Area (EAGA), which comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, Davao City is an ideal tourist destination, with its diverse cultures, beautiful beaches, awesome mountain resorts, fantastic dive spots and natural riches.

There is a charm in Davao that is not seen elsewhere and this is captured by the city’s slogan “From Islands to Highlands,” Durano explained. The ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Southeast Asian
region as one tourist destination and support the individual tourism pursuits of the ASEAN’s 10-member nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ATF is supported by Philippine Airlines as head of the organizing body’s air transportation committee; TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd as travel exchange organizer; CNN as official international cable and satellite media partner; and Travel Weekly, TTR Weekly, and TTG Asia as official trade publications. More information can be obtained from the ATF secretariat at tel. no. +63 2 5259318 to 30, +63 2 5251255, fax no. +63 2 5216165 and e-mail tts@dotpcvc.gov.ph.

The nine-day event comprises a travel trade fair that will be staged at the NCCC Exhibition Center and a series of conferences, business meetings and other functions slated in the city’s various first-class international hotels and resorts.

ATF 2006 puts Davao on world tourism map
By INQ7.net

WITH DAVAO CITY hosting the 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) from January 13 to 21, this prestigious international event is already putting the emerging megacity on the world tourism map and drawing global attention to its economic boom.

The information blitz is also stirring international interest in the socioeconomic condition in Davao and the rest of Mindanao and may attract investments, not only in tourism ventures, but also in other key industries,” said Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab.

Investments in Davao City in terms of total capitalization of businesses continued to surge from only P62 billion in 2000 to 69 billion in 2001, P80 billion in 2002, P84 billion in 2003, and a whopping P118.5 billion in 2004. The sharp growth is very evident in the city’s tourism, construction, agriculture, and export sectors.

Tourist arrivals based on air passenger traffic and hotel occupancy volume have been consistently increasing since 2000, with the DOT office in Southern Mindanao (Region XI) placing Davao City’s total tourism receipts at P5.22 billion in January-June 2005 alone, a 13-percent increase from the P4.62 billion generated in the same period last year.

Similarly, Davao City has recorded an unprecedented increase in the value of private building construction, which skyrocketed to P7.4 billion last year from only P773 million in 2001. So did exports, shooting up to P993 million in 2004 from P848 million in 2003 and P$738 million in 2002, with the balance of trade further widening in Davao City’s favor.

“Those figures are making Davao City even more attractive to tourists, many of whom are corporate executives and entrepreneurs on vacation who can’t ignore a business opportunity when they see one,” said ATF 2006 secretary general and Philippine and Visitors Corporation Executive director Daniel Corpuz. Davao is the capital of Southern Mindanao region and one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area, spanning 244,000 hectares.

This sprawling metropolis has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub of Southern Philippines.

Citing Davao City as the next pillar of Philippine tourism, Davao said it was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s personal choice as the venue for ATF 2006. Also the gateway and capital of the East Asia Growth Area (EAGA), which comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, Davao City is an ideal tourist destination, with its diverse cultures, beautiful beaches, awesome mountain resorts, fantastic dive spots and natural riches.

There is a charm in Davao that is not seen elsewhere and this is captured by the city’s slogan “From Islands to Highlands,” Durano explained. The ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Southeast Asian
region as one tourist destination and support the individual tourism pursuits of the ASEAN’s 10-member nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ATF is supported by Philippine Airlines as head of the organizing body’s air transportation committee; TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd as travel exchange organizer; CNN as official international cable and satellite media partner; and Travel Weekly, TTR Weekly, and TTG Asia as official trade publications. More information can be obtained from the ATF secretariat at tel. no. +63 2 5259318 to 30, +63 2 5251255, fax no. +63 2 5216165 and e-mail tts@dotpcvc.gov.ph.

The nine-day event comprises a travel trade fair that will be staged at the NCCC Exhibition Center and a series of conferences, business meetings and other functions slated in the city’s various first-class international hotels and resorts.

WHAT does Jay Durias and his fellow South Border instrumentalists, Jinky Vidal and Carlo Tapia of Freestyle, Juris Fernandez of MYMP, Champ Lui-Po of Hale and the reggae band Brownman Revival all have in common?

Aside from hit recording artists of songs that have captured a huge chunk of the nation’s airwaves and bringing in big bucks for their respective recording companies with their hot-selling albums, they are all first and foremost proudly Dabawenyos.

The city famous for its Durian fruit, orchid blooms, Monkey-eating eagle and for being the largest City in the world is also the place known for having produced a number of gifted musicians like Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, and Popong Landero. And is currently recognized for producing artists that are currently conquering the whole country known for its overwhelming love for music.

And yet the list does not end with the present crop. Waiting in the wings are promising musical artists like the all-girls band Back by Midnight, former Ateneo High top band The Lizard Chips, potential alternative hit band G- Strings and other musicians and bands ready to take on the music scene with their soon to be released albums.

Yet the wealth of musical heritage in this southern metropolis has not bottomed out. Still according to some, the current class of top rate musical artists is still the tip of the iceberg.

As a venue of developing the still unexplored frontiers of musical potential in Davao, the Songwriters Organization Network Group or Song was organized, and last December 2 this group of homegrown songwriters all over Davao held its first induction of members and officers in an effort to institutionalize the group.

Envisioned to unite musical artists not just in Davao but also in Mindanao it hopes to be a creative convergence of various songwriters and musicians aimed at developing the Island’s music scene.

According to Jacob Chua, Song president, the organization is a unique institution that promotes unity and bridges differences through music.

Owing to the fact that music, an art of harmony, is part of a rich cultural tapestry belonging to a land known for the complexity of its conflicts.

Song aims to support and develop and unite Mindanao’s budding musical artists from the songs, music, artists, and their instruments.

Chua emphasized that Song is not a body that would impose creative conformity over its members.

“No person in Song has a monopoly in creativity, it is an open organization where ideas flow freely,” said Chua.

According to Amado So, Song chair, the organization was a result of a flaming desire in creating a body of musical songwriters in the City. Whose relevance aptly timed with many homegrown talents making it big in the mainstream music scene.

Among its noble objectives is to push radio stations in playing Davao music, promoting local music through the country’s backdoor utilizing the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) network.

Aside from its objective to develop indigenous musical instruments, the group also aims to support and assist the family of an overseas musician, establish livelihood support for very promising musicians before they hit it big in the recording scene, and encourage parents to support their children’s inclination to arts.

With the formation of Song, various musicians regardless of genres and instruments will have a venue for convergence.

Sunstar Davao
(December 10, 2005 issue)

WHAT does Jay Durias and his fellow South Border instrumentalists, Jinky Vidal and Carlo Tapia of Freestyle, Juris Fernandez of MYMP, Champ Lui-Po of Hale and the reggae band Brownman Revival all have in common?

Aside from hit recording artists of songs that have captured a huge chunk of the nation’s airwaves and bringing in big bucks for their respective recording companies with their hot-selling albums, they are all first and foremost proudly Dabawenyos.

The city famous for its Durian fruit, orchid blooms, Monkey-eating eagle and for being the largest City in the world is also the place known for having produced a number of gifted musicians like Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, and Popong Landero. And is currently recognized for producing artists that are currently conquering the whole country known for its overwhelming love for music.

And yet the list does not end with the present crop. Waiting in the wings are promising musical artists like the all-girls band Back by Midnight, former Ateneo High top band The Lizard Chips, potential alternative hit band G- Strings and other musicians and bands ready to take on the music scene with their soon to be released albums.

Yet the wealth of musical heritage in this southern metropolis has not bottomed out. Still according to some, the current class of top rate musical artists is still the tip of the iceberg.

As a venue of developing the still unexplored frontiers of musical potential in Davao, the Songwriters Organization Network Group or Song was organized, and last December 2 this group of homegrown songwriters all over Davao held its first induction of members and officers in an effort to institutionalize the group.

Envisioned to unite musical artists not just in Davao but also in Mindanao it hopes to be a creative convergence of various songwriters and musicians aimed at developing the Island’s music scene.

According to Jacob Chua, Song president, the organization is a unique institution that promotes unity and bridges differences through music.

Owing to the fact that music, an art of harmony, is part of a rich cultural tapestry belonging to a land known for the complexity of its conflicts.

Song aims to support and develop and unite Mindanao’s budding musical artists from the songs, music, artists, and their instruments.

Chua emphasized that Song is not a body that would impose creative conformity over its members.

“No person in Song has a monopoly in creativity, it is an open organization where ideas flow freely,” said Chua.

According to Amado So, Song chair, the organization was a result of a flaming desire in creating a body of musical songwriters in the City. Whose relevance aptly timed with many homegrown talents making it big in the mainstream music scene.

Among its noble objectives is to push radio stations in playing Davao music, promoting local music through the country’s backdoor utilizing the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) network.

Aside from its objective to develop indigenous musical instruments, the group also aims to support and assist the family of an overseas musician, establish livelihood support for very promising musicians before they hit it big in the recording scene, and encourage parents to support their children’s inclination to arts.

With the formation of Song, various musicians regardless of genres and instruments will have a venue for convergence.

Sunstar Davao
(December 10, 2005 issue)

Education center for Lumads soon to rise in Davao City
MEDCo/MindaNews / 07 December 2005

DAVAO CITY — Construction work for the P2.2 million worth facility designed to serve as center for indigenous people’s (IP or Lumad) education in Davao region has started.

The Institute for Indigenous People’s Education (IIPE) will soon rise on a 400-square meter lot located inside the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) campus.

The IIPE’s permanent office is expected to provide a centralized house for researches and initiatives that will enhance participation of different schools in promoting a culturally sensitive environment for indigenous people in the region.

The IIPE was established on 30 July 2004 in response to the educational needs of the IP’s children and youth, and aims to develop a curriculum that showcases IP education in public and private schools.

The institute is managed by a consortium led by the Department of Education (DepED), in partnership with several agencies and organizations such as the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), MindanaWon Intercultural Dialogue, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs, Assisi Development Foundation, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and Lumads Development Inc., with funding assistance from the

Philippines-Australia Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Project of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Secretary Jesus Dureza, chair of MEDCo, lauded the IIPE initiative as it directly supports the government’s thrust of strengthening indigenous people’s education in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Ten-Point Legacy Agenda and the Mindanao NATIN Program.

“Improving access to basic education for our indigenous peoples through IIPE initiative is very much in line with the national government’s agenda of bringing peace and development in Mindanao by addressing imperatives for education in the island’s most deprived sector,” Dureza said.

The construction of a permanent IIPE site was implemented following Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of a resolution that sought for the establishment of the IIPE building inside the DCNHS compound.

Part of the objectives of the IIPE is the development of information materials significant to the curriculum in order to heighten awareness of teachers and students on indigenous people’s culture and tradition. The IIPE will serve as a repository of indigenous materials that will display the intricate craftsmanship of IP groups in Mindanao.

IIPE stakeholders will also conduct research activities that will significantly contribute to effective learning strategies that can be adopted by schools.

At present, there are 20 pilot schools adopting the IP curriculum in Region 11. Among the schools that will initially showcase indigenous materials of Mandaya, Ata and Bagobo tribes are the Caraga National High School in Davao Oriental, Tibi-Tibi Elementary School in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, and Atan Owe Elementary School in Toril, Davao City.

Activities already undertaken by the IIPE include the creation of a technical working group on the IP curriculum, consultation workshop, study tour to existing IP learning institutes in the country, write shop on curriculum framework, and trainers training on the implementation of IP curriculum.

It is expected that with the integration of IP education in the school curriculum, unity and cultural diversity in Mindanao will be strengthened further as commonalities and respect, rather than differences in culture and tradition of the island-region’s 1.5 million IPs are highlighted.

Education center for Lumads soon to rise in Davao City
MEDCo/MindaNews / 07 December 2005

DAVAO CITY — Construction work for the P2.2 million worth facility designed to serve as center for indigenous people’s (IP or Lumad) education in Davao region has started.

The Institute for Indigenous People’s Education (IIPE) will soon rise on a 400-square meter lot located inside the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) campus.

The IIPE’s permanent office is expected to provide a centralized house for researches and initiatives that will enhance participation of different schools in promoting a culturally sensitive environment for indigenous people in the region.

The IIPE was established on 30 July 2004 in response to the educational needs of the IP’s children and youth, and aims to develop a curriculum that showcases IP education in public and private schools.

The institute is managed by a consortium led by the Department of Education (DepED), in partnership with several agencies and organizations such as the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), MindanaWon Intercultural Dialogue, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs, Assisi Development Foundation, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and Lumads Development Inc., with funding assistance from the

Philippines-Australia Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Project of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Secretary Jesus Dureza, chair of MEDCo, lauded the IIPE initiative as it directly supports the government’s thrust of strengthening indigenous people’s education in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Ten-Point Legacy Agenda and the Mindanao NATIN Program.

“Improving access to basic education for our indigenous peoples through IIPE initiative is very much in line with the national government’s agenda of bringing peace and development in Mindanao by addressing imperatives for education in the island’s most deprived sector,” Dureza said.

The construction of a permanent IIPE site was implemented following Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of a resolution that sought for the establishment of the IIPE building inside the DCNHS compound.

Part of the objectives of the IIPE is the development of information materials significant to the curriculum in order to heighten awareness of teachers and students on indigenous people’s culture and tradition. The IIPE will serve as a repository of indigenous materials that will display the intricate craftsmanship of IP groups in Mindanao.

IIPE stakeholders will also conduct research activities that will significantly contribute to effective learning strategies that can be adopted by schools.

At present, there are 20 pilot schools adopting the IP curriculum in Region 11. Among the schools that will initially showcase indigenous materials of Mandaya, Ata and Bagobo tribes are the Caraga National High School in Davao Oriental, Tibi-Tibi Elementary School in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, and Atan Owe Elementary School in Toril, Davao City.

Activities already undertaken by the IIPE include the creation of a technical working group on the IP curriculum, consultation workshop, study tour to existing IP learning institutes in the country, write shop on curriculum framework, and trainers training on the implementation of IP curriculum.

It is expected that with the integration of IP education in the school curriculum, unity and cultural diversity in Mindanao will be strengthened further as commonalities and respect, rather than differences in culture and tradition of the island-region’s 1.5 million IPs are highlighted.

A call for your City High memories on paper Capturing the first eight decades of the Davao City High School,

Now the Davao City National High School The Davao City High School Batch 1980 will be hosting the grand alumini homecoming for 2005 on December 11 at the NCCC Mall, Davao City.
The batch has monickered itself “Walong Dekada” , after the year 1980 that we finished from City High School and the fact that City High is eight decades old or so.

This year we hope to celebrate with three batches, !980, the batch that never had a formal graduation, 1955 this years golden celebrants and Batch 1930. The year that would have been the golden celebrants in 1980.

Our Batch would like to start by trying to encapsulate the essence of our High School in the last eight decades that it has been in existence. We would like to see in the pages of a book what it was like to be a student of City High at that particular decade in time, juxtaposed to highlights /events in Davao City, the Philippines and the world.

City High is about the thousands and thousands of students who entered and exited its gates. Help us in campaign of finding the people that composed the pictures and the events. Write down those memories and reflections on paper. Share with us the true essence of City High.
Batch 1980 can be reached at CITYHI80-DVO@yahoogroups.com

A letter of Invitation to all Batch years of the Davao City High School, now the Davao City National High School

The Davao City High School Batch 1980 will hosting the grand alumni Reunion for 2005 on December 11, at the NCCC Mall, of Davao City.

The batch has called this year’s celebration “Walong Dekado,” marking the year we graduated from City High and recognizing that our school is now 82 turning 83. We are inviting all the batches to participate. Our batch did not have the opportunity to formally exit City High through a graduation. We finished high school during a very turbulent period in Davao City’s history. No large congregations were allowed at that time. Consequently, DCHS Batch 1955, this years golden anniversary celebrants, were also unable to celebrate their 25th homecoming. The golden year alumni celebrants for 1980 did not have their day as well.

We would like to make the homecoming memorable as always, and perhaps triply memorable for the three affected batches.

We welcome your support for the celebration. We also welcome your suggestions.
Hopefully by the end of the first quarter of 2005, we will be able to collate all suggestions and come out with a program wherein the different batches can participate by the end of the second quarter of 2005. Hopefully, we will be able to accommodate all suggestions.

Lastly, the batch has come out with a green card which will be the ticket for next years activity. We never had a city high green card. We hope you can avail of one for yourself as a ticket to the alumni homecoming and it will also serve as one of the memorabilia of the event.

Please write us your thoughts and suggestions for the December 11, 2005. You can send your reply to CITYHI80-DVO@yahoogroups.com or you can fax it to us at:
We look forward to your participation and appreciate your support.

Honey Sarita J. Abarquez
President DCHS BATCH 1980.