Davao City High School Batch 1988

Davao City eyed as site of plush Korean village

Big Korean travel agents and tourism investors are eyeing Davao City as the site of a high-end Korean residential vacation complex complete with school and hospital facilities.

Vice chairman Jon Kim of the Korean Tourism Association said they would prefer a site near a golf course where they could play, and a beach to where they could escape the harsh Korean winter from November to February.

“Koreans work hard the rest of the year to prepare themselves for winter and go to countries with warm climate,” explained another Korean businessman Bong H. Kim, president and chief executive officer of Hanwha Tour Mall Co. Ltd.

“And the Philippines has the distinct advantage of being Korea’s nearest tropical neighbor with lots of golf courses and pristine beaches,” president L.H. Kim of ANY Tours & Travel Service added, citing the huge Korean outbound market who could travel to the Philippines all year round for golf, water sports, leisure, studies, business, or retirement.

“We were delighted to learn that Davao City alone had three golf courses and several beach resorts to serve our purpose. And all these are not far from the airport,” Kim pointed out.

He added, though, that the only problem would be the lack of direct flights from Korea to Davao City, which he described as a major requirement.

Citing the golf craze in Korea, Bong said Korean families would spend more than 0,000 annually to send their children abroad just to play golf. “Unlike most Filipinos who play golf for fun, we Koreans do it to win and become number one,” Bong added.

Jon Kim, Bong H. Kim, and K.H. Kim were among the 21 Koreans who visited Davao City as part of the recently-concluded Philippine-Korean Travel Exchange (Philkotex) organized by the Team Korea of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Team Korea Head Maricon Ebron said the DoT, through Philkotex, was able to bring in a total of 68 big-time travel agents to transact business with Philippine tourism suppliers specializing in diving, golf, and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

Sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Southeast Asian Airlines, Korean Air, and Asiana Airlines, Philkotex also had a post-conference 2-night/3-day tour for Korean delegates to one of the Philippines’ top five destinations, which included Davao City where they visited the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, T’boli Weaving Center, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Philippine Research and Nature Center, Malagos Garden Resort, Eden Nature Park and Resort, The Marco Polo Davao, Casino Filipino at the Grand Regal Hotel, and Matina Times Square.

Lee Je Woo, president and CEO of Shin Heung Travel Agency Co. Ltd. cited the big potential of Davao City as a tourism destination and retirement haven for Koreans. Lee said their visit was an offshoot of the highly-successful ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) hosted by Davao City last January.

“News on the resounding success of the ATF lured us to see for ourselves what Davao could offer,” Lee added.

Davao City eyed as site of plush Korean village

Big Korean travel agents and tourism investors are eyeing Davao City as the site of a high-end Korean residential vacation complex complete with school and hospital facilities.

Vice chairman Jon Kim of the Korean Tourism Association said they would prefer a site near a golf course where they could play, and a beach to where they could escape the harsh Korean winter from November to February.

“Koreans work hard the rest of the year to prepare themselves for winter and go to countries with warm climate,” explained another Korean businessman Bong H. Kim, president and chief executive officer of Hanwha Tour Mall Co. Ltd.

“And the Philippines has the distinct advantage of being Korea’s nearest tropical neighbor with lots of golf courses and pristine beaches,” president L.H. Kim of ANY Tours & Travel Service added, citing the huge Korean outbound market who could travel to the Philippines all year round for golf, water sports, leisure, studies, business, or retirement.

“We were delighted to learn that Davao City alone had three golf courses and several beach resorts to serve our purpose. And all these are not far from the airport,” Kim pointed out.

He added, though, that the only problem would be the lack of direct flights from Korea to Davao City, which he described as a major requirement.

Citing the golf craze in Korea, Bong said Korean families would spend more than 0,000 annually to send their children abroad just to play golf. “Unlike most Filipinos who play golf for fun, we Koreans do it to win and become number one,” Bong added.

Jon Kim, Bong H. Kim, and K.H. Kim were among the 21 Koreans who visited Davao City as part of the recently-concluded Philippine-Korean Travel Exchange (Philkotex) organized by the Team Korea of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Team Korea Head Maricon Ebron said the DoT, through Philkotex, was able to bring in a total of 68 big-time travel agents to transact business with Philippine tourism suppliers specializing in diving, golf, and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

Sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Southeast Asian Airlines, Korean Air, and Asiana Airlines, Philkotex also had a post-conference 2-night/3-day tour for Korean delegates to one of the Philippines’ top five destinations, which included Davao City where they visited the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, T’boli Weaving Center, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Philippine Research and Nature Center, Malagos Garden Resort, Eden Nature Park and Resort, The Marco Polo Davao, Casino Filipino at the Grand Regal Hotel, and Matina Times Square.

Lee Je Woo, president and CEO of Shin Heung Travel Agency Co. Ltd. cited the big potential of Davao City as a tourism destination and retirement haven for Koreans. Lee said their visit was an offshoot of the highly-successful ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) hosted by Davao City last January.

“News on the resounding success of the ATF lured us to see for ourselves what Davao could offer,” Lee added.

Davao, Nanning sister-city agreement signed
Source: EDITHA Z. CADUAYA
Friday, March 31, 2006
http://www.dailymirror.net.ph/

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Nanning Guangxi Zhuang of the autonomous region of the Republic of China yesterday signed a letter of intent for a sisterhood agreement between the two cities aimed at extending friendship, culture and arts and other opportunities between them.
Mayor Lin Guoqiang of Nanning in his speech said he expects good relationship and exchanges of expertise which will help both cities in their development.

“Davao City is very beautiful and I hope the agreement will help us in developing our people and cities,” Guoqiang said.

Duterte proudly pre-sented Davao City to the Chinese visitors as the most livable city in the country and which has been hailed by Asian Institute of Manage-ment as the most competitive city in the country.

The crime rate is at a minimum and is in fact the lowest in the country, Duterte added.

“Here we live peacefully with mutual respect and support to each other,” he said as he cited the city’s diverse population.

The simple ceremony started with a tribal dance presentation.

Duterte said he is happy that the people of Nanning have extended a gesture of friendship with the people of Davao.

He said he is hopeful the relationship will start a prosperous socio-economic and cultural exchange between the two cities.

A student of Mindanao
By Walter I. Balane / MindaNews/ 30 March 2006

DAVAO CITY - “There is no difference between living and learning . . . it is impossible and misleading and harmful to think of them as being separate,” writes John Holt, in his landmark book on alternative education “What Do I Do Monday?”

I’ll take a dose of Holt as I reflect about how I feel about choosing to stay and work in Mindanao.

I live and I am enrolled to a Mindanao that is an open university where the lessons are boundless and the teachers are not limited to PhD and master’s degree holders. And there goes something about living here that I wouldn’t change for anything.

For Holt, home study is an alternative to school-based learning systems. Learning in Mindanao could be my “home study” as Mindanao is home to me and I share as

a collective domain the plains, rivers, streets, highways, structures, forests and public places with other Mindanawons.

I write in the context of informal, continuous and personal learning experiences and I do not propose that students shun the schools and stay home, instead.

Living in Mindanao this time is such a privilege. I think that Mindanao’s complexities, diversities and circumstances are conducive learning realms.

My anthropologist friends and journalist colleagues share to me from time to time theories, their experiences and views. Sometimes they theorize or complicate

things for me, or simplify it and connect the pieces.

All the time, they did it with passion, grace and wit.

In the receiving end, I could only thank them for I had become a beneficiary of their scholarships and worthwhile field works.

Many of these theories could be read in Mindanao’s libraries such as in the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue at the Ateneo. Through library work, I also benefit from the bodies of work of various scholars who wrote on Mindanao across time.

I am not a post-graduate student. I believe that from listening and interacting with the “conferences” of peoples, ideas, histories and futures in everyday Mindanao I learn enough for my present needs. Besides, my open “campus” provides me with much wider, boundless and real-time learning opportunities.

Foremost of these are the forum sessions held to consolidate and thresh out some pressing issues on Mindanao, the country or the world.

In the Kusog Mindanaw conference in November 2005, I paid full attention to Rudy Rodil, the GRP peace panel vice chair, as he gave updates of the peace process.

I know that Ompong, a historian, was telling history to Mindanao’s various non-government organizations and groups who are part of Kusog.

Apart from him, there were a handful of presenters in that conference. In two days, I had a virtual tour around Mindanao and on the peace process, traversing timelines and spaces listening to the discussions.

Fora around Mindanao offer pregnant discussions on issues like the peace process, mining in Mindanao, organic farming, development aid to Mindanao, tourism prospects for Mindanao, federalism and many others. Sometimes extensive or intensive, the discussions end with a consensus or a resolution to “agree to disagree”. I took advantage of these dynamics to understand Mindanao deeper.

I have also met different leaders of Mindanao’s various organizations from the civil-society, non-government sector, local government units and corporate world. Count in the contrast: from the leaders of the Mindanao Business Council to the leaders of jeepney drivers’ associations and leaders of Mindanao’s ethnic groups like the Matigsalug tribal council and even mining executives or their disciples.

When these people meet, they bring with them oftentimes conflicting views and stands. I find listening to them argue and contra-pose each other a healthy and worthwhile chance to learn.

The peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an example. For me, it is a running “case study”. Peace is Mindanao’s top agenda and the positive outlook on a final peace agreement is a welcome news. How this process is done, who is doing it and not doing it, what issues are they talking about, what issues are slowing the process and what prospects do we have are important for today’s young people in Mindanao, like me. I look at these moves as crucial to Mindanao’s future, and mine too.

I was able to share about what are “ancestral domain” issues the peace panels will talk about, to a Mandaya farmer who attended MindaNews’ grassroots journalism in Caraga, Davao Oriental in December 2005. Thanks to the Kusog conference. In return, he explained to me how important it is for them to safeguard their lands from intruders like logging firms. He said land is life for them. The way he explained it to me, with deep concern and emotions, moved me.

Mindanao looks back in history and peeps at the future as indigenous peoples other than the Bangsamoro neighbors take a hard look at ancestral domain. For the past five years, the government has sped up distribution of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) but ancestral domain and indigenous governance has remained as major aspirations among Mindanao’s IPs. Aside from these discussions in gatherings around

Mindanao, opportunities to work with communities also provide extensive and intensive learning interactions.

The communities are open fields of learning. A healthy exchange of experiences, knowledge and world views can stem from engagements worked on prior agreed and mutually beneficial arrangements with communities.

I have experienced learning from simple people from various communities in Mindanao. They all have their own way of doing things and sometimes, their ways were better than mine. In fact, many of them are scholars in their own right and are very reliable researchers and sources for they are “in the field” themselves. Most of the time, my trips and encounters with these peoples and communities are far better than reading about them in outdated books.

Mindanao ’s communities yearn for empowerment and we can draw energy and encouragement from them. In Upi, Maguindanao, the internet, thanks to a local government initiative, pulls the world closer to the locals. But some of the Tedurays and the Iranun residents still cling to age old traditions that have remained useful, such as some of their community communication systems.

I realized that the communities around Mindanao are living archives of rich traditions, histories and possibilities. As an outsider, I think I have a stake on keeping those treasures intact and helping enhance the same with the locals.

The communities are not only spaces for rehabilitation, as in those conflict-torn areas, but are also fountains of lessons and stories for others to hear. But I don’t think communities should be viewed only as milking cows of information.

Through continuous, mutually-beneficial and comprehensive experiences with communities, I think I have become a quintessential student who goes to the field to gather and validate what I have learned.

Yes, I am a student. And I pay homage to my campus –the vast fields of Mindanao.

Muslim scholar to speak in “Islam and the West” forum in Davao
MindaNews/ 1 April 2006

MALAYBALAY CITY — As part of efforts to “contribute to interfaith understanding especially among Muslim and Christian communities,” the Voluntary Services Overseas Peace Enabling Actions for Community Empowerment in North Western Mindanao (VSO PEACE Mindanao) and the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM) will hold the forum “Dialogue of Civilizations: Islam and the West” on Monday, 3 April 2006, 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Magallanes St., Davao City.

The main speaker is renowned Muslim scholar Prof. Muhammad Abdel Haleem, director of the Center of Islamic Studies of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, England. He is visiting the Philippines upon the invitation of the British Embassy and as part of our efforts to promote peace in Mindanao.

Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process will talk on the “Implications on the GRP-MILF Peace Process”.

Prof. Rufa Guiam, Director of the Center for Peace and Development Studies, MSU-General Santos, will present the topic “Implications on the Peacebuilding Role of Muslim Women in Mindanao.”

Dr. Mochtar Matuan of the Muslim-Christian Movement for Peace and Dialogue on “Implications on Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding among Muslims and Christians”.

Sarah Parsons, Second Secretary (Political) of the British Embassy, will present Embassy programs in support of peacebuilding efforts in the Philippines.

Muslim Ulama, Christian religious, academics, professionals, local government officials, and civil society groups will attend the forum with the aim of enriching the discourse on interfaith understanding especially among Muslims and Christians.

VSO, one of the forum sponsors, is an international non-governmental organization that supports development and poverty eradication efforts in developing countries by sending volunteer professionals where their line of expertise is much needed.

Its Peace Mindanao program in based in the Lanao provinces and works with local governments, NGOs, Muslim and Christian communities in the fields of resource management, livelihoods, and grassroots peacebuilding.

AFRIM, on the other hand, is a non-profit research and advocacy institution based in Davao City. It focuses on social research, advocacy, community development, and providing information and analyses on development related issues.

Those who are interested to attend may contact Anna Quines or Nemia Bautista of AFRIM at (082) 226-4592,226-3932, anna@afrim.org.ph or to info@afrim.org.ph.

A Davaoeño Feast
BY JEREMY C. MALCAMPO

Though most Pinoy gourmands criticize Davao cuisine as something that always goes with liquor, or something you eat to help kill time because the natives prefer their fish and meat sinugba (charcoal grilled), boiled or roasted with ginger and tanglad (lemon grass), I believe otherwise. I do believe—behind all the Sinuglaw fad which roots from classical to contemporary Filipiniaña culinary history—that Davao food is so diverse and good, it takes a lifetime to rationalize and answer the question why they love Durian, and why Davao women are extremely special.

For one, the Davao people’s treatment of food, like the fresh bounties of the sea (tanigue, kitong, tuna), is geared towards preserving natural flavors. Whether we like it or not, a hearty tanigue meat, tuna panga (jaw) or tuna belly are at their best when treated with just the most basic culinary requirement (the most important element in cooking) which is plain heat.

Perhaps, all types of meat really reincarnate as food for humanity when grilled. They are four times more flavorful and aromatic with all essential oils enhanced. When grilled atop charcoal, meat becomes tastier as salinity (natural chloric acids) doubles, and high and low-lypo fatty acids fuse together, making it good enough to please both the palate and our olfactory sense. Of course, there’s the aged Sukang Tuba, and Sasa (sap) that are romantically fermented through years and years of storage in Tapayan clay jars, and big glassware with garlic, onions, pepper, pork fat oil, and heavily infused with chili peppers.

My last Davao food adventure was well over two years ago, and I had forgotten how good Davao food can be. It was precisely to reacquaint myself with the goodness of Davao cuisine that just recently I found myself, together with a few colleagues and friends, at the Hotel Intercon in Makati City giving support to Chef Manuel “Paddy” Lascano’s Davao Food Festival which highlighted a superior buffet line of modern and authentic Davao cuisine.

When I arrived at the Jeepney Restaurant of the Hotel Intercon, I found my mentor, Chef Gene Gonzalez, giving detailed instructions to a chef at the rotisserie station about properly grilling a tuna panga to his preference; while asking another member of the staff for a minute serving of Oding or Udong (a Filipinized dish of the Japanese Udon). In the next table, my mentor’s sous chef, together with Café Breizh owner Chef Paul Tee of Davao, was signaling me for an early, afternoon drink.

After Chef Paddy was formally introduced to me, I went to check the Oding or Udong station. I was asked by one of the interns who participated in the festival if I wanted to try a sample serving, and I replied yes. She sautéed some chopped garlic and onions in oil and put in about two tablespoons of fresh pork liver slices until they changed in color. She added some herbs and put in some flour-and-egg-based noodles with some kinayod coconut meat. The coconut meat extended its internal oils and turned the concoction into a creamy dish, timely perfect for seasoning with salt and pepper.

While she plated it, I proceeded to the grill station. I asked for a serving of marinated, fresh liempo slices and a single order of tuna panga for grilling. When I tried everything with steamed rice and a dip made out of suka at sili, the food was so good I was convinced to try out everything that the food festival had to offer.

While Chef Paddy was giving some lectures on Davao food history to the rest of the guests at our table, I signaled to my mentor’s sous chef to join me in choosing some more examples of Davao food to try out.

As we stepped into the casserole area, and the fry station, he recommended the Guprito nga Tilapia with Mango Ginger Sauce, which was fried to a superb crispiness. The mango ginger sauce was bliss; it was a basic amalgamation of aroma and contrasting tastes. It was really very good and as far as I know Chef Paddy is renowned for this amazing Davao dip. I then got some pieces of fried Puso ng Saging Bola Bola, which had some reddish outer-burn, and tasted meaty in umami. I enjoyed them with the mango ginger dip, as well.

After lunch, my stomach still had some room for Sea Urchin Roe Salad, fried garlic stewed pork belly, Manuk Kiarehan, and some Cassava Dumplings with Durian Cream for dessert. Needless to say, I left the food festival well-sated and intending to come back. Incidentally, the Davao Food Festival at the Hotel Intercon is until March 31.

Davao, Nanning sister-city agreement signed
Source: EDITHA Z. CADUAYA
Friday, March 31, 2006
http://www.dailymirror.net.ph/

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Nanning Guangxi Zhuang of the autonomous region of the Republic of China yesterday signed a letter of intent for a sisterhood agreement between the two cities aimed at extending friendship, culture and arts and other opportunities between them.
Mayor Lin Guoqiang of Nanning in his speech said he expects good relationship and exchanges of expertise which will help both cities in their development.

“Davao City is very beautiful and I hope the agreement will help us in developing our people and cities,” Guoqiang said.

Duterte proudly pre-sented Davao City to the Chinese visitors as the most livable city in the country and which has been hailed by Asian Institute of Manage-ment as the most competitive city in the country.

The crime rate is at a minimum and is in fact the lowest in the country, Duterte added.

“Here we live peacefully with mutual respect and support to each other,” he said as he cited the city’s diverse population.

The simple ceremony started with a tribal dance presentation.

Duterte said he is happy that the people of Nanning have extended a gesture of friendship with the people of Davao.

He said he is hopeful the relationship will start a prosperous socio-economic and cultural exchange between the two cities.