Davao: City of kings
By Deni Rose M. Afinidad
Manila Standard Today
June 08,2006
IF the Philippines were to name its luckiest city, it would probably be Davao.
A sprawling metropolis of over a million people in the southeastern part of Mindanao, Davao is one of the largest cities in the world with a land area of 2,443.61 sqm—even larger than Texas City.
Not only that, Mother Nature has pampered it like a king by locating it in a typhoon-free zone along the rim of the Asia-Pacific, allowing it to serve as gateway to both the western and eastern hemispheres of the world.
Because of the city’s fertile soil and abundance in potable water, Davao has also become the habitat of nature’s royalties—the “king of birds” (the Philippine eagle); the “king of fruits” (durian); and the “king of flowers” (waling-waling).
For all these natural gifts, it’s no wonder the city’s people and local government have done so much to harness their blessings.
In 2001, 2003, and 2005, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) assessed the country’s leading cities based on quality of life, cost of doing business, dynamism of the local economy, infrastructure, linkages and accessibility, and quality of workforce. Davao placed third in 2003, but topped the rankings in 2001 and 2005, making it the Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines during that period, according to AIM.
This was no surprise for Davao, which was declared as the Most Livable City in the Philippines for consistently making it to the Top 20 for four consecutive years (1996-1999) in Asiaweek’s annual survey of 40 Best Cities in Asia. In the survey of livability, Davao City ranked 18th, toppling Cebu (19th) and Manila (25th). It also assumed the throne of being the Most Peaceful City in East and Southeast Asia since 1998 for an almost zero crime rate (0.8 cases per 10,000 persons—90% of these are petty crimes).
Because of this, imposing curfew was no longer needed in the city, which has the Best Police Office in the Country (1999-2005), said the Philippine National Police. Anyone can walk around town during the wee hours without fear of bumping into a street hooligan.
Similarly, Davao, The Cleanest and Greenest City in the Philippines (1999-2005), is said to be one of the least polluted and most decongested cities in Asia, according to Asiaweek. This made the city save a lot from using traffic lights or hiring traffic enforcers.
Though it is 946 km away (or a one-hour-and-45-minute plane trip) from Manila, no urbanite would feel ostracized in the City of Kings. For one, nightlife is so alive and abundant in the city that bar hopping is as easy as puffing one’s cigarette, though smoking is really banned in the city’s public hubs. But perhaps, one can forget one’s vices if the places to see are Jack’s Ridge—a string of overlooking restaurants and cafés atop a hill or the equivalent of combined Tagaytay and Antipolo’s Cogeo; and the Matina Town Square (MTS)—comparable to Mandaluyong’s Metrowalk.
Like their counterparts, Jack’s Ridge and MTS overflow with beer and delicacies alongside local and foreign entertainment; yet unlike them, MTS and the Ridge possess the staple in every Davaoeño plate—the durian. A coffee shop in the Ridge serves chocolate durian cake, while MTS has the Blugré Café, where durian coffee and the durian frappe are the bestsellers.
The Ridge is also known for being the former fort of the Bagobo tribe and for its underwater origin, as testified by large seashell fossils that were found there. It also offers a telescope, where one can peep into the lofts of the metropolis during daytime and gaze at the stars or the city lights at night.
Besides these, countless first-class hotels and specialized fine-dining restaurants can be explored around the metro. Of note is the Marituna Seafood Market and Restaurant in Pampanga, Davao, where one can feel like dining at the ocean’s bosom as baby white sharks and other marine creatures swim in large aquariums that adorn the restaurant’s walls. Marituna serves clamshell soup, crispy tuna tail, kilawin tuna eggs, shrimp with kangkong, sizzling swordfish belly, and fresh fruit shakes. It also has a market where customers can walk out knowing some bits of trivia about the seafood they bought.
If the tourist is not contented to just see and eat sea creatures at Davao’s restaurants, he or she can visit these animals at their natural habitat—and that would bring him or her to the Island Garden City of Samal—a 15-minute ferry ride from the metropolis where one can commune with nature’s delights via island hopping, scuba diving, snorkeling, banana boat riding, white water rafting, seaside swimming, water tubing, and everything that would fill the tourist’s heart with content. The paradise at the very end of Samal is the world-famous Pearl Farm—known for its world-class beaches, services and facilities.
From under the sea, the traveler can trek uphill to see a triad of nature’s havens—the Eden Nature Park at the slopes of Mt. Talomo; the Crocodile Park in Dencio’s Hill; and the Philippine Eagle Breeding and Conservation Facility in Malagos.
Located 2,630 feet above sea level, the Eden Nature Park is Davao’s Club John Hay as its cold climate, log cabins, and lush pine trees remind one of Baguio.
Peaceful as it may seem, the park activate every visitor’s inner Indiana Jones. Its 40-hectare, jungle-style camping and adventure site invites diverse activities for the whole family. Wedding reception is most memorable if held in the Park’s garden amphitheater, which seems like an ancient Roman ruin with picturesque overlooking view and flowery surroundings. Similarly, honeymooners can maximize privacy at the Parks’ soundproof villas and rooms. Sports aficionados, meanwhile, can play any sport they have in mind (even traditional Filipino games) as the Park has spacious courts suitable for mini-Olympics and for playing piko, patintero, and the like. Lastly, companies and school organizations can hold their seminars and recollections in the Park’s jungle-inspired function rooms, and have their team-building activities in the resort’s trekking, wall climbing, rappelling, and obstacle course areas—complete with shower rooms, bleachers, sound system, and fun gliding cables.
Riding on horseback, or in a Safari-style van, one can stop over to sneak at the rare species being raised at the parks’ gardens and farms. Examples of what can be seen are the yellow pitaheya or dragon fruit from Jamaica; the giant ferns or the signature trees of Mt. Apo; white African tulips; the cassowary bird from Australia—one of the world’s largest and fastest bird; mangosteen and macadamia nut plantations; organic herbs; and gourmet vegetables like zucchini or Italian squash.
Another exhilarating landmark to see is the Crocodile Park in Dencio’s Hill, which breeds around 300 fresh water crocodiles. A skeleton of a 40-year-old crocodile (14 feet in length) greets guests, while dancing parrots and Glide—a two-year-old eagle—welcomes the visitors with a peck. A couple of Burmese pythons, 20-33 feet in length and weighing 200-300 lbs., can be touched and carried (but cannot be taken home) by guests upon request. Baby crocodiles are also allowed to be touched after their mouths were tightly shut—giving tourists an idea of what a Seiko wallet feels minus the buttons and the zippers.
There’s another crocodile in the Philippine Eagle Breeding and Conservation Facility in Malagos, but this one seems out of place. The Conservation Facility, obviously, is where a number of endangered Philippine eagles are protected and bred in captivity. The main star of the facility is the 14-year-old Pag-asa—the center’s first successful hatch. Recently, it was learned that Pag-Asa’s brother, Kabayan, died of electrocution by landing on an electric cable shortly after it was freed in the wild.
Before these Philippine eagles become extinct, or better, before another generation of them wakes up to embrace the world, tourists should come and see Davao especially in August, when Davaoeños celebrate the Kadayawan, or the blossoming of the waling-waling and the harvest time of durian.
Truly, Davao is the country’s fruit basket and king of destinations. If you also want to feel lucky as this city is, you ought to be seen here.
