Davao City: Hope of Mindanao tourism
October 14, 2001 | 12:00am
DAVAO CITY – Politicians have, for generations, extolled Mindanao as the "Land of Promise" but have failed to deliver on their grand promises. This writer believes that it is the talented and courageous 1.2 million local people who will make Davao City the shining hope of the region’s tourism industry. Durian, the Philippine Eagle, bananas, the country’s tallest Mount Apo and the famous waling-waling orchid are only some of the many wonders of Davao City. With 244,000 hectares of territory, the city is also reputed to be the world’s biggest in terms of land area.
Every year, Davao City celebrates its "Kadayawan Festival" as a thanksgiving feast and a showcase of Mindanao culture. Last August, the festivities included the Indigenous People’s Day, the floral float parade, the unique Bagobo traditional horsefight (two stallions competing for a chosen mare), a horticultural exhibit, the Halad sa Kinaiyahan ecology showcase and other events. It seemed the only national official in attendance this year was Sen. Noli de Castro, who was on the same flight as this writer. Despite suggestions to cancel the festival this year due to the Abu Sayyaf attacks on Pearl Farm and Dos Palmas (in Palawan) and other problems in Mindanao, Davao City triumphed over terrorism and successfully held its celebration.
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon told The STAR, "A renewed tourism thrust could revive the Mindanao economy, helping eliminate the root cause of the Abu Sayyaf banditry – poverty. We will give priority to tourism promotion of Mindanao in time for the World Tourism Organization-endorsed ‘Visit Philippines Year’ campaign in 2003. Davao and Mindanao will also benefit from my proposal to have long public holiday seasons similar to those done in China, which will hopefully boost domestic tourism nationwide. I am also asking our seven million overseas Filipino workers to bring home at least one or two foreign tourists every year."
Why visit Davao at the southern bottom of the seemingly rebel-infested Mindanao island? Department of Tourism regional director Sonia Garcia said, "Davao City has many exciting tourist resorts, it is a safe and dynamic city with diverse culture. We have bountiful fruits and we have many beautiful young women, most of whom are my relatives (laughs)."
Tourist Guides Union president Edgardo Loyola added, "People should visit Davao City. We have tried to detach the Davao name from the bad international image of Mindanao, but it is difficult. We just hope that Mindanao improves its reputation, so that Davao’s tourism potentials can be realized."
Davao City offers varied gastronomic choices, from the delicious grilled dishes, the bariles (tuna) and barbecue meals in Dencio’s Kamayan (with a total of five outlets) at the upscale entertainment-bar-billiards complex The Venue to the rugged inihaw dishes of Kulasa Chicken. A famous local coffeeshop named Blue Gre is owned by Renato Gatchalian. A unique new restaurant and bar complex is the 1.6-hectare Matina Town Square owned by the banana plantation family of Mike Ayala (no relation to the Hispanic Zobel-Ayala clan of Makati). On weekends, the 40 establishments of Matina have about 1,000 to 1,500 customers. Family patriarch Atty. Jesus Ayala also owns the Eden Nature Resort nestled on the foot of Mount Talomo and situated 2,630 feet above sea level. Visitors can stay in a wide variety of accommodations, from the most upscale Marco Polo Hotel, the seaside Waterfront Insular Hotel to the affordable inns.
Davao City is also home to the world’s biggest eagle, the Philippine Eagle, which former Sen. Nikki Coseteng helped made into the national bird instead of the maya. When visiting this city, pay a visit to Pag-asa (Hope), the first Philippine Eagle to be born and bred in captivity. The Philippine Eagle Nature Center is in the foothills of the country’s tallest Mount Apo. There are 19 eagles there, as well as other birds, animals and tropical plants. Adventurous visitors may climb up the 10,311-foot Mt. Apo, which also straddles two other provinces – North Cotabato and Bukidnon. For water-loving people, Noel Daquioag suggests visits to the dive sites at Mushroom Rock, Ligid Island, Talicud Island, Pearl Farm or the Isla Malipano, all in the garden island of Samal. In Samal, one can enjoy dolphin- and whale-watching.
The main tourist attraction and richest natural resource of Davao City is its culturally diverse people, from the Cebuano-speaking folk, the native Bagobos and Mandayas, some Muslims to the economically dynamic ethnic Chinese community. The Lim family, which built the beautiful Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan, is from the retailing business in Davao, while the Chinese family surnamed Bangayan, which owns The Venue, originally came from the copra industry in Zamboanga. An original ethnic tribe was also the Mansakas. Davao City, historically, has a sizable Japanese community. Migrants from Zamboanga, Jolo and Cotabato have also settled here.
RFM Group chief executive officer Joey Concepcion told this writer: "Mindanao has virtually no typhoons and is an ideal place to develop Philippine agriculture." Mindanao is resource-rich and is the country’s second largest island. The country should decisively cleanse Mindanao’s international notoriety by resolving age-old rebellions, terrorism, kidnappings and other problems. Davao City seems different and offers a model for the whole region in terms of modernity, social peace and economic vitality. Due to the enterprising spirit, creativity and courage of its people, Davao City can become the shining hope for Mindanao’s tourism, agriculture and economic renaissance.
Every year, Davao City celebrates its "Kadayawan Festival" as a thanksgiving feast and a showcase of Mindanao culture. Last August, the festivities included the Indigenous People’s Day, the floral float parade, the unique Bagobo traditional horsefight (two stallions competing for a chosen mare), a horticultural exhibit, the Halad sa Kinaiyahan ecology showcase and other events. It seemed the only national official in attendance this year was Sen. Noli de Castro, who was on the same flight as this writer. Despite suggestions to cancel the festival this year due to the Abu Sayyaf attacks on Pearl Farm and Dos Palmas (in Palawan) and other problems in Mindanao, Davao City triumphed over terrorism and successfully held its celebration.
Why visit Davao at the southern bottom of the seemingly rebel-infested Mindanao island? Department of Tourism regional director Sonia Garcia said, "Davao City has many exciting tourist resorts, it is a safe and dynamic city with diverse culture. We have bountiful fruits and we have many beautiful young women, most of whom are my relatives (laughs)."
Tourist Guides Union president Edgardo Loyola added, "People should visit Davao City. We have tried to detach the Davao name from the bad international image of Mindanao, but it is difficult. We just hope that Mindanao improves its reputation, so that Davao’s tourism potentials can be realized."
Davao City is also home to the world’s biggest eagle, the Philippine Eagle, which former Sen. Nikki Coseteng helped made into the national bird instead of the maya. When visiting this city, pay a visit to Pag-asa (Hope), the first Philippine Eagle to be born and bred in captivity. The Philippine Eagle Nature Center is in the foothills of the country’s tallest Mount Apo. There are 19 eagles there, as well as other birds, animals and tropical plants. Adventurous visitors may climb up the 10,311-foot Mt. Apo, which also straddles two other provinces – North Cotabato and Bukidnon. For water-loving people, Noel Daquioag suggests visits to the dive sites at Mushroom Rock, Ligid Island, Talicud Island, Pearl Farm or the Isla Malipano, all in the garden island of Samal. In Samal, one can enjoy dolphin- and whale-watching.
The main tourist attraction and richest natural resource of Davao City is its culturally diverse people, from the Cebuano-speaking folk, the native Bagobos and Mandayas, some Muslims to the economically dynamic ethnic Chinese community. The Lim family, which built the beautiful Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan, is from the retailing business in Davao, while the Chinese family surnamed Bangayan, which owns The Venue, originally came from the copra industry in Zamboanga. An original ethnic tribe was also the Mansakas. Davao City, historically, has a sizable Japanese community. Migrants from Zamboanga, Jolo and Cotabato have also settled here.
RFM Group chief executive officer Joey Concepcion told this writer: "Mindanao has virtually no typhoons and is an ideal place to develop Philippine agriculture." Mindanao is resource-rich and is the country’s second largest island. The country should decisively cleanse Mindanao’s international notoriety by resolving age-old rebellions, terrorism, kidnappings and other problems. Davao City seems different and offers a model for the whole region in terms of modernity, social peace and economic vitality. Due to the enterprising spirit, creativity and courage of its people, Davao City can become the shining hope for Mindanao’s tourism, agriculture and economic renaissance.
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