Davao City is indeed such a nice place...kahit night life you can just roam around the city without fear of being victimized by bad elements because there are a lot of Task Force Davao men watching over the peace and order... Galing ng night life...daming choices...

Ang tuna belly and the panga wow sarap even the pomelo. Guys, have you ever tasted a pomelo cake? try it at Jack's Ridge... nice place to unwind...

No other city in the country which is as peaceful as Davao...halos every night been trying to walk on foot downtown from my hotel at grabe...safe safe...am actually from Iloilo City if I were to choose where to live next? that would be Davao...Mura ang tubig at kuryente... would you believe and laundry near my hotle costs only 25 per kilo including press na yon at ang bango...I can really really never forget my experience in Davao...cool and nice people to work with...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/ladies_nyt/davao1.jpg

^^The building at the rightmost of the pic seems to look like Davao's version of Cebu Waterfront Hotel.


The rightmost picture is the Royal Mandaya Hotel and at the left is Marco Polo Hotel... surely no other city outside Manila can rival Cebu City, but no one can beat the 2nd best tasting and cleanest tap water in the world and that is only in Davao...electricity is even cheaper...

....they expect at least 2,000 foreign participants from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as delegates from other invited countries like South Korea, China, Japan and India.
so who is going to take the pics of all those airliners at thhe davao international arport ???

Davao City is indeed such a nice place...kahit night life you can just roam around the city without fear of being victimized by bad elements because there are a lot of Task Force Davao men watching over the peace and order... Galing ng night life...daming choices...

Ang tuna belly and the panga wow sarap even the pomelo. Guys, have you ever tasted a pomelo cake? try it at Jack's Ridge... nice place to unwind...

No other city in the country which is as peaceful as Davao...halos every night been trying to walk on foot downtown from my hotel at grabe...safe safe...am actually from Iloilo City if I were to choose where to live next? that would be Davao...Mura ang tubig at kuryente... would you believe and laundry near my hotle costs only 25 per kilo including press na yon at ang bango...I can really really never forget my experience in Davao...cool and nice people to work with...

Gali? Damo Illonggo didto ba. My dad is from Iloilo, my mom, born in davao pero from Iloilo too. Binisaya lang ang hambal nila didto.

Gali? Damo Illonggo didto ba. My dad is from Iloilo, my mom, born in davao pero from Iloilo too. Binisaya lang ang hambal nila didto.
Kami Ilonggo man.
My mother and all her relatives came from Iloilo/Negros/Pututan/Dingli and Bacolod. They moved to Malaybalay then Davao.
I grew up in Davao. Davao is more bisaya and the people have a little prejudice over the Ilonggos unlike in Dadiangas.
But, walking around downtown Davao late at night is really safe.
My brother and I used to walk home late at night b/c we were broke after seeing a movie and sharing food.
We used to walk from Ateneo HS all the way to San Pedro. It was no sweat.

....they expect at least 2,000 foreign participants from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as delegates from other invited countries like South Korea, China, Japan and India.
so who is going to take the pics of all those airliners at thhe davao international arport ???

care to face the challenge sleepwalker dave?
:)

Actually, Davao has everything they can throw off: cleanliness, political will, peace and order situation, infrastructure and VAST LAND. Ang impression lang ng mga investors na grabe kasamoka didto kay gi-associate nila ang city sa Mindanao.
I agree with you. It is so unfair to Davao cause its not even close to those risky areas like Basilan.

I agree with you. It is so unfair to Davao cause its not even close to those risky areas like Basilan.

it's basically true even with the philippines. some isolated things happen like an ambush somewhere and it's being reported as if the whole country is at war. hayyy.

...buhaaay. I've only visited the city once in the 80's and Ive heard how nice it is from relatives. Hopefully by the end of this year I can take a visit. :cheers:

it's basically true even with the philippines. some isolated things happen like an ambush somewhere and it's being reported as if the whole country is at war. hayyy.
It's so true.
A friend of mine who's family is from Angeles thinks the MNLF terrorists run around Davao killing people.
I asked him if watches Saksi.
He said yes.
I then asked, last year how many were stabbed in Manila and how many died in Davao due to terrorism.
It dawned on him. Hell, TWO of his relatives were taga'd in Angeles.

^^ It really is sad when Filipino don't entirely know the geographical locations of the provinces. It is so true about what you guys wrote. It like when they hear Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, people would generalize it as far as Davao del Sur or Davao Oriental. :no:

3rd thread na pala nitong davao. ang galing nyo talaga. keep it up!

a week from now the ASEAN tourism meeting will be held, and still noone to take pics of the airline arrivals at the new airport ?

taga Cebu tingali? :? :D

hahahaha!!!! this is fun! i know where this mga taga "kuan" is, twas a nice topic in our 2nd meet!

^^ kuan fundraiser, naa ka nay itinerary for ur davao trip?

....they expect at least 2,000 foreign participants from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as delegates from other invited countries like South Korea, China, Japan and India.
so who is going to take the pics of all those airliners at thhe davao international arport ???

i wont promise but i'll try. if i be given the chance to man our fx booth at the airport, why not...

Davao White Water Adventure... enjoy!

http://www.davaowildwateradventure.com/page/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=29

>>>>>>-----SCROLL---->>>>>>

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred1/000006.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred1/000017.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred1/000019.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred1/000012.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred1/000008.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/aldrinred/IMG_0080.jpg

The Davao River
Written by AldrinRed
Wednesday, 07 December 2005


Davao River ranks number seven among the largest river basins in the Philippines , Cagayan Valley River Basin being at the zenith on the list. This is the largest of the city's nine principal watersheds. The River is the main natural reservoir of the aquifer in the city's jurisdiction.

The past surveys made reveal that the river has a total area of one hundred seventy two thousand eight hundred eleven (172,811) hectares. Seventy percent (70%) or one hundred thirteen thousand (113,000) hectares runs through timberlands. Twenty two percent (22%) or thirty eight thousand eight hundred (38,800) hectares is alienable and disposable.

On August three of 1903, Proclamation Number 612 proclaimed as watershed two hundred thirty five hectares of the area. This came to be known as the Malagos watershed in the third district of the city.
In the city's jurisdictional map, it comprises portions of Marilog District, Baguio District, Calinan District, Talomo District and Buhangin District.

The River has a total length of 143 kilometers, stretching creeping through a good number of streams. The main source of which may be traced to as far as Bukidnon. The headwater in Bukidnon is of largely timberland or moss forest. The larger part being found in Davao City. Its width varies approximately from 60 to 90 meters. Suawan River and Tamugan River are its main tributaries, the waters of which flow with that of the waters of the streams to which the river passes through. It flows southward, meandering along the central part of the City and empties eastward towards the Davao Gulf. This, along with its many tributaries, is the natural main drainage of the city.

Seventy percent (70%) of the river's total length is characterized by the presence of sand and gravel. This has become much an opportunity for quarry operations. In some portions, especially along the banks in Tamugan area, boulders are prevalent.

At the estuary portion, a delta exists and siltation is evident along the Magallanes and Bankerohan and Isla Berde reach. The siltation is largely visible usually during low tide with the condition of the river at normal level.

Uses of the River

Often seen as a source of much utility, Davao River offers much usefulness to the nearby settlers to the same, the municipalities, the city of Davao and to a significant number of industrial and commercial endeavors.
The river is important for daily domestic needs as washing, cleaning, bathing, and occasionally for fishing.
As an added utility, the river is also used as a medium for waste disposal being the city's natural drainage. The waste subsequently is washed to sea. Further, human settlers have used the same to dispose of their human wastes. This unhealthy practice is often committed by the inhabitants near and close to the River.

Tracing the river back to its headwaters, it is a fact that the waters thereof are likewise utilized for agricultural purposes. Small-scale farmers take advantage of the availability of the water from the river to irrigate and water their crops. Likewise, it must be noted that along the districts of Buhangin, Tugbok and Calinan, Large tracts of land have been devoted to farming. Also, Animal and livestock raisers along the district of Tugbok have mde use of the river for the disposal of the refuse of their operations.

On the river itself could be found small scale as well as large scale sand and gravel quarry operators. This has been a major source for contractors for their sand and gravel needs.

To many, the River is an alternative, if not a major pathway for navigation. At the Bankerohan and Bolton areas people cross the river via small and often makeshift water transports. Fishermen make use of the river to and from their homes and the Davao Gulf.

Davao River Pollution

Main Factors

a. Industrial Pollution
Sitting alongside the Davao River are thirteen (13) major industries. Most of these are industries primarily agricultural, some are industrial production oriented while others are into processing. .

A total of forty two (42) sand and gravel business were given permits by the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office and they are located at Marilog and Calinan Districts.

These quarrying activities, in the jurisdiction of the City, are concentrated in the areas of Bankerohan, Ma-a, Tigatto, Tanugan and Mandug. A number of others are found in scattered areas on the River itself.

b. Agriculture
About 34.07% of the total land use of the River has been devoted to agricultural. They are located in areas that may be found upstream or portions thereof. They comprise an actual land area of 18,934 in hectares, and may be found in the areas of Buhangin Tugbok and Calinan.

As observed, the modification of the surface of these areas near the River coupled with the introduction of farm chemicals, have been Considered as the major causes of erosion and the pollution of the River itself.
Furthermore, the animal raisers in the area of Tugbok have been noted to use the River as a natural canal for the waste emanating from their industry.

c. Population and human settlement
A factor given much weight is the population density of the areas adjacent the river. There are four major Districts that the river traverses into. They are the districts of Marilog, Baguio, Talomo, and Calinan.

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines reveal that a total of 59,264 people of the 225,922 of the barragays within the jurisdiction of the City occupies the area adjacent the River. The largest concentration of these is found at Barangay Bucana with an estimated 60,512 inhabitants, 15,125 of which is within the effective area affecting the River. This is followed by the following barangays (in their proper order according to population density) Ma-a, 19-B, Marilog, Tanugan, Malamba, Waan, 40D, Lacson, and Lamanan.

In the aforesaid study, it is noteworthy that a majority of the settlers near the River do not have proper plumbing installations. This is evident from the fact that upon actual inspection, solid human waste are afloat together with other refuses of different and varying sources.

B. Present Status of Depletion

Erosion
The University of the Philippines, in its recent study on the actual physical condition of the Davao River, while emphasizing on the discharge flow and sediment load of the water therein noted a dangerous rate of depletion of the topsoil on the watershed area of the River. At an estimated rate of 0.15 mm per month or 1.8 mm of topsoil annually, still the estimate was deemed conservative, as to describe the “manifest tremendous degradation of the watershed in some of its area.”

River Contamination

The River has been subject to contamination by five suspected sources. According to the UP study, these are the following; Crown Fruits Corporation, Callawa Development Corporation, Lapanday Development Corporation, Pacific Fruits Processor Incorporated and Superstar Coconut Products. These have been suspected to emit untreated waste to the River.

Also, the refuse thrown in the areas of Bolton, SIR, Isla Berde and Magallanes plus the waste disposed by Ma-a slaughterhouse has added to the solid contaminants.

Davao River Conservation and Rehabilitation

The challenge to bring back the river to its forma glory is a challenge at hand. This mounting concern has prompted the local executive and legislative departments to make their move. On February 22, 1999, the City Mayor's office released Resolution 105, series of 1999. This mandated the creation of the Davao River Conservation Coordinating Committee. In response to this, Resolution no. 29 was executed to formalize the creation of the said Committee.

For its main goal, the Committee was delegated with the very significant task of framing the recommendations for the appropriate city legislation by drafting the policy guidelines that would ensure the protection and restoration of the River. This historical enactment will later be referred to as the Davao River Conservation Code. Such legislation would then be made as a manifestation of the city's effort to rehabilitate and protect the same.

At the moment, studies are being conducted, while referrals and conferences are being made to eventually concretize such project. Studies however were conducted by the prestigious University of the Philippines. The UP conducted and analyzed the conditions and circumstances of the River, in the hope that eventually, there will be a feasible and practical system for the endeavor.

The restoration efforts of the City Government are under much speculation. Much of what the UP recommended as based on the study, are herein considered and analyzed together with the other recommendation emanating from the discussions of the Committee from their minutes.

great pics dave. how was new year?

^^ kuan fundraiser, naa ka nay itinerary for ur davao trip?



i wont promise but i'll try. if i be given the chance to man our fx booth at the airport, why not...

THAT´S THE SPIRIT sleepwalker_uno ! great, that would be just great. but what if you don´t get to fx your booth ?
anyone else to split/join in ???

so you don´t get in trouble with security, why don´t you try to shoot from outside the airport, maybe from a hill sideways or opposite the runway (old terminal vicinity)overlooking the planes in a row, parked at the aerobridges like in many of those pictures you see in the hngkng or bangkk or sing forums ? you would need a long lens though.

great pics dave. how was new year?

it was a silent new year. no firecrackers since 4 years ago.

oi, nawala na pud ang mga pics.

@ richard: yes, the security is quite stiff at the airport. no one can enter into the terminal without plane ticket. i hope i can man our booth at the airport so i'll be allowed to enter. outside the airport, theres an elevated portion at the end of the runway along Mamay Road but i dont have any good camera.

e drawing nalang bai.. hehe btw, i really like the design of davao's airport.. our airport here looks like gaisano country mall.. :D

e drawing nalang bai.. hehe btw, i really like the design of davao's airport.. our airport here looks like gaisano country mall.. :D

hahaha... I second the motion MArvs... :D

sige...due insistent public demand... akong idrawing.

sigurado ko, abstract ang resulta. :D

sige...due insistent public demand... akong idrawing.

sigurado ko, abstract ang resulta. :D

basig pier og mga barko among makita sa drawing...:D

^^ kuan fundraiser, naa ka nay itinerary for ur davao trip?

wala pa swu, dugay pa man sad, mga 3rd quarter pa this year, its a sponsored convention so dili gyud ko kabuot sa itinerary, pero depende na sa amo ang nightlife kay conventions will be held on daytime man, if i dont resign in a few months, kasama gyud ko sa batch na mu adto ug davao.

i didnt realize that our airport here looks like country mall, karon pa ko! but yeah it looks like GCM gyud, same color scheme. hope the terminal II will be glass and steel na, like DIA and the centennial

@ richard: yes, the security is quite stiff at the airport. no one can enter into the terminal without plane ticket. i hope i can man our booth at the airport so i'll be allowed to enter. outside the airport, theres an elevated portion at the end of the runway along Mamay Road but i dont have any good camera.

THIS IS A CHANCE IN A MILLION,
noone around to lend you a camera, maybe a relative ?
noone around to help sleepwalker for the sake of davao ?!
noone around to show how extraordinary and unique this airport is ?
this is a BIG and the ONLY chance within the next few years to show how international davao´s airport can be !
it can spur international airlines to fly in regularly, but, you
HAVE TO SHOW THEM that the airport is capable of handling all that capacity !
so someone, please, lend sleepwalker a camera, or make representative photos of davao international airport when it once will be really INTERNATIONAL !!!!!

i just cannot believe there is no responce aside sleepwalker from the davao forumers. in cebu, there would have been at least 5 contestants who would immedeately join in to help the city and it´s respective airport to gain international respect.
well, anyway, that elevated spot at the end of the runway at mamay road seems to be a good point of view according to sleepwalker. no security problems shooting from there. GET YOUR BUTTS UP DAVAO FORUMERS ! do something for your city and get those shots posted here !
thank you sleepwalker, if noone else is interested, just use whatever camera you have. salamat !

rich, its not that easy to take pics at the davao airport and i dont think davo will loose much if they cant post pics here.

"this is a BIG and the ONLY chance within the next few years to show how international davao´s airport can be "

and i beg to diagree with you here, ok, maybe this is big but the saying this as the "only" chance? i dont think airline managers and big honchos of airline companies would log on to SSC and rely on what they see on ssc, just to see if the airport is viable for their future airlink plans.

the davao river adventure is being advertised in some cebu radio stations! nice!

There are several hotels that are also widely advertized here in Cebu like the Royal Mandaya and Insular Davao...

marco polo and eden too!!!

rich, its not that easy to take pics at the davao airport and i dont think davo will loose much if they cant post pics here.

"this is a BIG and the ONLY chance within the next few years to show how international davao´s airport can be "

and i beg to diagree with you here, ok, maybe this is big but the saying this as the "only" chance? i dont think airline managers and big honchos of airline companies would log on to SSC and rely on what they see on ssc, just to see if the airport is viable for their future airlink plans.

thanks eazyboy for picking up. these pics are usualy also posted on airliners.net, and don´t you think that businessmen don´t check these forums. private statistic companies assigned to check the web for certain outlook check for all sorts of data anywhere to update their profiles and satisfy their customers.

i just cannot believe there is no responce aside sleepwalker from the davao forumers. in cebu, there would have been at least 5 contestants who would immedeately join in to help the city and it´s respective airport to gain international respect.
well, anyway, that elevated spot at the end of the runway at mamay road seems to be a good point of view according to sleepwalker. no security problems shooting from there. GET YOUR BUTTS UP DAVAO FORUMERS ! do something for your city and get those shots posted here !
thank you sleepwalker, if noone else is interested, just use whatever camera you have. salamat !

richard, as far as the davao forumers, sleepwalker dave is the only one pretty active. so i guess, i can say he is the only true local. hehe. if there other davao forumers, they are just hide and peep (no pun intended).

@ richard: too bad, im not manning our booth at the airport during ATF. i will be assigned at the casino during the weekend. on weekdays, too busy with regular work during daytime. dont worry. whats more important is the after effects of that event.

thats too bad sleepwalker, what do you do for a living, what booth, what casino are you talking about ?

richard, as far as the davao forumers, sleepwalker dave is the only one pretty active. so i guess, i can say he is the only true local. hehe. if there other davao forumers, they are just hide and peep (no pun intended).

yeah paulkrps,
i´ve noticed that. no wonder cebu is much more prosperous! davao just seems to be sleeping, by the time they will realize what opportunity they had, all the asian tourism councelors will have left.....
:-(

good night davao, i´m going back to the cebu forumers. that´s where people grasp their opportunities, take the right desisions, believe in the future and wake up at 7 in the morning and not 7 in the evening....

thats too bad sleepwalker, what do you do for a living, what booth, what casino are you talking about ?

i work in a bank. our bank will set up a temporary foreign exchange booth at the airport for ATF. on the casino thing, we also have a fx booth there. :)

good night davao, i´m going back to the cebu forumers. that´s where people grasp their opportunities, take the right desisions, believe in the future and wake up at 7 in the morning and not 7 in the evening....

not fair to castigate davao forumers though. first it's only dave that has been active so far. second other davao forumers are transplanted dabawenyos who make it a point to check out the davao scene. third, you don't have to go to other threads to castigate the davao forumers. fourth, if nobody (aside from the reason that it's only dave that's the only one active local) has taken the challenge of taking pictures of what you suggested, then they may have reason/s.

thanks kuya pol!

btw, heres another random pics stolen from webshots...

airport departure
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdia.jpg

powerlines
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvopowerlines.jpg

davao del sur
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvosur.jpg

parola bar @ pearl farm
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscpearl.jpg

city hall
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvo.jpg

kadayawan
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvo2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvo3.jpg

davao's bountiful harvest
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscdvo4.jpg

lovely pics :applause:... Davao is charming.

thanks slerz!

San Pedro Cathedral

http://www.adonline.id.au/philippines/phil16.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/dvosur/kadayawan-cathedralbanner-P8244946.jpg

i love davao...

Hello Davao!

At last maka bisita na giyud ko og balik sa ato after 5 yrs. Kumusta na mga amigo og amigo nako dinha sa Davao? Former classmates sa San Pedro College of Nursing and my former officemates sa City Health Office. How about a reunion?

I plan to bring my camera and will take a lot of pictures of Davao, so I hope I can share it with the rest of the group.

http://www.aboutkristine.com/test.jpg

BTW, I took this picture at work. We were extremely busy in the ER and this was the only time/seconds... we got a break.

A second of rest is worth millions but to visit DAVAO city is priceless!!!!

See you soon mga kababayan.

Sarah "Ating"
http://www.aboutkristine.com/gallery2 (http://www.aboutkristine.com/gallery2)
http://www.goldcanyon.net (http://www.goldcanyon.net)

hi ating! kamusta? nganong naay pizza dough? hehe. murag gikapoy ka sa imong trabaho a. relax pud panagsa. kanus-a ka mouli diri? btw, happy new year!

ganda sleepwalker lalo na yung airport

ganda sleepwalker lalo na yung airport


Ganda nga at mura pa ng bilihin...d tulad sa NAIA Centennial...hold up ang presyo...

uncle dave aka sleepwalker uno, nag-post na pod ko ug pics sa airplane/airline/airport thread.. wala na nako gi-post dinhi and DIA pics kay ma-doble-doble na.. kung naa kay time, kuha-i ug pics ang travel exibit sa NCCC mall para sa trade congress...

^^ double post ko na lang kay mingaw man ang davao. regarding Travex@NCCC, i'll check if NCCC would permit bringing in of cameras. ive tried it once during davao trade exhibit, theyre strict. they didnt allow taking pictures inside the mall.. hehe.


Davao International Airport

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07018.jpg

(old terminal bldg)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07019.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07021.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07027.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07028.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07031.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07032.jpg

(i wish to see more domestic destinations soon)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07035.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07036.jpg

(arrival lobby)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07037.jpg

(shops and restaurants just before entering the pre-departure area)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07038.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07042.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/huistenmark/DSC07043.jpg

also a repost from airline/airport thread:



hey mark, daghang salamat. this is what richard is craving for. :)

hey richard, good thing my pamangkin mark (huistenmark) saved me (for DIA pics uv asked for). its almost the same pics youll see for asean tourism forum (ATF) this coming week. most of the delegates will be passing through manila or cebu. the only intl flight DIA have & i think is on sked for ATF is silkair from singapore. as ive said, what is more important for ATF is the after effects of that forum. i hope it would open up more international flights. after the ATF, delegates will be touring all over the philippines. check this site: www.atfdavao.com and click on "tours". :)

^^ This is the 2nd best airport in the country right after the PAL international airport in Manila. I like the architechture too. Ive been here. :)

Ang ganda talaga ng airport sa Davao! i hope makapunta ako dun:)

^^ sama tayo.. gusto ko rin pumunta ng davao..

@sleepwalker "andama na ang banda na mosugat namo sa airport" :D

^^ This is the 2nd best airport in the country right after the PAL international airport in Manila. I like the architechture too. Ive been here. :)

very true. lets see what iloilo will be like. it looks very nice on the renderings.

^^ double post ko na lang kay mingaw man ang davao. regarding Travex@NCCC, i'll check if NCCC would permit bringing in of cameras. ive tried it once during davao trade exhibit, theyre strict. they didnt allow taking pictures inside the mall.. hehe.


also a repost from airline/airport thread:

you see, IT IS POSSIBLE, now lets repeat that when all the charters come in from the ASEAN region next week please !

@Sleep: What's that old terminal being used for now? I really like the exterior of that old one as much as the new one. Anywayz, the new international airport looks very well-maintained. :cheers:

very true. lets see what iloilo will be like. it looks very nice on the renderings.

There are flights to Davao from other countries. I think there is a direct flight to Davao city through Singapore Airlines. You can go straight to Davao from Europe or America. :)

There are flights to Davao from other countries. I think there is a direct flight to Davao city through Singapore Airlines. You can go straight to Davao from Europe or America. :)

from europe SIA/silkair : not without changing planes in singapore
from USA ???? you have to change planes in Manila PAL or what do you mean ?

how much did they spend to construct this airport?

I don't know if this has been posted here, but I noticed at the Asian Spirit website that they are going to inaugurate a daily MNL-DVO flight on the 15th of this month!! This is great news!! Hopefully, Asian Spirit will find Davao a good destination and open more ruotes!!

PIA Press Release
01/10/2006

Asian Spirit to launch Davao-Manila flights


Davao City (10 January) -- With its support to Davao's grand entrance to the world through this year's hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, Asian Spirit, the country's only airline that flies to 24 domestic destinations, will finally launch its daily Davao-Manila flights starting 16 January 2005.

For its Davao-Manila route, Asian Spirit will utilize the latest four super quite engine British Aerospace Aircrafts that boasts of a wide-bodied 105-seater high wing configuration for more stable and comfortable flights.

With daily 5:45 AM flight out of Davao City, Asian Spirit will keep its Davaoeño and Mindanaoan passengers on time with their early appointments in Manila since it will fly ahead of the other airlines. It will also be the only airline that will station its aircraft at the Davao International Airport to ensure passengers on-time departure.

With this developments, Asian Spirit will finally connect Davao City to various exciting destinations across the country (via Manila) such as Antique, Boracay, Baguio, Batanes, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Cebu, Clark, Dipolog, Marinduque, Masbate, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Taytay, Surigao, Pagadian, Kalibo and Tandag.

Established in 2002, Asian Spirit is a domestic passenger airline with the mission to operate scheduled services to tourist destinations and secondary and tertiary airports where other airlines do not dare to service. It is the country's fourth flag carrier, servicing both domestic and international regions.

Today, Asian Spirit operates a modern fleet of state-of-the-art aircrafts including 40-seater CN235's, 50-seater De Havilland Dash7's of Canada, 19-seater LET 410's, 60 seater YS-11s, 70-seater British Aerospace Advanced Turbo Prop (ATP), and 83-seater British Aerospace 146 Jet from the British Aerospace Systems of United Kingdom.

In March, Asian Spirit will make another history in becoming country's first airline to serve regular flights from Davao City to the idyllic islands of Palau in Micronesia.

Fly Asian Spirit's Davao-Manila flight for only P1,580.00 ++. For ticket purchase and reservations, visit its ticketing offices located at NCCC Mall, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Victoria Plaza and SM City Davao or inquire from travel agencies near you. (pr)

@ sugbuanon: andam na ang Kiblawan National High School Drum & Bugle og ang mga banting. naa puy liboan ka mga bata nga gadalag banderitas og placards daplin sa karsada.

@ jeff: the old terminal, no idea. maybe the phil airforce can use that.

@ cyrusal: the city government borrowed P4B from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Import-Export Bank for the construction of the project

@ richard: sorry. i cant.

i wonder bakit ang bagal ng davao tread...?

anyway im so excited sa asean tourism forum.

i wonder bakit ang bagal ng davao tread...?

anyway im so excited sa asean tourism forum.


cguro the davao forumers are also prepping for the tourism forum. :D

There are not too many Davao forumers and most of us are old and working. The most active threads are always pushed by young kids.

About the Asean Tourism Summit... Why did Mayor Rodrigo Duterte released a word of his own that "Davao is still not safe for terrorism" whilst the Asean Tourism Forum is already less that 2 weeks to go... Then he was critisized that his statement is untimely and is not good for this coming ATF, then he answered "it's the truth, so why hide the truth"...

ako lang comment, kani sad's Duterte nanubra sad ka truthful.
Ok ra tong statement niya that Davao should prepare but not to the extent to impress to the delegates that Davao is this by constucting modern buildings for it's venues etc... but his recent statement about terrorism is :down::down:

There are not too many Davao forumers and most of us are old and working. The most active threads are always pushed by young kids.

maybe your right with what you said that there are not too many davao forumers in ssc. that could be the sole reason why this thread is slow.

having contributed to one one the fastest and longest lasting threads in ssc-philippines. it doesnt mean that most of the fast threads here are run by young kids. i know im not old, but im not a young kid, heh. i dont wanna be called "old" but im already working... most of us here are working anyway.

@shadow: i don't believe na mabagal ang davao, see up. it's on it's third. i don't want to think that these threads are or popularity or speed posting contests. these threads are to give insights and info on what is happening in each place, and at the same time build friendships. true, there are not a lot of davao forumers. a lot of davao forumers are transplanted dabawenyos checking out what is happening in our beloved city. sorry to disappoint you, dabawenyos maybe cosmopolitan, but we don't like being rushed.

dabawenyos maybe cosmopolitan, but we don't like being rushed.

i think it boils down to the adapted culture among dabawenyos.
edit: wait, what culture am i talking about? i dont even know what our culture really is. hehe.

@ fundraiser: or simply yuppies and young at heart.

Ang ganda talaga ng airport sa Davao! i hope makapunta ako dun:)



di lang ang airport...pati na ang lugar mismo...I fell in love with Davao...ganda ng night life, nature trip, prutas, tuna belly, panga, kinilaw which I really like...and the people...galing. My second home after Iloilo...

from europe SIA/silkair : not without changing planes in singapore
from USA ???? you have to change planes in Manila PAL or what do you mean ?

Yeupz, I have an aunt from New York who went straight to Davao through Europe. She had a stopover twice: In Frankfurt and Singapore. From Singapore, she headed to Davao city. She took the Atlantic route instead of the Pacific. Id didn't know that Singaporean Airlines have to go through Europe first because as far as know, most Asian carriers use the Pacific route

Ok sorry for my comment.

^^ youre forgiven...

PIA Press Release
01/12/2006
IGACOS hosts fireworks display for ATF



Davao City (12 January) -- There will be fireworks during the holding of the Asean Tourism Forum and it will be very visible to Davao City.

Island Garden City of Samal administrator Cleto Gales, Jr. in an interview said they agreed to have the fireworks held in the island as per arrangements made by the Singapore team.

He said it will be at the sea near the Blue Waters at Barangay Caliclic that can viewed from the vantage point at Insular Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

The Singapore team he said wanted to capped the Singaporean night that will be held at the Waterfront with fireworks to signal a big bang for their hosting the Asean Tourism Forum in 2007.

Gales did not give the details on what and how long will be the fireworks display but said that the Singapore team has already surveyed the area for the purpose.

He said fireworks are still allowed in the island but it is being regulated.

The fireworks display was part of the Singapore night event but because Davao City has an ordinance prohibiting the use of firecrackers and fireworks it could not be held within the venue.

Even Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that if they want a fireworks display then they go somewhere else or in Samal but not in Davao City. (PIA/pdbanzon)



PIA Press Release
01/12/2006
IGACOS, a haven for amity and recreation


Davao City (12 January) -- The Island Garden City Of Samal (IGACOS) will everything it can to leave a lasting imprint for visitors to remember the place as a haven for retreat, amity and recreation.

City administrator Cleto Gales of IGACOS made this remarks today as the resort-laden island component city of Davao del Norte prepares to welcome visiting VIPs of the prestigious ASEAN (Association of South East Asian) Tourism Forum (ATF).

Gales announced that his City that is the only island venue of the weeklong affair had made the necessary preparations to make the conduct of the ATF in the city as nice, meaningful and productive as it can be.

"We hope that 1,000 of the expected 3,000 ATF participants will find their way to Samal", Gales told mediamen covering the ATF beat.

Samal is the only island destination and the nearest among the four key provinces of the Davao Region ( Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur) with travel and convention package for international journalists and tourism officials from the different countries worldwide.

As the name of the island suggests, IGACOS, which means embrace, the guests, will all be welcomed with open arms, hugs and kisses in the place with the safest and most elaborate welcoming and security preparations, Gales added.

This is particularly true at the world-renowned Pearl Farm Beach Resort were top level meetings and rendezvous of ATF top brasses will be conducted, Gales disclosed. (PIA-SP-Romy Sabaldan)



Davao’s theater groups perform during ATF

As the city plays gracious host to the 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum from January 13 to 21, a simultaneous series of cultural performances by Davao City’s foremost Dance and theater groups have been slated to play nightly at Matina Town Square on the same dates.

Slated as the most complete depiction of the culture and history of Mindanao, the cultural presentations scheduled at Matina Town Square’s various entertainment venues are not mere enter-tainment ‘Post-its’ to augment Davao’s already-thriving sector, but are greatly educational and most inspirational as well.

“This is the most opportune time to highlight the rich culture of Davao and Mindanao. What we’re doing is to extend our usual Tuesday and Thursday cultural presentations to cover the whole week from January 13 to 21 ATF program so that the delegates and incoming visitors could witness the rich cultural heritage that we as a people proudly possess,” an MTS official said.

The scheduled cultural groups are, Kathara Dance Theater Collective, Kali-wat Theater Collective, Earth Music Foundation, Madayaw Dance Ensem-ble, Mebuyan Peace Pro-ject, and the Magallanes Elementary School Dance Troupe. The six cultural groups have in many ways performed as Davao City’s representatives in Manila and Abroad, having re-ceived numerous citations for their originality, aesthetics and content.

The 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum , slated on January 13 to 21 involves all the tourism industry sectors of the ASEAN’s 10 member nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indo-nesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Southeast Asian region as one tourist destination. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Many Faces of Asean”



Davao Chinatown night market opens

by RG Alama

Davao City (12 January) -- A Night market located along the Chinatown stretch of Lizada, Monteverde streets towards Santa Ana up to Uyanguren Avenue have been opened as street markets on these following dates; January 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, and 28.

The Dabaw Kaisa Foundation Inc., a group of active Filipino-Chinese in the city, organized the street night market in the City in open collaboration with the Chinatown Development Council and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The night market will be a two-day per week activity done every Fridays and Saturdays and is designed to enliven the tourism industry of the city specifically promoting the Chinatown area. Traders retailing various goods including Chinese delicacies and specialties, fashion items, home crafts will be on displayed in the market, which will be opened from 5:00 in the afternoon until 12 midnight.

The holding of the street night market will coincide with the event of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) and the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Last Tuesday Jan. 10, the City Council of Davao granted legislative authority for the use of the streets during the night market activity.

The night market is patterned after the booming street night markets of Hongkong and Bangkok that had contributed greatly to the local economy and tourism industry. (PIA)



Renovated Davao Museum opens Saturday
MindaNews / 10 January 2006

DAVAO CITY – The renovated Davao Museum of History and Ethnography will open at 4 pm on Saturday, January 14.

The museum is located at the Zonta Bldg., Agusan Circle, Insular Village Phase 1.

Delegates to the ASEAN Tourism Forum on January 13 to 21 may want to visit the museum to see similarities with their cultures and to know more about Davao.

Part of the opening program is the launching of “Davao: Reconstructing History from Text and Memory,” a book written by Macario D. Tiu, PhD.

The books is published by the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGOs (Mincode) and the Research and Publication Office of the Ateneo de Davao University and is the second history book in the Mindanao History project of MinCode, after last year’s “Mindanao and Sulu in Question and Answer” by B. R. Rodil.

Pambihira talaga is Rody , OA talaga , pati public display ng fireworks di pa pinayagan.

Askal, she probably took Singapore/ One world Alliance, they may have been codeshared with some european carrier that passes through europe. From NY it's basically equidistant which part of the world you want to pass, pa east or west. Fron Singapore, that's Silk Air na, SIA LCC.

Ok sorry for my comment.

forgiven.

Pambihira talaga is Rody , OA talaga , pati public display ng fireworks di pa pinayagan.

Askal, she probably took Singapore/ One world Alliance, they may have been codeshared with some european carrier that passes through europe. From NY it's basically equidistant which part of the world you want to pass, pa east or west. Fron Singapore, that's Silk Air na, SIA LCC.

this is one route i'd like to try when me and my family go home either this or next year.

wow. things are going to be very good for Davao.. Im proud. :)

so many good news. but all ATF related. kakasawa na din.

dabawenyos are on maximum overdrive, hihihi. hope nga way magbreakdown. hihihi. so how's the david statue in queensland?

at least my ambitions of having some airport shots taken with the ASEAN meeting has pushed you forumers to TALK about aviation to davao.....

^^ according to local news, early birds thailand & laos pass thru manila. delegates were welcomed by kids performing ethnic davao dances.


dabawenyos are on maximum overdrive, hihihi. hope nga way magbreakdown. hihihi. so how's the david statue in queensland?

the mayor decided not to demolish 'david' kay kapangalan daw nako.

Cant anyone post new pix (street scenes) of davao? diba sabi may mga new lamp posts, tapos may mga face lifts na ginawa sa city? what are these? cant anyone take some photos of it if possible? thanx

it's the start of ATF 2006 right? what's up? any photos? :D i heard the delegates are staying at PEARL FARM RESORT. suya ko!

When will it be? the date? Please show us Davao during this ATF kung ano ang mga magagandang nabago atleast through pictures...:)

Go Davao!

Davao: The world's largest city
By Henrylito D. Tacio Saturday, January 14, 2006

As one of the most livable cities in Asia, Davao City has gone a long, long way. Today, the city is one of the country's top tourist destinations. Recently, businessmen have chosen Davao as one of the most competitive metropolitan cities in the Philippines, according to a report by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.

"Davao is probably the least exposed of the country's urban areas, and it's most appealing," contends Aaron Woods, a friend who visited the place recently. "It's a great holiday hideaway, what with its lush greenery and exotic wild flora and fauna that contribute to its picturesque." Most visitors who come heere describe Davao as "a land of exotic beauty and rich culture."

Local historians claim that the name Davao is derived from the ancient Bagobo word daba-daba, which means, "fire." On the other hand, the Tagabua tribe called the river bisecting the region "Daba," and the Guiangan tribe tagged it "Davoh" thus Davao.


Largest city

With a total land area of 244,000 hectares, Davao is considered the largest city in the world. Approximately, Davao is 7.8 times the size of Cebu and three times that of the entire Metro Manila. There were some talks before to divide the city into three cities, but some officials were against it. There are two reasons, which make Davao unique: its people and its warm hospitality.

Davao City is a melting pot of 1.2 million people, both indigenous and migrants now being acculturated into the mainstream of society, creating a unique cosmopolitan culture. Visayan migrants make up the majority of the population. Ilongos and llocanos also abound.

Coexisting with these different Filipino groups are the Muslims and the indigenous tribes such as the Bagobos (who prefer to be called Tagabawa), Mandayas, Manobos, T'bolis, Mansakas and B'laans. Most people speak Visayan, particularly Cebuano. Other dialects include Tagalog, Chinese, and Muslim.

Like most Filipinos, majority can speak and understand English. Eighty-four percent of the people are Roman Catholics. Protestants comprise 4.5 percent while more than two percent consider Islam as their religion.


Apo Duwaling

Davao is known for Mount Apo, the controversial durian, and the exotic "waling-waling." Mount Apo is the country's highest peak (10,311 feet) and Southeast Asia's second highest. Climbing Mt. Apo takes about four days. Before climbing, however, contact the Department of Tourism Office in Davao or the Mt. Apo Climbers Association of Davao City where tents, camping, gear, provisions, and guides are available.

Durian is controversial because of its odor. Most people said that durian stinks. But to some, its fragrance can be compared to a perfume. "It smells like hell and tastes like heaven" is how some Westerners described the fruit.

The exotic waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) used to abound in the tropical forest of Mount Apo and its surrounding areas. "The waling-waling is almost extinct in the wildlife," said Dr. Domingo Madulid, the National Museum's senior botanist.

Rare varieties of this plant can only be found in expensive nurseries. You can see the splendor beauty of waling-waling at the Malagos Garden Resort. Other rare orchids also abound. The resort has a restaurant, butterfly sanctuary, horseback riding facilities, fishponds, and golf driving range, swimming pool, adventure playground, seminar halls, campsite, and cottages.


Endangered species

One of the resort's recent tourist attractions is the Malagos Garden's "Amazing Bird Show." It opens at 10 in the morning every Sunday and strikes a serious environment note to the audience: save the birds before they'd be gone forever.

The Philippines is home to some of the world's endangered bird species. One of them is the Philippine Eagle. See some of the remaining species at the Philippine Eagle Center, just two kilometers away from the Malagos Garden Resort. Don't fail to marvel at "Pag-asa," the very first tropical eagle bred in captivity and hatched scientifically.

Though the Philippine eagle is the star, other creatures, which can be seen close up at the camp include hawks, owls, pythons, deer, monkeys and a huge Philippine crocodile. If crocodile is your thing, visit Crocodile Park. It is here, where you can find the country's largest known crocodile -- at 18 feet -- aptly named "Pangil" (Tagalog for fang). This 5 .4 hectare mini-zoo houses several of the two species of crocodiles found in the Philippines as well as mini-zoo with wild cats, python, turtles, monitor lizard, monkeys and various kinds of birds.


Fine beaches

Davao also has a number of beaches to offer. Times Beach, two kilometers from the city center, bustles with picnickers during Sundays and holidays. Historic Talomo Beach is best remembered as a landing site for Japanese and American forces during World War II.

In fact, sunken warships during the war can still be found just 200 meters from the shore. Other noted beaches are Seagull Beach Resort and Felis Beach Resort in Punta Dumalag, Mergrande in Talomo, and the Vales Beach Resort and High Ponds in Toril.

Across the strait due east from the mainland is Samal, an unspoiled island ringed with secluded coves of white sand. Ten minutes away via pumpboat from the Waterfront Insular Hotel is a white expanse of beach dotted with resorts such as Paradise Island Beach, coolly welcoming under the shade of talisay trees.

Perhaps the most regal beach resort among them is the Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Nestled in a secluded cove on Samal Island 45 minutes by motor launch off the coast of Davao, it was featured during the Miss Universe Contest a couple of years ago.

For diving aficionados, Davao Gulf teems with underwater vistas. Some of the more popular sites are found at Ligid Island, Talicud Island, Mushroom Rock, Limao and Sunken Island, Pearl Farm and Isla Malipano.

These dive sites are 45 minutes to two hours away via pumpboat from the wharf of the Waterfront Insular Hotel, and a few minutes away from Samal Island piers. Maayong pag-abot! (Welcome!)

^^ That is what Im talking about! Davao city grows!

yup, kulang lang talaga sa promotion ang Davao...

Thats what Im saying, Davao city offers a lot more than we can think of. Infrastructure wise okay na okay ang davao city. Their highways are wide particularly doon banda sa Buhangin and doon malapit sa Panacan and their airport is new. Doon banda sa Matina, Ecoland and Toril kalawak pa ng spaces doon.

yup, kulang din sa pride :D

When will it be? the date? Please show us Davao during this ATF kung ano ang mga magagandang nabago atleast through pictures...:)

YA, I THINK ITS THIS WEEK...ANDYAN PA KO WHEN WE DID MEET ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE DELEGATES WHEN THEY VISIT THE MALL....

yup, kulang din sa pride :D

what do you mean? first it was richard who was castigating davao forumers for not wanting do his wishes. now you're saying dabawenyos lacks pride?

wala bang pics of the ATF?

what do you mean? first it was richard who was castigating davao forumers for not wanting do his wishes. now you're saying dabawenyos lacks pride?


oh! sorry if you mean it in an offensive way...
nasabi ko yun kase lately Davao is dili kaayo open sa pagpakita sa kanilang lugar na beautiful and progressive... sa madaling salita Davao is not underrated but "very underrated"... same as in other forums, napansin ko na Davaoeños now adays are not that excited in showing their city to the Filipinos through these forums... you know, I expect more of Davao than the developments that are posted here. So this means nanubra ra sad ka humble ang mga Davaeños now adays. I just wanna tell you guys that Davao is BIG, PROGRESSIVE... please promote Davao aggressively, maraming magagandang nangyayari sa Davao pero hindi naibabalita, sayang naman. (I'm not only referring to Davao forumers here in SSC but also in other forums).

that's ok. the thing is, i would wish the davao thread in a very big way. if i have been there, i would take so many pictures to share with you guys. only that dave is the only one active and also busy with so many things. dabawenyos are proud of their city, even for those who moved to and consider davao their home now.

if you need updates on what the davao city government is doing:

http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/

but in PEX, there are a lot of Davao Forumers but still the same...
but anyway, I hope Davao will also rule anywhere specially here :okay:

so sorry for several weeks now i wasnt able to post some pics requested. kuya pol is right. yes, im busy these days. ive got additional workload.

DAVAO CITY—Buyers and wholesalers from around the world are scrambling over each other to get their hands onto the best package deal that Asean tourism players are cooking up for the Asean Tourism Forum here.

Art Boncato, chair of the Davao Tourism Association, says that as early as October last year, the ATF website (www.atfdavao.com) had to close registration because the influx of buyers that showed interest in joining the event had exceeded targets.

Close to 700 buyers from all over the world signed up for the ATF. It kicked off last Jan. 13 and will run until the 21st.

It features as main event the Travel Exchange (Travex), a trade-only mart designed for suppliers of Asean travel products to meet selected buyers from around the world through scheduled appointments.

Many consider the Travex as an ideal forum for buyers to gather the latest information on Asean tourism products and services and to set up new business contacts and learn about tourism trends in the region, said Boncato.

He says Europeans outnumbered other foreign buyers, confirming a marked resurgence of interest among European countries, particularly Germany on Asean destination like Davao.

Hotels, airlines and resorts will be up against each other's throats in offering the best tour packages to prospective buyers.

Of the 458 booths for the Travex, 133 were booked by Thailand, 100 by Malaysia, 67 by Indonesia, 64 by Singapore, and 37 by the Philippines.

"They will compete for the best rates and for the best tour packages they can get," says Boncato, who is also the sales and marketing director of the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

Despite the lesser number of booths booked by the Philippines during the Travex event, Davao tourism players have the advantage because they can show the buyers right here what their products are, says Boncato.

Among the local hotels that registered as sellers are the Marco Polo Hotel, Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao and the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the Apo View Hotel in Davao, the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel-Cebu, the Asian Spirit, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

But much of what is going to happen will be hidden from public view as the Travex, where the negotiations between buyers and sellers take place, will be restricted to the parties involved.

Although the 3,000 foreign visitors that are coming here will momentarily boost the region's half a million tourist arrivals a year, Boncato says the Davao tourism industry is looking forward to the long term effects of the event as the word spreads around about Davao city as a tourism destination.

Major hotels and resorts, from the Malagos Garden Resort and the Eden Nature Park in the hilly side of Calinan and Toril down to the first class Waterfront Hotel in Sasa are sprucing up for the big event.

"We are hoping for the same miracle that had placed Cebu in the tourism map of the world," says Susan Palad, head of the ATF secretariat.

Travex, which is ATF's main feature, will take place at the NCCC mall exhibition center, the largest of its kind in Davao city.

This southern city will present top tourism resorts in one "highland to island" tourism package, while the neighboring Island Garden City of Samal will allow foreign guests to experience community-based tourism in the five tourism packages it has prepared. They will experience a rare treat of riding the "habal-habal," a motorcycle which has become a common mode of transportation in remote areas of the Philippines.

The Samal tour that will take the foreign guests to Samal island's Haguimitan waterfalls will also feature a ride on a carabao cart and a spa massage by local hilots, according to Samal city administrator Cleto Gales Jr.

Boncato says Internet facilities and wi-fi capability have already been installed in all of the 14 official participating hotels and the NCCC mall.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano says the hosting of the ATF will serve as a "tipping point" in erasing the stigma of the 2003 twin Davao bombings that had stained Davao's image as a prime destination among travelers around the world.

Davao will serve as the show-window for the rest of Mindanao, which is being presented as the country's lead tourism package in the ATF, according to Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab.

Palabyab said Mindanao is being developed as a banner tourism destination not only in the East Asean Growth Area (Eaga), composed of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP), but also in the entire Asean region.

The Mindanao tourism menu covers various tourism products and destinations and all the development projects in the six regions of the island.

The ATF is an effort among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian to promote the region as one tourist destination. It involves all tourism industry sectors in the 10 Asean countries of the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore.

Other events lined up for the nine-day gathering include the Asean joint tourism marketing meeting, which will tackle areas of cooperation in promoting the region's tourist attractions, facilities and investments. It also includes meetings among the Asean communications team for tourism, the Asean ministers of tourism, and the national tourism organizations and the Asean travel trade associations, among others.

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=01&dd=15&file=2

Duterte rewards ASEAN Para Games medalists


DAVAO CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) - City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is set to reward the Dabawenyos who won medals in last month's 3rd ASEAN Para Games (APG).

The city government is already facilitating the release of the cash incentives to the differently-abled athletes, including the 23rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) traditional boat race medalists.

The National Sports Commission in Manila certified that Mirasol Abad, Amina Anuddin, Eunelyn Denuna and Ruditha Poralan won gold medals in the traditional boat race competition during the 23rd SEAG.

On the other hand, Dabawenyos who triumphed in the 3rd APG include Darlito Palermo and Eduardo Rodas, who won the bronze in the table tennis event (classification 40+); silver for Allan Magalasin and Billy Smith Cartera in the basketball on wheels (classification 50+); bronze for Jonathan Español for goalball (classification 11).

Meanwhile, Elmar Solivar will be rewarded more after winning a gold and silver in the chess competition for the blind (team event) and a bronze in the individual class.

Davao City sports coordinator Christopher Go said that the information came in late and Mayor Duterte could not immediately reward their efforts last month.

"When they informed us, we told Mayor Duterte about it and he immediately instructed us to include them (Para athletes) in the cash rewards," said Go.

Duterte awarded the SEA Games medalists from Davao led by diver Shiela Mae Perez who received P25,000 for her three gold medal contribution to the Philippines.

heres some current davao pics... sorry for the quality.

flags

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/929a0911.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/1c4fdf39.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/fe77f519.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/11afa678.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/694f745b.jpg


street signs

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/2d6a036d.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/8c1c2ff8.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/62d7e755.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/cd3bf7f8.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0214.jpg

overpass

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0206.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0207.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0308.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0292.jpg

victoria plaza/bajada pics

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0283.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0289.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0287.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0281.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0282.jpg

!! GO DAVAO !!

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :dance: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper:

^^ go where? hehe

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0254.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0248.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0293.jpg

ATF opening ceremonies will be held in central bank auditorium

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0298.jpg

ouside CB will be a kadayawan, heres the preparation

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0297.jpg

service bus for delegates

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0300.jpg

the most visible beautification project for atf are those waling-waling lampposts installed at road islands

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0241.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0209.jpg

pahabol...

road accident

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0301.jpg

hanoi vietnamese restaurant and tsuru japanese restaurant share the same bldg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0304.jpg

para kay kuya pol

midtown
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0306.jpg

juna subd near pwc
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0198.jpg

^^ hehehe, salamat sa midtown pic dave!

^^ youre welcome!

The Marco Polo Davao leads hotel chain in Asia


The Marco Polo Davao topped all the Marco Polo Hotels in Asia in the annual guest satisfaction survey conducted by the Marco Polo Hotel Group.

The feat capped all the achievements of The Marco Polo Davao in 2005 when this international luxury hotel and its various facilities received various prestigious awards.

These include the "Healthy Places Standard Awards" given by the Davao City Health Office last Dec. 15, 2005 at the NCCC Mall Atrium. The hotel’s food and beverage outlets stood out with its excellent ratings. The Lotus Court is the only restaurant in Davao recognized with an Excellence Class A rating, followed by Café Marco with an Excellence Class B.

Similarly, the Fitness Center was awarded by the Philippine Marketing Association as the Most Outstanding Fitness Center in Davao City during the Philippine Marketing Excellence Awards 2005.

The Marco Polo Davao also reaped the most number of medals and awards in the 5th Mindanao Culinary Festival held at the NCCC Convention Center last Sept. 9 to 11.

With six gold medals, six silver medals, four bronze medals, and four diplomas, the Marco Polo Davao emerged the over-all champion in the three-day culinary event participated in by the city’s top hotels, resorts and restaurants.

For this year, the hotel promises to continue this great tradition of excellence that The Marco Polo is known for. - Manila Bulletin

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/article_160178_01-17-2006.jpgThe flags of the different countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were unfurled at the NCCC Mall in Matina where majority of the activities of the Asean Tourism Forum are being held.


Special kind of reception awes ATF delegates


Davao City (17 January) -- The special kind of reception very unique to the Davao region awed International delegates to the Asean Tourism Forum 2006 from the time they arrived at the Davao International Airport up to the time that they reached the Island Garden City of Samal.

"All the delegates were impressed with the warm and festive welcome they got," said Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in an interview over the weekend.

One Singaporean official who bared that his country will be the next host in 2007 said that the ATF 2006 in Davao is hard to beat.

"Our barely five months preparation for the ATF is beginning to pay off as it is like a "clock walk" where everything is falling into pieces," he said.

He said the delegates to the National Tourism Organizations (NTO) meeting were all amazed of the Island Garden City of Samal especially so that right at the conference table in the Pearl Farm Beach Resort they can touched based with their respective countries because the venue has Wi-Fi access.

He said despite the long trip the delegates went through from their respective countries of origin, everything was handled properly by the organizers that made their travel to the conference site light and relaxing.

"This contributed a lot to the participants because the exchange of ideas where extensive that made discussion fruitful," he said.

"Lahat ay walang stress despite the long travel from plane to boat trip na nagdulot ng fruitful discussion and a healthy exchange of ideas," he said.

The delegates to the NTO meeting were also impressed to the all out support extended by the city government of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) led by Mayor Rogelio Antalan and Congressman Tony Boy Floirendo and wife Margie.

In the IGaCoS hosted a dinner, the international visitors were received and entertained with songs and dances with the beat of the gong and a wide selection of food both international and our very own Filipino food.

There were also presentation of a mix thanksgiving and summer festival of the island they termed as Pangapog Festival and the Caracoles Festival.

In between was an audio-visual presentation of the island's rich resource and the investment plan.

The guests also had a taste of the island's best coco wine or "tuba" as they cheered for a fruitful ASEAN tourism and the island as a destination to the world. (PIA/pdbanzon)

nice for Marco Polo Davao :applause:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0293.jpg

I thought this is a makati pic. Congrats davao for a successful ATF! :applause:

^^ thought of it too! very dramatic. hehe.. parang ortigas din. thanks bai sleepwalker, great photos! you can get that cosmo feeling :okay:

nice street posts and very clean city.. 2006 is a busy year for many of us in the Phils yea? Congrats to all Davaoeños for the succesful opening of ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2006 :okay: :okay: :okay:

http://www.wowdavao.com/images/wowdavao.jpg

Sa NCCC mall ginaway iyung conference, how come hindi sa CB?

:applause: :applause: Congratulations for the successful ATF conference. Good job!

I keep on viewing those pics above... vvery clean...:okay:
Tapos na ba ang ATF? ba't wala akong nababalitaan sa TV Patrol o sa 24 oras? Buti pa ang IBC 13 at ABC 21, binalita nila about the ATF sa Davao. Hindi talaga marunong ang mga journalists ng ABS at GMA, ang mga balita nila very cheap... and it is true!

add to that sensationalizing crimes. this is weird slerz, with all the frenzy that is happening in davao, it's not causing much a ripple in manila. pero kung me bombing, oh the news service bureaus, they're everywhere. there goes news objectivity.

good point there. pariha kung naa say mag kinomotay og buhok sa mga police stations sa Manila coveran dayon nila kay abi tingali nilag dako nang balitaa :bash:... haay kalooy mga stasyona, they're below professional standard and I think they're even at the bottom...

yan ang sinasabi ng Presidente Gloria, they are very bias on their reports kay ang ibalita nila are mostly negative and non sense. Then they defended their stations and said,"we're just reporting the truth"... nindot kaayo ingnon ba, "unsa man diay nang ATF nga gi held sa Davao, FANCY?" :bash:

mao gyud. sometimes, i would like to think that they're not contributing to nation building. just imagine, pirming dakdak nimo is puro problema, ganahan ba ka muatubang sa imong adlaw?

road accident

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/IMAG0301.jpg


gitudlo lagi ka sa police dave? duda nako nabangga na sila tungod sa flash sa imo camera.. :D

salamat sa mga pics.. bisita niya ko diha sa davao puhon..

ganda na ng davao ah! last time i was there mga 3 to 5 years na, though walang masyadong pinagbago in terms of infras aside sa airport, gumanda siya lalo dahil sa linis, nice place, parang bagong paligo, amoy baby cologne!

but seriously, parang may L.A. ambiance ang davao sa pics, good job!!

gitudlo lagi ka sa police dave? duda nako nabangga na sila tungod sa flash sa imo camera.. :D

salamat sa mga pics.. bisita niya ko diha sa davao puhon..

mao diay nawala si dave og pila ka semana. hihihi.

^^ nagkagubot ang tanan kay naa daw artista. hasta mga sakyanan nagbangga. og ako ang gitudlo sa police nga suspetsado.

kagabii didto ko sa The Venue (site of ATF philippine night), wala mi nakasulod kay gi-okupar tanan og exclusive for ATF delegates lang. mao, sa cogot na lang mi kilid sa venue. ang mga delegates gipakaon og lechon og ilang dessert "dirty" ice cream nga superscoop. ang background music, percussion. naa pud video presentation featuring grace nono, pinikpikan (akong paborito), joey ayala og uban pa. ok ang programa dirediretso, walay emcee, walay binutbot... simple, sadya, elegante. the same format with some kadayawan presentations last year. on time & in order tanan. kahinumdom hinuon ko sauna sa pwc, pati ang pag palakpak og standing ovation naay choreo.

marvs, moanha ra ba unta kog cebu kay naa may promo ang cebu pacific. ni-backout ko kay wala koy kuyog. nagsabot mi sa akong barkada nga molaag mi dinha sa semana santa via CDO. unta madayon.

og sa laing balita... tiboon na lang nako kay panagsa ra ko mo-post karong mga panahuna...


Philippine Eagle: Davao's pride
By Henrylito D. Tacio

VISITORS, both foreigners and locals, who come to Davao City for the first time, are almost always attracted to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan.

Some 30 kilometers northwest and about an hour's ride from downtown Davao, the center is the transient home of the endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii).

Here, a dozen male and female eagles are being induced to breed in captivity.

"When you protect the eagle, you're also protecting the environment," said Dr. James Grier, the American wildlife scientist who helped hatched Pag-asa (which means "hope" in the country's national dialect), the first captive bred eagle in the country.

"Pag-asa connotes hope for the continued survival of the Philippine eagle, hope that if people get together for the cause of the Philippine eagle, it shall not be doomed to die," said Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc. (Pefi).

"By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of our conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat," he said, adding that the foundation is committed to promote the survival of the Philippine eagle, "the biodiversity it represents, and the sustainable use of our forest resources for future generations to enjoy."

In 1995, then President Fidel Ramos declared the Philippine eagle as the country's national bird.

"This species is considered one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world," said the Pefi in a statement.

"Unfortunately, it is also one of the world's rarest and certainly among its most critically endangered vertebrate species."

In fact, the Philippine eagle is on the watchlist of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Cites) treaty, which regulates and prohibits the commercial import of wild animal and plant species, deemed threatened by trade. Currently, only 1,500 pairs of Philippine eagles are estimated to exist.

The Philippine eagle is one of the world's largest and most powerful eagles. An English naturalist, Dr. John Whitehead, first reported this splendid raptor in 1896 on the island of Samar.

The Philippine eagle stands a meter high, weighs anything from four to seven kilograms, and has a grip three times the strength of the strongest man on earth.

With a wingspan of nearly seven feet and a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour, it can gracefully swoop down on an unsuspecting monkey and carry it off without breaking flight.

Formerly known as monkey-eating eagle, a Presidential Decree No. changed the name to Philippine eagle 1732 in 1978 after it was learned that monkeys comprise an insignificant portion of its diet, which consists mainly of flying lemurs, squirrels, snakes, civets, hornbills, rodents, and bats.

The Philippine eagle is endemic to the country. Geographically, it is restricted to the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. These islands were once connected to each other during the mid-Pleistocene when the sea level was lower by 120 to 160 meters than at present.

Recent bio-geographical analysis suggests that the origin of the giant raptor is clearly Papuasian. Its closest relative is believed to be the New Guinea harpy eagle. The ancestors of Philippine eagle probably arrived through the southeast part of Mindanao prior to the mid-Pleistocene.

Unknowingly, Philippine eagle is on the brink of extinction. Hunting has been cited as one of the reasons why the numbers of Philippine eagles are diminishing. It was being collected in the country as early as 1703.

However, the destruction of their natural habitat is the primary culprit of their rapid disappearance. The Philippine eagle is primarily a rainforest raptor. Its natural habitat is mainly old-growth forests from 100 to 1,000 meters in elevation. Unfortunately, most of these are fast disappearing due to deforestation.

"Deforestation is terrible," Salvador deplored. "The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest has made it lose its natural habitat."

Records from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show that in the 1950s, three-fourths of the country was covered with forests. In 1972, the figure had shrunk to half, and by 1988 only one quarter of the country's total land area was wooded--and less than a million hectares was considered virgin forest.

Today, the country is losing 119,000 hectares of its forest cover, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international group of environmentalists. By the year 2014, there might be no more forest to speak of unless the situation is reversed.

In a statement, Salvador suggested: "Small patches of forest may not be able to sustain the needs of the Filipino people and Philippine wildlife in the long run. What we need to do is to protect the large, contiguous forests and expand the smaller patches by rehabilitating the surrounding areas and developing forest corridors."

Efforts to save the Philippine eagle was started in 1965 by Jesus Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro Rabor, another founding father of Philippine conservation efforts.

Rabor fought for the recognition of the plight of the Philippine eagle at the world conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in Bangkok, Thailand. He succeeded when the IUCN--of which the Philippines, is a signatory--was declared the Philippine eagle an endangered species.

From 1969 to 1972, General Charles Lindbergh spearheaded a drive to save the bird. Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed. These include the Administrative Order No. 235 of August 25, 1970, which prohibited acts that disturbed or harmed the eagle; the Republic Act No. 6147 of November 9, 1970, and its sequel, the Wildlife General Administrative Order No. 1 (Series of 1971), which protected the eagle and provided for nest-site sanctuaries.

If the Philippine eagle could only speak, these words would be what the bird say, according to the Forest Management Bureau: "I have watched forests disappear, rivers dry up, floods ravage the soil, droughts spawn uncontrolled fires, hundreds of my forest friends vanish forever and men leave the land because it was no longer productive. I am witness to the earth becoming arid. I know all life will eventually suffer and die if this onslaught continues. I am a storyteller, and I want you to listen before it's too late." Please, listen!

ang nanawagan,

(sgd) dave

@dave naa koy migo na iya girlfriend kay taga davao nya plano siya anha diha this summer siguro.. kuyogon daw ko niya.. pero ambot lang kay agad ra ko ako budget. lisura sad aning estudyante pa ta ky allowance ra ang source of income usahay ATM (AyTa Ma):D

mayta madayon mo anhi karon holy week kay para maandam nako ang banda na mosugat ninyo sa airport.. hehe bitaw suroy2 lang nya mo ngari cebu puhon

not very impressing : you host the biggest event on ASEAN tourism and all there is to see is a car accident and an article about an eagle on this 13th page. keep sleeping davao....look and take an example from the cebu page, their big event still is 11 months away, and their thread is full of good news, participation of the forumers and grand pictures !
keep sleeping davao....

^:lol:

but I think Davao is not sleeping. There are only few Davao forumers here in this forum and it doesn't mean Davao is already sleeping ;)

but I think Davao is not sleeping. There are only few Davao forumers here in this forum and it doesn't mean Davao is already sleeping ;)

maybe so, but there are no encouraging posts and they have this big event ongoing right now !
so how would you describe that ?

^^ The photos are in the previous page of this thread. :) Did you check them already?

goodnight richard!

yes, you are right... davao is sleeping. we dont need to prove anything.

btw, phil eagle is very much part of davao. for decades, davao has been home to endangered phil eagle. countless support were given to these eagles by dabawenyos to save them from extinction.

in the news...

Thursday, January 19, 2006
Tourism on our terms
By Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte

ON behalf of the more than 1.4 million diverse people in this largest city in the world, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you all to Davao City- the Philippines' gateway to Mindanao and to the East ASEAN Growth Area.

Thank you for choosing our city to be the venue of this silver anniversary of the Asean Tourism Forum. You have chosen well because we are extremely proud of our achievements as a cosmopolitan city of Indigenous and Muslim tribes and migrant settlers from all over the world.

Truth be told, we have not really consciously promoted Davao City as a tourist destination until now, when you insisted that we should come out into the world and share our own wealth of wonders. This reluctance to open to outsiders is probably due to our history of struggle against the imperialistic agenda of our Western colonizers and even of our own Manila-centric national government. We are wary of foreigners who come and visit because before one conquers and exploits a place, one first visits it as a tourist. So we can never be sure.

But, perhaps, Davao is too beautiful to remain a secret for long. People who come here could not stop telling others about it and some of them even stay here for good. You are all welcome, of course. But you can only do so on our terms. We will not change the way we are just to please our tourists. What you see is what you get. After all, isn't the point of travel the adventure of discovering new places, meeting new people, and experiencing other ways of life?

Davao's unique offering to the world is our diversity of peoples, cultures, and nature and how all of these interconnect and mix to create a truly cosmopolitan city. We are home to majority of the indigenous tribes found only in this part of the world and to a vast variety of flora and fauna. We enjoy an environment that is embracing and tolerant of diverse thinking and lifestyles, where no one group or idea dominating over the others. So the kind of tourists we want to visit us are those who appreciate diversity and who wish to be enriched by our varied cultures, who have respect for our people's rights and welfare. We want only those who wish to bring us peace and no harm.

Of course, the negative travel advisory against us is canted and self-serving. There is politics in tourism, after all. If we look at the countries that are fond of labeling us as having "security problems", these are actually the very same countries that invade and conquer other countries, wage unjust wars, and incidentally, control the global tourism industry. So we should not accept that as a matter of fact, but view it as part of a larger political context. Being hypocritical and discriminating against poorer ad smaller destinations like us is probably their tourism strategy. Because how else can they compete against exotic and culturally rich Asian destinations?

If I may be allowed to share Davao's tourism strategy, it can be summed up with this - take care of your own people, remain unconquered, assert your independent spirit, maintain and encourage diversity, ensure just implementation of law and order, and ignore travel advisories issued by ill-advised embassies. We will tell you ourselves if we are not ready for your visit.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Most Livable Philippine City in Asia! We will take good care of you the way we do our own.

(Welcome Remarks from the Host City, 25th Asean Toruism Forum Opening Ceremonies January 17 - Central Bank Convention Hall)



Thursday, January 19, 2006
Mayor to ATF delegates: Disregard US travel advisories
By Nelson Bagaforo and Ben O. Tesiorna

DAVAO CITY -- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Tourism Forum to disregard travel advisories of "self-serving" American and European countries and visit Asean countries as often as possible.

In his welcome remarks during the opening of the ATF at the Central Bank Tuesday night, Duterte said the negative travel advisories against some Asean countries by the United States and other developed countries are nothing but crap.

"Of course, the negative travel advisory against us is canted and self-serving. There is politics in tourism, after all. If we look at the countries that are fond of labeling us as having 'security problems,' these are actually the very same countries that invade and conquer other countries, wage unjust wars, and incidentally, control the global tourism industry," Duterte said.

"So we should not accept that as a matter of fact, but view it as part of a larger political context. Being hypocritical and discriminating against poorer and smaller destinations like us is probably their tourism strategy. Because how else can they compete against exotic and culturally rich Asian destinations," the mayor added.

Duterte said he will be the first one to issue a travel advisory if ever it merits one and not other countries who does not know the real situation here in the region.

"If I may be allowed to share Davao's tourism strategy, it can be summed up with this -- take care of your own people, remain unconquered, assert your independent spirit, maintain and encourage diversity, ensure just implementation of law and order, and ignore travel advisories issued by ill-advised embassies. We will tell you ourselves if we are not ready for your visit," he said.

Duterte's short speech was well applauded with Tourism Secretary Ace Durano commenting, "No wonder Duterte is the city's main tourist attraction."

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Most Livable Philippine City in Asia! We will take good care of you the way we do our own," Duterte assured.

On Wednesday, Duterte was tasked to make a presentation on how to strengthen local tourism amidst crisis before tourism delegates, but the mayor, who was in his best fighting mood, berated the US government for its unfair policies on visiting foreigners.

"They always think they are the most powerful," said Duterte, a lawyer and a former prosecutor.

After Duterte's speech, a US delegate who refused to be named said the city mayor "creates a climate of distrust" with his remarks.

"He deals on stereotypes. I don't think it's fairly constructive," he said.

But a delegate from India expressed support for Duterte, claiming the US government has been trying to reign supreme over poor nations.

"I fully agree with him," said Om Prakash, director of Mumbai-based Orbit Tours and Trade Fairs Private Ltd.

Clad in his usual Barong Tagalog and a pair of maong (denim) pants, Duterte was applauded six times in his one-hour speech, where he also reiterated that visiting foreigners who "follow the rules" will be treated properly while those who engage in illegal business in the city will be dealt with accordingly.

Duterte, who disregarded a prepared speech, also criticized the US government's refusal to turn over to the Philippine government four US servicemen accused of raping a Filipina at the Subic Freeport on November 1 last year.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. had earlier said the US has invoked a provision in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which gives custody of the four soldiers to the US.

But the feisty Duterte told ATF delegates that if such incident happened in his city, he would not allow the suspects to go scot-free.

"I do not give a sh_t about agreements (referring to VFA). If you do it in my city, you will be arrested and I will be the first one to accompany you to prison," he said.

The rape case in Subic heightened his opposition to the presence of US forces holding joint exercises with Filipino forces in various parts of the country dubbed "Balikatan."

"I told the National Government, I will never, never allow foreign troops in my city," he said.

Apparently irked by the US government's policy to "deport immediately" visiting foreigners found to be bringing or using "counterfeit items," the city mayor said he sees such move as unfair treatment to those who want to visit the country.

For instance, Duterte said the US Customs reportedly arrested a Filipino-Chinese man, whom he did not name, who arrived in the US recently "because he was wearing a fake Rolex watch."

The city mayor went on by urging delegates -- tourism players from the Asean region, China, India, South Korea, US and Japan -- to shun the US as their area of destination.

"Do not go to the US where you are treated as a potential terrorist," said Duterte, to the applause of the delegates, some of whom came from Muslim countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

The US had launched what Duterte described as terror attacks in Arab countries, such as Iraq and Afghanistan following the Twin Tower attack in New York, blamed on the terror network al-Qaeda of Osama bin Laden.

The US also issued a watch list of terror groups operating in Asia that includes the National Democratic Front (NDF), a communist movement fighting the Philippine Government for the past three decades.

Duterte disputed this, saying the communists, apparently referring to the NDF and its armed wing the New People's Army (NPA), "are not terrorists."

"They are revolutionaries fighting for a cause," he told ATF delegates. "In Davao City, we are not fighting the communists. I do not know about other areas."(Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/article_160526_01-19-2006.jpg
Delegates to the Asean Tourism Forum listen intently as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers an impromptu speech lambasting what he calls the US government's continued intervention in the internal affairs of "the nations of this planet" during the 25th Asean Tourism Conference at the Apo View Hotel Thursday

samal & davao gulf pics...

http://damien.photos.online.fr

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_dhan_fit.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_fishing_boat.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_arriving_at_villa.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_balcony_water.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_villa_mainroom_inside.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_salam_house.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_under_dp_ok.jpg

not very impressing : you host the biggest event on ASEAN tourism and all there is to see is a car accident and an article about an eagle on this 13th page. keep sleeping davao....look and take an example from the cebu page, their big event still is 11 months away, and their thread is full of good news, participation of the forumers and grand pictures !
keep sleeping davao....

so be it, if you're not impressed with efforts then avoid this thread otherwise you'll be disappointed. davao forumers are not here to impress you. if you think it's your benevolent mission to motivate people, then you failed, miserably. city/provincial threads are not with the notion that they are competing with each other, they're here to check on what's happening.

your castigating us davao forumers is unwelcome and to a point malicious. and certainly it is more unwelcome that you post in other threads castigating us. so there.

my tribute to Davao

DAVAO (http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=IhTZMiIGmKk)

DAVAO, I like! ;)

slerz the link is also sleeping like the thread!:)

richard, I don't know if you realize this but your post can be read to be most insulting and aggravating. I've always known you to be a friendly and sensitive fellow and understand you want to see pictures of what's going on. Unfortunately it's not always that everyone can help out. As far as I can tell there are very few davao forumers and mostly older ones who may not really have that much time or interest to spend on forums like these. Aside from these only Sleepy and his sister are active forumers who actually live in Davao and they are also quite busy with work as Sleepy explained. Please be patient with your requests I'm sure the people here will try accomodate it. Being too pushy and calling names is not helpful, I hope you understand that it's not because people here don't care but that it's just not that easy to do as you ask. See you around :)

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_dhan_fit.jpg


:eek: > :drool:

Duh...unsa may kaso kung way picture oi!! its not that important...para ra na sa mga way GIBUHAT....

junex, simple... di man kahibaw mo basa...hehe

@bustero, oo nga, natutulog nga ang YT... antayin lang natin, gising yan maya maya... but I like their style, it's kewl :okay:

slerz the link is also sleeping like the thread!:)

richard, I don't know if you realize this but your post can be read to be most insulting and aggravating. I've always known you to be a friendly and sensitive fellow and understand you want to see pictures of what's going on. Unfortunately it's not always that everyone can help out. As far as I can tell there are very few davao forumers and mostly older ones who may not really have that much time or interest to spend on forums like these. Aside from these only Sleepy and his sister are active forumers who actually live in Davao and they are also quite busy with work as Sleepy explained. Please be patient with your requests I'm sure the people here will try accomodate it. Being too pushy and calling names is not helpful, I hope you understand that it's not because people here don't care but that it's just not that easy to do as you ask. See you around :)

i don't know this guy can't accept simple explanations. the local forumers doesn't have his luxuries and he keeps on pestering with those requests and insulting remarks. one suggestion though, why don't he go over there and do he wants to do. if he gets it, then bravo, if not, then i told you so. otherwise, he might as well shut up.

"ingon ana jud to siya paul sige lang pamandar.. kusog kayo manugo.." hehe

my tribute to Davao

DAVAO (http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=IhTZMiIGmKk)

DAVAO, I like! ;)

nimata na si YT... ;)

"ingon ana jud to siya paul sige lang pamandar.. kusog kayo manugo.." hehe

mao, sori na lang sya kay wa ta nya giswelduhan.

nimata na si YT... ;)

BRAVO slerz!

naa toy planong di mao... :D

wa ko kasabot nganong nay mga taong ing-anag batasan. di man siguro ta mga bata nga basta na lang manduhan.

^^ Maayo inyong gi-francahan. Otro pud na sige pangayo para sa iyang aeroplano. :nuts:

mao nay problema sa ubang mga langyaw, patuo-tuo. abi siguro nila'g mas kuyaw sila.

maayo ra manghulga. imong prangkahan, di ka man lang tubagon, murag nagpabuta-buta. kapila na nako gisultihan, ambot kung kasabot.

slerz the link is also sleeping like the thread!:)

richard, I don't know if you realize this but your post can be read to be most insulting and aggravating. I've always known you to be a friendly and sensitive fellow and understand you want to see pictures of what's going on. Unfortunately it's not always that everyone can help out. As far as I can tell there are very few davao forumers and mostly older ones who may not really have that much time or interest to spend on forums like these. Aside from these only Sleepy and his sister are active forumers who actually live in Davao and they are also quite busy with work as Sleepy explained. Please be patient with your requests I'm sure the people here will try accomodate it. Being too pushy and calling names is not helpful, I hope you understand that it's not because people here don't care but that it's just not that easy to do as you ask. See you around :)

i see bustero,
ok i can understand that. you see, in my country teasing someone is like waking him up to do better or more. i do not use "malicious words" as quoted. it is not to insult anyone. you answer very politely and explain fairly. this is acceptable and makes me understand your people better. so thank you for your thoughts bustero.

as to the comments of some certain scarborough forumer i rather not comment words like "shut up" (now that IS malicious) or else answers. that simply is a showcase of incapability, not more, not less. a waste of time to comment anything like that. for me no reason to get upset. nevertheless, it is not my intent to insult anyone, i want to repeat this here.

samal & davao gulf pics...

http://damien.photos.online.fr

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_dhan_fit.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_fishing_boat.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_arriving_at_villa.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_balcony_water.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_pearlfarm_villa_mainroom_inside.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_salam_house.jpg

http://damien.photos.online.fr/phili/phili_davao_under_dp_ok.jpg

beautiful shots sleepwalker. thanks for posting.

^^ GROOVY baby yeah! :pepper:

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/8250/6320279750f8746b0o8ad.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/6843/86090312f9a5ccdde9o6lq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/1179/86090372d85b649b7co7ic.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/4161/86090057b8e7b08571o4jd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7974/8609025251f6c0de89o4vg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/954/801105484b5ddb134eo6jx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4081/693653410ea3ddb464o3eu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1356/69571476da716a6dfdo3ls.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8647/695714745b2b9c697ao4uj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5192/6936534050e5663f7bo8fe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i see bustero,
ok i can understand that. you see, in my country teasing someone is like waking him up to do better or more. i do not use "malicious words" as quoted. it is not to insult anyone. you answer very politely and explain fairly. this is acceptable and makes me understand your people better. so thank you for your thoughts bustero.

as to the comments of some certain scarborough forumer i rather not comment words like "shut up" (now that IS malicious) or else answers. that simply is a showcase of incapability, not more, not less. a waste of time to comment anything like that. for me no reason to get upset. nevertheless, it is not my intent to insult anyone, i want to repeat this here.

true, i am that scarborough forumer you were referring about. true, davao forumers were upset. in your country you may call it "teasing" but i wonder, you were not in your country's forum. true, i did tell you to "shut up". nothing to be explained about that, i'll put it plainly that i was upset, nothing fanciful about that. i'll tell you directly, not i'll talk about that "certain german forumer". as i've said before if you failed to read if in my previous post, we dabawenyos hate it when we're being pushed or forced to do something or rushed. that i hope you understood that before saying that about the sleeping. plus the fact that you went to another thread to castigate us davao forumers. if you think it was a waste of time commenting on anything like that so would i, but you touched somebody's nerves. and i felt the need to retort.

i would love this as part of the past now, and i've said what i wanted to say.

marco polo
http://www.kingtvl.com.ph/hotels/images/marcopolo-davao-room.jpg

pearl farm
http://www.asiatravel.com/philippines/pearlfarm/gifs/room1.jpg

royal mandaya
http://www.kingtvl.com.ph/hotels/images/royal_mandaya-room.jpg

waterfront insular
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/H40791.jpg

davao-inspired home decors available in europe:

http://php.heytens.be/2005/decor.php?dec=47&lg=NL

http://php.heytens.be/2005/img/decor/D-DAVAO.jpg

nice pictures of davao.. :D

true, i am that scarborough forumer you were referring about. true, davao forumers were upset. in your country you may call it "teasing" but i wonder, you were not in your country's forum. true, i did tell you to "shut up". nothing to be explained about that, i'll put it plainly that i was upset, nothing fanciful about that. i'll tell you directly, not i'll talk about that "certain german forumer". as i've said before if you failed to read if in my previous post, we dabawenyos hate it when we're being pushed or forced to do something or rushed. that i hope you understood that before saying that about the sleeping. plus the fact that you went to another thread to castigate us davao forumers. if you think it was a waste of time commenting on anything like that so would i, but you touched somebody's nerves. and i felt the need to retort.

i would love this as part of the past now, and i've said what i wanted to say.

paulkrps,
you may call me the german forumer, i am proud of my country, just as i am proud of my philippine descent. there is no "forced to do so", there only was a time schedule for that tourism meeting as you might recall. please do not feel so affected as it was not meant to scratch anyone personally. and yes, i was in my country´s forum, you might not know, i grew up in san juan, rizal. that though was some 40 years ago, so i´m not that "up to date" with philippine customs anymore. like i said, no intention to hurt anyone´s feelings. so sorry, ok?
salamat

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/8250/6320279750f8746b0o8ad.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/6843/86090312f9a5ccdde9o6lq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/1179/86090372d85b649b7co7ic.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/4161/86090057b8e7b08571o4jd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7974/8609025251f6c0de89o4vg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

very nice shots ! thanks sugbuanon.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/954/801105484b5ddb134eo6jx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4081/693653410ea3ddb464o3eu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1356/69571476da716a6dfdo3ls.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8647/695714745b2b9c697ao4uj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5192/6936534050e5663f7bo8fe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



daghang salamat! nindot sa eden kay tugnaw murag baguio city.

paulkrps,
you may call me the german forumer, i am proud of my country, just as i am proud of my philippine descent. there is no "forced to do so", there only was a time schedule for that tourism meeting as you might recall. please do not feel so affected as it was not meant to scratch anyone personally. and yes, i was in my country´s forum, you might not know, i grew up in san juan, rizal. that though was some 40 years ago, so i´m not that "up to date" with philippine customs anymore. like i said, no intention to hurt anyone´s feelings. so sorry, ok?
salamat

like i said richard, everythings past now. sorry accepted. let's move on.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/cd3bf7f8.jpg


Sunday, January 22, 2006
Lost in Davao
By Stella A. Estremera
Spider's web
Sunstar Davao

WE were off to release yet another marine turtle - a green sea turtle this time rescued from a fish corral in barangay Lasang, last week.

A staff member of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) based in Manila was in town for an information and education campaign and she wanted to tag along.

Thus, after picking me up from the house, Sir Leo said we will be passing by downtown to fetch Obel, the WWF lady.

Obel texted her location as we went on our way downtown.

"I'm at Suazo Street in front of Magallanes BBQ," her message read.

"May Suazo sa Magallanes?" Sir Leo and I almost chorused, our eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Di ba ang Suazo andoon banda sa looban ng Uyanguren?" I asked, although by that time I was no longer sure about my idea of Davao streets.

Even Sir Leo's driver agreed, Suazo was definitely nowhere near Magallanes.

The pick-up slowed down as we approached the Bolton Extension length of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building, training our eyes for the young lady we were looking for. We easily spotted Obel as she was standing on the corner. It was then when I noticed the newly painted street sign beside her and looked up:
"Rep. A. Suazo St.," the white letters on green background set up on a yellow street sign post declared.

"Sir Leo, Suazo Street nga ito!" I squeaked. "Teka, kelan pa naging Suazo ang Bolton Extension?"

Welcome to Davao City, the city of new street signs with street names that residents do not even recognize.

You only have to be a jeepney-riding visitor to realize something is very queer in this city. In very small letters listing the jeepney routes you will see
street names like "R. Magsaysay Avenue", "A. Pichon Street", "Iñigo Street", "E. Quirino Avenue", and all other names. But the conductors will be shouting, "Claudio, Claudio, Claudio!" "'Guren, 'Guren, 'Guren!" or "'Gallanes, 'Gallanes, 'Gallanes!" or "'Ciano, 'Ciano, 'Ciano!"

And as if to drive the confusion point further, the signboards hanged on the windshield of the jeeps will be echoing those shouts "Oyanguren", "Magallanes", "Ponciano", etc. No Pichon, no Iñigo, an occasional Quirino all right, but no Magsaysay Avenue, just an occasional Magsaysay Park.

But then, Dabawenyos shouldn't be surprised if they just go around not aware that names of places have long been changed. After all, they are the people who live in the city with the most unusual street shapes and routes as well, and they are still alive now to go on living in their unmindful way. Like, nowhere else in the world will a four-lane avenue suddenly become a two-lane road where vehicles zip and zoom across 24 hours a day with not one major accident reported despite having not a single warning sign and a brightly-lit street light. There is that street I never really know the name of that links Quimpo Boulevard to Times Beach in Ecoland Subdivision, Matina.

Despite the fact that no one really knows the street name of that queer-shaped and routed street, everyone has ridden past that and even rode a jeepney going there. The typical Dabawenyo doesn't mind, whether that street has a name or not, he knows it's there and it leads to Times Beach (or SM City) and that's enough.

That same queerly-shaped street splits off from Quimpo Boulevard in an even queerer way. Its island is tweaked just a little off to allow the driver coming from the direction of the Bolton Bridge to see the oncoming traffic but because that island end doesn't have the last trace of black and yellow lines as marker, many a driver has been shocked to discover he has just driven over it, after the fact and the jolt.

And still the Dabawenyo drives on, unmindful, and very much alive.

The coolest place around though is that junction of General Luna, Legaspi, Camus and Bonifacio Streets. It's a junction that beats comprehension and redefines what street corners are for (a street corner in this area is where a pedestrian has no choice but to play patintero with oncoming vehicles since he can be attacked from all sides and it takes more than just looking to the left and right before crossing, you also have to figure out where the corner you're standing on crosses to; a really good exercise for urban living)...

Later during that ride to Lasang, Obel relates how she was struck by the newness of the street signs the night before.

"Sinabi ko nga sa kasama ko na mabuti pa ang mga street signs ninyo dito, bago. Sa amin hindi na nababasa," she said. And her Dabawenyo friend admitted all these in fact is new. I quietly added, and Dabawenyos don't rely on them for directions because we might just end up lost in our own city.

After all, we have lived with no warning and street signs for so long, we have honed our homing and survival instincts. We call places according to how the residents have baptized them like Diversion Road (is that Carlos P. Garcia highway or someone else or the other Porras, or what? I'm not sure), Ecoland
Terminal (I think it's Candelaria Street, but again, I'm not sure), and everyone knows where Acacia is; it's not the Acacia Street in Juna Subdivision at that, and it's not even a street, it just is. Now try to look for that in a map. The new generation and migrants will just be glad to know that very few people now go to "Boy Scout" or "Jones", at least that's two "is" (shall we call them "are" then?)

Scratched off the list...

Foreigners laud RP hosting of ASEAN Tourism Forum


DAVAO CITY — The nine-day 25th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in this city ended yesterday with delegates and members of the foreign media who covered the major tourism event here expressing praises for host Philippines.

Ted Davis of the Canadian TravelPress, who was surprised at the staging of the travel exchange at the NCCC mall, said "this is the first time for me to see much of the ATF events being held in a vast retail establishment, particularly the holding of press conference by a national tourism organization," Davis said.

Davis added that he was amazed at how Christians, Muslims, and other various ethnic groups co-exist peacefully in Davao City despite their differences, not only in religion but also in culture, language and tradition.

"This diversity is amazing and wonderful. The services were great, especially at the media center," Davis added.

Christina Liadis of the China Travel Service, a China and Hongkong- based travel firm with 20 branches that include those in Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, also extolled Davao’s hosting of the event.

Liadis expressed delight at how she was welcomed and assisted upon arrival at the airport and to her hotel in Davao City and all the way down to every event during the nine-day ATF here.

"The ATF’s opening ceremony was fantastic," Liadis said, referring to the stage performance of more than 500 dancers, singers and musicians, who showcased the city’s rich and diverse culture in songs and dances.

The colorful and spectacular performance was held at the Central Bank Convention Center and the adjacent The Venue to formally kick-off the ATF here, which Liadis said was superbly conducted by the Philippine Host Committee and the Davao City Host Council.

"Everything went on smoothly and I also had a wonderful time at the Malagos Garden Resort, the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City and the Paradise Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal," she added.

Her views were echoed by Singaporean Jonathan Chia of the Panoly Resort Boracay, citing ATF 2006 as well-organized, fully attended and productive. "It’s good to bring the international buyers and media here so they’ll know that Davao City is peaceful and safe, contrary to impression created by negative travel advisories," Chia pointed out.

The ATF included a travel exchange for one-on- one meetings and other business activities between exhibitors/sellers and buyers of tour packages and travel services all over the world. "ATF’s Travex has attracted buyers who are the top sellers in their respective countries, and this means good business for our Boracay operations," Chia said.

-The Manila Bulletin Online

http://www.atfdavao.com/

http://www.atfdavao.com/images/OpeningCeremonies.jpg

http://www.atfdavao.com/images/Ministers.jpg

with duterte naka-maong
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/atf/ASEANMinisters.jpg

i just saw what slerz made! ang cute naman..it made me smile! eheheheh who sang that song nga pala? makalingaw jud! ehehehhe

:applause: CONGRATS DAVAO!!!:applause:

Cute lagi kaayo si Duterte kay siya ray naka lahi, nag maong...hehe

^^ he symbolizes davao. Davao will always stand out amongst many...

yup, exactly... ^^

Mukha talagang asensadong asensado na ang Davao sa videong ginawa ni slerz. Mabuhay ka slerz. Madayaw ang Davao. :bowtie:

lols astig kayo si duterte uy, nag-maong unya naka-barong :lol:

Sunday, January 22, 2006
Lost in Davao
By Stella A. Estremera
Spider's web
Sunstar Davao

WE were off to release yet another marine turtle - a green sea turtle this time rescued from a fish corral in barangay Lasang, last week.

A staff member of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) based in Manila was in town for an information and education campaign and she wanted to tag along.

Thus, after picking me up from the house, Sir Leo said we will be passing by downtown to fetch Obel, the WWF lady.

Obel texted her location as we went on our way downtown.

"I'm at Suazo Street in front of Magallanes BBQ," her message read.

"May Suazo sa Magallanes?" Sir Leo and I almost chorused, our eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Di ba ang Suazo andoon banda sa looban ng Uyanguren?" I asked, although by that time I was no longer sure about my idea of Davao streets.

Even Sir Leo's driver agreed, Suazo was definitely nowhere near Magallanes.

The pick-up slowed down as we approached the Bolton Extension length of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building, training our eyes for the young lady we were looking for. We easily spotted Obel as she was standing on the corner. It was then when I noticed the newly painted street sign beside her and looked up:
"Rep. A. Suazo St.," the white letters on green background set up on a yellow street sign post declared.

"Sir Leo, Suazo Street nga ito!" I squeaked. "Teka, kelan pa naging Suazo ang Bolton Extension?"

Welcome to Davao City, the city of new street signs with street names that residents do not even recognize.

You only have to be a jeepney-riding visitor to realize something is very queer in this city. In very small letters listing the jeepney routes you will see
street names like "R. Magsaysay Avenue", "A. Pichon Street", "Iñigo Street", "E. Quirino Avenue", and all other names. But the conductors will be shouting, "Claudio, Claudio, Claudio!" "'Guren, 'Guren, 'Guren!" or "'Gallanes, 'Gallanes, 'Gallanes!" or "'Ciano, 'Ciano, 'Ciano!"

And as if to drive the confusion point further, the signboards hanged on the windshield of the jeeps will be echoing those shouts "Oyanguren", "Magallanes", "Ponciano", etc. No Pichon, no Iñigo, an occasional Quirino all right, but no Magsaysay Avenue, just an occasional Magsaysay Park.

But then, Dabawenyos shouldn't be surprised if they just go around not aware that names of places have long been changed. After all, they are the people who live in the city with the most unusual street shapes and routes as well, and they are still alive now to go on living in their unmindful way. Like, nowhere else in the world will a four-lane avenue suddenly become a two-lane road where vehicles zip and zoom across 24 hours a day with not one major accident reported despite having not a single warning sign and a brightly-lit street light. There is that street I never really know the name of that links Quimpo Boulevard to Times Beach in Ecoland Subdivision, Matina.

Despite the fact that no one really knows the street name of that queer-shaped and routed street, everyone has ridden past that and even rode a jeepney going there. The typical Dabawenyo doesn't mind, whether that street has a name or not, he knows it's there and it leads to Times Beach (or SM City) and that's enough.

That same queerly-shaped street splits off from Quimpo Boulevard in an even queerer way. Its island is tweaked just a little off to allow the driver coming from the direction of the Bolton Bridge to see the oncoming traffic but because that island end doesn't have the last trace of black and yellow lines as marker, many a driver has been shocked to discover he has just driven over it, after the fact and the jolt.

And still the Dabawenyo drives on, unmindful, and very much alive.

The coolest place around though is that junction of General Luna, Legaspi, Camus and Bonifacio Streets. It's a junction that beats comprehension and redefines what street corners are for (a street corner in this area is where a pedestrian has no choice but to play patintero with oncoming vehicles since he can be attacked from all sides and it takes more than just looking to the left and right before crossing, you also have to figure out where the corner you're standing on crosses to; a really good exercise for urban living)...

Later during that ride to Lasang, Obel relates how she was struck by the newness of the street signs the night before.

"Sinabi ko nga sa kasama ko na mabuti pa ang mga street signs ninyo dito, bago. Sa amin hindi na nababasa," she said. And her Dabawenyo friend admitted all these in fact is new. I quietly added, and Dabawenyos don't rely on them for directions because we might just end up lost in our own city.

After all, we have lived with no warning and street signs for so long, we have honed our homing and survival instincts. We call places according to how the residents have baptized them like Diversion Road (is that Carlos P. Garcia highway or someone else or the other Porras, or what? I'm not sure), Ecoland
Terminal (I think it's Candelaria Street, but again, I'm not sure), and everyone knows where Acacia is; it's not the Acacia Street in Juna Subdivision at that, and it's not even a street, it just is. Now try to look for that in a map. The new generation and migrants will just be glad to know that very few people now go to "Boy Scout" or "Jones", at least that's two "is" (shall we call them "are" then?)

Scratched off the list...


hehe very true. Actually Mamay Road was changed and named after my Grandfather back in 1986, in fact back then there was no road , the cement road ended near St. Anthony, the dirt road ended in LEA subd. It was only with our help that the road was eventually finished sometime in the 90's. I hear there's rumbling that the road's name is to be changed again! haha, weder weder talaga.

^^ same name with the school there? starts with letter "A"?

lols astig kayo si duterte uy, nag-maong unya naka-barong :lol:

on regular working day, polo shirt or checkered polo with maong iyang ginasuot.

btw, thanks nga pala slerz for the video.

^^ yup the school is named after my dad , the road (and the barangay) is after my lolo...until they change it! :) hehe. ganoon lang iyon, politics.

am actually not that great a fan of Duterte , not that I do not recognize what he has done for Davao! He has done a lot specially for peace and order and his personality has put Davao on the map. But there is a time to move on beyond a platform of just peace and order, we must think and plan far into the future for Davao to prosper, otherwise we will never be able to catch up with Cebu, let alone Manila! Anyway I hope the ATF will get Davao some good press so that we can get more tourists there. All set na , good airport with decent airlinks, enough nice hotels (though I think they need to open up quizon and durian to have more rooms I heard laging nauubusan - Is Maguindanao still open?) , lots of attractions and good food at very nice prices.

waahh am rambling. Good day to all.

Aya Slerz, I finally saw your video, very nice, Did you make it yourself, you're very talented, baka ikaw pa nagrap! :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :cheers2:

^^lol... di pang rap ang boses ko, pang josh groban to, ;)...

@sw uno and @bustero, wa'y sakayan....I mean, wa'y sapayan..hehe

^^ yup the school is named after my dad , the road (and the barangay) is after my lolo...until they change it! :) hehe. ganoon lang iyon, politics.


can we change it to "Bustero A... Road"?

some pics i took this morning & the better ones were from google.

Damosa-Mamay area pics:

main damosa bldg with malay architecture similar to airport terminal.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0031.jpg

those ugly overhead cables courtesy of PLDT.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0032.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/damosa3.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/damosa2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/damosa.jpg

japanese school operated by philippine nikkei jin kai.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0035.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0036.jpg

Congratulations to Davao for the successful hosting of the 2006 ATF.. :)

ngi, bay buhi pa ko, pampatay iyan :goodnight

the last pix is the road up with vincent heights on the left and the airport at the right, correct?

:)

nagagandahan talaga ako jan sa davao. parang lively palagi. sana maka-visit jan. :D asan na nga pala po si ate gina? :?:

Is Slerz one of those in the group of 4s?

:eek2: what is this group of 4s? ^^

^^ maybe F4... ikaw si Dao Miming. hehe.

ngi, bay buhi pa ko, pampatay iyan :goodnight

btw, who is this sebastian na sikat... always nasa news these days. print & local tv.


the last pix is the road up with vincent heights on the left and the airport at the right, correct?
:)

correct!

Group of fours. There was a picture of three guys huddled around Mayor Duterte. Were you one of those guys?

^^where's the pic?

Chamber bullish on city econ after ATF

THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce Inc. (DCCCI) expressed optimism the city's economy will soar after it hosted the 25th Asean Tourism Forum (ATF).

DCCCI president Bienvenido Cariaga Wednesday said the city's hosting of the forum was a good start for investment.

Cariaga said hotel operators earned much dollars during the forum as all hotels were fully booked, with restaurant and transportation sector also teeming with customers.

Cariaga said the P27 million budget allotted by the City Government for hosting the forum will be replaced in terms of investments and taxes.

"Assuming the City Government allocated P30 million, if businessmen issued receipts, there is always the VAT, in terms of taxes, mas sobra pa siguro ang babalik," he said.

Councilor Susan Isabel C. Reta supported Cariaga's statement. Reta, in a privilege speech Tuesday, said Davao City has gained the confidence of the investors after it showed that it can host a very big event.

"I am really optimistic that the city will go well and we will achieve what we have been aiming for to be a tourist destination in Mindanao," Reta said in an interview.

She said the ATF was a success because of the team work between the private and government sector.

"We also hope that all the hardships and efforts of the barangay will really continue," she said.

She said the city is facing a big responsibility when it accepted to host ATF, with only little money to work with. The city, she said, did not have the luxury of time with only 130 days to prepare.



_________________________________

cguro davao na ang pipiliin for the ASEAN summit when it will be the philippines' turn again to host it after 14 years or so.

^^I really hope that Davao will soar high so that there will be more Philippine cities that can compete intrnationally.

btw, who is this sebastian na sikat... always nasa news these days. print & local tv.
hehe That is my super kulit na uncle na mahilig makisawsaw sa lahat! From beauty pagent to everything, matagal na siyang ganyan, he was actually busiers in the 90's as head of Davao Chamber of Commerce , Mindanao Business Council and MEDCO and all other eckeck, that's when they set up BIMP-EAGA and UP Mindanao. He very busy kasi with Civil Society.

hello davao forumers!

newbie here. after seeing all the pics, gus2 ko ring maka pagcontribute and i promise pics next week, parang nakita ko wala masyadong mall pics although may nabasa ako na may gus2 makakita ng mga mall pics... my project:
major malls:
1. gaisano mall of davao (6 levels, 7 storey parking lot)
2. victoria plaza (3 levels)
3. nccc mall of davao (5 levels)
4. sm city davao (3 levels)
5. gaisano south mall (6 levels)

if cebu will be the next hongkong...
found this seoul pics, i guess davao in the future is likely to pattern this kind of skyline... sprawling with the davao river in the middle.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2242/seoul24xg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

no other city in the philippines can copycat this korean city i guess due to land area limitation.

Hi Junax...can't wait to see that kind of Development in Davao...Sana din magkaron tayo rail transit with rail design like this:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c220/JGuitguitin/NorthLuzonMetroRail-2020.jpg
What do you think guyzzzz????

if cebu will be the next hongkong...
found this seoul pics, i guess davao in the future is likely to pattern this kind of skyline... sprawling with the davao river in the middle.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2242/seoul24xg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

no other city in the philippines can copycat this korean city i guess due to land area limitation.


OMg!!! please no!!! maawa kayo sa mt. apo!

^^ it is very possible that davao will be like this without touching the mt apo.

^^yup, Mt. Apo is already in North Cotabato area...

i just dont like the scrapers, davao could be better than that, with more spaces for greens.

I hope Davao does not become like Seoul.
Look at that smog in the background.
Davao's beauty is her nature.

hello davao forumers!

newbie here. after seeing all the pics, gus2 ko ring maka pagcontribute and i promise pics next week, parang nakita ko wala masyadong mall pics although may nabasa ako na may gus2 makakita ng mga mall pics... my project:
major malls:
1. gaisano mall of davao (6 levels, 7 storey parking lot)
2. victoria plaza (3 levels)
3. nccc mall of davao (5 levels)
4. sm city davao (3 levels)
5. gaisano south mall (6 levels)
Welcome to ssc, junax :D
You're right, not a lot of pics here of Davao's malls
thankx in advance for the pictures ..

I hope Davao does not become like Seoul.
Look at that smog in the background.
Davao's beauty is her nature.

very well said joey. to a degree, some development is good. but i'd like to see nature after some minutes of driving. that's what i like about davao, a few minutes here and you're in a beach, then go the other way and you're trekking in some high places.

welcome junax!

ye, pls do post mall pics here.

btw, i prefer vancouver over seoul minus the snow.

http://www.daemery.com/images/Vancouver/02-06%20Vancouver%20DSC01864web.JPG

sarap managinip ng gising. hehe.

Sooner or later Davao will hit 2 million people, not more than 10 years from now, it won't take too long to go to 3million people, if we do not build up, then we will end up like LA, which for me is an extremely wasteful way to build a city, with gdp per capita rising commensurately, people will buy more second cars from korea, so traffic and freeways will be the result, there's more smog there than a dense city core...

^^ i think kelangan ng idevelop ang area from agdao, magsaysay park to bucana all the way to times beach. instead of relocating people mostly squatters living there, gawan na lang sila ng low-cost na condo. i dunno how its gonna work, maybe partly subsidized by the govt to lessen the burden of the beneficiaries. its better since malapit lang sa workplace. also, gawan ng bike lanes para wala ng rason para bumili ng kotse.

^^hey I saw the david yesterday night, it's actually a nice place, puedeng pang gimik, I don't see what the fuss is about , it's open to the public and lots of people are enjoying the fresh air and views! :cheer: :horse: Your idea is good if we create that belt all the way along the water. :pepper: :cheer: :cucumber: :tyty: :banana: :carrot: :dance2: :banana2:

^^ ye dapat kasali ang coastal area sa devt... ecoland, bucana & blvd malapit lang sa dagat pero walang dagat na nakikita.

davao's version of statue of david:
http://www.wowdavao.com/images/david.jpg

perhaps they could add this para patas... hehe.

http://www.dargate.com/218_images/2414.jpg

^^ wahahaha korek!
:lol::rofl::lol:

^^ Why did they remade David for? buti lang kung maganda ang replica. yikes... :lol:

I prefer the Blvd to Bucana to be a mangroved forest area...ive seen that place very muddy and knee-deep ang dagat pag high tide..there are also some local species of birds still exist....am sure dadami din yang mga migratory bird na nasa times beach ngayon at lilipat sa area na massive ang mangroves at mud flats..at least dadami ang mga local seashells/fishes dyan para makain at may masilongan sila...

Pwede rin yang place na yan ilaan sa aquaculture....mud crabs is suitable in that area.

We actually have alittle project to put a viewing area and market day on top of that last pix, (where vincent heights is). It should look nice when it's done.

^^ you mean here? http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0036.jpg

im sure that would be a hit. sarap jan mag abang ng eroplano habang umiinom ng ice cold beer.

@ junex: nice idea. urbanization side by side environmental protection.

@ askal: reason they remade david? kasi malapit sa queensland motel. lahat ng pumapasok dun ay required na maghubad. :jk:

@SLEEPWALKER UNO: Sana nga ganon ang plano nila..kaso dinig ko gawin daw dyan Marina complex or I heard also may gagawin coastal road from Sta. Ana to Toril...

Sino kaya may connection sa City Planning dito...sana mai-suggest ang environmental protection sa area na yan...Its really nice to see Davao City that way.

Sleepy, correct ka diyan. Daan mo sa may LEA, even now they notice that towards night time madaming nagasugba diyan. And maganda view all the way till Samal. So the barangay is now coming up with a MOA with the airport so they will develop it into a park and administer it. Sabi ko nga sa pinsan ko maghanap ng puesto para magpizza kami para maiba sa sugbaan!

Junex matagal na iyang plano na iyan to build the coastal road, di ko lang sure kung kailang nila itutuloy. I understand iyung gusto mo but baka mahirap as it does not match their plans. From Toril to Sta. Ana to Panacan , zoned yata for coastal development!

Bustero, yun nga din dinig ko... i hope hindi mag ala Manila Bay na wala kanang makita na mga mangrove at puro nalang establishments and pollutions...

malaki naman yang mud-flats dyan sa blvd...pwede naman kahit may coastal road, but it should be still looking green sa paligid.

Sooner or later Davao will hit 2 million people, not more than 10 years from now, it won't take too long to go to 3million people, if we do not build up, then we will end up like LA, which for me is an extremely wasteful way to build a city, with gdp per capita rising commensurately, people will buy more second cars from korea, so traffic and freeways will be the result, there's more smog there than a dense city core...
i'm new to this group. already, davao city's daytime population is about 2 million and that's according to an interview i read by the head of the city's investment promotions board. just look at all those buses and jeeps coming from the south - they're usually puno with travelers from the cotabatos and all points south.

very well said joey. to a degree, some development is good. but i'd like to see nature after some minutes of driving. that's what i like about davao, a few minutes here and you're in a beach, then go the other way and you're trekking in some high places.
That is so true.
It used to be, we would spend our weekend in Compostela with out father back in the 80's.
It took 2.5 hours to get to Compo Valley then. Even less in the morning.
When I was there in 2000, hell it took an hour plus from Lanang to Bahada due to traffic from the sabong there.
If they could build high rises around Bolton, Claveria and San Pedro and have a mono-rail going, it'd be great.
The coastal highways really need to be built.
It's true, traffic from Cotabato is enormous too.
People there love going to Davao for the weekend .
My brothers used to manage Water World, they used to book busloads of students from Cotabato.
Davao's beauty is really it's nature and the laid-back living there.
It's unigue. I dunno if Davao would still be Davao if it became like Cebu or Quezon City or Manila.
I remember hiking San Pedro to Matina when my brother and I went to see movies in San Pedro. It was a breeze to hike that distance then.
When I was studying at ADDU, in the afternoon between classes, I would hike ADDU to Merco, NCCC or Gaisano by UM easily. Hell, I went to Queen to see a movie, have a halu-halo at Merco then get back for my night classes.

davao's version of statue of david:
http://www.wowdavao.com/images/david.jpg


dili naman na itlog.. bu-ongon naman na iyaha.. :D

Hi,

If they have any projects planned sa Quezon blvd, paano na lang ang mga tao na nakatira diyan? Kawawa naman. Probably 70% sa mga nakatira diyan eh mga pobre. They should just make that into a low cost housing development and offer it to the people who live there.

Having a dense city core is actually a better way of saving more countryside! Yes the flavour of the city will be different, but it will change anyway as the population increases. Urbanization is a trend not a simple fad or spike, and the areas around region 10/11/Caraga are still predominantly rural. These people will move as the country develops and changes, and chances are they will either go to Manila/Cebu or Davao. A dense core with corresponding transportation links (preferably mass based and preferable non fossil fuel or at the least non polluting) will have a much smaller environmental impact. Otherwise the growth spreads out and that 10 km from mintal to calinan is going to become a congested commercial highway full of strip malls as they house an extra 500,000 people.

dili naman na itlog.. bu-ongon naman na iyaha.. :D

og upo... daghang gustong ipatanggal si david kay insecure sila sa kadako. :jk:

@ ating: dont worry. the city govt wont demolish unless theres resettlement.

courtesy of tj_brewed:

pre, post nako ni ha...

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/davao1.jpg

^^ usa nako.. haha

^^ usa nako.. haha

ako pud. :D

magbasketball ta dave na walay sul-ob brief para modako ato itlog.. haha

^^ kaon na lang kog durian.

Talikud Island right with Davao City in distance

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc5.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc4.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc.jpg

Cebu in Davao

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc2.jpg

Merpati Airlines (Indonesia)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc3.jpg

Wow. Asa ini sa Davao? Hapit lang ni sa Paradise?

Wow. Asa ini sa Davao? Hapit lang ni sa Paradise?

Talikud is located south of Samal Island. 45 mins to one hour boat ride from Sta Ana Wharf, Davao City... Paradise Beach Resort I guess is just 3 to five mins banca ride from Sasa.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscDavaomaptalikud.jpg

magbasketball ta dave na walay sul-ob brief para modako ato itlog.. haha
:bash: :bash: :bash: imagining how u would look...eewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..... hahaha

Talikud is located south of Samal Island. 45 mins to one hour boat ride from Sta Ana Wharf, Davao City... Paradise Beach Resort I guess is just 3 to five mins banca ride from Sasa.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/sscDavaomaptalikud.jpg

Ill go there for my next davao trip. Hanggang Paradise lang me. Maganda ah. Lets see. :)

bai sleepwalker, do u know the current total number of hotel rooms in Davao City? thanks :cool:

:)

Davao Snapshots courtesy of www.mydavao.com


http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m6_1.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m7.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m8.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m9.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m4.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m5.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m31.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m28.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m29.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m30.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m3.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m24.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m25.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m26.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m27.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m20.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m21.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m22.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m23.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m17.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m18.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m19.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m2.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m14.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m15.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m16.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m13.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m1.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m10.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m11.jpg

http://www.imagebulk.com/images/tjbrewed/m12.jpg

As promised, G-Mall of Davao the underrated mall but definitely kicks a**!(Please bear with the cellphone cam pictures)

Main Atrium taken from the Cinema Park...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium1.jpg

Main Atrium taken beside the elevators
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium4.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium10.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium11.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium8.jpg

Main Atrium taken from the Spazio mall area...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium12.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium3.jpg

Main Atrium taken from the ground floor dep't store entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium13.jpg

Main Elevators taken from the main mall area...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium2.jpg

cinema parks...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/cinemapark1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/cinemapark2.jpg

Second Atrium taken from the 2nd level dep't store...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_B1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_B2.jpg

Spazio mall back entrance..
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio1.jpg
main entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio2.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio3.jpg

Third Atrium taken from the Spazio mall entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_C1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_C7.jpg

Fashion Walk mall...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/fashionwalk1.jpg
main entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/fashionwalk2.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/mcdo2.jpg

Main Entrance taken from the 2nd Atrium (basement is below the stairs)...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/entrance3.jpg

in case of fire, no worry...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/mcdo1.jpg

here's the mall in it's entirety... Click the gallery...
http://www.imagebulk.com/gallery.php?u=junaxbaby&g=Gaisano-Mall-of-Davao

:)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/samal/ssc2.jpg

wow, it's beautiful... the word printed on the shirt is beautiful... :D:jk:

@ junax: thanks. daghang salamat. nice g-mall.

sa wakas... may aabangan na ring bagong project ang DC. heres the news:


Davao hospital pursues aborted expansion
By Manuel T. Cayon/ MindaNews / 05 February 2006

DAVAO CITY -- The Medical Mission Group Hospital announced it would pursue its previous expansion plan that was sent to the backburner in the aftermath of the Asian financial meltdown in 1997.

Dr. Ruben Robillo, a major stockholder of the MMG Hospital, said that the newly established Business Assistance Center here of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) would develop the feasibility study for the hospital.

“I am optimistic that our application with the DBP for financing would be approved this year,” Robillo told MindaNews during the inauguration Friday of the business assistance center.

He said that the center has assured the hospital it would shoulder the required documents needed for the approval of the financial application, which he said would reach P200 million. The amount would be lower by P100 million from what was applied then in 1997.

The expansion plan was supposed to take off in 1997 and would have seen a new 12-storey building along J.P. Laurel Avenue. But hospital management decided to abort the plan due to the steep lending interest that rose as much as 33 percent at the height of the crisis. Average interest rate before the 1997 crisis was normally pegged at between three and five percent of the going rate for the short-term Treasury Bill, or between 11 percent and 13 percent.

Robillo, who was designated by the hospital management to scout for financial sources for its expansion, said that the management eventually decided to revive the expansion project this year due to the stable currency exchange. “It’s more stable now and it would be safer to start with the investment on expansion,” he said.

He said that they would stick to the previous plan of a 12-storey building with 300 rooms in a 4,000-square meter lot.

He said that the DBP would give them a slightly lower lending interest rate compared to the current rate of 15 percent charged by commercial banks and other lending houses.

Expansion plan stemmed from what Robillo described as an acute shortage of hospital beds. He said that the combined capacity of the major hospitals here would be only less than 1,000 beds.

He said that the Davao Medical Center, the largest government hospital in Mindanao, has only about 300 beds “and yet patients from all over Mindanao and the Visayas would seek treatment at the DMC”. He said the Davao Doctors’ Hospital has another 300 beds and the San Pedro Hospital has only about 200 beds.

The existing two-storey hospital of the MMG Hospital along Leon Garcia St. here has only 18 beds although this hospital was classified as tertiary hospital, which has the minimum required facilities and equipment for major medical operation.

“That is less than 1,000 beds for this city with more than one million population. We still lack about 400 beds”

The ideal ratio of a hospital bed to the number of patients would be one bed for every 1,000 patients. This city has an estimated population of 1.4 million.

The MMG Hospital started here in 1994 as a cooperative hospital, and it has remained to this day, the only hospital run by a cooperative. It has grown to a network of 30 hospitals nationwide, including Lucena City, Pasig, Batangas and Cavite in Luzon.

Aside from its affordable rate, the MMG Hospital also offered an internally-managed health insurance system for the poor, which started with only a requirement of P100 monthly contribution from even non-members of the cooperative that established the hospital.

“Anyone can be a member for as long the applicant can assure regular payment of the monthly contribution,” Robillo said.

He added that the program remained in-house but that this has been adopted by all its branches nationwide.

nice another tall strucutre in Davao, hope marami pa.

Davao City launches RP’s first barangay business chamber
By Manuel T. Cayon/ MindaNews / 05 February 2006

DAVAO CITY -- This city would launch the country’s first business chamber of barangay entrepreneurs, a move aimed at providing self-help organization to striving small businesses and giving them access to credit and market links.

The Barangay Business Club (BBC) would be tested in three barangays, each representing the micro, the small and the medium categories of businesses in the city and the pilot program would run for the next six months.

“After that, the rest of the city and even the rest of the country can copy from their experience and put up their own,” said Councilor Peter Laviña, chairman of the City Council committee on trade and commerce.

The BBC is a component of the city’s Barangay Enterprise Development Program and was approved by the City Council for implementation.

To become a member of the BBC, residents must be involve in a business, “particularly micro-enterprises ad those with capital not exceeding P3 million”. “They may be owner-entrepreneurs and managers of business establishments located in the barangay.”

Laviña told MindaNews that Barangays 34-D in downtown Davao, Barangay Maa and Barangay 76-A in Bucana would be covered by the pilot program.

He said that Barangay 34-D would represent the micro-enterprises, many of them small sari-sari stores and ambulant repair shops for shoes, umbrellas, watches, locks and keys and eateries. The barangay covers the area around Acacia, Roxas Avenue and part of C.M. Recto and many of the businesses

Medium businesses would be represented by Barangay Maa, with a mixture of bigger retail stores and factories, while the Bucana barangay would represent the large-scale, with a lot of small businesses and medium-sized businesses.

To qualify in the pilot implementation, Laviña said they look at the barangays which can set aside a computer and a staff to handle the concerns of the BBC and enter them into a database.

“Some of the envisioned activities of the BBC are business development seminars, skills trainings, accessing grants and assistance, barangay trade fairs and participation in other barangay affairs,” said a primer on the BBC.

In a sense, the primer continued, “this is the equivalent of the chamber of commerce which is composed of big companies and small and medium enterprises”.

wow! junax and dave, salamat sa mga efforts junax, tj brewed and dave!

wow....nice pix junax! thanx for posting them up! it made me wanna visit davao back! i really miss the place where i grew up! and the mall where i used to hang out almost everyday!!!

GAISANO MALL OF DAVAO is definitely the biggest mall in Mindanao... its not a claim! its a fact! :)


For now maybe the city got no major constructions going on.....but im sure few months from now, investments will start pouring in. As how DOT expected the outcome of past ATFs in Cebu and Manila few years back...and now that ATF Davao was way too successful and even surpassed the visitors' expectations (as what we saw on the news) im pretty sure that investments will start to queue up in DAVAO! :rock: :rock: :rock:

^^ so G-mall stands for Gaisano Mall? waaaa kanindot sa inyo Gaisano diha sa Davao nya dako pa jud kaayo..

bitaw, maypa sila mga nindot ilang gaisano og dagko kaayo, dri sa ato mrag mga dewende nag katagkatag...

heres exterior of Gaisano Mall of Davao or simply G-Mall...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/gmall2.jpg

right with San Pedro Hospital straight ahead
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/gmall.jpg

carpark left; Chinatown right
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/gmallcarpark.jpg

heres another Gaisano, not G-Mall. this is 5-level Gaisano South Citimall:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0091.jpg

Gaisano Citimall right... with Davao Doctors Hospital straight ahead
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/IMAG0090.jpg

Fil-Am community in Chicago adopts Philippine Eagle
By Tatit Quiblat / 06 February 2006

PHILIPPINE EAGLE CENTER, Davao City -- In an enviable display of the bayanihan spirit, a Filipino community based in Chicago, USA expressed its enduring love for the country by adopting one of the very few left of the endangered national bird, the Philippine Eagle.

The Fil Am Council of Presidents-Kalayaan, an umbrella organization of Filipinos residing in the Chicago area, formally adopted a captive-bred eagle in simple ceremonies held February 3 at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City. Mr. Rey Sapnu, Overall Chairman of Fil Am COP-Kalayaan, announced that they are naming the eagle “Kalayaan-Chicago.”

Kalayaan-Chicago hatched on December 18, 2004 and is the offspring of prolific eagle pair Jag and Ka Brianne. It is eighteenth of the twenty Philippine Eagle chicks bred and hatched in a span of 14 years under the Philippine Eagle Foundation's (PEF) Conservation Breeding program. The program was initiated after rampant hunting of the majestic eagle was noted as early as the 1970s.

Bayanihan Spirit

Sapnu relates that the COP-Kalayaan's desire to help in PEF's conservation efforts began shortly after its founder Orly Bernardino visited the Philippine Eagle Center upon the invitation of the Department of Tourism in late 2005.

Much enlightened by the alarming plight of what is supposedly a symbol of strength and fortitude of the country, Bernardino and Sapnu proceeded to mobilize resources to fund the food and care for the young eagle.

“It is important for us to help the country, even if we are so far away,” Sapnu said. COP-Kalayaan works with the 65,000 Filipinos residing in Chicago to support various projects in the Philippines, among them, the improvement of schools, the rehabilitation of watersheds, and an annual gift-giving to indigent children. Its biggest annual event, from which they got the group's as well as the eagle's name, is the Independence Day (Kalayaan) dinner ball.

“Magkababayan pa rin tayo, no matter where we are, that's why we felt it was important to protect this national symbol. Kailangan pa rin magtulungan para maalagaan ang bayan,” Sapnu added.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Regional Director Roger Layson was a witness to the adoption agreement, and lauded the Chicago group for its efforts to “come home, rediscover what we have, and support efforts to preserve our country's treasures.” Layson worked with Chicago-based DOT Director Vernie Morales to facilitate Bernardino's trip.

“We are most grateful to the Filipino community in Chicago for recognizing how important and how unique our country's natural resources are, “ PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador shared. “The Philippine Eagle has a better chance at survival with more citizens like them on its side.”

(Tatit Quiblat, Communications Officer, Philippine Eagle Foundation)

Norwegian mining firm buys into Apex Mines, resumes Masara exploration
By Manuel T. Cayon / MindaNews / 06 February 2006

DAVAO CITY -- A Norwegian-controlled mining firm that has acquired the controlling shares of Apex Mines announced it has appropriated $21 million to resume the gold mining operation in the Masara concession in Maco, Compostela Valley.

Leo Gamolo, managing director of the Crew Minerals Philippines, the Philippine affiliate of Crew Gold Corp., said the new owner has conducted confirmatory drillings of the gold mines in Masara to determine “the status of the gold deposits in the area and if the deposits are still there”.

The company plans to drill 9,000 meters deep from several drill holes that would cost them $9 million. Last year, the firm acquired 72.5 per cent of Apex shares worth $6.6 million.

“All in all, we would be spending $21 million for the entire operation of acquiring the majority share and the confirmatory drilling that we hope would finish this year,” Gamolo said.

He said the company would confirm the gold deposit status of Masara from Apex-acquired documents which indicated that the minesite still holds an estimated 1.7 million ounces of gold. Expected to be fully operational by next year, Gamolo said they expect to extract 200,000 ounces per year.

The Crew Minerals Philippines acquired the mining rights of Apex for its concession in the 2,000-hectare Masara in the northern part of Maco town although Crew Gold Corp. said in its Internet site that it has acquired a total of 5,000 hectares in Maco.

Gamolo said the concession does not include the mining rights to a portion of Mt. Diwata Range where Diwalwal is located, in Monkayo town.

The Crew Gold Corp. is based in the United Kingdom but Gamolo said a Norwegian mining company has bought majority share. A wholly-owned subsidiary, the Crew Minerals AS, controls the portfolio of non-gold projects based in Mindoro (nickel mines), Norway (Molypdenite) and Greenland (Olivine).

The Crew Minerals AS controls the following gold operations: Nalunaq Gold Mine located in Greenland; Apex Gold Mine located in the Philippines; and LEFA Gold Project located in Guinea, its website said.

Lucio Castillo, acting president of Crew Minerals Philippines and a former Apex Mines official, said Apex started operating the Masara mines in 1976, taking over the exploration and extraction undertaken by Samar Mining Co. since the 1950’s.

Apex extracted gold at an average rate of two tons per hectare for the next 12 years until 1989.

Castillo said Apex stopped its operations following “a political and economic problem in the country, and including a social problem which it faced when the small-scale operation in Diwalwal started [in 1983]”.

“It was a question then of reliability of sustainability of the areas to be mined. Another ownership controversy [also hounded Apex] with the claim of Marcopper Mining Co over Diwalwal,” he said.

The government eventually settled the conflict when it declared Diwalwal and its surrounding area as a mineral reserve, “which practically invalidated the license to mine these areas,” he said.



Richer copper deposits found in another ComVal mountain
By Manuel T. Cayon / MindaNews / 06 February 2006

DAVAO CITY -- A Canadian-backed local mining firm which earlier reported probable rich copper and gold deposits in its Compostela Valley concession, today said sample ore taken from an adjacent mountain has yielded solid copper deposits.

Melanio Andresan, president of the Philippine Company (Philco) Mining said the company will proceed with test drilling operations in Tagpura mountain in Barangay Camanglangan, Nabunturan town, where the higher grade copper was found. But test drilling will continue in the adjacent Batoto mountain where Philco has been conducting exploratory drillings since 2003.

“Tagpura has yielded high-grade copper deposits, based on the latest trenching and geological sampling made by a British geologist,” Andresan said. Philco Mining has since tied up with Canadian-based Sur American Gold Corp, which acquired 40 percent of Philco’s stocks.

The copper deposit could be so rich, he said, as to surprise our engineers who found that when they crushed a stone ore, they found a solid copper material. “They found most of the stones and other ores already glowing with the yellow color. And these are found in the shallow near-surface level when they conducted a person-deep trenching to sample the area for minerals.”

“We believe that a very rich deposit of copper lies in that Tagpura mountain,” he said, adding that drilling operations would be conducted within the next two to three months.

Batoto mountain has yielded copper and gold porphyry, a type of hard dark red or purple rock containing the crystals of these two minerals.

Andresan said Batoto has more gold deposits with a higher grade at the surface level while copper was extracted at the deeper portion of the exploration drill.

Andresan said its Canadian counterpart is expected to shell out more capital to mine the more capital-intensive copper extraction operation. “Copper mining is much more expensive than gold mining, and with a mix of gold and copper, the operation would be much more expensive.”

“If a company would invest about $100 million in gold mining, it would require not less than $300 million to mine copper,” he said.

The drillings in Batoto were undertaken by the Batoto Resources Corp, a Filipino owned mining company of which Philco owns 30%. Philco is the legal affiliate of Sur American Gold Corp. which financed the exploration operation in Batoto.

Andresan said the two Camanglangan mountains are near the gold and timber-rich Mt. Diwata Range where small and medium-scale miners have been extracting gold in Diwalwal since 1983.

The Camanglangan mountains and Mt. Diwata Range form part of the so-called Golden Belt, starting with southern Surigao del Sur down to the Compostela Valley towns of Monkayo, Nabunturan, Pantukan and Maco.

Edilberto Arreza, director of the Davao Region of the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau, said t Compostela Valley also forms part of the underexplored Eastern Mindanao Mineral Belt.

Gawd, I hope Compo Valley doesn't get destroyed like Diwalwal.

thanks to sugbuanon and renelli...

heres Jack Ridge, located at Shrine Hills, Matina

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks4.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks3.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks5.jpg

wOW its a nice place to relax

wOW its a nice place to relax

yeah agree, and to think with the greens and heights it's just 4 kilometers away from the city hall, 2 kilometers from nccc mall or simply mountain feel inside the city area. :)

yeah agree, and to think with the greens and heights it's just 4 kilometers away from the city hall, 2 kilometers from nccc mall or simply mountain feel inside the city area. :)


How i wish: What if lagyan dyan nang parang Pilgrimage Area...as in build a castle-like church na maging icon ng Davao kasi yang hills nayan is visible from downtown and Davao gulf area...tapos mala exotic themepark and style na developments sa paligid na pakiramdam mo ba ay nasa kaharian kana nang Panginoon...ano kaya?

How i wish: What if lagyan dyan nang parang Pilgrimage Area...as in build a castle-like church na maging icon ng Davao kasi yang hills nayan is visible from downtown and Davao gulf area...tapos mala exotic themepark and style na developments sa paligid na pakiramdam mo ba ay nasa kaharian kana nang Panginoon...ano kaya?

actually, shrine hills is already a pilgrimage area. it houses 2 catholic churches, wide lawns, has a themepark also but no castle-like church, in this hill you will find also the radio and tv stations compound and other restos like jacks ridge. there is another hill 1 kilometer away from this and there you can find Dencios Sa Hilltop. :)

@sleepwalker uno, wow murag Eden.

actually, shrine hills is already a pilgrimage area. it houses 2 catholic churches, wide lawns, has a themepark also but no castle-like church, in this hill you will find also the radio and tv stations compound and other restos like jacks ridge. there is another hill 1 kilometer away from this and there you can find Dencios Sa Hilltop. :)
I see....sana pagandahin nila yang mga Church na yan na iconic ang dating..maganda tayo-an ng mataas na bell tower na visible all over Davao
should be like this:http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c220/JGuitguitin/Churchtower.jpg

or maybe this...

http://www.friendlyplanet.com/images/christ-redeemer-rio-de-janeiro-brazil.jpg
:)

thanks to sugbuanon and renelli...

heres Jack Ridge, located at Shrine Hills, Matina

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks4.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks3.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/dc/jacks5.jpg


great pics dave, such great sceneries!

thanks kuya pol...

btw, do you know davao phoenix?

@ askal: eden is cooler since higher altitude & bigger too.