When in Davao

There is something in Davao city that you won’t experience often in other areas of the
Philippines, and that, is local experience. This is the current President’s hometown, President
Duterte, a city which he governed as mayor for 22 years is one of the country’s best and most
progressive. We had heard many good things about Davao before our trip and it was nice to find
that all of it seemed true. The city was definitely cleaner than Manila and it felt safe to walk
around. As Davao isn’t the number 1 rated tourist spot in the Philippines, you won’t bump into
as many resorts, western restaurants, or high-priced tours. But what you will get is real Filipino
food, experiences, prices, and interactions, something tourists might not realize they actually
need.

An excellent place to stay in Davao is Red Planet, found at J. P. Laurel Avenue near SM
Lanang Premier. The hotel chain has branches all over the country and their establishment in
Davao is definitely one of the finest. My family and I arrived there as early as possible, since we
were only staying there for one night and two days. We wasted no time and went straight to the
Eden Nature Park, which is located at Toril District, Davao City. The easiest and most
convenient way to go there is to avail of their shuttle service from Matina Town Square at P200
per person during weekends. Scheduled departure is at 8:30 AM and 11 AM. The park is a real
paradise, a mountain resort that offers guests a cool climate, beautiful natural surroundings,
lush forests and spectacular city views. With its beautiful ambiance and many activities for
people of different ages, Eden Nature Park relaxes and excites its guests at the same time.

After much exploring, however, we got hungry. And though the park had wonderful restaurants
with good food, we wanted to experience the lively and locally famous Roxas Avenue Night
Market. The night market begins at the crossroads near the Marco Polo hotel and continues for
about 1 kilometer southeast down Roxas Avenue. The first half is food stalls, most offering the
usual pick n’ grill favourites of skewered chicken, beef, pork belly, and tuna, but you can also
find vendors selling balut and some fried foods, as well. It is the home of all things colorful,
unique and affordable, and locals flock to this street sale to buy local goods for less and to enjoy
all sorts of Filipino food. The market opens at 5 PM and not for long, you’ll begin to smell all the
BBQ and other delicacies being cooked here. Everything is cheap, and it’s a great place to
mingle with Davaoeños, who were very hospitable. Even the vendors gave you the biggest
smiles, and it warmed my heart that every Davaoeño looked excited to welcome tourists in their
homeland.

My first time in Davao was amazing, and I’m not exaggerating. Though we didn’t get to explore
to our heart’s content because we were only there for a limited time, the food, the places, and
the people that I saw were enough to make my heart full. Apart from being an important hub for
commerce and industry in the Philippines’ Mindanao region, Davao City is also an awesome
travel destination with delicious food, breathtaking nature spots and beautiful people. In the 21st
century, it is a wonderful example of a city that straddles two worlds: the old and the new. I
believe that this travel opened my eyes in exploring the untouched, and often forgotten
Mindanao. I know deep in my heart that I am coming back someday. Our country is crafted by
God so artistically. And Mindanao, I believe, is one of God’s masterpieces. Davao City is
thriving, but remains simple and values the same things as it did before; nature, tradition and
peace.