This year’s festivities will be held on the week beginning August 16 and ending August 22, and is called “K10“, a voguish contraction for “Kadayawan 2010.”  In spite of the festival’s August 16-22 official time-frame, various shows and events have been scheduled since the beginning of August.   I will not list down all of these events here because the Kadayawan website pretty much does that for all of us.

My favorite events occur during the official Kadayawan week and have something in common–they are all celebrated in the streets of Davao City. Among them is Hudyakaan, from August 16 to 22, which offers everyone on-the-street food and live band entertainment at Bolton St., right in the middle of the city and a few paces from the City Hall, the Sanggunian, and San Pedro Cathedral. Another favorite is the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, on August 21, where youths and tribes folks trail the city’s streets donned in colorful ethnic costumes to regale the  street crowd with a parade of tribal dances and music.  Of course, there is the Pamulak:  Floral Float Parade, on August 22, which serves as the festival’s glorious finale and showcases the abundance of Davao City and neighboring areas through a parade of colorful and artistic floats covered in flowers and fruits.

There are few things other than the Kadayawan that push me to take to Davao City’s streets despite the searing heat or mounting rains.  For sure, the Kadayawan festival provides me the rare opportunity to traverse the city’s streets on foot and with a lot of fun while at it.  But the prospect of walking during the festivities can be met with, uhm, the usual concerns.  Here are some tips to enjoy the Kadayawan street events without the “ouch” or “haay,” but (hopefully) with an “ooh” and “wow!”

1.  Clothing.  Wear comfortable clothes.  Wearing a top made of light fabric is recommended especially during the day, when the Indak-indak street dance parade and the floral parade are held.

2.  Footwear. Wear rubber, breathable shoes, sandals or slippers.  Closed, leather shoes and heels are a no-no, otherwise you could develop sore and swollen feet.

3.  Bring an umbrella and use it wisely.  What do they say about Filipinos using umbrellas even when it’s not raining?  Well, you should bring one for the unlucky eventuality of a downpour.  However, you may also use it under the sun–but not all the time.  When you’re out to see the Indak-indak or the Pamulak floral float parade and you’re in the street with all the other festival goers, a little sensitivity can go a long way.  Allow everyone the opportunity to see the show without obstruction.  Put yourself in their shoes;  you wouldn’t like a multicolored umbrella in your face blocking your sight of colorful costumes and exciting dance moves of the delegates from, say, Bukidnon, would you?

4.  Headgears.  To have the benefits of the umbrella without obstructing the view of other festival goers, you may wear a hat or a cap.  You can even add relevance by putting some feathers on them or decorating them with ethnic accents.

5.  Sunblock. If you’re particularly concerned about UV exposure, wear sunscreen.

6. Cooling off.  Apart from wearing light and comfortable clothing, bring bottled drinking water to keep yourself cool during hot weather.  A can of cooling mist could also come in handy.

7. Parking.  Don’t expect to be a part of the festivities in your car, unless you actually drive one of the vehicles used during the floral float parade.  The streets used for the Indak-indak and the floral float parade are off-limits to motorists.  Hence, you should park your car in a mall or along any of the streets where parking is allowed.  I would usually park mine along Roxas Ave. near Ateneo de Davao.  There’s a parade stop-over at Roxas Ave., so it’s a good place to park your car.  My friends and I usually set off from there, following the parade to its conclusion at the Rizal Park on San Pedro St.

8. Pack light.  Imagine walking the entire route of the parade, from say, CM Recto St. to Roxas Ave., then snaking through Davao City’s downtown all the way to San Pedro St.–a good 3 or 4 kilometers–on a hot day (or rainy day) with those “mobile home” bags (like the ones my sisters have where they pack everything from toiletries to a mini trash bin).  The sheer weight of your baggage could easily take your attention away from the sights and sounds of the festival to your strained shoulder, perhaps.  It is suggested that you bring only the essentials, such as bottled water, your wallet and mobile phone, toiletries, or an extra shirt.  And never, never forget the camera!

9.  Food and Refreshments.  You can have food and refreshments at any of the delis or foodstalls you pass by along the parade route. You can head over to Selera along Legaspi street for great, reasonably priced food, or if you opt for pricier fare, troop to Lotus Court inside Marco Polo at the corner of Roxas Ave. and CM Recto St., or to Entree inside Apo View Hotel at the corner of Legaspi and Bonifacio Streets. Rizal St. also has a fabulous selection of upscale bistros and cafes.   If you’re after the simple yet exciting, go to Bolton St. where the Hudyakaan event can be found, with its many food stalls providing food and refreshments and even live entertainment.

It might help to keep these tips in mind for a trouble-free Kadayawan experience in the streets. As for me, it’s the street events that keep me giddying up for this yearly festival, thrilled to experience yet again the street party atmosphere of the Hudyakaan, to witness the vibrant parade of dance and music of the Indak–indak sa Kadalanan, and to behold the burst of colorful flowers and fruits of the Pamulak floral float parade.  True enough, hitting the streets on Kadayawan has been a yearly ritual that I, a modern day Davaoeño, has learned to love and come home for.

To those who, like me, plan to witness K10 in the streets, may you have a fun, safe and trouble-free Kadayawan experience!

I surmise that it is time for me to get real, down and dirty in the face of a shocking UNdevelopment.

Yesterday evening, getting home from a whole day of pounding in a government office in Taft Avenue, Manila, I found a mouth-rending news story on GMA.  It was about TV journalist Cez Drilon’s alleged kidnapping in Sulu.

Sulu, of course, is a sub-archipelago in southwestern Mindanao. Now, there’s the rub — the mere mention of “Mindanao” would most certainly act as an invocation of the ugly specters of terrorism and unrest. This would likely happen to the uninformed or to those who have not set foot on Mindanao. It’s a sorry cycle that’s hard to undo in the non-Mindanawon psyche.  Well, that includes foreigners who would normally feel hesitation whenever met with the prospect of getting to Mindanao.

The foreigners i’ve seen in Davao have a lot to tell their brethren (is this term in any way gender-insenstive?) on what they had been missing for not coming over.  Hopefully, that would elicit non-visitor regret for ever believing in generalist anti-Mindanao travel advisories.  Because, after all, Mindanao is not all about kidnappings, skirmishes, rebellions, insurgency and unrest.  For instance, tourists who have been to Davao can attest to the peace and security, not to mention the wonders and tourist attractions which abound from its islands to its highlands.

Indeed, the UNdevelopment in Sulu will set off a viral outbreak engulfing the “innocent” regions in Mindanao, a domino effect of sorts that would topple the painstakingly built images of the regions, provinces and cities which over the years have tried to make a good name for themselves in the effort to attract investors, tourists and relocators. This contagion or outbreak, spawned by generalized or sensationalized reports of events and anomalies occurring in a single point in Mindanao (Sulu, for instance), and which create public impression that such events or anomalies pervade or exist throughout the whole island, is the so-called Mindanao Stigma.

With such unsettling news, I can’t help but be defensive. Knowing the “generalist” media, I expect that in no time, the broadcast and print platforms will be awash with unfair, nay scurrilous, articles, accounts and news items on Mindanao. Not to generalize, though, but it can be observed that many media practioners still breathe life into the smelly nostrils of the notorious Mindanao stigma.  Such are the yellow curtains of an  unfair, unbalanced and sensationalist brand of reportage that lends a myopic but glaringly uninformed view of Mindanao.

With that, please treat this post as an appeal: Let the trouble in Sulu remain in Sulu.  Avoid using general terms like “Mindanao” or “Southern Philippines” when referring to the locus of this incident. After all, the media never uses “Visayas” to refer to such Provinces or Cities as Cebu, Iloilo or Bacolod.  Neither does media use “Luzon” when referring to Albay, Bicol or Ilocos.

It’s about time, perhaps that the media collectively take on the responsibility of finally eradicating the “Mindanao stigma” and its destructive effects.  I admit that this task would be long and hard, but starting now will do a lot in safeguarding not only the good image but also the potentials of the other provinces, cities or regions where none of these evils occur but which are too unlucky to slip into the “Mindanao” branding trap. This applies to Bloggers and the Web media, as well.

My mom know quite a number of people at PAL, for regularly “flying Philippine Airlines,” and being rather friendly to the staff.  Sometimes I wonder why attendants at the Mabuhay Lounge (in Manila) would serve her food and stuff.  I mean, isn’t the Mabuhay Lounge a self-service area?  Must be the privilege of being a Mabuhay Premier Elite member.  So, it was not the least surprising that when I went to the Philippine Airlines ticketing office at the Davao International Airport to pay for my unplanned flight, one of the ladies handed a shiny, crisp copy of Mabuhay Magazine.  Apparently, my mom had told them about my story having made it to the Mag.  It was rather flattering, although a little awkward, but at least I wouldn’t have to steal a copy from the Business class seats in the plane!

So, that over, I went to the parking area supposedly to take off and finish packing.  But then something familiar figured in my periphery, something so familiar but which I haven’t gotten the chance to see up close.  So I grabbed my Nokia and treaded closer to a silhouette of a structure that even the dumbest brain surgeon would recognize as, none other than, a Durian.  A pretty huge one to be exact.   So huge in fact that six people can fit in a fifth of it. 

I went over and clicked away.  But I was immensely frustrated with the results because the glare from the early afternoon sun was getting to my phone’s camera lens thereby obliterating the “face” of the sculpture.  All i was getting was a dark silhouette, so I relented on the fifth take.

A while ago, thinking I should post the pic on this Blog as planned, I was a great deal worried about how my readers would take it.  I mean, I feared reactions like, “thanks for posting that spiny shadow,” and similar forms of mockery.  So, with a gleam of hope and lots of desperation, I opened Photoshop and tested my crude skills at editing pictures.  So I worked on the picture, duplicating layers, working on levels, as well as adjusting saturation and using the eraser tool (thanks to the help files and online forums).  It took me a good three hours on my laptop. 

The final product? To my unskilled eye, it looked good enough because it lent a better view of the sculpture’s details:  Six people, men and women, presumably native, arranged in two vertical columns, like durian pulp when one of the seed chambers of a real fruit is opened.  Curiously, and I noticed this when I was shooting it, a tiny plant has taken root in the exact center of sculpture’s face.  Click on the pic to see the larger image.

The Durian sculpture at the Davao International Aiport was created by Davao’s very own Kublai Millan.  Kublai also did the awesome sculptures at downtown Davao’s brand new People’s Park.

I also took few other pictures: the roof details of the Davao International Airport as well as the Welcome sign on the sloping lawn on the way out of the Airport compound.  Go check them out and tell me what you think.  Hope you like ’em.

Commercial Island-Hopping Packages.  For a maximum of convenience, contact any of Davao and Samal’s Travel and Tour Agencies, Resorts and Hotels for offerings.  Standard Island-Hopping tours already include full-day (8-hour) boat rentals, a tour guide, individually packed lunch, complimentary bottled water, the standard 5 sets of snorkeling gears, and one kayak or banca (oar-driven mini-boat).  These packages take you to at least three major stopover points and normally cruise on the Western Davao Gulf area—the part closer to Davao City.  Rates usually start at Php 15,000 (USD 366) for 20 persons.  Prices can go up or down depending on the number of passengers.

Customized Island-Hopping Package.  Island-hopping doesn’t have to be costly.  The budget-conscious can do away with the kayak and the tour guide.  After all, the boat captain and crew know every nook and cranny of the Davao Gulf like any seasoned Tour guide.  And, most of the larger boats come equipped with a banca or mini-boat so that pretty much steps in for the kayak.  Head over to the Sta. Ana wharf beside the Magsaysay Park in Downtown Davao and make a selection among the many boats docked thereat.  Plan your route and destinations (click the map on the right to see Samal and Talikud’s attractions, taken from The Official Igacos Website). Also, plan your meals ahead of time.  Here are the things to consider in customizing your Island-hopping experience:

Boat Rentals.  The Sta. Ana wharf is host to Davao’s island-hopping boats.  Go to the wharf at most one day before the scheduled tour date and take your pick among the launches docked in the area and make arrangements with the boat owners or crew. A 30 to 40-capacity boat will cost you around Php 4,000 to Php 6,000 (USD 98 to USD 147).  A 90-seater will cost around Php 9,000 (USD 220).  Make sure you set everything straight with the people you’re dealing with, including the price and the amenities included.  I would suggest you take a boat with a lot of breathing space for everyone.  So, If there are 20 of you coming aboard, rent a 30 or 40-seater so you don’t get crammed in.  Remember that you would be bringing food, bags, equipment and what-have-yous.  Now, you wouldn’t want to go around in your two-piece suits with uncanny bag dents on your legs, would you?

Choosing the Right Boat. Making the perfect boat choice depends on the kind of activities you want to do on your Island cruise.  If you intend to bring a banquet or buffet-style lunch on board, a boat with the seats trailing the sides of the boat and with a long table running in the middle would be great.  Built-in amenities and facilities can also count toward your choice.  Some boats come equipped with a dressing room, toilet, view deck, kitchen, and barbecue grills for on-board barbecues.  Some even have karaoke machines installed.  Yet, others have little bedrooms for resting.  The larger boats come equipped with a kayak or banca (mini-boat with oars).  Snorkelling sets may be available for rent, or may come free, depending on the arrangements.  SCUBA gears can be brought aboard, but they entail separate arrangements from diving shops in Sta. Ana wharf.

Maritime Safety Compliance.  Safety and seaworthiness should be on top of island-hoppers’ priorities.  Make sure that the boat and its crew comply with rules and regulation on maritime safety, including but not limited to having the requisite licenses and permits.  All boats must have life vests and fire extinguishers on board.  Larger boats must have a small “rescue ship” in the form of bancas or mini-boats.  It is very important to ensure that you are taking a boat with capacity more than the number of persons joining the tour.  This adds not only safety, but also comfort to your Davao Gulf experience.

Food and Drinks.  Plan ahead on the kind of food you will be bringing aboard.  You can go the cheap but limiting packed lunch fare, or go overboard (ahem) with a grand Davao-style banquet.  Also, be sure to bring lots of ice-cold drinks in ice boxes or coolers. The food and drinks choice depends on your budget and dietary restrictions, but here is my rather generous selection (but didn’t I say “grand Davao-style banquet?”)  with conservative price estimates for 20 passengers:

Food – Est. Total: Php 5,300 / USD 130 (a grand banquet for 20 persons)
Lechon (roasted whole pig)
Kinilaw (tuna or blue marlin cubes in vinegar)
Grilled Panga (jaw of tuna grilled on board or on one of the beach stops)
Lechon Manok (roasted chicken)
Pancit Satemi (spicy sauted noodles)
Puso Rice (leaf-wrapped steamed rice)
Kakanin (native desserts like suman) 
Fruit Basket (a selection of Pomelos and other citrus fruits, Bananas, Pineapples, Lanzones, Rambutan, etc.)

Drinks – Est. Total: Php 700 / USD 17 (more than enough for 20 persons)
Mineral/Bottled Water
Soda
Fruit Juices7
Sparkling Wines

Grand Total for Food and Drinks:  Php 6,000 / USD 147

Route, Destination and Timing.  A full day on a boat sailing aimlessly on the vast Davao Gulf would be like walking the Louvre in a blindfold. Without a well-defined route, you will only be missing the treasures that Davao Gulf holds.  To avoid a misfortune of this sort, discuss your plans ahead with the boat crew, touching on the route, stop overs or destinations, with a mental note on the kind of activities you would want to do at each point.  Be sure to set the details straight, whether you head for Talikud in the morning then trail Samal Island’s west coast up to the Malipano islets in the afternoon, or go a different route sailing past Samal’s northern tip to the Ligid islands or up to Canibad (Aundanao) on the other (eastern) side of Samal and back.  Make ready reference to the time of day you will be reaching each point on the tour.  For instance, if you opt for the western route and head off first to Talikud, Lunch may be had on the boat at Coral Garden or you can partake of your meals on board beached in Babusanta (you can also take your lunch in one of the large, open cottages on the beach), so on and so forth. Remember that the full-day cruise lasts 8 hours, so plan all your destinations and activities well within this time frame.  You can also solicit suggestions from the crew.  They probably know more about the Gulf than we urban heads ever will.

Tips, Food for the Captain and Crew.  Perhaps on a humanitarian note, it would be advisable to give minimal tips to the boat crew.  You may also provide food for them because they can’t risk leaving the passengers in the middle of the Gulf to get lunch at Jollibee or McDonald’s.  Well, to prevent that from happening, you may bring packed lunch for them from, uhh,  Jollibee or McDonald’s. 

Reminder.  Everyone knows that littering not only contaminates the surroundings, but also harms nature and damages ecosystems.  The Davao Gulf in particular, rich as it is in marine resources, providing food, and livelihood, as well as tourism to the Davao Region, must be kept clean and  guarded from the harmful effects of littering and pollution.  Hence, all of us, be we tourists or locals, must take on the responsibility of properly disposing our garbage. To island-hoppers, it is advisable to keep plastic bags where they could keep their garbage.  In the case of small or dry garbage items like candy wrappers, they may be kept in one’s bags or pockets for later disposal into the garbage bins in the city.

Enjoy!  Island-hopping is all about fun and adventure.  It takes you away from the struggles of urban existence and allows you to drift off to experience the beauty and wonders of nature.  That’s the tried and tested relief that Dabawenyos are lucky to live so close to.

Thanks to Blogie

The B.O.B. contest outcome:  Five winners of Five premium WordPress or B. O. B. Themes for their blogs. Plus: One lucky winner will have the rare privilege of having their blog reviewed on B.O.B.—a US$300 value you may get for free just by blogging about the contest.  Good deal, isn’t it? 

Nay, it’s irresistable!  For someone who has been maintaining a free blog space on a free WordPress theme, who has been (silently) complaining about the limited possibilities of being CSS-deprived, a chance at having a paid-for PREMIUM theme is something definitely worth vying for.  Well, not that I’m a pro at CSS codes; I usually learn the codes as needed.  But anyway, the good thing about having a premium theme is to be able to modify your blog according to one’s own whim. And that’s a sure-fire way to take my blogging experience a notch or two higher than the current lackadaisical.  If I should win, I will certainly consider purchasing a premium space on WordPress.  It’s about time, perhaps, that this blog gets the much needed facelift it deserves. LOL.

So, there goes my ticket!

The couple, Ben a young and renowned Photographer in Davao City, and Arden of the Lim Family of Toril and a photography enthusiast herself, made the wonderful choice of holding their vow reaffirmation at the picturesque tropical island. Having been wed first in February 2008, the couple renewed their vows in a grand wedding ceremony I have previously seen only in movies.

The wedding took place at the island’s bermuda helipad, replete with a tulle-clad altar shed that had dangling lanterns and crystal embellisments. Sprays of yellow orchids and red composite flowers with brown vine and verdant leaf accents adorned the altar shed as well as the petal-carpeted aisle. The entourage, sponsors and guests witnessed the wonderfully solemn event seated in clothed chairs, which came equipped with complimentary buri fans. The outdoor spectacle unfolded slowly and beautifully with the lovely vocals of Voice Box, a group composed of Ateneo glee club members, serenading the congregation as the afternoon sun approached Davao’s horizon.

The groom, Benjamin Young III, unleashed his movie star appeal in a beige coat over a white undershirt, beige pants, amber-toned Burberry shades and leather sandals.  His bride, the beautiful Arden Lim, looked immaculate in her flowing white tube dress sprinkled with crystals and capped by a fluid veil that tailed a meter or so behind her on the petal-covered ground.

After the classic Kiss that concludes every wedding ceremony, everyone headed to the reception area just a short walk from the helipad.  Set on the white sand beach of Malipano within view from the island’s villas, the “party area” hosted a tulle-festooned gazebo for the couple adorned with dangling crystals and the familiar yellow-and-red flower ensemble on its crest and on the surrounding sand.  Overhead throughout the place were pendant spherical Japanese lanterns set on wires, and elsewhere were capiz lamps set on bamboo poles.  The guests’ and sponsors’ tables were covered with white cloth then topped by shimmering organza and lit by yellow bulbs from underneath.  All tables were decorated with centerpieces of yellow orchids, red composites, roses, and woody vines, aptly interspersed with seashells, sand and white pebbles.  The very long banquet table, as well as the wet bar and serving stations, were covered in white cloth and decorated with tropical flowers, and lighted from above by capiz lanterns on bamboo poles.  The table bearing the three-tiered fondant cake sported a pleated gold cloth.  Apart from flaming torches, flags and banners, the dancing lights, multi-colored spotlights and two huge projector screens added visual oomph and pizzazz to the seaside affair. 

The food was splendid and abundant, pushed down by a variety of sparkling wines, Blue Label whiskey, soda, and fruit juices.  During the banquet and throughout the program, the wonderful vocals by the group Voice Box intoned familiar love tunes, alternating with lively beats by a hired drum ensemble mixing percussions with techno and trance.  The bride awed everyone with her beautiful voice when she sang for her husband during the program.  I learned later from Mr. Jeremie Sarmiento of Voice Box that Arden was a compatriot of his in the Ateneo Glee Club.  The party reached a fitting climax with a glorious display of fireworks.

The festivities rolled deep into the night, with nary a raindrop falling from the clear sky.  The techno-and-percussion numbers by the “band of drummers” heightened in an effort to rouse the beach people into a dance frenzy.  I found myself dancing with my sister and cousin, as well as with the Best Man, Mr. Leo Geraldo, and my “kulit” nephew, Boogs.  A few flutes of Chamdor and a shot-and-a-half of Blue Label later, I was a little woozy but carried on with my “subdued” dancing style. 

At around 10 PM, Realizing that most of the guests have departed for Davao City, or to their nests in “mainland” Pearl Farm, I signaled to Leo that it was probably time to call it a night.  I was a little hesitant, though, because the “band of drummers” was still at the beating.  Anyway, we approached the groom, Ben, near the bar to bid our farewell before I retire to my family’s villa and Leo to his casita in Pearl Farm.  To our delight, Ben handed over a shining bottle of Blue Label and two cans of coca-cola, which we more than willingly accepted.  We headed to Villa No. 6 and emptied our loot with some help from my dad and my brother.  Leo then bade good night after summoning the 24-hour boat service that would take him back to Pearl Farm.

My first beach wedding was made for the movies, and that lasting impression etched on me as a sort of standard that all beach weddings after it will have to measure up against.  This one would be tough to beat. Congratulations, Ben and Arden!

The June 2008 issue of Mabuhay Magazine will center on Davao as its main feature, and knowing that my story is part of it makes me feel incredibly thankful and blessed.

The story, “The Legend of the Queen Orchid” (alternatively, “The Legend of the Waling-Waling” or plainly, “Waling”), an original legend I wrote in 1998, is part of a collection of writings which I uploaded to my websites some 10 years ago.  I remember back in my college days, way before “blogging” made its way to Netizen parlance, I created  websites on Geocities and Fortunecity (with versions in English and Bisaya), which were free web-hosting sites that provided free web space (something like 15MB—you got that right!—back in the day) and TONS of ads.  

Like a true novice, I crammed everything in my pages as I saw fit: lots of multi-colored text, gif files, jpeg and (the still novel and crude) CSS, photos of my watercolor paintings, song lyrics and midi files, my college essays, project papers, and published articles (SunStar Davao). The result: pure, untrameled clutter!  Now that these websites are old, dried up, fried and forgotten, I never really, REMOTELY, thought anyone would still be looking at them after ten full years of dereliction.  In fact, I thought they have already been deleted for reasons like sheer outmodedness and lack of taste!

Luckily, an executive from Eastgate Publishing found one of these websites (I didn’t really ask which one they found, but I am making a very safe assumption here), and found “Waling.”  There must be a real lack of literature on Philippine orchid folklore because to date I have never read or heard of any “official” Lumad legend on the Waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana), the Queen of Orchids and one of the symbols of Davao City.

Again, safely assuming that the executive made another Google search, this time on my name, she found my mobile number in a Travel Agency ad or Call Center website (presumably).  Thanks to The Almighty I haven’t changed numbers since 2004! 

So, Ms. Ira called me up, much to my matutinal (that is, early morning) suprise and told me of her discovery, offering to publish the story in Mabuhay Magazine for a fee.  I replied with something like an enthusiastic “OK.”  Then she told me further to cut the verbosity of my work to the vicinity of 400 words. I paused a bit, but couldn’t refuse the true honor of having my name printed in precious Mabuhay ink, so I said “OK,” careful to mask any hint of hesitation.

After two days and smoky hours on my laptop laboring to reduce a 3,873-word epic down to a stupendously measly 400 words (while genuinely risking loss of thought and storyline), I finally e-mailed the text to Ms. Ira, who replied the next day without any complaints (thankfully!).  She however additionally requested for a third-person, 30-word blurb about me, which I promptly accomplished the day after.

I was told there would be illustrations on the story (which, as I requested, should be in the Lumad Bagobo flair), but that remains to be seen (Well, I can always e-mail Ms. Ira about that, but I don’t want to be such a pain.  You see, now that I have hit first base, I’m seeking further exposure by becoming a regular freelance contributor to Mabuhay! Ha!).  Whatever. The important thing is that I will find my story in THE Mabuhay Magazine, in ALL Philippine Airlines planes, on ALL Mabuhay Class seats, on ALL domestic and international flights this June!

I don’t know if it’s brag-worthy, but hey, my name will soon fly all around the world!   

 (Click Here for Info, Tips, Maps and Costing Guides)

In a place like Davao, located on the shores of the Davao Gulf and in close proximity to the many islands thereof, the tropical blessings of sun, sea, sand and shore are within an arm’s length away.  It is hence doubtless why island hopping is a staple summertime activity of many a Davao folk for ages.  What, with the many delights the Davao Gulf and its islands hold:  Pristine white-sand beaches, picturesque islets, ubiquitous coral reefs, marvelous limestone cliffs and caves, turquoise, emerald and sapphire waters, and friendly fishermen willing to give discounts on their day’s catch. Island-hopping, is a perfect way to discover these wonderful vistas in Davao’s lovely seascape.

It doesn’t cost a fortune to embark on an island hopping escapade in Davao.  For instance, basic island-hopping packages for 20 persons start at around Php 15,000 (USD 370 at USD 1 = Php 41)—so that’s around Php 750 (USD 18.50) per person—and already includes full-day boat rentals, packed lunch, five snorkelling sets, a kayak or mini-boat (banca), and complimentary bottled water for everyone.  For starters, this isn’t bad at all, cheap even, because you can always bring additional food and drinks on board to your liking.  Of course, you can always add some variety, still without losing a fortune.  An interesting (and I would say, sumptuous) addition would be a Davao-style banquet on board: Lechon, pansit, grilled fare of bangus, panga, tuna, pork and chicken, puso rice,  fruit basket of pineapples, mangoes, pomelos, bananas, lanzones and rambutan, and lots of ice-cold drinks.  Hey, that sounds like a lot, but in a place like Davao, that hardly burns a hole in your pocket! 

But there’s really no stopping you from foregoing commercial Island Hopping package rates and making your own Davao Gulf package for your group to save you money.  So, If you have some time, you can go straight to Santa Ana wharf and find boats available for rent and make arrangements. You can then prepare your full-day itinerary while making a trip to the market for the meals on board.  There’s a lot of moolah saved this way, maybe Php 5,000 off the commercial tag price for 20 persons.

You can also opt for more luxury for a little extra cost.  Our family on March 22, 2008 rented a 90-capacity boat (with only 20 of us coming aboard) for Php 9,000.  This monster boat came with a mini-boat and snorkeling gears.  We brought our Davao-style banquet on board along with lots of ice-cold beverages and some wine, and took off to our full-day cruise-like island getaway from Santa Ana wharf.

The slideshow above contains a selection of photos taken on our island-hopping adventure in Davao Gulf.  You may view the Island-hopping photo set by clicking here or the first picture on this post.

From Santa Ana wharf, at around 8 AM, we cruised straight toward Samal Island’s little neighbor, Talikud Island where the famous Coral Garden is situated. Arriving at around 9 AM, We snorkeled and swam in the sparkling waters of Coral Garden, delighting in acres upon acres of rich coral reef and spectating on the beautiful sea creatures that abound therein. 

In Coral Garden, we spotted a fisherman in his boat.  We summoned the fisherman and asked what bounty he has brought the hungry “boat people.”  He politely pointed to his early morning haul contained in a wooden box.  Inside were several jiggling parrot fish indicating that they have just been pulled from the bountiful sea nearby. “Tag pila, Noy?” (“How much?”), asked one of our boat’s crew to which the fisherman responded beyond my hearing range.  Negotiations ensued and apparently the fisherman was amenable to a discounted purchase of his catch.

Fish grilling in the back of the boat, we headed to nearby Babusanta Beach, with its beautifully ruined pier, then partaking of our early lunch (around 10 AM) on board the boat.  Babusanta is a 15-minute cruise from the Coral Garden. There, we rented one of the cottages lining the beach for only Php 200 where we lounged and lazed about after taking our lunch in the boat.  There’s a good deal of people on Babusanta, it being the favored “lunch beach” of island-hopping vacationers.

After Babusanta, our next stop was to be Isla Reta Dos on the southern tip of Talikud Island.  This beach is known for its huge limestone cave and forested cliffs, apart from its beautiful white pebble beach and coral-laden environs.  On the way south on the coast of Talikud, we trailed past several kilometers of limestone cliffs, some with little caves, a beach with a very wide and long stretch of white sand, and then a small, albeit lonely lighthouse which was the only man-made structure on that part of the island. In all 20 minutes of travel, the Talikud coast was lined by coral reefs of varying density. Oh, that’s the paradise called Talikud Island. We reached Isla Reta Dos and spent a good deal of time thereon, it being my Dad’s favorite spot on Talikud.  There, we took time to snorkel some more, swam, went boating a fair distance, and explored the cliffs and the famous cave.

Our next destination was the islet called Wishing Island near the world-famous Pearl Farm Beach Resort and the luxurious Malipano Island: a first-class island resort frequented by the well-to-do, as well as by local and international celebrities.

Leaving Isla Reta Dos, we found the Samal Casino Resort, which is rumored to re-open after years of closure.  I remember visiting the place three times during its heyday, staying in one of the floating bungalows which were reminiscent of the casitas on El Nido in Coron Island, Palawan. 

Heading northward on Samal Island’s Eastern coast, we stopped by at Kaputian, a town in Samal Island with one of the most beautiful public beaches on the Island.  It has a wide, white-sand concave beach, which looks as good in pictures as it does in real life.  There is also a woodcraft and antique shop a short walk from the beach which is popular among tourists and vacationers who would like to cash out on unique souvenirs and crafts.

Moving on, we sailed past two resorts not far away from Kaputian’s beach.  First up was Kembali Coast, a resort subdivision being developed by Filinvest, one of the country’s largest real estate developers. Second was Samal Dream Resort, a Balinese-themed resort just beside Kembali Coast.  It looks like a lot of developments are being undertaken in Samal Island.   Now, I can find no reason why Samal Casino shouldn’t re-open anytime soon.

We inched further northward along Samal’s coast and found high, forest-topped seaside cliffs.  We found people diving 20 to 40 feet from the the lower cliffs onto the emerald water, which I believe is some feat reserved for the experienced diver or the death-defying novice.

Further, we found floating fishcages scattered near the Samal coast.  That moment I knew we were already in the Fish Sanctuary of Samal, where the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) maintains its fishcages for fish culture and studies.  This is a testament to the fact of rich marine diversity in the Davao Gulf.  It is therefore of paramount importance that the ecological balance of the Davao Gulf must be protected and maintained.

Not very far from the fishcages of BFAR (wow, it rhymes!), we found a group of nice buildings set on a rolling slope on Samal Island. Excited to approach its umbrella-lined beach, the boat captain complained saying the water was too shallow for our 90-capacity boat, and the we should use the mini-wharf a little distance back south.  Looking at the mini-wharf, my Dad was quick to change heart, thinking us and my small nephews had to walk the narrow, rail-less wharf catwalk hundreds of meters to the resort.  Instead, we asked one of the crew members to go ashore via mini-boat (banca) to get brochures of the resort.  We found out the name of the resort as Hof Gorei – a relatively new resort owned by a Filipina-Austrian. From the brochure pictures, it looked good.

From the waters off Hof Gorei, we could see the World-famous Pearl Farm Beach Resort and the Malipano Island (known officially “Isla Malipano,” perhaps to make it sound appropriately expensive).

After trailing past the Pearl Farm and Isla Malipano, we found our last destination: Wishing Island – a rock islet crowned by mangrove (?) trees and surrounded by a rich growth of corals.  There were around two other boats when we reached Wishing Island: one was filled with either Koreans or Japanese, and the other one hosted a Pinoy family.  “Samal Island and Davao Gulf developments spurred by international patronage,” went a phrase from my thoughts.

We reached Wishing Island at around 4 PM where we swam, snorkeled, dove some more.  Basking in all the excitement that the day had brought us, it was with much reluctance that we had to set sail back to Sta. Ana Wharf.  Arriving at the wharf at around 5 PM, we concluded our Full-day Full-quality island-hopping experience in Davao Gulf.  

Looking back now, a map of Davao Gulf in hand, it is only too clear that one full day of island hopping isn’t enough to unravel all of the pulchritude scattered throughout the wonderful Davao Gulf. 

See My Island-hopping Info, Tips, Reminders, Maps and Costing Guides

Yesterday’s experience can be summed up as
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Monday, 17 March 2008, was declared a local holiday in Davao City (Araw ng Dabaw), so I and two of my friends plus one driver went on an adventure to a mountain resort in Kapatagan, Davao del Sur.

Nestled in the mountains 3,900 feet (around 1,200 meters) above sea level is Camp Sabros, a mountain eco-adventure spot that has been featured on national outdoor and adventure show, Sports Unlimited, and noted for having two of the country’s longest and craziest zip lines : 380 meters and 400 meters.

We parked our vehicle at the outpost guarding the Mt. Apo National Park and the Mt. Apo Mountaineering Trail before hiking uphill to Camp Sabros. Vehicles may be brought all the way up to Camp Sabros, but we opted that out. Trekking to the Camp is laborious but fun. It affords you ample time to enjoy the marvelous scenery on the way up. It’s a good exercise, too!

The trail we walked was a steep dirt track so that when we finally reached the entrance arch to the camp, we were all panting and sweating. But it was all worth it because the moment we stepped on the camp’s wide grounds, we knew that we were just inches from our Superman Adventure!

Another Entrance Arch

Pine trees dominate the landscape of Camp Sabros, giving it a Baguio-esque feel. This is another entrance to the camp.

Zip Lines and Cable Car

Marc Nelson and Dyan Castillejo of Sports Unlimited fame were here!

The safety of Zip Line riders is on top of Camp Sabros’ priorities. A system of harnesses and locks ensures a worry-free zip to the other mountain.
My friends take off to an exhilarating zip line ride – à la Superman (…err, Supergirls?) I and Don, the driver, followed shortly. Weeeee!!!

ZIPPEE!!!

The 380-meter zip line takes you from the Camp Sabros terminal and glides you 20 storeys high (around 200 feet) over a densely forested ravine/valley down to the terminal on the “other mountain.” A Cable Car brings you from the “other mountain” back to Camp Sabros. You have the option to “zip” back to the camp via the the longest zip line in the Philippines (400 meters long) but it travels at twice the speed. We opted to take the Cable Car instead.

Relax, Unwind in the Diner

Vintage decors and mementos adorn the walls of the diner. After the zip line and cable car adventure, we stayed at the deli to have some meals. We then had a little fun playing billiards and just hung around and lazed about.

Awesome Place

When one looks outside from the billiard hall at the diner, the scene looks like an American or European postcard.

I swear, the Camp Sabros climate was colder than Baguio’s! The scene looked almost surreal with thick fog enveloping the areas in and around Camp Sabros.

~o0o~

Helpful Info and Tips on Camp Sabros:

1. Travel Time. From Downtown Davao, around two hours.

* 45 mins to 1 hour from Downtown Davao to the junction of the National Highway and the road to Kapatagan.

* 45 mins to 1 hour from the National Highway uphill on the Kapatagan road to the Mt. Apo National Park Checkpoint.

2. Suggested Transportation.
* If you want to go all the way up to Camp Sabros, a 4-wheel drive vehicle/suv is recommended.
* You may bring any vehicle if you are willing to trek 1 km uphill to Camp Sabros. Just park your vehicle at the Mt. Apo National Park Checkpoint.

3. Location and Directions. Camp Sabros is at Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur, Philippines, in the mountains 1200 meters/3900 feet above sea level. From Davao City, travel south on the National Highway en-route to Digos City. Upon reaching Barangay Cogon in Digos, you will see a Y-Road that leads you to either General Santos City or Kidapawan. Follow the Kidapawan Route (slow down from this point on and look to the right of the road). Before reaching the DASURECO (Davao del Sur Electric Company) compound, you will see a road on the right side of the highway with a sign saying “THIS WAY TO KAPATAGAN.” Turn right and from then on just follow the road to Kapatagan. When you reach the checkpoint to the Mt. Apo National Park / Mt. Apo Mountaineering Trail, the road to Camp Sabros is to the right and uphill. (I’ll make a road map and post it here soon.)

The road to Kapatagan consists of alternating segments of concrete and dirt roads of varying widths. Generally, the road is good and manageable, sometimes a little steep in parts. Sedans and small cars may be brought to Kapatagan but not up to Camp Sabros, which would require a 4-wheel drive vehicle. You can always park your vehicle at the Mt. Apo checkpoint and go on foot to Camp Sabros – a one-kilometer uphill hike. (tiring but fun!)

4. Suggested Clothing. The climate at Camp Sabros is cool and sometimes wet and rainy (at times colder than Baguio). A good, warm jacket or sweater is essential. Rubber shoes are a must especially on rainy days (and moreso if you decide to hike up and down Camp Sabros).

5. Overnight Stay. Fireplace-equipped Log Cabins that can accommodate 4 to 10 persons are available for rent.

* Php1,200 per night (good for 4 persons),

* Php2,000 per night (good for 10 persons)

6. Food and Drinks, etc.. You may bring food and drinks to Camp Sabros. The deli at Camp Sabros also serves food at affordable prices (P20-P50 per order!). The mini-store at the deli also sells instant food, chichirya (junk food) and other foodstuff, coffee and ice-cold beverages. Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are also available for sale at the deli. Personal hygiene items are available at the deli store (sanitary napkins, soap, toothpaste, etc.).

7. Adventure, Entertainment, Amenities, etc. Zip Lines (380 meters and 400 meters – the two longest in the Philippines), Cable Car, Hiking trail. Picnic Tables, Wide Open Grounds, Cable TV, Billiard Hall, Deli/Diner, Bar, Bonfire, Souvenir Shop. Clean toilets, Running Water.

8. Communications, Electricity. Major cellphone carriers have good signals at Camp Sabros. My Globe phone was on full signal bars when I was there. There is electricity on Camp Sabros, with occasional but brief power interruptions.

9. Admission and Fees. No entrance fees, no corkage fees. Zip Line rides range from 150 to 300 Pesos per head. To sign up and pay for the “superman” rides, approach the lady behind the counter in the diner. You can even approach one of the owners, Mr. Edwin Sacdalan, who is very friendly and accommodating, and always ready to strike up a chat. I would suggest that you line up for the rides once you get to Camp Sabros. Queues can get real long on weekends and “peak” days.

*380 meters (zip 380 meters to the other mountain, then ride a cable car back to Camp Sabros)

(a) in pairs – Php150 per head
(b) solo – Php200 per head

*400 meters(zip 380 meters to the other mountain, then zip 400 meters at DOUBLE SPEED back to Camp Sabros)

(a) solo only – Php300 per head(THE LONGEST AND CRAZIEST ZIP LINE RIDE IN THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES!)

10. Contact Number, Reservations, Times Open. @Kaspersky was too kind to supply the contact number of Camp Sabros. It’s 0920-875-0015 (+639208750015). Camp Sabros is open to day tourists from 8:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. daily.

If you have a story to share of your experience(s) in Camp Sabros, or if you would like to give your reactions, valuable contributions, corrections, suggestions, criticisms (keep ’em constructive, pls.), et cetera, please feel free to post a comment or send me an email at the address below. Thanks!

~ by Brian Dexter Medija (bridex@yahoo.com)

~o0o~