The Christmas Mansion

I used to wish for Davao City to have its own Christmas house just like those in Manila which are often featured on TV. While the city has its large Christmas trees and other lights displays, it lacks a special house which showcases all kinds of decors for the holiday season. There may be some homes in exclusive subdivisions that do have unique collections of Christmas decors (life-size even) but they're not open to the public.

At least for a long time, there was Mana's amazing Christmas display that people from around the city and nearby municipalities visit every year. But that ended when the owners of the antique shop donated their usual budget for the Christmas display to Yolanda victims instead who badly needed help in 2013.

Fortunately, this year my wish was granted and I finally found a Christmas house, a mansion even, right here in our neighborhood. I was really ecstatic when I learned that they have opened the mansion to visitors who want to experience a different kind of Christmas atmosphere. I felt like a child again while touring the house and its surroundings. Sharing with you here some of the photos I took during my visit with my two kids.

By the way,  this Christmas mansion is located in Roseville Subd., Lanang, Davao City. It's in Phase 2 at the back of the chapel.  

Mangosteen - The Queen of Tropical Fruits

If durian is known as the King of Fruits, it has to have a counterpart. It has to be as powerful as the king and there's no other fruit that deserves the highest position but the mangosteen.

Mangosteen holds the title as the Queen of Tropical Fruits. It is a power fruit owing to its properties that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Regular eaters even claim that garcinia mangostana (scientific name) has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties capable of reducing, if not totally eliminating, lumps in the different parts of the body. It is rich in Vitamins C, B-complex and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese.

This fruit is juicy with a mix of sweet and sour taste (although the sweetness is more overpowering). In the Southeast Asian region, Thailand is the biggest producer and exporter of mangosteen which the Thais call "mangkhud." Other than the Philippines and Thailand, the fruit also grows in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Here in Davao, this purple fruit is in season during the months of July, August and early September together with other tropical fruits such as the rambutan, durian and lanzones.  And when they're in abundance, you can buy them at rock bottom prices ranging from Php35.00 to Php45.00 per kilogram from their regular price of Php80-Php100+.

This power fruit comes from a tropical evergreen tree which is said to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. At Eden Nature Park, there's a Mangosteen Mangrove featuring a wide area planted with just  mangosteen trees. I personally took the photos below during our visit there.

This billboard below at Eden Nature Park's mangosteen mangrove section has more information about the Queen of tropical fruits.

Taco and Tako Mania

Davaoenos seem to have a penchant for fast food that are not only great tasting but in small portions or bite size and affordable as well. At the malls, they have plenty to choose from today particularly those sold at the stalls fronting the grocery department.

Based on my own personal observation, the fried taco and the takoyaki are some of the best sellers these days. I've seen their stalls with a lot of people lining up every time I'm at the malls (Victoria Plaza, Gaisano Mall and SM City Davao).

The fried taco by Taco Boy is soft taco wrapped differently (similar to fried lumpia) and then fried. It is actually very similar to the Mexican food called chimichanga. It is made with ground beef, cabbage and cheese and is best eaten with the spicy sauce. One fried taco costs only PhP17.00.

Takoyaki, on the other hand, is a popular Japanese snack made of bite-size balls made with flour-based batter containing cabbage strips. Supposedly, it should also have minced or diced octopus and tempura scraps. It also has a special sauce mixed with a little of mayonnaise. One serving of takoyaki normally has four pieces and costs Php20.00 at Victoria Plaza.

My son loves to eat these two snacks. Out of curiosity, I tried them too and surprisingly, loved their taste. Since then, I've become a fan of fried taco and the takoyaki like the many Davaoenos, young and old who continue to line up at their food stalls at the malls.

Try them yourself and find out if they suit your taste buds. :)

First Pomelo Festival

This event is long overdue and I'm very thankful that the City Government of Davao was able to finally launch the first ever Pomelo Festival this year. Being a top producer of pomelo, it is just fitting that the city holds this festival each year to celebrate this delicious and sweet citrus fruit.

Pomelo is one of my favorite fruits and in fact, my Nanay told me that she was so fond of it while still pregnant with me. And of all the pomelos I've tasted, the ones produced in Davao are, I must say, the best tasting ever.

The Pomelo Festival in Davao City was officially launched last April 9 as part of the Visit Davao Fun Sale campaign. Its primary goal is to promote the production and export of the locally grown pomelo. Currently, the major pomelo producers in the city are Nenita Farms, Davao Golden Pomelo, Inc., HellenCabalida, Sheba Marie Elefante and Rosemarie Ambay.

SM Lanang Premier is the main venue of this event and a bonus here every weekend is the Eat-All-You-Can promo that gives fruit and pomelo lovers an opportunity to enjoy their favorite citrus fruit for a minimal fee of Php100.

There will also be live demos by certified chefs to show culinary enthusiasts the ways to spice up their dishes using the pomelo fruit.

The Pomelo Festival is being supported by the Department of Tourism through its Flavors of the Philippines campaign, the Davao Pummelo Stakeholders Association, Inc., Departments of Agriculture (DA), Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as Science and Technology (DOST).

Where's the Party?

Davaoenos love to party every now and then and they can do just that practically every week, if they want to. With new disco clubs in place around the city, there's always a great spot to enjoy the night whether you want to dance, have fun conversations or simply listen to heart-thumping dance tunes. The city also boasts of talented disc jockeys (the young ones and the veterans) who are eager to play all types of dance music from house, trance and techno to name just a few.

So where's the party in Davao? Take your pick.

Acropolis Superclub - This is one of Davao's pioneering disco clubs (with a mezzanine) located along Ponciano Street just across the PLDT/Smart Office. It was revived in May 2014 and since then, has attracted party folks in the city both young and the young at heart.

I was able to attend the launching then which made me relive my younger days when my friends and I would go to disco clubs in my hometown and dance the night away. It felt good to be in a place jampacked with people having fun dancing, listening and singing along to the classic dance music of the 80's and 90's being played by the DJs.

Starr - This club (with a mezzanine) is located in Obrero just a few meters from the corner of J.P. Laurel Ave. and Palma Gil St. in the Wheels and More Drive complex. This disco spot attracts the younger folks of Davao City.

Club Velvet - This one is situated in the Oroderm City Mall along C.M. Recto St. in the downtown vet area. It is a one-level party place that also hosts functions including birthdays and company events among others.

Club Echelon - Located on the 6th level of Gaisano Mall's The Peak, this is the newest disco club to open in the city.

Wednesdays are usually free for the ladies at these night spots. Weekends are reserved for special themes. Guest DJs from Manila and abroad are also invited during special occasions at these clubs. You can check out their respective Facebook pages to get updates.