Dabawenyos Unite for Mayor Rody Duterte

Dabawenyos living in Davao City are a united people. They have a high regard for Mayor Digong and they respect the city's laws. And when called to do their share whether during a crisis or a worthy cause, they show up in droves.

This is what I witnessed during the gathering at the Crocodile Park last May 7, 2016 for a Guinness World Record event. It was the first time I joined such huge event cum rally and I never regretted being there despite the epic walkathon that I had to endure after the gathering. I'm glad, too, that my teen son decided to join me.

On that particular Saturday before the national elections, tens of thousands of Dabawenyos near and far, young and old, came to show their support for our Mayor Rody Duterte who is now the 16th president of the Philippines. Most came in their red Duterte shirts and did not mind walking to the venue as traffic was snail-paced in the highway. Many from nearby municipalities came in the morning and braved the heat to wait for the main event in the afternoon.

Hundreds of young Dabawenyos also volunteered to help the organizers whether as a member of the food committee, registration or as stewards and marshals.

But apart from participating in the Guinness event and voting for the Mayor on election day, the people of Davao have various ways of showing their support to Digong. Some of their actions are even unmatched by other cities.

• They buy Duterte shirts at their own free will and not wait for freebies from the campaign teams. They would even wait for hours and stand in long lines just to be able to buy a piece or more of these shirts. 
• They buy other Duterte merchandise such as key holders, ballers and caps. 
• They put Duterte stickers and use Duterte plates on their vehicles. 
• They hang Duterte streamers on their gates, houses and establishments.
• They join the motorcade and other gatherings including the Fun Run. 
• They share food with those who need it. 
• They offer free drinks outside their buildings for people walking to the venue during the event. 
• They would defend Mayor Digong on social media and even during personal conversations. 
• They join the campaign teams without expecting to be paid even it means being away from their family and children for months. 

This sea of Dutertards who dominated the Crocodile Park grounds on May 7 is a testament of the love and support for Mayor now president-elect Rody Duterte. 

Indeed, the support of Dabawenyos for Mayor Digong is solid as a rock and will forever be so even if he will already be in Manila to take on the presidency for the next six years. It is said that Duterte or Du30 was destined to become the 16th President of the Philippines based alone on the date of this year's national elections. May 9, 2016 if written in an equation would be 5+9+16=30 hence Du30.

Good luck and God bless you, Mayor Rody!!

Volunteerism is Alive in Davao City

Davao City was lucky to have been spared by the recent Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). But just the same, the Davaoenos' hearts went out to those badly affected in Samar, Leyte and Panay.

With a mayor like Rody Duterte who is a true and strong leader in the real sense of the word, it's hard not to show compassion to people suffering from the devastation of natural calamities. Mayor Duterte was among the first to respond to the Taclobanons days after their areas were ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda. He immediately brought his team including medics to Tacloban to personally assist them in their needs.

This kind of leadership indeed has a ripple effect on the Davao City residents. It has a positive impact on people in that it has prompted them to help in their own way such as by volunteering in the repacking of relief goods.

I have personally witnessed the strong spirit of volunteerism here in the city in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. One Sunday afternoon, I brought my 8-year-old daughter with me to the DPWH depot where the DSWD has been holding its repacking efforts for the survivors of Tacloban which was among the hardest hit areas in Leyte. There, we helped in segregating and arranging the plastic bags to be used in repacking the rice.

We didn't know anybody there but everyone was friendly and accommodating. We didn't feel uncomfortable at all because everyone was focused on repacking the goods and help the Yolanda survivors who, at that time, were living without food and shelter.

A DSWD officer I spoke with at the warehouse said the number of volunteers right after Yolanda went up to 25,000 from only 5,000 after the devastation brought about by Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental last December 2012.

It's an inspiration to see Davaoenos unite for victims and survivors of calamities even those who are far from their own region. Indeed, a good leader makes good followers and that's what Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is.

Chinese New Year and the Chinese Community

It's 2013 - the year of the Water Snake and today happens to be the eve of the Chinese New Year so Kung Hei Fat Choi!

The Chinese is a major part of the Davao City population. They contribute a lot to the city's economy and to recognize their contribution, a Chinatown has been designated covering several streets in the downtown areas. It is marked by three grand arch ways known as the Arch of Friendship, Arch of Peace and  Arch of Unity situated at both ends of Magsaysay Avenue and at the corner of Sta. Ana Ave. and JP Laurel Ave.

Archway at Magsaysay Ave.

It was then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who issued an Executive Order in 2003 declaring the areas of Magsaysay, Sta. Ana, Monteverde and Leon Garcia as Davao City's Chinatown considered to be among the biggest in the world owing to its area spanning 44 hectares.

Each year normally on two weekends before the Chinese New Year, part of Uyanguren from the Lizada corner going to Magsaysay Park is closed to traffic to give way to a street food festival and bazaar. The street is filled with stalls selling used clothing, bags and shoes or the so-called ukay-ukay as well as food and other household items.

Apart from the Chinatown, the strong presence of the Chinese population in the city can also be seen in the existence of several Buddhist temples. Among them, the Long Hua Temple along Cabaguio Avenue (where the Philippine Sakya Academy is located) is the largest in Davao and the most visited by tourists. Several Chinese schools are also in place and numerous businesses owned and operated by Chinese families.

No place in the country is without a Chinese and no one can deny that they play a significant role in the business community. Hopefully, people will follow their entrepreneurial spirit and their close family ties.