AlaskaMazing Mom 2016 Launched in Davao City

Moms are indeed amazing women because they can multi-task and take on a variety of roles. Dabawenyas are no different the reason why they were treated by Alaska  Milk Corporation to fun activities and a search for AlaskaMazing Moms at People's Park this weekend.

Now on its 13th year, this project for moms aims to promote health and a sense of community among families across the Philippines. Originally a pageant-focused program, AlaskaMazing Moms now puts emphasis on the different skills of mothers and encourages the participation of the entire family in its activities.

Sweating it out during the Zumba (Photo by Naprey Almario)

Davao Heritage Walking Tour Part 2

To continue with our heritage tour of Davao City, there's also one building in the San Pedro area that dates back to the American time. The PNB building at the corner of San Pedro and Claveria (now C.M. Recto Street) across San Pedro Cathedral was built during the occupation of Americans in the city hence, its more modern architectural design.

Further along Claveria is another well-preserved old building, Situated at the corner of Claveria and Palma Gil Streets, the ground floor used to house the popular Charlie's Bakeshop owned by a Chinese family.

Veering away from the buildings, we then checked out the heritage houses of Davao. The Travel Teller said there are four well known in the city. Two of them are situated along Rizal Street, one along Legaspi Street and another one is at the corner of Quirino Ave. and Tionko Street. One is the Oboza house considered to be the second oldest in the city. Owned by the former mayor Alfonso Oboza, this beautiful abode was built way back in 1929. It was well-preserved and now houses Claude's Le Cafe de Ville, a french restaurant.

Davao Heritage Walking Tour Part 1

It's nice to experience how a city develops and see all the infrastructures sprouting everywhere. Suddenly, you feel the excitement that comes with progress. But on the other hand, it's also nice to look back and learn what the city looked like and how the people lived in the past.

Davao City is one progressive metropolis right now and I'm proud to have experienced its development since I came to live here back in 1997. However, I also crave to know its past hence, I readily agreed to go on a Heritage Walking Tour of the city with fellow bloggers from the Davao Bloggers Society one fine Sunday afternoon of October 9.

The tour led by Olan Emboscado a.k.a. The Travel Teller started in Magsaysay Park. I learned that the site was the first port of the city. In fact, the city's first historical marker is situated here bearing the name Port of Sta. Ana.

The Travel Teller with the Davao Bloggers Society. Photo by Andrew Dela Serna

Davao City's Bid for the Guinness Book of World Records

I have long wanted to take part in a major event that aims for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records and so when I learned about Davao City's latest attempt for a world record, I immediately told myself that I'm going to be there. The event's goal was to gather the most number of people to simultaneously sing the Philippine National Anthem.

It was a Saturday afternoon, two days before the national elections or May 7, 2016 to be exact, when my son and I went to Crocodile Park in Ma-a for this Guinness activity. Initially, we wanted to take the free bus ride offered at the Buhangin gym but when we arrived there, the line was just too long and numerous people were trying their luck to get a free ride from other vehicles including dump trucks heading towards the venue.

Fortunately, my son and I were able to hitch a ride at the back of an elf truck together with other eager participants. But since traffic was very heavy already near the venue, we had to get down and walk a few kilometers more. Call time was 5:00 p.m. and it was already 4:30 when we got there so we ran just to go inside the venue and join the others who were already there since early morning.

Singing our "Lupang Hinirang" together with hundreds of thousands of people in one venue gave me goosebumps. It was one historic event that gave me so much pride as a Filipino and one that will forever be inked in my mind and heart. The attempt may not have been successful to gain a spot in the famous Guinness Book of World Records but one thing's for sure, it united Dabawenyos and non-Dabawenyos.

Getting ready to sing "Lupang Hinirang." 

Davao City Landmarks

Being a huge city spanning 244,400 hectares or 2,444 square kilometers, Davao City indeed has so much to offer visitors. One of the things that the city is well known for are its distinct landmarks which have become tourist attractions. Below are some of them.

Peace Monument fronting San Pedro Cathedral

Towering Philippine Eagle statue at the border of Davao and Bukidnon

Humble abode of President Rody Duterte

San Pedro Cathedral altar

Jack's Ridge overlooking Davao City

Fruits Galore

It's the Kadayawan season once again and you know that it's here when fruits flood the streets of Davao. Yes, all kinds of tropical fruits but most especially those that Davao City is well known for - durian, marang, mangosteen, lanzones, pomelo and rambutan.

At this time of the year, these fruits are sold at rock bottom prices ranging from only Php35 (for the marang and durian) to Php80 (for mangosteen although the price can still go lower) . You can buy them from various places such as the Bankerohan market, Agdao market, Magallanes (at the vegetable bagsakan area), NHA Buhangin and practically along many sidewalks around the city.

Philippine Eagle figure made of fruits & veggies during the opening of the Asian Fruit Market.

Roxas Night Market

If there's one popular street in Davao City that turns into a vibrant spot at nightime,  it has to be Roxas Avenue in the downtown area. Starting from around past 5 p.m. until midnight or onward, this avenue is alive with different kinds of streetfood and drinks, stalls selling brand new t-shirts and souvenir items as well as ukay-ukay (used clothes, bags and shoes) plus massage therapists. The area used to be frequented only by the ordinary folks but today, even the well-off families of the city also come here every now and then.

I'm impressed that for a night market along a street, the vendors are properly organized. There's a specific section for used bags, used shoes, used clothing, street food, shirts and souvenir items. This makes it easy for people to know where they should go the next time they visit Roxas Night Market with family or friends.

Roxas Avenue is along Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) hence, one will often see college Ateneo students eating at carinderias or shopping for ukay-ukay stuff on a daily basis.

This is the street during daytime.

And this is how it looks at nightime with all the stalls in place. The people on the right are lining up to buy a local ice cream. The most popular dirty ice cream that's in demand every day there is Mang Danny's ice cream. 

Below is the area (left part) where you can find very cheap ukay-ukay clothes.

More food stalls here and some massage therapists awaiting customers.

For people, including the young professionals, who want to pamper themselves after work, there are massage therapists available in one section of the street. It's easy to spot them  as they normally call out to people passing by promoting their personalized massage service. 

That's me and my friend Marion exploring the Roxas night market for a little food trip.