Davao Region: From islands to highlands

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

FROM breathtaking highlands to enchanting islands, from cascading waterfalls to idyllic lakes, from long winding rivers to white sand beaches, where indigenous peoples, tribal groups and Christians live together harmoniously. Experience extreme adventures and feast on its exotic foods – from fresh kinilaw na tuna to sinugbang pusit, from aphrodisiac durian to seedless pomelo. Home to endangered Philippine eagle, waling-waling, dugong, and pawikan.

Welcome to Davao region!

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Located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao, Davao region is composed of four provinces: Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. It has only six cities, namely: Digos, Davao, Mati, Panabo, Samal, and Tagum.

“A province of waterfalls, caves, lakes, rivers, towering mountain ranges and forests, gold and silver deposits, sulfuric hot and cold springs, and inland and beach resorts” is how Compostela Valley is described by some scribes.

Some two hours ride from the capital town of Nabunturan is Maragusan, home of the mysterious Rafflesia mira, the world’s biggest single flower. Some people call it “corpse flower” due to the vile smell it gives off. The baffling flower has a lifespan of five to seven days.

A little farther is Maco, a coastal town with many natural attractions, including the Mainit Waterfall hot spring in barangay Mainit. In Pantukan, visitors can be mesmerized by Kopiat Island, an 87-hectare island of powdery white sands. It is a nesting site of two endangered marine turtles. Not far from it is the Lunod Island, whose lush mangrove forests cover almost the whole island’s 17 hectares area.

Mount Pandadagsaan – more popularly known as the White Peak – remains undiscovered by mountaineers although locals have explored the mountain for years. The height is 2,670 feet (making it the third highest peak in Mindanao) and it takes about 10 hours to reach the top.

“The heart of Davao, a destination by choice.” That is how Davao del Norte is being promoted. Tagum, the capital of the province, holds a variety of festivals almost each month. Leading the list is the Musikahan Festival, the longest-running and grandest music extravaganza in the region.

Tagum is also home to Banana Beach, the world’s only beach inside a banana plantation. Aside from its 4.5-kilometer coastline, Banana Beach also has a 60-hectare second-growth forest (where wild pigs and monkey abound), a playground for children, and a spot where visitors and guests can do fishing.

Not to be missed is Samal, touted to be “a little paradise on earth.” Some 80 beach resorts (both commercial and privately-owned) dot the island’s 118 kilometer-stretch of white sandy beach. On top of the list is the world-class Pearl Farm Beach Resort, which was featured in the Miss Universe contest some years back. Next in line is the Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark, whose biggest attractions are the two giant slides.

For another adventure, try Maxima, a house built above the sea in Barangay Cawag in Peñaplata, Samal. Here, you can do canopy walk tour, banana boat ride, and feel the adrenalin rush while doing any of the two breath taking tarpaulin slides.

Also in Samal is the Monfort Bat Cave, whose bats colony was certified by The Guinness Book of World Records as the largest colony of fruit bats in the world with a population ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 million. Another world record holder is the wooden rosary at the Christ The King Cathedral in Tagum. Built at the feet of the huge statue of Jesus Christ, the rosary is about 100 meters and is made of magkuno (iron wood). Each bead of the rosary weighs approximately 35 kilograms.

Bucolic, enigmatic, and charming are some of the words to describe Davao Oriental. At Cape of San Agustin, which lies between Mati City and Governor Generoso, Saint Francis Xavier supposed to have said his first mass. A lighthouse stands at the historic site.

From the highlands of Mount Hamiguitan in San Isidro is the 600-hectare bonsai forest, a grandiose nature view upon reaching the top after 9-10 hour walk from the capital town of Mati. The 2-3 feet tall century-old trees are very sturdy that you can literally stand over them without falling.

Located near the bonsai forest is Tinagong Dagat, an uninhabited area and considered as one of the most puzzling phenomena of nature. The water reportedly has its high tide and low tide schedule.

Mati itself has its own beauty that make visitors fell under its charm, including the 7-kilometer white sand Dahican Beach with blue-green waters. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the beach is oftentimes visited by strong winds making the beach ideal for wind and board surfing.

At the tip of the province is the town of Cateel, home to Aliwagwag Falls . Considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, it has 84 cascading falls appearing like stairways to the sky. Its towering waterfalls are considered as the highest in the Philippines.
For those who want culture, adventure and nature, Davao del Sur is the place to visit. Adventure starts at Camp Sabros in Barangay Kapatagan of Digos City. The camp sits in an immense natural beauty of forest and wildlife. With an 820-meter line, the camp truly is a place of extreme adventure as it provides one of the longest zip lines in the country traversing along the top of pine trees with the majestic Mt. Apo looming on site.

In the rolling terrains of Kapatagan is the Agong House, built by Kublai Millan. The ecletic masterpiece is a vernacular architecture inspired from the indigenous tribes of Mindanao.

For cultural immersion, visitors can visit the Kalimundan Cultural Village in Barangay Tibolo in Santa Cruz. The village has an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea level and nestled at the foot of Mount Apo, considered a sacred ground of the Bagobo tribe.

Santa Cruz is also home to Tudaya Falls and Pasig Islet. Tudaya Falls is a beautiful, 300-foot high waterfall that plunges from a rocky cliff into a 50-meter diameter pool located just below the foot of Mount Apo.

Pasig Islet, in Barangay Bato, is a man-made Islet that served as a base for coastguards before but was bought and developed by the provincial government to become a tourist attraction as it is glazed with white sand and crystal clear waters.

Speaking of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak at 9,692 feet, towers over Southern Mindanao, and covers the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. It is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the country as its summit is often easy to reach depending on which trail mountaineers would take.

Far from the outside world is Sarangani, which has two famous islands: Balut and Olaniban. Balut is noted for its exotic seashells and hosts the 865-meter high Mt. Balut Volcano. Olaniban is a 16-hectare island with white sand beaches.

Davao City is considered the regional center. Davao is touted to be “The Royal City,” because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao: waling-waling, the queen of Philippine orchids; Philippine eagle, the king of Philippine skies; and durian, the king of exotic fruits.

Places to visit include the Philippine Eagle Center and Malagos Garden Resort, both in Baguio District; Crocodile Park along Diversion Road; Eden Nature and Resort Park in Toril; People’s Park at the heart of the city; Japanese Museum in Calinan; Lon Wa Buddhist Temple in Agdao; and San Pedro Cathedral in San Pedro Street.

How to get there: Davao City is 1,545 kilometers from Manila. Considered as the premier gateway to the south, it is serviced by an international airport. Philippine Airlines flies to Davao from Manila (one hour and 35 minutes) and from Cebu (55 minutes). There are also flights from Zamboanga (one hour and 20 minutes) and Cagayan de Oro (35 minutes). From Singapore, Silk Air flies to Davao via Cebu. Major shipping lines service the Davao area from Manila and nearby southern points.

From Davao City, visitors can go anywhere to the four provinces by private vehicles, vans (from various malls), or by busses (from Ecoland Overland Terminal).