Sunday, July 11, 2004 Mid-year report By Jinggoy Salvador
HOW time flies. It seemed like we just had our Christmas party Saturday and the boom! So suddenly it's the middle of the year. Next thing we know we have to do our Santa duties of heading to the malls and but those presents for our precious ones and deliver them. Good thing there are no chimneys in our tropical setting... but some managed to incorporate one in their homes though. (Mountain resorts are exempted from this ironic line).
The party scene in the city never waned, they just keep on coming like the Eveready Bunny. That of course, is good news to us. This clearly shows how economy is doing good even in the midst of our political crisis, thank God a
president is now seated.
I can't imagine what the future may have been if it was ever delayed further towards the end of the year.
Davao from the start of the year has had busy nights.
The bar-hopping nocturnal personas of the city made sure they did their rounds of the hot-spots and making their bar of choice as the last stop until the break of dawn, or at least until the liquor ban is upheld at 2 in the morning.
To get the groove high, Djs from Manila were flown in and we got samples of their specially concocted house beats. Big names in Manila like Manolet Dario and DJ Suacs got everyone's vibe up on an all time high. Vjs from Studio 23 were in town to search for new company and Wesley and Tina got a shot at the national search.
The Araw ng Dabaw was a month-long celebration. No rest for the citizens. The bands flooded the city streets, the 80's sensation, Rage Band, got everyone punkish and rocked Rizal street, Brown Man got the Bob Marley aficionados grooving to the Reggae and Ska beat. Recently, Davao can never stop screaming over the new front man of South Border.
The second visit of the famous Ilongo group, La Carlota Drumbeaters, still didn't get the right crowd in. This is a very good group who introduced their style in music, their's is a fusion of recorded music and percussions. The group of 18 at the Venue was simply astonishing. They were beating their drums for hours! Davao MUST see this group perform.
Siblings Nina and King, and other acoustic artist Nyoy Volante serenaded their audience with their cool voices and relaxing (and yes, romantic) music.
Parties, parties and more parties. Liquid hosted their monthly parties. 183 dished out their fair share of events to liven up the nightscape of the city.
Dekada 70 brought out those vintage Pucci's from mom's treasure chest of fashion and got the vinyls spinning on the turntables again from the archives of One Down Disco. Human bunnies scurried around clubs looking for Easter eggs like they were as precious as Faberge's creations. Groove is in the Heart, that 80's party, didn't get the crowd looking like Madonna or any of the icons of that era, but they surely hopped to the beat of the decade.
Tourism-wise, the Save My Davao Gulf program of the DOT was impressive and Marco Polo brought Davao's food and wares to Manila and showcased it at the Mandarin. It got good reviews.
Yes, all these only on the first half of the year. Please bear in mind that these are only a few of the shindigs that took place. There certainly is a lot more. With the President on the seat for another term, changes are expected... for the better. The scene in Davao will be better for sure. So, what's ahead in the next half of the year? There a is already a good line-up, that much I know. Watch out as we gear for the Kadaywan festivities... the street dancing will surely last until the end of the year!
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