Scene Stealer - Maitum's Bangsi Festival
MAITUM, a small municipality in Sarangani Province with a quaint name (maitum in native dialect means black, pertaining to legendary tales of black stones near one of its rivers), is richly blessed with natural resources and ancient finds. This quiet municipality is a tourist destination to...
Alcantara: Wildlife sanctuary
IMAGINE a spectacular range of mountains covering a 6,834-hectare of total surface area of several forest type characteristics harboring endemic, threatened, rare and economically important species of flora and fauna.
Alcantara: Shoot for Hope
SHOOT FOR HOPE was organized in a matter of days, just less than two weeks soon after Tropical Storm Sendong ravaged areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Rhonson and I immediately gathered our very good friends to come up with a fundraising event.
Davao's Simbang Gabi
THE Misa de Gallo ("Rooster's Mass") in Spanish and Simbang Gabi ("Night Mass") in Filipino is one of the most popular and longest Filipino tradition which we hold until the present.
Bauhaus opens in Davao
ADDICTED to avant-garde fashion items and unusual designs in limited edition? This newly opened popular international concept store may just be the right place for you.
The White Capitol Building
THE beautiful three-storey white Capitol Building loomed in the sky like an imposing presence, described to have been patterned after the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the US White House.
Many years ago, I used to frequent the old Capitol in my childhood and early teens. Outside the...
Alcantara: Christmas at People's Park
A SLIGHT drizzle didn't faze my family when we brought my two-year-old daughter and niece, their first time at night, in the People's Park to witness the spectacular display of colors and decorations that indicate Christmas is in the air.
The boom in Tagum
AN HOUR's ride away from Davao City is the fast-rising phenomenon of a small urban city packed with exemplary governance and a harmonious lifestyle by the locals.
Gaginaway Festival
IT HAS been recorded that the picturesque town of Malita in Davao del Sur has been existing as far back as 1904, according to a passage in the Laws of the Moro Province that mentioned its presence as a barrio before it was created into a municipality, long before the Americans came to Davao.
The North Face Great Camp Out
SET on a high elevation of Kapatagan in Davao del Sur, and overlooking an imposing and fog-coated Mount Apo, the Great Camp Out event sponsored by North Face last October 8 and 9 was highly anticipated by eager participants who arrived despite rainy weather. The rough and bumpy three-hour ride...
Bacolod shines with Masskara!
BACOLOD City is dubbed the City of Smiles since the 70s for so many reasons.
One, people are often smiling back at you in genuine hospitality and warmth. Two, living in this top tourist destination is something to smile about (cleanest and greenest urban city accolade, city with the most...
Alcantara: Zipping through security and a worry-free travel
THE promise of great travel adventures is often foremost in the minds of any individual who, like me, travels for business, work or pleasure. Ample preparations are made before the most anticipated date of your flight. You’re likely to have a checklist before anything else.
Global Handwashing Day
OCTOBER 15, 2011 marked the 4th anniversary of Global Handwashing Day (GHD) in the Philippines where GHD partners Procter & Gamble (P&G), Unicef, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) continued to stress the importance of hand washing with soap during...
Dabawenyo behind Olympus Pen camera launch
MY FAVORITE success stories are ones closer to home, like hearing about a fellow Dabawenyo who has been doing great abroad and is now bringing his achievements back into his country.
I received a call from former schoolmate at Ateneo de Davao, Renato Buhay, who was a few years my senior....
Zumbayawan
IT'S time to take the workout of working-out! Let's do the Zumbayawan! When the music starts pumping, people forget they're exercising.
Zumbayawan is a word coined from Zumba and Kadayawan for this year's celebration of Kadayawan sa Dabaw at MetroLifestyle Fitness Center & Spa from...
Philippines features Davao in China travel expo
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio led the Davao delegates in attending the China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) 2011 in Beijing, China from 30 August to 1 September 2011. Last year's CIBTM 2010 saw record-breaking attendance, and this year's event topped it.
Abreeza shines in Floral Float Parade
A TOTAL of 115 contingents participated in what was touted to be the biggest number of delegates who joined the 26th Kadayawan sa Dabaw's most festive Pamulak or Floral Float Parade.
A taste of Davao Punch
DON'T be surprised if one approaches you and brings you to a booth where you are given a punch.
The Crowning Glory
WITH a glam theme of the Roaring 20s, the Profcons (Professional Consultants) Salon Management Corporation celebrated its 23rd anniversary with a fabulous night of thanking its sponsors, supporters and loyal clients all through the years.
4th Binuhat Festival: Mindanao's Biggest Gay Festival
ONE of the unique traits of the booming Tagum City is that it celebrates a festival every month (14 festivals and counting). What is even more compelling is that it gives a special tribute to the gay community by celebrating their freedom of choice and lifestyle through what could be Mindanao's...
Chasing 'Lumbalumba' (The Dolphin Watch)
IN 2003, I wrote an article with a similar title. Today, I am not rehashing the story but rather waxing nostalgic over an old amusing incident in my beautiful birthplace of Mati, Davao Oriental.
The Veil: A bellydance workshop
GINAJANE Grey is the directress, head teacher and choreographer of the Ginajane Grey Dance and Art Center (GJDAC) at Manila Polo Club, Makati City.
Double treat for the sweet tooth
HOW often do you treat yourself to cake or ice cream, or both? Sometimes the craving to indulge in the sweetest of desserts wins. We give in to temptation when both are delightfully rolled into one.
Once upon an enchanted blue river
AS A proud Mindanaoan, I am happy that my photo gallery online has gained a small following who appreciate my island travel adventures. I noticed with the number of daily viewer hits, one photo gallery stands out as the most visited all these years.
Hidden wonders of Sta. Maria
THERE's a tempting getaway from stress and urban hub in a matter of two hours or 96 kilometers south of Davao City. All it takes is a bus or private vehicle for a smooth and scenic ride to a little municipality called Sta. Maria in Davao del Sur. How do you know that you're there?
