Alama: Cafes in Juna

IT HAS been six months since we left our residence in Juna. The 60-year-old bungalow has stood amidst the changing landscape of the former suburbia. Quaint old homes became commercial spaces, the once lonely streets have become a hubbub of activity.

Where the once old houses stood, new establishments has risen among these include quaint restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, making Juna a go-to-place for those wanting a good chow or conversations over a good cup of coffee.

6th Republic Café

Along Juna Avenue, the main road along Juna Subdivision is the old house of the de Castro family, the house has seen better days until it was renovated and transformed into a café.

Owned by poet and writer Lia Lopez Chua with nephew Andrei Lopez Chua, 6th Republic is taken from the phase of South Korean history where the country stabilized from a military dictatorship to a vibrant democracy where arts and culture flourished.

“The 6th Republic is an aspiration where there is a genuine democracy, the government encourage and took care of its people including the artists,” Lia said.

Aside from good coffee, 6th Republic is also a place where artists gather to showcase their works. During my first visit the visual works of my college teacher the late Carlota de Pio was prominently displayed inside the café.

Aside from Davao City’s culturati hanging out, it has become a favorite place for millennials wanting to have an adventurous cup of coffee. It is perhaps the only place in Davao to offer liquor spiked coffee.

Lia says she named the spiked coffee after her artist friends. There is T.A.L.A (coffee with rhum topped with chocolate shavings and whipped cream) inspired by the late artist Tita Lacambra Ayala. My favorite is a coffee named after renowned Palanca-award winning writer John Bengan the John Bengan Pick Me Up is an iced mocha spiked with vodka. While Palanca award winning playwright Joshua Lim So had a coffee named after him which is an iced orange rhum coffee concoction.

Aside from coffee, 6th republic is also known for their food. Highly recommended is their ossu bucco and salpicao. Their pasta dishes is also a must try you can choose from their Aglio e Olio, Pesto, Truffle Chicken Fettuccine, and 4-Cheese.

Bo’s Coffee

A walking distance from our former house along Juna’s Kasuy Street, the sprawling property of the Llamas along Tulip Drive was converted into a commercial center named The Compound which is home to different food establishments such as Romantic Baboy, Choobi-Choobi, Majid’s and my high school classmate vegan resto Clean Café. And then there’s Bo’s Coffee.

Bo’s Coffee branch at The Compound is owned by Samantha Liu, wife of good friend Kim. Sam is from Dumaguete who moved to Davao after marrying Kim. Sam has been a franchisee of Bo’s Coffee with two branches in her hometown.

Sam hopes that Dabawenyos will welcome the newest branch with the same welcoming arms as it did when she relocated to Davao City.

Founded in 1996, and with more than 100 branches all over the country plus five branches in Qatar, Bo’s Cofee is known for serving fresh brew made from handpicked Arabica coffee beans from coffee highlands and regions in the country like Mount Apo, Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Sagada and Benguet.

The coffee shop has distinctive wood and earth colors a perfect place for a good cup of coffee and conversations with friends. The interiors is also good for Instagram worthy selfies with a durian inspired ceiling and a Philippine Eagle wood carving.

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