It is your first time to come to Davao, and you have no idea what to expect. Well, you already know from somewhere or someone how great a city it is, and indeed, it is, and you will have a great time especially if you knew your way around this beautiful city of Davao.
Following are some tips that may help you survive in Davao City.
1. If you come by plane, of course, your first stop is the Davao City International Airport. It would be better if you have someone you know who would pick you up at the airport. Otherwise, you just have to take a public vehicle for your transportation. There are no taxis on a standby at the airport, but there are ones that take passengers there. So you just have to stand by and wait for one. However, if you do not have much baggage, and you feel like exercising after a long time of sitting in the plane, you can walk the 50-meter pavement to the airport gate. Outside the gates of the airport is the highway so you can just hail a taxi to your destination. Most of the taxi drivers are very accommodating and helpful to their passengers (act as if you are wise--as if you knew your way about; be friendly; don't boast nor be arrogant--Davaoeños have an uncanny sense of humor to arrogant people;).
2. If you come by boat, there is not much problem because outside the gates of the wharf is already the main road, where you can take your pick of the taxis. Although you will have to take a very long walk to the gates. If you have a baggage, there are porters who can help you. Again, be courteous and wise.
3. If you are more adventurous, and you have a really light load, (maybe just a hand bag or something), you can take the jeep (Davao's main mode of transportation) that would take you downtown, or anywhere you want to be. This is a less expensive option (you pay only PhP8 for the first five km, compared to the PhP40 flag down rate of the taxi). If you are not sure which jeepney to take, ask the friendly police officer or the traffic aide. But it is really easy to spot which jeepney if you knew where you are going. The routes of the jeepneys are indicated on the signboard posted on the windshield of the jeep.
----If you decided to take the jeep, make sure to prepare a loose change for the fare. If you do not have any, give your fare to the driver earlier--long before you arrive at your destination, to give ample time for the driver, or the conductor to prepare your change. (Some drivers have an assistant who takes the fare, and who generally assists passengers.)
4. Davao City observes the non-smoking ordinance, which prohibits smoking (of course, duh) in public places and public utility vehicles. So, if you are a smoker, make sure you are in a smoking zone when you get the urge to smoke.
5. You can take your pick of hotels in Davao. If you want a secluded five-star hotel, you may like the Waterfront/Insular Hotel. Grand Mercure is also away from the hustle and bustle in the city, but it is just beside the main road. At the heart of the city scattered big and small hotels.Big hotel names would be Marco Polo, which is hard to miss as this is the tallest building in Davao, there is the Apo View, and there is also the Grand Menseng. However, there are already so many other more affordable hotels and inns. You can find one online. Agoda, for instance, would be a good site to start.
6. Busiest seasons in Davao are Araw ng Dabaw in March, Kadayawan Festival in August, Christmas in December (of course).
7. Durian, the fruit Davao is most popular for, is available all year round, and is available in many parts of the city. Popular places are Magsaysay Park, Bankerohan Public Market, and in many streets in the City. Department stores also have Durian.
8. Aside from Durian, other fruits like mangosteen, rambutan, marang, pomelo, lanzones, and many more are also sold in the different parts of Davao.
9. Do not dangle your wealth so much (if you have any) as you will be inviting con men, hold-uppers, pick-pockets and other nimble-fingered fast-acting artists.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
hey, it's me.
I am a pure Mindanaoan. Mindanao is the largest Island of the three big ones in the Philippines. My Father is from Surigao del Norte, my Mother, from Surigao del Sur. Both were teachers (a noble profession).I was born in Surigao del Sur. But I did not stay in the place very long. My Father traded his lesson plans, blackboards and chalk for tractor, soil and seeds. (Yeah, he realized his family couldn't eat chalk and paper, so he went to a greener pasture--pun intended.)
His change of profession demanded change of location. So he towed the family to Davao. I was four or five, then.
So, that made me a Davaoeña. Bisaya nga Davaoeña.
Having seen how my mother worked as a first-grade teacher, I promised never to become anything that came close to being a teacher. What with those kids crying, getting a teacher's attention because they had to go to the comfort room, or some of those tweeks playing pinch-me-I-will-cry; and the paperwork!
So at college, I took Business Administration--thinking going into business was easy and glamorous. But after a year of being in the course, I felt there was little in my system that hinted 'entrepreneurish'. Well, I did fairly well in class, but when the thrill of taxes and accounting and bookkeeping started to wane, to the extent that they even made her feel dizzy and nauseated, I had to finally accept it: it wasn't for me. I finally heeded the call of teaching, and did what she promised herself never to be--a teacher. Can't run away from fate, eh?
Although language was my major subject, I loved literature, particularly the Philippine Literature.
Teaching Philippine Literature at the University was enjoyable. But it became more challenging when student population included foreigners. The subject was studied in the basic languages in the Philippines: Bisaya, Tagalog, and English, and some foreign students would just gape while the discussion was going on in class. This was where my studies in translation and language teaching became useful. It was very challenging to teach the students one language in a language they barely understand. Like a blind man teaching a deaf-mute how to use the xylophone. (Okay, that could be an exaggeration, but you get the point. Don't you?)At one point, it was frustrating, but at the same time, it was fun. Sometimes I would feel like an idiot talking to an alien. And then I would just laugh at how ridiculous a sight we were.
After a long period of frustration, inspiration, and achievement, I decided to take a sabbatical from that profession.
And now, I am my own boss, deciding which students to take, and when (among other things). Sometimes, I still get frustrated with this boss, but so far, I like this boss better.
And life has been great.
His change of profession demanded change of location. So he towed the family to Davao. I was four or five, then.
So, that made me a Davaoeña. Bisaya nga Davaoeña.
Having seen how my mother worked as a first-grade teacher, I promised never to become anything that came close to being a teacher. What with those kids crying, getting a teacher's attention because they had to go to the comfort room, or some of those tweeks playing pinch-me-I-will-cry; and the paperwork!
So at college, I took Business Administration--thinking going into business was easy and glamorous. But after a year of being in the course, I felt there was little in my system that hinted 'entrepreneurish'. Well, I did fairly well in class, but when the thrill of taxes and accounting and bookkeeping started to wane, to the extent that they even made her feel dizzy and nauseated, I had to finally accept it: it wasn't for me. I finally heeded the call of teaching, and did what she promised herself never to be--a teacher. Can't run away from fate, eh?
Although language was my major subject, I loved literature, particularly the Philippine Literature.
Teaching Philippine Literature at the University was enjoyable. But it became more challenging when student population included foreigners. The subject was studied in the basic languages in the Philippines: Bisaya, Tagalog, and English, and some foreign students would just gape while the discussion was going on in class. This was where my studies in translation and language teaching became useful. It was very challenging to teach the students one language in a language they barely understand. Like a blind man teaching a deaf-mute how to use the xylophone. (Okay, that could be an exaggeration, but you get the point. Don't you?)At one point, it was frustrating, but at the same time, it was fun. Sometimes I would feel like an idiot talking to an alien. And then I would just laugh at how ridiculous a sight we were.
After a long period of frustration, inspiration, and achievement, I decided to take a sabbatical from that profession.
And now, I am my own boss, deciding which students to take, and when (among other things). Sometimes, I still get frustrated with this boss, but so far, I like this boss better.
And life has been great.
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