Davao's Chinatown

Four arches were built around the Chinatown. And this Unity Arch is built at the end of Ramon Magsaysay Avenue fronting the Ramon Magsaysay Park. (Photo courtesy of Bing Gonzales of Mindanao Daily Mirror and Philippine Daily Inquirer).

Anywhere you go are Chinese stores tended by Chinese from the very old and the new generation guys. Others are full blooded Chinese while some by half because of mix mariages. Be it in New York, in Manila and now in Davao are built the famous Chinatown. Although in Davao City that has been a long dream for these migrants to have one here, the fulfillment of that dream came true when on January 24 (two days before the Chinese New Year of 2009) Chinese arches were inaugurated that set as gateways to the Chinatown of Davao City.

In my city, most of these Chinese stores are located in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and at Monteverde Street and towards Magsaysay Park and few along JP Laurel Avenue. Just like in many Chinatown that you love to visit, our Chinatown is also interesting what with the many accessories that one could chose from including bags and shoes, dresses and the pants of different colors are available in this place at good buy. And not only that you could get them at a bargain for as long as you know how to do it.

And to start the Year of the Ox, this new added attraction of Davao City celebrated the First Chinese New Year Festival. As we all know Chinese celebrates the beginning of the Year with fireworks to drive away bad spirits. But because of the firecracker ban in the city, fireworks were done virtually --- a big screen was mounted along the stretch of the Magsaysay Avenue where it was closed to traffic that time and everyone was glued on it as it joined other areas of the country for the countdown for the New Year. They witnessed the colors of fireworks, heard the loud sound of the firecrackers but no smoke and nothing on the ground except for their eyes to view the beautiful colors and images of the fireworks. There were dragon and lion dance of course and merriment, drinks and food in the street until the wee hours of the morning. Dabawenyos went gaga on items on sale at very low price. And in the spirit of the New Year everybody was just as happy celebrating the Year of the Ox.

New 7-storey hotel opens in Davao City

A seven-floor hotel with over a hundred rooms opens early January this year in Davao City.

Uy Ching Siong, owner of My Hotel which is a businessman's hotel in an interview said the hotel was the former Grand MenSeng Hotel located in one of the city's major thoroughfares, the San Pedro Street.

With a project cost of over P47 million, he said the renovation was focused more on the rooms and the putting in of new facilities. Nothing was altered with the structures because when they check on the engineering works, it had strong foundation and in good condition.

The invested fund covered the land acquisition, the building renovation and machine and equipment.

He said My Hotel offers affordable rates plus other amenities like free WiFi access in every room, free long distance calls to to the US and Canada, free Globe line to Globe line nationwide call, free Sun to Sun call, free local call, 24 hours security camera, fire alarm system, standby generator, PABX telephone system, color TV with cable in every room, elevator, free newspaper reading, function room and restaurant.

"We wanted to give the best to our clients that is why we also invested on these modern equipment and faciltiies," he said.

Despite the mushrooming of other small hotels in Davao City, he said they are optimistic of their hotel investment as they bank more of getting more clients with their location just within the heart of the city.

My Hotel is very near the San Pedro Catheral, the City Hall, San Pedro Police Station, banks and major stores.He said occupancy rate is still fluctuating even as he said that they are satisfied with what they have although they need to promote the hotel in either Manila and Cebu.

The Lady In New York

Only when I met her up close then i realized the meeting was real. I heard about her first when I was still a very young girl from my father. I could still remember how my father described her and since then it never skipped my mind. I read about her in books, magazines and wish one day i could see her.

Although back in my mind she's just an ordinary lady. But that very cold spring morning when i finally met her the impression turned out to be a lasting and memorable encounter. And this lady I am referring to is "Liberty - the Statue in New York City".

I thought it was just a fixture in the middle of the sea waters in New York City. But no ! It was a different feeling seeing her amiable face as if she has life welcoming you, whispering some kind words talking to you that she'd been waiting for your coming. Then i thought how great people really made wonders.

The experience really was worth the trip despite the excruciating coldness that pinched our bodies in an open boat bringing us (of tourists of different nationalities to the Liberty Island.

Flashback came to me when I was there face to face with the Lady as my father told me when I was a kid that if in my lifetime i will travel to the US i should visit the same Lady that he did when he was still a fine young man in his early college at the Minnesota State College in the US.

My father was fond of reminiscing his experiences to us and his encounter with the Statue of Liberty really struck me and I still could recall what he told me to take also the same steps that he did until he reached the top because when up there you can see almost everything - the beauty of America, he said.

We did climb the steps but up to the pedestal only because of the September 11 incident there were already restrictions.

Nevertheless I was happy as if I was with my father when we shared the same ground and meeting the same Lady (only in different times).

My regret was that I could no longer share with him my experience (he's now in heaven kasi) but I believe that when I was there he was with me and with a smile on his face spoke to me and said "I told you the Lady is worth the visit she could enliven the spirit". It was really a different feeling maybe because that experience has something to do with my father's experience. But it was worth the visit really.

My greatest gain of that visit to Lady Liberty was the family bonding with my husband Joe and kids Joe3 and Kim - a priceless encounter with the Lady at the Liberty Island of New York City.

Statue of Liberty Poem

The Statue of Liberty poem as it is known, was written by Emma Lazarus and is named "The New Colossus". The Statue of Liberty poem is actually a sonnet by Lazarus written to raise money for the building of the base and is now engraved on a bronze plaque and contained inside of the Statue of Liberty.

At first, Lazarus had refused to write the Statue of Liberty poem, but her friend Constance Cary Harrison convinced her that immigrants would be inspired by seeing the statuesque Lady Liberty welcoming them ashore.

Emma eventually wrote the poem and it was donated for auction at the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund.

The New Colossus

By Emma Lazarus, 1883

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The beginning of the Statue of Liberty poem refers to the Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Colossus of Rhodes is actually a statue of the Greek god Helios, which stood over 100 feet tall (the tallest of its time) before it was destroyed by earthquake in 226 BC.

So, the Statue of Liberty poem refers to this new giant statue likened to the old that represented the god of light. The Statue of Liberty poem also sets itself apart from Helios in that the Mother of Exiles is more welcoming than conquering. She welcomes all castaways, misfits and homeless types dreaming of freedom.

Statue of Liberty Facts

It was in the year 1886 when the country of France presented a colossal statue to the United States as a gift or token of camaraderie. Many of us are familiar with this being one of the most monumental and historical symbols that this world has ever seen. Also called Liberty Enlightening the World, we now popularly know her as the Statue of Liberty.

Moreover, the statue also holds a tablet made out of stone close to her chest and a torch that on her right hand lifted up high.

Right now, the Statue of Liberty is one of most famous and recognizable icons that can ever be associated to the United States of America. Strategically positioned at the mouth of the Hudson River found near the harbor of New York, it now appears as if it stands to welcome all visitors coming inside the United States.

Here are some additional Statue of Liberty facts for your enlightenment.

Statue of Liberty Facts 1: The Statue of Liberty, towering at 151-feet, 1-inch, is situated on Liberty Island in the state of New York.

Statue of Liberty Facts 2: The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on the October 18, 1886, and ten years after when the United States commemorated its centennial anniversary.

Statue of Liberty Facts 3: The statue's material is basically made out of copper and was delicately sculpted by the great sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a Frenchman.

Statue of Liberty Facts 4: Lady Liberty's color is now green because of a chemical reaction process called oxidation that happened between the metal's reactions to the seawater that surrounds it.

Statue of Liberty Facts 5: One obvious element that can be seen from the statue is the tiara that has seven spikes, which represents the seven continents and seas on our planet.

According to many historians, the statue has always played a significant role of welcoming millions of immigrants for decades (and even up to now) that are on a voyage to enter America and possibly seek some shelter and greater opportunities in the land. But, if we analyze the essence of statue much deeper, we will later find out that it can be represent many things or meanings, and one of that is the value of freedom or the idea of finally being free from the clutches of oppression.

The statue has already shown some great signs of decay and erosion due to acid rain over the years so the American government had launched some steps in the past in order to preserve this historical figure. In the 1983, a campaign was launched advocating the restoration of the Statue.

The campaign stated that for every purchase made by a consumer using his or her American Express Card, a penny of it would go to a fund to be used to restore the statue back to its healthy state. This campaign became successful for it generated $1.7 million, an amount that was enough to begin much awaited restoration process.

On the day of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Statue of Liberty was closed as it was also a possible terrorist target. The monument was once again reopened on August 3, 2004 and remains open today.

Thank you www.StatueLiberty.net

Dive sites

The dive site in Ligid Island is the first site of the Island Garden City of Samal that passed the assessment made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR XI). Ligid Dive Site is backed by an ordinance of the city government of Samal City as guide on what to do and what not to do in the assigned site.

Based on the assessment the ground is host to rich and healthy rocks and corrals where school of fish of different varieties abound as well as their spawning ground.

The resources underneath is what we want to be protected that is why the city government has to passed an ordinance to regulate the usage of the site," DENR official Manny Isip said.

He however said that there are still many potential dive sites in Samal where two are found in Kaputian both facing the Pacific Ocean and declared by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquartic Resources as fish sanctuaries.

The other two designated dive sites in the Davao Region that also passed government assesssment are found in Maco and the Copiat Island of Mabini all in Compostela Valley Province. (Photo by WOW Philippines)

Washington, DC

At the Capitol and the grounds of the White House I saw by myself squirrels and it reminded me that I was not home but in faraway America. Tourists can view the White House from a distance and take pictures too.

From New York City for a week's stay in a downtown Manhattan hotel (and walking distance to Central Park), we traveled by bus to Washington, DC for a city tour.

It was indeed educational, my husband who loves geography and history included in our trip the Washington, DC tour.

From the skyscraper NYC, we found Washington, DC a peaceful yet exciting place with the many historical events that unfolded in this city where the seat of the US government is.

The tour guide explained to us everything including the inaugural ceremonies that took place in Pennsylvania Street and she (tour guide) even told us that lamp posts are movable to give way to the holding of the inauguration of the New President.

With President Barack Obama to take his seat on January 20 at the White House, I personally am excited because I had been to Washington DC, where on Tuesday (American time and Wednesday in the Philippines), will be packed with millions of people. I could view it together with millions of people around the world on television.

My experience in Washington DC was enlightening and exciting. I saw the buildings of different government offices including the Lincoln Memorial (the pencil), the Pentagon, White House, Capitol, the Union Station, the different museums and others, everything that a tourist must see.

The cherry blossoms were in bloom when we went there and it was a different feeling seeing all the trees covered with pinkish and white flowers. Tulips of different colors adorned the streets and made the landscape very beautiful.

Travel really gives us a different experience. Anyway with the new US President, everybody including myself wish a new thing to happen. But President Obama can not do any magic for the crisis that hit hard the US but prayers and cooperation could bring people to where the action must be focused inorder to ease the impact of the global crisis. The Philippines is not spared of this but we know that Filipinos, can make a difference because we (Filipinos) are used to hardship and difficulties. As what the business sector had been advocating, everybody must go back to the basics. In doing so, people could cut on cost as well as prioritize spending.

Going back to Washington, it is really a distinct city that I could not forget its being it. From there we proceeded to Orlando, Florida and let our bodies got tired of the huge and beautiful theme parks of Disneyworld.... again another superb experience.

5th Street Cafe

They buy the coffee beans from small farmers of Davao and Mindanao. They roast the beans, grind and brew into a sweet smelling hot coffee.

This you could find at 5th Street Cafe along Ecoland, Matina, Davao City.

Actually it started as a non-government organization whose aim is into organizing farmers to go into chemical-free farming.

The organization, Siad Initiatives in Mindanao Convergence for Asset Reform and Regional Development, has not limited itself into organic farming as it has started operating its coffee shop, 5^th Street Café, located along the 5^th Street of Ecoland Subdivision, just a stone’s throw away from SM City Davao.

It is an alternative meeting place and a neighborhood store for organic products and a cafe at the same time.

It started with a P300,000 investments but the management believes that the organization will be able to recoup its seed fund in the next two years.

The café concept came about after finding out that people, mostly those involved in non-government organization work, could hardly find a place to meet and discuss issues. At the 5th street cafe "they are who they are” that even students have started trooping to the café especially on Saturdays to work on their assignments as it is also a wireless fidelity spot, or an area where someone can connect to the Internet without the use of a telephone line.

Browsing on the menu list, one can find what the organization has been advocating. The chicken is native, the rice is organic, and the coffee, of course, the coffee, is from farmers all over Mindanao.

Part of the coffee is from Basilan, the besiege province that has been hounded by the armed conflict between the military and the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group. The Basilan coffee is even comparable with the much-touted Barako coffee of Batangas.

Other sources of coffee are the farmers of upland Maragusan in Compostela Valley and those in Sultan Kudarat.

Also in its menu are food that one cannot usually find in a regular diner or café like the best seller native chicken adobo, and other food recipes mostly cooked only at homes. And if one goes daring, you can try their dalag or mudfish in spicy coconut milk as indicated in the menu.

But one good thing for those who dread food with a lot of cholesterol, the place is not for pork eater as operators want to help you stay healthy. So no port and beef nor use MSG (monosodium glutamate, an artificial spice), a warning also indicated in the menu.

The price is just right and those who are into tight budget, a hearty meal would only cost at about $1 and 20 cents or less than a dollar (US) for “bibingka with tsokolate” (rice cake and hot choco drink)

Coffee drinkers, on the other hand, will have two shots of hot espresso for USD $1 or USD $1.10 for a large mug of cappuccino which usually sells about USD $2.50 in the regular coffee shops in the city.

But for those who don’t want coffee, but want to quench their thirst, they can try “sambong tea, a uniquely healthy drink made from powdered, sambong leaves.”

Or for the young people, there are fruit shakes to choose from, all sold at 90 cents a glass.

But the café management warns for those who love to drink using straw. “We do not use plastic straw and coffee stirrer as our humble contribution to protecting Mother Earth. We hope you understand,” the menu adds.

The café also doubles as a store for organic products, from premium denorado rice to the muscovado sugar from Agusan del sur and Sultan Kudarat.

For someone who wants to sip a steaming coffee and tastes mouth-watering organic meal, then 5^th Café is the place. (Thanks CQF)

Mango Crepe @ Roadhouse Cafe

I've tasted the best mango crepe here at Roadhouse Cafe at SM City Davao. Though there are a lot of good food in here, i go for my dessert - the mango crepe. It's tasteful and one order could be shared by three ... one part is good enough to end either a lunch or a dinner in this cozy place. The area is spacious where there is enough space for everybody. Though a public place, a group could dine and at the same time talk serious matters or otherwise. The setting was made in such a way that each table is not that close with each other thus giving a little privacy. Service is also good as well as the courses.

The paradise

It's a 10-minute ride by motor boat from Davao City to where the port is located near the Waterfront Insular Hotel then off you go to the white sand beach of The Paradise Island Beach Park and Resort at the Island Garden City of Samal.

The resort is ideal for family outing and swimming is allowed until the evening. In the resort are also a mini zoo, a children's park, spa, aquasport equipment for kayak, diving and others, it has billard tables and court for table tennis, a convention facilities , restaurant .

Accommodation could either be premier, deluxe or for backpackers where they could stay at the open cottage.

Guests are greeted with resort staff bringing with them welcome drinks as they usher them to the front desk for the guest to register. The rooms have hot and cold shower, cable tv and intercom, a veranda and a garden plus room service for food and drinks. The room costs less than US $100.

One could feast on choices of seafoods from sizzling squid to grilled tuna belly, prawn with hot oyster sauce and others.

Mindanao sites up for promotion @ the subregion

The government has line up tourism sites up for promotion by a subregional economic group.

In the list is Mt. Apo and 10 other areas in Mindanao and Palawan.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council report showed the other Mindanao sites are Malawi Island and Dapitan in the Zamboanga peninsula, Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao, Davao Gulf and Samal Island in the Davao Region, Lake Sebu in Central Mindanao, Aguasan Marsh in the Caraga Region and Lake Lanao in the autonomous Muslim region. Identified sites in Palawan are Kayangan and Barracuda lakes in Coron Island.