#tourist spots in Davao

[aquanomad28]

Tagumpay Panagat Landmark

📍Tagum, Davao Del Norte

Dec. 29, 2022

Tagumpay Panagat Landmark is a popular tourist destination located in Davao City. It is a bronze statue depicting a fisherman holding a big tuna, representing the bountiful catch of Davao Gulf. The landmark was built to honor the hard work and dedication of the local fishermen who rely on the sea for their livelihood. Aside from being a great spot for taking photos, Tagumpay Panagat Landmark also serves as a symbol of the city's rich culture and history. Visitors can also learn about the fishing industry of Davao through the information boards surrounding the statue. Overall, this landmark is a must-visit for those who want to explore the cultural and historical heritage of Davao City.

[rosesarereds-posts]

"Move Mabini; A Story of Progress"

The municipality of Mabini was created on May 28, 1953 by the virtue of Executive Order No. 596 of President Elpidio Quirino. Mabini is formerly known as Cuambog that is named after a tree species of the family Dilleniaceae then renamed as Doña Alicia after former President's wife Alicia Syquia was killed. It was later renamed in honor of the revolutionary leader Apolinario Mabini in 1954. Mabini is a coastal municipality in the province of Davao de Oro. Mabini is subdivided into 11 barangays which are the Cadunan, Pindasan, Cuambog, Tagnanan, Anitapan, Cabuyuan, Del Pilar, Libodon, Golden Valley, Pangibiran and San Antonio.

Mabini is a 2nd-class municipality in the province of Davao de Oro. In the last years, by the lead of the former mayor Reynaldo Dayanghirang we have seen the continuous progress and development of Mabini. From the infrastructure projects like the four infrastructure project for the two Sitioa Manasa and Mascareg consisting of a fully furnished Brgy. Health Center, Installation of Riprap, Steel Bridge and Sitil Electricification. An additional two infrastructure project for Brgy. Anitapan the solar street lights and multi-purpose building and road projects. However, last May 9, 2022 Mayor Dayanghiranf lost the position to Mayor Emerson Luego. Mayor Emerson Luego won the People's heart by his campaign and tagline "Move Mabini". Mayor Emerson or most known as Mayor "MM" started the fulfill his campaigns and made his move to develop and make a much better municipality.

Since Mayor Emerson Luego was elected as mayor of the Municipality of Mabini, there have been improvements in the municipality. Mayor Emerson has implemented numerous projects to improve the quality of life of the people living in Mabini. Mayor Emerson had built few establishments to improve the municipality's economy like building a tourist spot, the "Mabini Mountain Ridge" or the "Bikers Camp" the Food Hub and Snack Hub that made people from other municipalities go to Mabini. There also have been a series of graveling work and road repairs, road concreting and revetment/flood control project to the remote areas and barangays who needs it making it easier for the people living there. Many programs were made to preserve the Municipality's environment. At September 21, 2022 the Local Government of Mabini led by Mayor Emerson and DENR Davao de Oro spearheaded the clean up drive at densely populated Brgy. Cuambog and joined the International Coastal Clean up in Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape. During " Bisita Kadagatan" on July 23, 2022, Mayor Emerson vowed to actively support programs, projects and policies that would lead to the betterment of the protected areas in Mabini. The municipality also participated in some tree planting activities. In terms of agriculture, the Municipal Agriculture Office conducted basic practices and services which Tilapia/ Livestock Seminar, Vegetable Distribution, and BCIC Farmer Insurance. There has been a great progress on people's well-being and welfare as Mayor Emerson creates programs that would be a great help for citizens like "Oplan Ligtas sa Pamayanan" a program by Bureau of Fire Protection, Pre-marriage Orientation, Counseling Seminar, Medical Mission Activities, Housing Programs and many more.

We really can see the increasing progress of Mabini from the newly built municipal office and plaza to the improved infrastructures, better access to education, better access to health services, and clean water. Due to the programs, campaigns, projects, and efforts of the people involved it successfully improved the people's lives and have increased the development and progress of the municipality.

[giuiwa]

https://www.camella.com.ph/life-is-here-davao-tourist-spots-to-add-to-your-itinerary

[jamela-21]

DISCOVERING PARADISE: TOP 5 BEST TOURIST SITES & ATTRACTIONS IN DAVAO CITY"

Davao City is known for its destinations in the Philippines consist of both natural and man-made tourist attractions to visit. Like any other cities they also offer parks,beaches, local cuisines, outdoor activities, and places with rare animals featured on it.

Discovering Nature: Visit the Paradise of Eden Nature Park

 Couples and Families are known to have interest to connection with nature where they could create a bond and memories together. Eden Nature Park Resort in Davao City was name after the famous biblical garden. It is highly advised that you try out the activities in Eden Nature Park; the park's tranquility and tropical forest climate will take away all of your anxiety from the stress and bring out the best getaway experience.

 Wildlife Encounter : Takea glimpse of wildlife at Crocodile Park 

The Davao Crocodile Park is one of the known tourist spots in Davao City . This destination showcases state-of-the-art crocodile farming in the country and is complete with modern equipment and facilities.If you are into unique exotic experience in cuisine Crocodile parl offers several food like a taste of unusual variety of ice cream like crocodile tea, durian crocodile, crocodile roll, and chocolate ostrich at one of the food stalls. They also manage to educate tourist about wildlife reservations.

 Wings of Majesty: Visit Philippine Eagle Center

The Philippine Eagle Center primarily operates as a conservation breeding facility for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other birds of prey. Nestled within the lush greenery of Davao City, the Philippine Eagle Center stands as a beacon of conservation and a testament to the natural wonders of the Philippines. As you step into this sanctuary, you are greeted by the resounding calls of the mighty Philippine eagle, echoing through the forested landscape.That is why it is one of the best attractions to visit together with your love ones.

 Summit serenity: Explore the Majesty of Mount Apo 

Planning a trip to Davao City is not complete without a visit to the King of Philippine Peaks or Mount Apo. Mount Apo is on top of the list of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia, and it has an elevation of 10,311 feet. For couples, a journey to Mount Apo represents more than just a physical ascent, it embodies a shared adventure that strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. Families seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of urban life find a relaxing moment and excitement in the rugged terrain of Mount Apo.

Wonders of Heritage : Visit Museo Dabawenyo 

Museo Dabawenyo an attraction perfect for people who wanted to explore more about history and artifacts of Moro People in Davao City. As you step into Museo Dabawenyo, you are immediately greeted by a sense of reverence for the past. Artifacts preserved during the colonial times can be found inside the museum.

Article Type: Roundups and "Best of Lists"

Target Audience: Lovers/Partners & Group Travelers

Topic: Top 5 best tourist attractions and sites in Davao City

@therealrodthings

[pinoyaksyonnewsph]

High road to tollways integration: Two options available for motorists

Mark July 1, 2024 on your calendar since this day signals the unification of RFID cards currently in use by tollways in Luzon. It means that only a single RFID card will activate and hoist the bar as the tollway operators will go cash-less at the same time for a seamless travel system.

The so-called “Toll Collection Inter-Operability” has begun its test run, with only selected vehicles taking part Wednesday last week in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway, Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and Cavite-Laguna Expressway Calax).

Once the “inter-operability” system is completed and put in place, motorists are given two options, according to the Toll Regulatory Board. One, they can get a new account and a new RFID sticker or, choose which of the Easytrip or Autosweep electronic stickers to retain and use.

Easytrip belongs to the group under the control of Manuel V. Pangilinan while Autosweep is operated by San Miguel Corporation led by Ramon S. Ang,  president and chief executive officer.

These two business titans having envisioned the unified tollways system a few years ago, are pushing for it to reach perfection. Let’s hope no one throws a monkey wrench into this noble plan.

Geometry C EV: Geely has the right angle

Trumpeting the Monday launch of its new electric car as “a paradigm shift”, Geely Philippines hosted an event at its North Edsa showroom that also ushered the arrival of Naoyuki Takeda as new president and CEO of Geely’s corporate vehicle, Sojitz G Auto Philippines.

In his inaugural address, Takeda spelled out a plan that could breach the conventional boundaries of the automotive industry. “Our commitment goes beyond words; it’s evident in the actions we’re taking, the changes we’re making, and the improvements we’re implementing.”

With Takeda behind the steering wheel, Geely is angling for a definitive role not only “as auto providers but also as contributors to the dreams and aspirations of individuals seeking a better and more fulfilling life through their vehicle.”

Furthermore, Takeda pledged to strive for a 5-star customer experience as his top priority.

Emphasizing the value of media partnerships, he encouraged motoring journalists to actively engage, saying that “your insights are invaluable, and your feedback is crucial“.

Geely said the unveiling of the Geometry C compact crossover signified its continued evolution and contribution to a sustainable and aspirational future.

Geometry C EV runs on a 70-kWh battery pack that has a range of up to 485 kilometers. Propelled by an electric motor that churns out 200-horsepower maximum and 310-Nm of torque, the EV is rated capable of speeding up from 0 to 100 km/h in just seven seconds. Its speed tops off at 150-km/h. This promises to be another awesome EV that should spark fierce competition in its segment, provided it is priced reasonably.

‘Taralets Pinas’ rolls out : Mitsubishi turns 60

Like hitting the proverbial “two birds with one stone,” Mitsubishi Motors has launched a nationwide campaign celebrating the Filipino spirit of adventure and its 60th anniversary as well.

The double- barreled move, Mitsubishi says, is a way to promote the “Instagram-able” tourist spots and at the same time crow about the features of its vehicles that have given it the top 2 ranking, next only to Toyota in terms of sales nationwide.

By this time, the TARALETS PINAS campaign shall have rolled out in certain provinces  — Bacolod, Guimaras, Iloilo, Pampanga, South Cotabato, Davao, Cebu, Kalinga, Baguio, Bontoc, Siquijor.

With every episode showcasing the rich and colorful heritage and culture of each province, motoring enthusiasts are invited to make their journey better and more exhilarating with — what else, but – Mitsubishi autos.

Backstopping the campaign is an interactive website which features helpful information on destinations, road trip itineraries, and food trip tips. Motorists, their families and friends will do well to share their travel stories, experiences, and photos.  MMTC President & CEO Takeshi Hara said during the campaign launch, “We encourage Filipinos to pack their bags, fuel up their Mitsubishi vehicles, and embark on their own TARALETS PINAS adventure. We can’t wait to see the amazing places you’ll visit and the incredible experiences you’ll create with Mitsubishi Motors.” This should be a tantalizing challenge for motorists to take up.

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[mytourblog]

The Beauty of Samal Island

One of the most well-known tourist destinations in Davao del Norte's busiest metropolis, Davao City, is Samal Island, also known as the Island Garden City of Samal. Travellers may easily reach the island via ferry as it is only 2KM from Davao City.

With more than 30 resorts strewn along its pristine white sand beaches and islands like Talikud Island and Kaputian Beach, Samal Island is said to as the largest resort city in the Philippines. Samal Island is the greatest place to stay because it feels more private and isolated compared to other vacation cities in the Philippines. Samal Island tours will take you to some of the best snorkelling, diving, and natural wonders in the Philippines in addition to its lovely beaches, making it one of the best places to go island hopping.

WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VISIT SAMAL ISLAND?

~To experience a beautiful white sand beach, to have some time with their love ones and to refresh their minds from stress.

~ Chance to connect with the natural environment. You may witness marine life, seashells, and even birds, increasing your awareness for the environment.

~Excellent photographic locations. The shifting light, reflections on the sea, and natural beauty of the beach make it a great place to capture memories.

~Samal Island has a lot of stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that you won't regret visiting. Some notable beaches include Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort, Isla Reta Beach Resort, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Kaputian Beach, Sunset Beach Park, Samalan Camp and Sea, and more. The waters around Samal Island are rich in marine life and coral reefs, making it a great spot for diving and snorkeling. Samal Island is undoubtedly a popular getaway for both locals and tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in nature's beauty.

It is vital to highlight that, while beaches provide several benefits, it is critical to be careful of environmental conservation and safety when visiting. Respect local norms and standards to preserve the preservation of these lovely natural areas for future generations to enjoy.

Location: Samal,Davao Del Norte Philippines, 7.07682° N, 125.70805° E

[thoughtsoffeliz]

Tourism of Mabini

Mabini, officially the Municipality of Mabini, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Davao de Oro, Philippines.The municipality is the location of the Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape. It was formerly known as Cuambog and Doña Alicia.

Since then the mabini is well known because it of its a lot of tourists spots even though is not that improved yet just like the area has not been paved before and the ocean is not well protected and there is a lot of garbage that the aquatic will be in harm and affect specially the danger species and it most be protected. Some of our landscape there some cutting tress and might cause landslide.

But now through our government and our dear politicians and our Mayor Father Emerson Luego continue the legacy of our former Mayor Hadji Amir Muñoz one of the really active to improve our municipality he build some new tourist attractions and improved some of our tourist spots there is a lot of improvement that happened in our municipality there is live band, food hub, new and clean beaches and hiking area is well improve etc. And even our terminals, roads and municipal hall has improved as well it is more elegant than before even though some of it is unfinished yet but you can see the changes and there's more to come a lot of projects and in the near future.

[law-ismy-lifeline]

Promote local tourist attractions/ spots

One way we can help our country is through improving the country's tourism. By improving it's tourism, we can also help improve it's economy. We can do this by simply visiting local tourist spots, whether known or not, promoting the place.

This includes making a travel guide for these locations, which can help others identify places they possibly want to go visit and help them craft their own personalized travel plan that include these locations. One example is the Facebook page Davao Guide, where they frequently post and share posts about resort locations in Mindanao.

Boosting posts about them by sharing their page and their posts, engaging in their content, and posting about the travel locations can also be beneficial. And simply promoting it to friends and family is also a way to help.

By helping improve the country's tourism, we can help improve it's citizens livelihood and further acquaint people with the beauty of our country. This can also further economic prosperity in the country as well as help local businesses and the people.

[epsire]

Maragusan can be called a haven for nature lovers, as it features multiple spots showcasing the nature that's preserved by the local authorities and of course the locals, for tourists to enjoy. One of these sights in nature are waterfalls. All of these waterfalls has cold waters, due to it coming from the mountains, and the influence of the cold temperature Maragusan normally has. Its temperature is cold enough that it may numb you, but don't be discouraged and instead, be prepared for an experience you'll never forget. Below are some of the best waterfalls in Maragusan:

Marangig Falls - One of the most popular waterfalls in Maragusan, Marangig Falls is located in Barangay New Albay. The falls is a series of cascading waters that flow down into a natural pool. Visitors can swim in the pool and enjoy the cool waters while surrounded by lush greenery.

Pyalitan Falls - Pyalitan Falls is located in Barangay New Albay and is known for its majestic 90-foot drop. The falls is surrounded by towering trees and lush vegetation, making it a great spot for nature lovers.

Visiting these waterfalls in Maragusan requires a bit of hiking and trekking, but the experience is worth it once you reach the site. The falls offer a great opportunity to reconnect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the Philippines. So, if you're looking for a new adventure, consider exploring the waterfalls of Maragusan in Davao de Oro.

-Carmena, Sophea, & Jovelyn

[touristspotsfinder]

Top 10 Tourist Spots in Compostela Valley

Top 10 Tourist Spots in Compostela Valley

Compostela Valley, shortened as ComVal, is a province in the Philippines known for its rich gold deposits and unspoiled tourist spots. Though this province may not be on the spotlight of mass tourism in the country, it’s actually a very potential tourism hub in Mindanao that most people flock during summer.

Among the beautiful scenery of its rolling hills and mountains are distinguished peaks…

[mixedlifestyle]

Top 10 Best Halo-Halo in Davao City

Best Halo-Halo in Davao City.

The refreshing Halo-halo is a summer dessert or a snack of mixed fruit and beans, topped with crushed ice, milk, and ice cream.

The Halo-Halo is a common dessert for Filipinos and sometimes new to the eyes of foreigners or tourists. Do you want to know the best halo-halo in Davao City?

Here are the best halo-halo,best according to my taste.

Aling Foping’s Halo-Halo Atbp

Address: Matina Town Square Compound, Gen. Douglas MacArthur Hwy, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur, Philippines Phone: +63 82 285 1203

Geritos Food House Halo Halo

Geritos Food House ay pasok din ito sa panlasa na patok sa best halo-halo in Davao City.

Address: Phase 4 Highway Deca homes, Indangan Davao City. Phone: 392 3692/09558241681 Website: https://geritos.com/

Tatang’s Halo-Halo

Address: CJ Building, Eco W Dr, Ecoland Subdivision, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 285 9317

Ice Giants

Address: Door 1 & 2, Bagsi Complex, Sta. Ana Ave, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 227 3073

Mang Inasal

Address: Upper Ground Gaisano Grand Buhangin Rd, Davao City, Philippines Phone: +63 2 8724 1111

Chowking

Address: Talomo, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines Phone: +63 82 225 5271

Falubi Halo Halo Snack House

Address: Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines Fb Page: https://www.facebook.com/Falubi-Halo-Halo-Snack-House-226068178143714

Lanie’s Halo-halo

Address: F. Torres St, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur, Philippines Phone: +63 82 333 2581

Kuya J Halo-Halo

Address: SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave, Lanang, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur, Philippines Phone: +63 949 889 5573

Kenchang’s Buko Halo-Halo

Address: De Guzman St, Toril, Davao City, Website: https://www.facebook.com/Kenchangs-Buko-Halo-Halo-1803999883228754

Halo-halo, the Filipino word which signifies “combination” or “blended”, likewise spelled haluhalo, or blend, is an extremely mainstream cold treat in the Philippines comprised of squashed ice, vanished milk or condense milk, and different fixings including, ube, improved beans, coconut strips, sago, gulaman, pinipig rice, bubbled taro or delicate sweet potatoes in blocks, organic product cuts, flan, and finished off with a scoop of ube frozen Ice cream. Halo-halo is viewed as the sweet of the Philippines. By augmentation, the word has come to portray any item or circumstance that is made out of a comparative, bright mélange of fixings.

Halo-halo has become one of the Philippines’ best comfort food dishes.

The “hálo-halo” is a Filipino cultural icon, so if you’re visiting the Philippines, you may want to include it in your list of things to try.

Where can you find the Halo-halo. Share your favorite spot below and If you liked this post, Please share it!

[rosesarereds-posts]

“Mabini: A Developing Municipality

Mabini is formerly known as Dona Alicia is a 2nd–class municipality in the philippines. Mabini is part of Davao region. The first people to occupy the area now known as Mabini were the Mansakas. But now in 2022‚ there were now alot of different ethnicities living in mabini. whenever i go to terminal i often saw students from mabini riding a bus because they lived in different barangay and municipalities.

Mabini's tourism also made a big development. People from other municipality often visit beaches in mabini. mabini's development made a huge impact, especially in their mesmerizing tourist spots. with the help of mayor emerson luego‚ mabini’s economy developed too.

[purplesurveys]

676

Themed surveys are the shit y’all. There should definitely be more of these.

General

Where is your country? My country is in Asia – specifically in Southeast Asia, which I recently learned a lot of people outside Asia aren’t aware of. We’re situated just right below China and we neighbor Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. How big is your country? It’s moderately large, but when you consider how many we are, we are an extremely small country. What is the population of your country? 109 million. I’m not sure if this is still updated, but we’re around the 12th most populated country in the world. Compare that with how we’re only the 77th in terms of size. How would you describe the landscape? We are an archipelago, which means our country is essentially a collection of thousands of little islands – 7,107 in total. Side note: this means it’s always been extremely hard to make an attempt to be ‘united’ as a nation, due to the fact that we are literally separated from one another. But besides that, yeah we’re made up of a lot of islands which means going from one province to another typically requires you to travel via plane, boat, or ferry. Aside from the tiny islands that we have, our country has three main islands, of which the small ones are a part of – Luzon (which is where Manila is and where I live), Visayas, and Mindanao. The Philippines is also part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means we have a number of active volcanoes and that we are prone to hurricanes – and we do get them, badly, every year. We also have a number of mountain ranges consisting mostly of tropical rainforests; these ranges, while beautiful, make traveling from province to province quite a challenge.  Which part of your country do most people live in? Oh Manila, without a doubt. Most people, especially from the provinces, want to move to Manila because it’s the economic hub and everyone has an ideal image of it bearing opportunity for them. Unfortunately it is never what it seems and Manila is instead filled with the urban poor, some homeless and some living in shanties or illegal settlements. A lot also live in the cities surrounding Manila in a region we call Metro Manila (or, officially, the National Capital Region) to have closer access to Manila, and also because these cities have proven to give them a better life as well.

Tell me about the main industries there. The main economy is agriculture, but since then we’ve been making a shift to manufacturing and the service industries. While the shift looks good on paper, it has since meant that our farmers have been neglected and they remain extremely poor despite the effort they put into their work. Our biggest exports are sugar, coconuts, rice, bananas I think?, pineapples, and mangoes.  Tourism is also an important industry and unfortunately we’ve been hit hard by the coronavirus. Nevertheless, significant tourist spots include Boracay, Puerto Galera, Palawan, Siargao, Baler, Vigan, La Union, and Baguio. Lastly – while it’s not an ‘industry’ per se, millions upon millions of Filipinos also try their luck abroad as OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) for better opportunity and higher pay. As a result, their remittances to the country is one of the biggest things that contribute to our economy every year, because these OFWs are usually the breadwinners and thus send money to their families, which obviously end up pouring into the national economy. What agricultural products are produced by your country? I’ve already mentioned them, but we’re essentially powerhouses in producing rice, sugar, coconuts, corn, rubber, several fruits such as pineapples and bananas, and a type of material called abaca.

Food and drink

What traditional dishes are served in your country? Which is your favorite? What’s the recipe? We have many, considering PH has a very rich native culture. A lot of our dishes have been inspired by Spanish and Chinese culture, such as lechon (whole roasted pig) and afritada (meat and veggies in tomato sauce) for Spanish cuisine; and siopao (a bread-like dumpling), siomai (our version of Chinese dumplings), and pancit (noodles) for Chinese cuisine. But besides those, we also have come up with our own such as dinuguan (pork blood stew), sisig (chopped pig’s cheek skin, ears, and liver), and sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth). My personal favorite is kare-kare , which is oxtail and vegetables in peanut sauce. I dunno how to cook it but both my grandmothers have the best recipes.

What drinks is your country famous for? We’re not particularly known for our drinks as much as for our food, but we do have sago’t gulaman and taho. Fruit shakes are also widely popular, and so is coconut juice. We also produce several variants of coffee, such as barako and arabica.

What alcoholic drinks are produced in your country?Again, not really internationally renowned for drinks but Filipinos LOVE their beer. Popular favorites include San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light, and Red Horse. Tuba and lambanog are notable local alcoholic drinks but tbh they’re so native and mostly consumed in the province that as a city girl, I don’t even know what they’re made of, and I mostly read of them in books lmao.

Are there any stories behind traditional foods? Not really. But essentially, Filipinos have historically lived in the wild, with some provinces more remote than others; and a lot of people are generally poor. That means it’s in our blood to have to make do with what we have, which is why a lot of our dishes are composed of things that may be conceived as weird by others, such as duck embryo, chicken intestines, or pig’s cheeks. We’re not ‘uncultured’ or ‘disgusting,’ we’re only from a different culture with very different origins than that of the West.

Political

What is the political system in your country? I just know we live in a democracy, but the official system name for our government is apparently a unitary presidential constitutional republic; thanks, Wikipedia.

Who is in power at the moment? Unfortunately we currently have a garbage of a President, and an internationally notorious one at that – Rodrigo Duterte.

How is your country dealing with the current financial crisis? I honestly don’t know how to answer this. The Philippines has never been one of the top dogs when it comes to global economy, and as far as I know we’ve always played it safe when it comes to this, so we don’t really get seriously hit when financial crises happen.

What can you say about the leaders of your country? Miserable. Most of our senators did not deserve a seat, but there they are. As it stands, we have a TV host, a boxer (Manny Pacquiao, no less), a former police chief, and an actor in the Senate. A number of personalities in the entertainment industry have also found careers in politics. This means a lot of the things that are urgent and need lots of rational decision-making are always handled poorly and haphazardly. A lot of politicians are known to be corrupt, stealing millions of money and spending more than they earn – but they always get away with it, the ones who are supposed to be the watchdogs of corruption are also their allies. The genuinely good politicians are always overpowered, silenced, arrested, killed, ostracized – and lose elections.

The elections system is just as sad. Most, if not all, candidates, appeal to emotion and literally exploit the poor by using them as talent in their commercials to show the other poor people watching TV that they are on their side – and because the poor don’t have access to education and don’t know any better, they end up voting for them, even though these candidates don’t actually give a single fuck about the poor. Many spend hundreds upon millions for TV and radio ads for 30-second spots. Election violence, vote buying, and ghost voting are widespread.

Cities

How would you describe the capital city and any other main cities? Manila is a sad shell of what it used to be. Look up photos of Manila in the 50s and 60s, and you’d see it looks no different than the streets of Los Angeles or New York. Today it’s neglected, overpopulated, congested, and resided by people who were once filled with hopes and dreams about Manila. There’s a side of Manila that is beautiful and pretty wealthy – the part along Manila Bay – but this side is only riddled with Chinese businessmen, most of whom treat Filipinos like shit. Quezon City, Makati, and Ortigas are the economic and financial hubs surrounding Manila and for the most part these cities are known as the hip places and it’s where the youth and adults hang out. It’s where the malls, bars, restaurants are, and these cities are the ones shrouded in Western influence; but because people do flock to these places, the cost of living is extremely high from parking fees to condominiums. The major city in Visayas is Cebu and in Mindanao, Davao; but given that I’ve only been to Cebu once, and Davao never, I can’t say much about them. What special attractions can be found in each city? Manila has Rizal Park and tons of museums but the city itself isn’t a favorite among foreign tourists; these people usually go to our beaches like Boracay and Palawan, or the cities that offer a more local scenery, like Baler, Bohol, and Ilocos.

Sports and games

What is the most popular sport in your country? How do you play it? Basketball, FOR SURE. Every barangay or municipality has their own basketball court – literally. Filipinos are just basically obsessed with it whether it’s the NBA, the PBA, or basketball even at the collegiate level. Are there any sports or games unique to your country? Very few. We’ve mostly gotten eaten up by Western culture and patronize sports such as basketball, boxing, and volleyball. The only traditional sport I know of is arnis, which even I know very little about except for the fact that it’s a martial art that involves sticks. When is the best time to watch them? I’ve never watched a game of arnis. And I generally don’t watch sports, so I’m not the best person to answer this lmao. How well does your country do in international competitions? I don’t follow a lot but we’ve made our mark here and there. Obviously Manny Pacquiao is a boxing legend, but we also have Hidilyn Diaz for weightlifting, Efren Reyes for billiards, Paeng Nepomuceno for bowling, Carlos Yulo for gymnastics, and Lydia de Vega for track. Are there any sports that foreign visitors practice in your country? I don’t think so. Is football (soccer) popular in your country? If so, which are the best teams? Not really.

Weather

Is the weather very different in different parts of the country? No. It’s mainly tropical, with extremely humid summers and it’s moderately cold by the end of the year. Only cities with high elevation, like Baguio and Sagada, get EXTREMELY cold during the Ber months, which makes them popular vacation spots during Christmas haha. Sometimes the temperature will dip down to 10 or 9 degrees Celsius, which is a huge deal here.

Can you describe the seasons? We don’t have the conventional ‘seasons’ y’all have. We have two main ones – warm and wet. Wet is just the season with typhoons, warm is either summer, or a period with no typhoons. Pretty straightforward.

What is the best time to visit? It depends on where you’re going. Going to Baguio, for example, is the best during the colder months (October to December) to really maximize the colder weather. Going to the beaches is ideal in April to June.

Language

What languages are spoken in your country? Nearly 200, but official languages are Filipino and English. What language do you usually hear on the streets? Filipino. But it depends where I am, too. In wealthier cities, I’ll hear English more. How many people speak English in your country? A good number; I’d say 60-70% can understand or speak basic English. Those who can speak it conversationally comprise a smaller amount. Some still live in pretty remote areas and thus have no concept of English.

Customs

Is there a particular national costume? Can you describe it? Yeah, for the woman we have baro’t saya, and for the men we have the barong Tagalog. Just Google them lmao.

Are there any special local dances? What are they like? Several ones, like tinikling (a dance where you have your feet play with bamboo poles routinely beat together or tapped by two other people) and cariñosa, a romantic dance. But due to the Western influence here, people are more prone to get into hip-hop or contemporary dance more. Are the people generally friendly? Without a doubt, yes. Filipinos are extremely known for their hospitality. If a tourist were to knock on our door right now we would definitely let him in, make him dinner, and my mom would probably ask me to give my bedroom to him for the night. What are some special customs or traditions in your country?

We have the mano po, which is when younger individuals would greet their seniors/superiors by taking the older person’s right hand with their right hand, and placing the back of the older person’s right hand it onto their forehead. It’s a significant sign of respect and to avoid doing it is extremely impolite.

We also have the concept of community spirit, or bayanihan. Basically, if one is in need, everyone in the same community steps up and helps. The quinetessential example for this is when one has to move their hut to a new location (Filipinos before were nomadic), all the neighbors swoop in to help lift the hut and carry it all the way to the new place. 

Courtship was an important step in traditional society, and the man would do a harana, or serenade the woman while playing the guitar, in front of her house while she looks out her window.

Noche Buena is the traditional midnight meal (kinda like our version of Thanksgiving) that we have by the end of Christmas Eve to usher in Christmas Day

Po and opo are filler words used to denote respect, and is always affixed to the end of sentences when speaking with elders. It’s not required, but of course you’ll look like a disrespectful asshole if you don’t use it with older people.

History

What can you tell me about the history of your country?

Pre-colonial Philippines was rich and vibrant, and one that would be considered pretty fucking progressive even today – transgender people were welcome, women were of a higher social status than men, among others. 

This all changed when the Spaniards came and tl;dr ruined everything for us. They wiped out our folk religions, literature, songs, legends, epics, and everything good that we had going. Friars abused us physically, sexually, and economically; everyone was forced to convert to Catholicism; early newspapers were shut down; forced labor was imposed; anyone who disagreed with their rule was killed.

After 333 years we were sold to the US for $20 million. Americans gave us the modern education system, a modern government system, a richer literature, religious freedom, and of course, the English language. But they also brought us colonial mentality and materialism, which persists to this day. Americans were also racist towards us and the only reason we have international schools today is because these were actually started up by American soldiers so that their’ kids would have schools that didn’t have native Filipinos in them. 

By WWII, Japan destroyed the Philippines, leaving us to start from scratch. They bombed Manila, raped our women and young girls and made them sex slaves, brutally murdered everybody else who weren’t women and young girls, stole everything from us, and established a puppet government in Manila to bully us further. The only reason they gave us independence was because US had dropped atomic bombs onto Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and they had no choice but to surrender.

Three colonizers has left us pretty traumatized, something we’ve never truly recovered from to this day. Our political system is shaky, our sense of identity is lost, we’ve never been truly ‘united’ as a nation, and the Catholic penetration has made us a widely conservative, pro-life, anti-LGBT country.

Did your country gain independence from another country? If so, when and how did this happen? See above.

[morting-blog]

The tourist spot found here in Davao City has an instagrammable look that is worth to posted in social media. A breath taking view of Jack's Ridge is perfect for the couples, group of friends and families that will have their own picnic, deep conversations for the couple and a perfect place to have open forum with your friends.

Jack's Ridge is open until midnight, they have entrance fee which is 20 pesos in the morning but they are free at night that is why a lot of couples visit jack's ridge for them to have a privacy and to witnessed the city lights that can be seen from above.

This unforgettable experience will always be remembered and treasured forever. I didn't regret the time I spend with them here at jack's ridge because I really enjoy the moment where we open something to each other. No cellphones,and no internet, just friends. You just need the presence of each other and talk about something personal, open something to someone and to lend your ears to others. Have deep talks, make some stupid things, laugh together. These are the memories I want to reminesce forever until I get older.

[thoughtsoffeliz]

MABINI: A JOURNEY OF PROGRESS AND UNITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

( Literary Journalism )

Mabini, is a second class municipality in the province of Davao De Oro. In June 12, 1954, The Republic Act No. 1007 An Act Changing The name of the Municipality of Doña Alicia, Province of Davao De Oro, is changed to Mabini. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled. The first people to occupy the area now known as Mabini were the Mansakas. Mabiniwas originally part of Davao Province. It became part of Davao Del Norte when Davao Province was split in 1967. Mabini became part of Compostela Valley, and has consist of 11 Barangays.

In 2019, Reynaldo Dayanghirang elected as Mayor of Municipality of Mabini he is a public servant. He has done something in his term that to help the people and have notice issues that have to solve the problem. There are programs conducted to focus attention on it to develop and have a good community. There are many crimes that happen in different barangays and to take action on it. His term ends in 2022, currently the new mayor was elected in Mabini year 2022 during the election is Father Emerson " Em-em " Luego. The Mayor is responsible for supervising all programs, projects, services, and activities of the municipal government, enforcing all laws and ordinances related to governance. One of his advocacy is to develop and change the municipality that have different problems that people are facing today.

Have peace and unity to prevent crime in the community. Many people have given the opportunity to work in private and public places to buy food and necessities for their family. He has helped many people and problems have been worked to solve it. It has been proven that the Municipality of Mabini is beautiful in a different places, there are many places that have become tourist spot. Tourism Mabini has been carried so that more people can travel to the place and have to influenced to show the beauty of Mabini.

[msvanessa]

Hundred Islands

                       An ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and see the mesmerizing view of Hundred Islands in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The Hundred Islands of Alaminos City is probably the most popular spot in Pangasinan. The whole place is really like a paradise because of its clear water and sparkling blue sky which are very refreshing to the eyes.  The islands are shaped like giant umbrellas or mushrooms. It is a group of approximately 123 islands and islets scattered over Lingaye Gulf and with more than hundred islands harbouring white sand beaches, caves, limestone, rocks and cliffs and rich marine life. These islands are made of limestone roofed with think shrubbery and other flora. A cheap and fun way to experience the tropical Philippines is it as a day tour or an overnight trip, camping or staying in the accommodations on four developed islands- Quezon Island, Governor Island, Marcos Island and Children’s Island. This island is most visited during summer period by lots of tourists both local and foreign.

         Watching the sun strike the islands and their surrounding waters is one of the wonderful views you can witness here. Your excursion to the Hundred Islands National Park may be one of the memorable experiences you will ever have. You will take pleasure in seeing colorful tropical fish in the coral grounds under the water. This is also a place where you can see the world’s biggest bivalve mollusks – the Giant Clams, also called “Taklobos.” Their shell is very long. The reason why we went to the Hundred Islands is to have fun with new people, relax with new environment that is far from polluted cities, and then enjoy every moment with new things. My Aunt got a ticket already before she went home here in the Philippines. When she got here, she provides all the expenses just to have a vacation with her and her friends. From Kabacan, we ride a public vehicle going to Davao Airport and then we ride an airplane going to Clark Airport then my Aunt’s friend and her family pick us up and went to their house to have some rest. In the morning, we woke up at 3 AM in the morning and we’ve travel so many place until we get to the Hundred Islands. This is my first time to travel too far and experienced more activity such as snorkelling, cliff diving and riding a banana boat. Hundred Islands also known as “Kapulo-puloan” or “Taytay-Bakes,” these little Islands are one of the most magnificent natural geological formations in the Philippines. The islands are dispersed along the Lingayen Gulf and have a total land area of 1,844 hectares or 18.44 square kilometers. There are 123 islands here but one gets submerged in water during high tide. The islands are about two million years of age; it was theorized that they are part of the seabed a long time ago.  Among the islands, only three have been developed for travelers and vacationists, namely: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island. Not all the islands have names. Other islands that could peak your interest are the Century Island (whose cave was said to be one of the hiding places of Alaminos locals during World War 2, and also known for snakes and bats), Lopez Island, New Scout Island, Marcos Island (with Imelda Cave – one can jump into emerald colored waters and swim out into the sea and back onto the beach), Clave Island, Old Scout Island (with the Quirino Cave), Children’s Island, Martha and Ramos Islands which are joined together by a tiny strip of white sand bar, Cuenco Island, Romulo Island and the Devil Island which is also known as Cagao Island. The Cathedral Island is named for a big cavern where one can swim as well. Other islands in the National Park are Guiya Island – the northernmost, Bangar Island, Turtle Island (shaped like well, a turtle), Braganza Island, Hernandez Island, Abad Santos Island, Sulpot Island, Cariaz Island, Monkey Island (monkeys apparently don’t show themselves anymore though, that is if there are any left), Sison Island, Shell Island, and Camantiles Island.

                        Visiting Hundred Islands in Pangasinan is definitely a great experience. You can spend a whole day just marveling about these little wonders of nature. A trip here will surely ease away your stress and refresh your busy life!