Biyahero

The houses of the Mandayas are multi-leveled with each level a few centimeters above the other.  It has few and small windows, timber floors with broad strips of bark, a long, wooden notched stair and a single pitch roof of flattened bamboo.  Underneath the house are pens for their domesticated animals.

• Mainit Hot Spring, in Brgy. Caburan, is located 30 kms. west of Digos City in a forest setting 365 m. above sea level.  Another hot spring, in Brgy. Managa, is located 30 kms. from the poblacion and 200 m. above sea level.
• The 19-hectare Mt. Carmel Rural Life Center, in Brgy. Kinuskusan, is known worldwide for its innovative agricultural technology.  Foreign and local agricultural students stay here to immerse themselves in farming systems and perform hands-on research.
• The 65-million peso NIA Dam, an earth-filled reservoir dam, was built in the 1990s.

Other places for learning more about agriculture include the:

• AMG Mango Plantation;
• Hillcrest Poultry Farm and;
• Lao Integrated Farm (Brgy. Eman).

• The Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, a conservation area in Brgy. Kinuskusan, is famous for its sloping agricultural land technology (SALT).

• City Town, the city center, has two main thoroughfares: San Pedro St. and Claro M. Recto Ave..
• The old City Hall, along San Pedro St., was the old municipal building built in 1926.
• The new City Hall is located within Osmeña Park, formerly known as the Plaza, was the site of the settlement of early Davaoeños.
• Camp Domingo Leonor, along San Pedro St., was the quarters of the Spanish and, later, of American soldiers in the 1920s.
• The Monument of Peace & Unity, along San Pedro St., was unveiled during the celebration of the Philippine Centennial in 1998.  It depicts the peaceful relationship of the migrant and indigenous inhabitants of Davao in the last 100 years.
• The Battle Memorial, a historical marker at Mintal Elementary School, commemorates the longest-fought battle between the troops of the American forces and of the Japanese Imperial Army which took place in Mintal, Tugbok District.
• Fort of Datu Bago, at the junction of Washington St. and Quimpo Blvd., was the site of the bastion of the Muslim hero Datu Bago who lorded over the Tagloc River, the old name of Davao River.
  
  Old pre-World War II Japanese houses, warehouses and the site of abaca processing plants are located in Daliao, Toril, 12 kms. from downtown.
• The Bago Oshiro Experimental Station, in Mintal, is located 14 kms. from the city.  It features projects involving cross-breeding of native fruit trees, along with orchids, ornamental species and abaca plantations.   Japanese Peace Memorial Shrine During, Japanese war veterans and their kin take a pilgrimage to visit this memorial shrine. (Mintal)
• The Japanese Peace Memorial and Cemetery, in Brgy. Catalunan Grande in Mintal, is located 9 kms. southwest of the city.  Big groups of Japanese war veterans, widows and their kin visit here held in August during Annual Reunion for Peace and the Obon, Japan's version of All Souls' Day. Memorial to a Brave Son, a memorial marker at Gov. Generoso Bridge, was built in recognition of the gallantry of Armando Generoso, who died at the very site of the bridge while defending it from the Japanese invaders during World War ll.
• Caroland Resort, in Inigo Farms, Bago, is located 13 kms. south of the city.  This 60-hectare bird and wild duck sanctuary is dotted with abandoned huts and is also noted for its fruit orchards and multi-colored carp.  It offers horseback riding, boating and fishing in a hyacinth-filled pond.  It also has tent grounds for mountaineering groups climbing Mount Apo like the National Mountaineering Foundation.    8-1651, 7-8074.
• The 4.5-hectare Davao Fish Port Complex, at Sitio Daliao, Toril, serves as the center for the collection, processing, storage and packaging of fishery and marine products for distribution to Davao City's area of influence and to the export market.  It is the only transshipment point in the Philippines and is a center of trade within the East Asian Growth Area (EAGA).
• The 5.4-hectare Crocodile Park, along Diversion Road in Maa, shelters over a hundred of the country's two crocodile species: Crocodylus mindorensis and Crocodylus porosus.   They range from foot-long juveniles to a full grown 18-footer named Pangil   (probably the country's largest living crocodile in captivity). The crocodile farm and nature park also houses rare birds of different colors as well as hawks, wildcats, snakes (including an 11-foot Indian python named Buloy), and monkeys.
• Marilog District, known for its rugged beauty, is a popular locale for agricultural and eco-tourism.  Located 4,200 ft. above sea level, it has lush ethereal forests and vegetation, amazing caves, waterfalls, rivers and mountain trails for the adventure travelers.   Baganihan Caves, located here, has huge chambers abounding with stalactites and stalagmites.  Small lakes can also be found inside.
• The Mt. Apo Science Foundation, in Brgy. Eden-Bayabas, Toril, is an Asia Foundation and University of Mindanao-supported college located 27 kms. from the city.  Its sprawling campus is located high and cool on the foot of the mountain and offers good birdwatching and a fine view of Mt. Apo.
• Nenita Stock Farm, in Marapangi, Toril District, is locally called Pork's Park.  Located 18 kms. from the city, this livestock farm, one of the biggest in the country, breeds pigs, cattle and racehorses on the lower slopes of Mt. Apo.  It also has fruit orchards, organic gardens and offers artificial insemination and hog raising lectures and seminars, horseback and trail riding, fishing and 4 x 4 offroad trailing.  Its Muslim-inspired Malayan House, built in the 1960s, has a panoramic view of the city, Davao Gulf, Mt. Apo and ramie/sorghum plantations. Visit by arrangement with DOT.  Davao City sales office: Damosa Complex, Lanang.   234-0582.   234-0581.  Manila sales office: 411 Quirino Ave. corner NAIA Road, Parañaque City.   833-3988.   (632) 833-6285.
• The 80-hectare Eden Nature Park and Resort, in Brgy. Eden-Bayabas, Toril, is located in the southern part of the city, 2,630 feet above sea level towards the foot of Mount Talomo.  It has towering pine and fruit-bearing trees, a cool climate plus a spectacular view of the city, Davao Gulf and beyond.  It also shelters a number of deer, monkeys and Indian peacocks.   299-1020, 296-0791 and 299-0313.  Fax: 299-0313.  E-mail: emri@skyinet.net.  Website: www.edennaturepark.com.      
• The sprawling Malagos Garden Resort, at Malagos in Baguio District, is nestled on rolling terrain 1,000 feet above sea level.  It has a butterfly sanctuary, natural lagoon, fishpond, a showcase of National Artist Napoleon Abueva's sculptural artworks (Abueva in the Gardens), tall durian trees and rare orchid garden.   Open 8am-5pm.   226-4341 & 560-5129.  Fax: 560-5128.  Davao City sales office: Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Bolcan St., Agdao.   295-0393, 221-1545 and 227-2288.  Fax: 221-1395.  Manila sales office: Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Scout Bayoran St., Quezon City.   (632) 924-2730, 929-9306 & 926-0159.   924-1271.
• Riverford Nature Park, located beside a river in Catalunan Grande, has picnic huts, flower graden, gazebo and rest rooms.   224-1835 and 227-1096.

Religious Sites

• The San Pedro Cathedral, built in 1847, has Islamic elements incorporated into its design.  The old altar, featuring antique images of St. Peter and different saints, is preserved at the cathedral's right wing.
• The Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague, at Matina Heights in Matina, is located six kms. west of the city.  It stands on a hill behind the Davao Memorial Park and contains an open-air chapel, the altars and replicas of sacred images from Prague and Fatima, restaurant, retreat house, seminar hall, pilgrim's hall, children's playground, canteen and souvenir shop.  To get there, take a 10-min. Matina-bound jeepney.
• Lon Wa Temple, along J.P. Cabaguio Ave., is located 3 kms. in the direction of the airport.  The biggest Buddhist temple in Mindanao, its gold, bronze and Italian marble altars, houses the Buddha with the Thousand Hands, a magnificent statue of the Buddha and his life depicted in wood carving.  A monk will read your fortune from slips of paper, determined by a numbered stick you draw from a container.  It is set amidst a landscape of candle trees and bamboo.

Parks

• Magsaysay Park Complex, along Sta. Ana Ave., is located near the wharf beside an authentic Muslim village with Badjao houseboats and suite houses.  It has an amphitheater, skating rink, children’s playground and restaurants and kiosks.  Tel: 221-7123 and 221-6279.
• Other parks within the city include Clifford Park (Roxas Ave., beside Marco Polo Hotel), Millennium Park (Roxas Ave., beside Ateneo de Davao University) and Rizal Park (San Pedro St., fronting City Library).

Orchids

• The city's year-round fair climate is conducive to the cultivation of orchids.  The rare, indigenous waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana), Davao's pride, the more common dendrobium and phalaenopsis and other hybrids like the colorful vanda, mokara and kagawara, are propagated in many orchid farms scattered across the countryside.  From April to September, the slopes of these farms are carpeted with these beautiful, fragile and exotic blooms.
• The five-hectare Greenhills Orchid Farms, at Yuhico Orchid Garden, at Catalunan Pequeño, is the biggest in the city.   299-1063 to 65.   At the back of Assumption School, along Bolcan St. in Agdao, is Puentespina Orchid Gardens.   295-0393, 221-1545 & 227-2288.  Fax: 221-1395.   Worldwide Derling Orchids, at 17 Olive Road, Bajada, is located 12 kms. southwest of the city.   221-3688, 221-3588, 221-6455 & 291-0770.  Other orchid farms include Chua's Orchid Garden (Rubia St., Mintal), Gumban's Orchids (Liceralde Village, Lanang), the Mindanao Federation of Cutflower and Plant Growers (Minflo Mart, Brgy. Pampanga, Sasa) and the two-hectare Sul Orchids (Luzviminda Village, Ma-a,  244-0653, 244-1229 & 293-0036).

Beaches
 

• Gray sand beaches are located two kms. from the city center.  Its length curves around the city's coastline.
• Talomo Beach, in Talomo, is located 8.5 kms. south of the city center.  It was the landing site of Japanese and American forces during World War II and sunken vessels, awaiting exploration, lie beneath its murky waters.   It has a number of resorts.
• Bago Aplaya Beach, located 12 kms. out, also has a number of resorts hugging its fine sandy shores.  Times Beach, in Matina, is located 4 kms. south.  It bustles with Sunday picnickers.
• Other beaches include Bonguyan Beach, Guino-o Beach (Sitio Binugao, Toril) and St. John's Beach (Sitio Binugao, Toril).

The Philippine Eagle

• Formerly called the monkey-eating eagle (now amended), the Philippine Eagle was first recorded by John Whitehead on a collecting expedition in 1896.  It is called manaol to the Cebuanos and Muslims, aguila to the Tagalogs and mamboobook or malamboogook to the Bagobos, Mandayas and Tagakaolos.  It stands one meter high, weighs an average of 4-7 kgs., has a 2-m. (6.5-ft.) wide wingspan and eyesight eight times that of a human, and has a powerful bill, strong legs and claws.    Its general body color is grayish brown on the back and wings, white at the front neck and belly and has shafts of gray brown streaked feathers on the head, which when erect, forms a crest.  Its raw meat menu includes flying lemurs, wild cats, flying squirrels (tapilak), snakes, chickens, bats and monkeys.
• Flying at speeds of 70 to 80 kms. per hour, one eagle claims and defends a 60 to 100 sq. km. territory and nests (a crude platform shaped by branches and twigs) are established approximately 80 feet atop the tallest peaks in the jungle or on high promontories overlooking a stream or river.  They breed between August and January, do high-soaring, acrobatic aerial courtship and mate in mid-air in or near the nest.   The female lays one egg every two years and both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days until it hatches.
• The eaglet fledges within 150 days and becomes independent at 18 months at which time the parents drive the juvenile out of their territory. It matures after six years.   There are only about 119 eagles today, 16 in captivity (14 in the center and two in the DENR office in Los Banos, Laguna), 96 in Mindanao, five in Aurora and the Sierra Madre Mountains and two in Samar.
• Due to illegal logging and irresponsible cutting of trees, the eagle has become endangered due to loss of habitat.  The private, non-profit Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. was organized in 1987 to save the eagle through captive breeding management, field research, community-based enterprise development and conservation education.   They set up the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve, at Malagos Gardens, Baguio District, near Calinan, 36 kms. northwest of the city.   224-3021.   224-3022.  Open daily, 8am-5pm.  This nature park, spread over a large forest preserve, is planted with different fruit-bearing trees and is home to 14 endangered Philippine eagles (Pithecophaga jeffreyi) as well as other indigenous birds (serpent eagles, Brahminy kites and cockatoos) and wildlife (tarsiers, wild deer, pythons).   To get there, take a 1-hr. drive or a jeep to Calinan from Bankerohan Market.  At Calinan Public Market, take a 30-min. (5-km.) tricycle ride to the center. You can also take a 45-min. air-con bus ride from Aldevinco Shopping Center.
• On January 1992, Pag-asa (meaning “hope”) was born, the first eagle to be bred in captivity.  A second eaglet, born five years later, was named Pagkakaisa (“unity”).  On February 23, 2000, another eaglet, Pangarap (“dream”) was born through artificial insemination.

 
Museums

• The Children's Museum, at the corner of Tulip Drive and R. Quimpo Blvd. in Matina, was designed for children to experience, explore and learn the world of modern technology.  It has a computer center, speech center, television and recording studio, library and resource center, mini-theater, mini botanical garden, souvenir shop and canteen.
• The Dabaw Museum, at Insular Village I, Lanang, is located next to the Insular Century Hotel Davao.  It features dioramas of the Mansaka and the Bagobo, photographs of the city's historic events and history of its pioneering families; ethnological maps, ethnic artifacts from the region's numerous tribes such as weaves, musical instruments, basketry, burial, wedding and war implements, souvenir shop and a gallery of paintings, sculptures and ceramics.  Open Mondays to Saturdays, 9am-5pm.   235-1876.
• The Davao Historical Society Museum, at Door No. 7, Magsaysay Complex, features the historical and indigenous collections of the Davao Historical Society such as ethnological artifacts, paintings of local artists and various memorabilia of Davao’s pioneering settlers.
• The Japanese Museum, in Calinan, 30 kms. southwest of the city center, is a repository of Japanese art and culture.  It features historical accounts of the Japanese community residing in Davao before and during the war including their tools which they used in the abaca plantations (including a vintage abaca stripping machine), currencies, publications, among others.
• The T'boli Weaving Center, formerly the Mandaya Weaving Center, is a traditional T'boli shelter located behind the Davao Insular Hotel.  It showcases the T'boli highland tribe's lifestyle. Here, women in colorful tribal attire demonstrate their traditional skills in dyeing dagmay (abaca fibers) with root and mud dyes, weaving native cloth (t’nalak) and decorating textiles with intricate figures and patterns depicting the folklore and religion of the tribe.   7-6061.
• Chemas By the Sea located along the Samal Islands facing Davao City, Chemas is about an hour and a half boat ride from the city proper. A popular destination, especially among the younger crowds of Davao, Chemas is a wonderful escape with white sand beaches and the amenities of a private resort. Eden Nature Park A very popular mountain resort located some 40 min away from the city center. It is situated 3000 ft above sea level, giving it a cool and moderate climate. It is 95% man made with pine trees dotting the landscape. It covers 40 hectares worth of developed land. Furukawa Plantation The abaca plantation in Daliao which was acquired from the Bagobos as a result of the Otha Public Land Act in 1903. (Toril) Japanese Tunnel A restaurant with a free entry to a tunnel that the Japanese created in the time of the Japanese Revolution. Malagos Garden Resort Waling-Waling] forest in the world. Mindanao Taoist Temple Houses the holy icons of the Taoist religion. (J.P. Cabaguio Ave.) Mintal Historical Marker A memorial to Col. Yamada who defended Mintal during the war. It is also the site of the visit of McArthur, Stillwel and Eichelberger. (Mintal) Mosques Islam is also one of the major religions in the city with several places of worships found in Bankerohan, Quezon Blvd., Panacan, Quimpo Blvd., among others. Old Japanese Houses The site of old Japanese homes, warehouses and abaca processing and drying plants before and during World War II. (Mintal, Tugbok District & Toril District) Ottha Kyosaburu Memorial Shrine A memorial obelisk built in honor of Otha Kyosaburu who invoked the Public Land Act No. 926 of 1903. (Mintal Elementary School) Uyanguren Landing Site The landing site of Don Jose Oyanguren y Cruz of Guipuzcoa, Spain, the Spanish conqueror who later became the Governor of Davao. (Rodriguez Park, Quezon Blvd.) San Pedro Cathedral One of the oldest churches in Mindanao, the original structure of the church was built in 1847 in honor of St. Peter, the city's patron saint. The old altar is preserved at the right wing of the cathedral. (San Pedro St.). It is the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Davao. St. Mary of Perpetual Rosary A shrine built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary which features series of steps which leads to the main chapel. (Buhangin District) Talomo Beach Sunken warships during the Second World War can be found just 200 meters from the shore. (Talomo District) Pearl Farm Beach Resort
• Philippine Eagle Center home to the Philippines' national bird. The Philippine Eagle (previously named Monkey Eating Eagle), is believed to be the largest eagle in the World (although the Harpy Eagle also claims this title). The center is a captive-breeding facility designed to help increase the eagle's number, thereby avoiding extinction. It is located in Malagos, a 45 min drive from the city center. Aside from being a temporary home for the eagles, it also hosts other animals that are native to Davao's dwindling forest. Paradise Island and Beach Resort A very popular white sand beach resort located in Samal Island. It is a 5 min boat ride away from its drop off point at Lanang. Aside from its unspoiled waters, it also has a zoo as an added attraction. By putting sand in the water, the color pink will be visible. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Obrero Popularly known as the Chinese Parish in Davao. Its unique architectural structure can easily be seen with Google Earth. Also, it's interior is unique. The ground floor is a chapel. The upper floor is the church interior.

•  Brgy. Kapatagan, located 1,200 m. above sea level at Mt. Apo National Park, has a hot spring and provides beautiful scenery of winding roads and wide plantations.
• The two-tiered Bacoco Falls, a 45-min. hike inside a rainforest from here, is set against a sheer cliff framed by trees.
• Napan Falls, in Brgy. Goma, is a 30-min. ride from the city.
• The secluded Virgin Falls is an east 10-15-min. hike.  Also within the city are Dulangan Cascading Falls and Mahilak Falls.       
• Sinawilan Hot Springs, in Brgy. Sinawilan, is located 4 kms. from the city and is nestled within virgin forests and winding roads.  
• The city’s Seven Hills are also ideal for mountain climbing. Marawer Hot Springs, located 5 kms. from Brgy. Kapatagan and 400 m. downstream from the road, can be reached by motorcycle.  Here, steaming water gushes out from a hill.
• Other places of interest within the vicinity of the city include the Badiang Mat Weavers Village and Lumayan Springs.

• Kepiya Falls, in Brgy. Lawa, was derived from a B’laan word meaning “beautiful.”  It has seven tiers of cascading waters.  The falls is a 20-25-min. hike through forests.
• Banag Falls, in Brgy. Dalupan, can be accessed via a motorcycle ride up to a certain portion followed by a 1-hr. hike through a forest.
• The 100-m. high Mt. Sumadel is famous for its contour of a naked lady lying down (“babaeng nakahiga’t nakahubad”).
• Mt. Pispis, a municipal forest reservation area, is home to deer, monkeys and wild boar.  
• The town has alluring fine, white sand beaches.  Bulata White Beach, located 1 km. from the town proper, has ivory-colored sand and crystal-clear, turquoise waters.  Windy Tuwang White Beach, in Brgy. Calian, 23 kms. from the town proper, is ideal for windsurfing and scuba diving.  
• The Migdolog Shrine, at Brgy. Talagutong, has an image of the Virgin Mary.  Accessible by climbing a 100-step stairway, devotees flock here during Holy Week to offer psalms and pay homage.