60
DELIGHTFUL DAVAO
the past year alone, including a dim
sum joint, an Italian eatery and an
upscale pâtisserie.
While the food scene appears to be
thriving, at the moment culture isn’t
among the city’s strong points. Still,
there are pockets of promise that
suggest more might be revealed if I had
a fewmore days to spare. Then I could
find out what’s on offer beyond live-
music spaces like Sales Bar in quiet
Chinatown, a graffiti-ed refuge for rock
bands and iPod battlers, Soundbox Bar,
a music and revue space that keeps the
party crowd happy, and modest indie
cinema Cinematheque Davao.
And while at the moment the city
lacks a major performance space,
I suspect there’s no shortage of
performers waiting in the wings for a
proper venue. One night I see a talented
dance troupe practicing by a roadside
shopfront, likely for lack of anywhere
else to bust their moves. And these
are proper, energetic moves — a mix
of choreographed hip-hop and easy
freestyling that seems to capture
some of the city’s upbeat spirit.
Ahead of my visit, I’d expected
a city far more straight-laced and
restrictive than the one I end up
discovering. I come away with one
abiding impression — that Davao’s
defining characteristic isn’t on-edge
obeisance, but a far more relaxed
contentment. Davao’s benign climate
and ambience mean that it always
feels like summertime — and yes, the
living here is undeniably easy.
“Relax. Explore. Repeat”? Thanks,
don’t mind if I do.
DAVAO
DIRECTORY
VISIT
Paradise Island Beach Resort
,
Samal Island, tel: +82 233 0251;
paradiseislanddavao.com
Eden Nature Park & Resort
,
Toril Barangay Rd, Toril, tel: +82
296 0791
Malagos Garden Resort
,
Calinan-Baguio Rd
STAY
Seda Abreeza Hotel
, JP Laurel
Ave, Bajada, Davao City, tel: +82
244 3000/322 8888; sedahotels.
com/abreeza
Apo View Hotel
, 150 J Camus
St, Davao City, tel: +82 221 6430;
apoview.com
Clockwise from above: A leisurely Sunday by the
Davao Gulf; artwork by Ann Pamintuan at the
Seda Abreeza Hotel; the hotel’s lobby restaurant
serves fresh tropical fruit juices made from local
produce; baked goods and a fresh salad at the Sea
Green Café
PHOTOS BY JOREM CATILO
