HOLIDAZED: body, mind and soul!

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I think this is the best holidazed I’ve ever had for years! 

Aside from just total relaxation and rejuvenation (I specifically avoided all forms of night lifes and all those freaky stuff  where you treat your body not as a temple or botanical garden but more of recreational park …   and so instead I gorged myself with all native foods including durian, mangoes, young fresh coconuts, fresh lumpia, and banana Qs.  To tough it all, I ate rice three times a day!  I did not really mind gaining some more kilos – as I thought this is only equivalent to a one week’s diet, or not eating at all (for sure:)) 

I concentrated my energies to the following body and parts repairs and services which are all cheap and comparably good in Davao:

Teeth – all craps and holes and possible dents were filled in by a schoolmate in highschool (now he is a successful ortho with 3 kids!) , polished and whitened 

Eyes – got some new glasses and colored contact lenses (buy one take one free!)

Body – massage (hilot) and other pamperings (hair, nails, facials, etc from David Salon)

But the best I got was this – - – > LAZULI SPA of Davao’s Marco Polo Hotel

For P2,000 peysos only, you can have the following:

- Lazuli Diet Tea

- Three hours of pampering -> sauna/spa, body scrub, oriental massage

- Ground Coffee beans and chocolate (for scrub) with peppermint oil (for massage)

This is highly recommended.  The girl who did the massage was very well trained in the arts of spa and pampering.  (They were all girls – if there was a boy attendant, I would have opted for one.)   But it did not really matter since the girl was really lovely and she kept on calling me Madam, although I asked her to call me just Miss J !!!  The whole process was very relaxing – and I totally surrendered to the gentle hands of this girl – who was very professional and knew and respected the boundaries of their clients.  Awesome !!!

After the almost 4 hours of spa and relaxations, I felt soooo rejuvenated and ready to face this cruel world again   Charroots!

 

 

HOLIDAZE: madayaw dabaw !!!

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(Fruits and flowers of Davao showcased in Marco Polo Hotel)

 

“Madayaw” – is a Davao word that means Welcome!  

“Madayaw Dabaw” -  Welcome to Dabaw!

August is the Kadayawan festival.  A big celebration of the culture, beauty, and nature in Davao and the Mindanao island.  And for me who has been away for awhile, it was time to get re-acquainted again with the sights, sounds and smell of Davao city.  

Despite the searing heat, I made it walking to Claveria and San Pedro Streets, where the Indak-indak festival (Mardi Gras) featuring more than 30 tribes of Davao (such as the Bagobo, Mandaya, Manobo, Tiboli, Mansaka, and B’laan) made indak-indak (tribe dancing on the streets) in their festive costumes.

True to nature, very red and colorful, the atmosphere was !!!  

And compared to Melbourne, where people generally use only black and drabby looking umbrellas, Davao is indeed a colorful paradise!

I think this is the Bagobo tribe … not sure!  But these tribe girls were fierceful looking, just like their counterpart vogue models !!!

The Indak indak converge infront of the city hall.  Booths were created for the different tribes – where real tribesmen and women showcased their culture and traditions, and of course displayed and sold their crafts.  I just love this cultural thingy !!!  Very gay earthly indeed!

I think these are the Maranaos.  They are known for their beautifully colored Vintas and umbrellas!  I made sure to buy one of those colorful umbrellas (with beads) from Aldevinco Shopping Center before I go home!

I just wished talaga that I was in my drag costume !!! I have never been carried on in those colorful bamboo stilts!  These guys were just amazing!

The indak indak presentations was a contest.  The participants were mostly students from all over Mindanao.  It was a whole day affair that started early and ended late at night.  Some of the participants were as young as 8 or 9 and they were walking on the hot coal streets barefooted.  Cold water were thrown on the streets to make it bearable.  Can you imagine ???

 

 

With all these people and with very tight security,  me and my adapted sister (who was also on holidazed) were so lucky to get into the front stage where you could really see the performances.   All I needed was to use my natural l’oreal charms with these hoty guys … in uniform!

  

 

O divahhhhh !!!  Wagi si papa !!  Tight securities thalagah!  Kakaenjoy! With all these giyera patanis going in some places kasih, they have to make sure everything is peaceful during the celebrations … which went successfully naman.   Thanks to these guysss … they made sure maligaya ang lahat.

Kaya lang super init talaga.  Gusto kong maghubad! But then, baka biglang magkagulo … at magkaruon ng stampede sa stage    Just like the wha-wha-wheeee…  

Buti na lang maraming young coconut juice around … drink na lang ako ng drink … I just loveeeee it !!! 

But this is really my favorite … of all time!  Banana Q !!!! Siguro, I have eaten three tuhogs, and could not get enough of it !   So yummy talaga .. nothing compares to the Banana Q.   With the banana Q alone, the trip to Davao is worth it na, kahit wala pang Papa!  Anetcchh !!!

 

Nothing compares to your native land talagah, when it comes to holidazed … You feel sooo at home and welcome … Feeling reyna ka talaga just like this girl … the local Miss Kadayawan 2008! 

 

So Dabaw … Madayaw !!!

HOLIDAZE: re-konek-shun

 

It is always good to be HOME! 

After three years of long distance calls and photos, I see Davao again.  Everything seems to be the same and different.  

Davao City (my birthplace) and Tagum (where we live), have undergone tremendous development in a span of three years.   It has really caught up with the other metro cities like Manila and Cebu – but hopefully in a better way.   One thing very noticeable is the effort towards tourism.  I love the different types of palm trees along the roads and highways of Tagum and the grooming they get.  One can also see the efforts for garbage disposal and cleanliness especially in the public areas.  

And though I have left and returned home again a lot of times before,  this visit seems to be different.   I see things in a more mature perspective.   Instead of leaving the country permanently, I can see myself retiring here, drawn back here …  a nice house along the beach would be nice.  Swimming everyday on a warm salty water and afterwards eating banana que and young fresh coconut is my simple and ultimate idea of a retirement!

Despite the poverty, chaos, and the political instability, I feel so much at HOME.  And being at home is a million dollar feeling that no amount of money can buy. 

In 21 days, I started a reconnection process with my old friends, neighbors, relatives, classmates -  – - and it is liberating to introduce my new fabulous yet visayan self!

Yes, it was good to be HOME again!

 

DIVA DAVAO DAVA!!! …. VIVA!

Davao is home

to fabulous island beaches and resorts

 

the Philippine Eagle, Waling-waling and Durian

 

 the Kadayawan Festival

 

The Filipina smile …

 

The truly exotic Filipina beauty … (this girl I think is one of the contestants in the recently concluded Mutya ng Dabaw)

 

And MIss Gay University – Ateneo De Davao’s - Annual Gay Beauty Pageant.  (O divah!  Davao produces a lot of talented and pretty gay guys, like moi )  

 

After almost three years, I am going HOME again to DAVAO !!!

August will be the month for the Kadayawan Festival and the peak season for fruits like Durian, Lanzones and Marang.   Time to get some tan in those beautiful hot sea water and white beaches.

 

(Photos courtesy of Davao Blogs and Paul Borromeo.  I just discovered these beautiful photos of Paul, a Davao based Photographer, in his Flickr account – click into this for more of his works. )

 

PEARL FARM STORY

I was born and grew up in Davao and heard a lot about the Pearl Farm – a very catchy name for a resort in Samal Island which is now famous worldwide. But really, I have never been there since now.

The reason why I haven’t been there, is that I always know for a fact that as a tourist resort, to visit the place would cost a lot of money. Being a local myself, I know a lot of places – private beaches and resorts – that are “almost” free of charge and really satisfy my simple Davaweno tastes. Well, going to beaches – we do with family and friends on special and not so special occasions – purely enjoying the sun, the sands, and the tropical sea waters on a clear day. Just nature, family, food and friends. And those memories are really priceless.

Pearl Farm – is another experience. Being a tourist destination – it showcases the best and the refined tastes of a Davaweno (local). Owned by the Floreindos – one of the oldest business stalwarts of Davao, the resort which is named after a flourishing pearl farm that existed in the area in the 60’s is now a five star beach resort managed by a worldwide hotel chain.

We (my parents, my sister and her two sons ), took a roughly 2 hour speedy boat from the city’s Insular Hotel early in the morning and arrived in the resort’s Parola dock. What immediately attracted us was the clear blue waters teeming with millions of beautiful fishes against these colourful corals right on the dockyard. We realized that the whole area is a national fish sanctuary and fishing is illegal within the vicinity. Well, these are your really expensive aquarium fishes – - – species of clown fishes mostly, and Biboy, my nephew said that these were Nemo’s family. Later on, we realized that once the guest boat arrives, the staff feeds the fishes so the guests are also greeted by these wonderful sight upon arrival.

Photos, photos and photos…. And then we were taken by another boat to a smaller island where we would be staying. It is called Malipano Island – which is just ten minutes away. A more private resort with only 8 special villas. Each of these villas are owned by the sons and daughters of the Floriendos and we actually stayed in Villa 1 which is owned by Margie Moran Floriendo, former Miss Universe. They usually closed the whole island from public use during their family retreats in New Year and Christmas season.

All I could say is that the villa we stayed in was amazingly splendid! Aside from being so huge – one big masters bedroom with ensuite, 2 guest rooms and a deck room, open plan living area with 360 degrees view of the ocean.

On that day, we shared the private beach with Dawn Zulueta and the Floreindo family while they had a special banquet organized for lunch. I was really stunned to see Dawn with her baby and she looked really pretty although she gained a little bit of weight. Ohhh, the rich and the famous and the very special treatment they have from the people. Could you imagine she was walking on the beach with her baby with a staff holding up an umbrella! What a sight. Very interesting.

Now I could really use the words “pristine white beaches” without batting an eyelash. And since there were just very few people around the island aside from the staff, I could also say the word very very private and clean. I don’t want to leave!!!

If you love the harmony of nature and resort living – almost Balinisque and zenlike in a distinct Filipino atmosphere, then this is the place.

You could also do a lot of things – snorkelling, diving, jetskiing, island hopping, etc. Food is first class buffet, and you could have it delivered wherever you are or set up wherever you want it. The staff are very friendly and well trained as well.

And the best thing is that we got the local rates as well which is half that of international pricing.

On the second day, we moved to the main island of Samal and stayed on one of the Samal houses.

The resort’s Samal Houses are patterned after the stilt houses of seafaring Samal tribes of the Sulu archipelago. By day, schools of tiny fish frolic between the sturdy poles that support the houses. At night, the sound of the waves are a soothing aid to slumber.

I definitely wanna go back !!!