First Cruise Ship to Dock in Davao

This city will welcome the first cruise ship to dock on March 30, 2012, carrying 371 French nationals to visit Davao City.

It is the NDS Voyages Princess Danae from France. It will dock after visiting Papua New Guinea. The French nationals as soon as they arrive on the 30th of March will be toured in selected tourist destinations in the city. The Department of Tourism also allotted a budget to show them around. 

Visitors then will be brought to Davao's newest and largest park, the "People's Park, and a personal encounter with the eagles at the Philippine Eagle.

Other areas where the visitors are set to visit are Davao's shopping havens like Aldevinco and the newest mall in the city, Abreeza. Princess Danae passengers are given an entire day to tour around the city. They will also set foot in Cebu and Manila as part of the regular stop overs.

Hopefully. Princess Danae will be the part of more cruise ships to include Davao in their destinations.

USEP Launches Campus Tree Planting Project

A tree planting activity inside the six-hectare campus of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City (where I am also teaching since 4 years), kicked off the launch of the university's sustainable campus project last February 14, 2012. The project is in partnership with the international environmental group Greenpeace.

The launch, highlighted by a forum on energy conservation and efficiency, was participated in by the USEP administrators and employees headed by USEP President Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin., and some students led by the Obrero Campus Student Council.

Alibin said that the program is really essential and timely nowadays. He mentioned the recent calamities that happened in different parts of the Philippines as well as the flodding in Davao City, that even didn't spare the USEP Obrero campus.

The administration led by Dr. Alibin signified their commitment to the program by affixing heir signature in the freedom tarp that bears the challenging questions and statement: "Do you love our Mother Earth? What can USEP do? Conserve energy?"

The project bears the Philippine slogan "Simple lang". "Simple lang - unplug!" "Simple lang - switch off!" "Simple lang - light up efficiently!"