Reasons why Davao City is the top PH destination

 

The best way to love this southern city is to experience it

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published May 17, 2026 10:56 am

At A Glance

• Davao City's offerings for leisure, high-adrenaline adventures, foodie escapades, M.I.C.E., and even business opportunities are vast.
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By Jinggoy I. Salvador

Have a rare encounter with a Philippine eagle, the Philippine National Bird; dare a vertical challenge up magnificent Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak; marvel in the dazzling hues of the Waling-waling orchids, the Queen of Philippine Orchids; feast on the exotic durian, the King of Philippine fruits; dance on the streets with the 11 ethnolinguistic tribes at the Kadayawan Festival, the “King of Festivals"; and frolic on white sand and blue waters by a famed parola of a world-class beach resort. Their images are deemed iconic, lending their pageantry to the country’s tourism collaterals and destination glossies. If these are on your bucket list, then your travel compass is pointing you south of the archipelago, to the most progressive and vibrant metropolis in Mindanao—Davao City.

RICH CULTURE Get to know the 11 ethnolinguistic tribes of Davao at the Kadayawan Village during the Kadayawan

Davao City’s offerings for leisure, high-adrenaline adventures, foodie escapades, MICE, and even business opportunities are vast. Destinations, food, accommodations, and land arrangements: There is something for everyone, from the islands to the highlands, north to south, from budget-friendly to luxurious and everything in between.

NIGHT LIFE Visiting, living, working, or investing, Davao is consistently ranked No. 1 in the Philippines by varied institutions

Drop off your bags and freshen up in your choice of hotel. Aria Residences and Hotel is the newest hotel to add to the hundreds of room keys in Davao’s growing hospitality landscape. There’s the DusitD2, Seda Abreeza, Park Inn by Radisson Davao, and Waterfront Insular Davao as choices in the same category, but affordable accommodations, like Rogen Inn and Blue Lotus Hotel, and budget hotels come aplenty.

CULTURAL HOT SPOT Art uniquely Davao. The National Museum of the Philippines-Davao building is inspired by the durian fruit. (Photo: NMP Davao)

Start ticking off a relaxing art and cultural tour at the People’s Park and the National Museum of the Philippines-Davao, the Museo Dabawenyo, and the Davao Museum of History and Ethnography. A quick stopover at the site of old Davao, anchored by San Pedro Street, the oldest street dating back to the early Spanish settlement, where Davao City Hall, San Pedro Cathedral, Osmeña Park, D’Bone Collector Museum, and the Crocodile Park are amazing stops for both adults and kids, too.

Take a scenic drive through the new Coastal Road to cut travel time significantly to your high-altitude, eco-destinations in the South: the Philippine Eagle Center to see the majestic birds up close and witness the center’s conservation efforts to save the endangered species; Malagos Garden Resort, which also houses the Chocolate Museum, displaying the tree-to-bar process and products that earned global recognition and awards; and Eden Nature Park for thrilling “elevated” outdoor fun like sky cycling.

HAVE A TASTE The durian, pomelo, mangosteen, and other tropical fruits are bountiful and cheap in Davao.

August is a good time to visit. It’s the season when Mt. Apo is seen the clearest, showing off a spectacle of blooms; tropical fruits in season—durian, pomelo, mangosteen, marang, and more—overflow to the streetside; and the 11 tribes of Davao (five Lumad and six Muslim tribes) gather with the locals for the Kadayawan Festival. More than a cultural event, the festival celebrates Davao’s triumph in unity, friendship, and peaceful coexistence between Christians, Muslims, and Lumads.

SUNDOWN MADNESS Feast on the street food at the Roxas Night Market

Hungry? Davao City is Mindanao’s gastronomic paradise, and the cuisine is getting more exciting. New flavors are getting the nods of the locals and adding them to their lists along with old-time favorites. Sate the craving at Leon’s Lounge for the award-winning cheeses of Malagos Farmhouse; Harana for grilled fare; the Roxas Night Market for street food; Dencia’s for comfort food; Tiny Kitchen for Spanish; Yellow Fin for seafood; Tadakuma and Akiko for Japanese; Ah Fat for Chinese; Butcher’s Table and Fat Cow for steaks; and Clean Café for plant-based picks; Dulce Vita, Dolce Desserts, and Grateful Bread for pastries and breads.

Old villages like Obrero and Juna Subdivision have turned into coffee culture and dining haunts, and Purge Coffee Roasters, &Matcha, Hid'n, and Stash Coffee Co. are among the favorites.

INDIGENOUS EATS Lumad cuisines, like Nilutlot na manok sa gata, are a must-try

Been there, done that? But have you gone on a palengke tour? The Bankerohan Market Experience is a roughing-it shop-and-eat experience like no other. There's also the Food Crawl, a flavorful journey of heritage recipes by homegrown restos; Furusato Davao, which explores the historical footprint of the Japanese community in Davao; and Abundant Harvest, a unique agritourism tour of the city’s finest agri-treasures, including durian, cacao, chocolates, and cheeses.

Go farther. Davao City is a gateway to more postcard-perfect destinations. A quick boat ride away is Samal Island in Davao del Norte, an island paradise that holds a tableau of inland, shoreline, and offshore attractions. The Hagimit Falls and the Monfort Bat Sanctuary are popular inland must-visit sites. Off the coastline, go on an underwater biodiversity exploration at the Taclobo (giant clam) Sanctuary, Coral Garden and Marine Reservation Park, Isla Reta, Mansud Wall, Angel‘s Cove, and Aundanao Fish Sanctuary. While on your island tour, do stop at the Vanishing Island and the Wishing Island and take a dive off the Sabang Cliff.

CHILL LIFE The iconic parola of the world-class Samal Island destination, Pearl Farm Beach Resort

After a full day under the sun, lounge on the white sand under the star-filled skies in a beach resort on the island. Paradise Island Beach Resort is one of the most popular among the array of highly regarded, affordable beach resorts. If you want to go extravagant, head to the Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Mindanao’s first luxury resort, a heritage-rich architectural landmark. Two other resorts join the high-end category—Discovery Samal and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort on Kopiat Island, Davao de Oro.

SOARING SITE The new highland destination of Brgy Baganihan in BuDa rose in popularity during the pandemic

The pandemic put the spotlight on the scenic highland of BuDa—and it never dimmed. There’s a regular exodus of “heat escapists” and foodies to the mountain resorts in the sea of clouds and to dining spots like Pilgrim. Cross over to Bukidnon and pick fresh strawberries (and go glamping) at Taglucop Strawberry Hills.

In Davao del Sur, go whitewater rafting and spend the night in any of Kapatagan's mountain resorts. Towards Davao Oriental, check out the Aliwagwag Falls, the scenic Sleeping Dinosaur viewpoint, and the surfer’s paradise of Dahican Beach.

MAJESTIC BIRDY Have a rare encounter with Philippine Eagle Sinag and other raptors at the Philippine Eagle Center

To love Davao is to experience it firsthand. There is genuine warmth and friendliness from locals, and these are the visitors' impressions, along with how clean the city is.

Safety and discipline are ingrained in Davao City’s culture; political will made that happen and has been successfully in place for decades. For its strict local ordinances and low crime indices, Davao City is frequently listed as one of the top three safest cities in the Southeast Asian region by Numbeo (crowdsourced database), Global Residence Index, and Gallup Global Safety Report. Worth mentioning is that Davao has the first integrated emergency response system in the Philippines and is the pioneer in the anti-smoking ordinance, among others.

Tourism-wise, for the second year, the 2026 World Travel Index (WTI) ranks Davao City #1 in the Philippines for Travel by Experience (“leading in safety, affordability, and infrastructure”). The report highlights Davao's unique blend of urban, natural, and cultural experiences. The city also took the top spot in 2025.

TASTE OF THE HIGH LIFE The culinary scene in Davao is getting more exciting by the day. Hummus has never looked and tasted so good at the Rhapsody of Aria Hotel

To whom does Davao City attribute these recognitions?

Resource people say it’s a collective effort of all sectors involved. The relationship between the private sector and the Local Government Unit (LGU) is quite unique in Davao. Working together and meeting on a regular basis, the sectors make sure goals are aligned and on track, with Davao City and its citizens' quality of life at the top of mind. Ultimately, just like any business venture, be it from the tourism, corporate, or investment sector, it’s the numbers that matter. And, in all discussions and programs, the safety and security division plays an integral part.

Believe it or not, earning accolades has never been the aim of the stakeholders, nor has it been an objective. They consider these bonuses for everyone's hard work and as indications that the programs are on the right track. It motivates the stakeholders to do better and be more creative.

Anyone’s apprehensions about Davao City will dissipate the moment they step on the Durianburg soil. The negative perceptions of the city will change to positive ones. Perhaps another recognition can enlighten? CEOWORLD Magazine ranked Davao City as the #1 in the Philippines for living, working, and investing for the 2025-2026 period.

Truly, the best way to fall in love with Davao City is to experience it. Find out why the locals and returning visitors say, “Davao life is here.”

Continuing Jesus' mission

 

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published May 17, 2026 12:05 am | Updated May 16, 2026 04:23 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

After bringing salvation to humanity by offering his life on the cross, Jesus ascends into heaven to share in the glory of the Father. His mission successfully accomplished, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from the disciples’ sight (First Reading). Did he leave them to manage on their own? Does he tell the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, “Now, you take charge”?

Today’s Gospel shows us that Jesus does not sever his involvement with humanity when he ascends into heaven. In fact, Matthew, even if he knows that Jesus has gone to the sphere and glory of God, does not describe the actual, visible event. Rather, he emphasizes the presence of Jesus, albeit no longer in a spatial and temporal order, as when he was preaching the Gospel.

The risen Savior opens a new chapter when he commissions the eleven apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (v 19). In effect, he calls on each one of us to baptize and teach those who will believe in him through our word. He counts on us all to continue the evangelization that he himself began. This is confirmed by his final words of assurance to his disciples: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (v 20).

The mission is not to be narrowly interpreted in terms of proselytizing or catechetical work. While these are important, Jesus puts more emphasis on observing “all that I have commanded you” (v 20). He refers to his teaching when he walked among us, which can be summed up as love of God and love of neighbor.

Sadly, Jesus’ teaching is slowly being forgotten in this highly consumeristic age. One’s innate goodness now matters less than one’s possessions. In their desire for upward mobility, both the young and the old gladly step over others to get to where they want to be. The popular notion of success is dictated to a large extent by a consumeristic culture that puts a premium on material possessions rather than on spiritual values.

Jesus’ teachings must be restored to its rightful place in the hearts of men and women if we do not want to be ruled by consumer monsters. Three revered institutions—the Church, the school, and the family—should seize the initiative and reassert their primacy over the digital media which now dictate what people think, believe, and feel.

In celebrating World Communications Day, the Church acknowledges the role that modern technology plays in spreading the Good News. At the same time, the Church enjoins the faithful to be vigilant against the misuse of technology by forces of evil. Amid confusion and temptation, may the words of Jesus strengthen us: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (v 20).

Gospel • Mt 28:16:20

The Eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

When a house is a home

 

By Philip Cu Unjieng

Published May 15, 2026 11:43 pm

As this is the third in the concert series of Ryan Cayabyab’s MaestroClass at the Proscenium Theater; it’s no stretch of the imagination to dub the Theater as Ryan’s house.

It all started last November, we had the second in February, and the third is ongoing, from May 15 to 17. And just trust me, if you still have a chance to catch the May 17th leg, don’t let the opportunity pass by. It’s like entering a house of music, and discovering you’re home.

Titled, "What’s It All About," the concert celebrates the music and songs of the late Burt Bacharach, who passed away in 2023. Special guests of National Artist Ryan Cayabyab for this concert are Bituin Escalante, Gigi de Lana, Jett Pangan, and Sofronio Vasquez. Not only are they all powerhouse voices, but they interpret the songs of Burt, and the lyrics of Hal David, with such emotion, texture, and depth.

National Artist Ryan Cayabyab after the concert, with his sister-in-law, Bella, and wife, Emmy.

And you don’t have to be my age to know and love the songs of Burt Bacharach. They’re played to this day, young artists have their own cover versions, they’re revived in the soundtracks of today’s films, and they just hang around in the ether - with those of a younger generation just knowing the tunes, often times without realizing they were penned by Bacharach.

The movie themes of Bacharach include those of "Butch Cassisdy & the Sundance Kid," and "Arthur"; and then you have his eternal muse, Dionne Warwick, and the songs we associate with her. A wonderful selection of these tunes became part of the evening’s playlist. The audience loved the songs, singing along without a need for the lyrics to be flashed on a screen.

Gigi de Lana

One suite of songs, Ryan introduced as the neurotic love songs that Burt popularized and these interpretation brought the house down. There was Bito’s "One Less Bell to Answer," Gigi and her "A House Is Not A Home," Sofronio’s "The Look Of Love" - also a theme song as it comes from the James Bond film, "Casino Royale." And then there was Jett with his rendition of "God Give Me Strength," the famous ballad that was written by Bacharach with Elvis Costello; and was covered by Bette Midler.

Bituin Escalante

Jett Pangan with your author

Other highlights for me include the duet of Gigi and Jett of "I’ll Never Fall in Love Again," and Gigi’s solo version of "This Guy’s In Love With You." Jett’s "Alfie" was a stand out, and the four on "What The World Needs Now," and "That’s What Friends Are For," will echo through the night as you leave the theater.

This concert series has been about creating a string sense of community, with the performers on the stage and the audience bonding, and making the theater a virtual home for everyone. Don’t miss out!

Despite the heavy drama of our life

 By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WE should stick firmly to what Christ assured his disciples, and now us. Considering that our life here on earth is often referred to as a “vale of tears,” let’s avoid over-reacting to the heavy drama that we can expect in this life.

Let’s relish these words of our Lord: “In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) Yes, our life here on earth is actually just transitory. It is a difficult journey toward our definitive destination. But there is always hope of reaching a better place, that is heaven, in the end.

We have to learn to have confidence in God’s loving providence over us by always strengthening our faith and referring everything in our life to him who knows how to derive good from evil.

Our sense of confidence should spring from a faith that gives us the ultimate meaning and proper direction to all our human knowledge and endeavors. It is what gives the original perspective to all events, good or bad, in our life. Otherwise, we would end up confused and lost.

We also need to make our faith grow to cope with the multiplying infranatural consequences of our human condition that is weakened by sin. There’s no other way to manage and survive the consequences of sin, ours and those of others, personal as well as the collective and structural, than by relying first of all on our faith. Without faith, we will find no exit, no relief from this wounded status of ours.

That’s why St. Paul said: “Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Eph 6,16) Faith holds pride of place in our armory to wage that lifelong battle with our wounded flesh, the temptations of the world, and the tricks of the devil.

Without faith, we would be easy prey to these enemies of our soul. Without it, we most likely would be filled with fear and anxiety, if not sadness and desperation. Faith unites us to the tremendous power of God over any kind of evil, self-inflicted or caused by others.

There’s no way we can achieve our ultimate goal without faith. With God, we have everything. As St. Teresa de Avila would put it: “Solo Dios basta!” (God alone is enough!)

And so, there’s really no reason to be too worried and anxious when we encounter some difficulty in our life. In fact, we have every reason to be confident and at peace, focused on what we are supposed to do. And that’s because we are always in God’s hands.

Whatever situation we may be in, we can be sure that God will always provide for what is truly needed by us, and it may not be what we want. We just have to trust him completely for he knows better than we do, and what we want may not be what we need. It may not even be what is good for us.

Yes, there will always be challenges, problems, difficulties that humanly speaking may be impossible for us to tackle. But as long as we have trust in God, we can sincerely echo St. Paul’s words: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4,13) These words have been verified to be true in the lives of all the saints, especially the martyrs.

It’s important that we be confident and at peace always, because that would put us in the proper condition to do the things we are supposed to do. It will make us bold and courageous, fruitful and productive.

OUR BREAKING POINT IN LIFE

By

 Mindanao Daily News

 -

May 16, 2026

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A breaking point is the critical threshold where prolonged stress, emotional strain, or exhaustion outpaces your ability to cope. It is not a failure, but rather a warning sign from your mind and body that your current situation or way of carrying the load is no longer sustainable.

A breaking point is a moment of greatest strain. Interestingly enough, the breaking points are the moments in which we need to stay calmer. Research shows that trying to control every event increases our stress.

A breaking point is a moment of stress in which we break down — it feels like you are never going to get back up again. We are more than under pressure — the situation becomes critical for our survival. Everyone faces a breaking point — we all get there in distinct ways.

A breakeven point is when total costs and total revenue are equal. It’s the sales level you need to reach to cover all of your costs. Your business cannot be profitable until it has reached this point.

When I hear the word breaking point I usually think that it’s like a bomb that could explode. For me, to be in my breaking point is the state of being exhausted in everything. Thinking that it’s time to end something… Most people think that when we say we are in our breaking point it’s easy to come up with a negative idea yet sometimes breaking point is not only to end something because you are exhausted, we can revise it in a positive thinking like breaking point can be a new beginning for us to be able to begin a new life with a weapon and that is our learning from our breaking point.

In human psychology, the breaking point is a moment of stress at which a person breaks down and is unable to cope with it. This obviously varies from individual to individual.

I got my first breaking point as a German expatriate in the Philippines as a result of culture shocks. This was a long time ago and very much different from today’s situation.  Meanwhile I have been living here smooth and sound for several years.

Nowadays, many people are  experiencing mood changes. Indeed, the emotional effects of stress can have a serious impact on your day-to-day mood and mental health. Firstly, you may find that you’re feeling more irritated or pessimistic than usual. This mood change can then begin to affect your motivation to work, socialise with your loved ones or complete the things on your to-do list. If left unchecked, these feelings can threaten to completely overwhelm you, leaving you feeling apathetic, depressed, frustrated, panicky or trapped.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “How do I fix my relationship?,” you may already be at a breaking point. A breaking point is when an argument or disagreement starts to become invasive in your life. Is it impacting your other relationships? Is it impacting your work? Is it impacting your health?

A lot of people around me can’t seem to focus or concentrate properly. If you’re battling to concentrate, keep focused or remember certain things, this is a good indication that you’re feeling the effects of anxiety. These changes in thinking and memory (also known as “brain fog”) can occur when you’re trying to manage several stressful situations at once, which can make you confused and forgetful. These situations may include demanding jobs or emotionally-taxing tasks. Unregulated emotional exhaustion can really impact your attention, executive functioning (organizing and planning), and memory.

A lot of people are expressing  difficulty with personal relationships. You’ll often notice emotional exhaustion from prolonged stress manifesting in your relationship and your capacity to connect with your family on a meaningful emotional level. You may find yourself picking fights over small things, feeling angry at or unsatisfied with your partner or being overly judgemental. Tension in your close relationships can cause you to feel anxious, detached, and withdrawn which can make it difficult to ask for emotional support when you need it or be there for those you love.

Low self-esteem is being reported a lot these days. If lately you’ve found your mind overwhelmed with negative thoughts, you’ve probably also noticed their impact on how you view yourself. Perhaps you’re feeling more cynical and hopeless than usual? Or maybe you’ve lacked confidence in situations where you would normally speak up. At times, you may even have found yourself wondering if what you’re doing even matters anymore. It is important to recognise these changes. If left unchecked, these feelings may progress into symptoms of depression.

To stay in balance you need to turn these behaviors around. The smallest changes make a difference, but pay attention to changes that aren’t so small, like getting enough sleep (without drugs), dealing with your anger and anxiety before they erupt, moving around during the day, making time to play, eating sensibly and simply being with yourself.

I learned that prevention is the best medicine. Reaching your breaking point means that you’ve crossed into the red zone, from which it’s hard to return. You won’t get to your red zone if you apply the habits of self-care I’ve just listed. The choice is really yours. Medical research has abundantly validated that being in balance is the healthiest way to live. Spend the next two weeks getting back into balance. You’ll be amazed and pleased with the results. I adopted a certain “Bahala-na”-emotion especially when it comes to “bad news”. I enjoy playing my piano and listening to wonderful relaxing music. I enjoy staying together with my family. I talked to God… .