From the vine: Growing grapes for winery and agritourism activities

Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop dreams that the Philippines could produce its own brand of wine which will be famous not only in the country, but around the world as well.

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

Wine is as old as history. In fact, the Bible has its own share of wine stories. The most famous one happened in Cana, where transformation of water into wine is the first miracle attributed to Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of John.

Wine has been produced for thousands of years. The earliest remnants of wine as we now know it was discovered in the site of Jajji Firuz Tepe, in the northern Zagros Mountains of Iran.

When we speak of wine, we are referring to the fermented juice of grapes, particularly Vitis vinifera. When other fruits are fermented to produce a kind of wine, the name of the fruit is included, as in the terms peach wine and blackberry wine.

More than half of the world’s wine is produced by only four countries: Italy, France, Spain and the United States. The following countries contributed less than half of the world’s wine needs: Argentina, China, Australia, Chile, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Hungary, and New Zealand.

That said, new and unexpected countries are constantly gaining recognition for both their wine production and the high quality of wines produced. Who knows, the Philippines might join this list in the future.

That’s what Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop is dreaming of–that the Philippines could produce its own brand of wine which will be famous not only in the country, but around the world as well.

White wine is stored in stainless steel containers. (Henrylito Tacio)

That’s a tall order, indeed. “I have always been fascinated with wine,” recalls Atty. Taglucop, who’s not only a practicing lawyer but also owner of a travel agency.

In their travels abroad–Europe, United States, Canada, and other Asian countries–he and his wife always take the time to visit vineyards and taste wines. He wondered why the Philippines isn’t producing its own wine when the country is number 135 among other countries in wine consumption per capita.

Atty. Taglucop thinks of producing his own brand of wine. But before he could do it, he needed good sources of grapes–lots of them. And he discovered that only a handful of Filipinos are planting the crop.

So, he started growing grapes as a hobby in barangay Tacunan in Tugbok District of Davao City. He planted mostly seedless table grapes and wine varieties in his 3.5-hectare farm. “In the beginning, my sources of planting materials were local,” he said.

After three years of planting grapes, he found out that not all grapes were good. Some varieties could not be eaten as they were sour. There were sweet varieties but the fruits they produced were few and far-between. Others were attacked by pests and diseases. All these were the reasons, he believed, why most of those who planted grapes didn’t prosper and discontinued what they had started.

The period during which flowers are open is called ‘bloom’ and can last from one to three weeks. (Henrylito Tacio)

Despite all these obstacles, Atty. Taglucop persisted. He studied the right ways to grow grapes through internet research.  He sourced seeds and cuttings every time he and his wife went out of the country. He experimented with various varieties of grapes from temperate to semi-temperate countries.

He planted about 60 varieties on his farm. Not all of those he planted thrived. He eliminated the varieties that didn't grow well, didn’t produce enough fruits, or whose fruits were sour. Varieties that could not survive the tropical climate were also discarded, along with those susceptible to pests and diseases.

“Planting grapes is not easy,” admitted Atty. Taglucop, who is also an agricultural engineering graduate. To enhance his chances, he decided to enroll in a post graduate Certificate Course on Winemaking and Viticulture with the University of California-Davis Campus (UC-Davis), the leading university supporting the vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and beyond. After two years of study online and visiting the university several times, he finally received his certificate of completion.

After eight years of experimenting and trials, he found seven world-renowned varieties of grapes that have good potential for production and making quality wines in his area. Not necessarily in the order, these are:  Shiraz (from Australia), Moldova (from Ukraine), Chardonnay and Petite Sirah (from France), Freisa (from Italy), Moscato (from Israel), and Chenin Blanc (sourced from Gran Monte, Thailand). He also has a sweet and aromatic variety which he called Davao Delicious from a Muscat variety parentage.

Actually, Atty. Taglucop admitted that he started growing grapes as a hobby, albeit with an eye on farm tourism.  “But the big dream is really the winery because that’s the main thing in other countries,” he said.

Right now, The Vineyard Davao, as he calls the place, is not yet open to the public as he is still in the production stage to increase his inventory of bottled wines before the winery opens. He is not keen on engaging solely in the business of “grape picking" as the same may not be economically viable since you harvest grapes only every six months. “In-between, what will you do since you don’t have any harvest? So, you don’t have business. You close the farm for business but you still have to spend to maintain the vineyard,” he said.

In other countries, people who grow grapes have wineries, so they are open all the time because wine is available all year-round. People can visit the place even if the grapes are not bearing fruit because they can always have wine, he said.

Although it is not yet open to the public, some people have already enjoyed tasting his wines straight from the barrels in his cellar through privately arranged wine tasting and food pairing events. The farm caters to a minimum of 10 persons per group.  Interested groups must book first before coming or else they will be denied entry.

Growing grapes is easy in theory, but in reality, it is difficult. In fact, even after eight years, he keeps on experimenting. According to him, he plants the seedlings at around one-foot deep. “The roots of full-grown vines can go as deep as 15 feet although most of the roots grow up in the top three feet of soil,” he said.

Planting materials are kept in the shade before they are fully exposed to sunlight. (Henrylito Tacio)

Since grapes are creeping plants (vines), they have to be provided with trellises. For him, the easiest and most economical trellis to construct and maintain is vertical shoot positioning with four wires, 8 feet above the ground and is well anchored on each end.

From planting up to around one year and before the first pruning to make the vines bear fruits, he fertilizes his grape vines with complete fertilizer (14-14-14) and calcium nitrate plus supplementary micronutrients. Fertilization, a necessity in grape growing, is done every month.

He also broadcasts chicken dung and/or vermicast once every six months. “During pruning and fruiting, we fertilize them according to the specific needs of the vines during its phenological stage,” he said. “It is advisable to take a leaf, petiole or at least soil sample to optimize inputs.”

If there is no rain for a week, he irrigates the crop twice. “But considering that we always have rain events at least twice a week, we don’t irrigate our grapes most of the time,” he said.

Harvesting is done twice a year. He harvests 5-10 kilograms from his fully-grown mature vines. “We have grape picking activity during harvest,” he said.

Depending on the weather, he prunes the canes in order for the grapes to bear fruits again. Pruning is done at least one month after harvesting. “We don’t want to prune during rainy days because of possible fungal/bacterial/viral infection on freshly cut canes,” he said. “Rain events are also not good during the flowering stage and harvesting season.”

The cuttings after pruning are used for seedling propagation. Cuttings from diseased or infected vines are discarded. “We cut the canes to 3-4 nodes, bundle them in 20s to 30s, soak them in water with small fungicide and chlorine to sanitize and bury them in river sand,” he said.

The cuttings are taken out from where they were buried out once they have already rooted. “That is the time we bag them separately,” he said, adding that the size of the bag is 6-8 inches by 12-14 inches.

Before they can be transplanted in the field, the seedlings are exposed to morning sunlight only within 20 days. “After that, they are exposed to 75% sunlight for the next two months or so. Then to full sunlight at least one month before they are transferred to the field,” he said.

As stated earlier, the grapes are grown mainly for wine (although some of them can be eaten). “Wine making starts with harvesting the grapes at the optimum time: right brix (sweetness measurement), right acidity and right flavor,” he said.

The harvested grapes are processed into wine within five hours from harvest to optimize flavors. “Only the full-ripe and undamaged grapes are processed into wine,” he said.

These grapes are ready for crushing. (Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop)

After the grapes are harvested, they are transported to the winery, sorted for quality grapes, then crushed and destemmed.

For red wine, the crushed grapes (juice, skins, flesh and seeds) are fermented for two weeks. These are pressed afterwards and aged in barrels for six to 12 months. After that, they are filtered and bottled.

For white wine, the crushed grapes are immediately pressed, fermented without skins, seeds and pulps for two weeks or so. These are aged in stainless steel for at least six months and then filtered and bottled.

Right now, one of his dreams is to put up a restaurant, as well as wine tasting rooms in the middle of his vineyard in Tacunan. “Guests and visitors can stroll, harvest grapes, do grape stomping, do wine-tasting and food pairing, dine, chill and experience vineyard feels without necessarily going out of the country,” he said. “Hopefully, this dream can be materialized soon.”

He can do so only if he has enough wine already. So far, he has about 20,000 bottles of wine available. “We intend to stockpile around 50,000 bottles before we open the winery to the public,” he said.

Purple grapes. (Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop)

With a postgraduate Certificate Course on Winemaking and Viticulture from UC-Davis, he is confident to produce some of the country’s best wines.

When asked what makes grape growing and wine making challenging, he replied: “Our weather remains the main challenge to grape growing and winemaking. In a humid and rainy environment like ours, fungus thrives. If not properly dealt with, quality grapes will never be had; worse, the whole vineyard will possibly be wiped out.

“Furthermore, resources or information on grape growing and even proper education, technology and proper planting materials are not available here,” he added. “It is really challenging. So, we need to be resourceful.”

Atty. Taglucop believes that grape growing and wine making are highly intertwined. “As the saying goes, ‘One cannot make good wines from bad grapes.’ In like manner, ‘One can make bad wines from good grapes.’ So, it is important to study not only on how to grow grapes but also on making wine – the proper unadulterated wines that we all can be proud of.”

Aside from the 3.5-hectare farm in Tacunan, Davao City, he also grows grapes in a 10-hectare farm in Barangay Kipilas in Kitaotao, Bukidnon. “In God’s time, we may start a small harvest next year,” he said. “This will support the winery in Davao. Who knows, it may become another winery site in the future if God will allow it.”

People can visit the farm and do harvesting. (Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop)

Atty. Taglucop has all the support from his family. His wife, Jenny, manages their travel agency (Infinity Travel) and Taglucop Strawberry Hills, a glamping resort located in Lorega, Bukidnon. The couple has four children: Hugh Gabriel, Fiona Gabrielle, Zeki Gabriel and Zia Gabrielle. “They are all named Gabriel because we prayed that they become ‘men and women of God,’” he said.

To prepare him for the future expansion of the family business, the eldest son, Hugh Gabriel, is taking up Bachelor of Science in Oenology and Viticulture at the University of Adelaide in Australia. It is a four-year course. “This is for sustainability and continuity and to further enhance the quality and integrity of our vineyard and wines,” Atty. Taglucop pointed out.

“Dreams do come true,” Atty. Taglucop stressed. “Yes. However, they do not just fall on your lap while you are sleeping. You have to work (hard for it to happen). Always look at the bright side of things. Be optimistic but also be ready to fail. For us, things happened because we love what we are doing.

“We did not think of money or business at the start,” he continued. “It was very challenging but the joy of this kind of farming sustained us. The wishful thinking of living in a vineyard (vineyard feels), enjoying pure fermented grape juice (wine) straight from the barrels and seeing your children running around and picking sweet and delicious grapes straight from the vine is something.”

Meanwhile, the experiments continue. “We will do our best until God leads us to a beautiful future,” Atty. Taglucop concluded.

Photos by Henrylito Tacio and courtesy of Atty. Ferdinand Taglucop

Water shortage threatens food production

Water is an important resource that's needed for humans to survive and thrive. What happens when a shortage looms?

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

“Many well-informed individuals see a future of water shortages, but few have connected the dots to see that a future of water shortages will also be a future of food shortages,” said Lester R. Brown, an American environmental analyst.

He is the founder of Worldwatch Institute and Earth Policy Institute, both based in Washington, D.C. “One of the great pioneer environmentalists” is how BBC Radio commentator Peter Day described him.

“Water shortages lag only climate change and population growth as a threat to the human future,” said Brown in an exclusive interview with this author. “The challenge is not to get enough water to drink, but to get enough water to produce our food. We drink, in one form or another, perhaps 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires 2,000 liters of water to produce, or 500 times as much.”

A closer look at the available statistics proves him right. When this writer visited the regional office of Food and Agriculture (FAO) in Bangkok, Thailand, I found out that agriculture is by far the biggest consumer of water around the world. In thickly-populated Asia, agriculture accounts for 86% of the total annual water withdrawal, compared with 49% in North and Central America and 38% in Europe.

“Agriculture is where future water shortages will be most acute,” wrote Michael S. Serrill in “Time” some years back in a special report.

Rice, consumed by 60% of the world’s population, is a case in point. “Water has contributed most to the growth in rice production for the past 30 years,” said the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Irrigation-farmed rice draws heavily on the resource.

In his book, Water: The International Crisis, Robin Clark reports that an average farmer needs 5,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of rice. “Rice growing is a heavy consumer of water,” agrees the IRRI report, “Water: A Looming Crisis.”

The IRRI report projected that most Asian countries, including the Philippines, will have severe water problems by 2025. This water shortage could seriously threaten rice production in the region.

This is bad news for Filipinos who consider rice as their “deepest comfort food.” On average, Filipinos consume 114-120 kilograms of rice per capita per year. That’s almost double the world average of 65 kilograms per capita per year, according to Dr. Eufemio Rasco, Jr., former director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

“The link between water and food is strong,” Brown reminded.

About 5,000 liters of water is needed to produce one kilogram of rice. (Henrylito Tacio)

British author John Robbins, the man behind the book The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life, has managed to document the robust connection of these two resources. To produce one pound (0.453 kilogram) of lettuce or one pound of tomatoes, 23 gallons of water is needed.

For one pound of potatoes, 24 gallons of water is needed; 25 gallons for one pound of wheat, 33 gallons for one pound of carrots, and 49 gallons for one pound of apples, according to Robbins.

Meat production also consumes a lot of water. “Agriculture uses about 70% of the world’s available freshwater, and one-third of that is used to grow the grain fed to livestock,” the Worldwatch Institute reports.

Beef, the meat used in most fast food outlets, is by far the most water-intensive of all meats. “The more than 15,000 liters of water used per kilogram is far more than is required by a number of staple foods, such as eggs (3,300 liters per kilogram), milk (1,000 liters), or potatoes (255 liters),” the Worldwatch Institute says.

The US Department of Commerce 1992 Census of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, published in 1994, reported that one pound of pork needs at least 1,630 gallons of water to produce but in contrast one pound of beef requires 5,214 gallons of water.

“Producing beef is much more resource-intensive than producing pork or chicken, requiring roughly three to five times as much land to generate the same amount of protein,” the Worldwatch Institute points out.

Around the world, more than 40% of wheat, rye, oats and corn production is fed to animals, along with 250 million tons of soybeans and other oilseeds. “Feeding grain to livestock improves their fertility and growth, but it sets up a de facto competition for food between man and people,” the institute says.

Global meat consumption and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research done by the institute’s Nourishing the Planet project.

“Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades and increased 20% in just the last 10 years,” it said. “Meanwhile, industrial countries are consuming growing amounts of meat, nearly double the quantity than in developing countries.”

A huge volume of water is also used in aquaculture or fish farming. “Fish farming is more advantageous than raising livestock. “For every kilogram of dry feed, we get one kilogram of fish meat,” said Dr. Uwe Lohmeyer of the Deutsche Gesselschaft fur Technische Zusammernarbeit (GTZ), a German Technical Cooperation. “This is far more favorable rate than in the case of say, pigs: to produce the same quantity of pork, a farmer – given the same quality of inputs – has to provide three kilograms of feed.”

Aquaculture needs a lot of water to raise fish. (Henrylito Tacio)

It goes without saying that water is indeed the world’s most important resource. “We’re surrounded by a hidden world of water,” pointed out Stephen Leahy, a Canadian journalist and author, told this author. “Liters and liters of it are consumed by everything we eat, and everything we use and buy.”

That’s what he calls a “water footprint.” In his book, aptly entitled Your Water Footprint, he defines it as the amount of water ‘consumed’ to make, grow or produce something. “I use the word consumed to make it clear this is water that can no longer be used for anything else,” he explained.

According to Leahy, one of the biggest surprises (while writing the book) was learning how small direct use of water for drinking, cooking and showering is by comparison. For instance, he found out that flushing toilets is the biggest water daily use – not showers, as commonly believed. While low-flow shower heads and toilets are great water savers, the water footprint concept can lead to even bigger reductions in water consumption.

“For example, green fuels may not be so green from a water consumption perspective,” Leahy wrote. “Biodiesel made from soybeans has an enormous water footprint, averaging more than 11,000 liters per liter of biodiesel. And this doesn’t include the large amounts of water needed for processing. Why so much water? Green plants aren’t ‘energy-dense,’ so it takes a lot of soy to make the fuel.”

Cattle’s meat, beef, also has a big footprint, over 11,000 liters for a kilo, according to Leahy. “If a family of four served chicken instead of beef they’d reduce their water use by an astonishing 900,000 liters a year. That’s enough to fill an Olympic size pool to a depth of two feet.”

“Water isn’t just a commodity. It is a source of life,” says Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project.

In an article we wrote for Reader’s Digest, she believed water problems will trail climate change as a threat to the human future. “Although the two are related, water has no substitutes,” she explained. “We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else.”

The Philippines is touted to be a water-rich country. “We are an agricultural country and that says a lot regarding the importance of water supply,” said Senator Grace Poe in a statement some years back. “We have provinces that have year-round sufficient water supply, enabling their farmers to plant and harvest year-round, as well.”

On a macro-level, it appears there is plenty of water. “But we are now experiencing problems and, in some instances, some areas (of the country) are suffering from lack of water,” said Elisea Gozun when she was still the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Today, the problem is getting worse. The reason: watersheds are being denuded of their forest cover. “We cannot talk of providing sustainable water to the people unless we protect the sources of the commodity – the watersheds,” Gozun said.

About 5,000 liters of water is needed to produce one kilogram of rice. (Henrylito Tacio)

Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land area of the Philippines. “Our country has a total of 119 proclaimed and 154 priority watersheds with a total land area of 1,376,455 hectares and 11,690,695 hectares, respectively,” wrote Leila C. America in The PCAARRD Monitor, published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.

The areas of proclaimed watersheds range from 20 to 180,460 hectares while the area of priority watershed ranges from 365 to 837,149 hectares. “Water is a key watershed resource that can be used for power generation, agriculture, industry, domestic, drinking and others,” America wrote.

Water covers over 70 percent of the earth’s surface and is a major force in controlling the climate by storing vast quantities of heat. About 97.5 percent of all water is found in the ocean and only the remaining 2.5 percent is considered fresh water. Unfortunately, 99.7 percent of that fresh water is unavailable, trapped in glaciers, ice sheets, and mountainous areas.

“Put in another way,” the UN food agency explains, “if all the earth’s water were to fit in a gallon jug (4 liters), the available fresh water would be just over one tablespoon.”

The famous Brown has this suggestion about the looming water crisis: “The most important thing we can do to cope with water scarcity is to use water more efficiently in agriculture.”

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

German national tells his tale of living in Davao City for good–and loving it

By

 Henrylito D. Tacio

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APRIL 16, 2017

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Story & photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

BORROWING the sobriquet bestowed by the defunct Asiaweek magazine, Davao City  has become “one of the most livable in Asia”.

Today it  is one of the country’s top tourist destinations. The  de facto  capital of Mindanao, the city is one of the largest  in the world, with a total land area of 224,000 hectares. Its boundaries encompass commercial areas, as well as beaches, mountains and forests. Approximately, it is 7.8 times the size of Cebu, and three times that of the entire Metro Manila.

Situated beside  the Davao  Gulf, the  city  is dominated by the country’s highest peak, the 2,954-meter Mount Apo. The dormant volcano is home to tribes such as Bagobo, Manobo, Mandaya and B’laan. Its fertile rolling foothills are teeming with exotic fruits, like durian,  marang, mangosteen,  rambutan, and pomelo, as well as the country’s second flower icon, the  waling-waling.

Credited for transforming Davao City to its current progressive state is no less than Rodrigo R. Duterte, the current president of the Philippines. After all, he was mayor of the city for almost two decades.

“His fight is for a better Philippines,” replied Klaus Doring, a German who now lives in the Davao capital, when asked what he likes most about Duterte.

Doring knows what he is talking about, and all too well to fall in love with the place. He first came to the Philippines in 1976 and now lives in Davao City, together with his Filipina wife Rossana Balcom, since 1999.

“When my plane was leaving Manila in 1976, I encountered some mixed emotions,” he said. “Maybe my stay then was too short.”

Doring is perhaps one of the very few people who have had the opportunity of traveling all over the world. “I love exploring different cultures and meeting new people,” he said.

Globetrotting German

When asked among the top 10 countries he had visited, he mentioned the following: Canada (“because of its clean and breathtaking nature”); Japan (“totally very different; very strange at first sight, but interesting”); United States (“the Wild, Wild West, and an easy-going life”); Russia (“the people are not into politicking; only wrong politicians”); and Jamaica (“reggae music and the unforgettable Bob Marley”).

Also on the list are Norway (“the ‘little Canada’, with a sun that never sets during summer”); Switzerland (“amazing mountains, and where I had my honeymoon”); South Africa (“a terrible apartheid regime”); North Africa (“Oriental 1,000 and one nights”); and the Philippines (“its hospitality and very warm people”).

Actually, the Philippines was fourth on his list. “Since 1987, I visited the Philippines on a regular basis annually,” he admitted.

One reason for such was because his wife is a Filipina. “I met her during my first visit in Davao City in 1982,” Doring recalled. “I was very impressed by her personality: she was a teacher and the lead dancer of the former Manisan Dance Troupe. She had her television show and was former Mutya ng Davao. It was love at first sight.”

He pursued her, until she finally agreed to settle down with him. “It was not a surprise for me to marry her and her whole family,” he said. “I learned about it from some foreigners who married Filipinas. Today I am happy about it, since my home, with some family members living with us, is my ‘safe haven’ as I get older.”

The German national did not only catch the apple of his eyes; he also fell in love with the city, which was not yet chaotic then, when heavy traffic and high-rise buildings were still unheard of. “I think, I was one of the few foreigners staying here,” he said. “Today Davao City has changed a lot, and is now one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines.”

Doring sees himself living there for the rest of his life. “I was born in Germany, but I consider the Philippines as my second home country,” he pointed out. On living in Davao City, he added, “I feel safe here. I enjoy life here. I already got my grave ready here.”

As stated earlier, Doring is a German who was born and grew up in Spenge, a province of North Rhine-Westphalia. “My parents were separated because of the former political situation of  two Germanys: East and West,” he said. “I used to live in West Berlin, within the communist German Democratic Republic.”

Writing for a living

From 1980 to 1989, he worked as coordinating editor for several law magazines, with publishing houses in Berlin, New York and Amsterdam.  “Since many famous German and international lawyers, as well as politicians—including the late German Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker—became our authors, I got the chance of meeting many of them personally,” he revealed.

In 1982 he arrived in Mindanao for the first time as a journalist writing for  Tinig ng Bayan, which was published in the province of Abra, and  Ang Mabuhay, printed in Berlin under Msgr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, the chaplain of the Filipino community there.

The very first time he was in the Philippines was in 1976—four years after martial law was declared by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. “Covering Mindanao during the time of martial law became, on one side, challenging, and, on the other side, not so,” he explained, on what it was like for a foreign journalist covering those years.

His reason, “Because earlier, I had visited countries like South Africa, at the height of its apartheid; as well as in Golan Heights in Israel; and even in Russia, during the end of the 1970s.”

Right now, he has been writing a regular column for Mindanao Daily Mirror since February 2011. In the past, he has contributed for  the Mindanao Times, Davao Catholic Herald  and  Edge Davao, among others. Outside the Davao region, he sends his pieces to  the BoracaySun, Mindanao Daily, Businessweek Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro Times  and  Mindanao Star.

Doring also moonlights as a disc jockey. Nine years ago, he started working as a professor for German language at the University of Southeast Philippines-Obrero campus. “I enjoy teaching my mother tongue to Filipinos,” he claimed. “It is a real challenge and enjoyable at the same time.”

He also works as a translator and interpreter at the Regional Trial Court in Davao, Judicial Region XI, since a judge certified him in 2009 after appearing in the court during several hearings. “I am also listed and accredited at the German, Swiss and Austrian embassies in Manila,” Doring noted.

When he is not working, he loves to play the piano, read books (“my favorite is the Bible; I am Christian and was born in a parish house in Germany”) and relaxes at a lonely beach. His favorite destination is the Island Garden City of Samal. “If you are on that island, you forget Davao for a while,” he told this writer.

By the way, it was not his wife who asked him to stay in Davao City for good, it was he who decided on it. “We were living in Germany for 16 years,” he shared. “One day, I asked her if we could move to Davao City.”

Doring may be a German by birth, but he considers Davao City not only his second home, but also his last. “Because it is the most livable city in the Philippines,” he declared. “I love its people and the multicultural situation. Best, it is the home of President Duterte.”

Image Credits: Jimbo Albano

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Nine Spectacular Places to Visit Mindanao

Serene Lake Sebu, untouched Britania Islands, crystal clear Enchanted River, and more

Henrylito D. Tacio is an award-winning journalist based in the southern part of the Philippines. He specializes on reporting science, environment, medicine, agriculture, and travel features

Henrylito D. Tacio

FALLING FOR THE FALLS. Check out these breathtaking spots in Mindanao! Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Looking for vacation options? Baguio, Boracay, Sagada are popular destinations. But in recent years, many Filipinos have discovered a wealth of beautiful locations in Mindanao. (IN PHOTOS: Dahilayan Adventure Park, Mindanao's playground)

Let’s take a look at a few.

All photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

The Department of Tourism promotes this municipality as one of the prime eco-tourism destinations in Mindanao. It is named after the biggest (354 hectares) of the 3 lakes of the town. (The other two lakes are named Seloton, 48 hectares, and Lahit, 24 hectares.)

Lake Sebu is often called the “Summer Capital of Southern Philippines” as its climate is pleasantly cool (due to an elevation of 1,000 meters high from sea level). By night, the temperature gets even cooler and feels great for those who seek the feel of the fresh mountain air.

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a “bowl of forests and mountains.” The 42,450-hectare landscape is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.

Maragusan, Compostela Valley

“Maragusan is a cold place just like Baguio and Tagaytay.”

“There are so many beautiful and exotic spots to visit. There are too many I can’t say them all.”

“In the morning, it’s so cold that even cooking oil would solidify. It’s like ice candy in the freezer.” (READ: Perfect for summer: 8 cool-weather PH destinations)

These are just some of the remarks you often hear from people who had been to Maragusan, a first class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley.

The best place to stay is at the Haven’s Peak Highland Resort, which has been featured in The Lonely Planet. It is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides sight of the picture-perfect and picturesque view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting and like backdrop of a stage.

Kopiat Island in Mabini, Compostela Valley

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

This 87-hectare island is off the coast of Pindasan. Sea travel around the island takes about 20 minutes by motorized boat, while in-land tour takes about 45 minutes. A portion of the island encircles a seven-hectare lagoon. (READ: From Davao City, make the trip to these 8 beautiful beaches)

Actually, Kopiat Island is part of the protected area known as Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape. It was declared as such during the time of President Joseph Estrada and for good reason. It is a known breeding ground of marine turtles, a “protected and regulated” species. As such, it is a good place for snorkeling and diving.

The whole island is fully planted with coconut trees. There are also some wild fruit trees inside the heart of the island. Since it is still undeveloped, there are no stores where you can buy soft drinks or food. But that’s what makes the island a perfect place for adventure.

Not far from Kopiat Island is the appropriately named Lunod Island: more than half of its 17 hectares is occupied by submerged mangrove forest teeming with beautiful sea creatures. Its rich coral gardens are spawning grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine life.

Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental

This is located some 15 minutes from the heart of the city. A recent American visitor, who had also been to Boracay, praised the beach in these words: “I have not seen such a wonderful beach, not even in Boracay. The Dahican Beach is South Sea dream come true.” (READ: Head to 'Borawan' and these 5 unspoiled PH beaches)

Swimming is not the only thing you can do while you are in Dahican Beach. If you like water adventure like skimboarding, this is the best place in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is being touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao.

George Plaza, whose story I featured in Reader’s Digest, is the man behind the popularity of skimboarding in Dahican. He founded the Amihan Boys to help those out-of-school youths to do something worthwhile instead of being a problem in the barangay where they are living. These boys can be tapped as trainers for those who want to learn skimboarding.

Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

It’s a group of islands that faces the Pacific Ocean; the islands are stunningly beautiful and will take your breath away. (READ MORE: Britania Islands, breathtaking paradise in Surigao del Sur)

Most of the islands are uninhabited with minimal or no vegetation. But all have one thing in common: they are surrounded with crystal clear waters.

One visitor wrote in Trip Advisor: “In my opinion, the Britania Group of Islands is the next best thing to Boracay in the Philippines in terms of pristine white beaches some people at a time can enjoy. While Boracay is a popular choice (because of the night life there), this group of islands offer adventurers a real deal and one would give a true appreciation of the spectacular white beaches…

Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

In the Trip Advisor website, one tourist wrote: “I visited this place around 5 years ago and it was simply breath taking. We are the only ones there and it was simply surreal. We swam for a couple of hours and just enjoyed the water, the nature surrounding the river and the over-all tranquility of the place.”

Only discovered in recent years, the Enchanted River flows into the Philippine Sea – six meters away is the coastline of Hinatuan Bay – but no one knows where the water comes from. Is it from a spring? Does some of the water come from the sea?

Generally, most people swim in the river whose water’s shade ranges from aquamarine to blue. When the shade is darker blue, watch out; it means the water is already very deep. The water’s undercurrent is strong so people are advised to wear life vests even if they are very good swimmers.

Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Its 95-meter wide waterfall plunges 55 meters high from the top of the three-tiered cascading waters that looks like a huge white theatrical curtain. (READ: Hit the road: Cool off at these 5 PH waterfalls)

There is a bamboo raft on the side of the pool which you can ride to go near the falls. If you have more time, you can follow the staircase located at the side of the falls. It will bring you to the second and third levels of the waterfalls. Those who have been there say that the falls in both levels are smaller but the beauty is still incomparable due to its unique formation.

Farther from the three-tiered waterfalls, there is a smaller one located near the entrance. We saw some people swimming in the area. Be sure to do so with caution as the stones are a little bit slippery.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte

Once a breeding ground for Daniel Aguinaldo’s white lipped oyster, whose survival depended on the cleanest underwater environment, it is now an idyllic private resort.

One of the famous landmarks of the resort is the three-tiered Parola wharf (named after the local term for “lighthouse”), which was once a lookout post for strangers who were not welcome on the island, back in the days when it was still a pearl farm. (READ: The beautiful Island Garden City of Samal: 16 things to do)

Just off the beach resort is the Malipano Island which is the site of 7 exclusive villas. All waterfront bungalows were designed by world-renowned architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, inspired by the stilt houses of the Sulu Sea using strictly native materials such as bamboo, coconut and yakal.

For scuba divers, the Pearl Farm is a paradise. This natural haven offers spectacular diving amongst the huge shoals of fish and the giant taklobo clams, without the need for tedious boat rides. Just 60 meters away from the resort are two sunken Japanese World War II ships that await discovery.

Buenavista Island in Davao del Norte

The 4-hectare island is a perfect place to go this summer. It has a beautiful view, especially the one that is facing the Pacific Ocean. It’s no wonder why the owners named it The Island Buenavista (the latter comes from two Spanish words,buena for “good” and vista for “view”).

Take refuge under the shade of coconut trees (they don’t bear nuts so you are safe wherever you go) and feel the sun-kissed cottony sands.

Heading down to Mindanao any time soon? Tag these items on your bucket list. Enjoy and #SharePH! – Rappler.com