Exploring Davao City

One thing I love about being a librarian is the chance to attend professional development seminars. These events not only help me learn new things but also allow me to travel to different places since the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) holds its seminars in different locations each year. It feels like hitting two birds with one stone—gaining knowledge while exploring new destinations. Apart from learning about the latest trends in libraries, I also get to experience the rich culture and traditions of different places in the Philippines.

For 2024, the PLAI seminar was held in Davao City. It was my first time visiting Mindanao, and it did not disappoint. Davao City is so huge that even after traveling for an hour, we were still within the city limits. There are so many modern and high-end establishments everywhere. We arrived in Davao from Iloilo City at almost 8 PM, and I was thankful for the direct flight. To save money, we booked a Grab, and our driver was very friendly. He told us how safe the city is—that you can walk alone at night without worrying about anything. He also shared how much they love former President Duterte.

My friend booked a condo unit at Spatial, which was very affordable since we split the cost among four people. The unit was fully equipped with kitchen utensils, appliances, and free water. I only paid ₱3,750 for five days. On our first night, we tried the local "ihaw-ihaw," and we were amazed at how cheap the food was! A large grilled squid cost only ₱75, and rice was just ₱5. It was way better than eating at fast-food chains.

On the first day, we went to the venue to register and claim our seminar kits. A mini-reunion took place as we met and greeted fellow librarians—some of whom we only saw on Facebook before. After some quick catch-ups, we decided to explore the city.

Our first stop was San Pedro Metropolitan Cathedral, which left us in awe with its unique architectural design. Across the street was the Davao City Hall, where we also took some photos. Since we had a lot of free time before dinner, we searched for nearby tourist spots. We tried asking locals for directions to places like the Upside Down Museum and the Crocodile Park, but surprisingly, many didn’t seem to know them. So, we relied on Google Maps and found the D'Bone Collector Museum—a 20-minute walk away.

The entrance fee was ₱250 per person, which we initially found expensive, but we decided to go in since it was a rare chance. The museum had three floors filled with bones of various animals. The ground floor displayed bones of land animals like cows, turtles, and snakes. The second floor had rock collections, preserved insects, and more. The third floor showcased marine animal bones, including those of whales, sharks, and turtles. The staff told us that some of these animals died accidentally or due to plastic pollution. We also learned that Mali, the famous elephant from Manila Zoo, had its bones displayed there. Before leaving, we bought souvenirs, including baby shark teeth, which were said to bring good luck when kept in a wallet.

      

Upside Down Museum

On the first seminar day, Nang Grace and I sneaked out during lunch break for a quick adventure at the Upside Down Museum. Thanks to Grab, we got there easily. From the outside, the museum looked cute and very Instagrammable. It was my first time visiting a place like this, though I had often seen it on Facebook.

The entrance fee was ₱375 per person—expensive, but we were up for the experience. We were given socks and waited about ten minutes for our turn. Just a tip: don’t wear skirts or dresses because you’ll be doing a lot of stretching and bending for the optical illusions to work. We had to pose in all sorts of positions, and as 30-something ladies, the back pain was real! 😆 There were around six rooms, each with a different setup, and a staff member guided us on how to pose while taking our photos. Despite our aching backs and cramped legs, we had so much fun and highly recommend it!

Davao City Public Library

I must say, the Davao City Public Library is my top favorite so far! The structure, design, and collection make it a state-of-the-art facility perfect for research and studying. One thing I admire is how much the Davao government supports it. I wish all local governments would do the same because libraries play a big role in promoting information literacy.

The library is a four-story building with a coffee shop, a children’s corner, digital log-ins, multicultural corners, and fully equipped discussion and conference rooms. Plus, there’s a rooftop garden with a stunning city view! We enjoyed our tour with other librarians and took lots of photos. The murals on the walls beautifully reflect Davao’s culture, and I learned that the slogans painted there came from a contest held by the library. To top it off, they even drove us back to our seminar venue using their mobile library bus. What an amazing experience!

         

Sonnen Berg & Bemwa Farm

On our last day, since our flight was at 8 PM, we had time for one last adventure. We decided to visit Sonnen Berg for its famous sea of clouds. We woke up at 4 AM, sleep-deprived but excited. Our rented van arrived at 5 AM, and after an hour’s drive, we reached Sonnen Berg. The entrance fee was ₱100, but it was consumable (you could redeem coffee, tablea, or suman). The view was breathtaking! It was literally a sea of clouds. We took lots of photos and had breakfast while enjoying the scenery. 

Next, we visited Bemwa Farm, which grows strawberries, lettuce, and other crops. Sadly, it wasn’t strawberry season, so we just took pictures and had brunch. I ordered beef batchoy and chicken pastil, which were delicious and very affordable. Since it started raining, we stayed until it cleared up, then continued our journey. We stopped at the BuDa Road (the boundary between Davao and Bukidnon), took photos at the Baganihan Davao City signage, and admired the giant eagle statue before heading back to the city.

Pasalubong & Last Stops

For pasalubong, we visited Lola Abon/Apo ni Lola, which is famous for durian candies, yema, and even durian ice cream. The prices were quite high, but the quality was great. I didn’t buy much since I had no extra luggage and had a long trip back to Antique.

We also visited the Japanese Tunnel, which had a ₱70 entrance fee. The tunnel was small, and the tour was done in batches. We were given hard hats for safety. Inside, there were sculptures of Japanese soldiers, a small jail cell that once held seven Filipinos, and gold bar replicas. The tour was quick but insightful.

Our last stop before heading to the airport was Jack’s Ridge, a restaurant on a hilltop with stunning views of Davao City and the Gulf. It was once a Japanese headquarters during World War II and is now a popular tourist spot. It’s best to visit at night when the city lights shine beautifully.

Davao City was such a memorable experience! From the safety and friendliness of the locals to the rich culture, amazing food, and well-maintained tourist spots—it exceeded all my expectations. If you ever get a chance to visit, don’t miss the opportunity. You’ll surely fall in love with Davao, just like I did!