View Metro Davao and Davao Gulf from Jack Ridge Resort and Restaurant
Come morning, after breakfast at Pearl Farm Resort, I joined other tourists on a boat going back to the mainland. At the Pearl Farm Marina, I met up with Jose “Jay” Mendoza, a fellow architect and former Mas Othman and Associates officemate at the lobby.
Check out “Resort Review: Pearl Farm Resort,” “Resort Feature: Pearl Farm Marina” and “The Flavors of Spain in Davao”
The author at Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant
Jay and I met up at last night’s Flavors of Spain at the Pearl Farm Marina. Jay, married a Davaoeña and now based and practicing in Davao City, offered to tour me around the city in his car and I gladly accepted his offer.
Downtown Davao
This was my first visit to this sprawling urban metropolis which is the fastest-growing city in the country after Manila. The undisputed center for trade, convention and tourism in Mindanao, Davao City is a prime destination for tourism and investments in the Philippines, the BIMP-Eaga (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area) and the Asia-Pacific region.
NCCC Mall
This 2,443.61 sq. km. (943.48 sq. mi.) city, 7.8 times the size of Metro Cebu and three times that of the entire Metro Manila, making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area and is said to be the second largest in the world (after Mexico City).
Victoria Plaza
Gaisano Mall of Davao
Davao is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province (though it is usually grouped with Davao del Sur for statistical purposes). It is divided into three congressional districts, which are further divided into 11 administrative districts containing a total of 184 barangays.
Ateneo de Davao
Big as it is in size as well as in hype, it was still recently acclaimed by Asiaweek Magazine as one of Asia’s most livable cities. Why? There are many compelling reasons people chose Davao over any other place in the country, as well as in Southeast Asia. As varied as the reasons and factors may be, they still all sum up to one thing: quality of life.
Grand Regal Hotel
Davao City is home to many high rise buildings and, outside Metro Manila, Metro Davao is one of the three metropolitan areas in the Philippines having numerous skyscrapers.
The Marco Polo Hotel
They include the 73 m. (240 ft.) high, 18 storey Marco Polo Davao Hotel and the 49 m. (161 ft.) high, 12 storey Grand Regal Hotel, both built in 1998. The city’s oldest hotel is the Apo View Hotel, built in 1948.
The Apo View Hotel
Jay showed me the Ateneo de Davao University (a premiere Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit University founded by the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus in 1948), Victoria Plaza, New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall and the Gaisano Mall of Davao (a well-known mall with numerous stores and a cinema, plus a large roof deck with eateries and a view).
Old City Hall
We first made a stopover at the old City Hall (formerly the Municipal Building) which was constructed in 1926, some ten years before Davao finally became a city.
Legislative Building
Also within the grounds are the Legislative Building (Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw) and the Commemorative Monument of Peace and Unity, unveiled during the celebration of the Philippine Centennial in 1998.
Commemorative Monument of Peace and Unity. In the background is the bell tower of the St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral
The monument depicts the peaceful relationship of the migrant and indigenous inhabitants of Davao in the last 100 years. In front of the Legislative Building is the St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral (also called San Pedro Cathedral or Davao Cathedral).
Check out “St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral”
St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral
We then proceeded on the 20-min. (5.6 km.) drive to Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant via the Davao City-Junction Digos Section Rd., Davao-Cotabato Rd. and Gen. Douglas MacArthur Highway. Along the way, we made a short stopover at the 4-hectare (9.9-acre) People’s Park which was created through the ₱71 million conversion of the old PTA Grounds (or the Palaruang Panlunsod or “City Playground”), a sporting and events venue of the city, into a cultural theme park.
The Durian Dome at People’s Park
It features a mini-forest, man-made falls, a dancing fountain at night, fish ponds, children’s playground and the 425 sq. m. (4,570 sq. ft.) Durian Dome, the visitors’ center whose design was inspired by the durian fruit. The park project, which commenced in July 2006, had a soft opening just last August 2007 during the Kadayawan Festival.
Check out “Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant” and “Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague”
Jay Mendoza at Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant
At Jack’s Ridge, we admired the view of Metro Davao and the Davao Gulf from its restaurant then moved on the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague. That done, we returned to Jay’s house where we had a late lunch.
Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague
Apo View Hotel: Camus Ext., Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000. Tel: (082) 221-6430.
Ateneo de Davao University: E. Jacinto St., Davao City 8016
Gaisano Mall of Davao: J.P. Laurel Ave, Bajada, Davao City 8000. Tel: (082) 222-1411 150
Grand Regal Hotel: J.P. Laurel Ave, Lanang, Buhangin, Davao City, 8000. Tel: (082) 235-0888.
Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant: 117 Shrine Hills Rd, Talomo, Davao City, 8000
Marco Polo Davao Hotel: C. M. Recto, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000. Tel: (082) 221-0888.
NCCC Mall: MacArthur Highway corner Ma-a, Davao City, 8000.
People’s Park: Uy Building, 49 Jln Palma Gil St, Davao City, 8000
St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral: San Pedro St, Poblacion District, Davao City. Tel: (082) 226-4740.
Shrine of Holy Infant Jesus of Prague: Shrine Hills, Talomo, Davao City, 8000
Victoria Plaza: J.P. Laurel Ave., Bajada, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000. Tel: (082) 221-4991.