Basking in Davao’s beauty amid the breeze of Duterte’s victory

^{Tourism-sponsored media familiarization tour with Manila media participants on Buenavista Island.}

All roads lead to Davao City for many reasons. Well-wishers, job  applicants and hangers-on hoping to take selfies with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte have come in droves. Turncoats, tycoons, celebrities, diplomats and heads of states have also lined up to congratulate the big winner in this year’s elections.

But there are enough rooms for all of them, said Robert Alabado III, Department of Tourism-Southern  Mindanao's director.

“We are expecting more tourist arrivals especially since the city’s No. 1 promoter  is the incoming President,” he said.

Davao City has at least 8,000 rooms, ranging from five-star accommodations to backpackers’ hostels.

The mayor's  seeming aversion to travel to Manila, the country's capital located some 1,000 kilometers to the northwest, has drawn tourists, travelers and VIPs to head down to this southern city.

A member of the staff of Marco Polo Davao, for instance, said the hotel currently has a 92-percent occupancy, and they expect the rate to continue “as long as Duterte keeps holding meetings here.”

Whatever reason you may have for visiting Davao, be sure to savor the beauty and blessings of the region from islands to highlands, as we did during the Department of Tourism-sponsored media familiarization tour held early this May.

Here are the things you will surely enjoy while in the city:

Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC)

^{The famed Public Safety and Security Command Center of Davao.}

A visit to the city is never complete without dropping by the PSSCC. There, the guests would have a glimpse of how the urban Davao became one of the safest places in the world.

Created to provide protection, security, safety, and risk management assistance to Davaoeños, the center operates under the Office of the City Mayor.

It boasts of a "coordinative approach" in addressing crime, terrorism, traffic jams, health and emergency services, and disaster risk reduction by using information, technology, and "intelligent solutions."

The Davao City 911, for instance, takes calls 24/7. During emergencies, try dialing 911 even from your cellular phone and you can expect help will surely come.

As you tour the PSSCC, you will also witness how its personnel monitor so many CCTV cameras installed around the city. They don’t just monitor the traffic, they also monitor the crimes.

Those with criminal activities and who violate the anti-smoking ordinance better beware. You can't hide from the almost omnipotent eye of the CCTV cameras.

Beach within a banana plantation

A property of Hijo Estate Resorts, Banana Beach is touted as the only beach resort within a banana plantation, thus its name. But the place is not all bananas. It has other crops, mostly coconut. The 760-hectare plantation offers day tour packages such as forest tour and cruising which our group both tried.

On the way to the forest, be awed by long-tailed macaque monkeys and wild boars greeting you. Then get ready for a 700-meter elevated walk through the forest with century-old trees.

^{Part of the 700-meter elevated walk in Banana Beach.}

Overlooking Davao Gulf, the Banana Beach has a spacious outdoor facility with a restaurant and infinity pool.

Own an island for a day or overnight

If you want to go to the beach but you hate crowded places, the Island Buenavista in Samal, Davao, could be yours for a day or more.

Just pay the price and the four-hectare island could be yours exclusively for days.

Enjoy nature and adventures

Don’t miss the eco-adventure activities at Eden Nature Park where you will be surrounded with so many greens and flowers during a tour. A mountain resort that is 3,000 feet above sea level, the park offers not just a peaceful surrounding, but a cool breeze that filters through thousands of pine trees.

Aside from horseback riding, there are other activities for adventurous souls like the Skycycle, zipline, and Skyswing.

With Skycycle, you’ll literally ride a bicycle on a cable wire and if you’re not yet satisfied you can do the zipline afterwards. Or you may opt for the Skyswing where you are lifted very high slowly and thrown to the wind in a jiffy!

Do the 'Pub Crawl'

Try the Davao Pub Crawl, featuring five homegrown pubs in Davao City that aim to promote the urban night life. It’s Davao’s version of bar hopping in Manila with a twist. For one, they promote native rums: santol, sili, mangosteen, durian, ginger and chocolate—which they sell buy-one-take-one-free at P80 per shot during happy hours.

DOT Region XI wants tourists to know that there is night life in Davao despite strict ordinances on curfew and wine selling. This is why, for the second year of DOT’s Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) campaign, the agency has included it in its offerings.

Kalumon Performing Arts

Kalumon Performing Arts is a very talented group. Witness its various song and cultural dance numbers at the Matina Town Square (MTS), the entertainment hub of Davao City.

This group creates performance pieces rooted in indigenous Filipino culture. Its shows will make you appreciate the beauty, talents, and culture of Davaoenos.

Selfie, groufie with eagles

^{Philippine Eagle Center}

Simulating a tropical rainforest environment, the Philippine Eagle Center is home to 34 Philippine eagles, 18 of which were bred in captivity. It also houses 10 other species of birds, four species of mammals, and two species of reptiles. A major tourist attraction in the region, the eagles have become tourist-friendly over the years. They pose for the cameras, too!

Don’t forget to drop by the nearby Malagos Garden Resort for wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting activity afterwards. It is also home to the Waling-Waling, dubbed the Queen of Philippine Orchids, as well as stately pine trees and a collection of pieces by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

Davao is a great place to live in, truly a promised land: Clean. Progressive. Peaceful. Modern. If you’re searching for a city that capitalizes on the outdoors, fresh harvests, affordable food and lodging, Davao would surely be a pleasant surprise. — LBG/KG, GMA News

Photos by Leonila Garcia