december-2011

JOJIE ALCANTARA
trip journal
PHILIPPINES
DAVAO
AREA CODE (82)
CURRENCY Philippine Peso (PHP1 = US$0.02)
TOUCHDOWN Francisco Bangoy International
Airport or the Davao International Airport is about
15 minutes away from the city center. Davaoeño
cabbies are known for their honesty, so a taxi from
the airport to the hotel is a good option.
BY DAY Visit Paradise Beach Resort at Samal
Island, which is only a 10-minute drive from the
city center plus a fi ve-minute boat ride from the
shore. Stop by the Davao Wakeboard Park at
Mintal, 45 minutes away from the city center.
BY NIGHT Jack’s Ridge is generally a quiet place
to hang out and enjoy the cityscape at night. It
also has bars with good music and restaurants
with great food. You can even lie down on the
grass in the park.
SLEEP Book a room at the Metropolis Suites,
a three-star hotel with fi ve-star service and
amenities. It’s strategically located near the malls
and the airport.
{ 210 }
Aileen
Yutankin
entrepreneur
BEST DINNER Alor’s Home
kitchen along Torres St serves the best
home-cooked style meals and pastries.
MUST-TRY Discover a unique
escape with a Davao wildwater
adventure.
INSIDER TIP Davao is very strict
with smoking in public, so always
ask around before lighting up your
cigarette.
BOBBY TIMONERA
PHILIPPINES
BUTUAN
AREA CODE (85)
CURRENCY PHP1 = US$0.02
TOUCHDOWN From the airport, you can hire a
taxi or van to take you to the city proper. Once in
the city, do as the Butuan residents do — hop on
the ubiquitous tricycle, still the main way to get
from place to place.
BY DAY Butuan City is rich in culture and history.
You can go to the Balangay Shrine Museum
to see the some-thousand-year-old boats our
ancestors used to reach the Philippines. You can
also visit the Banza Church Ruins.
BY NIGHT Caraga Square is ideal for good food,
drinks and outdoor entertainment. It is an open-air
venue so you can enjoy the gentle night breeze.
Butuan is a sleepy town that turns in early, so join
the town in getting a good night’s sleep.
SLEEP The VCDU Prince Hotel and Convention
Center along South Montilla Boulevard offers
reasonable rates and nice, clean rooms. www.
vcduprincehotel.com
AJ
Garchitorena
teacher
MUST-TRY Margie’s
Bakeshoppe has the best cakes.
Plus, leave a mark on their wall!
INSIDER TIP Avoid the rainy
season; the city is below sea level
so it fl oods.
BEST SOUVENIRS T’boli
earrings and bracelets, malongs,
dried mangoes and Golden Tara
statues.