Down on the South: Downtown Davao 1

* Aveflor Inn, our modest abode during our stay [1]

* student attendees at the time; Darril Ramos, Trailer Pransis, and Ma’am Hariz Forio [3]

Can I call it metropolis? For that is the initial thing that occurred to me as I traveled in a contract-mode taxi through its circuitous roads, half-afraid that I might get mugged as I was obviously a stranger with all my stuff. The mere presence of taxis is evidence enough of its developed state.

But if one should be sensitive enough of a city’s past, one can dig in some books that Davao City has been the scene for many incidents of insurgencies and local upheavals, most of which were done by or through the NPA (more on this on a later entry). Needless to say, its growth as a city cannot be plainly described in terms of gradual, sigalot-free, process. As for innocent visitors like me at that time, the night time is especially enticing.

Walking through Davao streets cannot be said to be boring for one can essentially enjoy the sights, tourist or not. Most of the streets are still awake with activities through the night.

* the Marco Polo Hotel [1]

* picture taking at the Marco Polo Hotel with Professor Herrera [2]

* lobby leech, still inside Marco Polo [2]

* the presidents’ wall [2]

* tapestry? framed big at the Marco Polo lobby [2]

The inn where we rented rooms for our stay is situated strategically, close to some of the big time hotels, Ateneo de Davao, and important establishments in the city. But I cannot claim that it is at the heart of the city, for until now, I cannot scale the expanse of the city, having only toured to some of its parts. It’s a big city, there’s no doubt about it.

* behold, Ateneo de Davao University! [1]

* Ateneo de Davao entrance [3]

* view of Davao proper from Ateneo de Davao [1]

* view from Ateneo de Davao with the seas visible at the horizon [1]

We had the conference in Ateneo de Davao but I believe we have pent more time sighting seeing and touring than at the conference itself. Need I describe the size of this school? Maybe I should put forward instead my hunch that a famous blogger, of ‘Village Idiot Savant’ works there. If only I have known the person at that time, I could have had a good lit-time with him and with the lit-people there.

Did I say I was not able to have some history notes? Well yes to a certain extent. But my first tour the night I arrived there proved to be a very important place in Davao’s recent history.