Pundok Habagat ‘Summer Traverse’ on Samal Island
DAVAO City ? Pundok Habagat Davao is holding its ?Summer Traverse -- White Rock to Canibad? from March 31 to April 2 in Pe?aplata, the Island Garden City of Samal.…
Dahican Hosts National Skimboarding Festival
By Lito delos Reyes davaotoday.com DAVAO CITY ? The ?Beat the Wave National Skimboarding Festival? has been scheduled on April 8 and 9 at the Dahican Beach in Mati, Davao…
Rains Fail to Dampen ‘Araw ng Dabaw’ Festivities
City celebrates 69th Charter Day with grand parade, concerts, shows
Bodybuilders flex some muscle during today’s Araw ng Dabaw parade. Click here to view more pictures. (davaotoday.com photos by Keith Bacongco)
By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com
DAVAO CITY — The rain may have delayed the grand traditional parade that was supposed to kick off this city?s 69th Charter Day celebrations early morning today, but the dreary weather did not dampen the spirit of Davaoe?os, particularly Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
?Even if it rains fire or rocks, even if volcanoes explode and even if it floods, what is important is we can show to the young the spirit of Davao,? Duterte said in a television broadcast before the festivities.
The theme of this year?s celebration is a nod to the Filipino youth: ?Cleanliness, Health, The Future of the Youth.? (Read Duterte’s official message.)
?We in the government service who have been here for a long time, who are already in our sunset days, we are passing it on. In a few years from now, there will be a new mayor. We need to show the young that they have to be ready so that when their time comes, they would know what to do,? Duterte said.
Despite the rain, the parade continued. What stood out, however, were not the usual floral-inspired and Lumad-inspired floats but the military and police contingents. It was an apparent showcase of Duterte?s emphasis on security.
'LITTLE TOKYO'. Flags of Japan and the Philippines are placed in various locations in Davao City including in Barangay Mintal where Japan's First Lady Akei Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is set to visit on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Barangay Mintal is tagged as the Little Tokyo of prewar Philippines where early Japanese migrants reside?d and worked in the abaca plantations around it?. (Zea Io Ming C. Capistrano/davaotoday.com)
How Davao Became ‘Little Tokyo’
A lot of things have changed since the 1930s, when Davao City was born out of fear of Japanese control. What remained, however, is the affinity to it by the Japanese, who remain the top tourists to the city.
Davao’s Dive Spots
By Jetty Ayop-Ohaylan davaotoday.com DAVAO CITY -- If you are looking for fun and exciting aqua-sport here, scuba diving is one of the options. There are several dive sites in…