culture shock

I had taken a wrong route to my destination and bearing it when I witnessed this scene along the way. It was taken near a monument marking the site of a pre-colonial settlement between San Pedro St. and Quezon Blvd.



The lady from an indigenous tribe wore her striking ethnic costume that starkly contrasted the drab concrete that surrounded her. Yet her intense facial expression vividly portrayed the emotion of being in a state of culture shock. Hopefully, this city would be sensitive and aware enough to accommodate individuals like her who have contributed to Davao's formidable identity. Hopefully, this city won't seem a cold, concrete jungle amidst the prerilous situation of her ancient culture struggling to survive in the modern era.

Witnessing this rare scene, perhaps the 'wrong' route that I took may not necessarily seem to be.

wearable art

Function and Art blend well with these indigenous costumes. Such formidable combination had helped sustain an ancient cultural legacy that inspired not only Davao, but the whole country to gain a foothold in history yet untarnished by colonial influences. The indigenous people wear these geometries of Timeless Beauty well preserved by their traditional costumes.

dream weave

These are some of the intricate Lumad (indigenous) weavings done by various ethnic tribes of Davao being displayed at the museum. The proud cultural tribes of Davao are a living legacy whose history dates back many, many centuries ago and yet still thrive even in this modern era. The patterns are handed down by the Lumad weavers from generation to generation, and other patterns are inspired by dreams.

There must be some hidden code of the Universe with those intricate geometric patterns, hmm...

modern blend

Viewed at a certain angle, the museum's wooden stairway reveals its blend of interesting modernity.

local museum

At last a small, modest museum more accessibly located to the populace initialy opened prior to the city's charter day celebration. It is called Museo Dabawenyo, with a pragmatic facade (renovated from an old government building) that somehow reflected the young and pioneering history of the city.

Recalling nearly eight years ago, I once lamented in a defunked publication of a local artist group:

"The local government may be making plans for multi-million projects like a sports dome, an international airport, coastal roads. However, we still have to hear from them plans for constructing a museum that will truly be accesible to every Davaoeno, that will preserve the soul of this city and ensure that it will not be lost in the chaotic rush for development."

The sports dome had become a white elephant, an ultra-modern airport is now busily servicing the city, and the coastal road fell victim to the Asian financial crisis. But then, the vision of having a more accesible museum has finally been realized.

There will be no turning back for this will be the beginning of an era when an individual need not continually suffer at living with any historically unaware, art-clueless, culturally insensitive society.

charter day preparation

People go somewhere with banners everywhere in this image of the downtown area facing the city hall. This scene was taken two days before Davao celebrates its 71st anniversary as a chartered city, hence the festive mood.

free wifi!

Here's another surprise that I had discovered in some parts of the city, free wifi hotspots! And the spot where I took this pic is one of them:






Guess I'll be posting some free hotspots from time to time. The catch is I won't say the address exactly, so you hav'ta to look for it yourself (locals may not find the task difficult though) in case you drop by here.

sensuous drumsticks

Davao is such a vast area that finding a pleasant surprise is not uncommon, even among locals. By my experience this is one of them:



Anybody can view these domestic ostriches for free and for just a few minutes ride from downtown. This is still located in Baywalk Park. I also saw in the 'neighborhood' the tamest deers I'd ever encountered, and different kinds of fowls (all in cages, though).

Witnessing an ostrich, I discovered, may elicit contradictory impulses into one's neuron ranging from the sensuous ( their sexy gait:-) to the yummy (the largest drumstick I ever saw!).

But don't you fantasize about cooking these two.

Humans! Help!

Have you heard of someone with an unfortunate experience of being attacked by a shark?

He will (especially if english-speaking) most probably holler: Shark! Help!

But this pic seemed to shout the other tune. This time it is the sharks' turn and if your imagination ain't stagnant, you'd hear them gasp this time: HUMANS! HELP!

These unfortunate, juvenile predators are one of the unusual attractions of the Baywalk Park, a mere 5 min. ride from downtown Davao. They're literally trapped in this well-tiled prison; I was on one end of the pool (in which they could sense because they never came near me), and on the other end is a giant nude human statue, a replica of Michelangelo's David.

rap boy

We were strolling along another controversial park in the city, the Baywalk, when a thin, haggard-looking kid approached us. He said he will do a rap performance in exchange for mere peso coins. We sat by a bench as he prepared to do his number. Then...



...Amazing. Without skipping a bit, we were transported to the stark realities of this little boy's life with such intense, melancholic expression on his face as he narrated the hardships, the abuse, contempt, the determination to live as he held precariously his priceless dignity, expressed with the rythmic harmony of his frail, rapt voice. We witnessed this actual rendition of a work of Art. Then he prodded on, and with childlike strength he carried a fragile light of hope for him and his generation.

still kids and live kids

Live kids and still kids play together during an ethereal moment inside the park; the sentient children grinning with smiles as wide as their counterparts that endearingly 'watch' them as they savor what really matters in this life.