Golf in the Philippines Davao Del Sur

There are a number of things that make Davao del Sur the most well known province of the country. It is, in the first place, the province with the world's largest city: Davao City has a land area of 2,211 sq. km., which is unique in the world. Furthermore, Davao del Sur is the fastest growing province of the country. It is also the province with the country's highest mountain: Mount Apo, a 2954 m. high dormant volcano. Last, but not least, it is the last stronghold of the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

Most of the province is mountainous or rolling hills. There are two large plains, one around Davao City and one around Digos, about 60 km. South of Davao City.

Large scale agriculture (banana, asparagus, cattle) and deep-sea fishing are main sources of income. In and around Davao City and Digos there is some light and medium to heavy industry.

In 1848, Governor General Narciso Claveria authorized Don Jose Oyanguren, a deported Spanish adventurer, to recruit men for an expedition against Datu Bago. With the assistance of the Bagobo tribe, Don Jose defeated the datu at the mouth of the Davao River.

Thereafter, Don Jose founded a settlement at the north end of what is now Bolton Street, with his soldiers and relatives as the first residents. They moved the settlement to higher ground when the Davao River flooded this. Oyanguren named the village Nueva Vergara in honor of his native town in Spain. Over the decades the village grew into a thriving community. Today, with over 900,000 inhabitants, the city is the third largest city of the Philippines.

Provincial capital is Digos, a town with 100,000 inhabitants, about 55 kms south of Davao City.

HOW TO GET THERE?

Davao City has an international airport, Bangoy Airport. Several airlines maintain regular national and international flights from and to Bangoy Airport, Davao City. There are also ferry services from most major ports in the country to Davao City. Regular (airconditioned) busses operate between Davao City and other towns.

WHAT TO SEE?

Davao City is a religious city with many places of worship. There are not only churches, shrines, but also Chinese and Buddhist temples to visit. Davao's Long Hua Temple is the biggest Buddhist temple in Mindanao. About 300 m. south of the Buddhist temple is a Taoist Temple with a very remarkable Pagoda. There are also several mosques.

The Dabaw Museum can be found next to the Insular Century Hotel Davao. The museum features the cultural minorities of south Mindanao, especially the Mansaka and the Bagobo. Outside Davao City are the banana plantations and orchid farms. A popular plantation to visit is, for instance, the GAP Farming Orchid Resort.

The Insular Hotel is one of the few hotels in the country that serves tuba, a liquid tapped from the top of the coconut palm and comparable with wine. Tuba is a very popular drink in the countryside. Behind the same hotel is Etnika Dabaw, where Mandaya people demonstrate their traditional skills in dyeing abaca fibres, weaving and decorating textiles.

Most of the beaches around Davao City have black volcanic sand and are not really nice. Talamo Beach, a few kms to the south was the place where the Japanese landed in 1942, and the Americans in 1945.

Philippine Eagle Breeding Station. In fact the last hope for rescuing the Philippine Eagle. The station is located in Malogos, near Calinan, about 35 kms west of Davao City, a picturesque forested area. It can be visited, and there is a small zoo with endangered Philippine species, among them the whole range of Philippine eagles.

Mount Apo. The dormant volcano is located inside the Mount Apo National Park. It is possible to climb to the top of the 2,954 m. mountain, but the climb is not easy. The Department of Tourism in Davao City organizes once in a while a climb to the top. It takes between three to five days to conquer it, while enjoying nature at the same time. If you want to do it on your own then contact first the Department of Tourism in Davao City, next the Mt. Apo Climber Association at the office of the Digos Times, in Digos. Guides and porters can be hired in the town of Kidapawan, about 80 kin. Northwest of Digos.

WHERE TO STAY?

Davao City has a wide range of hotels to offer, the following hotels are accredited by the department of Tourism:

First Class: Insular Century Hotel

Standard: Evergreen Hotel; Hotel Maguindanao, Ramon Plaza Hotel; Tierra Verde Hotel.

There are two very good hotels, which are, for whatever reason, not accredited: Mt. Apo View, a long established hotel with room rates between P 1,500 and 2,500 per night, and the Durian Hotel, with rates around P 2,000 per night.

WHERE TO EAT?

Davao City is one of the very few cities or towns in the Philippines that succeeded in keeping an inner city alive. The result is an inner city with lots of cosy, good quality, restaurants of any kind. You can eat here European, Chinese, or Filipino. Some suggestions: there is a whole row of different restaurants on the corner of Florentino Torres Street. And J.P.Laurel Ave. Bistro Rosario has excellent steaks and European food; Molave Restaurant is a good place for Filipino food, also Kusina Dabaw. For Chinese food try Shanghai Restaurant. Mongolian Garden serves Mongolian barbecue. Also nice are the Muslim Eateries at the Muslim Fishing Village. For Japanese food the best place is Tsuru Restaurant. There is also a wide range of fast foods such as McDonald's, Jollibee, ChowKing and others.

Entertainment. Davao City has an extensive nightlife. There are bars, nightclubs and discos to choose from. They can be found on McArthur Highway and in downtown Davao City.