DAVAO-beyond Eden, 3/7/2012

One section of Eden is devoted to illustration of indigenous healing practices including the use of herbs, plants and various concoctions made from nature.  The Spanish colonizers destroyed all records kept by the indigenous tribes regarding the medicinal properties of such natural remedies, citing them as works of the devil.  Truth is truth, however. Today what our own Filipino indigenous people had known all along has become fairly common.  We got to see firsthand the source.

Tawa-tawa is a natural remedy for dengue fever and snake bites.  Also, not shown here, is Citronella, a long, reed-like plant used as insect repellent - mostly mosquitoes - and is found in candles, incense coils, and the refill tube of lotion I bought in a convenience store in Davao.  We got to carry a small piece in our backpacks during our Eden tour.

An albino peacock walking freely around the grounds at Eden.  He shook and shimmied his tail while his harem walked around our tables collecting bread scraps from our merienda.

The Pagobo are one of the indigenous tribes of Mindanao.  Their handicraft is woven bracelets in brown and cream colored grass.  Later that afternoon as the sun was going down, we saw this woman and her baby (named Elisa) jump on the back of a scooter driven by a man- husband maybe?- and head home after a long day's work.

The Divine Davao Writer's Group

                                Three amazing women: Jhoanna Cruz (dagmay.kom.ph) , Monica Ayala.

                             Monica Ayala, her mother, Tita La Cambra Ayala, and Penaranda (w/an "n-ye").

                                          The gathering of writers and wanderers. UP  Chancellor Ricky And Unli-Food !
                                           "unli" = unlimited, as in "Unli- rice" or "Unli-text".  In other words, Eat All         You Can and Write All You Can."  That's All She Can Write right now.

                                          Kublai Cafe & Bar / Ponce Suites. "The Unconvention Center"

                                          Kublai's lovely wife, Maan Chua, a singer and guitarist. Check her out on YouTube.

DAVAO-Father D.J. 3/6

 Father D.J., a Jesuit priest and teacher at Ateneo University here in Davao, is Oscar's nephew.  He is a gentle and intelligent man, articulate and bright, imparting an unmistakably peaceful presence.  Father D.J. invited us all to the Rectory on campus, for a dinner with his fellow priests.

Father D.J. and his  Uncle "Onkoy"

                                                          L-R: Oscar, Oliver- one of the cooks, Father D.J., "RR", and Roma- a lovely soul who serves the priests by shopping and cooking for the priests here at Ateneo University.  We were priveleged to be invited in to the kitchen to meet with them after enjoying a meal prepared by them.  I tell you, I could feel the love that went into their dishes: Laing (leaves in coconut oil and a touch of hot peppers; kare-kare (hands down the BEST I've ever tasted.); sinigang; rice; buko pie.

                                          Night views of Ateneo University.  So nice to be on a college campus, among students...

                                         With gratitude for the tour and meal, Father D.J. !

DAVAO, Mindanao- March 4-8

I look at Muslim Filipinos with wide-eyed wonder, not as a tourist, but as a Filipina-American walking the walk of broadening her perspective by moving among the residents of Davao.  I listen.  I long to snap photos of men and women in muslim dress, but resist,for the most part.  But Filipinos here in Davao stare at us too.  The first day, Vanessa and I went to the supermarket to buy some snacks and water.  We were fine until we opened our mouths.  As soon as people heard us speak English, they literally stopped their shopping carts and turned all the way around to stare.  The stares are thorough. Many do not release that stare until they've had a good long look!  At the checkout counter, the cashier spoke to us in Tagalog and the woman in front of us (aforementioned Starer) said something quickly to her under her breath.  The cashier then looked at me and said, "Oh I thought you were Filipinas because we have the same skin color."   I kinda felt like I was stuck between floors in an elevator, ya feel me?

Davao, like all the places we've been so far, brings us many surprises and laughs.  You wouldn't believe it unless I showed this sign to you, but at the Kusina Dabaw....

                                  Oscar says this is ironic since the Durian fruit is the commodity that brings Davao its fame! !    But seriously, have you sniffed a durian lately?  Is your durian housebroken?  Nevertheless, I'm getting closer to drinking a whole shake before we leave Davao.

Maligayang Kaarawan in the Philippines

Today was my birthday and for a slice of the clock,  California and Davao are aligned on March the 4th!  Celebrating in the Philippines, though I miss being with my family, was very special too.   The festivities actually began last night.  We were busy preparing for early morning travel to Davao.  Before we went off to our rooms, Nena, Vanessa, and Kathy surprised me with happy birthday singing, cards, and lovely pareo, a batik malong, and lovely kimona top.  Tonight, all five of us had dinner at De Bonte Koe, a European/Mediterranean restaurant located in the Habana Compound section of downtown Davao City.  During dinner Vanessa reminded the group of what our new friend in Dumaguete, cool kuya Mo says every Filipino should do on h/her birthday: visit 3 islands.  In this way, it might be possible to see all 7,000+ islands in one's lifetime.  Well, today we set foot on 2: Luzon and Mindanao ! ! !    To this dear group of friends, Maraming Salamat.  This whole adventure binds us forever in the memories we're creating every minute.

                                   At De Bonte Koe for Euro cuisine for a change.  That's Eva, our server, with us.

Parade of Pedi-Cabs

Looking at these photos, I think it's hard to capture the ingenuity that owner/driver puts in to these little vehicles.  Each one- and there are thousands of pedi-cabs- is unique in design, reflecting the personality and  perhaps scavenging ability of its owner.  The pedi-cabs, for me, provide a daily lesson about what it really means to walk-the-walk of Recycling and Reusing material.  We Americans have much to learn.

This is the view from what became my preferred spot: side sitting behind the driver.  One thing I must share here is that, in my experience of several pedi-cab and jeepney rides during our travels in the warm, humid weather of the Philippines,  I always noticed the  groomed and clean presence of the drivers, unlike my sticky, dusty, sweaty self hopping from one vehicle to another.  In the tightly packed proximity that comprises the transit experience everywhere, I mistakenly expected a mix of food aroma with stale cologne; on the contrary, my sensitive nose picked up either neutral or the scent of  freshly laundered clothing- 100% of my time here.

4-passengers can ride.

6--7 passengers can ride.  Do you see where?

I rode side-sitting behind our driver here, with 4 more spots for the others.

Tagaytay, 3/2/2012

Front to back, clockwise: Peachy- our generous, elegant host today; her energetic sister Betty; Brother Jiggers Alejandrino; Nena, Vanessa, Kathy, Lisa.

On the way to Lake Taal, Tierra de Maria Meditation Center, where we received a private tour from Bro. Jiggers G. Alejandro.

Everywhere we look... an abundance of beauty.  One of a long row of fruit stores along the way: langgka, sweet pineapple, guyabano, mango, tomatoes, three different varieties of bananas, watermelon, apples.

                                                              Sonja, Betty, Nena

A restaurant within the greenhouses and gardens.  All organically, homegrown greens, pastas, even homemade bread!

                                 "The Passion of Christ" flower; red petals represent the Apostles.

The purple represents the crown of thorns." I think we're in a Catholic country.

 

Inside the crater of that beautiful little Taal volcano is Lake Taal, which is surrounded by... a Lake.  What most of us have seen on the tour posters of the Philippines is this active volcano.  But step back from it, and then one discovers all the wonder surrounding it as well.

Jose Rizal Shrine, Calamba, Laguna.

Church of St. John the Baptist, Calamba, Laguna. where Jose Rizal was baptized.

            Peachy says, "Did you know that everytime you enter a new church, you get three wishes?"

                                                                    Back to Manila.