Davao

Davao (092919)

The last time I was in Davao was in 1995, and last week because of a convention held in this lovely city – I was back again in Davao after twenty-four (24) long years. 

I never really intended to be back in this city that ironically gave birth to the current Duterte presidency.  The fellow still has an ongoing martial law in effect in the entire island of Mindanao and for political reasons as well as for financial reasons, I made a promise to myself that I would only be returning to the land of my parents once it is rid of the martial law rule.

Life however has a different plan, a convention by the Psychological Association of the Philippines was held in Davao and though my attendance is not really that needed (for license renewal), an opportunity presented itself, a convention budget was won and made available and so, there I was in the epicenter of martial law rule in Mindanao.

A side story was that, even though the budget was already approved, and because of my reluctance to visit Davao, I even offered my slot to a co-faculty.  Fortunately or unfortunately, she declined the opportunity hence I had to option but to proceed and use the approved budget and off to the mouth of the wanna be dictator , I proceeded. 

Since I last remembered it, Davao have changed and ironically have not also changed.  The landscape has changed, there is a current construction boom – owning to the fact that the current occupant of the Malacanang Palace came from this city.  Twenty-four years ago, SM department store has yet to open a branch and now, SM has to malls operating inside Davao.

I stayed for three nights and four days in Davao, and since I lived for two years there previously, four days is obviously not enough to relive and re create by former stay in Davao.

I stayed at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, courtesy of RGO Review Center and it was a grand hotel in the process of renovating itself and still in the process of recapturing its lost glory years.  My stay however was pleasant and luxurious.  The hotel was in the middle of the city of Davao.  I was able to visit the site of the Philippine Eagle and the famous crocodile farm.  Between the two, the effort and the hassle of visiting the Philippine Eagle farm was worth the energy expended – the crocodile farm however was a big letdown.  It was no better than the Manila Zoo.

In my last day, I visited the San Pedro Church in the middle of the city and walked for a while revisiting the hustle and bustle of what life could have been had I stayed in Davao.  It is weird playing the what if game considering that it could really be an alternative life for me had life took another turn.  The possibilities really, are endless but the outcome would have been the same. 

I would be the same person but with a different credentials.  I really don’t think that I would be able to pursue my graduate studies and earned a doctorate degree had I stayed in Davao, but I think that I would be criminally richer.  Not that I am rich right now, but far wealthier had I stayed and gambled my luck in Davao.

092919