The last leg of our post-PHITEX Nature and Adventure familiarization trip took us to Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal, where we soaked ourselves in local culture and gastronomic fare and enjoyed some much-needed R&R in the great outdoors.
Like (Samal’s Clear) Water for (Malagos) Chocolates and Davao’s Durian, Culture and More
After four days of exploring Cagayan de Oro and parts of Bukidnon, the group looked forward to some downtime sinking our bodies into the salty waters of the Davao Gulf—the same body of water regularly frequented by an array of species of toothed whales and dolphins.
But first, we needed to pass through the largest city in the country in terms of land area: Davao City.
Take a Bow, Davao
While the bustling activities in Davao mirror other big cities in the Philippines, the towering presence of Mount Apo instantly looms to remind visitors of the area's duality as an urban and countryside setting.
With only a full day to spare before heading off to Samal Island, our group made the most of our time by making a series of stops at a few landmark locations that best typified the city's character—one rich in tradition, history, heritage, flora, fauna, and the arts.
We tried our hands at chocolate making at the Malagos Chocolate Museum, which is located within the Malagos Garden Resort. While we did not get to see the entire process because the first seven stages of chocolate creation can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, we did get to experience first-hand the molding phase, which is the eighth of a nine-step process followed by Malagos.
This is the stage where you simply need to pour the tempered chocolate into a molding tray of various shapes along with a small amount of fillings such as walnuts, almonds, dried mangoes, and raisins. Afterward, during the final phase, our creations were cooled for half an hour to achieve the finished form that one can quickly bite into and enjoy as it melts in the mouth.
.jpg "Indigenous Folk Dance Performances Entertaining Guests During the Resort Intermission")
We also learned that Malagos produces award-winning chocolates from single-origin cacao beans grown and harvested on their farm located at the foothills of Mount Talomo—a dormant volcano nestled right beside Mount Apo.
.jpg "The Educational Display Rooms of the Famous Malagos Chocolate Museum")
Before our visit to the Malagos Museum, we had our Davao-themed buffet lunch inside the resort where we were treated to a cultural show featuring young performers from the local community. The show, which seamlessly combines Bagobo dances with traditional folk dances to portray the stories of several communities and their respective festivities, is a beautiful representation of the region's rich and varied cultural heritage.
.jpg "A Delicious Table Buffet Spread of Traditional Regional Mindanaoan Dishes")
After a short ten-minute drive from Malagos, we arrived at the Philippine Eagle Center. At first glance, one might wonder why such mesmerizing, winged monarchs of the sky are kept here in enclosures. However, after listening to the tour guides, visitors quickly realize that the center's primary mission is to rehabilitate various types of eagles—especially survivors of poaching—before releasing them back into the wild, while operating the facility to protect the critically endangered National Bird of the Philippines.
.jpg "Rescued Wild Birds of Prey Sheltered Safely inside Protection Cages")
The 8.4-hectare facility located on the foothills of Mount Apo houses more than thirty Philippine Eagles, with half of them being captive-bred. Seeing what famed aviator Charles Lindbergh described as "the air's noblest flier" up close was an awesome experience.
.jpg "A Young Philippine Eagle Named Pagbabago Being Trained inside the Sanctuary Enclosures")
Capping off our Davao trip was a stop at Magsaysay Park for some Durian fruit tasting and an educational lecture from our guide about the region's diverse ethnolinguistic communities.
.jpg "A Close Up View of the Regal Crown Crest Feathers of a Resident Philippine Eagle")
Named in honor of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, the park sits on a sprawling space facing the waters of the Davao Gulf. Aside from the twenty-five-meter tri-pillar obelisk tower featuring a statue of President Magsaysay, the park is noted for its exquisite replicas of the dwellings of Mindanao's eleven tribes, as well as various art installations crafted by local artists.
.jpg "Full Scale Heritage Architecture Models of Indigenous Native Mindanaoan Dwellings")
Glimpses of art and other crafts are displayed on each house model, symbolizing the diverse culture of the eleven ethnolinguistic communities in Mindanao—namely the Sama, Tausug, Maranao, Ata, Matigsalug, Bagobo-K'lata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Obu-Manuvu, Iranun, Kagan, and Maguindanaon.
To the Bat Cave and Beaches of Samal Island
We completed our journey with a two-night stay on Samal Island, namely at the Discovery Samal resort, which began operations in June 2023.
This property boasts more than one hundred and fifty huge rooms and suites along with three large pools running parallel at different elevations along the beach, encircled by a tangle of canopy trees, gardens, and trails leading to the property's many amenities.
.JPG "The Elegant Contemporary Main Structural Entry Courtyard Lobby of Discovery Samal")
While the preceding four days had been filled with stimulating activities at every turn, our group relished the opportunity to simply relax by the pool or on the beachfront of this spectacular resort, and we did exactly that upon arrival.
Since rest is for the weak and exploring is for the wanderers in our group, our Nature and Adventure activities continued the next day with a snorkeling trip to the Giant Clam Sanctuary—otherwise known as the Taklobo (the local word for "giant clams") Sanctuary.
.jpg "Premium Beachfront Lounge Beds Set Along the Calm Shoreline of the Resort")
More than 3,700 giant clams, including more than 3,000 considered adults, call this fourteen-hectare marine protected area home. These huge clams are protected for study and conservation efforts thanks to a partnership between Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), the AdeCor United Fisherfolks Organization (ACUFOR), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Samal.
%20Sanctuary%20(19).JPG "Adventure Tourists Gearing Up to Snorkel down into the Giant Clam Sanctuary")
The sanctuary's resident tour guide gave us a fascinating briefing before we dove into the water, enlightening us about the clams and other marine species thriving in the vicinity. Our guide also stressed that individuals should refrain from touching the aquatic organisms, since they are extremely fragile and can be killed by even the slightest action of unguided curiosity.
%20Sanctuary%20(11).JPG "Translucent Clear Coastal Waters of the Taklobo Sanctuary Marine Enclaves")
The gigantic clams in the shallow sea shone like flowers in bloom as our group approached, with their brilliant colors shimmering in hues of blue, violet, and other rainbow colors.
While giant clams hold court in the waters of Samal, inland, the bats lord it over the interior regions in massive numbers at the Monfort Bat Sanctuary. This fifty-seven-acre site is home to the largest single bat colony in the world, consisting of almost three million Rousette fruit bats.
.jpg "Ecotourists Receiving Environmental Guidance and Briefings Near the Cave Openings")
The Iñigo-Monfort family initially bought this piece of land in the early 1900s, only to discover a network of caves that were home to thousands of bats—a population that would grow to house millions over the course of several decades. In spite of the unpleasant smell of bat droppings and the initial shock of seeing so many of them up close, the sight of them hanging upside down, practically covering every inch of the cave, is a surreal image that further reminds you of the strangeness and wonders of nature.
.jpg "Millions of Wild Rousette Fruit Bats Densely Layered and Hanging inside the Caves")
.jpg "The Bat Covered External Crevices and Mouth Openings of the Protected Sanctuary Caves")
It was apparent how Mindanao’s rich culture and the natural wonders of Samal Island left a lasting impression on our foreign participants. I could sense their astonishment as they absorbed all the incredible experiences we had, from exploring Cagayan de Oro to venturing into Bukidnon. Finally, on our last night, we gathered once more on the pristine white sands of Discovery Samal, indulging in a delightful buffet dinner while being entertained by mesmerizing fire dance performers. The breathtaking starry skies that added to the enchanting ambiance of the night aptly ended our Nature and Adventure trip on a high note.
.jpg "Exquisite Midnight Fire Dance Choreography Performed Natively Along the Samal Beachfront")
As we said our farewells the following morning, all eight foreign sellers in our group made a pledge not only to promote the places we visited, but also to highlight the entire Philippines to their clients in their respective countries.
And with that, this year’s Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) comes to a close. See you all next year.
