Retreat Area

Nice view in the Island Garden City of Samal or IGACOS when we went there to see the potential of a parcel of land as possible family investment. We still have to make up our mind on what to do to this. But the place is a good place where you can unwind. As you can see, it is elevated and the breeze of air is so fresh - away from the city's usual polluted air brought about by smoke-belching factories and cars. Here, there is serenity that everyone is looking for to keep his sanity :-).  The place can be reached in less than an hour away from our home.  

Davao - IGACOS Barges

As they were heading for home (from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) to Davao), my daughter Maico snapped at these barges last last Sunday. Barges ply the route Davao-IGACOS as major mean of transportation from the jump-off point in Sasa (Davao City side) to IGACOS. 

Giant Lizard

Yesterday, Yahoo ran a news entitled: "Giant Lizard Discovered in the Philippines." If I am not mistaken, this is the same lizard species locally (Davao Region) called "halo or ibid." Actually, I am not quite sure if these local terms refer to the same species. That is whether "halo" is different from "ibid."  I cannot tell the difference. What I am sure of is that both terms refer to a reptile species. Maybe this is the reason we have a one-liner joke that goes:"Halo? (Hello). Ibid!".

Anyways, halo or ibid is endemic here. Which is why if you stay along the riverbanks, chances are you see them searching for food or prey. But not as big as Yahoo News reported which was 6.5 feet long. Or maybe, bigger lizards here were already caught by the local folks. The giant golden-spotted species was first noted in 2004 in Luzon's Sierra Madre mountain, according to the online news. Now it is considered as a new species from the Philippines.

They are hunted for their chicken-taste meat owing perhaps to the favorite prey of the species which is chicken. Again, I am not sure if this is true but my grandfather who was a farmer would always say that "halo/ibid" eats farm chicken. 

Exotic restaurants offer a delicacy out of this species. I had tasted its meat long time ago when my younger brother and his friends caught one near our home and fried its meat. It was already late that night when I ate some slices of the fried delicacy which I knew later as halo or ibid meat. I nearly threw up after my brother told me what was it. That was my first and last - an experience which I don't want to repeat.

Family Outing

One of our family outings just within our locality. My two kids and Parekoy, my occasional errand, taking time to pose with the jiffy.

Vinegar for Stomachache

Don't get me wrong, I am not promoting Datu Puti vinegar. But because of its healing power, I don't have second thought against posting its image here. The title says it all. Aside from the fact that vinegar is part of our food habit, we just recently knew it is one best remedy for stomachache resulting from food poisoning or food contamination.

If you read my previous post, I shared to you about an episode of stomachaches I experienced one time. Not only once but countless times in the past, sending me to bed for two to three days.

That one time was the turning point. As I suffered from a stomache, my wife recalled what we had watched from the tv program "Salamat, Dok" of Sheryl Cosim, (ABS-CBN) about the healing power of vinegar against stomachache. As the wave of pain became unbearably intense, I took three spoonfuls of vinegar. Within few seconds I was amazingly relieved. That was the start, my kids learned the magic of the vinegar as fast natural remedy to stomachache or as effective stomachache stopper.

Patrick Swayze

First off, give the credit where it is due. Thanks yahoo for the photo I lifted from your page. Anyway, I am posting this brief post about one of the best actors that Hollywood has ever had - Patrick Swayze - who recently died of pancreatic cancer, according to Yahoo News.

By memory, I could not name the other films that starred him but what stick to mind was his role in the 1990's popular and award-winning flick Ghost co-starred Demi Moore. Who could forget the very romantic pottery wheel scene? Anyway, this film relived the song "Unchained Melody" which would dominate the airlanes and videoke bars/joints.

Well, not that I like the film Ghost whose plot was similar to Steven Spielberg's film Always (Holy Hunter and Richard Dryefuss) in 1989 or whether it was one of the best pictures during the 90s but all because the film became part of my life or the life of my wifey. Sounds corny but our first date was in that movie. And three years later, we got married and now we are raising our three children who are all girls.

Needless to say that I was saddened also by the untimely death of Mr. Swayze. RIP, Mr. Swayze.

Kadayawan 2009

I missed the Davao City's 24th Kadayawan Festival celebration held this August 17-23, 2009. I had many projects to attend the reason why my family was not able to see major events during the celebration.

Indeed the festive mood of the city was marked with these buntings hanged in the city's main thoroughfares like this one along C.M. Recto Avenue. I took these photos while going home from an appointment.

The celebration was themed "Nahiusang Katawhan Nakigdait sa Kalibutan (One People in Communion with the Earth). Usual highlights of the festival derived from the traditions of the local indigeous people's cultures, included the colorful street dancing / competition which was participated in by representatives from various triabl groups in the region.

Go back to the theme, the people of Davao are always one in dream and aspiration. The emphasis this time is with their supposed "communion with the Earth." If that means with the environment, then perhaps the theme is true especially now that Davao City is faced with the challenged to protect its ecology from environmental abuses. For instance, the city is bent on putting a stop to aerial spraying method as practiced for years by banana plantations here but the case is being contested after the city council favored for the alternative pest-control method.

Another controversy involves the Tamugan-Panigan River system that a power company is planning to tap for a hydropower projects. The river system is a protected area being touted as part of the important acquifer of the city. ALready, the National Water Regulatory Board gave a go signal for the project but the Davao City Water District and the city council opposed to it. Where all this leads to that's a question but we know that this will remain an issue untill all parties will finally agree on common ground - that is what is good for city. Anyway, if you want to know more details about the recently-concluded festival, you can visit the site here.

Spanish Plum

These fruits in the bowl go with various names such as Spanish Plum, Spondias purpurea or locally known as Sineguelas. I should add the adjective "delicious" to it. With its succulent meat and sugary taste and a kick of little sourness, Sineguelas is one of our favorite local fruits. The hard part is, of course, its hard hairy seed. When I was in my elementary Grade 3, the word "sineguelas" was a fave word during spelling quizes. And when I had the chance to join a school division-wide spelling bee, the word was mentioned during the first elimination round. I was good only until the second elimination round. LOL. Rich in Vitamin C, the fruit is grown all over the country no wonder that it is a common sight in  fruit stands and sold at P35 to P45 per kilogram. my wifey came home with a a pack of these fruits some info says the fruit came from tropical America brought here by the Spaniards. Thanks to our colonizers :-).

Mastering Every Chord

Previously, I posted that my kids wanted to learn how to strum the guitar. So we bought an acoustic guitar from the Victoria Plaza, one of the pioneering malls in Davao City which is located in J. P. Laurel Avenue, about 13 to 14 kilometers from our place. When it was opened to the public, VP had become an instant star as far as the Davaoeños who frequented the mall were concerned. There various entertainment activities it offered that's why it was well-loved by the residents here and from other regions in Mindanao. But today there are other places as options to go after several malls opened in the city like SM City, NCCC Mall and the latest Robinsons in J. P. Laurel Avenue.

During the vacation this year, my kids started to religiously practice in strumming the guitar and now they have mastered about five hit songs of Taylor Swift. Here in the photo, my eldest Cooky is playing TS' Picture to Burn.

I am happy with the progress through online tutorials from the YouTube.

Cheap Watermelon

The other night my wifey went home with two large watermelons she bought at Php45 each. The watermelon was so fresh and we enjoyed every slice of the fruit.