To regionalize the festivity, Samal Island’s Caracoles Festival organizers will now celebrate the festival in Davao City.

The first, third, and fourth Caracoles Festival were all held in Samal Island. The past Caracoles Festival was held in Penaplata, a district in the Island Garden City of Samal, as in the past, the festival is held in venues located near and along the white sand beaches.

Davao Region Tourism Council (DRTC) chair Alma Uy said for years, the Caracoles Festival has been identified with the Island Garden City of Samal.

But this year, the Island Garden City of Samal which is famous for its white sand beaches, yields the festivities to Davao City in time for the celebration of the World Ocean Year in May.

This year’s 5th Caracoles Festival in April will be held side by side with the Dive Davao Festival which highlights the Dive Caravan.

The event will take place in various diving sites in the whole of Davao Region, including Samal. The organizers also aims to build awareness on how people can take part on the Davao Gulf preservation and conservation.

Davao is Mindanao’s hub when it comes to arts and culture. After visiting the Philippine Eagle Center and Malagos Garden Resort, we went straight to Lynda’s Durian Candy Factory for pasalubong shopping. Aside from Pomelo (Suha), Durian is probably Davao’s most consumed fruit.

Since a lot of my friends appreciate Durian in Candy form, I bought several packs of Durian Candy from Linda’s Durian Candy Factory. Other than fruits, durian candy, mangosteen candy and ube candy, Davao is also the market place for Mindanao’s arts and crafts.

Davao Fresh Durian

Your Davao visit is not complete without visiting the Aldevinco shopping center, a one stop shopping arcade where you can buy Maranao and T’boli brass wares, Maranao Baur (Black Wooden Chest), Indigenous house decors, malongs, batik products and a lot of antiques and other ethnic products. Read the full story

After visiting the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, we had a quick stop in Malagos Garden Resort to view and take photos of their popular orchid garden. The Resort is a 12 hectare inland Nature Theme Resort located near the Philippine Eagle Park.

Waling Waling Orchid

They offer fully serviced air-conditioned overnight cottages, with Bath tubs, Hot and cold showers, veranda, TV, mini bar, telephone. The resort has 2 restaurants, function rooms, and pavillion that can accomodate 750 guests. Read the full story

It’s our second day in Davao and since we hired a Toyota Van, we decided to visit the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos Davao City. It has been more than five years since I last visited this park and I saw a lot of improvements.

Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle

The trees have grown and the place looks like a well maintained man made forest with a beautiful landscape. They constructed a film center where Philippine Eagle documentaries can be viewed, its intention is to build awareness for the conservation of “Haring Ibon” (Philippine Eagle). Read the full story