I’ve spoken before about my interest in visiting the Lon Wa Buddhist Temple (also known as Long Hua Temple). Finally I had an opportunity to do so, and I was not disappointed.

Though the structure itself was fascinating, along with the many sculptures and furnishings, the tour is not an all day event. It makes a great side trip when you are in the area (near Davao Medical Center on C.P. Cabaguio Ave.), or passing by.

Upon arriving I was not certain that I was at the correct place because I could see no indication of the name Lon Wa anywhere. The security guard assured me that it was the correct place, and proceeded to act as my guide through the main hall. I was quickly informed that “no” shoes were allowed in this area.

After a brief explanation of things I was left on my own to explore the facility. There were various rooms in the building behind the main hall, and it seems there was an ongoing school on the premises. I did not pay much attention to that, but I did notice students at times while I perused the complex.

The place was really quite simple, but at the same time very ornate. I did not take any notes, or get any kind of hand out regarding the history, though the guard was able to answer most questions (of which I’ve completely forgotten as of now). I was given a free “Be a Lamp Upon Yourself” book upon my departure. It is a brief explanation of Buddhism, and quite interesting really.

I feel the photos do best to demonstrate the temple and it’s interesting pieces. I could have taken more, but I feel like I got a good representation. It certainly is one of those places that is better to see in person. I recommend doing so if you’ve got some free time in the area.

Related posts:

1. Buddhist Temple Davao
2. Davao Top Ten To Do
3. ETOURS Samal & Davao

Okay, this may not be the ultimate Top Ten Things To Do in Davao, but it is MY list for my next trip to Davao.

I have visited Davao several times previously, and when I go this year that will be my fourth. All my trips have had commitments, and time constraints, that have kept me from getting to know the area as well as I’d like. My last trip I wanted to get to know Samal Island better, but I only had a week total for vacation. This time I’ll have two weeks, and I intend to spend time exploring Davao and the surrounding area as much as possible.

I can cross a few things off my list, such as the Crocodile Park, because I’ve done that, but some of the others will be repeats of places that I did not fully have enough time for previously.

1. Bankerohan Market – yes, I went there last year, but that only whetted the appetite, so to speak. I really enjoyed this market, and want to spend more time exploring the ins and outs. You can bet I’ll be getting a sikwate at the Del Mar Cafeteria, as well as learning more about the local fruits and vegetables. It will be another opportunity to practice my Bisaya, too.
2. Buda/Bukidnon – I’ve been wanting to go to the Bukidnon area for a few years now. This time I will. It is very high on my list. Possibly I will only go to Buda, but we’ll see if I venture on to Valencia, or even further. I have a feeling that I’m really going to like this region, and I hope I’m not disappointed.
3. Lon Wa Buddhist Temple – I’m not really sure why I’m so fascinated with this temple. I mean, we have temples here and I’ve never been to them. Maybe just the fact that it is so unique in that area of other strong religious beliefs?
4. Samal Island – well I can’t stay away from Samal completely for a whole trip, but I will probably only spend a night there this time. If I end up with more time than I anticipate, I’ll certainly look at spending a few days at a relaxing and secluded resort.
5. Abreeza Mall – this new mall may or may not be open when I visit, but it has produced a lot of hype already. If nothing else, it is suppose to house the first Starbucks in the Davao region. There are many high end specialty stores expected there, too, including a rumored Mexican restaurant! I don’t like to spend all my time in malls, but this one seems to be worth checking out.
6. Eden Nature Park – this likely needs no introduction to those familiar with Davao. It is one of the top attractions in the area. Located outside of Toril, this 80 hectare nature park has a lot to offer from natural settings, adventure activities, cultural history, to overnight accommodations and more. Looking forward to spending a full day there.
7. People’s Park – another well known stop off in Davao is the 4 hectare park that was built on the old PTA grounds. Featuring an estimated 1,101 species of plants and trees from the rainforests of the Philippines, Southeast Asia , Australia, New Guinea, South and Central America, and Africa and Madagascar, there are also fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and a fantasy-themed park with large sculpture by the Mindanaon artist Kublai Millan symbolizing indigenous groups from Mindanao.
8. Malagos Farmhouse – I don’t eat meat, but I do have a fondness for cheese. Most of the cheese that I’ve run into the area, wouldn’t excite me much. I understand that Malagos Farmhouse has some very nice cheeses, and as a bonus they have tablea as well.
9. PowerHub – though I don’t expect to see anything new or different here, I want to check out this Apple retail store. I don’t see me using anything but Macs until they day I no longer can. Maybe I’ll buy them at PowerHub, and maybe not, but I would like to forge a relationship with an Apple retailer there, and they look to be a strong possiblity.
10. BDO/ONB banks – yes this is not very exciting for most tourists, but as my potential retirement home I’d like to look further into the banks there. I’m particularly interested in the kind of accounts they have, the interest rates paid, how difficult it is to convert USD to PhP, the rates paid, and the use of credit cards/debit cards. In general, I want to start to get an idea of how and where I might bank when I live there.

So that’s the list for now. I reserve the right to change my mind, and of course it isn’t all that I expect to do. I also wish to see old friends, and hopefully make some new ones. I’d like to have a Bisaya lesson or two, try some different restaurants, take in as many massages as I can, etc. I can’t wait to get back to Davao and Samal Island.

Photo credit: The Longest Way Home

Related posts:

1. Davao Agdao Market
2. Power Mac Center Abreeza Mall Davao
3. Bankerohan Public Market Davao City

I’m very pleased to announce the latest addition to the Journey to Samal Shop, the Samal Island Guidebook. This is an item that I’ve been wanting to offer for a very long time, but I was never able to arrange it until now.

Without a doubt this is the definitive guide to Samal Island. Hey, it may be the only guide that exists, as far as I know, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of the praise. This is a well done publication by Samal Publishing House, of Davao and Samal. The 116 full color pages include:

Contents:

Introduction

History Background

• Samal

• Babak

• Kaputian

Basic Facts of Samal

How to get there

Where to go

Island Sports

Island Myths

Calendar of events

Travel Tips

Beach & Resorts Directory

Department Stores/Drugstores

Fruit Stands

Handicraft Shops/Boutiques

Dining Establishments

Medical and Health Services

Banks and Financial Institutions

Security Services

There is also a nicely done print of the Samal Island Map of Tourism Attractions that you see on my sidebar.

The Samal Island Guidebook is well worth owning whether you plan to visit the island soon, or just want to learn more about the Island Garden City of Samal. It’s only $5.00, plus shipping to anywhere in the US. Please contact me if you’d like one sent elsewhere.

I only have a very limited quantity of these, but I do hope to add more in the future if they prove to be a popular item. Thank you for your interest, and please check out the other items in the Journey to Samal Shop. I plan to continue to add items as I find appropriate and related products. I’ll keep you posted.

Related posts:

1. The History of Samal Island
2. Samal Island Map
3. Senator Noynoy Aquino Campaigns on Samal Island

In my search to find a good reference book for my Bisaya studies (currently suspended), I found only a couple of dictionaries. The most common one I came across was only intended to go from English to Cebuano, not from Cebuano to English. Not only are Cebuano dictionaries difficult to find here in the States, they are pretty expensive, too. I guess that’s they way it is with dictionaries in general, but it’s not in my budget unless it was very well done and comprehensive.

There are a number of excellent online dictionaries that provide both English to Cebuano and Cebuano to English. I find that for the most part these meet my needs. They are being updated on an ongoing basis and should eventually be as complete as any of the hard copy books that have been published, since essentially that is where the material is coming from.

Here is a list of a least some of the more robust online Cebuano dictionaries that I have found:

• http://www.bohol.ph/diksyunaryo.php
• http://www.binisaya.com/cebuano/
• http://bansa.org/dictionaries/ceb/

Thankfully there is still available a hard copy of the best Cebuano to English dictionary in PDF format. Here are the free downloads (public domain) of the “A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan” by John U. Wolff courtesy of Cornell University. Please note these files are PDFs and around 50 MB each, so if you are on a slow connection, you may want to go get a cup of coffee or tea:

• Cebuano_Visayan_Part 1
• Cebuano_Visayan_Part 2

Copyright © by Cornell University. Copyright is claimed until 1982. Thereafter, all portions of this work covered by this copyright will be in the public domain. Distributed in the Philippines by the Linguistic Society of the Philippines, and outside of the Philippines by the Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University.
The work was developed under a contract with the United States Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. However, the contract does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of that agency, and no official endorsement of these materials should be inferred. Publication of this work was aided by a grant from the South- east Asia Program, Cornell University and by The Asia Society, New York City.

For those interested in a more visual/aural vocabulary training of Bisaya, please check out my Bisaya flash cards.

Related posts:

1. Akong Bisaya Maestra
2. Bisaya iFlash Cards Update
3. Free Messaging to the Philippines from the US

Samal Island got a visit from yet another famous Pilipino, this time it was the presidential political candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. From my understanding Samal hasn’t received much consideration from the candidates in past elections, so this was a special event.

Some 3,000 Samaleños braved the scorching heat of summer on Saturday to show their support to Aquino, whom they believe can bring change in the country.

Young and old Aquino supporters, most of them were clad in yellow, filled the Babak Gym in Igacos amid the intense heat of the sun.

During the visit Aquino pushed for the promotion of Samal Island as a tourist destination for the country. While I already consider Samal a tourist destination, I will assume that he means to grow it even further and promote it beyond what is now being done. While this has many positives for the island and those wishing employment, it raises concerns for those wishing to live on the island.

LIBERAL Party standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III cited Saturday the potentials of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) as a tourist destination in Mindanao.

“It’s only a 15-minute ride from Davao City. We do not see why it shouldn’t be a tourist destination in the country,” Aquino said in an interview during his visit to the island on Saturday.

“Aminadong marami pang gagawin dito, kailangan pang ayusin ang mga daanan. Kailangan ring palakasin pa ang lokal na kapabilidad para sa mga touristang dadagsa rito. Jobs will be generated through tourism. This shouldn’t take long to develop. Kayang pagandahin pa ang Samal island,” he added.

It will be interesting to see if any other candidates follow suit and visit Samal Island now that Senator Aquino has done so. The election is being held on May 10, 2010 so time is running out.

via Senator Noynoy Aquino cites Igacos’ tourism potentials | Sun.Star Network Online.

Related posts:

1. Samal Island Resorts Double in Numbers
2. Planning a Trip to Samal Island
3. Banking On Samal Island

While traveling along the path of the straight blade I met up with on old friend. Many of you are probably too young to remember shaving with a safety razor but I bet most of you have seen them. The safety razor came in many versions but the most popular was the double edge razor. The twist to open (TTO) version of the double edge is what most think of today when speaking of the safety razor.

Gillette, while not the inventor of the safety razor, was the first to introduce the disposal blade. Gillette is probably (by far) the most well known of the safety razor companies. They are my favorite brand and one of their models is what I use today.

When I first started to contemplate using a double edge, after my failed straight razor attempt, I bought a current model of Merkur. Merkur, unlike Gillette, still makes safety razors. This was not a TTO but is still a very fine razor. I still have that razor in my collection. Collection being the key word here. I’m afraid I began to want to try different models of razors looking for the holy grail. I won’t even get into all the various soaps and blades that are available, at least at this time.

Yes, I have quite a little collection now. That’s after selling and trading a bunch of them. You might be surprised how much some of the more rare razors go for. I once found an a rare Gillette 195 (fatboy adjustable prototype) that I sold for over $500 on eBay. Of course I’ve spent a lot getting the collection together, too. I didn’t intend to get a collection, it just sort of happened as I tried to find the ideal razor.

While I now have many razors, I’ve settled on just one for every day use. The Gillette President is my prize unit. The one I’m using is from 1955, though they were introduced a year or so earlier than that. I’ve got three of those (all 1955), one that I use every day, one that is really beat up but good for traveling AND one that is like new in the original case. I’ve got plans for that last one. I break that out the first day of my retired life on Samal Island. Now if I can only find my blades over there but that’s a post for another day

Related posts:

1. Head Shaving Clippers | Oster Classic 76
2. Another Samal Island Zipline
3. Samal City Police Official Website

As I was working on another article it occurred to me, as it often does, that I never quite know how to refer to this little island off the coast of Davao. Seems my preference is Samal Island. I’m not sure if I prefer that because it’s a little easier to type than the Island Garden City of Samal, or if it just sounds more natural. The Island Garden City of Samal is official, though, and I certainly want to make sure I represent that.

Most everyone knows that that Samal Island changed it’s name due to the three largest municipalities, Babak, Kaputian and Penaplata (Samal) incorporating the entire island into one city. So you end up with Samal Island not only being an island but also a city. I’m pretty sure if they tried they could have come up with a name that was slightly less cumbersome. Abbreviating it hardly helps, as IGaCoS doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue either.

When it comes down to it Samal is even easier and I like to throw that in there, especially if I’ve referred to Samal Island or the Island Garden City of Samal previously. That could possibly be confusing, as there is a city in the Philippines called Samal. Since my blog is about Samal Island, I figure I can get away with it and everyone knows what I’m talking about.

What’s your preference, or do you think it doesn’t really matter?

Related posts:

1. ONB to Add Samal Island Branch
2. Some Samal Island Stats
3. Planning a Trip to Samal Island

It appears that discussion has at least started towards the re-opening of the Samal Casino Resort on the Island Garden City of Samal. The casino/resort was last open in 2000, closing down for lack of business and funding. Several attempts have been made to get an investor to take on the project but up to now that has not been successful.

The original owner, Ekran Berhard, has plans to renovate the hotel, with 80 rooms acting as a trial for the remainder of the project. Evidently the delinquent taxes were among the reasons to revisit opening the resort.

Of particular interest, at least to me, are the mention of golf courses and condos, neither of which was I aware of. I’m not sure if those ever existed or were just in the planning stages.

A Malaysian firm is proposing to rehabilitate and resume the operations of a mothballed casino resort in Samal Island.

Cleto B. Gales, Jr., Samal’s city administrator, said local officials met with Ekran Berhad Holdings Chairman Pek Khiing Ting and his son Michael Ting late March in Kota Kinabalu to discuss the company’s plans.

Ekran Berhad plans to link the $300-million Samal Island resort with its other hotels in the region, specifically the one in Kuching, Malaysia, Mr. Gales said.

The meeting was prompted by Ekran Berhad’s growing tax arrears, which has reached P30 million.

In the first quarter of the year, the foreign firm sent consultants to the resort to assess its condition.

In 2004, a study by the local government and the Department of Tourism estimated that around P200 million would be needed to revive the resort.

The local government had talked to several groups, including South Korean and American companies, and even the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., but all three did not want to bear the costs.

The 300-room hotel and casino resort opened in December 1997 under an agreement with the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Tourism Authority. The resort, located at the 11,800-hectare Samal Island Tourism Estate Project, had golf-courses, a casino, condominiums, villas, and recreational facilities.

The resort closed in July 2000 as losses reportedly reached P2 million a month with the business slowed down by the Asian financial crisis of 1997.

Occupancy rates were pulled down by a dispute over a deal covering flights between the Philippines and Taiwan where most package tours came from, the lack of flights between Davao City and Kuala Lumpur, and the peace and order situation.

The company also complained over the lack of an access road to the resort, supposedly part of an agreement with the national government. There is a three-kilometer stretch of road to the resort that is a little “more than a trail,” Mr. Gales said.

Ekran Berhad will jump-start operations by phases, he said.

Samal Mayor Aniano P. Antalan had told a local news program that Ekran Berhad would first try to refurbish and renovate 80 hotel rooms to test the waters.

via: Malaysias Ekran Berhad proposes rehab of casino resort complex in Samal Island | Business World Online

photo credit: macky

Related posts:

1. Samal Casino Resort
2. Samal Casino Resort Reopening Confirmed
3. Samal Seeks Developer Meeting for Casino Resort

Some of you may remember last year when I bought a painting that was signed “Custodio’s – Art – Philippines ’47″. I did my best to research the name Custodio, and found out that Gabriel Custodio was in fact an artist that very likely could have been the creator of my painting.

My search was more out of curiosity as opposed to any belief that the painting had any special value. I mean, it’s a very simple rendition of farm workers, and while I enjoy it a great deal, it’s obvious that it isn’t a masterpiece. We have placed it above our fireplace, and it is a constant reminder of the simple life we hope to enjoy someday on Samal Island.

Recently I stumbled across an article I didn’t find earlier that provides a very nice background of the life of Gabriel Custodio. It seems Mr. Custodio was known as much for being a teacher, as he was an artist. He was an influence on many others, passing along his style. Though not a complete history of the man, it does give some insight that doesn’t seem to available elsewhere.

I feel very fortunate to have found this painting, and to be able to enjoy a piece of Pilipino history in our home here in the States.

Remembering Gabriel V. Custodio, conservative great – INQUIRER.net.

Related posts:

1. Gabriel Custodio?
2. Can I make it in the Philippines
3. All Things Must Pass

In the early Spanish regime, during the reign of Don Jose Uyanguren of Davao City , a certain Island within the DAVAO Gulf was named “ SAMAL” in recognition to the settlers who migrated from Jolo and Basilan called the “ISLAMIC TRIBAL GROUP” or “ ISAMAL” . Most of the settlers lived along the coastal areas and only few in the hinter lands. Their daily primitive way of acquiring foods is through fishing, farming, and hunting within the vicinity.

The island was created into a municipality named as “ Municipality of Samal” and Barrio Peñaplata was the center for commercial economic and government operation. At that time , the municipal councilors of Samal found its concept of local autonomy and effective delivery of services. They therefore decided to create another municipality in order to be effective and autonomous in governance. Mayor Simplicio Obenza , Sr. made his iniative to the speedy creation of two municipalities.

The Early Years of the Island

In the early years, indigenous people coming from the Northern and Eastern coasts of the undivided Davao Province settled Samal Island. A large mixed population of Mansakas, Mandayas and Muslims composed the identification of the now so-called Sama Tribe.

As these primeval settlers were organized into communities a Datu up to the early part of the American Regime dynastically ruled them.

In the early part of the 18th century governance shifted when Christianization came in. The first mass was celebrated in Barangay San Hose of Samal District in 1928.

As an archipelago, Samal became a District Municipality of Davao Province on June 8, 1948 under executive Order #151, which was sgned by then President Elpidio Quirino. Later, on May 28, 1953 Babak Municipality was created under Executive Order #590 which was also signed by then President Elpidio Quirino. After thirteen years, Municipality of Kaputian was created on June 18,1966 under Executive Order # 184, which was signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Each municipal name derived from each different historical tracing.

The second district which is the government center of the city got its name Samal from the early indigenous settlers forming into one tribe called “ISAMA” and its barangay name Peñaplata from the Isama term “MALIBASA” which means a place where honorable people living in perfect harmony who love peace. First district derived its name Babak from an abundant shrubs called “TAGBAK” grown in the area and a big tree which the natives called “BABAK” which were used as landmark for the people’s trade center. White sand in the local dialect “PUTTING BALS” is significantly true to the shoreline of the third district from which is name Kaputian derived.

History of Babak

The historical traces of the name of this developing Island town came to surface from detailed informations through investigations and personal interviews with some native chieftains of how the place got its name. Based on unrecorded history , the place was sparsely populated by few farming natives called ISAMALS who first settled the coastal areas of the Island. There were no known surveyed roads except trails and pathways crisscrossing the lowland areas . Thick forest and green land covered the ISLAND’S virgin soil.

In this isolated unnamed coastal area, there abound green leafy shrubs “ TAGBAK “ which were used by the natives into making baskets and containers for their fish catch , foods and others. The place had been the source of “ TAGBAK “ the main materials for their native handicrafts.

On another account , there was in the said place , a tree which the natives called “ BAKBAK” which used to be the landmark of the place as the trading center of the natives in their trading business , thus , paving the start of the development of commercial business among the inland tribes.

The place then , having been made the center of tribal economic business activities and commercial intercourses, the name “ BABAK” in short was born and became known to be the natives trading center in the island. Babak grew and developed into a native community out of the century old native tradition, old fashioned agricultural farming and antiquated methods of fishing. It became the main commercial center for traders from the mainland “DABA-DABA” , now Davao.

Long before the Christians migrated to this Island , the coastal areas were already populated by natives ruled by a “DATU”. These early settlers were tall, big and /or of giant size “ DINAGATAS”, but these natives , ancestors of the present samal natives became extincts for they were killed and poisoned by the early colonizers. Proof of this can easily be verified by the presence of human bones and remains found in the rocky shoreline caves of liquid Islets and the mainland Samal Island.

The Isamals are by occupation farmers and fisheries using very crude methods. Through the coming of the Christians from different provinces of Luzon and the Visayas , improved methods were introduced , thus increasing production more arable land were cultivated.

History of Kaputian

Before the Second World War Samal was still a virgin forest during that time. Don Vicente Fernandez together with Don Ramon and Don Pepe Fernandez acquired and cultivated the southern part of Samal which was ruled by Datu Budas during the early period of American occupation and founded Hacienda Samal and Compana Maritima.

On June 18, 1966 , the Philippine Congress historically made a landmark legislation through enabling laws passed under “ Republic Act 4754” that dubbed the creation of the municipality of kaputian and separating it from the mother municipality for the purpose. The mandate includes the islets of Malipano and Talicud Island. Under Executive order 184 , Kaputian was legally declared as another municipality of Davao Province.

Since the beginning of its creation the municipality has been ruled by Three (3) political leaders namely ; Hon. Diosdado Alorro , Hon. Dediano E. Rebong and Hon. Aniano P. Antalan . The incumbent took his reign during the revolutionary form of government under the leadership of President Corazon C. Aquino.

Kaputian derived its name from the “ WHITE SAND” that occupies the southern part of the Samal Island long before ruled by Datu Budas.

Creation of the City – IGaCoS

When Samal Island were created into three municipalities, it was perceived that its development would be mobilized being located proximately to the progressive Metropolis of Davao and nearby growth centers in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur. Yet, after the past decades since its creation as municipalities in 1948, 1953 and 1966 its development lagged far behind from its neighboring local government units. Hence in 1966 the high ranking officials of Davao del Norte led by Congressman Rodolfo del Rosario and Provincial Governor Prospero S. Amatong with other members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan moved on to usher Samal a new vision of hope before its Golden Anniversary in 1998. During this year a new concept of development strategy cropped up which is the creation of an urban center in a rural development that would set a new horizon of modernity and prioritize quality public service delivery.

Congressman Rodolfo P. del Rosario passed the bill that resulted to the passage of Republic Act#8471, which paved the way for the integration of the three municipalities into one local government unit that is now called the Island Garden City of Samal. This was signed on January 30, 1998 by his Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos and was overwhelming approved by the people of the locality during the plebiscite held on March 7, 1998. Almost four months later, on June 30, 1998, the new city began exercising its corporate powers.

At first, people from all walks of life were resistant on its name for it’s too long. Other simply remarked that with physical attributes of the locality, it does not deserve to be called a city. With due respect to these observations, only few realized that the creation of the city is totally distinct in the sense that it embraces the new dimension of development which hopefully will make things happen for its people.

Reference: samalcity.gov.ph

Related posts:

1. Planning a Trip to Samal Island
2. Samal Island Festivals
3. Samal Island Guidebook