Journey to Samal » Tourist Attractions

Pearl Farm Resort To Get P34 Million Renovation

Randy C — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:41:06 +0000

The most famous and highest rated resort on Samal Island is set get an upgrade. Pearl Farm Beach Resort is easily the most widely known resort on Samal, at least outside of the region. It is probably the most expensive, too, but that goes with a AAA class rating.

P34 Million is no chump change, but the resort is doing well. Visitors were up about about 20% in 2011 compared to 2010.

Included in the renovations, set to be done this year, are a new aqua-leisure park. That will include the ever popular zipline (400 meter) and a wakeboard park. These are expected to be opened in February. The wakeboard will be only the second of it’s kind in the region.

Fuego Hotels, which has been running the popular resort for Anflocor, will be handing those those duties back to Anflocor according to Anflocor vice-president Vincent Floirendo.

“It’s about time, we modernized it a bit, Mindanao style.” Floirendo said. The renovation work will still hew more to the Maranao, Samal concept of the resort. He added that ever since the resort opened in 1994 the resorts remain unchanged.

There are also plans to acquire new boats, both speedboats and banca, to bring guests to and from the resort.

It’s great to see a one of the most poplar resorts on Samal Island doing well, and investing back into the business. It bodes well for the future of Samal.

via PIA News: Samal Island’s Pearl Farm Resort due for upgrading

Hoping It’s More Fun in the Philippines

Randy C — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:01:16 +0000

It probably hasn’t made it out to the rest of the world yet, but most pilipinos have seen the release of the Department of Tourism’s new ad campaign. They want you to know, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.

From what I’ve gathered, from my vantage point on the other side of the world from the Philippines, the reaction has been mixed. Considering the last campaign, “Pilipinas kay Ganda”, was universally panned, this has to be an improvement (they hope). No one outside of the Philippines knew what that slogan meant, of course.

It appears that the campaign is getting a lot of press, especially within the social networks (you know who they are). Not only are there numerous take offs of the ads, some of which are quite funny, it seems there is the issue (again) of the originality of the slogan. It has been noted that Switzerland used the same slogan about 60 some years ago.

I’m not personally concerned about the validity of the originality of the slogan. No, I have more concerns about how it’s promoted (the quality and placement of the ads) and even more than that, delivering on the promise of the ads. To me that’s the make or break it.

I’m all for promoting the tourism industry in the Philippines. It’s a great first step. Delivering on that promise is what will matter in the end. If you get the tourists to come over, and they aren’t happy with their experience, not only will they not come back, you can be sure they will tell at least 10 other people of that experience.

I’ve mentioned before my concerns for the traveler or tourist in the Philippines. Almost everyone is aware that Ninoy Aquino International Airport needs attention and upgrading. The first impression left from that airport is not a good one. I was there recently and I will admit that was not as bad as I had remembered, but to a person if you ask about their experience at the airport in Manila, you will get a negative response.

Related to that is the fact that there are so few international flights to and from any other city. Davao only services Singapore at this time. Cebu goes to a few more – Busan, Hong Kong, Seoul-Incheon, Singapore and possibly Tokyo, but almost every tourist is going to pass through Ninoy unless they are from one of those areas. There has been talk of this improving with the Open Skies Policy, but so far international travel outside of Manila remains very limited.

More basic things like the ability to access your money from ATMs in the Philppines and the fact that traveler checks aren’t usually accepted, make it more difficult for the traveler to function there.

Internet access is also expected for travelers now. I do think that has gotten much better in the last 7 years that I’ve been traveling there. My trip last fall was by far the easiest for me in that regard. Internet access was not difficult to find. The quality of the connection varied, but that is improving, too.

There is much that is appealing about the Philippines. The people, the beautiful white beaches, the tropical climate, the history and the culture. The cost of a comparable vacation could be much less in the Philippines, sans the plane ticket. These, and so much more, are all great reasons for a visit. Maybe even a retirement Let’s hope that this campaign is just the start, and delivering on the promise is the commitment.

Trader Joe’s Spokane

Randy C — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:27:07 +0000

Trader Joe’s Spokane store opened last Friday, October 28th. It was, and still is, a mad house.

For those of you not familiar with Trader Joe’s (no it’s not run by “Hey Joe”), it’s a specialty grocery store that has a lot of unique items, quite a bit of organic, low prices and many items branded especially for them. Actually they are kind of difficult to explain, if you’ve not been to one. This is exactly the kind of place that I will miss when living in the Philippines.

Spokane waited many years for this store to open. Spokane is in the top 100 cities by population in the US, but often times is late to get the more desired stores, such as this and the Apple Store that opened here last year.

If the reception so far is any indication, I do not see how they could possibly do any better with sales than they have so far. The line goes out the door and you’re basically on a conveyor built (not really) going through the store. You can not move forward until the person in front of you does – that’s how crowded it is. Obviously it won’t stay this way, at least it better not. I do not enjoy these kinds of crowds. Reminds me of some of the malls I’ve visited in Manila, but this is in a much smaller space.

No, I will not find this kind of store in the Philippines. I will not find the kind of items they carry in many instances either. In some cases there are good and even better alternatives to be had in the Philippines. Other things will just be missed I’m afraid.

I wonder how many more years before this kind of place could be successful in the bigger cities such as Manila, Cebu and Davao? Is there enough foreign population and/or demand within the younger pilipinos to make such a place desirable and profitable? I know Davao has stores such as the Swiss Deli that specialize in imported and otherwise difficult to find products.

What do you think, is Davao is ready for this kind of yet?

Aircon Jeepneys – L300

Randy C — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:58:15 +0000

A couple of my goals during my last visit to the Philippines were to see much more of the Davao region, and to try to experience things as though I were living there, instead of as a tourist. Those two goals may sound as though they are conflicting, and to some degree I suppose that’s true. Regardless, one of the ways I tried to combine the two was to take local transportation, whenever possible, to these various sties and attractions, instead of the taxis that I’ve grown accustomed to in the past.

I did get in my share of trike, jeepney and bus rides. I may not be a pro yet, but I certainly got the flavor of the system. I learned that I need to add a little meat and/or some callouses to my back end. It was often quite sore after a day out.

There are quite a variety of vehicles in all three of those classes – trike, jeepney and bus. Even the lowly trike can be manually powered or motorized, windshield or not (good idea when it’s raining hard), almost completely open or nearly fully enclosed.

The jeepney is where I found my interest being drawn, as that became a very popular ride for me. I did not see nearly as many ornate, older Mercades jeepneys as I had in the past. Maybe they are a dying breed, or maybe they are more prevalent in the Manila area. I never really got an answer to that question. A lot of the jeepneys now are versions of a multi cab.

The one I had not experienced before was the aircon jeepney, which was dubbed the L3 by the company I kept. It was in fact a Mitsubishi L300. They are a lot newer, of course, than the old style jeepney, but the main benefit to a sweating foreigner like me was the aircon. That was diminished a bit buy the fact that they still put at least 4 more people in them than they are designed to hold, but since that’s true with any of the styles of transportation, other than taxi, the aircon was a welcome benefit.

I would have thought that they would charge more for that, but it did not appear to be so. Catching a L300 versus the open style, seemed to be a matter of luck as much as anything else. It was also funny to see the open style jeepneys, that weren’t close to full capacity, cutting off your access to the L300, and even buses, in some areas.

I thought the L300 was an advancement from my point of view. It made me feel that it will be easier, and most definitely more comfortable, to get around the Davao area if I decide not to own my own vehicle. I’m thinking I may start out with the intention of not owning a vehicle and see how things go from there.

Change is Inevitable

Lon Wa Buddhist Temple (re)Visited

Randy C — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:25:28 +0000

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.

Is Mindanao Safe

Randy C — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:29:39 +0000

Do you feel safe traveling to Mindanao? Are you worried about terrorists? Believe it or not, those are questions I often get before I travel to southern Philippines. Surprisingly, that question does not usually come from my American friends, but instead from Pilipinos.

My first trip to Mindanao was just a short visit to Davao. In and out in a couple of days. It was a side trip from Manila, and I really did not know where I was going, and where I had been when I got back. That was also my first exposure to Samal Island, but at the time I had little idea what it was and what that might mean to me later.

By my second trip to Mindanao, I had not only become more familiar with the Davao area, but I also ventured out into North Cotabato. This, I learned, is an area that has gotten a bit of a bad reputation, primarily among those that have lived in the Philippines. But it also doesn’t help that the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs has a travel warning regarding the region:

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila. Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens. Such sites could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated April 2, 2010, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death. An October 10 bus bombing in Mindanao claimed 10 lives; an investigation is underway to determine whether this was a terrorist act. Since August 2008, sporadic clashes have occurred between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces in the Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Maguindanao, as well as the Sulu Archipelago.

Before I traveled to North Cotabato I had a chance to tell many friends and acquaintances about my upcoming trip, especially my first opportunity to go to the province. It became clear, very quickly, that the Pilipinos that I shared this with were worried whether I had fully researched the area. To a person they questioned whether or not I thought I would be safe there. A few of them stated they would not go there themselves. Honestly, I had not looked into it previously, but as the concerns added up I decided I better. Not surprisingly, my Americans friends had no idea of the area, many not even really being familiar with the Philippines in general. Certainly not knowing if this was anywhere near Manila, as they only Philippines city they had heard of.

It didn’t help that my wife, being from the area, started asking if I was concerned about going there. At times she would say it was fine, and other times she indicated that I needed to be very careful. I started to ask questions, and I did some research online.

What I found was a wide variety of opinion, to a large degree based upon rumor and isolated incidents over the years. The concern relates to the more remote areas, where in the past (and to a lesser degree to date) there has been rebel and terrorist activity. The larger cities, particularly Davao, have been mainly trouble free. At the least there have been no more problems than any other large city in the world.

As people are want to say, “trouble can happen anywhere”, and that’s the point. Who can say if you may encounter problems traveling to Mindanao, but for the most part you are no more likely than anywhere else. As the Philippines goes, Davao City has been one of the safest for many years now. Previous mayor of many years, Rodrigo Duterte, was largely responsible for reducing crime and establishing Davao as a city that was safe for all.

Under Duterte’s leadership, Davao City experienced relative peace and stability, ushering an unprecedented economic boom. The city’s crime rate dropped dramatically that tourism organizations in the city claim that Davao is “the most peaceful city in Southeast Asia”.

I’m not here to advise you whether traveling to North Cotabato, or other areas in Mindanao, is safe for you. All I can say is that I went I did not feel threatened in any way. It was an experience that I’m glad I was able to have. Personally, I don’t know that I would go back there just by myself. I would feel more comfortable with someone that knows the area and the people. Some people are more adventurous than others, though.

I feel it’s unfortunate that many Pilipinos, some who have not even visited the area, continue to voice concerns regarding Mindanao. It is an uphill battle in many ways for tourism, and to begin I think there needs to be a feeling within the Philippines that this area not only safe, but a welcomed and significant part of the Republic of the Philippines. Internal promotion could end up being the best external promotion.

Time to Make Davao Airport Truly International

Randy C — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:27:44 +0000

Have you flown into Davao City from outside of the country? Did you go through Manila? Chances are very good that you did. Why? Because there are very few international flights that fly in and out of Davao Airport.

Francisco Bangoy International Airport is an “international” airport, as it’s official name states. There are a couple of flights that fly to and from Singapore, but as far as I know that is all there is at this point. When I’ve looked into trying to hook up with one of those, not only was the timing incredibly difficult to accommodate but the cost was also prohibitive.

The main issue to date has been the lack of an “open sky” policy within the Philippines. Airlines such as Philippine Airlines, are opposed to such a policy, as the feeling is they would be adversely affected by outside competition. Even still, from what I’ve read, an Executive Order has been signed to allow secondary airports such as Davao, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro City to start accepting selective international flights. What airlines, and when they might start, is unknown. Again, there is a lot of opposition to this EO. There have been attempts to implement open skies in previously, and they failed.

My reasons for wanting Davao to get more international flight are admittedly selfish. I REALLY dislike flying into Manila to get to Davao. Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as most of you know, is extremely busy, crowded and to to a large degree run down. It is always the least favorite part of my trip, trying to maneuver to and through the airport in Manila. Even finding the correct terminal can be an adventure, but it’s an evil that must be navigated. Flying into and out of Davao would not only save me from the stressful plight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, but also add days to my trip there.

I really like the airport in Davao. It is much smaller, as would be expected, but appears much cleaner and friendlier, too. Access is fairly easy. It’s not difficult to find your terminal there. Lines can get long, but nothing like the multiple long lines you will encounter in Manila. I can’t even remember how many different lines I need to go through in Manila, but every time I think I’m done, there is another.

I don’t know how much tourism Davao loses because of the lack of international flights. If an individual is going to meet family or friends, obviously they are going to make the neccesary connections to get to Davao. But what about business, conventions, meetings, etc., wouldn’t it be much easier just to have stay right in Manila? Why add the extra cost, travel time, and hassle of continuing on to Davao? I wonder if there has been any studies done in this regard, because it seems it could significantly impact tourism.

There are always pluses and minuses to a situation. “Careful what you wish for” could be applicable here. If Davao Airpot did suddenly start accepting more international flights, could the airport support a large increase in traffic? Would it turn into the sea of bodies seen at customs and counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport? Not if done with foresight and planning, but that is certainly one of the detriments of increasing international traffic.

Longterm, I think that there will need to be flights to Japan, Korea, Tawain, Malaysia or similar destinations from Davao. A well thought out and carefully implemented plan is my hope.

Mindanao Tourism

Randy C — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:56:41 +0000

How does one go about promoting tourism in the large region of the Philippines known as Mindanao? That’s the task that Art Boncato has taken on, at least partially, as the Regional Director for the Davao region, Department of Tourism-XI.

Though I know next to nothing about the business of promoting tourism, from what I’ve been reading, and it’s been a lot, it seems to me that they have the right man for the task. He’s been very active in meetings and planning, and especially communicating that information with the media. He’s also very visible and accessible via his Facebook account.

Davao Region, designated as Region XI, is one of the regions of the Philippines, located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao. Davao Region consists of four provinces, namely: Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. The region
encloses the Davao Gulf and its regional center is Davao City.

There seems to be a big tourism push going on in the Philippines recently. Obviously it is one area that has been targeted to generate income for the country, now and in the future. The types of tourism I see mentioned most are meetings & conventions, ecotourism* and medical tourism. All these are very important to the Davao region. Medical tourism, in particular, is an area that appears could easily be promoted and utilized to higher degree than it is currently.

One of the fruits of the Department of Tourism-XI’s labors has been a “Let’s Meet in Davao” MICE manual (meeting, incentive, conference, exhibition), along with a MICE accomandation guide. Both of these documents are available online, and offer detailed information about what is available in Davao for your next MICE and resources that you can avail to help make your MICE visit more rewarding.

There are other organizations working to help the promotion of the area as well. Mindanao Tourism Council, Samal Island Tourism Council and Visit Samal are all groups that are working towards that goal. The later two are obviously focused on our favorite island, the Island Garden City of Samal.

I believe all those in the Davao region can feel very proud about the leadership they have in regards to the important industry of tourism.

MR. ARTURO P. BONCATO, JR., Regional Director
Rm. 512, LANDCO Corporate Center Bldg.,
J.P. Laurel Avenue, 8000 Davao City
Tel.: (6382) 225 1940
Fax: (6382) 221 0070 / 221 6955
E-Mail: dotr11@yahoo.com
Websites: www.visitmyphilippines.com
www.discoverdavao.com

* Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Its purpose is to educate the traveler; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.

Samal LGU Agrees to EUF MOA

Randy C — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:41:03 +0000

The controversial and widely unpopular EUF (Environmental Users’ Fee) will continue on the Island Garden City of Samal, with a newly adopted MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) between the local government and various civic groups.

The main purpose of the MOA seems to be to monitor the EUF to insure that the funds are collected correctly and are in fact used for the purpose intended.

After series of consultations and meetings with city department heads and civil society organizations of the local government of Island Garden City of Samal made by Ateneo de Manila University School of Government (ADMU-ASoG) through its Government Watch (G-Watch) Program, the parties involved have finally inked the Memorandum of Agreement for the “IGACOS Bantay Kinaiyahan” Project during the employees Monday Convocation, June 27, 2011 at Samal Multi-purpose Gym.

Signatories to the MOA were the Transport Federation of IGaCoS (TFI), Samal Evangelical Ministerial Fellowship (SEMFEL), Samal City Resort Owners Association (SCROA) and (ADMU-ASoG)

I saw many signs in resistance to the EUF during my visit late last year. I only recall one instance in which I believe the fee was collected, when we visited Hagimit Falls. Though the fee was very small, my understanding is that you could potentially pay this many times during a visit. The resort owners, in particular, feel this may be a detriment to promoting tourism for Samal.

It will be interesting to see where this is at in a year or so. Will the MOA have made any impact and what benefits are derived from the collection of these fees? I think the average visitor to Samal would not be going to attraction after attraction, but those that do may find the fees excessive for their efforts to visit the many activities available on Samal Island.

via Samal City inks MOA on envi protection with civic groups.

Aqua Park Launched at Playa Azalea

Randy C — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:53:55 +0000

Playa Azalea, the joint subdivision project of Landco Pacific Corporation and Anflocor Management and Investment Corporation, recently celebrated the unveiling of the latest addition to the complex, a new aqua park. Evidently it contains a river pool with infinity edge, a first-ever for Samal Island.

Guests, which were boated in, were treated to a party that included jugglers, jesters, a magic show, and a nice selection of snacks. To conclude the ceremonies, balloons were sent to the skies, followed by a Madi Gras parade.

Already famous among locals and tourists alike for its crystal clear waters, the Island Garden City of Samal now boasts another amazing “body of water” in its first-ever river pool with infinity edge, an amenity found in the newly blessed and launched Aqua Park of Playa Azalea.

While there are many developments ongoing and announced on Samal, Playa Azalea, along with Holiday Oceanview Samal are among the biggest subdivisions projects. Playa Azaela is located on the western shore of the island, south of the ferry terminal near Limao. It did not appear that there were any homes completed at the time I visited there late last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were not any residents living there yet. It does sound like things are moving along though.

I could not figure out how you would enter the complex, other than the Circumference road, which at the time was in poor condition in part due to the construction of Playa Azalea or directly by boat. I imagine that will be remedied by the time there are homes going up, and of course the planned improvement of the Circumference road will aid in that matter.

According to Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, Landco President and CEO, “Playa Azalea is just a few minutes from Davao City, close enough to be a primary home and weekend escape, allowing residents to experience leisure living every day.”

The source article kind of turns into a sales pitch for Playa Azalea, but it’s a pretty big deal for Samal, as this little island is growing up fast.

Playa Azalea unveils Aqua Park | Sun.Star.