Of Eagles and Waling-walings

Davao is the largest City of Mindanao, which is incidentally the second biggest island group of the Philippines (first Luzon, Mindanao then Visayas). With which, I came to the conclusion that Davao City...

(1) is a vast area of land with no trash, riots or any feel of Makati urbanity in it (in the best way plausible)

(2) travel will take years before it is actually fulfilled and

(3) google map I so believed in was inaccurate lest I have to admit that I do have poor estimation skills. (I'd prefer believing in the former)

But worry not, on our first day we were able to eat all the crabs, visit all the crocs, watch a fire show, and of course have some "Hope". (blog entries on these are either in the making, are done, or hoping to be conceptualized soonest.

Truth be told, my Davao travel was as effortless as sleeping on my desk after office lunch break (easy-peasy-lemon-squeazy). For one, we had a driver for the whole duration of the trip riding what I call an "awesome bus" with full blast air conditioning and enough space to stretch my not-so-Daddylonglegs legs (not just a hint: good old love of my roadtrip life, Starex van). Life where you could always stretch your legs anytime is noice.

Probable heading to another direction let's go back and rack our brains a little. When Davao comes up what do you picture?

Durian? hmmm yeah.

But remember those black and white DECS (now DepEd) approved Civics and Culture (Sibika at Kultura for us) books that always talked about large birds, large flowers.. and anyway that does not ring a good tone so let's move on. What else Pinoys? But of course. (Run drum roll please.....)

Davao is also a sanctuary to the monkey eating eagle, the Philippines national animal.

So travelling down South won't be "travelling down Davao" if not for a peek at Pag-asa, or "Hope", who was the first of its kind to be bred and hatched in captivity.

 Pag-asa is one of the eagles bred and well taken cared for at the Philippine Eagle Center at Barangay Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City (three separate ideas in one address. whew!). The Center is located at the heart of the Malagos Watershed. Much like La Mesa Park, the Malagos watershed is one of the eight watersheds supporting the supply of water for Davao City. Some of its land were converted into a park, agricultural landfill and a wildlife conservation for Eagles.

The Center endeavors to release some of the Eagles in the wild once proven safe and eagles proven ready. (Enter, Butterfly by Mariah Carrey). Czech the scene. BEETEADOPLYU, entrance fee only costs Php 50 bucks (US $1). Some other photos of owls, that lazy sleep-all-day croc, and a family photo at the tarp of an entrance banner. Yey!

That family goes to the Eagle Conservatory!

Also, since my mom was born with a big green thumb we opt to visit Sul Orchids that flaunts an eight-hectar orchid farm located in Tugbok, Davao City.

On your way back from Crocodile Farm I highly recommend a short visit, it's just off the highway street.

Another of Davao's finest, the Waling-waling or Vanda Sanderiana also called the "Queen of Philippine Orchids" one of the largest orchid species in the world, may be found in the flower farm. It has become one of the most sought-after flower in Mindanao for its rarity and beauty. The Sul Orchids owners are dedicated to creating hybrid orchids since once bred, the Waling-waling together with other orchid species creates some of the world's multi-billion dollar investments in the cutflower industry. 

8 hectares of land dedicated to breeding orchids

The woman with the green thumb enjoys her time with the walings.

Orchids range from Php 800 (US $16) to Php 2,500 (US $50). But take heart, an investment worth spending. :)