I was at Davao’s Gaisano Mall buying several things I need. I was waiting for a text message from someone I’m meeting within 20 minutes. Carrying the things I bought, I looked for a good place to sit and rest for awhile. I saw that McDonald’s stairs were clean and vacant so I decided to sit there while waiting.

After about 15 minutes, a group of five middle-aged people went towards the Kenny Roger’s dining area (very close to where I’m sitting) to rest too, with the only guy going towards the stairs I was sitting. He asked me if I mind. I said I don’t so he sat right next to me. After putting down his backpack, he started a conversation asking if Gaisano Mall have the most people coming in compared to other malls in Davao. I answered that most people who want to stroll the mall to get away from the sun usually go there ( since, in my observation, most of the people who go to SM City Davao are usually those who really want to buy things and not just stroll around).

Our conversation went on for several minutes. I discovered that they are from Zamboanga, came here for a seminar and will be going back the day after. He also mentioned that he is a music teacher in a college in Zamboanga and was considering living here in Davao. He really appreciate the security he is feeling here and went on asking about the people’s general view of the city under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He said that the City Mayor’s strategy in handling Davao City is benchmarked by other mayors in the country.

When it was time for me to go, I bid goodbye to him, forgetting to ask his name. I went on thinking about our conversation after. For me, it was a confirmation of my thoughts about Davao. People outside the city have been hearing a lot of good stuff about our city for quite some time now and I agree with them. Indeed, the way the Mayor is handling things is remarkable.

I can’t help but to feel proud to be a Davaoeno and I feel lucky to have been living here all my life.

For those who have not heard or read of the incident yet, an explosion occurred at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City at about 1:40 pm yesterday, October 19, 2007. Eight people were confirmed dead while more than a hundred were injured. A list of dead and injured in this Glorietta blast was published by the inquirer website at about 10:13 pm the same day. One of the first pictures published in the web was taken by a certain Disney who published it in his Disney Cute Land multiply account.

Different reactions were generated by the event. Politicians were keen on airing their opinions and sentiments. The current Malacañang Bribery issue was easily associated to the blast by many. Some had thoughts of the government being behind the fateful event with the theory to divert the attention of the nation from the hot Malacañang issue. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as reported in a national news theorized the association of the blast to “Oplan Greenbase” which allegedly included the Davao International Airport and the Sasa wharf bombing in 2003.

With it all, this still is a sad story, thinking of the families who have lost a loved one in this tragedy. Taking out politics that never seem to choose who or what to use in order to pursue its ambition, the victims are not just those who were injured and killed in the blast but also the Filipino community as a whole.

Davao has fallen victim to this before and now, the whole country is - again. Just as when a promise of an economy getting better, here arises an incident threatening to pull it all down in a rubble. Tourism is affected again.

Just remembered Josh Groban’s Awake Concert in Manila this coming October 17 and 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center as well as a recent Babyface Concert which should be a boost for the Filipino music artist community. What now? The promise of more tourists coming to the Philippines for world-class events like these will just become bunch of hopes for us now. As Manila is a much bigger gateway to other Philippine regions like the Davao City, we in Davao City are undeniably affected in one way or another.

Who’s to blame? The government? The Terrorists? Or the mob? (kidding). I know not yet the answer. But one thing leaves each of us Dabawenyos and us Filipinos as a whole. Each fall can be translated to equate an opportunity - an opportunity to learn, to think, to be critical at judgments and to rise again and prove how resilient Filipinos can be at handling difficulties.

Give it enough time and let us see how we can still stand up on our two feet. Hope is never hope without difficulties. A diamond never shines without cutting and polishing. A pleasant day everyone!

The Philippines is still recovering from the previous years’ economic crises. It’s main cities are doing their best to go with the shimmering economic growth. The slow trickle of peso value is giving each city hope for the succeeding years.

For Davao City, growth is crucial. Why? Because Davao is somewhere in between industrial and agricultural. Given the vast land area, Davao can undeniably cater to both. Farm lands and fishing ports go along factories and industrial facilities harmoniously. New ports are built for both industrial and agricultural products. Trade is increasing as the rich Davao resources are becoming more and more accessible.

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On personal note, Davao City has always been and still is a Land of Promise.

Though bruised by the challenges that the city and the country as a whole has faced for the past years (including the painful Davao City airport bombing and many other threats to economic and security conditions), the people of Davao has remained optimistic.

Now, Davao is booming. As a pure blooded, true blue Dabawenyo, I have been a witness to its rise and fall for the past 15 years (not including the 7 years of innocence, hehe). Where there were traffic jams before, now are automated high-tech traffic management system facilities, equipped with vehicle detection in every direction for optimum light shifting time intervals (thanks to the efforts of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who has brought such technology from Australia). What used to be ugly street islands are now beautifully landscaped city gardens. A beautiful high-security Davao International Airport is beginning to compete with other international airport here and abroad. Approval of No-Smoking on Designated Places City Ordinance has received “two-thumbs up” compliments and has protected non-smokers so far.

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