Mabu-hey, Philippines!
They say everything is more fun in the Philippines but no one really prepares you for how much excitement you’re in for. Invited by the Department of Tourism Regions 10 and 11 under the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalamindonesia-malaysia-philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) initiative, we were given the opportunity to experience for ourselves two major festivals happening in Northern Mindanao and the Davao Region: the Kumbira Culinary Festival and the Kadayawan Festival.
The three-day Kumbira Festival hosts culinary shows and intense live competitions of all categories, and is attended and curated by some of the biggest names in the culinary world thanks to its organiser the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA). A stone’s throw away from our cushy accommodation at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel,
we were impressed by the participants’ dedication in fusing the ties between the cultures of BIMP-EAGA into their culinary masterpieces and were enthused to witness it firsthand as part of the Bruneian delegation.
Among some of the competitive categories were buffet table setting, cake decorating, creative ham garnishing, “The Filipino Carver” and mixology challenges. But it’s not just the spirited vibes and passionate tenacity in the air that makes the Kumbira Festival such a success; master classes where respected public figures such as celebrity Chef Tatung Sarthou III and Chef Myrna D. Segismundo impart valuable knowledge also draw crowds from all over the food-proud nation.
Escalating our stay to even greater heights, we were brought to Amaya View, the highest peak of Cagayan De Oro, where we marvelled at the mini zoo, zoomed past a setting sun on ATV and basked in the glow of stunning skylights at their famed Noah’s Ark. The largest public market since 2004, the Cogon Market houses its very own halal section in its depths where we tried silky hot Tsokolate and deliciously tangy Kinilaw for the first time.
Our every food whim in Cagayan De Oro was catered to by Babu Kwan who was recently halal certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. Bringing a divine array of Asian, Filipino and Moro cuisine to the table, Babu Kwan’s heart and soul lies in their assorted menu of ‘Asian Plates’— comforting dishes that truly send its patrons to a home they never knew they missed.
Our arrival in Davao City took us on a different joyride altogether; witnessing the Kadayawan Festival in all its
glory blew us away. Afforded a first class view from our sweet stay at the esteemed Marco Polo Hotel, we could hear the steady drumming of the muchanticipated festival from the wee hours of the morning.
With rainbow-hued colours abound donned by thousands of performers everywhere, there was a tangible cheer in the air as a crowd gathered at Kadayawan Square to witness the beauty of a nation that wears its culture on its sleeve. A celebration of all things good and peaceful and a citywide homage to the generous gifts of nature earning Davao City the title of the “Durian Capital of the Philippines”, good vibes are aplenty and many flock to the week-long event to bask in it.
The Kadayawan Tribal Cultural Village at Magsaysay Park was also a joy to experience; a harmonious cohesion of traditions and a united front between the city’s 11 indigenous tribes, the natives warmly welcome you into their respective houses.
Davao City is indeed a city blessed with nature’s bounty—81% of national cacao production, to be exact. We were treated to a scintillating visit at Malagos Garden Resort
where we spent the day going cacao crazy at The Malagos Chocolate Museum, making our chocolate and eating it too at their chocolate lab, and finally ending our visit at the Chocolate Spa at The Legacy House with a relaxing chocolate leg massage to assuage our well-travelled feet.
As for halal fare, Davao is ripe with options. Whether you’re digesting an organic dinner with a hearty drum-beating session at Balik Bukid Farm & Kitchen,
catching a pre-flight Japanese fusion meal at Naj Restaurant
charmingly tucked in a corner of Davao International Airport or enjoying an au naturel al fresco affair at The Spot by Hijo Resorts, rest assured that your palate, stomach and soul are all well-taken care of.
To be a guest in the Philippines is a privilege that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. Regardless of where you go or what you do, the people pull you in with open arms to welcome you into the warmth of a nationwide atmosphere where culture, stories and love are shared in abundance.
This media trip was sponsored and hosted by the Philippines’ Department of Tourism Regions 10 and 11, as a sub-regional initiative for the BIMP-EAGA Joint Tourism Development Cluster. For more information and updates, check out @dotr10 on Facebook and www.davaotourism.ph.