Aside from durians and the Philippine eagle, Davao is also known for its variety of beautiful orchids. That’s what greeted me when I arrived at the Davao International Airport a few weeks ago when I visited the place again. I was not happy with the shots I have taken but here are some of the shots anyway right at the airport.
Orchids on display right at the airport.
Of course, since I’m a student of architecture, I also took a few shots of the airport — all hurriedly done. Oh well…
It was nice to have visited the place again where my family and I once lived for some seven years. The orchids reminded me of my wife’s orchids when were still living in Davao.
This was my wife’s orchids (waling-waling) when we were still living Davao many years ago.
This was my wife’s orchids (dendrobium) when were still living in Davao many years ago.
There was a time back in the 60s when bus travel from my hometown of Bayugan to the city of Butuan really took a long, long time. If I recall rightly, I think that it took about two hours to get there. I could be wrong but that was how I remembered it as a young boy back then. According to Google it’s only 43.5 kilometers and it only now takes 57 minutes to go there. Back then, the roads were very rough and dusty. And I could still remember that the ladies including my mom would put on their bandanas to cover their heads from all the dirt and dust as we travelled on bumpy and dusty roads. The buses had entrances and exits on the right side of the bus on each row of seats. It was “air-conditioned” alright and you have to climb up to the bus to get on board!
Rural Tours air-conditioned bus from Cagayan de Oro City to Butuan City.
Travel by Bus
Times have changed. A few weeks ago I was in Cagayan de Oro and I travelled by bus to my home city in Bayugan. A young friend offered to bring me there using his car but I declined because I thought that was a really long, long drive away from his home.
I was surprised that in Cagayan de Oro, they now have a diversion road along the seashore from the bus terminal in Agora going towards the east on our way to Butuan without passing through the inner city. It was great to see the seashore as we began our travel through this new road which avoided going through traffic inside the city.
With his permission, I took a shot of the bus driver and his bus conductor as they stopped by for lunch in an eatery by the seashore. It was along the road from Cagayan de Oro to Butuan City.
Bus Travel Much Improved
The aircon buses are a great improvement and comfort from what I had experienced during my boyhood years. They also have movies to pass the time away as we travelled on. But I enjoyed more looking outside at the sceneries all around me as we moved along. I actually have seen all the movies anyway. The bus stopped in so many towns but I did not mind it at all. I was in no hurry. I enjoyed watching the people and the places all along the way. I actually took the wrong bus. I learned later that my travel would have been faster had I taken a bus that only stopped a few times. Oh well, I did not know it but I enjoyed the ride anyway. It’s been decades that I have used a bus on this route.
Bachelor Tours aircon bus from Butuan City to Davao passing through my home city of Bayugan.
Much Improved Road Conditions
I also remember back in 1986 that the Bukidnon-Davao Road (BUDA) was really a rough dirt road. Concrete roads were only in some portions from Cagayan de Oro to somewhere in Valencia, Bukidnon. Back in 2005 (if I recall rightly) I drove all the way from Davao City to Zamboanga City and many portions of the road were still unpaved and rough but road construction was ongoing all over Mindanao during that time. I also experienced the rough roads from Davao to Agusan.
Watching old movies inside an aircon bus on my way from Bayugan to Davao.
Back in July I also travelled by bus for 3 hours from Zamboanga City to Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay. I’m glad all the major roads (national road) are all paved now all over Mindanao. Bus travel in Mindanao has now really improved a lot.
I was on this Rural Tours aircon bus when I travelled from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay for 3 hours on my way to Zamboanga City. Nice ride all the way.
Lesser Checkpoints Than Before
And to my surprise, there was not much military checkpoints all along the way! And it’s supposed to be martial law in Mindanao right now. It is still in force. Back then, when I travelled in Zamboanga to Ipil and back, I could see lots of checkpoints along the way. It felt like there was a checkpoint every 10 kilometers hahaha! It’s different now.
I’m just glad Mindanao’s roads have improved a lot including bus transportation. It was great to have experienced riding a bus once again in Mindanao.
Maintaining a house can be expensive and can use up a lot of your time but that’s just the way it is. It seems that there is always something that needs fixing at home and it always involves spending some cash to replace some busted plumbing fixture, leaking roof or maybe just replacing a busted light bulb.
Today I just did a much needed maintenance work at home. I installed two new shower heaters all in one afternoon.
About two or three months ago, my wife complained that the shower heater at the ground floor got busted after some 10 years of use — my estimate. It was installed when both my parents-in-law were still living here and it finally got busted about two or three months ago. For all those weeks since then, my daughter went upstairs whenever she needed to take a bath because she’s not used to cold showers haha!
I installed a new shower heater downstairs after the old one got busted a few months back.
And then suddenly yesterday, the shower heater upstairs in our bathroom got busted also! We have used this shower heater for some 15 years already — my estimate. We bought it in Davao City and used it for a good number of years there. Then we brought it with us when we were transferred to Pampanga where we lived for seven years. Then we brought it with us again when we moved to Santa Rosa, Laguna after my retirement. Yesterday, that good old shower heater said goodbye as well. After about 15 years, the white plastic parts became brittle and could no longer hold the water pressure and it leaked. I believe both shower heaters can still be repaired but I have decided to buy new ones instead. It served us well all those many years.
I installed a new shower heater upstairs as the old one got busted yesterday after some 15 years of service.
At Ace Hardware, I learned from the sales lady that the old shower heater lasted for a long time because it was non-electronic. The new ones that I bought are electronically controlled. Let’s see how long it will last. I was told that the warranty is for five years so we will see.
Well, that was how I spent my senior citizen afternoon. I installed two new shower heaters to the delight of my wife and daughter. I guess i could still be handy at home even though I’m already sixty four haha!
I thank the Lord for allowing me to enjoy life and love in him and with my family during my senior years.
I was again on the road as I was invited to visit our local churches in the province of Bukidnon. During my early years as a ministerial trainee, my wife and I along with my 6-year old daughter lived there for about one year in Don Carlos, Bukidnon back in 1986-1987.
Bukidnon mountains
Simple Provincial Life
Life was simple. No TV and there was no internet yet. Back then, the roads were very rough — very dusty when dry and very muddy when wet. I can’t forget a comment from one of our Australian regional directors back then who said that he felt like “scrambled eggs” inside the tiny, off-the-road jeep called Suzuki Beaver hahaha! They have good roads now.
From a city dweller in the big city of Metro Manila, we were deployed to the very remote place called Don Carlos, Bukidnon where we lived with simple, down-to-earth folks untainted by the sophistication of city life. At first, it was tough adjusting to the new rural, agricultural and cultural setting but we have grown to love the people there over the years. Some have gone ahead and some are still living but now frail and sickly and many of those whom I knew since 1986 are now senior citizens like me. We had two congregations back then — one in Barangay Kiara in the town of Don Carlos and the other one was in the town of Maramag, all in the province of Bukidnon.
Back then, as a young ministerial trainee, I asked God why he would send me and my family there in that very remote place. I thought back then that it was a very remote and backward place haha! I have no regrets now. God surely knows what he’s doing in me — as he lives his life in me (Gal. 2:20). I now understand that I should gladly participate and enjoy life and love in him as he leads me and guide me in whatever circumstance, whenever or wherever it might happen to be. Thank you Lord for allowing me to enjoy life and love in you!
This is the local congregation of Grace Communion International in Barangay Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. My family and I lived in Bukidnon for one year in 1986-87. It was great to have been invited to visit them again last October 25, 2018.
Bukidnon’s Majestic Mountains
One of the things that I really loved about the place is its majestic mountains, natural beautiful sceneries all around, fresh fruits and of course the gentle, lovable people of Bukidnon.
Appreciating the beauty of God’s creation from the “overview.”
From the Davao International Airport, I was picked up and brought to Maramag, Bukidnon. Along the way, we passed by what is called the “Overview” where one can get a good view of the vast land and open skies of Bukidnon. We had heavy rains along the way and so it was still a bit cloudy and dark when we went up to the peak. But it was well worth it to visit the “overview” once again. Things have changed. They now have small stores and souvenir shops there and so we stopped for a while, had coffee and chatted with the folks in the place. I speak fluent Cebuano by the way.
As usual, I took some shots and a few videoclips as I normally do. It was great to have been invited by people whom you have grown to love. I thank God for this blessing and opportunity for such visits.
It’s always a joy to see good old friends once again. Surely God made us for loving relationships. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit has been enjoying their life and love for all eternity. God wants us to participate in this divine life and love — this ‘great dance.’ I felt loved by my friends in the Lord in Bukidnon. I hope to be back there again soon!
For ladies, birthdays and anniversaries are important dates to remember. For many ordinary men like me, I’m just content with staying at home. I’m fine with it. But from what I know, most ladies would want to go out and celebrate.
My daughter made all the food choices. The food was great at Italliani’s!
At Italliani’s on Our Wedding Anniversary
It was our 39th wedding anniversary yesterday and so off we went again restaurant hopping. This time we went to Italliani’s for our dinner last night at the Vista Mall in Santa Rosa. It was our first time in this restaurant. I noticed right away that many of the diners were of the classy type of folks and a few were foreigners. I would say, middle income group but who are able to afford the pricey (a little bit pricey) menu at this restaurant.
But no worries, my wife and I are senior citizens so we are both entitled to a 20% discount and I have another card (The Bistro Group Restaurants) which entitled me to another discount. We were given a total of 40% discount. Not bad for a wedding anniversary haha! It turned out to be not so expensive at all to eat at this classy restaurant.
We were delighted with the waiters and staff. My wife and I noticed right away that the ladies were all beautiful and the men were always ready to serve. They even surprised us by singing a song for us and gave us ice cream with little candles making our celebration even more memorable. We did not expect them to sing for us on our 39th wedding anniversary. They surprised us. Thankfully, my daughter was quick to video record the event.
So, would I recommend Italliani’s to all? You bet! It’s a great place to be. We had a great time there. And oh by the way, the food was great! We loved it! And they gave us extra bread as we left! For free! And coffee too!
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for being with me and my wife all these years from our teenage years together even up to now in our senior years. Enjoying life and love in Jesus Christ!
