Happy 1st Blog-osary!!

Last year, I decided to make this a niche blog. A blog all about Mindanao, issues surrounding Mindanao as part of my advocacy. But I could not separate myself with my advocacy. I write what I believe in. I talk to people whom I learn and got these narratives that helped me grow. The more I learn, the more I have this yearning that there is still more to learn.

I refurbished this blog and decided to write stories about myself, the people surrounding me, and the places I discovered. Narratives that made an impact on my journey. I wrote about my heart aches, my hopes, love affairs, fulfilled and unfulfilled promises. I talked about Mindanao bloggers and the quest for a more positive light for portraying our island in the mainstream media. I wrote about the farmers, the unsung heroes of our countryside that ironically the people who are deprived of the basic resource for production- land.



As this blog turns 1, I vow to write more, to travel more and learn more of what is the extremes (poverty despite its richness in resources, peace and conflict) and issues that affect Mindanao--my only home.



Happy thoughts!

Of Prejudices and Datu Paglas

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” ~~ Aldous Huxley




When my relatives especially my maternal aunt who raised me up knew that I'll be traveling to Datu Paglas, Maguindanao she told me "Halong ka kay Kamusliman daan na didto (Take care because it is a Muslim area)."



Another aunt, cousins and my older sister also told me to take care primarily because it IS a Muslim predominated area. Same line was also said by my host families and acquaintances in M'lang.

It is a sad fact that even us, Mindanaons have this thought about our fellow Muslim brother and sister. First, I would like to emphasize that this is not a blog to discriminate our fellow Muslims. This is just to show that at this time and age, prejudice and discrimination to our brother and sister Muslims remain. We discriminate base on their religion. We discriminate as we our also discriminated.

Before, I really cringe every time an acquaintance from Manila would ask,after knowing I'm from South COtabato,"Muslim ka? May giyera doon sa inyo? (Are you a Muslim? Is there a war on your place?)"

I retorted, "If I'm a Muslim, so? Would that make me less of a human to your eyes?"
Hearing always the word Cotabato is equated to "war-ravaged" areas. Blame it to the media and the Manila- centric history books and geography lessons, that we do not even care to know about this island. What we know is the terrorists, kidnappings. I want to blame the mass media for this unending prejudice. The equation always seems simple: Muslim areas= war= underdevelopment.

But I could not just go on ranting if I myself have this fear and prejudice. That traveling in Muslim area is MORE dangerous than any areas in Mindanao? I'd like to think NOT. As the daughter of my host in Mlang said, "Parehas lang man na sila sa bisan unsang grupo- Ilonggo man o Bisaya. May ara buot man ara man mga traidor. Hindi mo siya husgahan kay tungod lang nga MUslim siya, delikado na dayon. (It is the same with othe rgroups- whether Ilonggo or Bisaya. You can find someone who is kind, but there are also traitors. You should not judge the person, that when she/he is a Muslim, he/she is already dangerous.)"

For my research regarding local rice production, I choose M'lang in North Cotabato and Datu Paglas in Maguindanao Province. M'lang is dominated by Ilonggo populace and as a person who speaks their language, it would be easy. I can just travel alone. But to Datu Paglas? Aside from language differences, I knew no one from that place. And as my relatives have warned me, it is a Muslim area.

I am touched by my friends and relatives' concern but I told them that traveling alone to the place with no one I knew personally will prove them wrong. That yes, I'll be back in one piece. I only knew Rasul, a staff from a partner of a partner NGO. This is how it goes-- I met the Executive Director (ED) of Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement who referred me to the ED of TRIPOD who in return also referred me to this staff in Datu Paglas. I never met Rasul before. I just texted and called him the day before traveling to the area.

I stayed for four days in the area and here I am, still in one piece. Datu Paglas is a miracle town that was brought back into pieces by peace-loving individuals. Owing also to the powerful clan of Paglas, the once dreaded place became one of the rice granary of Maguindanao Province.

But still, government support is lacking. Overseas development assistance (ODA) projects in the name of the "poor people of ARMM" must also be scrutinized if it really went to the real beneficiaries. As for the rice areas, again their is a threat of land conversion to high value crops such as bananas and oil palm plantations.



I just learned that, heairng from the news and traveling to the place is two different things in the spectrum. Visit areas in Mindanao that you fear or dread and learn. Also, traveling alone and experiencing the hospitality of the people you know for the first time, makes you proud to be a Mindanaoan.

A tribute for my Lola Luz

I posted this on my Multiply blog before and I will be reposting this to show how much I misses my Lola. Time flies fast too fast. This is the essay I wrote for my AH1 class during college. This was my tribute for her.

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When I look at myself, I quickly came to conclude that Lola Luz was the most important person who exerted the greatest influence in my life, even after her death. Since before I was born, our family had lived with Lola Luz in our ancestral home. When I was in the third grade, my mother had to go to work in a faraway place because my father left us.

It was not until I reached the age of five that I wondered why my father did not bother to attend my kindergarten plays, homeroom meetings or recognition days. I thought, like my mom, was also working in a distant place. There was nothing wrong with it just like my bestfriend’s military father whom I saw only once or twice a year. My wandering imagination would surely help me in inventing some stories to cover up his absence.. Whenever someone would ask me where my father was, I would smile shyly and reply, “He drowned in a bowl of soup,” a ludicrous story that solicited raucous laughter from bystanders.

One day, my Lola heard that amusing story and she invited me to walk in the rice fields with her. She explained the real circumstances my sister and I were in. She told me that we were still fortunate; eventhough my biological mother was not around, her absence was not a big deal since my aunt whom I dearly called Nanay was always there and of course, my sweet grandma.

Lots of my friends who have “intact” families went home to empty houses after school because both their parents worked. But I was one of the lucky ones. My mom’s mom, a formidable-looking old woman with oval face and draw out ears, was always at our kitchen waiting for me with a glass of calamansi juice and a thick slice of freshly cooked suman or bibingka. Still munching her specialty kakanin, I’d tell Lola all about my day. From my achievements- high scores on quizzes and recitations to my naughtiness- the pranks I played with my classmates. I could surely tell her all that. Then we would play sungka. Sometimes she let me win until I was big and wise enough to master the techniques of the said game. Or sometimes when she would cook, she let me read the recipe book for her eventhough I could not understand the words like sauté, garnish or marinate. Because of those early reading exercises, I had taken her habit for reading newspapers, and even for her never- ending superstitious beliefs, quotes and love for poems. I even remembered the day she taught me the English version of the Panatang Makabayan. She had also the knack for learning languages and she could speak B’laan, T’boli, Bisya and Chavacano fluently. It can be attributed to her business dealings with the said groups back in the 1980s.

If there was one skill my Lola had that I truly admired, that was her knitting. I truly love the intricate designs she made on our shawls and tablecloths that were now considered family heirlooms. Aside from that, she also sewed- a skill I could not imitate. Her equidistant needle- strewn thread was unsurpassed.

Her quotidian sewing was a scene every afternoon in our balcony. She would gather our ripped shorts and shirts and mend those through he magic hands. One day, she had a bag full of excess textiles cut in small squares. I asked her what it was and she told me she was making a quilt. “What?” I asked her again. “A quilt. Spelled q-u-i-l-t,” she replied. “Go get a dictionary and find its meaning,” she added as an afterthought (just to stop my questions, I guess).

A quilt is a “bedcover made of small cloth held in place by lines of stitching” Day by day, I would marvel at her works, the patches she had made, the careful choosing of the cloth and her face as if always on a scowl. I would always sit with her while she sat on her rocking chair sewing or I would just admire her exquisite work. While sewing, she would tell me some stories of kings and queens from medieval times, the Japanese occupation and some theater plays- stories of all sorts. That was a great ploy for an annoying child like me because I would gasp and listen intently. She was an adept storyteller using sound effects, rolling her eyes and changing intonations to give emphasis to certain points or change characters.

The quilt she had been sewing was the best blanket I ever laid eyes on. It was surely for someone special, I thought. She painstakingly sewed everyday. According to her, life is like a quilt. The meaning of life was not fully understood by merely living it but by knowing what and for whom our life was truly for. Like the quilt, its beauty could not be judged by the colorful cloth used but by the effort exerted and the comfort it could give.. that was a quizzical comparison beyond the grasp of my young mind then. But still, I never forgot such an explanation.

Like most kids growing up, I went through some inevitable changes. I went to the city to pursue my secondary education. I was hesitant because it meant living independently away from my family. I was very afraid but my Lola’s assurance was enough to erase my doubts.

Adjustments were tremendous. Our daily conversations ceased and the things she used to take care of was now a burdensome obligation for me- from budgeting and making my own grocery list. Cooking which was my betenoir became a part of my daily routine. I thought I could not make it but she always there, giving advice and inculcating values. I learned to be patient and to trust. She instilled in me the great importance of money and respect for the time of others. She once said, “ Take a lesson from the clock. It passes the time by keeping its hands busy.”

Besides being my adviser, she was also my biggest fan. When I was included in our class top ten, she was very proud. Whenever I joined contests, she might not be always around but I was sure her rosary was always in her hands as she prayed for me. She would commend me for my winning in History quizzes. She even displayed my medals and trophies in the cabinet in our living room for the visitors to see. But when Lady Luck was not on my side, I could always count on Lola to wrap her arms around me. It was great. I do not remember even once being in her arms when I didn’t honestly believe her when she told me everything was going to be fine.

Then one day, when I was sixteen, everything wasn’t fine anymore. I was in a parliamentary debate when the news came. She had a fatal heart attack and intestinal problems. She complained tightening of chests before but she would tell us that we need not to worry because she was healthy. She was wrong.

She did suffer but she would not let us see her suffering. She gave us a sunny smile eventhough she was in unbearable pain. We had a talk about death before- it was supposed to be the beginning of a journey, but for me, losing her, was the beginning of an unbearable longing. It had assumed reality that was immediate and terrifying. It was no longer a vague event that would happen on some distant day. Everything within me screamed to deny what happened to my Lola. The reality kept hitting me in fresh waves of shock; she was no longer with me to share my graduation and my UPCAT results. I knew, she would have been the first one to kiss me and say, “That’s my apo, “ beaming with pride for sure.

I cowered deep within myself, feeling like a small, terrified child abandoned by an adult. I find myself asking God. Why did you take her first? It took me my last ounce of willpower to handle my grandma’s death. I needed to accept reality, move on and give my best. I just held on to the knowledge that life was finite, that everyone faces the same fate.

Before she left to start her journey, I knew she lived a meaningful life and gave me and my sister the comfort we needed. She might not be here in another road I’ll take but I know, through the lessons I learned form her, life will be endurable.

Moreover, on my seventeenth and her seventieth birthday (she’s born on May 11, I on May 13. We celebrated our birthdays together a year before she died), my Nanay gave me a box, which was addressed “to my special apo.” Inside, there lay the most beautiful hand- knitted quilt. My eyes were filled with tears when I opened her card. “I know I would not be here on our birthday. I told your Nanay Nelly to arrange for you to receive this. Did you remember that I made it for someone special? That was you.”

To this day, the quilt is the most cherished possession I ever had. She never left me because I know she is watching me over still. And the quilt is a constant reminder of her never-ending love.


Today is my maternal grandmother's 6th year death anniversary.
----------------------

To my Lola, I miss you.

typhoon Opportunists

Yes, 2010 elections is coming. We can sense it from 10 radius mile. When Bagyong Ondoy hit the country, death toll rises every minute. Several persons are missing. Thousands and thousands are hungry, in pain and in need of help.

Yet there are politicians who still find time to buy alcohol.



The insensitivity of this Congressman (and son of our gruesome president) to the plight of millions is just repulsive.

On the other hand, this presidentiable sent help but of course, you people should remember where the food came from and maybe, you should remember him during voting time. Trapo talaga!



and to the looters, you are just like these crocodiles! Nasalanta na nga ng bagyo, wag niyo namang pagsamantalahan at nanakawan.

Bagyong Ondoy's Wreackage

I never saw this kind of disaster in my 22 years of existence. Mindanao is lucky to be spared by typhoons and we live here. We just experience scattered rain showers and rains but not this disastrous. But we all know, there are atmospheric changes that is occurring. Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth is fast happening. Just last month, I experienced a waist-deep flood at San Pedro for the first time, after living here for five years now.

I just came from my travel from M’lang when I heard of Typhoon Ondoy (international codename Ketsana). I was shocked looking at the pictures posted by friends on their Facebook walls. Much more when Erwin posted that his parents and nephew and niece ages 6 and 7 years old stayed at their rooftop when the water level started to rise. It was September 26, 2:30PM and until September 28 there were still no rescue operations. It was raining and the children are vulnerable to sickness.

Then I remembered my mother. She's living with her new family in Bacoor, Cavite. We also have relatives at Hagonoy, Bulacan. I called my mother and she assured me they are okay. Their house are situated at higher part but the creek behind their subdivision overflowed. I asked her to be vigilant and to evacuate. On the other hand, my uncle lives in Hagonoy, Bulacan. What’s disturbing is water run off went to their area but all in all, they survived and not harmed.

Then Erwin and I had a chat over Facebook. I asked him how's his family are faring. He said he lost contact with them. I sense his helplessness. It breaks my heart since I could not do anything to comfort him, to ease his tension. It’s very hard that you are here in Davao, watching the news and footages,and you know your loved ones are in dire help yet you are helpless. Words are not enough to ease the tension.




Contributed photos at GMA Facebook Account.

We talked and monitored the news. My sister and I have been checking also other relatives and her husbands’ relatives. The next day early morning, my sister texted me that my mom and my other 3 siblings evacuated their house and stayed overnight at a friend’s house since water level rose in their area. The rubber parts they are using and selling at their vulcanizing shop were swept away. My stepdad was able to save their compressor. I am thankful they are safe. I advised them to be alert since another tropical depressions are forming at the east.

Then my sister called and cried. Her mother-in-law was trapped at their house at West Floowday, Brgy. San Andres, Cainta, Rizal. It was one of the areas that was not yet reached by rescue operations. Nana Myrna and her companions texted my sister on Saturday morning and then no more contact.

I am blessed with internet and phone connections. All I can do is raise the alarms for these people. For the first time, I called all hotlines, all available numbers and websites to post queries, raise alarms for relatives (direct or indirect). This is the time I cried so hard and prayed hard for the fear of losing these people. When Erwin decided to go to Manila and personally check his parents and pamangkins, I cried. I fear for his safety and his family. Some areas are still impassable. But I know he will be uncomfortable and stressed knowing his family are in critical situation.What I can do is just pray for his safety and for his family’s as well.

He arrived in Manila late afternoon, then he and Gani, his bestfriend went to their area. I was trying to call him this morning. No signal. I just prayed that they were able to do it. And just this morning, he texted that his family are okay but relief goods like clothing and potable water are needed.

This is a wake-up call for all of us. I am calling for other Mindanawans to send donations either cash, nonperishable foods and clothing for the victims of Ondoy. I call for the people to pray for them and to the volunteers for their strength.

As of September 28, 2009 the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), disseminated this information..Just click HERE.

For those who are still looking for their loved ones, you can check these numbers and websites:

Useful Links
News and Updates

* Google News
* YouTube
* Official Government Site
* Local media websites
o ABS-CBN News (SOS Call Map)
o GMA News (Relief Map)
o Manila Bulletin
o Philippine Daily Inquirer
o Philippine Star
o Relief Map

Disaster Emergency

* Rescue Operations
o National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
o Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
o Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
o Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
o Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
o Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
o Quezon City Rescue (161)
o San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
o Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
o Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
o Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
* Civil Society/ Media
o Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
o Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
o Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
o ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
o Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
* Rubber Boat Requests, 4×4 Trucks
o NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
o Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue
please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
o You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
o For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).

Online and In-Kind Donations

Below you'll find a list of groups in the Phillippines that are accepting cash and in-kind donations to help with disaster relief efforts:
Monetary Donations

1. Bank Donations

2. Credit Card/PayPal Donations

* GMA Kapuso Foundation
* ABS-CBN Foundation
* Philippine Aid

3. SMS Donations
Procedure Smart Money Globe GCash
PNRC Type RED Ex. RED 100 4493 2899
TXT POWER 5577-5144-1866-7103 0917-9751092.


In-Kind Donation

* Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
* NoyMar relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
* Miriam Quiambao drop off points: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
* Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
* Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
* Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
* Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
* Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
* Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
* Philippine National Red Cross‘ different ways to Donate.
* Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
* Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
* Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)
* TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
* Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
* Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
* Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at La Salle Greenhills Gate 2 tomorrow or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
* Petron: You may bring your relief goods to all Petron branches.
* LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
* “LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray”: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, MeralcoAvenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
* MOONSHINE boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
* Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) — they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
* Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
* Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
* MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.


We can help in your own way.

Tayong Mismo ang Magtutulungan. Sama-sama, bayanihan in rebuilding lives.

Visiting M'lang, the rice granary of North Cot

Going to a place for the first time could be a wondrous adventure. Much more if you are with your friends. But doing it alone is another matter. It is like being thrown to an entirely different place and with no one you know, it is uncomfortable.

But having this kind of work in an NGO, research institution for that matter is a challenge for me. As a researcher , I need to be resourceful. I need to be creative enough in my data gathering. It takes necessary skills and interpersonal skills in order for the people to be at ease with you. I need to personally investigate issues that I have to talk to and push for other sectors to support for.

You learn a lot by talking with the people- farmers, fisherfolks, the taxi driver. Talking with them social concerns like food security, poverty, hunger, corruption, you'll realized these people knows so much than you do. The talk is spontaneous. As a researcher, it is your duty to make your participants at ease for an easy sharing of information. Staying in the community is also a must. As for my research on public investment of Local Government Unit (LGU) in local rice production has just started, I choose M'lang North Cotabato as one of the research locale.


I was lucky, it's harvest time!

M'lang is one of the highest rice producing municipality together with Midsayap and Kabacan in North Cotabato. North Cotabato, on the other hand, is a consistent top ten rice producing province. I went to University of Southern Mindanao for a meeting with different networks for preparation for the World Food Day Celebration on Oct. 13. Meeting at Kabacan then data gathering at M'lang afterwards. It's idea of hitting two birds in one stone. :)

Then I went to M'lang armed with only two contact numbers of people I will be interviewing- the municipal agriculturist and the president of the irrigated rice farmers association. I planned to stay in an inn or lodge but I was surprised to learn that a small room for an overnight stay costs P300! Quite expensive lodging for a rural area, I thought. My budget is quite small. I texted my contacts and asked them if they know some place more affordable. The farmer president called me and asked me to spend the night at their house instead. Oh! I just meet him on that day. I put aside my shame and accepted the offer.


The house where I stayed. Hospitality at its best. I love my host family!

While I was waiting for my the kind farmer, the municipal agriculturist who happens to be an aunt of a sorority sis called me and offered their home too. Such hospitality overwhelmed me.

I stayed on the area for three days and I am not dislocated for it is an Ilonggo-dominated area. I speak their language which is one important factor in conducting research. I enjoyed hearing deep Ilonggo words like ayam (dog), igma (eat), kanugon (what a waste). My family host was so sweet and they treated me like their own granddaughter.

I will be coming back maybe next week and I'm glad I had this assignment.

Pigging Out

GRUB Resto

I wanted another taste on my palate. Not the usual carenderia lunch we had at the office, or any fastfood meal. Despite the sweltering heat, Jamir and I went out and found this quaint little place in Duterte Street. The Grub Resto, just in between a saloon and Dunkin Donuts offers good food. It’s quite pricey from the usual resto and it takes a long time for them to serve the food, but it’s worth the wait.

They serve coffee, frapuccino and entrée. We order stir-fried seafood vegetable and fish parmegiano in tomato sauce. The entrée comes with brown rice. Good for people in diet and with diabetics!




Fish parmegiano for P125.


Stir fried seafood vegetable. in short chopsuey for P78 :)


Karlyn’s

Where to dine best and you don't have any idea, either ask your food-lover friends or surf the net. I choose the former. Gracey, a college friend who loves to eat with her boyfriend has almost tried every eat-all-you can/ buffet and restaurants around the city. I want a new place to eat out and I asked her. She told me to try Karlyn’s steak. According to her, it was one of the best.

I wanted to tried it with my Someone but never got a chance to do so. So when Jamir, a close friend wanted to try a happy food, something “unique Davao feel”, I told him we should try Karlyn’s. It would be an adventure for both of us. So after strolling in SM, we asked around where the place is.

Located along the highway of Phase 2 Doña Luisita Village, Ecoland, Karlyn’s serves steak ala pobre, fish steak, lengua estofado, Salisbury steak, chopsuey. They serve in buffet style but you only have to pay for what you have ordered. They will cook and/or reheat your order. The special ice tea concoction by the owner leaves a cooling minty feel on your throat.

Oh! It is affordable. The lengua is only P40, fish steak at P75 and the special ice tea for P30. Truly happy meal!



soft and tasty Lengua.

Karlyn's is at the second block near SM ecoland. For reservations and order call Tel.: 299-0087.


Greenhills

Davao is known for eat-all-you can restos that sprouted anywhere in the city. As Jamir said, “Dabawenyos really love to eat.” Eat-all-you-can restos manifests these. While doing his internship in our office, he had tried Grandmenseng, Buffet Palace, Kuya Ed’s, Tita Dei’s. And since his just be here for about two weeks, he wanted to savor the remaining buffet resto he never tried: Greenhills. It offers seafoods.

His first night in Davao we ate at around 8:30PM. I was so starved by then that I was not able to savor the food. The choices are not so appealing for me. When Jamir asked for an early dinner the other day and would really like to pig out, he wanted Greenhills again. For P128 per person, it’s not bad.

And since we are early, we have the best choices: Lechon kawali, spicy mussels, steamed oysters, palabok, tinolang manok, chicken fillet, fish fillet in sweet and sour sauce. There are steamed asparagus, vegetable salads, yellow mango with bagoong and for desserts: mais con yelo, green sago’t gulaman, watermelon and pineapple.

By 8PM, it rained so hard and we were trapped inside. So what’s the best thing to do while bidding your time? Eat, eat and eat! You’ll not be surprised to look at the pictures of our army battalion-like consumption.


The crime scene


The suspects!


Happy meal! ('0')