A Zamboangenyo Noticed
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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.
This column is for those who want to share their thoughts about Davao - its people, its culture and its nature as a city. If you are interested in posting an article here, please feel free to contact us and we would be glad to publish any article that are relevant for this website.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Me, too! I’m proud to be a Davaoeña. I love hearing people from other places say, “Ang sarap ng buhay dito”, or “I want to grow old here!”..hearing those things makes me really proud of having to stay here in Davao. =)
November 12th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
You’ll never get to appreciate your hometown until you’re miles and miles away, and your new place’s way of living gets rubbed on you that you just want to go home.
November 29th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Perti!!!
I usually introduce myself as a Dabawenyo than a Filipino and tried to give them “Did you knows” as I try to put my city on map.
Though I heard some people trying to “BS” Mayor Duterte on his ways of maintaining peace, I just love some Aussies here who just appreciate our “Punisher”.
Gimingaw na ko ug Dabaw
November 29th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Thanks for your thoughts on Davao Aldrin. Nice to find some more Tagadabaw in Oz too.
Best Regards
January 6th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Im now in Cebu and also proud to be Davaoño. Sad to say, there are still lots of bad guys in our city. Last December, the wallet of my co-worker who hails from Cagayan de Oro was snatched…his entire salary for new year which he intended to spend in CDO was gone…The incident reminded me that just like any other places, we must still be careful of bad elements, particularly snatchers who roam around the city.
January 7th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Indeed. Now matter how secure we want our city to be, bad guys are still bad guys and they would always find ways to do it for whatever their reason is.
Also, with the promising boom that our city is showing, it is becoming more attractive to non-Davaoeño criminals. I could recall Mayor Duterte stating in his program that many of the criminals under investigation are not really from Davao but from the neighboring areas.
Crime I think is impossible to totally eliminate. Let us hope that the government (and the people) could or would keep it at the least possible.