Thursday, April 30, 2009

WOW DAVAO!!!



I have been to the different places in the Philippines, practically from A (as in Abra) to Z ( as in Zamboanga). I have conquered mountains, explored caves, photographed peoples and swam our seas. But still, I have to point out out: Davao remains the best place in the Philippines.

Maraming dahilan why many people like Davao. As varied as the reasons and factors may be, still they all summed up to one thing- quality of life: The air is fresh. The city is clean and green. There is real abundance of the freshest harvests from the land and sea. To top it all, the quality of potable water is among the best in the world.


There are many restaurants in Davao that serve unforgettable so-tu-kil (sugba, tula, kilaw) dishes. Marami pang mga eat all you can na pwede mong puntahan!!!

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Crocodile Park is one of the most visited parks in the city.

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If you go to Davao, do not forget to visit the eagle parks. Medyo malayo nga lang sa city, but the visit to Malagos Garden is worth it.

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Visit also the Pink Sisters at the Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande. That is only ten minute taxi ride from downtown.

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Opposite the Pink Sisters is the SVD Formation House at the Skyline Road, Catalunan Grande.

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The Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague is situated atop Davao’s Matina Hills, where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city’s sprawling landscape and the other sights to be seen within and beyond it. This place is also good for pilgrimage and worship as the elevation of the terrain has made the shrine serene and tranquil.

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Eden Garden resort is located in Toril, Davao city, it is about 10 hectares of forest land which have been turned into a mini garden, forest park. In this place you cannot fail not to appreciate the beauty of the flowers EVERYWHERE. There are all types of orchids found in Eden, in fact, the place very much lives up to it’s name.

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Pearl Farm Resort lies in a secluded island off the coast of Davao city. This 11-hectare spread was once a pearl farm, where thousands of white-lipped oysters, transported from the Sulu Sea, were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls.

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The houses here in Pearl Farm are patterned after the stilt houses of seafaring Samal tribes of the Sulu archipelago.

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Davao -- a sight to behold!!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

MY RECOMMENDED SVD SITES



PLEASE TAKE TIME TO VISIT THESE SITES:

Arnold Janssen Building

Bukal Newsletter

Christ the King Mission Seminary

DWST Tagaytay

Holy Spirit Novitiate

The Healing Eucharist

Verbum Class

XVD Philippines

MY OTHER SITES




Here are the other sites I maintained:


Castrodes Clan

Center for Wholeness and Holiness

CKMS Family Feast 2006: Mission 131

Felmar's Missionary Journey

Fiel Clan

Hatid-Diwa Online

My Flickr Photosets

My Friendster

My Friendster Directory

My Youtube

St. Arnold Janssen Shrine Parish

SVD Vocation Office Online: Join the SVD

The Doulos Class

The Red Man's Site

William Finnemann, SVD

SVD BLOGGERS

Here is my list of SVD bloggers and they are all around the world!

Brother Errol Torres, SVD - Blog of Brothers

Fr. Adonis Narcelles, SVD - Berlin IMPRESSIONS

Fr. Ariel Tampus, SVD - Sharing the World to the World

Fr. Arnold Biago, SVD - Homilies

Fr. Bernard Collera, SVD - Reflections

Fr. Dondion Soriano, SVD - Welcome, Mga Kapuso't Kapamilya

Fr. Elmer Ibarra, SVD - Your Mate Down Under

Fr. Felix Ferrer, SVD - Happylex

Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD - Felmar's Missionary Journey

Fr. Ferdimar Faminialagao, SVD - Japsaya

Fr. Genesis Velez, SVD - SVD Pinoy

Fr. Jaekel Solde, SVD - Sabaw sa Balbakwa

Fr. Jaimelito Gealan, SVD - Fr. Heart's Domain

Fr. Judy Baňez, SVD - Judy's Site

Fr. Jun Balay, SVD - Jun Haus

Fr. Michael Layugan, SVD - Divine Word School of Theology

Fr. Nonito Gallego, SVD - From a Distance

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD - Divine Word Seminary

Fr. Ross Heruela, SVD - Witness to the Word

Frt. Abraham Ronald Borja, SVD - Frozen Events

Frt. Feure du Nand Bajeaux, SVD - Shine!

Frt. Melchor Fuerzas, SVD - Seminary Life

Frt. Nelson Barbarona, SVD - My Home Away from Home

Frt. Ritchelle Salinas, SVD - Ritch and Pour

Friday, April 24, 2009

SUMMER THANKSGIVING

Greetings from Davao!

For the past few days, I was always on the go. For your information, I already left St. Arnold Janssen Shrine Parish of Cainta after Easter. They prepared a program for me and that I really appreciated. Thank you to the many kind souls in the parish.

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Frt. Jules and the Knights of the Altar sang their farewell song for me.

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I went home to Davao last Easter Tuesday to also prepare the things necessary for my thanksgiving mass. The support coming from my relatives, neighbors and even of my parish was very overwhelming.

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Individual blessing

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Not only that, I also received the full support of the Divine Word Formation Center of Davao, the SVD seminary in this part of the world. Thank you confreres! Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD told me that in his long years in the priesthood, it was his first time to attend a thanksgiving mass. Maraming salamat talaga sa inyo.

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Fr. Edgar, Fr. Dino, Fr. Reiner, Fr. Gil, Fr. Jaekel, Fr. Fiel, Fr. Aris, Fr. Jhojo, Fr. Bong, Fr. Magdeng, Fr. Sam, Fr. Glenn, Fr. Manny, Fr. Ronie, Fr. Roger and Fr. Raul

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After my thanksgiving mass, I also traveled to Clarin, Misamis Occidental for the thanksgiving mass of Fr. Jaekel Solde, SVD. It was a very long travel, grabe! Maraming salamat talaga kay Fr. Sam Clarin, SVD who offered the car of the vocation office. Nadaanan ko ang Marilog District of Davao City (this place could be the next Baguio and Tagaytay of the Philippines), Bukidnon (wonderful mountains!), Cagayan de Oro City (beautiful cathedral), Iligan (we had to detour because of the bombing done sa isang tulay dito) and marami pang iba.

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Fr. Jaekel together with his mother and Fr. Arnold

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The thanksgiving mass of Fr. Jaekel was also very successful...He also received the full support of the people of his community.

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Boys' Bonding at the Dolphin Rescue Center

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After the thanksgiving, the Pantas Class (minus Fr. Jhonatan Letada, SVD -- tama po ang spelling ng name niya), had our bonding at the Dolphin Rescue Center. It was a wonderful experience for me to swim with the dolphins and feed them.

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A very rare chance...

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To Fr. Aris, Fr. Gil, Fr. Jaekel, and Fr. Jhojo, thank you very much and God bless us in our new mission. May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all.

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BEAUTIFUL PHILIPPINES!!!

If you don't like this island,




There are 7, 106 other Philippine islands to choose from...

FOLLOW MY BLOG!!!