Jose Rizal bust at the Padada Central Elementary School.
Padada, Davao del Sur, Mindanao Island, Philippines - Like most trips that come our way, we always seek for places that hardly rise above the tourist radar. I am partial to those off-the-beaten tracks; places that offer a slice of rural Philippines. After spending a couple of days in charmless Digos City, we decided to venture further south. We took a jeepney and decided on checking out the municipality of Padada. Other suggestions from friends include Malita and Hagonoy. Unfortunately, we were pressed for time and didn't have the luxury to enjoy Malita since it goes further south - while Hagonoy is way out of the National Highway! We settled with Padada and thought we'd have a few chats with the towns' folk to get a feel of the place.
There wasn't much going on as we treaded our initial steps, but little stories about simple matters pique our interest. For example, we wonder why a huge street like Mascardo remains unasphalted, while the very small road just a few walks perpendicular down Mascardo (doesn't even reach 100 meters, with hardly any vehicle passing through) is beautifully paved. A guy by a small tindahan (store) offered to enlighten us. It turned out to be a simple political equation. The barangay covering Mascardo doesn't vow support to the governor. Apparently, the only roads he is willing to fund are those barangays who pledge to support him. This strikes us as a grave example of power-playing and politicizing. A governor is a whole province's governor, even of the minority who didn't vote for him. But this province's governor has obviously limited his sovereignty to those who kiss his ass! His selective rule results in the selective development of this province. Small town politics, or small brain politics?
Padada, Davao del Sur is a 4th class municipality in the province of Davao del Sur. It has a population of 24,200 spread over 17 barangays. Almendras District covers the central, commercial area populated by the public market, bakeries, pawnshops (we saw a big Lhuillier pawnshop at the market), hardware shops, drugstores (we saw 3), transportation terminal, a private hospital located along Mascardo Street - Asilo Hospital, and one university - Southeastern College. The population is basically blue collar - teachers, government employees, paramedical professionals; a good number of whom work in nearby Digos City, 15-20 minutes north of Padada if you have a car; 30-45 minutes on a jeepney.
Navigating the central district is a leisurely walk that won't take 2 hours. There are no tourist spots to speak off. In fact, it doesn't even have a public park where residents can unwind for leisure. There used to be a Cinema house a few decades ago, but everything commercial doesn't seem to flourish, thus if you're looking for a mall or even a department store, you won't find them here. You have the option of traveling to Digos City, Davao City or General Santos City.
The municipality is in dire need of a visionary who is willing to invest on (at the very least) a leisure park to jumpstart its development and thus, honor its residents - instead of just condoning old time mayors who buy multiple cars and build mansions of their own! The newly installed mayor (Mr. Jun Caminero) is largely popular and people hope he will step up to the task of overhauling Padada's image as a laggard - the slowpoke - among Davao del Sur towns. "This town has never moved forward - it's the politicians who get rich," remarked a manang speaking in her sarisari store, as we finished our lukewarm bottle of Coca Cola. Hmmm. A familiar sentiment! Another person we've chatted with mentioned the fact that Mr. Caminero has been Vice Mayor for the longest time, yet he hasn't done much for Padada either. Why should people expect more this time? It's wishful thinking.
On our part, we believe that new beginnings are always a hopeful start. Things should then be looking up.
I had an easy commute from Padada's terminal back to our drab hotel in Digos City. The jeepney ride from Padada to Digos was just P20 per person.
This is the Eye in the Sky!
Rizal Street - the main commercial road that also leads to the Municipal Hall.
Welcome arch of the municipal hall.
The road to the munisipyo.
Padada Municipal Hall - Years after the past administration has "ruled" this 4th class community, the municipal hall looks decrepit and falling to pieces. Talks surfaced that the past mayor (who ran as Vice Mayor and lost) is sporting 3 vehicles (2 of them brand new) and is finishing a million-peso mansion!
Paint chipping away at the Legislative Hall.
Women's Desk
Padada Municipal Auditorium
Tennis court
Hitting the ball.
A small chapel in the vicinity of the munisipyo (municipal hall). It stands unobtrusively beside the tennis court.
St. Michael's Church along Bonifacio Street.
St. Michael's Parish interiors.
St. Michae'sl School of Padada - A private, Catholic secondary school in the municipality.
Pedicabs (tricycles) queue at the market place. A ride to nearby streets costs P8/person.
An unfinished building makes for Padada Terminal's facade.
Colorful jeeps at the terminal.
View from the top - just when you thought it's full capacity. This "fiera" travels long distance north to Davao City, a trip that will take 2 to 3 hours depending on the frequency of stops to pick more passengers along the road.
One Network Bank - the municipality's lone bank. It has an ATM where you can withdraw cash, but it's hard to find the right timing as it's either offline or out of cash most of the time. In some instances, withdrawing cash gets hairy because your ATM card takes forever to pop out!
Water jugs, cooking kettles and pans, bukag...
Mangoes and bananas, the fruits of the season.
More fruits
During brown outs, there's absolutely nothing cold to drink coz the frequent power outages won't leave the refrigerators enough time to make some ice!
Once their petals open, they droop like bells.
Floral motif.
Frangipani (calachuchi)
Ginataan aka Binignit - a dessert cooked with gata - the Tagalog word for coconut milk. This "thin" coconut milk extract is added to cubed kamote (sweet potato), gabi (taro) and ube (purple yam), sliced ripe sabá (plantain) and langka (jack fruit), and tapioca pearls. 
Bibingka is a type of pudding baked in a clay oven. Ingredients include plain flour, butter, coconut milk and sugar. Though popular in the Philippines, it is even more so as a traditional dessert in Goa (India) where it is called Bebinca or bibik. Before being served, butter or margarine is spread and sugar is sprinkled over the bibingka. It is typically served with grated coconut. It may also be topped with sliced salted eggs and cheese.In Davao del Sur, the pudding has strip of coconut milk embedded within. They are also bite-sized and is worth P5 a piece. Yummy!
Durian
Sineguelas (right side corner) is otherwise known as the Spanish Plum or Red Mombin and has several medicinal use: emetic (among the Cubans), laxative (among the Dominicans) and its fruit syrup is given to those suffering from angina among Haitians. We do wonder how these could be extracted as the variety we know is more pulpy/fleshy than juicy unless they are over riped. I kinda prefer my sineguelas crunchy! 
Duhat is known as Lumboy in Visayas and Mindanao. It's better known as Black Plum or Java Plum, containing tannin, gallic acid, volatile oil and fat. In India, seeds are used for Diabetes. A 1% decoction is used as a mouthwash. Fleshy portion is used against diarrhea.
Lanzones
