Papa Ching's Restaurant's Sinful Serving - Davao City

One of my favorite gastronomic hangout in Davao City is a new place called Papa Ching's Restaurant. I've been there half a dozen times and their offerings are almost faultless.

Though not exactly "inexpensive", they won't break your bank either. Their specialty is the country chicken - crisp and tasty! I ordered a half chicken at P175, which isn't bad considering how much you pay now for a 2 piece Jollibee Chicken. If you expect crunchy, Papa Ching's will have you crunching away - their chicharong bulaklak at a mere PhP105 is to die for. If crispy pata is too much for the budget, try their lechon kawali at PhP260 (see photo below). We've tried their crispy kangkong (deep fried and crisp water spinach) at PhP75, a cup of soup at P45-55, their huge serving of Chopsuey at PhP145. Sodas like coke cost PhP35 a piece.

Papa Ching's Restaurant is located at 25 Lacson Street, Barangay Obrero, Tulip Drive Extension, corner Walnut, Ecoland. In short, it's just across SM Davao City (to the right of the mall).

For inquiries: you may call them at +63-82-2241703 or email at chinggot204@yahoo.com.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Update: The Ecoland branch of Papa Ching's Restaurant seems to have closed shop, which is unfortunate, BUT the good news is that they have another branch near Victoria Plaza's southern fringes. 

Lechon Kawali

Fried Chicken

Chopsuey

Spacious, cool, clean and great food...

Children Coin Divers of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

Coin diving has become part of life in some ethnic groups called Badjaos in the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines. In fact, a movie was made by a National Artist regarding the plight of these subgroup of people (I think it starred the late Fernando Poe Jr.) Coin diving has also become a "profession", a means of earning a living among children and teen-agers in Indonesia (particularly in the Sunda Strait plying between Java and Sumatra).

In one blog article, Yovita Siswati, the writer narrates, and I quote: “Just before the passenger ferry leaves the port, several young people jump from the deck of the vessel down to the water below. They will ask the passengers on board the ferry to throw coins at them. Then shockingly enough, they will dive to retrieve those coins as they sink down the sea bed. They would race each other. Whoever gets the coins can keep them.” (source: http://quazen.com/shopping/coin-diver-dangerous-way-to-earn-a-living/)

The Badjaos in Sulu does the same: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Badjao_beggars.jpg

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"Coins, please!"

YOUNG DIVERS AT PLAY

In a coastal community in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, there is another version of this "practice". The good news is that the children involved here aren't swimming in deep waters unlike the aforementioned Badjao beggars who ride on outrigger boats or canoes just to get to a nearby passenger vessel. The children in Sta. Cruz wait just outside the string of restaurants and water rises up to their waist (for younger children) or knees (for older ones). I do not condone this activity. Children have the inherent right to play while young. But the harsh reality of life sometimes dictates otherwise.

Another comforting thought is that these children are seen mostly playing - frolicking - while waiting for the customers from the restaurants to finish their meals. You would hear them laughing and shouting, the way children find hilarity in anything that life presents to them. From my table, I saw several of them wave their arms, trying to get my attention, from a diving ledge just outside the restaurant porch.

I remembered a Yahoo piece written by Catalino Hisula in his article called "The Coin Divers":

"Coins were thrown to the water for her husband to dive. Each time the coins were long in coming, she asked the passengers to throw some more using the Badjao language the passengers do not understand but nevertheless knew she is asking for money. She never raised her hands with an open palm the way beggars do. She extends her hand as though she is reaching another hand for a handshake like she doesn't consider this trade begging. Her husband provides a diving show to the boat passengers by allowing a few seconds before he follows the sinking coin underwater." (source:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6090280/the_coin_diver.html)

Children Coin Divers are a familiar sight all through out Asia, but even more so here in the Philippines. There are several - on a strait between Cebu City and Mactan, and some "high tech little buggers" upon arrival in Surigao City (Notes from a Small Island, photos and blog article here: http://levantnotes.blogspot.com/2007/10/voyage-to-big-city-coin-divers_17.html)

THE PLEADING CHILD

Though most of the children were having fun, one child seemed to be desperate and/or dramatic. He would beg with pleading eyes at you and when others catch the coin, he feigns crying. Every single time. Later that day, after I paid my meal, I found the same child waiting in front of my restaurant. What's this world coming to? I wasn't pleased that he had to "beg" for money while I leave my restaurant full and close to bursting. The world isn't fair. I handed him my leftovers (ordered too much so I had my leftovers placed in a plastic bag). He still looked sad. He must have expected money.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Striking a pose before the dive.

Desperate pleading facies all thoughout the "ordeal".

Diving as the coins sink.

Dolly's House of Seafood - Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

Providing an even better option than Hai-Ma that we wrote about last time is Dolly's House of Seafood (though most restaurants from this stretch use "seafoods" which unnerves me). In fact, we visited Dolly's first because we heard they serve "bihud".

If you're not familiar with "bihud", there are clumps of fish eggs (much like "caviar") taken from a large fish called Maya-maya or Snapper. The crabs were a bit disappointing, but there were plenty of choices.

Dolly's provides more options at even cheaper prices (no pork served) and thrice more spacious and brighter than Hai-Ma which is located next door. They also have a balcony where you could watch the sprawl of the blue Pacific. Watch down below the balcony and you will find children waist to knee deep, waiting for visitors to toss coins (or bills). No, it isn't really dangerous as the waters are almost always shallower than thought.

This seaside restaurant strip is found beside the main highway between Davao City and Davao del Sur. This is near Franklin Baker.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Bihud at PhP160 per plate.

"Chicken adobo" is PhP70.

"Bihud" is a clump of fish eggs.

"Lambay" (crabs) costs PhP50 per piece.

The seaside fishing community along this stretch in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, the municipality that borders the province from Davao City.

A little girl was desperately waiting for people to toss coins at her.

Other coin divers.

What could that be?

Addendum:

I received an email from Ms. Dolores Ramos, owner of Dolly's House of Seafood, who's presently based in Hilo, Hawaii (the largest city in Hawaii county - yup, east of the Big Island). She currently runs Dolly's Handicrafts in Hilo so if you're headed to that place of the world, go check out Dolly's Handicraft and you just might meet this very gracious lady.

The National Highway and the view facing Dolly's House of Seafood (sic).