Upper Farm - Rustic Atmosphere in Upper-End Steakhouse (Digos City, Davao del Sur)

It was a pleasant surprise finding Upper Farm in Digos City, Davao del Sur. The joint is a hamburger and steakhouse set in a rustic ranch-inspired, rough-around-the-edges diner at the back of a department store. Some readings point out that the concept of the place is partially a tribute to the owner's parents who were farmers. I just dropped by and ordered a heavy set of chicken wings paired with white rice and the delectable salty vinegar sauce which I was told, was a best seller. We wanted to try their sisig but it wasn't available. Their shoestring potato is a good serving on a bowl and a must-try at P75. 

The place isn't inexpensive. Rice meals are rather limited if you can't do away with rice, but if you're into burgers and steaks, this is a great place to indulge. It does make an uncomfortable meal when the weather is sweltering; there's obviously no airconditioning. But I am just nitpicking. 

The address is Asian Highway 26, a narrow backroad. You have to head towards Cor Jesu College and turn left somewhere. It opens at 9 AM. 

#upperfarm   #dining   #foodporn

Durian as Davao's King of Fruits (Davao del Sur, Philippines)

Along the roads of Davao del Sur, south of Davao City, you will sometimes find these makeshift stands selling Durian when they are in season. There are plenty of varieties, but the most popular and reliable is the Puyat variety which has milky meat, smaller seeds, and they're easier to break open. In this collection, there's a "Coob". Other varieties include "Puyat" (the gold standard), "Arancillo", "Basketball", "Malaysian", "Tiane", and a new one which I can't remember. A whole fruit will set you back between $3 to $5 per piece depending on the size during off-peak to as low as P40/piece if it's in season. 

Durian contains vitamins such as Vitamin C, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and vitamin A. Also found in durian are important minerals such as as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and phosphorus. It also contains nutrients such as phytonutrients, water, protein and beneficial dietary fiber.

Contrary to popular belief that it causes spikes in cholesterol, durian has good monounsaturated fats that can lower your harmful cholesterol levels and moderate your high blood pressure.

The durians in this photo come from a small farming town near Cotabato. Now imagine how much easier it would be if places like these didn't send red flags?

Black Sands of Dawis Beach (Digos City, Davao del Sur)

The northern stretch of black sand from Dawis Pier used to have rows of cottages facing the beach, now there's none. Talisay trees and coconut palms line the shore. It is accessible from the lone restaurant beside the pier. South of this, there's a smattering of hole-in-the-wall beach resorts with limited facilities.

To get to Dawis Beach, you can hail a pedicab (tricycle) from the city center. Be sure to agree on a price, which should cost you about P80. 

These days, labels on the road en route to Dawis read "Barangay Dawis" instead of "Dawis Beach". In sunny afternoons, you can stand on the pier and watch the waves rush to the shore. It's a beguiling scene, to say the least.

The view south of the Dawis pier.

Unicolor Beach Resort, Barangay Dawis, (Digos City, Davao del Sur)

At the eastern coast of the Davao Gulf, south of Digos City, is the burough of Dawis. People used to call the stretch of black sand as "Dawis Beach" stretching northward from the pier. Now it is just "Barangay Dawis". The more open area is the southern stretch. We found Unicolor Beach Resort.

If I am not mistaken, getting a cottage will cost you P300 (or was it P500). These is a contiguous row of concrete shacks, like holes in the wall, painted in reds and blue-greens. These shacks are completely enclosed except for the entrance, thus you don't have a view of the sea. At the center of the compound is a medium-sized function hall. There's ample parking at the entrance, framed by a "tindahan", that subs as an entrance booth.

The compound has available rooms for those wanting to stay for the night. I asked about the rates - P800 and P1,200; the difference is probably in the availability of AC. The beach is, however, a few steps away. Just mind the children as there are wandering dogs everywhere. I read an online page that mentions a swimming pool. This does not have one. There are no cabanas facing the beach either; just Talisay trees.

During my visit, I saw a family bring pots of food with them so it should be safe to assume there's no corkage fee for food and beverages brought in. The resort has a Facebook page. Please refer inquiries there; not here.

You can leisurely stroll from this resort to the pier which provides a more dramatic vista of the ocean. In the golden hour of the afternoon, the sun casts a milky green hue on the sea. The stretch of dark sand north of the pier seems more inviting, with palms swaying with the gentle breeze. Next post, we'll show you the northern stretch from the pier. You can take a tricycle from Digos City proper to get to Dawis, setting you back by P80. Agree on a fare before getting in the trike.

Function Hall

A Corner of Bali in Davao City

Bali? Nu-uh. It's an odd fountain-cum-pond standing in front of a chapel at the GAP Farm Resort in Davao City. Located along the Diversion Road (a few kilometers from D' Japanese Tunnel), the place is a recreational and leisure center with agriculture and Philippine History as its theme.

The air in this little corner is fresh. I could sit on a bench and allow my mind to wander. This is a great place for that. There's a parade of busts of Philippine presidents and heroes. Gabriela Silang lead the pack; her bolo waved on the air as she mounts an emaciated horse. Elsewhere, there's a fascinating, albeit comprehensive list of Mindanao's indigenous tribes and their corresponding statues and costumes - and to my knowledge, no other place has done this.

But let me get back to my peaceful Balinese corner, standing awkwardly in front of a chapel. Here, my mind can travel farther than any distance.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

MIASCOR Lounge (Davao International Airport)

You know how you constantly get these credit card offers in your emails about special offers that are too good to be true? Like getting a free scoop of ice cream if you purchase something worth PhP10,000. Just a lot of passing gas; a waste of email space, if you ask me. A few months ago, I completely ignored an offer from Diners Club International and Security Bank Mastercard. If you have one of those two credit cards, you have the privilege to avail of the MIASCOR Elite Lounge at the Davao International Airport on your flight out of the city. Soon, even NAIA Terminal 3 will have its own MIASCOR lounge.

On my recent departure from Davao City, I noticed a tarpaulin advertising the MIASCOR Elite Lounge which probably has been there since last year. Since I usually transit fast in this airport, I hardly have time for a leisurely roam.

This time I did so I decided to check out this lounge. I presented my Diners at the counter by the door, the charming counter lady logged me in, and in no time, I was inside this bright lounge with a color palette consisting of reds, grays and egg white.

The lounge can accommodate 21; has a storage room for your coat and baggage, desks with two-prong sockets for your charging requirement. The front desk will also provide you wifi password. As if that wasn't enough, this adequately airconditioned room offers delectable hot food and snacks, all part of your entry, including your choice of canned drinks (Coca Cola, Coke Zero, orange and pineapple drinks, San Mig beer pale pilsen). If you prefer coffee, tea or hot chocolate, they're available as well. There are cupcakes and cookies, bread with butter or jam spreads, banana cakes, etc. There's a congee (lugaw), a spaghetti bolognese, etc. It's a self-serve room so you have to try to keep the place neat, at the very least. I got a delectable ham and potato chowder, a buko pandan cupcake and a Coke in can. Yum!

There's a cable TV and a choice of tabloids and magazines on display. I must have stayed there for 40 minutes and I was the only one the whole time. If you don't have the aforementioned credit cards, you can also avail of the lounge for a price of PhP380 ($8.60).

Update as of May 11, 2015:

MIASCOR Elite Lounge allows free entry/use to only Diners Club International credit card holders. A tarpaulin that includes Security Bank doesn't "fly" anymore. Other free users include Silk Air guests, Dragon Air guests, and members of "Airport Angel". Yes, NAIA Terminal 1 in Manila allows free use of the MIASCOR Lounge for Citibank Credit Card holders, but not in Davao. During my recent departure, this lounge was filled to capacity by outgoing Silk Air guests.

MIASCOR Lounge is run by the Manila International Airport (MIA) authority. It is located at the 2nd floor of the Davao International Airport (beside a Foreign Exchange shop), accessible through the escalator, after your check-in formalities. It is open daily from 4 AM to 10 PM.

This is the Eye in the Sky.

Ham and potato chowder

A coke and my pandan cupcake.

A palette of red, gray and egg white make for a truly comfortable space.

Serve yourself. Your pick. You can even have as much as you can.

Cupcakes

Beverage counter

P.S. As of this posting, only Diners Club credit card holders will be allowed in for free. Wonder what happened to Security Bank Mastercard offer.

You need to charge your phone, iPad, laptop?

More about Davao International Airport:

- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-airport-without-trolleys-davao.html

Punta Piapi Beach - Going the Road Less Travelled (Davao del Sur, Mindanao)

Have water and sand. Will make beach. Or so it seems.

One of my favorite moments is discovering unheard-of places like Punta Piapi, a fishing village at the eastern coast of Padada, Davao del Sur, located some 2 hours south of Davao City. County Piapi has this bucolic atmosphere and unfazed by the dizzying turn of events; this strip with little hint of commerce.

From the highway, I took a detour eastward until I reached the coast. The road was craggy, the road dusty, and there's lush coconut plantation everywhere. I saw a motorbiker haul away sugarcane plant to be fed to livestock, for cows, carabaos or goats. I turned left, northward, and found shanties lining the coast; colorful bangkas (outrigger boats) were docked facing the sea. There's hardly a beach strip.

I turned around and went southward. Roadside blocks looked colorful as they lead to more thatched houses rising on stilts. Finally, I found an elevated platform that looked like a jetty - beautifully piled stones make this makeshift fort. Towards the east, the Pacific looked vast and endless.

Further south, there are houses turned into stilt-standing cottages seemingly floating on waters. Two of these "resorts" are Napere Beach Resort and L. Razonable Beach Resort. There should be affordable fees if you wanted to use these cottages. But to be honest, the narrow strip of dark, but fine-sand beach was the more acceptable option for swimming. And it's for free.

The road is flanked by hill on the west and the sea on the east. Just between that is my free spirit.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Napere Beach Resort has cottage on water. At its background is another resort, L. Razonable Beach Resort with better-looking huts on water.

Little strip of beach beside the stone jetty.

Just across the jetty is this tree-lined shed with benches. You can park your vehicle here.

Sugarcane for livestock.

The way to Punta Piapi Beach, eastward.

Houses and docked boats.

Colorful roadside rails.

A sari-sari store looks like a complete one-stop shop. It even has firewood on sale.

The road back to the highway.