SEAIR now flies Davao-Manila route

SEAIR Davao-Manila Inaugural flight at the Davao International Airport last August 19, 2012

Starting this August 2012, two brand-new SEAIR Airbus 320s will now service the Davao-Manila route twice daily bearing on the plane's fuselage the slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines" of the Department of Tourism (DOT). This was announced by SEAIR during the Kadayawan Festival when the airline unveiled its campaign tie-up with the DOT to help promote the Philippines across the region. SEAIR is the first airline in the Philippines to carry the slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines" and the DOT has granted the airline the right to use the popular campaign logo and slogan for the next three years.

Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez during SEAIR inaugural flight

SEAIR Airbus 320

South East Asian Airlines or SEAIR launched its inaugural flight at the Davao International Airport last Sunday morning, August 19, 2012 using its newly acquired 186-seater Airbus 320. The airline company has promised to increase the frequency of flights three times daily beginning October 8 of this year.

Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez

SEAIR's tie-up with the DOT and their joint campaign to promote the Philippines in the region is a major boost to Davao City's tourism industry.

Images courtesy of eflex of SSC-Davao

Princess Danae

International cruise ship, NDS Voyages "Princess Danae" dropped its anchor for the first time in the Port of Davao in Sta. Ana last March 30, 2012 marking the momentous event as the beginning of the ship's regular route to Davao City in the future. Not only did the successful event give the much needed boost to local tourism, but placed Davao City in the map as a prime cruise ship destination in the Philippines. 

Davao City's tourism sector is confident that the arrival of Princess Danae will trigger a series of major visits of international cruises and bring-in large revenues as the city's world class beaches, mountain resorts, and urban destinations that are unique only to Davao City would appeal much to foreign tourists.

Anchored at Sta. Ana Wharf

Princess Danae anchored at Sta. Ana Wharf

The ship carried 371 French nationals who, upon arrival, were warmly greeted with an hour of cultural shows featuring Davao’s dance and songs, and, thereafter, were taken to selected tourist destinations in the city. About 300 of the tourists signed up for the city tour while some opted to use their bikes to see what Davao City is all about. 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) allotted a budget for the tourist's entire day tour in the city. They were shown Davao’s newest and largest park, the People’s Park; given personal encounter with the eagles at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos Village at Calinan; and were also brought to SUL Orchids in Luzviminda Village at Ma-a, given that the French love orchids. Other tour included shopping at Aldevinco Shopping Center, and Abreeza Ayala Mall.

People's Park

Philippine Eagle Center

Aldevinco Shopping Center

Abreeza Ayala Mall

The cruise liner Princess Danae is operated by NDS VOYAGES and Carnet de Croisieres. It toured the world in 127 days with 7 cruising and 120 Shore Excursions. Its ports of call included Cape of Americas, Peru, Easter Island, Polynesia, Australia, New Guinea, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Mediterranean. The cruise started January 26, 2012 and ended last May17, 2012.

Images courtesy of skyscrapercity.com

Davao Life is Here!

On September 21, 2011, in its efforts to boost tourism and create awareness among Dabawenyos to support the many initiatives of the city, the city government of Davao launched its campaign, "Life is Here". The launching was spearheaded by no less than the city mayor herself, the Honorable Mayor Sara "Inday" Duterte-Carpio, and attended by foreign diplomats, businessmen, government officials, and the media at the Grand Menseng Hotel. 

In her speech, the good mayor encouraged every Dabawenyo to take to heart the city's efforts to promote Davao City as a major tourist destination not only in the country but in the entire Asia. The city government reportedly spent Php 1.5 million for the branding campaign.

Promotional materials were released for a total ad campaign utilizing all possible media coverage for publication and airing on television commercials, print ads, brochures, the Internet, and all other avenues where the campaign may be known and exposed to the public. 

Below are some of the images in support of the Davao's "Life is Here" campaign, courtesy of skyscrapercity.com which featured same in their Davao City and Samal Island - Compiled Threads:

SSC Thread 5781

SSC Thread 5781

SSC Thread 5782

SSC Thread 5781

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SSC Thread 5788

SSC Thread 5778

SSC Thread 5781

The Visitors’ Information Center at the Davao International Airport was also inaugurated by the city government which now serves as information desk for tourists visiting the city. Here, the Davao City Tourism Office distributes travel guides and city maps to tourists. Several brochures from restaurants and resorts are also available at the booth. 

Booth of Davao City's Visitor's Information Center

The logo which bears the "Life is Here" tagline was designed by Rey "Bai" Manginsay, a brand expert and a creative consultant for marketing and advertising, who personally chose the great Philippine Eagle as brand identifier because of the very strong image it projects as it symbolizes power and unity. Bai Mangisay is a resident of Davao City and has been creating world-class advertising packages for British Airways, Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Calendonian, and Saudia for almost 27 years now.

Davao Punch

Manila has always been considered, as it still remains so today, as the "Shop Window" of the Philippines to the world; reflecting the lifestyle and culture of the Filipinos. As such, Manila is always at the helm and ahead among the provinces in tourism, aggressively promoting the country for the much needed Dollars to finance various government projects. It is for this reason that the Department of Tourism (DOT) recently launched its Ad Campaign, "It's more fun in the Philippines" as an invitation to other countries to take a closer look at the Philippines as a world class tourist destination not only in Asia but in the whole world, having spent a reported Php 63 million for its advertising campaign on CNN (Cable News Network). In line with this effort, the DOT, in cooperation with the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Manila, happily launched this May 2012 Manila's signature cocktail called, "Manila Sunshine".

Manila Sunshine

The Manila Sunshine has been described as "distinctly Filipino" as the cocktail drink uses "lambanog," a locally produced wine made from coconut as its base. It comes in flavors of locally produced mango and pineapple with a reasonable mixture of triple sec and Tanduay rum, a popular multi-awarded alcoholic beverage in the Philippines, and is garnished with "tanglad" or lemongrass, and a slice of pineapple.

The Official Advertising Slogan of the Philippines

However, here is a real knock out . . . Davao City once again "beat" Manila "to the punch!" 

As early as August 2011, the city government of Davao launched its own version of signature cocktail drink aptly named, the "Davao Punch", in line with the city's tourism campaign in last year's celebration of Kadayawan Festival, a month long celebration usually held during August of each year in thanksgiving for the year's blessings of bountiful harvest of flowers, fruits and other agricultural produce, and in honor of the city's richness and diversity of artistic, cultural and historical heritage.

Davao Punch is non-alcoholic, and is only a rich mixture of fruit juices of guava, calamansi, and pomelo. It was especially concocted by the Center for Culinary Studies Davao for guests arriving at the Davao International Airport from August 11 to 21, 2011. Its recipe and the name itself are trademarked for the exclusive use by the City of Davao. The recipe was freely given to restaurants and bars in Davao City with the condition that it cannot be developed into an alcoholic beverage, otherwise, the name, "Davao Punch" cannot be used and it would have to be renamed into something else.

Davao Ad 2011

The city government of Davao placed a full page advertisement that ran in the local dailies showing a young beautiful lady garbed in colorful Mindanaoan tribal costume holding the Davao Punch in her hand with the caption: 

"FLY TO DAVAO AND WE WILL WELCOME YOU WITH A GOOD PUNCH.

At the Davao International Airport, experience our welcome drink, DAVAO PUNCH, 

a concoction especially made for the guests of Davao City."

They say that the name, "Davao Punch", was a clever reference to the July 1, 2011 incident when the lady City Mayor punched a Court Sheriff after disobeying her orders to delay the impending demolition of several shanties. Mayor Sara Duterte’s punches were caught on video and aired in national television which became an instant sensation in the internet.

Images courtesy of the following:

Department of Tourism

davaotourism.com

Makati Shangri-La Hotel

skyscrapercity.com

Davao City 75th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps

The Philippine Postal Corporation or Philpost issued on March 16, 2012 four commemorative stamps in line with, and commemoration of the 75th Foundation Anniversary of Davao City, as shown above. 

The Municipality of Davao became a city on October 16,1936 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 51 known as the Charter of the City of Davao as sponsored by the then Assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo. The City of Davao was inaugurated on March 1, 1937 with the Honorable Elpidio Quirino, then Secretary of the Interior, as President Manuel L. Quezon’s representative in the celebration of the inauguration. 

The stamps were designed by the Davao City 75th Anniversary Committee through its layout artist, Victorino Z. Serevo with Atty. Lyka Lopez and Jason Magnaye as design coordinators. 

Technical Description

Davao City 75th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps

Kind of Issue: Commemorative
Denominations and Quantity: Php7.00 / 150,000 pieces
Date of Issue: March 16, 2012
Last date of Sale: March 15, 2013 (as stocks allow)
Sheet Composition: 40
Size: 40 mm x 30 mm
Perforation: 14
Printing: Litho offset (4 colors)
Paper: Imported Unwatermarked
Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.
Designer: Davao City 75th Anniversary Committee
Photos: City Tourism Office of Davao
Lay-out Artist: Victorino Z. Serevo
Design Coordinators: Atty. Lyka Lopez/ Mr. Jason Magnaye

Stamp Design 1 - Façade of the City Hall of Davao with the anniversary logo 

The City Hall of Davao (formerly the Municipal Building) was constructed in 1926, some ten years before Davao finally became a city. It is located along San Pedro Street, one of the oldest streets in Davao City. Over the years, Davao has become an ethnic melting pot as it continues to draw migrants from all over the country, lured by the impressive economic progress in the country’s third largest city. Today, Davao City is the most progressive city in Mindanao and is considered the most livable city in the country. 

Stamp Design 2 - Kadayawan Festival, The King of all Festivals 

August is a merry month in Davao City, because it is on this month that Dabawenyos celebrate a thanksgiving for the year's blessings of bountiful harvest of flowers, fruits and other agricultural produce, and honor the city's richness and diversity of artistic, cultural and historical heritage in a grand annual celebration called Kadayawan Festival. The festival is celebrated every 3rd Week of August. 

Stamp Design 3 - Waling-Waling, The Queen of Orchids 

Davao City is rightfully called a "City in Bloom" due to the vast plantations and garden resorts that grow rare and exotic orchids and other plants. Among florists, Davao City is specifically known all over the world for its famous Waling-Waling, the Queen of Orchids. 

Waling-Waling (vanda sanderana) grows in natural abundance in Davao City particularly at the foot of Mount Apo, the Philippines' Highest Peak. Davao's typhoon-free weather all year round with practically no pronounced wet or dry season, and a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and air pressure, make it conducive to growing rare exotic orchids and plants. Moreover, the City has more than1,000 square kilometers of lush tropical forest, or about 47% of its total land area with rich volcanic soil that allows rare plants to thrive and flourish freely. All these qualities contributed to the eventual declaration of Davao City as the official “Orchid Capital of the Philippines”, as declared by then President Corazon Aquino. 

Stamp Design 4 - Mount Apo, the Philippine's highest mountain peak and home of the Philippine Eagle 

The magnificent Mount Apo is hailed as the "King of Philippine Peaks", the  country's highest mountain peak with an elevation of 10,311 feet or 3,144 meters above sea level. It is also one of Southeast Asia’s highest mountains, and much sought after climbing destinations. It is also home to the King of the Philippine Skies, the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). 

Mount Apo, majestically towering over the vast expanse of the southern tip of Mindanao island, and bordering over the mountainous edges of Davao City, provides a breathtaking view of various volcanic formations, craggy rockscapes, and the rich virgin forest lands of Davao City, Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. It is a flat-topped mountain with three peaks, and is capped by a 500-meter wide (1,600 feet) volcanic crater containing a small crater lake. Its base covers about 72,796 hectares of mountain ranges that extend from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Northern Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur, to Misamis Oriental. Its peak overlooks Davao City 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the northeast, Digos City 25 kilometers (16 miles) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the west. 

The success of a city largely depends on its strong leadership and the people who support it: the rules and regulations are strictly enforced and religiously complied by all; peace and order are maintained; goals and visions are attained; and the progress it accomplished is sustained. The unique wonders of nature of Davao City, the benevolence of its leadership, and the remarkable discipline and warmth of Dabawenyos, all of which account much to the success that the people of the Davao and the city itself enjoy. 

It makes sense why Davao City has ultimately become a premier city and will remain high on the list of the top tourist destinations in the Asia Pacific region.

Image courtesy of Philippine Postal Corporation