Event | NCCC Mall Ma-a: Taking Flight!

The new NCCC Mall Ma-a will take shape like the Philippine Eagle and ready to soar high! In a virtual launching conducted, the features of the newest NCCC Mall Ma-a were unveiled and it excites me and the many to see the actual mall erected. The design highlights eco-friendly features as well as a touch of modernity.

The area development includes business complex that will give a complete mall experience to it's customers from homegrown, national and international brands. The total area is around 28,223.24sqm with 4 storeys. A total of 200 shops and 823 parking slots will approximately be observed. Its target completion will be on the year 2024.

It will also have a residential condominium, the Belleza Towers that will ensure quality lifestyle living with convenient shopping, dining and entertainment options all in one place.

The newest NCCC Mall Ma-a design embodies the habitat and way of life of the Philippine Eagle that is known as a Davao City icon. NCCC Ma-a thrives to see things in a new and higher perspective. It also aims to symbolize a sense of courage, a desire to explore and a season of renewal.

The features of the new mall include taking innovation and advertising technology wherein it will be the first mall in Mindanao with LED billboards in both the mall facade and floors. The mall will also be environment-friendly wherein they'll impose NO TO SINGLE USE, NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTICS. The new mall will be an avenue for Homegrown Shops and enjoy Davao's best in terms of food and shopping. Taking note of innovation, according to mall managers, NCCC Mall Ma-a will still be an affordable homegrown mall.

With the features of the mall, it excites me to see its completion soonest. The active spaces like the Nook (for food), Entertainment Zone (cinemas, arcade, bowling and services), and the nest and sky gymnasium are really good mall zones.

The Nook is an Asian themed food court that will be serving variety of the best Asian cuisine such as the traditional Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian and Thai dishes. The Nest will be filled with dining and entertainment options to enjoy Davao's skyline view. The Sky Gymnasium can accommodate four (4) sport courts simultaneously, to wit: basketball, volleyball, and badminton.

The newest NCCC Mall Ma-a will really be a landmark of the city as the mall features great architectural design. The stakeholders are very happy with this development and surely, the place will be flocked by the community.

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Event | Christmas Tree LIghting at Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation

Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Christmas Tree in Blue and Gold

Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort holds its first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting to welcome the season
With a promising line up of activities for the upcoming month, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort kicks off its holiday celebration with an intimate tree lighting ceremony highlighting its partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

Last November 26, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort begins the holiday cheer through its first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Attended by key industry partners, media friends, and the Dusit Team, the night was filled with meaningful pursuits. The hotel further shares the hope of the holidays with its official partnership with Philippine Eagle Foundation. 

The hotel’s holiday campaign carries the hashtags #hopefulholidays and #delightfullydusit, embracing the promise of better days. This reflects in all aspects of the properties’ decorations, promotions, and CSR initiatives. The Christmas tree and other accents have the dominant colors of Dusit’s brand – blue and gold. Apart from paying homage to the colors of royalty and the graciousness of Thai culture, it also symbolizes warmth, hope, and the soothing feeling of the holiday season.

HM Christoph Kuch welcomes everyone with an inspiring message. “We are a young property, but we have managed to remain open. We believe that’s always been because of hope, hope always prevails. 

Now, as we slowly bounce back, trust that we will strive to be of service to you the best we can. The holiday season is an exciting time, and we have been preparing to give you exactly that,” he said.

A Momentous Christmas Seaon Celebration in Mabini, Davao de Oro

This was followed by the Christmas messages of Ms. Beth Dayanghirang, wife of Mabini Mayor Rey Dayanghirang, and Provincial Tourism Officer of Davao De Oro, Ms. Christine Dompor, highlighting the value of having to intimately and safely celebrate again. The support of the province and the region were highly appreciated by the Dusit Davao Team. 

In the introduction of this year’s holiday partner, MarCom Manager Faith Dimaano said, “Talking about standing tall amidst challenges, the inspiration for this year’s holiday partnership rooted from a common perspective – passion and commitment. The Philippine Eagle Foundation has been instrumental in the biggest of ways in raising awareness in the conservation mission and educating communities. It has been immensely affected during the pandemic, but has remained steadfast in its mission and vision.”

A Wonderful Collaboration

Dusit Davao is supporting the Fruits for Feathers fundraiser, sharing the wonderful artworks of Davao artists to our guests. It will also have displays of the PEF merchandise displayed in dusitD2 and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort starting this December. 

The night was capped off with a delectable spread and teaser of holiday menus spearheaded by the culinary team of Burger Bar at The Mill and Tarictic Grill.

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Travel | Exploring Western Boundaries of Davao City: Itinerary and Budget

Sunrise and Sea of Clouds at Sonnen Berg Mountain View

Many would think that they have known Davao City already with the most famous icons attached to the place like the Philippine Eagle, Mt. Apo, Waling-waling and Durian. However, many don’t know yet the magic of Davao City’s western boundary that is surrounded by mountain ranges. Do you want to experience a cool weather? Do you want to witness a breath-taking sunrise with sea of clouds? Do you want to be one with nature? Of course, many want that! That’s all in one at the Marilog-Buda area of Davao City!

The Marilog-Buda Tour is really one of the things I really want to experience. I don’t want to spend so much so the best way to do it is to join a tour! As always, I join a tour and gain some friends. :-p

It is a very early departure and early breakfast from downtown Davao City, around 2:30 AM. It will take 2 hours before arriving at the first stop. The first stop is at Sonnen Berg Mountain View, the place where the sunrise is seen with sea of clouds. The place is privately owned and has an entrance fee of P50. Surprisingly, there’s a lot of people who have gone to the place very early morning. Then, it is waiting time for the first rays of the sun to show up around 5 AM. The full sunrise is seen around 6 AM. You will see the sea of clouds too with the area surrounded by mountain ranges. A Sagada-like experience, but not necessarily finding your true-love here. (hahaha) It is such a beauty!

Eagles Structure

Indigenous People Structure

Indigenous People Selling Indigenous Craft

Next stop, the Eagle Structure! It is a very huge structure of the Philippine Eagle and an eaglet with some structures of indigenous people too. Seeing this while on road travel, either commuting or by own car, will tell you that it’s part of Davao City. There are indigenous people around, too, selling some indigenous products for tourists/guest/visitors. Well, we can stop by the area anytime of the day but an early visit makes us own the area with few tourists.

Bemwa Farm

Then, next stop, Bemwa Farm! What does this farm offer? A lot! It has an entrance fee of P50 but consumable for some food. That’s another breakfast to eat. (hahaha) After eating, it is now a tour at the farm. You’ll be seeing fresh farm products and farm plants like strawberries, lettuce of different kinds and many more. It can be an experience of strawberry picking during harvest season. It is something mostly done in Baguio City or Benguet but can be experienced in this part of Davao City. Of course that is not copied there, but it is a source of livelihood and now part of tourism.

Skylab (motorcycle with wings)

Next stop, more of mountain ranges of Marilog District - Hills View and Gethsemane. Are you ready for the adventure? Yes, it is really an adventure as one or a group has to ride a skylab (motorcycle with wings) though off-road cars can pass there. The ride to and from amounts to P170 per person.

Hills View Deck

View of Mountain Ranges

Hills View is a sight to see more mountain ranges and take a pose on top of the hill. There’s an entrance fee of P50 wherein it’s part of the community development and maintenance. Mostly, Matigsalog tribe people are there.

Gethsemane Garden

Then, at the Gethsemane… It is a garden of beautiful landscape. Also, it has an entrance fee of P50. Really, the tour is more of being with nature very far from the bustling city life. It is a great diversion of thoughts and embrace nature’s beauty.

Gethsemane Landscape

Then, a sumptuous lunch at the borders of Davao City and Bukidnon Province is a great way to regain energy from an adventurous trip in Marilog District. Then, it is back to the city.

Actually, there’s a lot of resorts in Marilog-Buda. There are those privately-owned, open to public and virgin forests. It is such an experience once in a while to be with nature and explore the city where you reside. There’s more actually to discover. It is also a great thing to experience to mingle with our indigenous brothers and sisters.

For the expenses during this tour, here the breakdown:

P 500 - for the van, tour guide and coordination

P 150 - for the entrance fees at Bemwa Farm, Hills View and Gethsemane

P 170 - for the skylab

P 250 - for food expense along the way (snacks) and lunch

P 1, 070 TOTAL (not bad)

I hope you guys enjoy this travel adventure, thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Travel | Introduction to Bird Watching at Malagos

Bird Watching in Malagos

Wild life is really among the things that I enjoy experiencing. It is a time being with the nature and creatures. Not always that I have time for such activities, but bird watching caught my attention. At the Philippine Eagle Center, also where the Malagos watershed is located, a free introduction to bird watching is an activity every first Saturday of the month. I signed up and joined!

Baguio District in Davao City is where the Philippine Eagle Center is located. It is more than an hour away from home commute, yet I am pretty interested to experience bird watching, thus, a very early call time, 6:00 AM, is not an issue. I had my early breakfast at home and got my camera with me, hoping for some great shots even with a 70mm to 300mm lens only, sad but hopeful - it is one photography challenge I want to explore and hopefully hone. :-p

It is a breezy morning at the Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. At the parking area, where the meeting place is set, you’ll hear the birds chirping and see them freely flying around. It is such a beauty to experience early in the morning. There are a number of students from the Ateneo de Davao University and University of the Philippines Mindanao joining. There are also some joiners, like me, with some expert bird watchers from Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and the Philippine Eagle Foundation to guide us during the activity.

There are a number of bird species in this area, said to be more than eighty (80). The activity hopes to at least see and hear more than half in a span of 3 hours. Participants are given a bird guide and a list of species to expect in the vicinity. Binoculars are also handed for use since most birds are perching on branches that sometimes camouflage with the leaves and can be clearly seen with binoculars. However, I am not able to get a copy but I have a guide, still hard to catch the birds and scroll the guide, so I just kept on taking photos. The activity aims to introduce people on bird watching and raise awareness of the amazing wild birds in Davao City.

As the activity is about to start, participants are reminded to be not so loud, have open ears and fast eye to hear and see where the birds are. It is also a way not to shoo away wild birds in the area. Here are some of my shots during the activity, have fun! 

Early Birds in Malagos

Bird at the Center

Bird at the Branch

See it? Bird at the Center

Cute Colorful Birds

Not Birds - Bats (mammal)

Since the activity started from the parking area of the Malagos watershed, managed by the Davao City Water District, towards the Philippine Eagle Center, it is a sure thing to see the Philippine Eagle up close. Free entrance. :-p

Philippine Eagle

After the 3-hour activity, participants are called to gather at the function room to share what birds they heard and saw. As a compilation, yes, 41 species where identified in a span of 3 hours. Isn't it great? Of course, it is! I hope to be really familiar of the birds, but my bad, I can only appreciate but not knowing them completely.

Thank you to all the guide and facilitators, it is such a great pleasure to experience the introduction to bird watching. You can always check the events of bird watching in the facebook pages of Birdwatching in Davao and Wild Bird Club of the Philippines - Davao. Perhaps, bird watching will be on your list in visiting Davao on a first weekend of the month. :-p

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