minutes past 6 in the morning and we had our first picture of the trip at the parking lot where our hostess waited to shuttle us from the airport to their apartelle to have breakfast and wait until it's time to check in at Sychar hotel.
two hours later, with a tote in tow, i walked on what i thought was the way towards JP Laurel where, according to research, I could get a ride to calinan. 30 minutes and many wrong turns later, i found myself in the middle of a parade of uniformed men and women (it was only later that night on my way to the ecoland terminal from the hotel when i learned from the taxi driver that those were members of MNLF who were in Davao City for the 2nd Mindanao Leadership Peace Summit that was graced by MNLF chair Nur Misuari.
so i was lost and decided that i should retrace my steps. that i did. but i only went as far as the nearest sari-sari store and asked for directions. from there, the rest went by in a breeze. well, except for the maddening stops made by the PUJ to take on passengers. the trip to calinan took more than an hour with major stops at bangkerohan where the traffic situation was next to nothing and "ulas" which is the last city limit stop.
from calinan, the "konduktor" informed that i still need to take a cab going to malagos where the philippine eagle center is located. at the curb where the puj dropped me off was another store. sensing my need for direction, one of the men resting neath the shade asked where i was going. after the briefest of negotiations, we both hopped on his bike and off we went to malagos which is around 7 km uphill ride from calinan for php 30. that was my first habal-habal ride. along the way, i spied the dole pineapple plantation and the puentespina orchid farm.
two hours went by so fast and it was time to leave for my next appointment. before leaving, i bought glory and dad each a shirt with a black and white print of an eagle bust on the chest.
Reception followed at the top floor of Mandaya Hotel. when the sun has finally set, the drapes were drawn apart to reveal the cityscape bathe in a myriad of night lights. i especially liked the brownies which i ate with gusto. well, i paid equal attention to the soup, "lechon", seafood curry, stemed rice, fried rice, unknown chicken dish...etc. before the best man made a toast, the hotel waiters did what they called a wine parade.
the morning's activities left me with very little energy, i took a much needed nap. david cook's numbers in my shuffle managed to drown the ruckus outside, it was already 4 pm when i woke up. debating whether to leave for davao or stay in another night (the sison boys doing karaoke injustice), i decided to explore the city on my own. after taking a green cab which passed downtown tagum which was quite busy with church goers, i found myself inside the NCCC mall by the highway. i bought stuff for the folks at home and had to make a second trip after realizing that i missed to buy durian candies for the swee toothed kids back at the workplace.
whoa!!! what a weekend that was...
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