Visit to our family in Davao and Digos

The last 4 days of our stay in the Philippines we wanted to spend with my family located in Davao and Digos. The flight time from Cebu Mactan airport to Davao airport is only 45 minutes and as flights are available everyday, also very convenient. 

By arriving at the airport all the family was already waiting for us: Uncle Boy, uncle Johnny, auntie Ferna, cousin Diday with husband Topel and sweet little Jethro and cousin Big Bird. After a very warm and affectionate welcome by the family lunch was taken in a chinese restaurant.

 Map of Mindanao, Philippines

Originally from Argao in Cebu Alfonso sen. and Mercedes Gomez (my grandparents) bought a piece of land in Digos, Davao del sur on the island of Mindanao. In Digos my mother was born and brought up and named Minda after the island of Mindanao.

Family picture from left to right: Victor, Alfonso jr., Mercedes, Alfonso sen., Minda, Ferna and Darrel Gomez. 

My mother has 4 siblings whereof her youngest brothers are living and working in the US, her older sister is staying in Davao and working as principal at Maa elementary school and her oldest brother is living in Digos and acting as superintendent of Davao del Sur.

My Lola (grandmother) was a chinese Mistiza with maiden name Go. My Lolo Philippines (my grandfather) has been a spanish Mistizo, which is very easy to detect as he carried a typical spanish family name.

I still remember my grandmother as being very independent and energetic. She was educated, open minded and even finished her child psychology studies in her fifties. She never complained about her sufferings and only by smelling Betel (kind of Tigerbalm) you knew that she was probably suffering by some aches.

cousin Diday, Topel and Roberto in the Garden Eden Park

 Mindanao is my second homeland and very much an affair of the heart. Whenever I return to the Philippines, to Mindanao - my mother's island - my outer shell of materialism peels off and I start to relax and feel at home. It is very hard to describe but it does have an effect on me, breathing in the scents of the Philippines, a mixture of salty air, seafood market, traffic pollution, humidity and heath.  It even had its effect on Roberto. He also felt at home.

enjoying Halo Halo at famous Aling Foping's

We spent most of our time in Davao, visiting the sanctuary of the Philippine Eagle and the Garden Eden Park with its different kinds of trees, plants and animals, my cousins Diday and Big Bird, Topel and Jethro being our tourguides. We had lots of interesting conversations through which we learned much about the area, the local life and also history.

The Philippine flag for example carries much symbolism in it. The red colour stands for the blood that has been shed  for the independence and freedom, the blue colour stands for patriotism and unity and the white colour embodies equality. The three stars stand for the 3 main islands (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), whereas the 8 main rays of the sun describe the 8 provinces of the Philippines.

We also spent some time to taste some local snacks like as Halo Halo. Halo Halo means mix and it is in fact a mix out of different ingredients of different cultures and as among others it consists of red mung beans, originally from the Chinese,

garbanzos (indian origin), leche flan from the Spanish and shaved ice, which has been very likely introduced by the Americans. 

At uncle Boy's plantaton in the mountains

One day we spent with Uncle Boy in Digos and the surrounding mountains. We were invited to have Brunch at his house where all imaginable philippino delicacies were waiting for us. We payed a visit at Lola's house and I could finally show Roberto where mommy has been growing up and having her playground. We also went to Lola and Lolos gravesite, bringing Lola's favourite flowers: Orchids. We also visited Uncle Boys plantation in the mountains with the mangosteen, durian and mango trees, where we tasted some ripe durian. Finally we were visiting a school in the mountains where we have been offered some local coffee while talking about the progress of building up schools in the mountains and implementing flexible teaching, which means that for remote areas and in specific in cases of nomadic tribes teachers are sent to the built up villages to teach those children. It was a very interesting day with many different impressions, which we will both keep in our hearts.

cousin Big Bird, little Jethro and autie Ferna