Cagayan De Oro City, Northern Mindanao


I'm looking for any info on Nightlife - Hotels etc..


Thanks

Originally posted by Asiangirlsrock on March 12, 2006 on Asia Chat

OK, serious ignorance about Mindanao floating around this board. Here's what I have learned from 11 trips to Mindanao:

1. Davao City is the third biggest mongering destination in the Phils after Manila and AC. It's just that Americans don't go there, so they don't hear much about it. But there is plenty of p4p action. At one time, before the US bases shut down, it was the number one mongering destination. The selection of girls is still better than AC, IMNSHO.

2. Davao in particular and southern Mindanao in general are NOT the primary areas of terrorist activity. The Philippine military has driven most of the insurgents westward out of Davao and Cotabato. The remaining hotspots are from Zamboanga westward to the small islands of far western Mindanao, in the Sulu Sea (especially Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo). So Porker is correct that Gen San in South Cotabato is closer than Davao to the terrorist action. However, I have not heard of any tourists have ever been abducted or murdered by terrorists in Davao City or General Santos City.

3. State Dept warnings and mumblings by people who do not travel in Mindanao are generally hype, but I have to be fair and say that in the past, these have been dangerous areas. There was some serious unrest in Davao and General Santos City in 2002-2003, including bombings in Gen San and Cotabato City and a bad attack at Davao Airport that killed 20 and injured more than 140. These were attributed to the MILF. Remember though, that at this point in time, there were bombings in Manila, even at Glorietta in Makati. There were even protests and demonstrations in AC. This was the time that the US military was in the PI conducting exercises, which many people assumed was a tactic to scare the Abbu Sayyef and MILF, who responded by bombing targets like airports and bus stations. Things in the PI have quieted down since then. Either way, your chances of dying in a traffic accident, typhoon, or mudslide are far higher than being kidnapped or murdered by terrorists.

4. Davao is actually a great place to visit. The natural beauty and the opportunity for side trips (hiking, fishing, diving, surfing, etc.) blow AC out of the water if you're thinking of an extended stay in the PI.

Originally posted by why1952 on March 13, 2006 on Asia Chat

Keep reading guys, and don't stray too far out of Davao. There does seem to be an array of guys that live or have traveled there though. My family still has friends living in Cotabato Province and it has been a volatile Muslim stronghold for years and still is. Davao is pretty but hardly a surfing or scuba mecca. For the record there was a bomb at the airport last summer that killed a couple of folks including kids. Cotabato City is the capital of one of the stongest Moro Provinces in the PI and it is very crowded and dirty. You know, I spent two years at Clark in the late 70's and never heard a guy mention Davao because everything you wanted was in AC, over 550 bars during my era. Then there was a navy base called Subic Bay nearby too. Davao was a very religious center for the island with many churches, a large cointingent of missionaries, Christian radio station, and a large mission hospital. AGR, no offense, but from your posts and travels, you sound Pinoy, and you would definitely have an advantage in blending in and hunting if so! If not, you've got an interesting job like oil crew perhaps? Yes, I've had several Pinoys tell me how much fun they've had in Zambo, but not General Santos, and I've afraid neither will be on my list as a blue-eyed Cano anytime soon because I remember how dangerous both places used to be. I find it hard to believe they've changed given their overwhelming Moro population, government, and lifestyle. Lifestyle is the key word in Mindanao because you are in the midst of two opposing cultures, Islam and and fundamental Christianity. Davao is on my list of places to return to but don't set your expectations too high. I think you'd probably like Cebu better Porker, though either place won't be the sitting ducks you're used to in AC, it's still a unique place. You won't find a Santos Street that you're welcome at either and the language barrier becomes significant. Hunterman will be the first to tell you that basic language skills can make a huge difference from his Brazilian trips and I'm not even talking about trips he and I have both done out of Rio.

Originally posted by Asiangirlsrock on March 15, 2006 on Asia Chat

Why1952, no I'm not Pinoy, I'm a green-eyed, white-skinned Canadian. I am fairly fluent in Tagalog however from my 3-year stint living in Tarlac (and around 30 trips back since then). I have travelled very extensively all over the PI. I do have a cool job - I'm a marine biologist. No, Davao is not a scuba diving or surfing mecca, but with a bit of effort and travel, you can find some great spots within a half-day's travel of Davao. Diving and surfing "meccas" are usually crowded, degraded, and over-rated. I prefer to avoid them.

Gen San is a rough place with a large Moro population but it is not "overwhelmingly" Moro. The local Gen San government (Mayor's Office, various agencies) is mainly Roman Catholic. Don't forget that Gen San also has many Protestants. Most people there are still Catholic, but there are a large number of Muslims, and also plenty of Baptists, Lutherans, Mormons and Wesleyans.

I agree that Cotabato City is dangerous, dirty and not worth visiting. But frankly, if you haven't been to Gen San since the '70s then you pretty much haven't been to Gen San. The tuna industry has really revived this city through big influxes of Japanese money. It has the same big SM City malls as many of the other nicer cities (think Cagayan de Oro, for example). There are some very affluent new subdivisions and plenty of BMWs cruising around. That being said, it is still a place that consists mainly of very rough neighborhoods where you have to be constantly alert for muggers, purse snatchers, etc if you travel alone (which I never do). My rule of thumb for Gen San is to go with 3 or 4 buddies and keep to the popular (and richer) areas. I've never had a problem.

I don't completely agree with your comment about the language barrier. The girls in AC bars are often Waray girls from eastern Samar or Leyte and their English isn't so great, especially when they are new. In general, Cebuano speakers (from Cebu, Bohol, or Mindanao) speak clearer English than most other Filipinos (unless you're in, say, Makati or Malate). But yes, it helps to know some Tagalog, or better yet travel with some trusted Pinoy friends/guides.

However, all that being said, if you're not a very adventurous type but want to try something other than AC/Manila, then I agree with you that Cebu is probably a better place to go than Davao or Gen San.

Great comments, fellas! I've been to both Davao and Cebu twice, and had a great time. Even won enough to pay for my entire trip at the Grand Regal Casino! (Ahh...memories...) I'd be interested in learning about the surf spots in Davao. I loved the hotties in the KTVs better than the clubs there. I'm quite interested in checking out Gen San too. Appreciate your experiences!

I have been to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city and I agree. Mindinao is the best place to find girls that have not been run over by 100's of guys.

You cant beat that Iligan City. I have also been to Iligan and CDO. You can get what-ever-you-want over there. Anything you can imagine.

Jack, I'll try Iligan and CDO someday...maybe next year. I just got back from Siargao--awesome waves, wonderful people, but the only problem was a lack of helmets on the motorcycle rental! I wrecked my bike and spent some time in the jungle/barangay hospital. They didn't even check my head and took only 1 x-ray. When I got home my doctor found 2 broken ribs and a lingering concussion. The nurse in Siargao even charged me for the bandages and gave change from her purse! I didn't monger much there, since I imported a girl from Manila with me. The girls are wonderfully dark-skinned, very friendly, but the real hotties must have gone to the big cities..... When I return I may have to bring a harem! heh heh!

I have spent alot of time in Mindanao in the past. Most of my time was in "Valencia City" and "Malay Balay". In Valencia there is a great strip club, I'm not sure of the street it is on but it across the street from a Bingo Hall (the bingo hall is on the second floor). Also it is on the same side of the street as a Novo (or Nova) store.

They sing Karaoke in the evening hours and about 9pm the girls start dancing. Some cute girls working there and I believe they have ST rooms upstairs. I never barfined a girl there because I've always had my honeyko with me but I've seen the girls take their customers upstairs. I've gotta go there solo one of these trips.LOL

Also there is a decent and clean hotel in Valencia called "Royal Hotel", 800 pesos for a nice room and 1000 pesos for their family room.

good luck

kj

Got referred to a very interesting and good summary of the davao scene, check it out.

http://whorist.com/02Philippines/008Davao.htm