Prayer Mountain in Davao City, Philippines is a property of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ lead by executive pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The Prayer Mountain in Tamayong is also known as the Garden of Eden Restored, which welcomes visitors of any faith who wish to visit this place, especially for prayer and meditation.
You have to pay your admission fee in advance to secure your schedule, the fee is only P250.00. Since the place is a sanctuary of peace and serenity, be guided by some of their rules especially when it comes to dressing code.
Reaching to the mountain after 1 hour and a half travel from Davao City proper gave us no regrets as we are amazed at the beautiful scenery with lots of trees and delightful flowers. The lawns are well manicured, the surrounding is clean and the atmosphere is very serene and relaxing.
I recommend that you should visit Tamayong Prayer Mountain. For a moment you’ll feel calm and at peace away from the vibe and hype of the city.
Welcome to our new home. Just enjoy looking at things indifferently.
And sorry for the inconvenience too.
Have a seat please, I’ll serve you a cold beer!
I’m trying to be flexibleKids at heart.Catch me I’m falling!Want to eat now!This is how I exercise.Who wants to clean the bathroom?
I’m strong and full of fun!I can do this!
This is our comfort zone.Switch it on, please!
If you ever wondered how it feels to turn your world upside down, well, this new tourist attraction just opened recently in Davao Metro, Philippines.
The Upside Down House Museum is inspired by the famous KL Upside Down House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is considered as the first upside down house-inspired museum in Mindanao.
The designed is smaller and simpler, but still worthy of a visit. They have also assured that they will change the museum’s concept every 18 to 24 months to keep everyone have something to look forward.
You can visit the museum at Dacudao Avenue, Davao City (fronting the Department of Labor Employment office). Entrance fee is P250.00/5USD for adults and P150.00/3USD for kids.
It’s my second Christmas here in the Philippines after nine years of working as an expat from Dubai. Obviously, there is no holiday celebration from any Middle East County, as far as I know, some Christian employees still tend to work on Christmas day, lucky for those who can excuse themselves from their employers and have a considerate co-worker to change shifts is a plus.
I feel favored that I can still go home without any issues from my workplace. I cannot compare the celebration here with family and old friends, than in a place surrounded by fabulous lights and mighty buildings, but cannot see those familiar faces I long to be with.
So what it is like to celebrate Christmas in the Philippines? How do we Filipinos celebrate?
Well, I think nothing is different aside from that we welcome the spirit of Christmas from the first day of September (BER months) and does not end until the first week of January. We begin to decorate the houses, establishments, and streets with Christmas ornaments. You can even hear early Christmas songs played on the radio and in the shopping malls.
Christmas Party and gift giving are always part of the Christmas celebration. Parties are celebrated with friends, business institutions, family gathering, and reunions.
Company gift giving to EmployeesChristmas Party with FriendsGames for kids and adults.
While some are familiar with the Western tradition of leaving empty socks or stockings for Santa Claus to fill up with goodies while being a good kid. Filipinos also have some customs and traditions on how we enjoy this season.
Simbang Gabi or Misa De Gallo.
One of the oldest Christmas traditions of Pinoy. It is the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16 and end on Christmas Day. We believe that when we complete the 9 straight days of Simbang Gabi, God will grant our prayers.
Caroling.
I love this when I was still young. We are always excited when September comes. From our neighborhood to another street, we never get tired of visiting different houses while singing all the Christmas songs again and again just to receive a pamasko (cash gift).
Monito Monita.
One of the exciting activities at Christmas is the exchange gifts. Each participant has his/her own secret Santa who gives them gifts. This could be done in schools, homes, organizations, friends, and community.
Christmas is much celebrated everywhere in the world and it is unique among all the holidays and birthdays that we recognize. Why, because Christmas is not all about the gifts under the tree, the cash bonus we may receive from our employers, who has the best Christmas decorations, the dinner celebration, but it’s all about the season of great joy, where God shows his great love to us.
some of the pictures credited to the rightful owners
I miss my homeland today, especially they are celebrating the KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL 2017. This Festival is an annual celebration held in Davao City, Philippines, the hometown of our President Duterte. This feast marks a celebration of thanksgiving for life, nature and abundant harvest.
Along with it are the extravagant floral and fruit floats parade with ethnic street dancing which we called Indak-indak sa Kadalanan competition.
Photo credit to the owner
BAGOBO TRIBE. Photo by: Tambok
Since Davao City, Philippines has a golden rules to live by when you are there. Here are some to be followed to keep the Festival safe and for you to avoid any unnecessary problems.
No smoking in public places.
No alcohol beverages after the 1am liquor ban.
No driving beyond the 30kph speed limit in the Davao Central District. No drunk driving. No driving or riding motorcycle without helmet.
No carrying of firearms and bladed weapons.
No carrying of backpacks and water containers/bottles that are not transparent.
Bring identification cards always.
Foreigners are advised to bring passports and other proofs of identification.
My family decided to spend the holy week in my grandparent’s province. It is also my time to visit them and offer a prayer personally. Because I wasn’t able to attend their death ceremony, I think this was the best time to pay my respect.
Bacuag is a fifth class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, surrounded by mountains, forest, and sea waters. I stayed here for more than a year with my grandparents and returned to the city carrying with a lot of memories. I have loved the place though it was far from the City. The country side is a good place to rest, ponder and enjoy the serenity.
Let’s hit the road!
Arrived safe and sound!
Visiting the old folks!
Welcome to my Grandparents’ house!
20 years ago I wrote this prayer as instructed by my grandmother. I was surprised to see it here. It reminds me of her being a prayerful person, that there is nothing impossible in prayers.
Fresh fish and squid cooked only by Vinegar. One of the best!
Ready to roam around!
Bacuag Parish Church. My favorite place 20 years ago.
Tomorrow will be coming back to the City. I don’t know when I can visit here again. I will surely miss the place!
After we unpacked our belongings, we run immediately to the beach, which only took 3 minutes walk from our hotel located at station 2.
Station 1 is where the widest beachfront is and where the most expensive hotels are located.
Station 2 is where the crowd is and where you go for beer and McDonalds.
Station 3 is where you go to get away from the crowd, for some quiet time.
A welcome post to Boracay.
Our first activity for the day is SUNSET PARAW SAILING. It is one of the most enjoyable things to do here in Boracay, especially if you love sunset, warm breeze and sailboat. The sailboat can carry up to 10 people on its outrigger wings and they even have enough life jackets for children. It is safe and romantic too.
The breath-taking view.
The happy faces.
It was scary but we don’t care.
I love it more because I’m with him.
The human mermaid is meeting a new friend.
Never be afraid of the waves, it will sail you down to your soul.
I am going to Boracay with my two girlfriends Dimple and Tzardy, and with my son James. Our flight bound to Cebu from Davao City is exactly 9:15 am and from Cebu to Caticlan is 2:00 pm. I know it would be a long trip and time waiting but who cares? We’re just too excited to feel about that.
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
Davao City Domestic Airport (Flight to Davao-Cebu) Airline: Cebu Pacific
Dimple & James. We took some pictures while waiting for one friend.
Enjoying the flight with them.
Touch down Cebu airport.
Had our first lunch together.
Touch down Caticlan airport! After in the airport, you have to take a TRICYCLE going to ferry boat station.
When you reach the place, you need to pay first all the fees like the terminal & environmental fee.
Reaching inside you will be guided by several people and signed to understand where you are heading.
This port provides a number of boat rides to the Cagban Port from where Boracay is just a few minutes away and can be reached by a tricycle.
Inside the ferry boat.
This will take you to your reserved hotel.
Finally! safe and sound we reached Casa de Apartelle where we will stay for 4 days & 3 nights. The room is enough for the 4 of us with free breakfast and helpful staff around.
We’ve been planning on going to Boracay for the past few months. It was our little dream to visit the place, relax and enjoy. Boracay is known as one of the best beaches in the Philippines, it wasn’t only admired by us Filipinos but also with other nationalities.
For many people, Boracay is the classic Pacific island paradise. The white sand on your toes will make you feel giddy enough, the sunset view which you can see the beauty of flame, the brilliant crystal clear of sea water, and wide selection of hotels, restaurants and activities.
But most of all, I believe that no matter where the place is, you have to go there with the luxury of wanting the fun, be with the right people where you can also enjoy their presence and of course bring some cash.
I am about to share what I can do for 4 days and 3 nights here in the land of paradise. But definitely I will enjoy it, not only because the place is great but I am with the right people too, my two girlfriends and my son.
Yes, Boracay night life is fabulous. People are all out, restaurants are almost full, and the clubs are always ready to party. True, It was crowded but still you will be amazed of where those people came from, just don’t complain and let yourself enjoy the night!
Our first dinner together, sorry about the plates empty and messy, we ‘re just so overly hungry.
James first henna.
It’s our night, ladies night!
Feel the hot performance from this local people.
Watch the romantic fireworks with your love ones.
Boracay is derived from the local word “borac”, which means “white cotton”, exactly the word that can closely describe the color and texture of the island sand, so fine and soft.
We slept around 2 am. Too early for the party goers but we need to wake up tomorrow early to meet the sunrise. Whoa!!
I always love going on a trip with my son. I am quite certain when he grew up it would never be the same. He will have a girlfriend, a wife, and a family in the future and our time to be together will be abridged. So I am making the most of my trip and my future journey to be with him.
Road trip with my son to Agusan Sur (Philippines)
Tinuy-an falls with relatives (Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines)
Enchanted River with relatives (Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines)
Enchanted Kingdom with friends ( Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines)
Manila Ocean Park with friends, (Manila, Philippines)
Pearl Farm Beach Resort with friends ( Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines)
I can’t wait for our next trip, I will make it sure it would be more fun and laughter!
a couple of metaphors dripping from a broken soul | cocooned by solitude | afraid to love | lover of afrika | daughter of pain | wanderer | seeker | attracted to flowers🌼 | a hippie living in the wrong generation | nehanda's baby girl | occasionally sane | decolonised bohemian | recovering hopeless-romantic | in love with love | i have a medical condition, it's called hurt-phobia | somedays i love with my eyes, my heart is lazy | i prefer something else but they call me liz |
