As a Davao-born and Davao-bred writer, I’ve loved Davao city more than any other place in the world. It is my home, after all. I’m proud to say that this home is considered as one of the most livable and child-friendly cities in the world. I talk about it, brag about it haplessly, and because people will get tired of me if I start worshiping it (again) right now, I’ve made a neat list of what makes it so achingly awesome:

1. Drinkable tap water – Oh yeah, potable water. One of the world’s greatest wonders. Imagine not having to pay for clean, clear and drinkable water in versions you never understand anyway—distilled, mineral, filtered, purified et cetera.  That’s how life is in Davao.
2. Rock bottom prices for fruits – Class A bananas at P9/kilo. Juicy, traffic light-red watermelon flesh at P15/kilo. Sweet mangoes at P25/kilo. At Davao, you can have fruit salad desserts at any day, for every meal, without having to shell out a fortune.
3. All-day breakfast – A surprising twist for Davao’s fastfood dining scene– cafes and eateries which serve all day breakfast meals are such big hits. Some joints are even open for 24 hours!
4. A posh coffee shop at every corner – Most of my friends who opted to stay in Davao for good tell me that the reason why they stayed is because life in Davao is serene and “chill”. Life in Davao, they say, is more relaxing and less fast-paced than the stressful and pollution-laden cities up north. Maybe that’s why we have coffee shops at every corner. We have a thing for sitting down, taking our time, and relaxing.
5. No smoking in Public – In Davao city, you cannot smoke in public places, unless it is a designated smoking area  (like in bars and cafes). You may refer to http://www.dabawpinoy.com/2009/11/davao-city-no-smoking-ordinance/ for a more comprehensive write-up of the ordinance. Sounds tough for ya, smokers? Oh, what a great way to curb smoking.
6. People’s Park – Formerly known as our PTA Grounds, Davao’s People’s Park is one beauty to behold. It is a four-hectare masterpiece of fountains, waterfalls, ponds, benches, artistic statues made by famous Mindanaon artist Kublai Milan. It is located at the heart of the city. It cost us P72M to bring it to life. And boy, we made this investment count. It’s an orchestra of colors.
7. Philippine Eagle Foundation- Davao prides itself for housing several pairs of our Philippine Eagles, in one of our best kept simulated tropical rain forests, located at the southern part of the city. The center also offers free tours around the area, with lectures about their habitats and in taking care of the environment.
8. Mishmashed Dialects – If you listen intently to how Davaoenyos speak, you will notice how the “normal” Davao way of speaking involves a little bit of Filipino and a little bit of (Cebuano) Bisaya. Surprisingly, you will also learn that most Davaoenyos can speak English, Filipino, Cebuano very fluently and they can also understand a little bit of Ilonggo, Waray, Boholano and other Filipino dialects.
9. High Quality Security – Our local government’s pretty strict on security; in fact, it’s one of the things that made us famous. In Davao city, you can text on the streets, walk home even when it’s 3am and call 911 whenever you feel like you need to. Makes us breathe easy. Which reminds me..
10. High Quality Cleanliness – In Davao city, “clean and green” is almost cliché. But hey, clichés are such because they’re true. Davao is one neat urban wonderland with clean streets, clean water and clean air.

If you haven’t been to Davao, take your family here to see and experience these amazing things that make Davao a super place to cherish. Whether you come for a short vacation or consider to reside for quite sometime, Davao will be happy to accommodate you. Durian, and so much more, will be waiting for you. <3