When was the last time you traveled to a foreign city?

Although this is not my first experience visiting the largest metropolis of the Philippines in terms of geography, I still consider it a novel discovery because my previous childhood memories of it have unfortunately faded away.

Fast forward several years today as a mature adult, I've always been dreaming of exploring the magnificent City of Davao again - its remarkable history, delicious cuisine, heartwarming locals, and incredible architecture for quite some time now.

That intense desire has finally led to fruition not too long ago, thank goodness. And what could be an ideal way of feeding my curiosity for this exquisite location than by walking on its interesting streets, right?

Investigating an unfamiliar place by foot is probably one if not the most practical method of truly understanding a chosen destination. Isn't it?

As long as you're wearing comfortably durable footwear, the short distances traveled doesn't necessarily matter. What's more important is the valuable knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment gained from such experiences. Do you think so?

For this particular episode, I'll gladly walk you through a substantial portion of C.M. Recto Avenue, one of the well-known thoroughfares in Davao City. It's also regarded as one of the city’s busiest commercial districts, incorporating numerous establishments, businesses, and brands all in one address.

Before we begin, please do your own research on the visuals of some known sites that won't be shown in this narrative, but are mentioned here. Thank you for your patience.

Let's commence our leisurely stroll at the intersection of C.M. Recto and San Pedro Streets. Standing at this strategic corner, you'll get a generous glimpse of iconic landmarks such as the historic San Pedro Metropolitan Cathedral, Sangguniang Panglungsod, Osmena Park, Davao Police Station, and the Philippine National Bank. The city’s central governing body, Davao City Hall, was just a 2-minute walk from here.

While moving forward along this thriving avenue, I was surely overwhelmed by the amount of vehicles that routinely utilized its lanes as their daily passage. They included cars, vans, mini trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, not to mention the staggering number of PUJs (Public Utility Jeepneys) that pick-up and drop-off commuters from all age groups.

Most of the prevailing structures that call C.M. Recto Avenue their home consisted of a diverse mix of architectural applications. However, a majority of the buildings present were designed in a contemporary modern fashion that prioritized functionality over aesthetics. Though corporate branding and small signages for marketing purposes were obviously scattered everywhere, the overall atmosphere was an orderly business setting.

Curiously, in the face of all these attention-seeking propaganda, a small lizard in the shape of the letter S, representing a famous brand of outdoor footwear, caught my discerning eyes. I don't know why, but I simply notice minute details of artistic significance that aren't arguably relevant to other passersby. Perhaps, that's really my nature as a creative individual. Can you relate?

Apart from the major enterprises that occupied massive plots of land like hotels, banks, corporate offices, and specialty shops, smaller establishments like “carenderias” (local eateries), convenience stores, selling stalls, fashion boutiques, and sidewalk vendors that also competed for customers'attention had their reasonable share of commercial spaces.

Contrary to other metropolitan sites around the Philippines, the city of Davao is especially endowed with enormous roads. Their respective lanes were clearly wider than other Philippine regions and constructed of high-quality reinforced concrete, producing more convenient rides for the commuting and driving public.

Above all, there's one critical observation that I simply couldn't take for granted.

As I was not in a hurry walking through the eye-catching displays of these entrepreneurial establishments, I noticed something that made me absolutely proud of the urban landscape I was visiting. You see, when I'm wandering in a foreign place, its overall cleanliness, hygiene, and healthcare standards always create a huge first impression on me. And whenever I see piles of filthy garbage and careless litters scattered here and there, it's definitely an immense turn-off. Would you feel the same way?

Surprisingly, not for Davao City! It's undeniably a clean metropolis - I'm not joking. Unbelievably, when I was there, I've personally witnessed dedicated government personnel who worked tirelessly and ensured the continuous sanitation and organization of waste disposal systems of their different localities. Isn't that impressive?

Well, I guess there's nothing to be surprised about here after all since Davao City is properly governed by exceptional leadership, clearly evident in the outstanding results you see around this highly esteemed metropolis.

Our short stroll culminates at the intersection of C.M.Recto Avenue and Roxas Avenue. From this point, you will witness the prestigious educational institution of Ateneo de Davao plus the Roxas Night Market, a nationally famous street food festival happening every evening. If you're a food enthusiast, you'd surely not want to miss this touristic spot.

Did you have fun with today's Wednesday Walk?

About the Author

Architect | Environmentalist | Adventurer
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