First impressions last.

At least that's how we were taught to believe, isn't it? Whenever we're introduced to new people, we typically have the tendency to remember significant details (or minor attributes), good and bad.

But do they only apply to human beings? What about interesting places? Of course, they do!

Without a doubt, the Philippines is a culturally wealthy archipelago with plenty of fabulous locations to promote. This is absolutely one of the major reasons why tourists from all walks of life flock to her tropical islands. Tourism is a major economic driver that continuously sustains life in this beautiful part of the planet.

No wonder a dominant portion of her cities, municipalities, and barangays compete by all legal means for attention, attracting curious visitors, professionals, and entrepreneurs to invest their valuable time, talent, and treasure.

Danao City, a key northeastern metropolis in the Philippine province of Cebu, is clearly one of them. And my personal experience for today obviously shows how this thriving urban center welcomes its local and foreign guests.

One sunny morning while driving on the coastal road from Cebu City on my way to the northernmost tip of the island, I caught a glimpse of massive letters in various colors at the right side. They were perfectly positioned against a breathtaking backdrop of the open beach, a short distance after passing through the municipal boundary.

All of a sudden, my “itchy feet” were urging me to stop for a while to check them out. And because the site seemed like a destination worthy of exploring, I decided to spend around an hour there to feed my curiosity. Despite the scorching heat of the prevailing weather, I persevered.

Walking closer to the sea coast, I noticed the words “Sidlak DANAO” exhibited as a freestanding sculpture. In English, the word “Sidlak” means to glitter, sparkle, or shine.

Interestingly, if you zoomed closer, this striking phrase also denoted an acronym with defining words beneath each letter. Amazing, isn't it?

My skin already felt like burning, so I had to walk faster to avoid being cooked alive. There were no large trees nearby whose cool shade would have been helpful. Instead, there were some low foliage, plants, and shrubs that added to the refreshing ambiance of the coastal edge.

As I strolled further, I got to see the reinforced concrete bridge at close range with its flowing river stream coming from its inland mountain source and its connection to the sea. It was a marvelous piece of engineering.

Going northwards, I encountered an overhead sign board showing directions to surrounding landmarks. There were actually more fascinating buildings present as I moved forward. There was a famous international fast food chain plus a secured area housing Danao City’s sea port.

Facing the highway, the sea port’s outer fence was wrapped with white tarpaulin, displaying their cultural slogan, adding a touch of class to its already fantastic branding efforts.

And to culminate my quick escapade before proceeding with my original itinerary, I went closer to the sea port’s main gate. There I witnessed more marketing elements like tailored shrubs to resemble letters, adding a vibrant charm for passersby. There was also a passenger/cargo ship docked at the harbor ready for its voyage to nearby islands. Although short, my unexpected introduction to Danao City was fairly satisfactory, fulfilling a desired need to see this progressive metropolis for myself.

It was truly a tremendous pleasure meeting you Danao! You have certainly left an incredible impression on me and I'll definitely come back someday to get to know you better.

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Architect | Environmentalist | Adventurer
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