Aug 23, 20214 min read

5 Things You Can See/Do In Davao For 24 Hours

Did you know that Davao is the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte? It is also home to the delicious "smell like hell but taste like heaven" Durian, the Philippine Eagle Centre, and the Malagos Chocolate Museum. Check out how many things you can see, do, and eat if you only have 24 hours to spare in the King City of the South!

1. Buy Pasalubong at Lola Abon's Durian Candies

If you are a Filipino, then you MUST stop by the seller of the original durian candies to buy pasalubong for your friends, family, and barangay. So here's the story of Lola Abon's:

"It all started in the modest kitchen of Abundia del Puerto Vda. De Raakin, popularly known as “Abon” to her closely-knit family. She hails from Cagayan de Oro City. With just 6 cans of condensed milk, cooked in slow fire and stirred continuously comes a creamy delight called “pastillas de leche”. This was way back in the 1950’s. Abon by then was a young widow who has to raise 6 children on her own. She sold these neatly and beautifully wrapped sweets to employees of government offices on foot. She diligently went from one office to another, often tagging along her grandson Roberto. One day, a very close friend of Abon, suggested adding durian as flavoring since Davao is where this king of fruits grows abundantly. She heeded to the suggestion, and so was born the “durian yema”, intricately wrapped in immaculately white “papel de hapon”. At present, Lola Abon’s is by all means, the leader and most popular durian candy manufacturer in the whole country."

Lola Abon's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolaabons1950

Lola Abon's Contact Number: (082) 297 2391

Lola Abon's Email Address: lola.abons@yahoo.com

Lola Abon's Google Location: https://goo.gl/maps/UG944bvfCNaL1DY3A

2. Eat at Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant (or Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant)

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant has humble beginnings. It is a family-owned business that opened in 1992 under the simple name of Karinderya. Today, it has evolved into a Davao landmark that is both knows by Davaoenos and non-locals! Their specialty, which you must absolutely try, is Tuna Laing, Greaseless Chicken, Tuna Tail Adobo, and the Sizzling Seafood Platter.

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant Branches: Ecoland, Torres,

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yellowfinseafoodrestaurant

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant Website: https://www.yellowfinseafoodrestaurant.com/

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant Contact Number: (082) 222 0338

Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant is famous for its Ten-Way Tuna Menu. They have established thier expertise in tuna that they have been dubbed as "Home of the World's Best Tuna and Seafoods". One of their bestsellers is the Kinilaw, an appetizer made of fresh tuna and vinegar or calamansi.

Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarinatunaSeafoodRestaurant

Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant Contact Number: (082) 298 8936

Marina Tuna Seafood Restaurant Google Location: https://goo.gl/maps/veNwsMSza1gt4PLT8

3. Magsaysay Fruit Vendors Association

Make sure to stop by at this row of fruit vendors to eat durian, pomelo, mangosteen, and marang (and to practice your haggling skills). The Magsaysay Fruit Market faces the opposite of Chinatown's entrance.

Magsaysay Fruit Vendors Association: https://goo.gl/maps/nMnmHZU8888AJRba7

4. Visit Philippine Eagle Centre

The Philippine Eagle Centre is a foundation dedicated to conserve and protect the country's National Bird, the Philippine Eagle. The entrance fee is P300 per person and it is directly used for the conservation effort of the endangered species. The center is home to about 40 Philippine Eagles, with half of them captive-bred. Not only do they house the monkey-eating eagles but they also have other species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.

The Philippine Eagle is the largest forest raptor in the Philippines and it is one of the rarest eagles in the world. It is a giant bird of prey that can only be seen on 4 islands in the Philippines: Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and the Mindanao. Sadly, they are listed as critically endangered with an estimated number of only 400 pairs left in the wild.

Philippine Eagle Centre Website: https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/

Philippine Eagle Centre Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phileaglefdn

Philippine Eagle Centre Contact Number: (082) 324 1860, +639177089084

Philippine Eagle Centre Email Address: info@philippineeaglefoundation.org

Philippine Eagle Centre Google Location: https://g.page/PhilEagleFdn?share

5. Malagos Chocolate Garden Resort and Chocolate Museum

Malagos Chocolates is a famous international award-winning single-origin chocolate brand that is locally made in the Philippines. Their famous tree-to-bark chocolate is sold to countries like Japan. Malagos Garden Resort is a 12-hectare nature theme park where you can find the Malagos Chocolate Museum, a butterfly sanctuary, get up close with different kinds of raptors, and feed lovebirds, and parrots from the palm of your hands. It also has a hotel, spa, and restaurant where you can stay and relax.

The Malagos Chocolate Museum is the first-ever chocolate museum in the Philippines. The Chocolate Museum provides simulations and installations that provide learning experiences to guests.