Whoever said you needed a lot of money to have fun in Davao City needs a little more research. If you want to spend your free time without breaking the bank, this list is for you!
1. Admire Mount Apo
Drive by Bolton bridge and marvel at the sight of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. You have to be lucky to catch it without clouds covering the mountain range. Hopefully there will be a viewing deck for this dormant volcano in the future.
2. Visit Museo Dabawenyo
Museo Dabawenyo is a small museum rich in Davao City’s history. There, you will learn the different tribes, the first settlers, and the first leaders in Davao. It was very educational even for a local like me. According to the receptionist, only 1 in 1,000 of their visitors are from Davao.
The museum is located at Andres Bonifacio rotunda, Poblacion district. It’s beside Colasas BBQ. Operating hours are from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Entrance is free.
3. Watch a Filipino movie at Cinematheque
In Davao City, Pinoy indie films are usually shown in cinemas at odd times for only 7 days. If you missed the scheduled screening, the only chance to catch those movies again is if they’re shown in Cinematheque. This mini theatre charges only P100 per screening. But sometimes, old movies or films made by locals are shown for free. You can check their movie schedule on their Facebook page.
Cinemathque is on Palma Gil St., Poblacion district.
4. Attend a Zumba class at Abreeza mall
READ: FREE EXERCISE. Every Tuesday at 6:30 PM, Abreeza mall holds a 1 hour Zumba session for anyone interested. Put on your best workout clothes, pack a water bottle, and have fun. Beats paying P350 for a session at the gym. The only catch: you have to be willing to be seen strutting your stuff by your friends and relatives who might be at the mall.
5. Read a book at the Davao Public Library
Use your free time to learn something new by reading a book at the city’s public library. The library has many interesting and unique books. You can find fairy tales, travel books, and even law and medicine school books. I was personally entertained by the book about Erap’s presidency.
In my observation, many of the library goers were there to study. Note: You can only read the books inside the library. Bags should be left at the baggage counter outside and all gadgets should be on silent mode.
The Davao City Public Library is on the 3rd floor of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building beside City Hall. It operates from Mondays to Fridays, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Disclaimer: This article is in no way funded by the establishments mentioned above. These are the personal preferences of the author. Furthermore, the author does not claim to be a good writer. She created this article because she genuinely wants to promote tourism in her hometown, Davao City.
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