Christmas in Rizal Park, Davao City © Jojie Alcantara

Davao’s Simple Christmas Spirit

In this special Holiday Season, I am sharing the joys of Christmas all the way from my beloved Davao City. I am hoping this will bring to fellow Dabawenyos the nostalgia, happiness and pride I showed my childhood classmate, Agnes, together with bestfriend Sesil, when they accompanied me around town capturing the lights in the streets. We are helping Nhess heal and recover from an emotional trauma in Tacloban (she worked in a hotel where several of her staff died in the recent typhoon tragedy), and is now relocating back to Davao.

One wonderful Sunday I thought of cheering them up by surprising them with the simple spirit that makes us proudly Dabawenyos (people from Davao), happy to be living in a ‘no-risk (911 and Task Force), no-smoking, no-liquor, no-speeding, no-fireworks, no-kidding (cctvs in the streets)’ city, despite the silent but meaningful Christmases we share every year. As soon as the lights went on around the park and in the trees, the amazement on their faces was priceless.

Buddies Sesil and Agnes at the Rizal Park © Jojie Alcantara

Happy Holidays with love and joy from Davao City!
All photos taken along San Pedro Cathedral, Osmena Park, our bedazzled City Hall and Rizal Park last Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013)

Davao City Hall at Christmas © Jojie Alcantara