This encounter occurred in 2016, there may have been significant changes to the location since then.
This blog's title may be a bit confusing to you and me because, in the first place, I am not from Davao and I don't recall having relatives or friends there. However, I thought it would be a good idea to begin with that title because I am not referring to my own personal relatives, but rather to the entire Filipino race.
But before we delve into that, I'd like to recap how we ended up in this region of Davao, which I've described previously but will do so again for the purposes of this blog. In fact, my mind is really active while I type this blog since I am considering other narrative blogs to write. I have an extensive backlog.
WELCOME TO GAP FARM
We arrived at the GAP farm within fifteen or twenty minutes of leaving the hotel where we stayed for our two-day weekend getaway in Davao City. Thankfully, our gracious host assisted us in renting a van for transportation. This vehicle was responsible for transporting us to all of our destinations for the entire day. And GAP farm was the first destination on the list.
After eating breakfast and preparing for the long day ahead, we were already out of the room by nine o'clock in the morning.
Even more amusing was the fact that when we were already in the van and exiting the hotel's basement, the back of the car split and opened up widely, spilling all the tools out over the steep road. It was an embarrassing moment, and everyone except me got out of the automobile.
Anyway, that was one of the funniest or perhaps most humiliating experiences we experienced during our stay at the Green Windows Hotel.
Finally, we arrived at the GAP Farm and paid the guard house the entrance charge of Php 40 per person. My initial impression of the area was that it was little, despite the fact that it was a vast area with many attractions. In this blog post, I will describe what you can anticipate when visiting this farm.
Giant Carabao + Farmer
We were greeted at the entrance to the GAP farm by a colossal statue of a carabao with a man, presumed to be a farmer, riding atop it.
Carabao is equivalent to a water buffalo, the national animal of the Philippines, and has been considered a farmer's best friend. Why? Because in the Philippines, when farmers still manually plowed their fields, their carabao assisted them in transporting the plow implements. These carabaos transport their freshly harvested rice and sometimes the farmer himself to and from his residence. These species of animals are extremely powerful and resilient, making them ideal for the work of farmers.
It was even a part of every farmer's dreams before the advent of technology. Due to the fact that carabaos also assist the farmers in generating a living, every Filipino farmer has given his carabaos great care.
Consequently, this was also utilized as a banner for GAP Farm. Since Davao and Mindanao are agricultural regions, they have a strong regard for carabaos and farmers. It boasts fertile lands that can produce practically any crop and gives a bountiful harvest for its people.
At the base of the carabao statue is a note that reads:
This is a memorial to a poor pioneer settler who was one of Mindanao's greatest builders.
Land of Promise
A large marble inscription that reads "Land of Promise" is visible from the entrance area and is inscribed on a distant hill. We learnt that this is a 10-hectare farm, which is enormous in my opinion, and offers a variety of amenities, including a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and an activity area, as well as a number of informative excursions. In addition, numerous other events, such as weddings and premarital sessions, can be held here. In fact, when we arrived, a couple was having their prenuptial photography session.
Mindanao is also known as the Land of Promise. Why? I conducted investigation and found the following explanation:
Mindanao in the Philippines boasts very remarkable tropical rain forests, lush valleys, and a rich fauna.
It is a promise of abundant agriculture, which has been identified as one of the primary contributors to a nation's robust economy. The majority of the Philippines' fertile lands and natural resources are located on Mindanao, hence the island's moniker.
Backtracking, we all needed to reach the "Land of Promise" inscription; however, we must first walk around the entire farm to get there. However, we were all up to the task.
The Philippine Presidential Parade
I admit that I am not particularly knowledgeable in history, particularly the presidents of my nation. It's unfortunate, but I'm delighted that, when entering this section of GAP Farm, the information I learned in elementary and secondary school came flooding back to me.
It is especially wonderful that this farm has designated a unique location for the planting of these memorials, and that it includes the President's name and years of service to the country.
Anyway, allow me to list the 15 current Philippine presidents that we observed on the farm:
Emilio Aguinaldo ( 1899 -1901 )
Manuel Quezon ( 1935 - 1943 )
Jose Laurel ( 1943 -1945 )
Sergio Osmeña ( 1944 - 1946 )
Manuel Roxas ( 1946 - 1948 )
Elpidio Quirino ( 1948 - 1953 )
Ramon Magsaysay ( 1953 - 1957 )
Carlos Garcia ( 1957 - 1961 )
Diosdado Macapagal ( 1961 - 1965 )
Ferdinand Marcos ( 1965 - 1986 )
Corazon Aquino ( 1986 - 1992 )
Fidel Ramos ( 1992 - 1998 )
Joseph Estrada ( 1998 - 2001 )
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ( 2001 - 2010 )
Benigno Aquino III ( 2010 - 2016 )
At the time of the visit, there were only 15 presidents, but since the most recent Philippine presidential elections had just taken place, the farm will likely be making the 16th president of the country, and it will likely be the best monument they've ever made, as the newly elected president is their own mayor, Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Today, perhaps Marcos will also be added to the list.
The notion of seeing a monument of Mayor Duterte motivates me to return and observe its appearance. I am curious as to when they will erect the sixteenth monument, as they now only have 15.
The Procession of the Greatest Filipino Individuals/Heroes
The busts of the greatest Filipino heroes are an additional excellent way to recall the past. These individuals are considered heroes because they battled for the love of their country. Their patriotism may have cost them their lives, but they left behind the most crucial legacy: their legacy.
Walking through the line of heroes and reading about what they had done for the country was awe-inspiring and somewhat heart-wrenching, particularly for those who had given their life for the country.
There may be additional names not listed here, but these are the ones that made the most sacrifices and truly led the Filipino people, encouraging them to fight for our rights and constantly fight for what we believe to be true.
The following is a list of some of the parade's biggest heroes:
Gabriela Silang
Dr. Jose Rizal
Melchora Aquino
Cayetano Arellano
Andres Bonifacio
Apolinario Mabini
Marcelo H. del Pilar
Juan Luna
There were more in the bust of the greatest heroes, but it would take too much time to mention them all, so I will leave the remainder for you to discover.
Note that Gabriela Silang leads the pack while mounted on her courageous horse and holding a bolo. She was wearing the national costume of the Philippines at the time. It was incredible to see ladies battling for the nation.
How has it been thus far? I am certain that this site provides a review of Philippine history. Stay tuned for the subsequent portion of this adventure!
