Visit Davao Fun Sale: “This is part of our relentless efforts to grow Mindanao and to put Davao in the map as the next big thing in shopping and eco-tourism.” – DOT XI Regional Director Roberto Alabado III
by Leony R. Garcia
Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) —the latest summer tourism campaign of the region to mark 2015 as Visit the Philippines Year—will run from 3 April until 7 May 2015, with seven of Davao City’s biggest shopping centers offering great premium bargains for as much as 80 percent discount.
Abreeza Ayala Malls, S & R, Robinsons Abreeza, NCCC Mall of Davao, SM Lanang Premiere, SM City Davao Ecoland, Gaisano Mall of Davao in Bajada and Toril, Gaisano Grand Ilustre and Toril, and Victoria Plaza Mall are all gearing up with the widest range of products at best-value deals from dining, local crafts, fruits, and flowers, health and beauty, electronics and gadgets, home and travel, to fashion and active lifestyle.
An offshoot of The Big Davao Fun Sale, the country’s first-ever citywide shopping festival held last year, VDFS promises to be bigger in Adventure, Shopping, Dining, and Fun. From a four-week long sale in seven participating malls last year, the public can now indulge on a six-week / seven-weekend-shopping-spree and enjoy great premium deals in nine of Davao City’s biggest shopping centers.
As additional features on its second year, travel agencies and tour operators have joined hands in organizing ‘Davao FUN Tours and FUN Packages.’ Local and foreign tourists may avail of discounted city and countryside adventure tours and packages on accommodation facilities by booking through the VDFS portal at www.vdfs.discoverdavao.com. Over 700 rooms from different hotels and
accommodation facilities in the city will be available every weekend until 17 May.
The Restaurant Owners Association of Davao, on the other hand, takes the lead in sprucing up different restaurants and dining clusters all over the city to feature ‘Davao Delicious Dining.’ More than 100 brand restaurants ranging from home-grown and independent restaurants and franchised establishments will offer freebies and discounts as much as 20% on one product per day for six weeks / seven weekends during the Visit Davao Fun Sale.
According to DOT XI Regional Director Roberto Alabado, III, VDFS should bolster Davao City’s ever dynamic urban image. “It is characteristic Dabaweño to always outdo oneself. That is to say, Visit Davao Fun Sale is going to be double the excitement, double the adventure, double the FUN. This year, Cebu Pacific will bring us to even greater heights as they join hands with us in making air travel to Davao from any point in the Philippines more convenient and more affordable. This is all part of our relentless efforts in the DOT Region XI to grow Mindanao and to put Davao in the map as the next big thing in shopping and eco-tourism,” the newly-appointed director said.
Cebu Pacific Air is the official air travel partner of Visit Davao Fun Sale, giving a huge number of seat sales from all the budget carrier’s service points to Davao from 3 April to 17 May 2015.
“There is practically something that will strike every shopaholic’s fancy at the Visit Davao Fun Sale. It promises to be bigger and even more fun in every inch possible, from shopping to adventure and dining! One thing is for sure, one will not leave Davao empty-handed. So, book that flight to Davao via Cebu Pacific and get ready to fall in love with the culture of Filipino hospitality for six-long weeks, and get the best premium bargains in what will be the next shopping capital of Asia,” Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. shared.
Taking center stage during the VDFS is the International Mt. Apo Boulder Face 2015 Challenge — the boldest, trickiest and most challenging adventure race in the country.
The 120-kilometer race, sliced to four stages and should be finished within 24 hours, is now open for international competitors. Teams from the United States (five), Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia have confirmed participation this year according to Eden David of DOT Davao.
The Davao del Norte tandem of April John Maniyog and Mark Anthony Rance, last year’s champion, will try to become the first team to retain their title in this annual competition to be staged in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, where Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 10,000 feet is located, on April 25 and 26.
A total of P500,000 in cash prizes is offered in the event.
Besides biking, the field—which is expected to breach 250—will tackle the 53.5-km trekking, 5-km water tubing and 13.7-km road running stages.
Maniyog and Rance, who used to be porters and tourist guides in Mt. Apo, won last year’s race in 13 hours and pocketed the P150,000 top purse. The runner-up will receive P100,000 while the third placer gets P75,000. Five consolation prizes of P20,000 will also be awarded.
For more details of the Visit Davao Fun Sale, the organizers may be contacted at visitdavaofunsale@yahoo.com and 0998-9783850 / (082) 221-6955 / 221-0070 (Tessa
