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Welcome and HELLO FROM DAVAO - a lifestyle blog about my life and travels in and around Davao and Mindanao. I love sharing my own inside tips and must-see things for the small pocket money. Enjoy the the warm breeze from the south.

Filipino consumers: maintain optimistic outlook, Nielsen research

The Consumer Confidence Index indicates that Filipino consumers continue to maintain one of the highest confidence levels when it comes to spending habits in the third quarter of 2012. This was brought out from residents of 58 countries surveyed by the global media research firm Nielsen.

Since last quarter, the Philippines ranked third (following Indonesia and India) with a consumer confidence levels of 118 (increase from 112 in the same quarter last year)

Although the Index showed that spending remained "restrained" and that saving has been a prime concern of those surveyed.
Nielsen Philippines managing director Stuart Jamieson said in a statement that "This paints a positive picture for the third quarter of 2012" and that "The high confidence can be attributed to the positive perception regarding local job prospects in the country for the next 12 months, which at this point is the second-highest worldwide."

He was cited saying that "expansion plans in the energy, transportation, telecom industries and largely the BPOs (business process outsourcing), are helping to create this positive perception in the country."

The research also revealed that Filipino online consumers "felt positively about the state of their personal finances, ranking second among the most optimistic about their personal finances in the world."
With regard to spare cash availability, 67 percent of Filipino respondents said they would rather save it. 34 percent would buy new technology gadgets, 32 percent would purchase new clothes and 28 percent would pay off debt, credit cards or loans, and 27 percent would spend it on personal leisure time like holiday or vacation. This makes the Philippines to one of the top 10 countries which gives priority to saving if there is extra money, so Jamieson.

The survey was also concerned about job security and the topic remained at the top of the list as in the same quarter last year. It was followed by work/life balance, health, welfare and happiness of parents, and education and/or welfare of children. Jamieson commented that outcome as "If you look at it worldwide, the Philippines is number one among the top 10 countries who said that they are concerned about their parents' welfare and happiness."

Filipinos remain bullish on the domestic economic state; with a respondence of 56 percent (in general increase of seven percentage points in the Asia-Pacific).

"The report shows that to save on household expenses, Filipinos have lessened their expenses on new clothes, saving on gas and electricity, delaying their upgrades on technology like computers and mobile devices, switching to cheaper grocery brands and cutting down on take-away meals. Should economic conditions improve, the respondents said that they will continue doing these actions.", so according to the article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Nielsen global survey of consumer confidence and spending intentions was established in 2005. It is an institution that measures consumer confidence, major concerns and spending intentions among more than 29,000 Internet consumers in 58 countries. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

A Prosit! The first big German Oktoberfest 2012 at the Apo View Hotel celebrated!

The past weekend (October 27 and 28) has been a very special one to the Davao-based Germans and their neighbor friends from Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and as well as to Filipinos. The first big German Oktoberfest was organized by the Apo View Hotel, by the General Manager Mr. Wolfgang Pfuner, with the support of German Club Makati and several chosen local sponsors, held for two days in the Ballroom halls of the hotel.
The band Bavarian Sound Express performed live in Davao City.


The highlight of the Oktoberfest was the "imported" live band from Munich, the Bavarian Sound Express, lead by musician Klaus Weih. The band enchanted the some two hundred guests with lots of German songs like "das Fliegerlied", Nena's "99 Luftballoons", Udo Jürgen's "Mit 66 Jahren" or other English country, jazz, blues and pop songs for everyone's taste during those six hours per night. 


The food was a gourmet: Bretzeln, white and red sausages with mustard, Sauerkraut, pork knuckels, cheese, potatoe salad, cold cuts and bread how the European love it. There was no limit, the buffet had been open the whole evening, The drinks flew with open faucets... the program organizers of the Apo View Hotel Davao did not fail to refill and re-refill each mug (a free token for all guests) with San Miguel beer or wine.

The atmosphere was filled with high-spirit, laughter, clapping, dancing on the dance floor and on tables and "Prosits der Gemütlichkeit", in where all guests are asked to stand up, rise their mug and sing the German 'inofficial' anthem of giving cheers. 


Ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit Songtext :
"Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit."


The band surprised the viewers with their impressive musical repertoire and even rendering the Happy Birthday song in Tagalog or adopting the song "Manila Girl" to many Filipinos' delight.

It was an event one of its kind; a unique showcase of a talented band bringing the white-blue Münchner Oktoberfest-feeling and fun to the warm tropical heat of Davao City. Davao City will be very happy to welcome the Bavarian Sound Express in the following years, establishing a German delectation for not just Germans and European friends but for all Filipinos and music lovers! Till next year when we say once more prosits on "Da simma dabai!... Tagay! Prost!"




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A few pictures...









Duterte offers Php 5mio. for "head presented to him in ice" of local carjacking boss Ryan "Baktin" Yu

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, known as the Punisher.
Davao City's Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will be giving out a reward of P2 million pesos to anyone who captures alive Ryan Yu, the alleged leader of a big local car theft ring. P4 million will be given out if  he is captured dead with an additional bonus of P1 million if Yu’s head is presented to him in ice, said Duterte in an interview yesterday evening to the media.

The vice mayor said to the reporters that he would utilize the funds he has set aside for the the upcoming campaign, where he is running as mayor in the May 2013 elections, to finance the reward for the capture of Ryan Yu, alias “Baktin”, a Visayan term for piglet.

He said: “Two million pesos to those who can capture him alive, another two million to who can capture him dead, and if you can hand over to me his head, I will shell out additional P1 million as additional reward," added that "You can put his head in a freezer, hand it over to me and I will personally hand the money to you," emphasized Duterte.

The Duterte clan has been irked since Yu had implicated that Paolo, Duterte’s son, is involved in the local rampant carjackings. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte is running for Davao City vice mayor in the same election.
Ryan Yu has been labelled as the leader of a local car theft ring that operates series of carjacking in the Davao area and other parts of Mindanao like Tagum and Surigao del Norte. Yu is said to have links to the national carjacking syndicate whose leader is currently in detention. Fourteen stolen vehicles were recovered from an enclosed property last Monday, which was believed to be the hiding place of Yu in Sarphil Subdivision at Barangay Wilfredo Aquino in Agdao. 


Read also: Father-son tandem: Rodrigo and Paolo Duterte, bet for 2013 elections

Krispy Kreme has arrived in Davao City, opens 3 branches

Take your sweet treat! Krispy Kreme has arrived in Davao!

It is over with the pasalubong-request from Manila... Davao City will be a new home to the world famous doughnut and coffee brand Krispy Kreme which will be opening three stores in a month's time. The opening marks as well the company's 75th anniversary since its first store in the US in 1937.

The doughnut chain will open two stores simultaneously on October 20, one each at SM City Davao's The Annex and Abreeza Mall, Lanang. The third branch will located at the SM Lanang Premier soon.

The biggest store of Krispy Kreme will be at SM City's The Annex which will feature the Doughnut Factory, a drive-thru and a dining area. The drive-thru at The Annex will be open with extended hours from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. to cater to customers who are working in late and night shifts.

Krispy Kreme operates 36 stores in the Philippines. It has been a success story of six years since it opened its doors in the Philippines. Their latest opening was in Cebu with three stores.

Mark E. Gamboa, marketing manager of Krispy Kreme said that the Filipinos have a "naturally soft spot for sweets," and that it is time to expand and bring their success to the Dabawenyos.

The original Krispy Kreme glazed Doughnut.
"Having already satisfying our markets in Luzon and Visayas, we decided that we couldn't leave Mindanao out, and so we are now finally bringing the confectionary goodness of our brand to the south as we expand in the region," Gamboa said in an interview.

To hold on to the Krispy Kreme tradition, the company gives out special treatment to the first eight customers, one from each of the eight neighboring cities and provinces, to promote sales. The winners will get a year-long supply of the brand's Original Glazed Doughnuts and Signature Coffee. And the second and third customers to fall in line will be rewarded six and three month's worth of the same delights, respectively. Even the 4th to 100th customers are also rewarded as they will be getting free supplies of Krispy Kreme that last for them a whole month. 

--- Welcome to Davao Krispy Kreme!!!!

X-Factor first grand winner 2012: KZ Tandingan, Home coming to USEP and Digos City!



KZ Tandingan, a 21-year-old aspiring singer from Digos City, in Davao del Sur, who almost lost her voice from a throat problem in high school, came out as the first winner of "The X-Factor Philippines" last Sunday (Oct. 7) night at the PAGCOR Theater, Manila. Tandingan, an early favorite of the latest ABS-CBN talent search and protegee of Charice, bested Gabriel Maturan and others during the show's star-studded season finale after garnering 54.77% of the total viewer's votes.


KZ visited her old alma mater, the University of Southeastern Philippines campus, in Obrero, Davao City and was warmly welcomed by the USEP President, Dr. Perfecto Alibin and thousands of students/fans. After visiting her old school, she gave an interview at Villa Mercedes before she made her way home, to her home town Digos City. In Digos City, a big welcome-home-party was given for the grand winner.

--- Indeed, "a star was born in Digos!" (quote from Gary V. to KZ). Kudos!!!!

Father-son tandem: Rodrigo and Paolo Duterte, bet for 2013 elections

COC candidacy filing,
Paolo "Pulong" Duterte
Since Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed her feelings of not running for re-election in 2013. She gave way to her father, the present Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to be re-elected as mayor of Davao City.

At the same time, Paolo Duterte will be running for vice mayor, which is still unopposed. The other mayoral bets are yet to be revealed from the other parties.

Rodrigo Duterte was mayor of this city from 1988 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010 and has earned the nickname "The Punisher" which reflects his feared leadership against criminals in the Davao area. He founded the party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.

He served as representative of Davao’s 1st District from 1998 to 2001. In 2001, he ran again for mayor and served for 3 more terms. Due to regulations, he was not able to run as mayor in 2010, but gave way to his offspring, Sara Duterte-Carpio, a lawyer by profession. He was elected as vice mayor. If Duterte wins the 2013 mayor elections, it would be his seventh term that spanned more than 25 years.

His son, Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, has been exposed to politics as well as the city councilor and president of the Association of Barangay Captains.

Present Vize Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, running for
mayor re-election in 2013


Sara Duterte-Carpio not running for re-election: father Rody for mayor

It is official. Sara Duterte-Carpio will not be running for re-election as mayor of Davao City, giving way to her father, the incumbent Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, to run again for mayor.

“I will give way to Vice Mayor Rody Duterte who will run again for mayor,” Sara Duterte said in a text message sent to local reporters here last Friday, October 5. Although, she is eligible to be elected for two more terms, Sara Duterte-Carpio decides to return to work as a lawyer in a firm after her term.
Sara Duterte-Carpio is the first female mayor of Davao City. Before her election, she worked as a court attorney at the Supreme court. In 2007, she won her first mayoral election for Davao. In 2010, she won over former House Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles in the mayoral race.

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