NIRVANA IN THE NORTH OF DAVAO

Less than an hour's drive from the Davao international Airport, a 64 hectare estate can be seen along Davao-Mati Highway in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City famously known as the Hijo Resources Corporation otherwise known as HRC.

HRC is a Davao-based diversified corporation established in 1959 with business interests in Leisure & Tourism, Agribusiness, Property Development and Port Operations. It was the pioneer in the cultivation and exporting of Cavendish bananas to Japan and also owns the International Hijo Port which has two (2) operating berths, a controlling depth of 13 meters, warehouse facilities, and storage tanks. It also provides stevedoring and arrastre services and continues to produce agricultural products like bananas, coconuts and selected fruits. As part of its leisure and tourism development, HRC operates the Lanikai, Barret Beach Resort, Banana Plantation and Wildlife Tours.

LANIKAI PRIVATE RESORT

It is considered as Davao’s ultimate very private playground where guests can relax in the modern comfort of their rooms designed in plantation-style elegance. In Lanikai, visitors can indulge their recreational whims in tranquil seclusion away from the busy metropolis. But it will not be difficult for the guest to keep in touch with the world because the place is a WiFi Hotspot and is set within the privately guarded estate of the sprawling Hijo Plantation in Davao Del Norte. Lanikai’s extensive playground stretches to a lush private forest, the Madaum River and the Davao Gulf where visitors can also enjoy and be thrilled with wide array of outdoor activities that will revitalize their weary spirits like swimming, sailing, kayaking, fishing, motorcycle riding, camping and soon to be established trekking. They say that a Lanikai vacation is

a well-deserved treat that can recharge one’s soul before returning to a hectic lifestyle.

By the way, Lanikai offers customized packages and is strictly by reservation only and If you are wondering what is the word Lanikai is, it was culled from a Hawaiian term for “heavenly waters”, which most likely describes what you feel when you’re staying in the place.

BARRET BEACH

Barret Beach is the only resort located near the heart of Tagum City and the best beach resort the city can offer. It has 9 Casitas, 4 big huts, 12 small huts and 10 tables that is located inside the private gates of the Hijo Plantation. Due to the

Private Professional Security Group of Hijo Resources

Corporation, the Barret Beach is considered as one of the safest and most secure resorts in the Region.

WILDLIFE AND TOURS

It was not known to many, Tagum City through the HRC has privately preserved a forest in Barangay Madaum that is home to wild pig , monkeys, and deer that freely roam within the forest. A tour of the forest is exclusively available to the guests billeted at the Lanikai Resort.

The tour includes a perimeter survey of the forest where many packs of Philippine macacs (monkeys) reside. Guests might get to witness how the monkeys take the young coconuts from the trees and open them for food. Wild pigs will also be lured into the open by putting coconut meat, their favorite food, in a glade. For shutterbugs, a hunting blind will be setup near the feeding area for better angle and photo opportunities. After the boar watch, guests will trek to the firing range where light snacks will be served while enjoying the natural beauty of the forest.

Another private enjoyment known as Twilight Safari will be offered to the guests of Lanikai that will begin at 6 o’clock in the evening. Most wild animals are considered nocturnal therefore they tend to be more active during night time. It is a unique tour because it requires patience as there will be no feeding of the boars or monkeys. Guests will park at the edge of the forest and wait for the animals to come out and forage. Children can ride on the back of the pickup truck for a better view of the animals when they appear. Sometimes wild tarsiers can be seen also in the lush forest of Hijo.

According to some visitors, Lanikai is indeed a little Bali in this part of the world. For bookings and inquiries HRC can be reached through the following contact numbers: In Manila look for Mr. Guinto at Tel. Nos. (+632) 633-5980 / 633-5972, Fax No. (+632) 633-1690. In Davao look for Ms. Rubi at Tel. Nos (+6382) 297-8107 to 08, Fax No. (+6382) 298-0751. In Tagum, look for Mr. Templa at (+6384) 400-3358.

A PARK WE CALL OUR OWN

In Tagum City, exist a 6,000 square meters recreational area with amenities such as volleyball court, tennis court, sepak takraw court, chess enthusiast room, mini soccer field/ dog show area, basketball court and beach volley ball court and others. The City Sports Office is also located in the park, so as with the City Tourism and the City Information Office – a Wifi Hotspot. They say that the best thing the Rotary Park can offer is the basketball gym which can accommodate 1,500 spectators, I say 1,500 is too small for a crowd of almost 300,000 residents of Tagum City. If we will consider that 5 % of that is basketball fanatics/ enthusiast, how can we accommodate them? And are we sure that it is only 5%?

By the way, our gymnasium have facilities like electric fans, 3-way sound system with 24 adjustable equalizer, high powered lightings, hanging fiberglass basketball board with spring ream, pre-finished wooden tiles, electronics digital game clock with separate 24 seconds shot clock, locker rooms and restrooms. I can consider it as the best gym of its kind when we talk of little city and barangay or organizational leagues but it cannot cater to national basketball events. It is way behind in comparison with gymnasiums of other big cities that are fully air-conditioned and with very big seating capacity. Our gym can be compared with some gyms of big private universities of Philippines like De La Salle Universities and others. I am stating this because I want to refute the statement that this is the best thing that our Rotary Park can offer. Yes, it is the best gym in this place of the region but I don’t believe it is the best thing our Rotary Park can offer. I know we will be constructing in the not-too-distant future a gym that we can be very proud just like our nearly Half a Billion Pesos New City Hall of Tagum that is located in Barangay Apokon of this city.

Huh, lengthy explanation for the gym alone (hehehe). For me, the best thing that our Rotary Park can offer is our Tagum City Beach Volley Drome, a 5,000-seating capacity volleyball court right in the center of the Rotary Park. Although it is not yet official, but it is considered as the only permanent Volley Drome in Asia with all the amenities of a Beach Volley Tourney. This year 12th Nestea Beach Volleyball tournament – Mindanao elimination was held in the Volley Drome of which the event is sponsored by Havaianas, Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome Rotary Park , University of St. La Salle Bacolod , Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park , Crystal Sand Beach Resort, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, D'Mall, D'Boracay and Hey Jude Hotel Resort.

According the Otie Camangian, Secretary General of Philippine Volleyball Federation, “the country’s beach volleyball bets now have a place they can call their own” and said further “that the venue could help generate more interest in the sport.” The Philippine Volleyball Team loves to train in Tagum City because of the sports facilities and the quality of life of the city. Soon it will also be considered as the official training and competition center for the beach volleyball team aspirants of the entire country.

Lately, Tagum City headed by the City Mayor Rey Uy has expressed intent to host the Southeast Asian Youth Beach Volleyball Championship this coming November in celebration of the Feast of Christ the King. There is a very big chance that Tagum City will pass the requirements for hosting considering that it has its own beach volleyball facilities located at the heart of the city. The city also passed through the (South East Asian Volleyball Federation) SEAVF’s initial requirements of holding the tournament because it is only one hour away from the Davao International Airport. So far all other Southeast Asian countries signify their intention to participate the said event except for the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. I will be very happy to assist anybody who wishes to visit our city.

(Photocourtesy: Bryan Jimenez, CIO, IT Office)