Shopping in Davao

Aside from the beautiful beaches and summer havens in Davao, one should never miss its one of a kind souvenir shop, where you can find good, rare and unique items for yourself and your loved ones! If you come to visit their place and you have to find the best pasalubong center, have yourself at least be absent in famous malls you are familiar with for just a little while. After all, SM malls are more of a sari-sari store nowadays where you can always visit anywhere and anytime you want. 

So when it comes to shopping in Davao, here's the best place you can visit: ALDEVINCO!

Aldevinco's walkway 

Long before the famous malls were erected, Aldevinco had become the main shopping center for Davaoenyos. It was opened on January 2, 1965, located at the junction of Claro M. Recto Avenue and Manuel Roxas Boulevard, just right in front of Ateneo de Davao. If you are still not familiar with the place so as with the usual jeepney routes, just ask a taxi driver to take you there... you won't get lost, 'cause famous might be an understatement to describe Aldevinco for tourists and locals. 

As you enter the old shopping center, it takes you away to another world, where you feel like you were a woman of 1950s, looking for a best hobble skirts and fedoras in town. But when you peek through the glass windows of each stores, they are actually souvenir shops selling authentic tribal items only found in Davao. Truly Pinoy indeed!

MUST BUY items

Malong

Don't leave Davao, or any place in Mindanao without bringing a Malong with you. Malong is a hand-
woven piece of cloth that is very multi-functional. It can be used as a tube dress, head cover, baby carrier, sarong and a lot more! It is originally made by our very own Maranao, Maguindanao and T'boli through backstrap weaving. According to what I have remembered during history class, babaeng manghahabi or women weavers are highly respected in their group so they consider their masterpieces as splendid and regal, much close to royal. Its prices differ from 100 - 400 pesos only.

Indigenous peoples from Mindanao are known to embellish their get up with big and colorful accessories. Aldevinco offers wide range of accessories, from beads, corals, pearls and other precious stones from the seas nearby that are truly authentic and unique. 

If you're on your way to explore Samal Island beaches just like what I did, grab a good beaded necklace to match your summer outfit and swimsuit. Some of the bead accessories costs 3 for 100.00 so you can have different colors and style if you have different summer outfits to be worn each day.

Also, do not ever forget buying bags from Aldevinco. They provide different, colorful and distinct styles of bags that you will never find in other places. They have a Magic bag, as it is famously called, a cloth bag where you can keep it in a pouch attached to it everytime you don't need them so it can save some space. It comes in different styles and colors. This magic bag is great especially for Manilenyos, especially because the government has been starting to ban the usage of plastic bags in malls and supermarkets. So if you think bringing bayongs and katcha bags in shopping malls ruins your outfit, the magic bag will be definitely there to save you! It costs 120-250 pesos depending on the style. Anyway, you can always ask for discounts!

Aside from the magic bag, I was fond of this functional traveler's bag that can be used as your toiletry case, make up kit, accessory bag, whatever you want! But in my case, it's perfect to be my cable wire bag, where I can put my phone, ipad, laptop and camera chargers so as with my USB cables and my hard drive so I will never find hard time anymore to search for them anytime I need them.

Magic Bag - from pouch to hobo cloth bag

Multifunctional Bag

Lastly, the T'nalak  is indeed a good buy. This is a famous tapestry woven by the T'boli. I consider this woven cloth a magical piece since the all the patterns and designs they produce are based from their dreams. In other words, They don't produce designs which they have not dreamed of. So when you buy a T'nalak cloth product, you are also exploring the magical dreams of the T'boli weavers. Amazing right? I bought an Ipad case, coin purse, and key chains with T'nalak designs. I'm sure nobody else has it when I get back to Manila. (hehehe)

T'nalak products

FOR COLLECTORS:

For travelers who collect novelty and unique items, Davao shirts are found in Aldevinco. Aside from that, the usual key chains, coin purses and figurines with Davao labels are also available. Meanwhile, I found this fridge magnet that really stole my attention. It's really made of dried/preserved durian skin!

Bukayo

After exploring the souvenir shops in Aldevinco, you will surely miss the best of Davao if you don't visit their market, to buy for edible pasalubongs. And when we say edible, Durian should be the number 1 in your list! I personally don't eat durian, but to avoid spoiling the fun, I tried tasting a piece of it, freshly sliced by the durian tindero. It actually tastes bitter sweet, that made me ask for some more despite that odd stinky smell (well, you will actually get used to that smell when you stay longer in Davao). However, despite its sumptuous and its aphrodisiac appeal, it is very high in cholesterol so persons with high blood should watch out. One seed of the fruit is equal to eight balut or duck embryos so it is very fatty and unhealthy in a way. Durian costs 77 pesos depending on its size. Always tell the vendor if you're travelling back on a plane so he/she can pack it securely.

Durian

Davao is also a good place for other fruits: Langka, Marang, Suha (Pomelo), Bukayo and Mangoosteen. So you better prepare your tastebuds and tummy for more exotic, aphrodisiac and delicious fruits whenever you're going to the market!

Before leaving Manila, I only had two bags with me. But when I get back, I increased to 6 bags because of the stuffs I have shopped for. Call me shopaholic all you want, but indeed Davao is a good place for shopping rare, functional and one-of-a-kind items.

Tasted Durian for the first time!