Sun.Star Davao
SAVING PINSKER’S HAWK-EAGLE
LOCAL conservation efforts are being strengthened to ensure the protection of the first documented active pair of South Philippine Hawk-Eagles (Nisaetus pinskeri), also known as Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle, in Western Visayas. Tristan Senarillos, a biologist...
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JAPAN STANDS WITH DABAWENYOS
JAPANESE Consul General Ono Hirotaka extended his condolences to residents affected by the widespread flooding that struck several communities in Davao City after heavy rains triggered by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) earlier this week. In...
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‘LAKPUE’ FINDS HOME AGAIN
ONE year after its translocation, Philippine Eagle Lakpue was spotted at an altitude of about 288.9 meters MSL (mean sea level), perching on a Hagimit tree near the Pangalaw-an River in Barangay Mahagnao, Burauen, Leyte, on May 17, 2026. Lakpue was...
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REFLECTIVE MOMENT.
A young boy walks barefoot through a large puddle on a pothole-ridden section of Jacinto Extension in Davao City on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, a day after heavy rains triggered by the easterlies caused flooding in parts of the city. His reflection appears...
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FLOOD-HIT RICE STORE.
Workers salvage sackloads of rice soaked by floodwaters inside a rice retail store in Barangay Matina Pangi, Davao City, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after heavy rains brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) triggered flooding in several...
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ENDANGERED HAWK-EAGLE.
An 11-week-old Southern Philippine hawk-eagle perches on a tree in Barangay Mahagnao, Burauen, Leyte, on May 18, 2026, during routine monitoring conducted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation and forest guards in the area. The Southern Philippine...
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SUNSTAR DAVAO WINS BIG AT ATMA 2026.
From left, Digital Service head Ralph Lawrence Llemit, journalist David Ezra Francisquete, and associate editor Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan pose with SunStar Davao’s awards during the 2026 Archbishop Thibault Media Awards at the Ateneo de Davao...
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ORGANIC FARMERS’ MARKET.
Dabawenyos flock to the organic farmers’ market at Rizal Park beside Davao City Hall on May 14, supporting local farmers while buying fresh, chemical-free produce.
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RISING MARKET PRICES.
A vendor packs fresh seafood at Bankerohan Public Market during the morning rush in Davao City. The scene comes as the Philippines’ inflation rate climbed to 7.2 percent in April 2026, the highest in three years, driven by rising food, fuel, and...
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LUMINOUS LIVELIHOOD.
A street vendor waits for customers beside glowing LED balloons and inflatable toys along San Pedro Street in Davao City. Vendors often stay late into the evening to maximize sales as crowds continue to fill the city’s busy commercial areas.
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SUMMER STREET SCENE.
A vendor pushes a sorbetes cart past commuters and students waiting for a government free-ride bus along Roxas Avenue in Davao City. The traditional Filipino ice cream, popularly called “dirty ice cream,” remains a favorite refreshment during the...
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THE ART OF MAKING DO
IF THERE’S any one group that has mastered the art of making do and grown big with that, it’s the Children’s Cancer Center of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), an endeavor that started with just four beds in what was then the Davao...
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BANIG MAKING.
A Matigsalug woman demonstrates how a banig is made in front of personnel from the Department of Tourism and the City Tourism Operations Office as part of their push for Community-Based Tourism in Datu Salumay, Marilog District, on Wednesday, May 6,...
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STREET SERMON.
A man carries a megaphone and wears a sign urging repentance while preaching near the stoplight along R. Magsaysay Avenue corner C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City. The unidentified group shared religious messages with motorists and pedestrians.
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GENETIC CRISIS IN PH EAGLES
THE Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) revealed that the Philippine Eagles are not only facing habitat and survival crises but also a genetic risk, as a new study on the species revealed a limited gene pool that could pose a risk to the animals’...
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PHOTO BY RICARDO BASTASA/ DNSC, SUNSTAR INTERN
REFUGE FROM THE HEAT. Street food vendors take shelter beneath a wide umbrella as they prepare their cart along Quezon Boulevard. With the heat index soaring beyond 40°C, one vendor carefully tends to sizzling fish balls and kikyam while another...
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RIGHT SPECIES, RIGHT PLACE
MATI CITY – Rows of mangrove seedlings line parts of GuangGuang Mangrove Park and Nursery – a protected landscape and seascape area in Pujada Bay. But not all of them take root: some wither under the heat and other climate problems, while others fail...
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YOUNG HANDS, BIG HEARTS.
Preteens and teens from the International Churches of Christ Davao’s Youth and Family Ministry prepare tuna paksiw pastil during a Labor Day community cookout organized with Art Relief Mobile Kitchen Davao, Matina Community Pantry, Konsensya Dabaw, and...
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HEAT-RELATED DISEASES
THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) said they expect the number of patients affected by heat-related diseases to increase as the El Niño phenomenon is expected to affect the country in the coming months. Dr. Marocel C. Montillano, a medical...
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FROM STREETS TO STAGE
ONE would never think that a group of children is preparing for one of the most important performances of their year in the innermost corner of New Lanzona Village in Davao City, inside a seemingly unfinished shelter with no ceiling. Tucked along the...
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SHIFT TO ‘GREEN VEHICLES’
DAVAO City Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo said that the local government unit is looking into shifting 20 percent of its vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Ocampo, who chairs the Committee on Environment, said that the city government is gradually...
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OIL HIKE? TARA, BIKE!
Amid ongoing oil price hikes, some Dabawenyos are turning to bicycles as a mode of transportation to get around Davao City, even under the summer heat. The shift comes as local bike shops report a surge in sales, with more people seeking affordable and...
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BRIDGE WORKS.
Massive concrete columns rise as construction of the Samal Island–Davao City (SIDC) Connector, more known as DavSam bridge, continues in Lanang, Davao City on April 19, 2026. The Department of Public Works and Highways reports the P23.039-billion...
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BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Several employees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City were observed working inside their offices on Friday, April 17, 2026, as the city government begins implementing its weekly work-fromhome (WFH) arrangement. The Davao City Government began...
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BACK TO BIKE.
A worker at a surplus bike shop in Agdao, Davao City, is busy preparing their units as he anticipates a surge of customers following the recent oil price hike. According to the shop owner, the spike in gasoline prices has increased demand for bicycles...
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WORK UNDER ‘EXTREME CAUTION’.
Construction workers continue their tasks at the Davao Coastal Road Roxas exit under intense heat on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, 2026. Laborers are seen working on a concrete road median, with water bottles nearby to keep hydrated amid the scorching...
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ALTERNATIVE COOKING.
Stove and charcoal vendors at the Bangkerohan Public Market attend to customers during peak hours on Monday, April 13, 2026. Local stove retailers reported a significant surge in sales, particularly for units equipped with blowers. According to one...
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HONORING A HERO.
Vice President Sara Duterte paid tribute to war veteran Teofilo “Lolo Pilo” Gamutan Sr., once recognized as the oldest war veteran in Davao City at 102, during her visit to his wake on Araw ng Kagitingan, April 9, 2026. Duterte expressed condolences to...
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BANGSAMORO FOR PALESTINE
PRO-Palestine groups led by the League of Bangsamoro Organizations held the National Solidarity Conference, calling for solidarity with the people of Palestine and urging peace in the Middle East. Hashim Manticayan, president of the League of...
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DELIVERED AFTER 3 YEARS
BUREAU of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno announced that the BOC-Port of Davao has completed the delivery of all 732 balikbayan boxes abandoned at the port by unscrupulous freight forwarders, marking full completion of all boxes under...
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ONGOING DEMOLITION.
Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao City Engineering Office continue to conduct the partial demolition of a dilapidated pedestrian overpass, located in front of the former NCCC Mall VP along JP Laurel Avenue, Davao...
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PRESERVE WAR VETS’ LEGACY
ONLY three World War II veterans remain in Davao City, officials said Monday, underscoring the urgency of preserving their legacy as the country marks Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, 2026. Remedios Josol, regional head of the Philippine Veterans...
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CANCER STRONG, FAITH STRONGER
“GUSTO ko na mag-give up pero parang yung heart ko hindi gusto mag-give up, so that’s why nag-pray na naman ako, and yung nag-relapse na naman ako sa last protocol, yung New York, down ako pero I felt peace because nagta-trust ako kay Papa Jesus ([On...
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FLOOD CONTROL PRIORITY
AROUND 76 percent of Dabawenyos believe the government should prioritize flood control issues over other social concerns, according to an online survey by the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO). Of the 1,200 respondents, 914...
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COASTAL CALM AT SUNDOWN.
Golden light spills across the horizon as the sun sets over the Davao Gulf, casting silhouettes along the rocky edge of the Davao City Coastal Road. The 17.8-kilometer highway serves as a key traffic bypass and a public promenade, where esplanades and...
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PALM SUNDAY.
Massgoers at Our Lady of Fatima Parish along Aurora and Fatima streets in Davao City gather at the church entrance and raise palm fronds for blessing on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. The observance commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and...
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HEAT, HOPE, AND PRIDE
DESPITE the intense heat, many Dabawenyos still gathered to watch the Parada Dabawenyo on March 28, 2026. More than 407 contingents and 50 marching bands, comprising about 35,000 participants, took part in the event, including representatives from...
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DAVNOR EYES MALAYSIA FUEL
DRIVERS SEEK FUEL RELIEF. Jeepney drivers from Matina Pangi stage a rally at Matina Crossing in Davao City on Friday, March 27, 2026, calling for a rollback in fuel prices and the removal of value-added tax as diesel exceeds 100 per liter and gasoline...
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PUMP LINES.
Motorists queue at a gasoline station along Palma Gil Street in Obrero, Davao City, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, taking advantage of a fuel price rollback of P5 to P8 per liter. The station, bearing the tagline “Bayan ko, Mahal ko,” draws a steady...
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JOURNEY TO GOOD SLEEP
THE Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), is intensifying efforts to promote sleep health among Dabawenyos through its 19th Annual Convention and Regional Caravan, themed “Journey to Good...
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BREAKING THE CALM SEA AT DAWN.
Athletes cut through the waters off the Davao City Coastal Road at daybreak as the Ironman 70.3 Davao unfolds on Sunday, March 22, 2026. From the Sunrise Sprint to Filipino elite contenders, age-group racers, and relay teams, the race captures powerful...
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PRAYERS BEFORE EID.
Muslim faithful gather for afternoon prayers on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Davao City Islamic Center along Quezon Boulevard, as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close. The observance was extended until Saturday, March 21, after no moon was...
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NORMAL DAY.
A public utility jeepney (PUJ) driver calls a student passenger along MacArthur Highway near the University of Mindanao–Matina Campus in Davao City on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Traffic remained normal across the city despite a nationwide transport...
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RIDING OUT THE FUEL HIKE.
A father and son share a bicycle as they pass San Pedro Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon, March 18, 2026, in downtown Davao City. Many residents turned to bicycles and other alternative transport amid rising fuel prices, with gasoline up P12.90–P16.60...
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SUNOG SA AGDAO.
A young resident helps put out the fire that broke out in Brgy. Tomas Monteverde, Davao City, on Monday afternoon, March 16, 2026. The fire crew also helped in preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby homes by spraying water onto adjacent...
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NOT-SO-DURIAN SEASON.
A durian vendor arranges her durian at Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City. Vendors had reported fluctuating prices for the city’s famous “King of Fruits” as supply remains limited in the celebration of the month-long Araw ng Dabaw. Common varieties...
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UNDERSTANDING VP ROLE
VICE President Sara Duterte graced the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s 90th anniversary pop-up exhibit and led the launch and signing of the book First in Line: Vice Presidents of the Philippines on March 14, 2026, in Davao City. The...
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LIBRENG SAKAY.
Dabawenyo commuters line up to board a DC Bus along C.M. Recto Street in Davao City on Thursday evening, March 12, 2026. Amid the continued rise in fuel prices, more residents are opting to take public transportation instead of using their private...
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LIGHT SHOW HONORING DUTERTE.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte, who previously served as Davao City Mayor for more than two decades, was featured during the lighting show at Davao City Hall on March 11, 2026, a year after he was arrested and brought to the International Criminal...
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‘NOT JUST A DATE’
DAVAO City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte described March 11 as a somber milestone, recalling the day his father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, was taken to The Hague — a moment he called deeply painful for both the family...
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ONGOING RENOVATION.
Exterior renovations are currently ongoing at San Pedro Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Davao City. A fundraising campaign called “Gasa Ko, Halad Ko” is also ongoing, where donations can be placed in glass boxes near the church entrance or at...
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BRACING FOR FUEL SHOCK
ADVANCE REFUELING. A rider refueled his motorcycle at a gasoline station along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City on Sunday morning, March 8, 2026. Motorists in Davao City continue to feel the impact of recent fuel price increases as they brace for the...
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN SAMAL
WASTE generation has become a major global problem, with the United Nations projecting that solid waste generation will rise to 3.8 billion tons by 2050. With increasing tourist arrivals and a growing population, the Island Garden City of Samal...
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TOURISM REMAINS OPTIMISTIC
Although tourism is within our control, the situation requires coordination with the national government and other agencies to ensure safety and smooth travel for visitors. WILLENITO P. TORMIS JR. Davao City Tourism Operations Office OIC
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BHAUS ON FIRE.
Fire personnel respond to a boarding house on fire along Artiaga Street, corner Bonifacio Street, Davao City, on Wednesday morning, March 4, 2026. Authorities said the Bureau of Fire Protection received the alarm at 11:04 a.m. The blaze was placed...
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YOUNG AND ALERT.
Two children are crawling near to a fire exit simulation at a fire escape maze booth during the Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) “Fire Square” on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at SM City Davao Annex. The event, in line with the Fire Prevention Month, aimed...
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LIGHTSHOW.
The City Lighting Ceremony illuminated Davao City Hall on Saturday evening, marking the formal opening of the 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration. City officials, employees, and guests gathered at the City Hall grounds to witness the ceremonial switch-on,...
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Uy tells Davao Light: Also act with urgency in Talikud
DAVAO del Norte First District Board Member Al David Uy has called for immediate action to address the long-standing electricity crisis in Talikud Island, urging Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) to also prioritize reliable service to the...
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LAST MORNING AT HOME
RESIDENTS of Arroyo Compound in Barangay Matina Crossing, Davao City, had already begun self-demolishing their homes before the demolition team arrived on Friday morning, February 27, 2026. Some were seen carrying their clothes, cabinets, and pieces...
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PAY HIKE STARTS MARCH 13
WHITED. Repainting of the Davao City Hall façade is now underway, restoring its original white finish in keeping with its neoclassical architectural design first introduced in 1926. The transformation is part of the city government’s preparations for...
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‘MAKE CORRUPTION SHAMEFUL AGAIN’.
Dabawenyo Catholic faithfuls participated in the candle-lighting ceremony outside the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on Wednesday evening, February 25, 2026. Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles leads the candle-lighting and prayer rally following the...
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DAVRAA 2026 OPENING.
Athletes from Davao City, known as Davao Durians, march proudly to the opening of the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) 2026 at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex on Sunday, February 22, 2026. A total of 11 delegations carried the...
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DANCING IN THE DEEP
OUT in the warm turquoise waters around Island Garden City of Samal, just a quick boat ride from Davao City, something really special is happening underwater. A group of certified freedivers is taking the quiet, focused world of breath-hold diving and...
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7 DEAD IN DAVAO LANDSLIDES
AT LEAST seven people died in landslides as heavy rain from a shear line pummeled Davao Region on Friday, February 20, 2026, forcing widespread class suspensions, evacuations, and emergency responses, disaster officials said. The Office of Civil...
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WHERE HOMES ONCE STOOD.
Children linger over the charred remains of houses destroyed by a fire that struck along Trading Boulevard, Barangay 37-D, Davao City on Wednesday evening, February 18, 2026. Despite the devastation, some of the young evacuees are seen playing in the...
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ASH WEDNESDAY.
Catholic faithfuls fill San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on February 18, 2026, as Catholics observe Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Christian calendar. Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles presides over the Mass, during...
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FOR GOOD LUCK.
A man could not contain his curiosity and touched the “dragon” during Davao City’s Chinese New Year celebration at the Bucana Bridge in the evening of February 16, 2026. The 1.34-kilometer bridge was illuminated with bright lights, cultural...
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CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE HORSE.
Visitors took photos in front of a Lunar New Year display at Davao City Hall. The city transformed the area with red lanterns and zodiac-themed installations to mark the start of the new year. Meanwhile, the city celebrated the Chinese New Year event...
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FROM GOVGEN TO GLOBAL MARKETS
A Japanese-led shrimp venture in Governor Generoso (GovGen), Davao Oriental, could boost vannamei shrimp (whiteleg shrimp) production in the Davao Region using nanobubble technology. In an exclusive interview with Sunstar Davao on February 7, 2026,...
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HEARTS AND BLOOMS.
A man checks the flowers sold in front of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City on Friday, February 13, 2026. Dabawenyos visited streets and stalls to purchase flowers and gifts ahead of Valentine’s Day. Vendors offered a range of fresh flowers and...
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SACRED VISIT.
With the Chinese New Year fast approaching, Filipino-Chinese devotees offer prayers at the Long Hua Temple in Davao City on Thursday morning, February 12, 2026, seeking blessings of prosperity, good health, and harmony for the year ahead. Located along...
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PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID.
A child displaced by the Sitio Malamboon fire draws a house during a Psychological First Aid session Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Barangay 76-A, Davao City. The City Social Welfare and Development Office, with the San Pablo Quick Response Team, provided...
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DIAMONDS, DONE DIFFERENTLY
IN ONE of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history, Marilyn Monroe once said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. This way of thinking changes once one learns that mining these precious jewels involves extractive practices that cause land...
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