My mother wanted that we will celebrate our Christmas eve in Tagum City so I searched for list of resorts with accommodation in Tagum City. We chose Golden Ridge Resort because it was affordable and easy to locate. 

Tagum City is just two hours drive away from Davao City. It may not be as big as Davao City but it is a promising city and they have lots of nice resorts such as Banana Beach Resort. 

For those who will be staying overnight like us you must check in at their hotel The Golden Palace Hotel, it is just located beside the pool. We took the Gold Room good for 4 pax and just paid for 1 extra person since we were all 5 pax. You have the option to choose with or without breakfast. The Gold Room was very big. It has two beds, 1 sofa, 2 tables, 1 mini fridge, 1 tv and cabinet. The bathroom was very spacious and clean. It has hot and cold shower, bathtub, sink and toilet. All rooms have complimentary coffee whether with or without breakfast.

I roamed around the hotel and it was very quite perhaps unlike us people spent their Christmas Eve in their homes. When I was walking I saw an open Function Room and I decided to go inside. I thought someone might getting married or a wedding was held here.

Since Gold Room was just good for 4 pax we can only have 4 pool passes. We don't have a choice but to pay for the extra person. They have two pools one for adult and one for kids. The pool for the adult was very big so it was fun swimming there. It was not too deep but not too shallow. We don't need to pay for cottage or table since we were their guest. We really enjoyed our Christmas at Golden Ridge Resort.

How to Get There:

From Davao City just ride a Bus bound to Tagum and tell the driver to drop you at Golden Palace Hotel.




Golden Ridge Resort Room Rates With Breakfast:

* There are slight changes with our extra bed & extra person charges. 175 for extra person/day, 175 for extra bed/day

Golden Ridge Resort Room Rates Without Breakfast:

Golden Ridge Day Tour Rates:

OPENS DAILY: 9:00 AM- 12:00 MN

ENTRANCE FEE:

ADULT: PHP 80.00

KIDS: PHP 60.00

CHILDREN 2 YRS & BELOW: FREE

COTTAGE RATE:

UMBRELLA: PHP 200.00

SINGLE: PHP 500.00

DOUBLE: PHP 1000.00

FAMILY: PHP 1500.00

NO FOOD CORKAGE except for Lechon and softdrinks.

Gold Ridge Inland Resort

Circumferential Rd., La Filipina, Tagum City

(back of Golden Palace Hotel)

For Reservations:

(084) 655-9167

SMART: 09209639970

GLOBE: 09177246722

SUN: 09228234893

FB: https://www.facebook.com/GoldRidgeInlandResort.ph/?fref=ts

By: Doris Jamoner

"The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao in the Philippines. It names derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gift of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living. It held every third week of August."


This was the second time our company was having a Kadayawan activities. This year we had a tribal dance competition, OPM (Original Pilipino Music) singing competition and group photo shoot competition. Four teams were showcasing their talents and the culture of the tribe they are representing. I had fun watching the event because everyone really gave their best!



Below were the photos taken during the tribal dance competition.

Maguindanao Tribe

Maguindanao Tribe

Matigsalog Tribe

Matigsalog Tribe

Sama Tribe

Sama Tribe

Kagan Tribe

Kagan Tribe

Before the program started I roamed around Ritz Hotel to see the place and take photos as well.

The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases is a great place for family or companies event. This is also a great place for a wedding ceremony and reception.

Ritz Hotel Contact Information:

• Address:  Porras Street, Bo. Obrero, Davao, Davao del Sur, Philippines

• Phone:  +63 82 228 6885

Email: theritzgardenhotel@yahoo.com

Once upon a time we received a text from Crown Regency that we won a 3 days and 2 nights voucher from a raffle but before we can have it we must stay for 90 minutes to listen to their advertisement so we opted to stay since they also offer free lunch but to my dismay it took us four hours and they just selling us this Club Ultima Timeshare well it is not for me it is very expensive. 

After the sale talk they tour us around crown regency that's when I had the opportunity to take photos of their place. 

Entrance

Reception Area

Reception Area

Restaurant

Unfortunately I forgot to take picture of their pool, I just took the first picture above from their website. Their pool located not in private area because it is just beside the pathway from entrance to their rooms and restaurant. 

The place is not that big however it is a good choice if you are as a tourist is looking for a place to stay while exploring Davao City. Their rooms are spacious especially family rooms. It has living room and kitchen downstairs and 2 rooms upstairs. 

Crown Regency Residences - Davao

J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Agdao,
Davao City 8000 ,
Philippines

Phone Number: +63 82 225 8188
Email:reservations@crownregency.com

Website: http://www.crownregency-davao.com/  - http://davao.crownregency.net/

Doris Jamoner

"The Big House is one of the oldest homes in Matina Subdivision, the first subdivision in Matina, Davao City. Built in the early 1950s and located on the main street of the Subdivision, before the advent of gated communities called ‘Villages’, the architecture of the house shows the design features of that period which include a hexagonal ceiling design with moorish influences. The home showcases the furnitures and decors collected by the matriarch of the family from the early 1960s."

I heard of The Big House before but I thought it was just a small hotel. I read in some comments on Tripadvisor that they also have restaurant so I asked if they are open for breakfast as I was looking for a new place to have my breakfast. Fortunately they open early. 

There were no other people in the restaurant when we went there so it feels like the whole house was ours. Feeling rich lol! As we were waiting for our food I roamed around to see the place and take pictures.

Entrance

Reception Area

Restaurant

Living Room

Restaurant

Dining Room

Restaurant

We ordered bacon sandwich, pancit and seafood paella. The food was great especially the sandwich. I think it was the best sandwich I ever had. The price was reasonable ranging from Php 80.00 to Php 350.00 though the serving is quite small. 

Seafood Paella

Bacon Sandwich

Pancit

This place might be a good choice if you want to have a garden wedding but I am not sure if the place can cater 100 person. It looks like the place is only good for 50-70 person,

I have never tried sleeping in their hotel so I can't give my opinion about their room but you can check the photos in their website. Though I never tried sleeping in their room I would like to recommend this place for tourists who are looking for a place to stay in Davao City since this hotel is just located  conveniently in the city and you will feel you are just at home.

The Big House Room Rates:

Php 1500- Php 2000 with free breakfast 

The Big House Location

Address: 12 Juna Ave, Matina, Davao City, Philippines.

Contact Number: (082) 285-7665 / +63917-500-0543 / +639925-882-4601

Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/thebighousedavao/?fref=ts

Website: http://thebighousedavao.com/site/

By: Doris Jamoner