South Sea Pearl

Imagine a city that is balmy all year round, with gentle breezes, occasional rains and no typhoons. Almost sounds like Camelot. This is Davao. It is the largest city in the Philippines, and located in the southern tip of Mindanao, the southeastern most group of islands in the Philippines.

We were a group of eleven that arrived at the Davao airport shortly after Christmas. As we were ushered to the Pearl Farm Beach Resort boat terminal which was comfortably equipped with lounge and restaurant, we were met by Tony and Maricris Brias, our hosts. Maricris Floirendo Brias manages a gift shop at the terminal, selling unique hand-made items. Her woven fabrics and pillow cases are of the most exquisite and unusual I have even seen, and much of her designs are exported to Europe and the United States.

A high-powered boat shuttled us to Pearl Farm where we were lucky enough to have booked two of the Floirendo cottages, in Malipano island, just minutes across from Samal island where the Pearl Farm resort is situated. The Malipano Villas are absolutely magnificent, designed by Bobby Mañosa, and built by Don Antonio Floirendo, Sr., for his children -- one villa for each child. His villa, at the top of the hill, is the most splendid with an almost 360 degree view of the sea.

Malipano Villas

Samal Houses at Pearl Farm

The Pearl Farm Resort was an actual pearl farm where thousands of oysters were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls. Floirendo purchased the farm from the Aguinaldo Family over 20 years ago, and slowly developed the 14 hectare farm into a first-class resort. The resort is world renowned, and has been featured in Architectural Digest.

That first night, we were invited by Congressman Tony-Boy and Margie (Moran) Floirendo to dinner at Don Antonio's villa with their family. It being the holidays, the atmosphere was merry with lots of twinkling Christmas lights and parols hanging festively along the verandah. The rest of our dinners were at the Maranao Restaurant, or at the Parola Bar, the three-story structure that juts out into the water, where we enjoyed cocktails and karaoke singing overlooking the moonlit waters and nearby islands.

View of Malipano from Parola Bar ; enjoying cocktails at Parola Bar

The next day, we arranged for the resort to take a group of us diving, and everyone set off on a pump boat to a nearby quiet island, where a chef and waiter set up tables and barbecued seafood and vegetables while we learned to dive and snorkel, marveling at the multi-colored fish and coral that surrounded the island. Lunch under the coconut trees in a tiny deserted island with 'butlers' at your service was an unimaginable experience!

Malipano private beach; Barbecue lunch at remote island

Lounging at our Villa

Malipano Villas have their own private beach, where we enjoyed the mornings sunbathing and swimming. The next afternoon, we took the speedboat to Davao City for some shopping at the market. The antiques, woven fabrics, sarongs, brass and handicrafts were so inexpensive, we bought quantities of everything. Then we drove up to the foothills of Mount Apo (the highest peak in the Philippines) where we dined on Paella and Sangria, at the resthouse of Tony and Maricris Brias, which offers a spectacular view of the Davao Gulf and the surrounding islands. The kids had a ball riding a carabao drawn cart around the property!

Brias Resthouse at foothills of Mt. Apo; Carabao ride

Our visit was much too short, as we reluctantly hastened back to Manila to celebrate the New Year. Before checking in at the airport, we made one last stop -- to buy, what else?... mangoes and pomelo. Who can resist the tastiest, sweetest fruits in world?

There truly is no better way to visit a place than to have friends show you around! Our visit to Pearl Farm was indeed a magical experience.