Ground breaking of 18-storey condominium and hotel by Santos Land Development Corp.

There's a new kid in town and it's going to help change the landscape of J.P. Laurel Avenue.

A P1-billion 18-storey condominium development with a hotel component, owned by homegrown real estate developer Santos Land Development Corporation, broke ground at J.P Laurel Avenue Friday.

"This is our first foray into the vertical development and hotel industry business," Santos Land Development Corporation President Antonio Santos Domingo said in an interview after the groundbreaking rites.

The Corporation's new investment is in line with the exponential growth of the city and the advent of national and international players and investors in Davao's real estate market.

"This is our biggest project since our corporation used to focus on housing development projects," he said.

The Ivory Residences is an 18-storey condominium tower with 330 units of various sizes. It boasts of 120 parking units spread over three floors. Among its amenities are a swimming pool, a two-storey clubhouse and an outdoor park that connects the condominium to the third floor of the hotel.

The Obsidian Suites, on the other hand, is a 10-storey business hotel with a roof deck. The hotel will feature 90 rooms ranging from superior, deluxe, junior and executive suites and themed suites.

There will also be different sized meeting rooms as well as two 50-seater function rooms that can convert into a mid-sized ballroom. There will be two restaurant outlets, one on the ground floor and on the roof deck.

Davao Promos: Waterfront Insular Hotel Price-Off Deals

Waterfront Insular Hotel is one of Davao City's oldest hotels but while it has been renovated it still has that old charm that has made it a favorite among those who want to stay in a place far from the hustle and bustle of city life.


Any true-blue Dabawenyo can attest to the luxuries offered by the resort-hotel even before the new high-rises came in. It offers the amenities of a classy hotel and yet it provides you with that perfect countryside atmosphere.


If you want to experience Waterfront Insular Hotel then the best time to do that is now as the hotel offers mind-boggling deals that are true good to be true.


Check this out!

PROMO EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 30, 2017

UNIQLO opens today with a bang, and a bag

UNIQLO, a Japanese brand considered to be one of the hottest retailers in New York, will open its doors to Dabawenyos today. The store conducted a special store tour and buying spree for special guests a day earlier and they did that not only with a bang, but also with a bag.

This denim bag is made of scrap materials from the free alterations offered by UNIQLO for store-bought jeans.

We’re talking about the denim bags made of scrap materials which UNIQLO distributed to its VIP guests earlier. 

“Do you like the bag?,” asked UNIQLO Chief Operations Officer Katsumi Kubota when he saw us fiddling with the bag. According to him, the bag is so special because it is made of scrap materials collected daily as a result of the alterations being offered fo free for store-bought jeans.

The bag is, however, more than just a recycling story. It is actually UNIQLO’s way of empowering a community of women in Calauan, Laguna. The company’s partnership with ABS-CBS Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. paved the way for the Upcycling Project. 

UNIQLO originally just donated used clothing to the foundation but it has innovated later on, from the idea of just giving these womenfolk fish, to teaching them how to fish. Today, UNIQLO donated not only pieces of scrap fabrics to these communities in Laguna, but also sewing machines to allow the women to sew the scraps into fashionable bags. The company then buys the finished products and attaches its world-recognized brand to the denim scrap bags.

Kubota said the Laguna women have made 300 of these denim scrap bags. The target is to come up with 1,000 upcycled denim bags which the company has commissioned to buy.

UNIQLO’s grand opening at SM Lanang Premier will be special since the first 50 customers to line up outside the store will be able to join the meet and greet with Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

UNIQLO is located at the Ground Floor of SM Lanang Premier

GRAND OPENING: May 26

UNIQLO invades Davao

Nothing can stop these people from joining UNIQLO's private opening event at SM Premier in Lanang.

It’s the day after the declaration of martial law. And yet, people flocked to  SM Premier in Lanang to have a taste of what Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO has to offer.

Uniqlo opened its first store in Mindanao at SM Premier, Lanang Wednesday (May 24). However, only the store’s guests were allowed entry and given the opportunity to shop as the official opening to the public would happen on Friday, May 26. This is the brand’s 37th store in Mindanao. It will open its 38th store at SM City Davao Annex at Ecoland on June 2.

Uniqlo started as Men’s Shop Ogori Shoji in Yamaguch Prefecture in 1949.  Uniqlo’s first location opened in Hiroshima in 1984.

“Davao is the largest city in Mindanao and we are thrilled to open our first two stores here,” Uniqlo Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota. But why Mindanao and why Davao? 

UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota gamely answered all the questions thrown his way about the Japanese brand's decision to invest not only in Davao but in Mindanao.

Apparently, the company recognized Mindanao’s economic growth and has high expectations in Mindanao.

This is Uniqlo’s 5th year in the country and they appropriately marked this with a big bang because by August this year, the company will open its 40th store in the Philippines. The company is set to open another store at SM Cagayan de Oro next month and then another store in Subic this year.

Uniqlo’s opening coincided with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. However, the number of people in attendance, including several city councilors and the business sector negated fears that the declaration would have a negative impact in the city’s business climate.

The people behind the successful launch of UNIQLO's first store in Davao, at SM Lanang

Prix Banzon of PNA and Apol Legario, PR Officer of SM Ecoland checking out the latest in fashion at UNIQLO

Moms will definitely have a hard time choosing from the latest clothing style for kids of all ages, only at UNIQLO

Shopping is easy and convenient at UNIQLO

The UNIQLO store at SM Premier in Lanang has changed the shopping landscape in the city

Vina, Shaina In Davao For Opening Of Ystilo Abreeza

Celebrity sisters Vina and Shaina Magdayao, popular nowadays for her role as Camille in the afternoon television series "The Better Half",  were in Davao City Sunday to grace the opening of Ystilo Salon at Abreeza Mall.

This is the 28th company-owned Ystilo Salon in the country and the only one in Mindanao. Vina said there are several more Ystilo Salons in the country under franchise. Shaina, however, hinted there will be another Ystilo Salon in Mindanao soon but they declined to reveal more details as it is still under negotiation.

"The reason why we have grown over the years is because we offer quality services," Vina said.

Fans of the celebrity sisters crowded in front of the Ystilo Salon early so as not to miss their idol. Both Vina and Shaina took some time to accommodate their fans' requests for selfies and group pictures.

No sad stories, only hard work for Ateneo de Davao bar topnotcher

Unlike other Bar topnotchers with sad and emotional stories, Ateneo de Davao University Law School's Justin Ryan D. Morilla, No. 5 in the 2016 Bar Examinations, passed the bar because of sheer hard work.

"I'm just a typical law student who dreamed of becoming a lawyer...not much emotional story for me," said the 25-year old new lawyer who got an 88.4% grade in the bar examinations.

Morilla hails from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and graduated with a BA Political Science degree at the UP Visayas. He now works with the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez, Gatmaitan Law Office in the city.

He said there is no formula for topping the bar but he studied hard during his review, and regularly slept at 11 p.m. after studying most of the day. The most difficult subjects for him during the Bar are Mercantile Law and Criminal Law, while he considers Taxation as relatively easier than the other subjects.

"It is important to have discipline, establish a routine and focus, and leave behind emotional and other baggage behind," he said. During the bar, he added, one should not burden one's self with unnecessary stress. 

ADDU College of Law Assistant Dean Atty. Lydia C. Galas said the Ateneo usually have more than 200 first year enrollees every year. This started right after the impeachment proceedings against  then President Joseph Estrada.

"Since then we have had five sections for the first years every year but this would eventually taper off to 30 students for the fourth year," Ms. Galas said,

Dean Manuel Quibod said the Ateneo Law School has performed well in the last even before this year's Bar Examination result. He attributed this to a good faculty mix and good school facilities.

"It is not important that you have many bright students because while it counts, it is not crucial, there are always late bloomers later on, he said.

Mr. Quibod attributed the increasing number of bar topnotchers from the provinces to the availability and increased access in law school reading materials. Unlike before when they had to scamper to get hold of the SCRA which usually arrives late in Davao City, law students can now easily access the Supreme Court decided cases through the internet.

"The existence of the law school is really built by these two gentlemen who were unattached except to the law," Pre-Bar Review Director Father Agustin L. Nazareno said. He was referring to former Deans Epifanio E. Estrellado and Hildegardo Iñigo. The present Dean, Atty. Quibod, is only the third in the law school in its almost 56 years of existence.

Boiling Crabs & Shrimps now at SM Annex

"It's time to be messy," so says the people behind Blue Post Crabs & Shrimps. So what can food lovers do but follow their lead?

Boiling Crabs & Shrimps launched its third branch in Davao at the SM Annex yesterday where they gave their guests a chance to experience how it is to be truly messy in a classy way.

The restaurant's interiors will make you feel like you are really enjoying your lunch or dinner right next to the seashore. Ambience-wise, this homegrown restaurant will really make your gastronomic adventure well worth it.


So how's the food? Before being thrown into a feast of crabs and shrimps, I was about to ask Anthony Ang, Chief Executive Officer of AA Group of Companies, what makes Boiling Crabs & Shrimps stand out from the rest. The company owners silenced our group by serving us their new concoctions, drowning the questions with nods of approval.

While other restaurants serving crabs just go through the motion of cooking the crabs the traditional way, this restaurant reinvented the crab relegating its competitors in the background.

If you like your crabs boiled with corn and everything nice in it, then order the blue Posts Boiled Crabs. Or you can get the Crabs in Garlic Lemon Sauce.

Better yet, try the Blue Posts Boiled Shrimps and choose from the many extras including corn on the cob, potatoes, pork sausage, Hungarian sausage or plain rice.

But please make mine Crabs in Salted Eggs!