PEOPLE’S PARK – DAVAO
Above: People’s Park in Davao
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte piloted the launching of the P 72-M People’s Park (old PTA Ground) in Davao City last December 15, 2007 along with other local officials. The park comprises of a tropical mini-rainforest, a fantasy-themed park where kids can get in for free and gigantic statues and sculptures portraying and symbolizing the aboriginal as well as indigenous tribes in Southern Mindanao.
According to the head of the Park’s project management office – Engr. Elisa Madrazo, she states that the ones mentioned earlier are just some of the elements that make-up Davao city’s four-hectare People’s Park.She affirms that the five interconnected avenues of the park has an estimation of 1,101 types of plants and trees from rainforests coming from countries like the Philippines, Southeast Asia , Australia, New Guinea, South and Central America, and Africa and Madagascar.
It is also in this park wherein you will visualize a life size model of Michelangelo’s David which can be seen in a similar waterfront place where the Queensland Lodge is situated. This is actually the location of a short time motel where lovers and couples can grab a room for a brief period of time – like three ( 3 ) hours tops.
The paint used for the statue is tinted with gold. The statue comes along with a fountain with the purpose of it being its foundation. You can also see a lengthy-narrow 50 meter ornamental design for a more appealing effect, which is found in front of the statue. The common park is privately being taken cared of by the landlord of Queensland Lodge – identified and known as Seawall to the locals near the area.
On weekends, particularly on Saturday nights with an accommodating weather, the entire park is packed with hundreds of people ingesting alcohol and other forms of drinks from the trunks of their vehicles while having David glow brightly in the background.
David, the statue conjured such a huge debate that it soon turned into a controversy leading to condemnation simply because it depicted a naked man near the lodge – stating that it was being used as a marketing tool or strategy to get people to rent the rooms.
Nevertheless, the park still showcases the beauty of nature despite certain issues brought about by certain groups. What is important is that the residence and patriots of the park should practice discipline and be more responsible with their surroundings. Better yet, people who come and visit the park should not only enjoy the scenery but also treat it with respect – as if it was their own property.
