Major Disappointment

Director Bryan Singer crafts the Jack the Giant Slayer as an attempt to ignite the imagination of its audience. But instead of achieving its purpose, the movie is close to becoming a major disappointment due to its poor reinvention and reimagination of the highly-revered fairytale.

Inspired by the English folk tale about a boy named Jack who discovers a magic beanstalk that leads to the dominion of evil giants, the film includes scenes of a duel that resemble outtakes from one of the “Lord of the Rings” films, but not as exciting as the latter. There’s the usual fairytale element of love, of betrayal, of revenge and triumph—formulas that if not properly put in place leads to disenchantment.

I walked out in the cinema thinking that the movie could have been better.  In general, the film lacks the thrill and excitement expected of an adventure film. There are few scenes that kept the barometer of excitement on a free swing, but were only short-lived. Jack and the Giant Slayer is another formulaic movie that failed to awaken among its audience the illusory pleasures of fictional lives unraveling like a memory. The nature of its narrative is truly a disjointed projection of a man’s dreamscape in all its nutty and confounding glory.

Tagum's Nature's Delight

Imagine yourself immersed in a sea of green, where the air is soothing as the morning calm and where birds sing to their heart’s content. The chirping of the birds welcomes as you walk through the well-manicured foliage and embrace the open blue sky.

You might think of Baguio or Tagaytay or even the Eden Park of Davao or the mighty hills of Bukidnon to experience this kind of thrill. The thing is, you don’t really have to because right at the outskirts of Tagum City lies a perfect getaway for those who want to commune with nature.

Located in the rural barangay of San Agustin, just a mere 15-minute ride from the city proper, is the Tagum Botanical Park. Solely developed by the City Government of Tagum, the 50-hectare park is brimming with lush greeneries, with tropical trees of different varieties planted in its hills. The sprawling park has several gazebos perfect for family picnics and gathering and will soon feature a zipline and trails for both biking and hiking. The Tagum Botanical Park is good alternative to the well-known and well-loved Energy Park, another city-developed nature park in Barangay Apokon.

DavNor Sports and Cultural Center

The Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center just opened its doors to the public Monday in time for the opening of the Davao Region Athletic Association Meet, a springboard event for hopefuls vying to compete in Palarong Pambansa. Located just across the provincial government of Davao del Norte in the capital city of Tagum, the DavNor Sports and Cultural Center is the first of its kind in Davao Region, featuring world-class facilities that are at par with the standards set by modern sports stadiums.

The all-weather, eight-lane rubberized oval track in the sprawling DavNor Sports and Cultural Center in Mankilam, Tagum City.

2013 Musikahan sa Tagum Experience

As what our eye bags would tell, it was truly a hell of a week. But make no mistake: Though it was physically and mentally demanding, the 12th Musikahan sa Tagum Festival is one that is worth cherishing for a lifetime. This is my second Musikahan with the City Information Office (the other one was when I was a volunteer, editing a daily gazette for the 3rd International Rondalla Festival) and the feeling of having a front-row seat to document a festival, with all its grandeur and spectacle, is but an enriching experience.

For five days, Tagum City transformed into a grand stage for music with its finest music festival that kicked off Mindanao's cultural calendar. Now on its 12th year, the Musikahan sa Tagum Festival is a bold testament  to Tagum City's moniker as the "Music City of the South." And why not? Throughout the celebration, Tagumeños and people from other places in Davao Region were charmed by the magic of music in all genres, making Musikahan an all-inclusive and longest-running Music Festival in the Philippines. 

The New City Hall of Tagum serves as a good backdrop during the Avenida Musika National Marching Brass Band Competition. 
Photo by Louie Lapat

Alma L. Uy, chairperson of the City of Tagum Tourism Council, said in her speech that Musikahan has branded itself as "a festival that connects people." True enough, especially this year when Musikahan elevated its mettle in music by utilizing it as a powerful tool to reach out and help. This year's Musikahan introduced its Cultural Action Project that is anchored on extending long-term assistance to the victims of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley. After that fateful day on December 4, 2012, organizers scrapped their laid-out plans to make way for programs pursued in the context of staging a creative and meaningful ways to help, thereby changing the landscape of this year's music revelries.