Over the weekend we have been treated to various walks that seem to mirror various facets of life among Davao City’s almost two million residents.

For one the various new townships across the city have become favorite haunts of walkers and runners seeking regular exercise and those who seek clean fun under an evening sky.

The Davao Global Township in Matina hosts what I estimate to be thousands of such runners and walkers almost every evening. Often you will encounter those practicing dance steps, enjoying coffee at the back of their pickup trucks. There is often a covered open dining area featuring various food providers catering to those visiting the township.

The people's park in the city center, run by the city government also boasts a walking and jogging path that crosses different attractions and is dotted with artworks that symbolize the diverse culture of the city and its people. It is also where one can access the newly built national museum. Nearby you will find the new Davao Public library and the regular night market.

The Azuela Cove development at the north of the city also has a new high street with restaurants, while its roads serve as a late afternoon and evening jogging and walking venue for those who live near the area, transitioning into a lifestyle nightlife venue as the evening wears on.

I believe these venues that gather runners and walkers cements Davao's beauty as a place where such tree lined spaces are enjoyed not by an elite few, but by the many. Entire families from various walks of life enjoy these spaces, part of a way of life they swear to defend, and unabashedly promote.

Walking is also their way of peaceful expression. The “penitential walk” called by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Davao last Saturday Oct. 25 drew 10,000 according to official estimates converging near San Pedro Square fronting the famous Cathedral and iconic city was a prayerful candlelit dawn procession culminating in a holy mass.

On Oct. 26, simultaneous with other major cities all over the world, a “global walk” was also organized by Catholic group Couples for Christ in Davao City to raise funds for scholarships. The global turnout was an inspiring display of love and service.

These walking activities show us a kaleidoscope of life and how it has evolved in Mindanao’s premiere city, pointing a direction into the future where diverse groups walk together to face challenges and build opportunities.

At the recent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, we welcomed ASEANs 11th member state Timor Leste into the regional bloc, with the hope that their entry will bring a higher level of regional cooperation and prompt deeper levels of economic engagement. A good supplier of high-grade coffee and other commodities, the 1.3 million population of Timor Leste brings even greater diversity into the 11 member bloc, and great hopes for a shared future.

Perhaps no other homegrown Mindanao product has achieved global acclaim as Iligan's Suka Pinakurat. It has become a staple condiment dip on many Filipino, and, I dare say, foreign dining tables. The use of coconut vinegar elevates the vinegar dip as a food experience, placing a distinct Filipino flavor profile on any grilled dish, similar to the way Texas barbecue sauce or Japanese sauces do for grilled items. As Filipino cuisine captures a wider global audience, we foresee Pinakurat taking a more prominent role in elevating Filipino cuisine. We look forward to more years of flavor!