Not too long ago, I shared my travel escapade about “The Street with 2 Faces”. And if you've read that compelling story, it was essentially all about a famous boulevard situated at the heart of the largest metropolis in the Philippines known as Davao City.
During the day, this major thoroughfare operated as a traffic-flooded highway and pedestrian crossing but once the sun began to set daily, it morphed into a bustling wet and dry bazaar filled with retailed commodities and street food for sale. It's a nationally recognized landmark that has served the public for many generations already.
However, it doesn’t stop there. And here's the fun part.
Did you know that an equally famous urban park is located right next to it?
Well, it's basically a fairly spacious road island that spits Roxas Avenue in half, likewise doubling as a green space. Got the idea? And because Davao City is quite generous with land area, this road island cum urban park adds a distinctive touch to the overall experience of customers, local and foreign visitors alike who happen to pass by this busy neighborhood.
I'm pleased to introduce to you the elegantly dazzling Millennium Park, another of Davao City’s top tourist sites. By the way, there has been recent controversy surrounding the actual name and location for this urban development as this was misunderstood with another piece of real estate called Freedom Park. You can also read my personal experience about it here.
Nevertheless, all pending issues about this confusion have already been cleared due to the proper installation of its official signboard showing the designated name of our featured environment.
Strangely, there was also one amazing surprise that Millennium Park was hiding. And I'll tell you about it at the end of this post.
Moving forward, if you stood inside the boundaries of the Millennium Park, you'll immediately discover that the Roxas Night Market was just a few steps away, right after the street curb. Pretty close, isn't it?
In fact, I’ve also observed that several customers of the adjacent marketplace crossed over to the bordering park to enjoy their purchased food. This usually happens when the allocated seating areas for the food stalls become fully occupied to its maximum capacity during certain times.
And with Millennium Park’s natural ambiance - thanks to the physical presence of plants, shrubs, and trees, the dining experience couldn't be much better. Add to that the relaxing air of romanticism provided by the overhead light bulbs and lantern systems that radiated a warm glow.
Moreover, there were also complementary decorative and functional elements that enhanced the park's architectural aesthetics. They were water features like mini fountains, freestanding sculptures, and ample benches for park visitors.
The entire park was obviously well illuminated due to the abundance of street lights, also contributing to its immensely joyful atmosphere. People from all walks of life but most especially kids and the younger generations were present to enjoy the available amenities.
And with today's highly technological lifestyle, there were others who simply hung out inside this gorgeous park while tinkering with their smartphones and other electronic gadgets.
Most importantly, of all the park features I've encountered during this particular visit, I was never expecting to have stumbled upon this interesting revelation. You see, I assumed that this green environment was constructed to pay tribute to a Philippine public figure, but I was mistaken.
It turned out that the Millennium Park was primarily built to honor a distinguished personality from the country of Indonesia. You weren't expecting that, were you?
This Indonesian hero’s name was Sam Ratulangi. And if you're curious to learn more as to why he ended up as a monumental statue here, this article has some eye-opening answers.
Millennium Park is definitely a green space that won't disappoint you. And if you happen to explore Davao City’s touristic jewels, include this fabulous attraction to your travel bucket list. Who knows, you might unveil a new discovery?
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