A to Z 2013: Entertainment

For the month of April I will be blogging alphabetically with the theme of Winnipeg versus Davao City. Not to prove a winner but simply to explore the differences and similarities between my home town and my current location.

E is for Entertainment!

Traditional Filipino stick dancing by Tribu K'Mindanawan.

To be fair, we've only been in Davao for 6 months so I don't know the annual schedule of events for the city. Winnipeg has a pretty short summer so it is packed with festivals. Filipinos love to party so there is always something going on here.

Fire Dancers busking on the street in the Exchange District of Winnipeg during the Fringe.

 
Winnipeg is big on festivals. There is the Festival du Voyagure, Master Playwrights Festival, Comedy Festival, Jazz Fest, Folk Fest, Fringe Theatre Festival (my favourite), Folklorama, International Writers Festival... Plus a variety of film festivals and other events just an hour or two outside of the city!

Free stage at the Fringe. Hey Jack and Shelby!

Permanent arts and cultural companies include the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba Museum, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre Centre and tonnes more smaller galleries, theatres and other musical companies. Soon to open is the controversial Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Lots of glass and limestone. Still under construction.

 
Sports... um... We got the Jets back! And there are the Blue Bombers. Oh, and Goldeyes baseball. I'm not into sports but I guess that is a form of entertainment.

In Davao we have yet to discover any form of performing arts of the calibre we were used to in Winnipeg. I think renting a karaoke machine for a party is the replacement!

Davao is a more casual city. Here you can go to the beach or visit a nature park or try out a zorb or climb a currently inactive volcano. We haven't done the last two yet. They are on the list.

Davao does have a few festivals. I missed the Araw ng Dabaw when I was travelling for work. In August will be the big one; Kadayawan Festival. It is a harvest thanksgiving celebration. We got here in October so we're looking forward to checking it out this summer! 

A talent competition. Some little boy, maybe 8 years old, totally killed at an Adele song!

There are also public events held in malls quite often. Most of the newer malls here have large open areas where they can set up a stage and sound system and have performances, fashion shows and competitions. 

I guess even entertainment is that much more social here. In movie theatres people still chat. Oh and you can bring in food! Evan and I had burritos while we watched the latest GI Joe movie.

Shiny new IMAX in Lanang.