If there is a place in Davao that I like to talk about, it’s the Mergrande Beach Resort. Mergrande (from two French word ocean and big) boasts of the grandeur of its ocean that enhances nature’s beauty. This place may be common to others but for me, it is the place where one can achieve peace of mind. Mergrande is not the expensive type of accommodation that only rich people can afford. It is also one of the only three out of twelve local beach resorts that passed the city’s water quality standards for coastal waters. Walking past the resort’s main entrance door, you will see a playground with castles, seesaws, merry-go-round, etc; a basketball court and a tennis court on your right side, then a function hall on your other side. Along the way, you will also see an 18-hole golf course, a billiards table, a dart table, and a mini bridge over a stream filled with carps. You will see the view of the sea while feeling its cool breeze and the mirror clear swimming pool. At the center of the place is a mini canteen and a restaurant where you can hang around with you family and friends. Different cottages: air-conditioned cottages, pirate air-conditioned cottages, and fisherman non-air-conditioned cottages are offered. The resort also has a dormitory for ninety persons. Take a break at Mergrande. It is only twenty minutes from the city proper.
I can still remember the first time when our family went to the Mergrande. I was only 13 years old back then. While on our way to the beach, we got lost. I remember seeing a narrow path with lots of trees that took us twenty minutes before getting back on track. After we arrived, my sisters and I rushed to our cottage and looked at the view of the sea. I didn’t quite understand the smell of the beach. Somehow it smelled like mixed salt with grilled seafoods. Our parents told us that we should dress up and get ready to swim. We wore our swimsuits fast even though we knew that we were going to take a swim in the sea where there were lots of people. That’s how kids are, not minding what other people will think because all they want to do is to have fun. Not like teenagers or adults who are too conscious of other people’s impression—if they look fat, slim or glamorous after a dip. Before diving into the sea, it took me about five seconds wondering how many pails of water are in the sea, and then I walked slowly towards the sea. Little by little, I felt the ice-cold water engulf my body but after a second or two, my body temperature adjusted. After an hour and a half, my day at the beach ended with me feeling like pollen in the sky—free from worries.
I can still remember the first time when our family went to the Mergrande. I was only 13 years old back then. While on our way to the beach, we got lost. I remember seeing a narrow path with lots of trees that took us twenty minutes before getting back on track. After we arrived, my sisters and I rushed to our cottage and looked at the view of the sea. I didn’t quite understand the smell of the beach. Somehow it smelled like mixed salt with grilled seafoods. Our parents told us that we should dress up and get ready to swim. We wore our swimsuits fast even though we knew that we were going to take a swim in the sea where there were lots of people. That’s how kids are, not minding what other people will think because all they want to do is to have fun. Not like teenagers or adults who are too conscious of other people’s impression—if they look fat, slim or glamorous after a dip. Before diving into the sea, it took me about five seconds wondering how many pails of water are in the sea, and then I walked slowly towards the sea. Little by little, I felt the ice-cold water engulf my body but after a second or two, my body temperature adjusted. After an hour and a half, my day at the beach ended with me feeling like pollen in the sky—free from worries.
Maria Theresa N. Magdolot
