Blue waves gently crash, caressing
pearly white sands. Like a mirage,
friendly faces form a collage
a still backdrop worth addressing.

The striking of the gong, its sounds
imbedded in the heart, it grows
more brilliant than before. It flows
to tease and chase the mind it hounds.

Voices from the past all merging
into one cohesive loud chant
reminder of an ancient cant
dreams of Daba-daba, urging.

yldara/m.stanphill 2007

*Daba-daba is an ancient Bagobo (a Philippine tribe) word meaning fire.
Fire was often used in rituals by the various tribes in these islands. It
is thought by quite a few local historians that the name Davao was
probably derived from the word Daba-daba. Early Jesuit priests writings
referred to the area of Davao as the region of flames. Daba-daba is also
thought to refer to the Sacred Brass of Datu Duli, a legendary Bagobo Chieftain.