Harana Restaurant, Davao City

You've never been to Davao City if you haven't dined at Harana in Torres Street.

This restaurant has been in existence for the longest time. As kids, my brother and I loved going there not so much for the food but more for the huge playground. As we grew older, we learned to appreciate how good their food tastes. Whenever I would go home to Davao during holidays, my friends and I would have mini-reunions at Harana and we'd never fail to order their Spareribs. This past Christmas, I honestly didn't want to leave Davao anymore after tasting (for the nth time in my life) their Inihaw na Panga (grilled tuna jaw) and Kinilaw (raw tuna salad).

It disappointed me though that they turned our beloved playground into a parking lot. I should have taken lots of photos of the old Harana to show my kids someday. Now they have a rubber-floored play area with newer "toys". I have a lot of memories in their playground; including an embarassing stint in a singing contest during one of Papa's company Christmas parties.

Harana is, and will always be, part of every Davaeno's heart. I know this because it will always be in mine.