I chanced upon the idea of visiting the "Tamayong Prayer Mountain" when I was searching for places to visit in Davao via Trip Advisor. The beautiful and well manicured landscape hooked my interest. It is as if you are transported to a different place.

Tamayong Prayer Mountain is an eight-hectare of flawlessly landscaped compound located in Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City. Also called as the Garden of Eden Restored, this place is where the executive pastor Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, born and grew up.



Going There
Before planning a trip to and going directly toTamayong Prayer Mountain, please drop by the JMC School to secure your day tour permit. It is just a stone throne away from the airport you would not miss it.

In our case, we arrived at the Davao Airport around 9:30AM and secured our permit for a tour on the same day. There's a minmal fee of Php 125 per person, to be used for planting trees and maintenance of the garden.

The Tamayong Prayer Mountain is located in Calinan, Davao City. It's almost an hour away from the city and more than an hour from the Davao International Airport. It sits at the foot of Mount Apo, and you'll pass by scenic fruit plantations going there.

The place was built based on the belief that mountains have a significant role in God's dealing with mankind. In the old testament, God spoke the 10 commandments to Moses on a mountain.

The whole place is impressive. It's a perfect place to find serenity and a place where you appreciate God. Though a “religious and holy site” for the followers of the “Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name”, the place is open for visitors (reservations required, and a dress code is enforced), and they don’t seem to mind what religion or denomination their visitors come from. It is a place of prayer and worship so aside from proper clothing, a proper attitude must be exerted at all times in reverence to the significance of the place.



Upon arrival, we handed our authorization letter to the security guard. They already know that we were coming and a tour guide was already there waiting to usher us. We forgot to ask for his name. But he was so nice and always smiling.




We were led to a coffee house to watch a short video of what the place is all about and the guidelines we need to follow. We were also entertained by their youth members of a short song number.

The prayer mountain is not open for commercial shoot, prenups and the likes - thus a video camera and professional cameras are restricted.



The place is indeed a very beautiful and relaxing place. It's like Disneyland without the Disney characters and the rides.

The flowers are so beautiful. 60% of the plants and flowers in the entire vicinity were imported from around the world.



​A total of seven trucks of water are consumed everyday in maintaining its landscapes and gardens. Whoah! That's a lot.





Not only that! ​Leaves of pest-prone plants are soaped individually by the gardeners. Each 10-square meter of the sprawling complex has a personnel in-charge. What a spoiled bunch of flowers right there.

MI had the privilege of visiting one of Unesco's World Heritage last June 9. When I got invited to join the first ever BBTF convention in Bali, I knew I had to make a sidetrip to Jogja. God was really gracious and allowed me to book a flight Manila-Jakarta-Yogyakarta-Bali-Manila to just around Php 10,000++ via Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. 

My tour operator in Bali arranged everything for me. When I arrived, I was greeted by my tour guide who speaks English fluently. I kept on telling him, I see him more like a professor or a historian more than being a guide. 

With just two hours sleep, having arrived on a red eye flight in Jakarta and leaving for Jogja aboard the 5:20am flight, we went to our first stop and it's Borubudur. It's about a 2 hours drive from the airport. As much as I want to sleep in the journey, I tried to listen attentively to my guide as he lectured everything about Jogja. I drank my energy drink to keep myself awake. 

The midnight arrival in Jakarta with a connecting flight departure to Yogyakarta at 5am had me booked a room at Pop Airport hotel. I figured, a 2 hour decent sleep in a comfy bed is much needed for a loong day touring Borubudor, Prambanan and Yogyakarta city.

It was a well thought decision I am thankful I did not settle in just sleeping at the airport. 

I booked the room through Agoda using my reward points. It's about Php 1,500+ if I remember it right. 

They offer free airport transfers on a certain schedule only. Since I arrived at midnight, I had to get a taxi to get there. Blue Bird taxi is the most reliable as per my Indonesian tour operator, so that's what I took. It took me around 15 minutes to get to the hotel and I paid IDR 50,000. Hotel check in was smooth and fast. 

As soon as I got to my room, I hurriedly snapped photos for documentation then went to get a 2 hour sleep. 

I arrived at the hotel around 1:30am. Slept and woke up at 3:30am as I need to go back to the airport for my 5:20am flight. I have to take another taxi and paid IDR 50,000 again. The hotel have a stand by airport cars and taxis so no need to worry you'll have a hard time catching for your early morning flight. Everyone was friendly. Some had a hard time talking in English, but they have a ready smile on their face you know they are willing to help despite of the language barrier.

It was a short pleasant stay. I would stay again. :)

Here's the airport shuttle schedule