Pasalubong is a Filipino term referring to gifts or souvenirs brought home for family and friends after a trip, often as a token of thoughtfulness and sharing.
Davao is home to the unique durian fruit, which is famously found in the region. Often compared to jackfruit, durian stands out for its strong aroma and rich, creamy flesh. When visiting Davao, it’s common for people to bring home durian products such as candies, tarts, and spreads.
If you’re not a fan of durian, there are plenty of other great pasalubong options to choose from. Since Davao is my mother’s hometown, I’ve had the chance to visit several times, and these are some of the items I usually bring home—along with a few recommendations from my cousins who live there.
Here’s the list:
Malagos Davao Chocolate
Davao is the chocolate capital of the Philippines so it is a-must to try one! One popular brand is Malagos Davao Chocolates. It is known from it’s tree-to-bar creation. Tree-to-Bar is a chocolate-making process where the company controls every step of production, starting from growing the cacao trees (tree) all the way to making the finished chocolate bar (bar).
They won 56 international awards of this writing so this should be definitely a pasalubong!
I bought 65% Dark Chocolate Mini Bar (₱85) and the 72% Dark Chocolate Mini Bar (₱90). 65% is milder and sweeter, while 72% is richer and less sweet, with a stronger cocoa punch. You should choose the 65% mini bar if you’re giving it to kids. I forgot to take photos of these individually so please refer to the Pomelo section of this post below.
I also bought their tablea for ₱350.
Where Can You Buy Malagos Davao Chocolate
- Malagos Garden Resort & Chocolate Museum – Located in Barangay Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City—this is where their farm, factory (Malagos Cacao Development Center), and Philippines’ first Chocolate Museum are all situated.
- Head Office (Puentespina Compound) – Bolcan Street, Agdao, Davao City — this is the main corporate office.
- Satellite Office (Quezon City) – Cedar Hills Garden Center, Mother Ignacia St., Brgy Paligsahan, Quezon City.
- Malagos Homegrown Café in Matina Aplaya, Davao City — sells signature chocolates, mini bars (65%, 72%, 85%), gift boxes, truffles, etc. (this is where we went)
- Kiosk locations at major malls like SM Lanang and Abreeza Mall in Davao City — convenient for pasalubong shopping.
- Puentespina Family Warehouse Store (Cabaguio area, near Assumption College Davao) — offers full range of chocolate products, including baking and specialty items.
- Other retail stores like Cacao Culture at Poblacion Market Central offer selections of Malagos along with other local chocolates.
Also read: Eden Nature Park Davao
Apo ni Lola
Lola Abon’s is one of Davao’s most iconic and oldest pasalubong brands, renowned for its wide variety of durian-based delicacies. It was established in the 1950s by Abondia “Lola Abon” del Puerto Raakin. Later, her grandson, Arnel “Jojo” Raakin, continued the legacy by founding “Apo ni Lola” in 1993.
I bought Durian Buko Pandan Yema (₱50) and Yema Langka Spread (₱200+) during my visit. The Durian Spread was out of stock, so I bought the Yema Langka Spread instead. My mother bought Mangosteen Candy Sticks (₱42) and Hopia (₱100+).
Lola Abon vs Apo ni Lola
- Lola Abon’s – Focuses on traditional recipes, preserving the original taste of durian pastillas and yema.
- Apo ni Lola – Known for innovative varieties and modern packaging. They now offer over 70 types of durian delicacies, including tarts, bars, and jams.
- Lola Abon’s – A quaint, old-school pasalubong store.
- Apo ni Lola – A large, modern three-story flagship store in Matina, designed to be a tourist destination itself.
Also read: Jardin de Señorita Mountain Resort, Kapatagan, Davao
Salbaro
Salbaro or salvaro is a thin, flat circle that is very crunchy, it shatters with each bite. Often sweetened with caramel or latik. Known for a light cassava flavor and modest sweetness.
I bought this one, if I remember it right, for P30-P50 at a tourist spot near Mount Apo in Kapatagan trail.
Pomelo
Davao is home to vast pomelo farms, particularly in areas like Calinan, Tugbok, and Toril. The soil in Davao, especially around Mount Apo, is rich in minerals due to its volcanic origin.
There are popular farm and brands in Davao such as Nenita’s and Mely’s. If you wanted to buy cheap ones and knows how to look the best pomelo, you can buy in the market. Remember that a peeled pomelo is better if you are traveling via plane so it won’t add much weight to your luggages at check-in.
If you wanted your pasalubong much presentable, you can buy pomelo that’s in a box. This kind of box. While we were boarding, we witnessed a heated argument between a passenger with a 4- or 5-year-old child and a flight attendant. The flight attendant stated that only one box of pomelo is allowed per person as hand-carry luggage. The woman argued that since she had a child with her, she should be allowed to bring two boxes. So the argument ended.
Conclusion
There you have it! There are other pasalubong items in the wet market that are more affordable, so you can check those out, too. The candies and tarts in the picture above were bought from the wet market.
