MABUHAY MADAYAW!
Visiting abandoned buildings or places used by Japanese soldiers during WWII is one of the most dangerous adventures anyone can undertake. These locations might have venomous snakes, stinging insects, aggressive feral animals, ghosts, evil spirits, unexploded ordnance, artillery shells, and booby traps, or they might even serve as hideouts for modern-day serial k*llers and most-wanted criminals.
I didn't waste any time and immediately went to see the abandoned Daratex Furukawa Plantation building, located just behind the Davao Taboan Food Terminal Complex in Daliao, Toril. When I arrived, I saw the first section of the abandoned structure, which was overgrown with ipil-ipil, cogon grass, and wrapping vines.
The property was originally owned by Capt. James L. Burchfield, the first American planter and a retired U.S. Army officer, who later sold it to Japanese investor Yoshizo Furukawa in the late 1910s.
The abandoned building once served as an abaca storage warehouse and industrial facility.
The surroundings were dead silent save for the distant voices of local children and the occasional barking of a few dogs.
The structures in the middle were still incredibly strong, even though several decades had passed. Although the roof was entirely gone, the concrete foundation remained sturdy, featuring round holes and exposed steel bars. Nearby, I spotted three long concrete tubs that I assumed local residents used for storing organic fertilizer. Just in front of these tubs was a structure with an unknown interior. When I raised my camera to check inside, I confirmed it was completely empty. Ironically, The secluded space looked like a spot where lovers might sneak away for an intimate date.
RED PLANET HOTEL DAVAO
The place was deeply unsettling. The dense cogon grass made me worry a king cobra might suddenly strike. Some structures were completely overtaken by balete trees, adding to the eerie vibe. I also noticed that some residents apparently used the place as a restroom, as I spotted dry feces (tubol) in almost every corner. When I entered the section near the acacia trees, I discovered bullet marks scarred into the walls, as physical remnants of intense combat, aerial strafing, and close-quarters fighting during WWII.
This specific building housed offices, a cashier's booth, a conference room, and storage vaults for gold bars, currency, food, and hemp products used by Japanese forces. Today, some locals plant vegetables inside the ruins to feed themselves and survive during food crises.
Interestingly, while reviewing my four-minute video later on, I noticed the sound of someone whispering ("psst'') to me. In contrast, I didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary while I was actually at the site.
Is it the restless spirits of wartime victims?
If you are easily frightened, you should definitely not visit this highly dangerous, abandoned place, especially at night. Word has it that this property has now been sold to a public official.
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