C5 Dormitel (Jawz’s Experience)

Sep 12, 2010 by Jawz

Ever since December the 28th, 2009, which was the day after I came to Davao City, I had been staying in a dorm called C5 Dormitel. Recently though, I have switched dorms 'cause I needed a cheaper place to stay. Since I've had an 8 month experience in C5 Dormitel, I have decided to write about it.

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~Location of C5 Dormitel~

C5 Dormitel is a dormitel (dorm/hotel) located on Roxas Avenue, between the back of Holy Child School of Davao's gym and Chippen's Buffet (which had recently moved from in front of C5 Dormitel, to beside C5 Dormitel). It is just a walk away from the Aldevinco Shopping Center, the Marco Polo Hotel, City Triangle, Christ For All Nations Cathedral, Chicco di Cafe, and the Ateneo de Davao University. Being in the inner-city, C5 Dormitel is also only a short ride away from 2 of Davao City's malls and 2 nearby places to study; Gaisano Mall, Gaisano South Citimall (JS-Mall), the University of the Immaculate Conception (Bonifacio Branch), and San Pedro College.

~My Experience at C5 Dormitel~

As I have mentioned in my 'First Days' blog post, me, my mom, and my mom's boyfriend went and stayed at C5 Dormitel the day after our stay at the Marco Polo Hotel. I already had a room at C5 Dormitel awaiting me, since my dad, in mid-December, sent money to my girlfriend's mom to reserve me a room. The only room left at the time was a room with no hot water shower, only cold water. I adapted to that shortly after I arrived. After my mom and her boyfriend left a couple of days later, I continued staying there. Over the months, I made a few friends there. Even one day, one of my online friends happened to move  into one of the rooms on my floor. That was cool.

I never had major trouble in C5 Dormitel, or anything I disliked about the place. The only problem I ever had there, was the fact that my room's window was right above the Holy Child School of Davao's gym. Everyday I'd wake up to the sound of kids chattering outside of my window, only to be silenced by a lady on a microphone. At times, music would play. During the night, some kids would play basketball. Honestly, these weren't the things that bothered me. What bothered me was when there were big events.  It'd be too loud for me to talk on the phone or concentrate on reading. Maybe it was a problem to me since I wasn't raised in a city. Haha.

Holy Child School of Davao's Gym that was Outside of my Window

Some of the main things I liked about C5 Dormitel is that it is in the inner-city, and it's very near Ateneo de Davao University, which means there are many nearby places to eat with student meal prices (low prices). I also could walk to Gaisano Mall from there, though some might would consider it a long walk. Inside the dormitel, I liked how there was free wireless internet, and the fact that I had a private comfort room (bathroom) inside of my room. When my mom was staying in Davao City for a few days, she liked that the dorm had a guard, as well as security cameras.

~Inside C5 Dormitel~

The inside of C5 Dormitel is really nice, compared to most dorms I've looked at within this city. In the lobby of the first floor, there is the main desk, and a couch to sit at with a shelf of magazines to the side. A water fountain is nearby too. The 2nd floor lobby is the place where guests can sit at. It has 2 cushioned couches, 1 leather couch, and a coffee table. The 3rd floor, where my room was, had a lobby with two cushioned chairs around a miniature table, a leather couch, a coffee table, and a television.

Inside my room were two beds, a night stand between the beds, two connected wardrobes (hangers were provided), a television (that had cable), and an air conditioner. Besides the furniture, there was the television's remote, a glass cup with a coaster, a thermal pitcher, a telephone, a trashcan, and a floor mat outside of the comfort room. The comfort room (bathroom/restroom) had a sink, mirror, toilet, and a shower with a shower curtain.

Inside of my Room

Outside of the dorm/hotel part of C5 Dormitel, there are several other places in the building. To the left of the dormitel's entrance is the entrance to Tita Annies. To the right of the dormitel's entrance is the laundry place where I usually took my clothes to get washed. To the right of the laundry place was an office called Travel Best Guide, a travel agency. To the right of Travel Best Guide is an entrance to a hall. Inside the hall there is a shop called Chic Avenue. I know it sells many purses. To the left of Chic Avenue, I think there is a comfort room around the corner. To the right of Chic Avenue is a small kitchen-like room. I don't know if it's still opened anymore, but I used to eat there sometimes when I first stayed in C5 Dormitel. To the right of the kitchen is a door to some office. Honestly , I have no clue what is in there. In front of it is an exit out of that side of the building. Around the corner to the far right of the exit is a place called Bro's Brew. I've eaten there a few times, and made friends with one of the dudes who works there. They serve sandwiches, coffee, and Filipino food.

~Rates of C5 Dormitel~

For me, since I stayed in a room by myself, I had to pay extra. My electric bill and water bill were separate from my bill for rent. Concerning my electric bill, the appliances that I mainly used most of the time were my air conditioner, laptop, refrigerator, and phone charger. I never really did use my television, though I did switch it on one or two times before. Here are the prices I had to pay for my rent, electricity, and water:

Rent: 10,000 pesos a month (I paid extra for a room to myself).

Electricity: about 1,500-2,500 pesos a month (Average cost per kilowatt hour was 8.25 pesos. My average kilowatt hours used was around 190-315).

Water: about 104-190 pesos a month (Average cost per cubic meter was 29.03 pesos, later 35 pesos as of June. My average cubic meters used was around 4-7).

~Changes to C5 Dormitel~

When I had first come to Davao City, C5 Dormitel looked a bit different than it looks now. Since it was just after Christmas, they had Christmas lights and decorations strung up around the place. A couple of weeks later, those were taken down.

C5 Dormitel with Christmas Decorations Up at Night

Not only were the Christmas decorations on C5 Dormitel being taken down, but a few weeks later, some buisness (packaging, I think), within the C5 Dormitel building, moved out, as well as a small cafe near the entrance. There were many dark green parasol-like structures scattered outside of the cafe and dormitel, accompanied by tables, chairs, and railings around the tables. Those too were taken down, since they were there for the cafe.

C5 Dormitel Originally when I Came (with Christmas decorations), and C5 Dormitel when Everything was Cleared Away (Before Tita Annie's Came)

There was a large clear space in the front of C5 Dormitel after all of those things were cleared away. After a long period of time, the space was finally filled in. The restaurant, Tita Annie's, moved into the place where the cafe used to be. New tables and chairs were moved into the empty space outside, in front of C5 Dormitel, as well a new sheltering, a buffet table, Tita Annie's sign, and a small stage for acoustic bands to play. Near the laundry place, a room was made for an office of main workers of Tita Annie's. When Tita Annie's first opened, I remember that me, and the others staying in C5 Dormitel, got to eat a free buffet supper from there.

The Night Tita Annie's Opened at C5 Dormitel, and a Man Performing Music that Night

Recently, the first floor lobby was changed around. There used to be a couch and nice looking table that sat out there. Now it has been replaced by a nice leather couch. Also, there was an attorney's office that was being taken down. This was the place I mentioned in my 'Ateneo de Davao Enrollment Attempt (Part 3)' blog post, where I had gotten my Student Visa request letter notarized. It was being taken down the day I moved out of C5 Dormitel, on August the 30th, 2010.

~Photos of C5 Dormitel~

I have provided many photos of C5 Dormitel in the Davao City Living PhotoBlog. CLICK HERE to see the 'C5 Dormitel PHOTOS' blog post.

~Informational Websites on C5 Dormitel~

You can click the links to these websites for more information on C5 Dormitel:

• C5 Dormitel's Multiply Page
• C5 Dormitel's Friendster Page
• C5 Dormitel's Facebook Page