Thursday, January 30, 2014
Dumaguete, the City of Gentle People
Dahil may Piso Fare ang Cebu Pacific, I tried to find any Philippine destination that I haven't been to... Aside from Bacolod, Surigao, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Tacloban, Tawi Tawi and Dipolog City destinations, Dumaguete City is also on my bucket list. I hope may mag sponsor naman ng plane ticket, libre blog po, hahaha =)
We got out tickets at Php 1,161/person roundtrip inclusive of terminal fee from Manila to Dumaguete. Okay na di ba? Before traveling, do some research on which interesting places are close to your destination. And by touring Dumaguete... Siquijor and Oslob in Cebu can easily be reached just by one ferry ride. We toured these places by just spending Php3,500 each good for 4 nights and 5 days, with Siquijor and swimming with the whale sharks adventure. Impossible? It's possible pag sumama ka sa amin, hehehe =)
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| Arrived so early at terminal 3 |
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| while waiting ... |
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| boarding finally... |
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| and... our flight was cancelled because of zero visibility in Dumaguete!!! ameyzing!!! |
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| overnight sa terminal 3 |
Thinking if we will be sleeping for a night at a friend's house or will just stay at the airport.... Hmmmmm... food overload na lang tapos matulog sa airport, okay na.... Sa bundok nga sa lupa lang natutulog tapos may limatik pa... Okay na dito, centralized aircon, with CR, with unlimited drinking water at katabi lang ng 7-11, okay na =)
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| Finally arrived in Dumaguete =) |
The City of Dumaguete is a city in the Philippine province of Negros Oriental. It is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city in the province. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 120,883 people. The city is nicknamed The City of Gentle People.
Dumaguete is referred to as a university town
because of the presence of four universities and a number of other
colleges where students of the province converge to enroll for tertiary
education. The city is also a popular educational destination for
students of surrounding provinces and cities in Visayas and Mindanao. The city is best known for Silliman University, the country's first Protestant university and the first American university in Asia. There are also 12 elementary schools and 9 high schools. The city's student population is estimated at 30,000.
The city attracts a considerable number of foreign tourists, particularly Europeans, because of easy ferry access from Cebu City, the availability of beach resorts and dive sites, and the attraction of dolphin and whale watching in nearby Bais City.
The power source of the city comes from the geothermal power plant in
Palinpinon, Valencia. The city has redundant fiber optic lines and is a
focal point for telecommunications. It is the landing point for fiber
optic cables linking it to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, the
cities south of Luzon, as well as to other major cities in southern Philippines.
(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumaguete_City)
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| inside Silliman University |
Dumaguete has earned the distinction of being known as "The center of
learning in the South," or a "University town" due to the presence of
universities that have made their mark nationally and abroad. The city
is a melting pot of students, professionals, artists, scholars and the
literati coming from different parts of the country and the world.
Silliman University is the dominant institution of higher learning in Dumaguete, providing the city with a distinct university town atmosphere. It is the first Protestant university in the country and the first American university in Asia. The 610,000 m² campus is adjacent to and intermixed with the city's downtown district.
It is ranked among the top 150 universities in Asia in International
Students' Review by the QS Quacquarelli Symonds, an institution that
ranks the world's top universities.
Some of its buildings have likewise been recognized as landmarks. These
buildings include the Silliman Hall, Katipunan Hall, the Luce
Auditorium, and the Silliman Main Library (considered as one of the
biggest libraries in the Philippines)
Other universities located in the city are Foundation University,
a private non-sectarian university, it does not only offer college
education but it also offers kindergarten, grade school, and high school
education. Negros Oriental State University (or NORSU, with two main campuses: NORSU main 1 and 2), and St. Paul University Dumaguete
(1904), which is the first Saint Paul educational institution to be
established in the Philippines by the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres
(SPC) from France.SPUD is known for academic courses like Nursing ,
Tourism, HRM ,History and Mass Communication. With the exception of NORSU, these universities also have grade schools and high schools.
(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumaguete_City)
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| I Love Dumaguete City |
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| eateries at Rizal Boulevard selling tempura and balut |
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| tasty tempura sold at 4pesos each at Rizal Boulevard |
Before coming to Dumaguete I was often-told that I really have to try the Sans Rival of Dumaguete. We really looked for the store. It is exactly located at No. 3 San Jose Street in Dumaguete City. The store is near the city's Rizal Boulevard. True enough it's really delicious and it's not nakakasawa. The sweetness is just right and the mixture of chopped nuts and butter is so irrisistible. Ang sarapppppp!!! I love it!!!
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| the city |
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| entering Silliman University |
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| in front of Silliman University |
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| Harold's Mansion popular to backpackers |
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| We also found this in front of our rented place, BONELESS lechon sold at Php440 per kilo |
What we discovered in Dumaguete that nobody told us about is the NEVA's Pizza, Pasta atbp food store... They are famous for their "kuripot" pizzas. I asked what's the difference between the special and the kuripot pizzas. Kuya said that they are using mozzarella cheese for the special pizza and using cheddar cheese for "kuripot" pizzas. Pero yung kuripot pizza pa lang sobra na sa sarap!!! Ano pa kaya yung lasa ng special. The dough is yummier than the commercialized and known pizzas, it is still delicious even if it is already cold.
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| other meals sold at NEVA's |
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| our fav fish fillet at Neva's |
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| Pizza cooked inside the pugon.... Hmmmm kaya masarap yung dough |
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| the super yummy kuripot pizza sold starting at Php93 |
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| di na inabot sa lamesa, attack na agad!!! |
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| a peek at the Christmas House |
The Christmas House is a one-of-a-kind legacy
initiated by Dr. Rico Absin, an anesthesiologist in the city. For the
past 18 years, visiting the Christmas House has become a tradition for
all Dumagueteños.
Each year for the past 18 years all the
young and the young-at-heart flock to the bedecked Spanish mansion of
one Dr. Rico Absin, a practicing anesthesiologist in his early 50s, who
has successfully created an institution out of a genuine passion for art
and decoration.
True to its name, Dumaguete is really a place of gentle people. No wonder there are more foreign tourists here than in any other places in the Philippines. It is also a place where we really enjoyed eating...delicious yet affordable foods. There are also a lot of nearby places to explore. If time allowed we can also explore Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, only 3 hours ferry ride from Dumaguete, Bacolod and Bohol. Time only allowed us to explore 3 provinces in just one tour. Hope to be back here soon because we were not able to swim in Apo Island, one of the top 10 dive sites in the world!!!
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| inside Dumaguete airport |
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| ending our 6 days vacation =) |
Check my previous blog for cheaper room accommodations at http://www.bantogbackpackers.blogspot.com/2014/01/pamela-pension-house-in-dumaguete.html
Pamela Pension House in Dumaguete
While we were in Dumaguete, we stayed at Pamela's Pension House located at Brgy. Tubod. From Sibulan Airport, we just flagged a trike going to Tubod and paid Php15/person.
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| kulitan sa Pamela =) |
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| kulitan moments while taking a rest =) |
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| our room for 4 nights, with 4 single beds, AC with T & B and TV at Php1,000/night |
The most popular place for backpackers is the Harold Mansion, near Pamela's Pension House. It's exact location is at 205 Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City. Mobile Nos. 0921-6533699 and 0917-3024455. They are offering tour packages such as Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo-Dauin tour for 3 days and 2 nights inclusive of room accommodations. The package is worth Php10,000 and includes 8 dives with full board, lunch and dinner, mineral water, coffee and tea all day; inclusive of gears, tanks, dive master, boat and transfers (night dives are optional). The package must be in a minimum of 5 guests and maximum of 5 guests.
They are also offering trekking tours at Php800/person for Twin Lakes and Casaroro Falls. Php500/person - Twin Lakes only, Php300/person - Casaroro Falls, Php600/4pax - Mount Talinis.
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| Harold's Mansion is popular to backpackers |
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| Harold Mansion's diving packages |
Other places to stay in Negros Oriental
Cheap accommodations in Dumaguete City
Dumaguete Hotels
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Mystical and Enchanting Siquijor
It is our second day of our Dumaguete-Siquijor-Cebu trip. And on top of our list is to tour the mystical Siquijor. It is not yet boarding so my kids enjoyed the playground area of the ferry terminal.
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| while daddy's waiting... |
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| boarding... |
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| our smooth sailing ride |
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| waiting for dolphins to fly =) |
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| awww!!! so gwapo! (photographed by baby James) |
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| they're just so cute... hope you'll always be my babies =) |
I noticed that they are only few locals traveling from Dumaguete to Siquijor... there are more foreign tourists. When we were in Dumaguete and asking for directions on how to get to the port going to Siquijor, they were asking why are we going there and if we have relatives living in the province. We said that we wanted to see how beautiful the province is and that I've searched that Siquijor has the best beaches in the country. If you haven't seen the early days of Boracay, then I guess you should see and witness how amazing their beaches are. You can take a peek here http://wanderingdylan.com/2011/03/13/siquijor-beaches-explore/
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| approaching Siquijor |
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| Siquijor... more famous to foreigners than to local tourists |
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| just arrived at the beautiful province of Siquijor |
Siquijor is once a part of Bohol and then Negros Oriental. Siquijor didn't become an independent province until 1971, although economically and politically it still seems like a little sister to its larger neighbors. This seems unlikely to change as long as Siquijorenos continue to migrate to Cebu, Manila or abroad seeking work. Larena is Siquijor's main port and Siquijor town its capital.
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| sa port pa lang panalo na ang beach!!! |
Siquijor's long ago reputation as a place of magic and sorcery both attracts visitors and keeps them away.
Siquijor is also well known for its festivals that focus on primitive
healing rituals where incantations are sung while the old folks make
potions out of herbs, roots, insects and tree barks. In hushed talks,
locals would share a story or two about folk legends pointing to the
existence of witchcraft and witches in the island.
Among the many attractions are the beaches, caves, waterfalls, Bandilaan Natural Park, and butterfly sanctuary. White sand beaches make up most of the 102-kilometer coastline of Siquijor.
The coral reefs ringing the island offer some of the best diving in
the Philippines for snorkelers and scuba divers. Dive courses are
conducted by several dive operators on the island in version of PADI,
CMAS and NAUI. Siquijor was declared a marine reserve in 1978.
During 2007, data from the Philippine Department of Tourism showed
that Siquijor posted the highest growth in visitor arrivals among the
four provinces in region 7
(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siquijor)
Siquijor is a small island in Visayas. Siquijor Island or Isla del Fuego as the Spanish named it, due to the intensity of fire flies, lies some 22 km east of Southern Negros. Legend has it that Siquijor rose from the sea during a tremendous thunder storm sited as evidence is fossils and shells which can still be found in Mount Bandila-an, Siquijor's highest point. While the coastline is mostly white sand beaches, oceans full of tropical marine life the interior is mountainous.
(Source : http://wikitravel.org/en/SiquijorSt. Francis de Assisi Parish Church and Bell Tower located near Siquijor, Siquijor port. The first tourist attraction right after arriving.
Outside the port, there are trikes and fiera-type vehicles that can tour you around Siquijor... the entire 76 kilometers of the province. Fiera-type vehicles can be rented for Php1,800 and trikes at Php1,100.00.
Motorbikes can be rented for a whole day for Php300. Just check if the helmets are already included in the rental. Some are requiring that the motorbike be returned before sunset. During the entire day of touring Siquijor, You might think that you are in another country, because the foreign tourists here are everywhere and driving their rented motorbikes.
Our first stop .... Capilay's Spring Park
Capilay Spring Park is a natural spring fed swimming pool in the center of San Juan.
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| Naks! dalaga na kasi eh |
Capilay Spring Park is a kid-friendly park =)
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| our trike driver/tour guide kuya Joseph Rey Larajosa whom you can reach at cel no. 0926-4110116 |
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| one of the beach resort/hotel in San Juan |
the enchanted old Balete tree
To Filipinos, Siquijor has an aura of mystery and magic; its mountainous interior is home to a number of mangkukulam (healers) who practice NOT with spooky incantations BUT with smelly
herbs and soothing oils. This little island, the smallest of the four
Central Visayas provinces, is dotted with laid-back beach resorts.
(Source : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/siquijor)
(Source : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/siquijor)
Instant foot spa, haha =)
There's no entrance fee at the site but there is an optional donation box for the maintenance of the Balete tree area.
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| the caretaker of the old tree |
Kuya Joseph, our driver/tour guide just stop here and we took some photos...
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| my favorite jump shot by James and Josh |
From San Juan, the town of Lazi,
home to the famous parish church and convent, is a good fifteen
kilometers drive. It is in this southern tip of Siquijor Island that the
commanding parish church and convent buildings stand ground amidst
stately acacia trees. Known as the biggest convent in the whole of Asia,
conceptualization and construction of the St. Isidore Labradore Convent
began in 1857 by Augustinian Recollects and was completed by Filipino
artisans in the year 1884. In the 1970’s, both the church and the
convent were declared National Historical Shrines.
(Source : http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/lazi-convent-siquijor.php)
(Source : http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/lazi-convent-siquijor.php)
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| St. Isidore Convent (in front of the church) |
The convent
is an imposing U shaped two story structure whose size is approximately
50 x 50 meters – a size considered to be colossal in that period of
time. This building was used by friars for among other things, a place
of rest and recreation. It is a typical Bahay na Bato (stone house), one
with a ground floor made of a thick stone layer and the second level,
of hardwood studs and panels. Construction for the convent began in 1887
and finished in 1891.
Work on the church and convent is
attributed to Fray Toribio Sanchez who took the initiative of building
the new convento in 1887 by merely using coral blocks and available
wood. It was reported that before the construction of the St. Isidore
Church and Convent, there was already an existing church and convent but
of poor and deteriorating conditions. Still other projects begun by the
friars were the Casa Real, Escuela, some bridges and agricultural irrigation systems.
Cambugahay Falls
Cambugahay Falls is just 2 kilometers from Lazi town. It consists of three cascading waterfalls. The water is so clean and green and looks so inviting. My two boys took a dip at this warm waterfalls.
And to end our tour, we asked our trike driver/tour guide to bring us to a souvenir shop. The shop is located near the port. Aside from the usual shirts, mugs, ref magnets and key chains, these are what we saw, hehe =)
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| gayuma (love potions) for Php200 |
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| healing herbal oils |
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| time to go back to Dumaguete, next time overnight na talaga sa beach... |
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| the beach at Siquijor Port |
and here http://wanderingdylan.com/2011/04/03/siquijor-places-part-2/
