Dumaguete City

Dubbed as the city of gentle people, Dumaguete is a place within easy reach that there is no need for familiarization. But as I wandered along, it struck me that Dumaguete City, in so many ways, was more than I expected. I was already having fun before even getting started. The best way to Explore the place is on foot as everything is relatively close-by or you may choose to ride on a pedicab (motorcab) and pay the driver a small fee.

What to do. The city’s newest sight where nipa (straw) huts are grouped together, made into a heritage village featuring local Negros Oriental products is the Sidlakang Negros. It should be the first place to visit upon arrival to give every visitor the feel of the local culture, the all-in-one place where you may purchase a range of merchandise.

Another must-see in the city is a small zoo and research centre, the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Gardens, also known as the Centre for Tropical Conservation Studies or Centrop. The zoo is very fortunate to have sponsorships from other international zoos since the international funding can help with the upkeep of endangered animals under their care such as the deer, which are probably one of the most eye-catching species you will find in this habitat.

The museum run by the Silliman University, the Anthropology Museum and Centre for the Study of Philippine Living Culture, is also worth a visit. It houses dug-up artifacts from various islands all over the country as well as still-life exhibits that are featured on display. Located in its central university campus, the museum isn’t easily spotted but do ask around for directions, locals would instantly know what you are talking about as it is considered as one of the main city sights.

A local historical site always sounds so inviting and one of the historical sites in the city is located along Perdices Street, the Bell Tower (Campanario de Dumaguete). You can easily spot this place because it is beside the cathedral and across Quezon Park. I was stunned to see that it was a much smaller sight than what I had expected but that still didn’t put me off in anyway. I was more appreciative of it since its is already centuries old and is still well-preserved. Around the corner, you will find the public market where the lively stalls reminded me of Cebu City’s Carbon market some 20 years ago.

Where to eat. There are many places to eat clustered along the promenade on Rizal Boulevard, the liveliest part of the city where I also found a huge diversity of Europeans and Middle Eastern nationals hanging around. One restaurant is called Casablanca where they serve an impressive array of fine European food served with organically grown vegetables and a good beer range. Just after my meal, I noticed a few young people gathered inside the kitchen wiping tears off their eyes. I was alarmed thinking that something serious must have happened! I later learned that they were culinary students attending a cooking class inside the restaurant kitchen and had been introduced to the art of chopping onions!

Another one is called Mamia’s, quite a sophisticated restaurant that serves a mix of cuisines (mainly Filipino food) with large portions. Best to sample the specialities and you can’t go wrong. However, a few others I ordered from the menu were just as appetizing, such as prawns wrapped in bacon. Café Mamia is also located directly beside the restaurant if you opt for coffee, tea and snacks, instead.

A visit to Dumaguete City isn’t complete if you don’t sample a taste of sans rival, silvanas or a home-baked meal at the Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries, a restaurant/café that had been existing since the 70s and possibly the city’s pride. Located along San Jose Street, this business has now expanded to Manila and to Northern and Southern California, and has since changed its name to the House of Silvanas Bakeshop. The Dumaguete City branch however has kept its original name. Across the road, you will find another nice place to eat with extremely reasonable prices, a restaurant called Chin Loong that serves Chinese cuisine. This place can get packed during the evenings, even on weekdays so best to make reservations in advance. Upon recommendation, a small and homey place to eat is called Snak Shop sa Habhaban along Piapi Drive where they serve good barbecue and java rice.

The big draw in this city is that there is no shortage if you opt for the local widespread fast-food as opposed to the fancier ones. I also chose to enjoy the street food kiosks that sell cooked banana served in many ways eaten together with fruit juice. In addition, I have made some good conversation with the street vendors and found that despite the hard times, they are truly appreciative of what they have and enjoy life to its fullest by taking each day as it comes.

Where to stay. It is recommended to stay for at least a few days to take advantage of the things to do in Dumaguete City. The hotel list is endless, as you will find one in every street. Some suggested ones are Hotel Nicanor (www.hotelnicanor.com), Hotel Palwa (www.hotelpalwa.com) and Harold’s Mansion (www.haroldsmansion.com).

The city of Dumaguete has emerged to become a rather busy-ish place, a city where I find it safe and pleasant to walk around in as well as coming across some really interesting places and ever so friendly Dumaguetenos. My precious time was wisely spent.