Dumaguete: My Home, My City

Dumaguete City, The City of Gentle People, is the capital city of Oriental Negros (as it is now currently called) is part of Central Visayas (Region VII). Unfortunately, this little “University Town” is sometimes being overlooked and has gone unnoticed to others who don’t know about Silliman University, the first American school in Asia, established in 1901 by Dr. David S. Hibbard and Mrs. Laura Hibbard by way of the Philanthropist Horace B. Silliman, which the school is named after.

Dumaguete was coined from the local term “daguit” which means “to steal” or “to snatch” because it was said that Moro pirates came to the shores of Dumaguit and snatched away young ladies. As a testament to this story, the Bell Tower (Kampanaryo or Belfry) is still standing today. It is said that the Kampanaryo’s bells would chime an alarm to alert the locals that the pirates where approaching.

Many claimed that Dumaguete City was named the “City of Gentle People” by none other than Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero when he stayed for one night on his way to Dapitan City where he would spend his years of exile. Dumaguete has lived up to its reputation and is still known to be a hospitable city.

The charming city boasts about its Boulevard which is quite picturesque especially at nighttime with various restaurants and sidewalk vendors dotting the place. Naturally, Dr. Jose Rizal himself fell in love with the Boulevard which was later named Rizal Boulevard in his honor. Despite its being a city and the capital of Oriental Negros, Dumaguete is relatively peaceful and it is quite safe to walk the whole Boulevard at night and enjoy the scenery.

Because of its reputation as a “University Town,” quite a number of restaurants dot the place. Despite a steady influx of restaurant chains, the local restaurants are still the best places to see and be seen. Dumaguete has a little bit of everything for anyone. If you fancy reggae music, Reggae Wednesday at Hayahay is the place to be, featuring a popular local band Enchi. If sports are your thing, Barefoot and Gimmik are popular hang-out spots. If you want to grab authentic Mexican food, Coco Amigos offers a wide range of Mexican dishes that are delicious. If disco is your thing, El Camino Blanco and The Music Box are the top picks. If you’re a pizza and beer person, Nevas serves authentic stone-fireplace-baked pizzas that are affordable and melt-in-your-mouth tasty. For beers, college students and other locals flock to El Amigo and some stop by Café Memento which serves the best Barako coffee and Chimichanggas ever. There is also Habhaban, an out-of-the-way restaurant that serves the best "silog" dishes at affordable prices. Manang Siony’s Tocino is also a local favorite and serves affordable barbecued tocino that is unique to the city. If that isn’t your thing, you can simply enjoy tempura, fish balls, kikiam, and balut (duck’s egg) by the Boulevard while being serenaded by Manong who brings his guitar and sheet music and plays for only a few pesos.

During November, the Sandurot Festival is celebrated in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria and Dumaguete’s charter day. With a month-long of activities that celebrate Dumaguete’s unique heritage and culture, the city is then alive with tourists and a few notable Filipino celebrities.

Getting around Dumaguete is easy. Simply rent a motorcycle for the day and off you go exploring the little known streets and corners and experiencing Dumaguete on your own. There is much to discover in Dumaguete starting from the Anthropology Museum in the newly restored Silliman Hall to the crocodiles at the Silliman University Marine Lab, a renowned research facility in Asia.

I have lived in Dumaguete City for 23 years and although it lacks the modern malls and the various restaurant chains, Dumaguete City has a unique charm all on its own and despite its laid back atmosphere; it is the only place I call home.

Explore the wonders of the Philippines in Walang Iwanan sa Bayan ni Juan, Experience Philippines and Tourism Pilipinas 2009.

Images credited to Metro Dumaguete
This article is my entry for Pamaskong Handog Contest
Posted in Paraiso Philippines

Trips: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Labor Day weekend was an experience for me: I got to ride on an Aerial Tram! Well, this wasn't my first because I went on one back in '97 when we went to Hong Kong. No matter, I enjoyed the trip immensely! Not only did I experience something new, I took loads of photos!

So, where did we go? We went to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs, California. We took the eight-and-a-half-minute ride up North America's sheerest mountain face passes to the mountain station at 8516 feet (2600 m) above mean sea level. Isn't that cool? Even with the zero visibility near the top of San Jacinto Peak, I wasn't fazed. The whole tram trip was an experience in itself because we had a 360 degree view of the whole valley! According to Mr. Wiki, "The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs, California, opened in September 1963 as a way of getting from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak.

At the top, we where welcomed by a breathtaking scene that was absolutely perfect!

On our way to the Valley Station

The Aerial Tram

View from the top

Posing for a few shots

Along the trail, I managed to capture shots of wildlife; my first shots actually, and they turned out great! I saw a few bees hopping from flower to flower gathering honey and caught them in action! Amazing! They didn't even mind the whir and click of the camera!

This crazy little guy, they said it's a gecko, was seen scrambling about the rocks off the trail and I hopped on over and snapped away! I know he looks like part of the rock but I think I captured him in his element.

I'll be posting more shots in the future. I don't want to waste them all in one post now, can I? Enjoy!

Location: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs, California (2 hour drive from Los Angeles)

Hours of Operation:
Cars depart at least every half hour with the first car up Monday-Friday at 10am; first car up weekends and holiday periods at 8am.

Tram Prices:
Adults: $22.25
Children: $15.25 (3-12)
Seniors: $20.25 (60+)
*Children under 3 years old are free but require a boarding pass

Info: Wikipedia & Palm Spring Aerial Tramway Website

Skywatch Friday: Staring at the Sun

This is my first entry for Skywatch Friday and I am looking forward to joining this meme next week. I've been scrounging around my lappy for good sky photos and I came up with only a few. I'll take more shots in the future!

I took this shot when I had my going away party with my hubby's family. We went to the beach and I couldn't resist taking a snap of the sky underneath the trees.

Click Skywatch Friday for more entries

Travel in Comfort with Cabin Cuddler

Travel is usual a pain these days, what with the high prices in gas and the recent price increase and service cut downs from different airlines all over. I am not a frequent traveler but I have done quite a lot of traveling for an average person. We all know that when we travel in coach, we usually don’t get as much leg room and as much comfort as we can. It used to be that airlines would try their best to make you comfortable by giving you pillows and blankets to keep you comfortable.

With the recent increase in gas, many airlines have cut down on a lot of services that relatively give comfort to their passengers. Snacks and meals are for sale. Pillows and blankets are no longer offered to passengers. It sucks huh? As if they wouldn’t make traveling more badly than it really is.

As luck would have it, I found a solution that can cure you of your travel woes: the Cabin Cuddler! The Cabin Cuddler is a revolutionary 6-in-1 travel blanket and pillow that you can easily take with you on any trip, be it on plane, boat, car, or in the office. The Cabin Cuddler has a shoulder strap and a foot pocket that helps keep you warm when you travel. It is lightweight and can easily be stored in a tote for easy storage.

Finally, I got the answer to my prayers. I am definitely getting one. If you buy one today, shipping and handling is free to residents from the Continental US, Hawaii and Alaska. So, what are you waiting for? Get your very own Cabin Cuddler today!