Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
So that’s Dumaguete!
I thought Dumaguete was a province in Mindanao. I was wrong. Dumaguete City is the capital of Negros Oriental which is in Region VII in Visayas.
I thought that Dumaguete was a far-fetched and uninhabited island. Wrong again! Dumaguete is just a ferry-ride away from bustling Cebu and it is even tagged as “The City of Gentle People”.
History has it that its name came from the local word “daggit” which means “to snatch”. Dumaguete has this powerful charm to attract visitors and keep them for good. Its beauty had lured pirates to frequently attack the coastal town.
Recently, Dumaguete was dubbed as “the most child-friendly city”. That, for me, is a major asset. It is also known as a university town because of the many colleges and universities in this city which are open even for foreign students. And yes, business is booming in this area.
The tourism department of Dumaguete claims that this beautiful city is for the weary traveler, seeker of knowledge and nature lover, and the residents can speak English well and can understand Spanish.
That’s probably why most tourists are Westerners and Europeans.
Dumaguete is for the people who long for water and land adventures.
There’s a lot of beach resorts and dive sites there where you can also go dolphin and whale watching and scuba diving. If you’re into conquering the heights and the caves, you’ll be happy to learn that you are free to do spelunking and mountain trekking also.
But if your main objective of going there is to just chill and take in the view and relax, you can never run out of hotels to stay in and restaurants to dine in. You can request a tour guide from the tourism department if you want to go around the city.
What are the places that make this city famous? Since the inhabitants are dominantly Catholic, the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral Park is considered a century-old landmark. That gives a religious aura.
The Bell Tower is the oldest city landmark; it has remained the city’s watch tower since the Spanish times. The Siliman Veach is for the youth. It is where they unwind, especially on Sundays.
Rizal Boulevard is a seafront boulevard that has become the most popular promenade and jogging track for the health-conscious people. The rendezvous of most people there is the Quezon Park. It is lined with trees and it has a playground for kids.
With all the good things said about Dumaguete and the nice spots to visit there, it won’t take long before it becomes a favorite among tourists. So let’s go to Dumaguete!
Dumaguete Government Sites
The City that ‘Swoops’
The history of the first settlers and its civilization had something to do with the natural attractiveness of the place. The location was said to be looted by Muslim buccaneers that used to ‘daggit’ or ‘to snatch’ something out of this place. Another account said; its charm never failed to magnetize visitors to come and stay for good, hence, the word ‘dumaguet’ (to swoop). Until in 1734, the place was known to be Dumaguete: the City of Gentle People.
Dumaguete City: University Town
The city of Dumgauete has a distinct reputation of being ‘the center of learning in the south’ for some obvious reasons. The presence of notable universities and colleges made Dumaguete City famous locally and internationally as well. Thus, it was considered a ‘melting pot’ of scholars, artists, professionals and students from different parts of the Philippines and of the world. The presence of Siliman University had given the university town aura since its foundation. The said university is the oldest American-established university in Asia. The Siliman Main Library is considered to be as one of the largest libraries in the Philippines. Other universities and colleges situated in Dumaguete are Saint Paul University of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental State University (or NORSU) and Foundation University. Computer schools or Information Technology (IT) related schools are also prevalent in Dumaguete City as well (AMA Computer College, STI College and Asian College of Science and Technology or ACSAT).
Festivities of the city of Dumaguete
The following are some notable feasts or reasons for merry making in Dumaguete City. Every month of May, Santacruzan and May Flower Festival are being commemorated by the last week of the month. The foundation of Siliman University is being celebrated during August annually. The Buglasan Festival and the founder’s day of Saint Paul’s University of Dumaguete are being held every October yearly.
Getting to know more about Dumaguete City
The status of the place as the center of education in the southern part of the Philippines had paved way to the influx of individuals to study, stay and do business. With this thing in mind, the local government of the city of Dumaguete use one of the most effective ways to access the place in the most convenient way. The official website (www.dumaguetecity.gov.ph) is the cyberspace gateway of the city of Dumaguete. It is full of information for individual who would like to have a glimpse of the beauty of Dumaguete City. As a traveler, it is a must to check this website for real-time updates regarding the place.
Dumaguete Beach Guide
The Philippines is famous for white sand beaches and broken coral beaches and you will find plenty wherever you go in the Philippines. If your destination happens to be Dumaguete, you will not initially see much of the white sand, but you rather have to go off and find it. Let us help you finding the nice beaches around this city with the Dumaguete Beach Guide.
Let us take you to the first Dumaguete Beach Guide Destination called Silliman Beach. Silliman Beach is located at the Silliman Farm and Marine Lab Campus and is part of the first American founded University in the Philippines. The beach used to be the best beach in town, but now unfortunately degraded due to lack of care. Despite of the slackness of the towns’ people, the sand remains a bright yellow and you can certainly lie around on the beach and try to do sunbathing.
The second beach in our Dumaguete Beach Guide of the Philippines is the Cangmating Beach. This beach is popular with the youth of this city because it is here where you can go skim boarding on the low tide. Skim boarding is an ever growing trend in the beaches of the Philippines and especially Dumaguete which is the use of a small flat skim board that only floats like a surf board for short shallow water distances.
A beach in the Dumaguete Beach Guide that has broken white corals is located in Antulang which is in close proximity to Siaton, Philippines. The Antulang beach is owned by a beach resort of the same name and has beautiful coral sand that stretches along a couple of kilometers. This beach is ideal for relaxing and tanning and the azure blue ocean is ideal for taking a dip or a dive.
The Dumaguete Beach Guide also guides you to beaches that can be accessed without going through a resort such as the Banilad Beach. The Banilad Beach is one of many public beaches in the Philippines decorated with huts to relax in or have a picnic in and with sandbars that appear on low tide and sometimes high tide as well. The Banilad Beach is one to take your family to because of its large space and huts.
The last beach in the Dumaguete Beach Guide is going to be the Dauin Beach. The Dauin Beach is more known in the Philippines for its dive sites, but the beach itself is also great. Relax at one of many beach resorts in Dauin that offer benches to lie in or huts to have a little get together with friends or family.
The Dumaguete Beach Guide ends here, but your beach travel destinations could still go on and on in other parts of the Philippines. You could also experience the beaches in Boracay or Palawan and take a little paradise back home with you.
Dumaguete Hotels and Resorts
Overview
There’s just something about Dumaguete that draws thousands of tourists to this Philippine destination every year and one of the reasons is that it sets the mood for a holiday that brings us closer to nature. However, when we’re on holiday, it’s not just the tourist areas that we want to see, we also want to stay at a resort that will help us make the most out of our vacation and will make us feel that we are right at home. Dumaguete hotels that have the right facilities and the most cordial staff can contribute a big deal to making our vacation a great one.
Thalatta Beach Resort
Divers who are in Dumaguete to experience the rich flora and fauna as well as the diverse marine life can do so at the Thalatta Beach Resort which offers dive sessions at Apo Island. Aside from diving, this Dumaguete hotel also has equipment for several water sports such as snorkeling, jet skiing and kayaking and it has taken full advantage of the beauty of its location to give their guests a great time. Thalatta Beach Resort is fully committed to preserving the environment and has taken measures to minimize the impact of their presence to the natural wonder of their location. When at this Dumaguete hotel, one will notice that there is no other sound here except for the serene lapping of the waves and birds singing in the morning. The facilities of Thalatta Beach Resort include 2 restaurants, a bar, an Olympic-sized pool, a business center with Internet access, function rooms and a gym. The rooms at the Thalatta Beach Resort are very well maintained and clean while the food served at the restaurant are just heavenly. The specialty at the restaurant of this Dumaguete hotel is the seafood which is always fresh and cooked best Asian style. Room rates at the Thalatta Beach Resort start at Php 2,500.
Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort
The Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort is a very relaxing destination and the rooms at this Dumaguete hotel is surrounded by well maintained gardens that add to the peaceful atmosphere. The Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort is owned by an Austrian citizen who saw the potential of its location and went ahead to develop one of the modern and spacious Dumaguete hotels. Since Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort is also relatively near Apo Island, one can get in touch with reception for any diving, snorkeling or kayaking inquiries. The staff of Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort is very warm and they make it a point to add a personal touch to everything. This Dumaguete hotel also has a pool where one can do a couple of laps to start the day off. The restaurant of Dumaguete Springs Beach Resort serves a great buffet for an affordable price and the rooms are always very clean and there is more than enough space for two people.
Heidelberg of the East – Dumaguete City
Who could have ever imagined that in a far-flung island in Southeast Asia lies a competitor of the famous Heidelberg of Europe? Located in the rich and vast seas of the Philippine Archipelago, Dumaguete City is one of the fast-emerging cities gaining tourism and educational acclaims. Tagged as the “City of Gentle People”, Dumaguete indeed, is a very promising city of the south.
From its historic accounts alone, the City of Dumaguete is already known to be unique. Because of its territory surrounded by the vast seas, the island is prone to marauding pirates. Luckily, the attackers of the island, finding the place attractive were enchanted to live in the place permanently. Hence, the place was soon christened with the name Dumaguete, from the native word “dumaguet” which means to catch or to swoop.
As the capital city of Negros Oriental, Dumaguete City is the largest city and industrial and educational capital of the province. Because of its naturally blessed territory, the city is known to have two of the best diving sites in the world namely Apo and Sumilon Islands. Not only that, the island itself is a package full of wonders and awe because this place is considered as one of the worlds most diverse marine ecosystems which serves as a haven to thousands of marine species. One famous destination of the tourists is the Bais Bay, where many converge to sightsee the whales and dolphins. The thought of the city itself makes you feel refreshed and calm.
More than the marvels of nature, Dumaguete is also endowed with educational feats which make it the “University Town”. The City is home to several historic universities and educational institutions which made great contributions to the country’s abounding history. Silliman University, the first American University outside Manila and the first Protestant School in the country, is seated at this very city. Gaining more than a couple of billion annually, the academe attraction of the city made a really huge impact in both internal and external economic aspects. Perhaps it is the city’s modest and relaxing environment which makes it so conducive for studies.
No wonder why many tourists from around the globe are being drawn by the exquisite attraction of Dumaguete. If Europe has Heidelberg, Asia has Dumaguete. A striking tandem of educational and tourist attraction plus the warm and kind natives, the city, indeed can compete with the famous historical city.
Dumaguete City Travel Information
If you’re traveling to the Philippines, you will not want to miss Dumaguete, the City of Gentle People. Europeans and Japanese love the place, and after making that vacation trip, you’re going to love Dumaguete too.
Dumaguete City is the center of education in the region. The large number of universities and colleges in Dumaguete has made the city a favorite converging point for students from nearby provinces who wish to pursue a college degree. Silliman University, named after philanthropist and Presbyterian layman Horace Brinsmade Silliman of New York, was established in 1901 and is the first Protestant school in the Philippines; it is also Asia’s oldest American university. So don’t be surprised if you bump into someone who can fluently talk about marine biology when you visit Dumaguete.
Dumaguete offers sea lovers easy access to nearby water havens. A favorite stop is Bais Bay, where one can watch whales and dolphins frolic in their sea paradise. There are also many beach resorts to get a good tan and several dive sites to explore. Among the best beach resorts to go to in Dumaguete are Atlantis, El Dorado, and Antulang. If you plan to dive, go check out Sumilon and Apo Islands and experience the diversity of the sites’ marine ecosystems. Incidentally, Silliman University has its Marine Preserve in Apo Island.
If you would rather scale heights and go on a trek that will take you 1,864 meters above sea level, you can opt to hike to Mount Talinis. Also called Cuernos de Negros (Horns of Negros), Mount Talinis is adorned with rare flora and fauna. If you’re lucky enough, you can get a glimpse of the Visayan Hornbill (Penelopides Panini), a critically endangered avian species. Once you’re reached the top of Mount Talinis, you won’t regret having made the whole-day trip. The orchids, lakes, and virgin forests are eye candy to the nature lover. Don’t forget to bring a camera or you’ll regret it.
Travelers who need a cyber fix or simply want to e-mail messages and photos to loved ones back home can choose from several Internet cafes in Dumaguete.
There are also several food stops with the traveler in mind. Persian Palate serves hummus, kababs, and curry dishes. If you’re a Chinese food lover, you can drop by the air-conditioned Chin Loong; just make sure to come in early because it won’t be easy to find an empty table at night. If you fancy pizza and pasta, Buonissimo Pizza Flight 2000 is the place for you; it’s an open café that offers large servings to the hungry traveler. You may also want to end your day by checking out the bars and restaurants along Rizal Boulevard.
Travel to Dumaguete and spend an activity-filled vacation. Meet its warm, friendly and educated people or check out the sorcery and witchcraft of Siquijor. Enjoy the cool waters and dive your heart out. Climb scenic Mount Talinis. Surf the Internet. Savor the flavor of international cuisine. Go for that nightcap. Experience Dumaguete.
Dumaguete Restaurant Guide
Dumaguete City has a couple of gourmet surprises for the unknowing visitor which we took into our Dumaguete Restaurant Guide so that you know which restaurant is hot and which is not. Dumaguete is not the hottest place in the Philippines when it comes to five-star dining, but it definitely has some innovative cooking which we will be introducing to you in this Dumaguete Restaurant Guide.
The first place that the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide will take you to is a fairly new place to wine and dine, but it definitely has the chic and the style of a European restaurant. We are talking about the Casablanca restaurant, which is located on Cervantes Street. This restaurant slash sushi bar slash delicatessen shop has everything a European food lover or Japanese food lover needs. The dishes are rich, savory and huge so that your hunger will definitely be satisfied. The deli shop offers wines, cheese, cold cuts, pastries and European delicacies depending on the season. The Japanese food here is great and the sushi is probably the largest and most savory that you can find in the entire Philippines.
Let us move to the next place of the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide. This place has been a long established restaurant that serves quality food with a view towards the ocean. The Don Atilano restaurant is often visited by celebrities and known people of the Philippines whenever they happen to visit Dumaguete. Don Atilano has a steak house and a Japanese restaurant. The Japanese food is a little stingy with the servings, but the taste is still great. The specialties of Don Atilano are the steaks which they get fresh from their own steak shop.
Another restaurant that has to be part of the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide of the Philippines is Gaby’s Bistro. Gaby’s Bistro is the newest addition in the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide because it just finished in the summer of 2008. This restaurant has some of the best chicken in the entire Philippines and not even fast food restaurants can compare with this chicken. Gaby’s Bistro serves an array of international foods such as Mexican, Italian, Filipino, Thai, and Japanese and so on. Try the delicious Spaghetti with Meat Balls or the Japanese Fish Teriyaki. The apple crumble pie is one of the best pastries you have ever tried in the entire country.
These three restaurants make up the crème de la crème of the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide and you can dine in them from breakfast to dinner. Visit the best the Philippine has to offer within the Dumaguete Restaurant Guide.
Dumaguete Destination Guides
Overview
Dumaguete is a place that holds many wonderful surprises for visitors and among the main attractions here are the beaches amidst a tropical island background and the encounter with the indigenous groups. A variety of activities can be done here and of course several visits can be made to Dumaguete’s historical sites. These Dumaguete destinations all hold a piece of the puzzle to this city’s rich history, culture and heritage.
Apo Island
Apo Island is synonymous to a great beach experience in Dumaguete. This Dumaguete destination is a good way to cool down this summer and it is a 2 hour boat ride from Siliman Beach. Apo Island is also a favorite spot for divers in the Visayas and the best part about it is that one does not have to be a certified diver to be able to enjoy the underwater paradise. Diving lessons are offered on Apo Island and everything one needs to become a certified diver including equipment is provided by the dive shop in this area. This Dumaguete destination is a marine sanctuary protected and maintained by the Global Science Community. Apo Island is said to be home to close to 700 species of fish and about 400 different types of corals. If one does not want to venture into diving while on Apo Island, snorkeling is also an option and because the water is so clear, many fishes can be seen just swimming by.
Dolphin Watching
Dolphin Watching is one of the things that one must do while in Dumaguete. Dolphin Watching can be done at Tanon Strait and this Dumaguete destination is where one can watch the playful creatures of the sea frolic in the water with sperm whales. Although Dolphin Watching can be done pretty much all year round, the best months to go would be anytime between May and September since these months are the times when numerous dolphins are here. Dolphin Watching is supervised by the city hall of Bais and the cruises made to this Dumaguete destination are under their close watch for the protection of the species.
Canlaon Volcano
After Dolphin Watching, a visit to the Canlaon Volcano is a must. This Dumaguete destination is said to be the tallest peak in the whole of Visayas and the Canlaon Volcano stands at about 8,100 feet tall above sea level. Many mountain climbers attempt this active volcano found in Canlaon City. Canlaon City is about 170 kilometers from the bustling Dumaguete City.
Dumaguete Travel Guide
Travelling around the Philippines without having a clue where you are going or what you can possibly see is a little frustrating and without a good travel guide, you will get literally nowhere. If you are planning to go the this small city in the Philippines called Dumaguete, then you are on the right spot right here because we are going to provide you with our own Dumaguete Travel Guide that will take you to place in and out of this city in the Philippines.
The first spot of the Dumaguete Travel Guide is the Japanese Shrine that is located all the way on the mountaintop of the hills of Valencia. The Japanese Shrine is a three sided pillar which was erected to show that this was the spot where American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers fought a surprising hilltop battle during World War II. The Shrine was erected in the 1970s and it overlooks the city and its neighboring areas. This site is neighboring another Dumaguete Travel Guide site of the Philippines which is the waterfall called Casaroro. A beautiful single waterfall is soaring down into a basin where you can relax, meditate or swim on. This site is a perfect family spot.
A spot that the Dumaguete Travel Guide wants to take you is a site in the heart of the city of gentle people. This site is known all over the Philippines as Sidlakang Negros and is the little town of Negros. This attraction exhibits all the specialties of each city and town in Negros Oriental and is compacted into a large space that also includes a stage. The Sidlakang Negros was built in accordance with the Buglasan Festival that was to be held in the little town for the future Buglasan festivals so that every town and city already has a predesigned space without spending money year in and year out to construct an entirely new hut.
Another place in the Dumaguete Travel Guide is the pier located at the DUCOMI coconut oil milling company in Bacong, Philippines. The pier of this company happens to be the best dive spot within the Negros Island and you will have your hands and your eyes full of corals, critters, cuttlefish, seahorses, nudibranchs, stonefish, anglerfish and many more rare marine species. This is one of the highlights of the Dumaguete Travel Guide, because there is no dive spot like the pier in the entire Philippines.
The Dumaguete Travel Guide took you to different places to experience the nature, the festivals and the marine life in Dumaguete, Philippines. We hope that the Dumaguete Travel Guide inspired you to plan your trip to the capital city of the Negros Oriental region and experience all these places.
Dumaguete Shopping
The Dumaguete shopping scene does not exactly cater to the upscale designer clientele but at least this charming city offers unique bargains and finds. Since the city is not exactly big, you will be able to find majority of shopping havens right in the downtown area in which you can walk from one store to another without even breaking a sweat. Let us introduce you to the highlights you would want to see in the Dumaguete shopping scene.
Probably the oldest and the biggest mall that you can find in the Dumaguete shopping scene is Lee Super Plaza located right in the heart of the city. You cannot miss this mall since majority of public transportation drives through and around this place. Within you will find everything from food and groceries to fashionable and affordable clothes, toiletries and furniture. This is the only place where you will find Adidas, Nike and Mossimo outlets.
Since there is but one big mall in the city, the rest of the Dumaguete shopping scene is confined to little boutiques and stores. An interesting hang out that has just recently been opened is Portal West. This building houses fashionable boutiques for both men and women and even kids. You can enjoy your spare time in one of the restaurants or ice cream bars. The Portal West building also houses Philippines famous bookstore called the National Bookstore where bookworms will truly find whatever their looking for.
There are also several other boutiques and specialty shops in the Dumaguete shopping scene such as the Gift Shop. The Gift Shop specializes in handmade jewelry and arts and crafts for an affordable price. The owner of this store (whose name is Gift) makes each and every item herself to put the extra love into an item. You can even order or specialize an item to your every wish. You can also check out Handumanan where you will find hand-made and hand-woven tribal jewelry at a great price.
If you are more of a tech savvy person and if you are looking for your perfect tech accessory then you might head to Octagon or to AAC Tech where you can find the latest gadgets and gismos waiting for you. If you don’t find what you are looking for then you can simply order your desired product in one of those stores and enjoy your item a few days later of course straight from the Dumaguete shopping scene.
Even though the Dumaguete shopping scene is small, it comes with and charming and intimate flair that attracts people to buy and buy. Maybe the next time you get to enjoy this city, you will probably also enjoy the Dumaguete shopping scene.