Dumaguete City Local Customs

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Local Customs
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The Males of Negros Oriental, Phils. Part 2

by unica_hija77

When most men from Negros Oriental notice their wives/partners have some income, they stop any real work and lean on her almost entirely for finances. They may get violent if the partner will not give gambling and drinking money. They are masters at the art of looking busy with professional titles while doing nothing, to cover up the fact that the females in the family do most of the work. When they say "we have a family business" it often means the females are doing the dirty work and paying the men's' debts. Many wives here walk the streets jobhunting for husbands who will work two weeks and quit. Most men would gladly sell their mothers, wives and daughters to strangers with money, if this means more money for cockfights, drugs and drinking. Generally, less than 50% of a Neg. Or. working man's income goes to his family.

The Males of Negros Oriental, Philippines Part 1

by unica_hija77

90% of the time, when a male from Negros Oriental (Philippines, where Dumaguete is) invites someone out, it means the invitee will do all or most of the spending. If he invites you for a meal or to a party at his house, it means his parents, wife or female family members are paying the bill. Many marriages between local males and non-local girls have broken up due to the men's lack of a provider instinct. Only local girls are trained to shower money on men and to provide for a family.It seems in this latitude, the climate enervates male bodies. The cultural adaptation is that the more heat-resistant women are the providers. The Spanish chroniclers of the 1600's noted that men here spent a lot of time under coconut trees stroking fighting cocks, while the women worked in the fields. Any outsiders planning to move to Neg. Or. with young daughters should tell the girls early on that any...

BANCA RACE

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If you're island inhabitants, what is the perfect race to hold during fiestas/festivals? A BOAT RACE! These are motorized boats, powerful mini-boats. One small boat, with its motor on, must be held on by by 4-6 big guys. And when the "go" signal is given, off the boats go, and with so much speed and noise, you'd think they are faster than jet skis. I've seen dragon boat races. But boy, this island banca race is more fun! It was during one of our safety stops from diving that we witnessed this. And our wacky male divemates were betting for their own boats.

Honor the Saints

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Apo Island was celebrating it's town fiesta, in honor of San Ferrer. We were lucky we were there during that time. Food was everywhere, especially lechon. And what delicious lechon was that served to us. They said lechon is better in Dumaguete than in Cebu. I believe that.%f The atmosphere will tell you that the locals consider their fiesta very important, it's like one's birthday. Apo Island is inhabited by less than 1,000 islanders, every one could be a relative by the other person. Imagine how the celebration went.