Dumaguete City Things to Do

Lake Balanan

by visitcebu

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Lake Balanan
by visitcebu
Ornate Pipefish
by camelweed
Zebra Eel
by camelweed
Cuttle Fish
by camelweed
nipa hut on stilts
by machomikemd

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Artistic licence I hope.

by planxty

About halfway along Rizal BoulevardI came upon this odd little statue. It is of concrete construction, as are many statues in the Philippines and depicts the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in 1904. These sisters had been i8nvited to the island of Negros by the Bishop of Iloilo to assist in educating local children. As well as the obvious French sisters, there was one American, one Portuguese and one Chinese. The first Philippino sister in the order, Sr. Ambroisine, joined shortly thereafter. By 1905, the good sisters had established St. Paul's Academy opened less than three months after they arrived. It continues to this day as St. Paul's University still very much focusing on the Christian beliefs of the sisters who started it.If you are wondering about the title of this tip, it is merely that I hope the sisters had something a soght more substantial to tranport them here. I have seen...

Promenade the Boulevard.

by planxty

The seafront area of Dumaguete is properly called Rizal Boulevard after Jose Rizal, the national hero, but everyone here just refers to it as the Boulevardand it is very much the centre of the social life of the city. It houses most of the expat bars and restaurants and at night has a reputation for being where the bar girls, locally known as Boulevard girls, congregate although it is not blatant nor are there pro0per "girly" bars there should such things offend you.Although there are no spectacular sunsets here (it faces the wrong direction) people do tend to congregate and stroll about in the early evening and especially at weekends when it is thronged with groups, preachers, buskers, hawkers, beggars and all sorts of others. It is a great place for people watching.Towards the North end, opposite Silliman University and just before the ferry terminal, there are a number of outsoor food...

Mystery treats at a Shrine

by unica_hija77

If you are in the area of Zamboanguita, Siaton or Sta. Catalina towns south of Dumaguete, drop by the Inalad, Siaton shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. It is noted for numerous cures and solutions to personal problems, as well as 'mystery treats' like sounds of a choir singing (where there is none) and floral perfume from nowhere. On my one visit I spent some minutes looking for the source of a strong wafting scent but could not find any. From the looks of it the shrine owners certainly can't afford to spray a good part of the huge area with freshener.If you don't get the onsite treats, take a drink of the spring water or bring home a bottle (bring empties) for an inexplicable (for non-Catholics) feeling of lightness and wellbeing. One girl felt something solid in her mouth after a drink. It turned out to be a communion host which showed an image of the Virgin when dried.Take a good look at...

BAIS

by Jimbo222

I am not really sure if this is part already of negros or bacolod. But during my trip to Dumaguete, this was really what i remembered. BAIS is a place where you can watch dolphins jumps besides the boat. I last done this in 2002 if i remember correctly, and basically as you ride the boat, the dolphins jump and go the same direction as your boat goes. Really really fun. I remember shouting "AMBAK, AMBAK, AMBAK!" which means jump in Bisaya.

Scuba Diving

by camelweed

A great place to base yourself for some of the best dive sites, Apo Island is only 40 minute boat ride away with sites like Chapel, Coconut point and drop off you will be spoilt. If muck diving is your thing then a must dive site is the Pier in Dumaguete.I dived with Michael at Adventure dive, who are based on Rizal Ave, Dumaguete city only 5 minutes from the port.

Rizal's Dumaguete

by unica_hija77

For a glimpse of Dumaguete through national hero Jose Rizal's eyes, ask the city tourism office at the Sta. Catalina St. side of the town plaza to arrange a visit to the second floor of the old Locsin house a few steps away. This should be done 24-48 hours in advance as the house is not usually open to the public. Old folks' tradition has it that passing by Dumaguete to his Dapitan exile in the late 1800's, Rizal had breakfast at this house. At that time, its owner was Teniente (Lt.) Cornelio Yapsutco, a local stalwart of the 1896 revolution against Spain. The house was venue for the 1898 (year of Rizal's execution) election for the provisional takeover Negros Oriental government. The present owners are Yapsutco descendants. Rizal noted down his impression of Dumaguete as being "like a little European town" after hearing piano music amid the lush greenery and colonial architecture of the...

Heavenly Orchids

by unica_hija77

Back in the 90's we visited Mrs. Ng's stupendous private orchid garden in Camanjac, Dumaguete with its thousands of blooms. It was an other-worldly experience. Orchid fanciers can check with Jo's Inato at Silliman Ave., if ALL the blooms were moved to her hilltop public park fronting Sea Forest in Sibulan, or someplace else. I still daydream about having a garden party amid all that beauty .

Sampling Neg. Oriental stonecraft and hemp weaves

by unica_hija77

Stonecraft here is made by grinding up local stone, molding and baking it into lively decor and gift items with native traditional and contemporary designs. Check them out at Marjorie's, EBT Bldg. beside Chin Loong on Rizal, Blvd., Dumaguete. You could ask for their factory location for more choices, and ask if they are in factory discount season.Local hemp weaves have morphed from the dull old good-for-one-washes of years ago to today's glitter-flecked panels in peacock shades. Will make you rethink your Christmas decor.Check them out at souvenir shops Handumanan and the one on the ground floor of the old Locsin house on Sta. Catalina St. (downstairs from where Jose Rizal had breakfast). You might ask for directions to the weavers, too, just say it's for a study and not discounted shopping.

Indiana Jones-ing it in Dumaguete

by unica_hija77

World War 2 Japanese gold mania aside, Silliman University has a museum with real preHispanic and other artifacts housed in that Victorian-style landmark Silliman Hall (you might call ahead and see what's to be on display at arrival time).Want to go along on an archeo-dig or site view? This might be arranged if you can get a recommendation from your local school or government addressed to the Silliman administration. Amateurs will have to go by the rules, though, and not scream at the skeletons or pocket the little figurines in the burial sites. I have a little stone idol the naive warehousemen gave away years ago because they thought it was junk.

The William Tell effect in Dumaguete

by unica_hija77

The Philippine rep to the Beijing Olympic archery event was one Javier from this province. Another local-bred international teamster was Jo Ann Chan. Those planning a longish stay in Dumaguete and thinking of basic archery lessons can ask who's in charge at the Silliman University Physical Education Dept., cradle of Visayan archers.Sometimes they have summer workshops, so plan ahead for a summer well spent. Dorms are almost empty at off-school time.