Tag Archives: Dumaguete

Feb 20 2021

Photoblog: Fluttering by the Seaside

I was going through the photos on my phone when I stumbled upon these from 5 years ago. They were taken by the seaside here in Dumaguete, in an area now known as Escano Drive (just north of Flores Avenue). This road used to be unpaved but was a shortcut to get to E.Rovira Drive and the airport quicker, as opposed to taking the highway from Real Street. Many fishermen would bring their boats to the low shore, and then cross the short unpaved dirt road to their homes. In the mornings, or so I assume since I’m not a moring person and haven’t witnessed them in action, they would bring those boats out to sea to cast their nets and catch fish.

That road has since been paved and asphalted, which was still “in the works” when this photo was taken.

I loved the view of the flags as we would drive by. My cousin was driving the car when I took this photo; she was actually bringing me to the airport so I could catch my flight to Manila. While I don’t really want to get into the politics and history of this area since I’m quite unfamiliar with it, simply looking at all these flags lined up along the coast, with a view of the sea and Cebu Island on the opposite side, was just a sight to behold. In times like this, when we feel constrainted by the rules of traveling during Covid, and when many of us are quarantined in our homes or in our town/cities, even just the memory of being this free in the wind, like these flags, is like a breath of fresh air amid a week of suffocating day to day responsibilities.

I miss freedom. I miss travel. I miss not having to worry about forgetting my mask. I miss being close to someone without fear of catching something. To go where the wind takes, and to feel the sea air fill your lungs like it’s the most beautiful experience in the world.

Aug 19 2017

Photo: Docked at Sea

Boats docked at the Rizal Boulevard

It’s one thing to get used to living by the sea and everything that comes with it, such as constantly seeing boats, watching the sea shift from high tide to low tide and vice versa, feeling the smell of the sea, or even hearing the horn from boats at all times of the day. It’s another to take personal notice of big ships that dock off port for days at a time. Such was the case last month when I first noticed a few large ships docked at sea, very early in the morning. I was on my way to school when I caught sight of these ships, which looked strangely large against a background of sea and sky. Coming back from school, the ships were still there. They were actually docked at sea for about a week (maybe a little more or less), each carrying some surprise array of items in their hold.

The sight was something I hadn’t really seen, or maybe hadn’t simply noticed before. It was an interesting side-project to head on over to the boulevard to take photos of how it all looked like, especially since Rizal Boulevard was practically empty at the time that I went, since it was close to noon and the sun was at its highest and brightest.

As always, Rizal Boulevard is one of my favorite places to take panoramic photos within the city.

Feb 18 2017

Photo: Dumaguete at Sunset

One of the benefits of living in a small city by the sea, is the proximity to the water. It’s fairly easy to drive to the beach or seaside, such as Dumaguete’s iconic Rizal Boulevard; but also because being in a smaller city unlike busy ports like Manila or Cebu, means that there aren’t as many ships coming in to block these kinds of views.

The city of Dumaguete faces the east, so it’s more of a sunrise place than a sunset one. But even so, it doesn’t diminish this kind of serene view, made even more beautiful by a wonderfully clear sky dotted with the pinkish tinge of the setting sun.

Took this photo on a lazy Sunday afternoon in December 2016.

Aug 30 2016

It’s all in the text

When I look  back on recent weeks, I come to the slow but honest realization that I haven’t actually done much calligraphy. Maybe it’s the busy 6 day work schedule, or the fact that I have more time with other people (aka my family) more than before, or maybe it’s simply because I forget or I get too lazy to practice.

Whatever the reason, it’s just a little sad when I think of how all that previous practice has gone to some waste.

In the last few days though, I’ve re-discovered (maybe this isn’t the right term) my Sketches app on the phone and started doodling and practicing some strokes and calligraphy here and there. It’s nothing like holding a pen and writing on paper, that’s for sure, but it’s letting me reacquaint (I think this is the word I should have used earlier!) myself with all the things I can do on the phone through the app.  Of course, there’s not much I can do with my limited art skills, plus the fact that a phone is just too small compared to a phablet or a tablet, but practice is still practice. And, I am getting used to using the app and its features. Or at least I think I’m getting used to it.

 

Here’s a few of the ones I’ve done so far…

 

I was trying to do the phrase “Infinite diversity in infinite combinations”, which was something I recently heard while watching an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. But owing to the limited space, infinite seemed like a pretty beautiful but finite word to put in.

 

I did not imagine that writing Dumaguete would come out so nice. It seems to be a fitting word to describe my current situation. Google it! 🙂

I love how the word “Pilipinas” (Tagalog for Philippines) came out. The colors were actually plain blue on the app, but when I filter-ed it on Instagram, it gave some parts of the text a lighter shade, resulting in this mix.

Since I was writing about Philippines, I wanted to give it a more realistic Philippine-feel. I tried to give it a Philippine flag background but the stars were a little hard to do. Instead, I used the color yellow (for the sun and 3 stars) as the text.

Tell me what you think of it?

Aug 25 2016

Photo: The Sight of the Sea

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I’ve become obsessed with panorama shots the last few months. In fact, I’ve been trying to curate my instagram with Panorama shots divided into 3 separate parts. I have no idea if other people use an app for this, but I’ve been doing it manually. Imagine my obsessive-compulsive self uploading and deleting photo after photo, making sure that the photos when uploaded, perfectly fit with their divided selves.

Three. Or four. I’ve uploaded about 3-4 of them now, and majority of the ones I’ve taken are of the sea or the beach. Maybe it has to do with me now living in a seaside city, with close access to the beach. I’m so sure that to get a shot like this, or even a whiff of the sea in Manila, would take me about an hour to 2 hours drive during normal waking hours.

There’s something to be said I guess, about realizing how lucky you are to be able to appreciate certain landscapes or views. Once in a while, taking shots like this, or just basking in this kind of scenery, is a great way to just slow down and taking a breather from all of life’s hustles and bustles.

Jul 31 2016

Photo: View from Malatapay

View from Malatapay Wharf

We recently had some visitors over from China, and I brought them to the Malatapay Market (in Zamboanguita, facing Apo Island) on a Wednesday. Wednesday is the big market day where the place is full of people buying and selling their wares, from livestock, to jewelry, to clothes, to fruits and vegetables.

When I was little, my aunts and uncles would sometimes bring us here to have lunch or to enjoy the view, but it has been over close to two decades since that time. And the market? It has developed so much that making your way through the place can be quite challenging as there are so many people and so many stalls there now.

Still, this view of the seaside, and Apo Island in the distance, is breathtaking. Now that I know where it is, I can hopefully make the time to just drive on over and just enjoy this amazing view.

Apr 16 2016

Food Review: Blue Pearl Meat Restaurant (Dumaguete)

Christa finally meets Korean food x Dumaguete. I’ve actually discovered my first Korean restaurant in Dumaguete, though surely it’s only the first that I’ve met and not the first that’s out there. Me and my cousins, after trying out a wall climbing session in nearby Foundation University, decided to have dinner, and by pure coincidence we ended up at Blue Pearl Meat after deciding not to go to another restaurant.

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Initially, I was a little surprised to find that this restaurant, which I had seen in passing over Christmas, was actually a Korean restaurant. A house that was turned into what it is now, the Korean BBQ place opened just last March and is more or less still in its soft opening stages. Also, this Dumaguete restaurant is actually a branch of a restaurant located in Cebu.

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Jun 27 2013

Food Review: 2Story Kitchen (Dumaguete)

Whenever I’m in Dumaguete City, I’m no longer a tourist but I’m nothing like a local either. After more than 20 years of coming-and-going, I am somewhere in the middle. In the last couple of years, every time I go to Dumaguete, I like trying new or newly-discovered cafes and restaurants.

A month ago, when my sister was there a week earlier than I, she discovered this new cafe/restaurant in the vicinity of our old house, serving Korean food (her favorite). So, when it was my turn to be in Dumaguete for my granddad’s annual birthday celebration, I decided to try the cafe/restaurant out for myself. My cousin who lives in Dumaguete had been to this place earlier, so when I mentioned that I had wanted to go to 2Story Kitchen to try it out, we decided this would be the place where we could catch up on things.

So, welcome to 2Story Kitchen…a restaurant and cafe that’s great for dates, gimmicks, studying, lounging about. Located near the Rizal Boulevard, this place is accessible by car, on foot, or via trikes. The location is great because it’s only a few minutes away from Lee Plaza, Mcdonalds, SansRival, and Rizal Boulevard, and is walking distance from the Quezon Park, Dumaguete Cathedral, and Silliman University. If you have a hard time finding this place, just ask for directions to Matiao Marketing (2Story is located across from it), or Uymatiao Jr. Construction Company (2Story is located two buildings from it).

Entrance

Signboard

The outside appearance of 2Story Kitchen makes it look quaint and small, but the atmosphere inside is really warm and relaxing, and welcoming. It’s not the usual restaurant-design that you see here in the Philippines, it has a flair of Korean/Taiwanese/Japanese design mixed into it.

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Dec 19 2011

Helping Dumaguete: Typhoon Sendong chapter

Banica River. Picture above taken by my aunt. December 17, 2011. Around 11am.

Just a few minutes ago, I spotted Dumaguete (where I’m presently living) on the news. Why? We, together with places like Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, were hit by a typhoon last Saturday. Massive rains and floods swept through certain areas of the city and the neighboring municipalities. I am quite lucky because the only discomfort I felt was the rains and being without electricity for about half a day. But for a lot of other people in Dumaguete, Tanjay, Valencia and other places, they weren’t as lucky. Even until now, they have problems like lack of drinking water, destroyed homes, and the like.

But as I’m not in those areas and only in Dumaguete, this is some of the information that I’ve been able to put together.

Things needed:

  • Bottled Water
  • Clothes (Underwear, T-shirts, Shorts, Pants, Bras)
  • Canned Goods
  • Noodles
  • Blankets
  • Toiletries (Toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.)

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete

Address: Department of Social Welfare and Development Office, Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines 6200

Tel: (035) 225-0637

For donations of goods, groceries and money, you can send your donations to: Mrs. Bernadita Bangay. Kindly address it to the DSWD office along Rizal Boulevard.

For donations of money, you can send your donations through Western Union, with Mrs. Marina C. Mendoza (CT Social Welfare and Development officer) as the claimant. Directions for above transaction is as follows: After sending the money, kindly call the DSWD office (number listed above) to confirm the receipt of the money by informing them of your control number.

To directly contact Task Force Dumaguete: Local (Within Negros Oriental) – dial 348. For those outside, I’m not yet sure but you may try adding the local area code to the number – 035348.

If you’re looking for relatives or friends within the Dumaguete area, you may call the DSWD to inquire. Please be advised that including the barangay where said person/people live/s will bear more fruitful results as the DSWD has direct contact to the barangay heads.

As of my phone call to the DSWD office awhile ago, the office told me that within Dumaguete, 19 barangays have been affected. The office didn’t give me a list of evacuation centers, but told me that if you’re looking for someone, the likeliest places they will be in are the closest barangay halls, nearest schools and nearest churches.

For more information that is not listed here, you may directly call the DSWD Office at (035) 225-0637.

Information available above was taken from my phone call with the DSWD Dumaguete Office on December 19, 2011.

Mary Immaculate Parish Dumaguete
San Jose Street, Dumaguete City (across from Lee Plaza Supermarket entrance)

In solidarity with our brothers and sisters affected by the recent typhoon Sendong and in this season of joy and giving, we appeal to your generous and kind hearts. We are asking if you could give clothing, bottled water, and food items like canned goods, rice, noodles, and others. Please drop by your items at the Parish office. Thank you so much. May the good Lord, the reason why we celebrate Christmas, bless your generosity a hundredfold..    -As taken from their facebook page

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Found another site where more information is posted, though not sure how reliable these are:

Evacuation centers in Dumaguete City where you can drop off care packages/relief goods: West City Elem. School, Cadawinonan Elem. School, Camanjac Elem. and National High School, and Junob Elem. School. You can also drop off donations at the ONe RESCUE-EMS base, Dumaguete Disaster Risk Reduction and Management base, DSWD-Dumaguete Office, Dumaguete City Health Office, Ground Floor of the Pastoral Center, Dumaguete Cathedral Compound.

Google Crisis Response shares the location of the evacuation centers, donation centers and updates from NDMRC. Please click here to view the information. If you are looking for missing people or know a missing person, please click the link at the said page “Person Finder.”

Evacuation Centers in Dumaguete City courtesy of Google Philippines and Google Crisis Management. Click here.

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I’ll try to update this once I have more information.

For more information on how to donate to other places that were affected by the typhoon and floods, whether you’re in the Philippines or abroad, kindly click on Jane Uymatiao.com to be redirected to another entry with more information, or Bayanihan Online’s entry.

Dec 17 2011

Dumaguete Sandurot Festival 2011

Because I’m more or less ignorant to the local happenings here in Dumaguete, and I’m not really familiar with fiesta days and the like, I had to hear the sound of the parade and my aunt insisting that I go out and take pictures and watch the parade.

So last November 19, Dumaguete celebrated the Sandurot Festival. So what is the Sandurot Festival all about, and what does it actually celebrate? Because I didn’t fully understand the explanation given to me when I asked, and because the internet has more information on it than I could possibly hope for, I just decided to google it and found something. According to this blog site called Philippine Landmarks,  Sandurot is derived from the Visayan word “Pakig-sandurot” which means fellowship and reaching out, which is basically the characteristic of being hospitable – a common Filipino trait. Dumaguete City is actually called the “City of Gentle People”, so being hospitable and welcoming is in the nature of Dumagueteños.


Nowadays you can see many foreigners who both live and visit Dumaguete, but even in the past, a lot of people from other countries would often come and live in various places around the Philippines. Dumaguete City, in more recent times, has been popular because it is a university city. Dumaguete is most known for Silliman University – the first Protestant university and first American private university in Asia. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of Koreans in the city. It’s amazing how Beijing is full of them, so is Manila, and Cebu, and even here. Makes you wonder if any of them are left in S. Korea. But seriously, it just goes to show how cheap education and a low standard of living can attract foreigners to flock here. Of course, the kind personalities of Filipinos in general is also one thing to take into account.

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