| From the days
I spent in Dumaguete, I was able to visit many small towns and most of
the popular spots on Oriental Negros Isle. Traveling with me was my bosom-buddy
friend Sheila, who is a longtime resident of Dumaguete, and who made all
my sightseeing excursions possible.
One of the
historical landmarks in Dumaguete that I visited was St. Paul’s University,
the first St. Paul’s University in the Philippines. It was built by
seven French Sisters who first set foot on the boulevard of Dumaguete in
1904. The statue of the Seven French Sisters is conspicuously emblazoned
along the seaport of the city.
Another prominent
site is Silliman University founded by the Americans in 1901. It is one
of the pre-eminent international schools in the Philippines with mostly
South Korean and Iranian students studying English. Silliman Hall is adjacent
to the seaport and is the first building built by the Americans in 1901.
There are
attractive vacation spots in Oriental Negros such as Sea Forest Resort
& Restaurant in Sibulan, Oriental Negros; the Forest Camp Resort in
Valencia, Oriental Negros; and the Santa Monica Beach Resort in Banilad,
Dumaguete City. They are among the most popular tourist spots visited by
foreigners. Forest Camp Resort is very far from Dumaguete, and is situated
on the elevated vicinity of southern Oriental Negros. Thus, several Koreans,
Americans, Japanese and some European guests stay in this resort because
of its humid temperature and natural flowing waters.
Underneath
the azure waters of Santa Monica Beach Resort lies a collection of diverse
coral reef and fish species. Other interesting views include the Lake Nailig
and the Twin Falls located at the apex of Mt. Talinis in the province of
Oriental Negros.
Dumaguete has
an active nightlife. There are numbers of celebrated night-time pubs to
hang-out in, and they seem free from harm. Seeking a pacific place to stay
is indeed the best way to have a pleasurable vacation. Many foreigners
have found their home in Dumaguete as this is one of the safest places
to live in the Philippines.
The Lingering
Legacy
Despite the
fact that the Philippines are constantly plagued with political crises,
the Filipinos possess many fine attributes. One warm Filipino trait is
hospitality.
All peoples
are hospitable in their own way, but Filipino hospitality is something
that is beyond comparison. This kind of hospitality has been misunderstood
by many foreigners, particularly by the Spanish adventurers of the past,
who thought that profuse hospitality was a form of inferiority and subservience.
As I contemplate
moving to Europe, one trait that will always remind me of the Filipino
people is their loyalty to a friend. For the Filipino, “Friendship” is
sacred and symbolizes mutual aid under any circumstances. This lingering
legacy stays in the heart of the Filipino people where its essence has
remained.
(I wish
to convey my sincerest gratitude to the people who bestowed their heartwarming
hospitality to me during my travels; to those who contributed the necessary
facts and details for the conclusion of this article. I thank the openhanded
RACADIO family of Dumaguete City, Philippines especially Sheila, whose
kindness and generosity are part of the final article; to her mother Josephine
and her sibling Mark; and to all friends: Wilson, Ellen, Aileen, Jay-r
and Dan, tons of blessings!)
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