By Jacky Lynne A. Oiga
Published: April 21, 2013
Manjuyod White Sandbar
Truth is, to the well-traveled, mostly well-heeled travelers, Dumaguete is a preferred, albeit low-key, destination. In fact, tourism in the City of Gentle People is far more robust than more popular neighboring destinations Bacolod and Iloilo. Yet people won’t see imposing billboards of touristic sites or kitschy tourist traps scattered in the city.
The laid back beauty of Dumaguete speaks for itself. It’s like a well-kept open secret and it seems like the Dumagueteños — as well as the hundreds of expats living in the city – want it to stay that way.
Located 641 kilometers south of Manila and the capital city of Negros Oriental, Dumaguete is primarily known as a university town because of the many educational institutions established in the area like the renowned Siliman University, Negros Oriental State University, Foundation University and St. Paul University Dumaguete.
As the main seaport and transportation hub of Negros Oriental, with easy ferry access from nearby provinces in Central Visayas, the city attracts a huge number of European, Japanese, Korean, as well as domestic tourists from all over the country.
Usually, visitors would start their itinerary with a city tour of Dumaguete passing through Siliman University, the iconic Rizal Boulevard and the Dumaguete Bell Tower, the oldest belfry in Negros Oriental.
According to locals, Dumaguete has some of the cheapest food fares in the country. In standard restaurants, a full meal with dessert can cost as low as P50.00. In hawker food stalls found around the city, P100.00 is enough to feed three people.
But of course, tourists should not leave Dumaguete without trying the city’s signature food offerings like Sans Rival (a cake made of layers of crunchy meringue, sandwiched with butter cream, topped with cashew nuts), Silvanas (a delicacy made of frozen buttercream sandwiched between two layers of cashew and meringue wafers), and tempura, a popular street food named after the deep-fried Japanese fare but is actually similar to the Chinese kikiam.
Dumaguete is also the gateway to nearby towns and islands of Negros Oriental that are dense with natural sites of interest and marine diversity. For dive enthusiasts, the city is just a quick boat ride to Apo Island and Sumilon Island, two of the Philippines’ most popular dive spots.
Beach lovers, on the other hand, can find a slice of paradise on the seven kilometer Manjuyod White Sand Bar, located in the town of Manjuyod. The sand bar is a two-hour drive from downtown Dumaguete. Stilt houses found on the sand bar are available for rent for tourists who want to stay the whole afternoon or spend the night. Boatmen also offer to temporarily anchor or park by the sandbar as guests swim, snorkel or laze around the sand.
Meanwhile, nature lovers can try an adventure hike to the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao, tucked away in the hills of Sibulan. A good 45-minute drive from the city, the winding road will lead visitors to the extensive rainforest ecosystem that surrounds the twin lakes, Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao. The eco-parks cool mountain air is perfect for kayaking, horseback riding and trekking.
Other nature lover spots found in the Dumaguete countryside include: Mag-aso Falls, Red River Valley Falls and Red River Rick Hot Springs.
When it comes to accommodations, Dumaguete offers a slew of tourists’ inns, dive resorts, pension houses, boutique hotels and beach clubs – one of which is the recently re-opened Sta. Monica Beach Club located in Banilad, Dumaguete City.
Formerly owned by Japanese expats, Sta. Monica Beach Club used to be a run-down dive resort that caters to Japanese divers. Recently acquired by the Amorita group, the beach club now has a warm and cozy atmosphere, artisanal furnishings, a restaurant, deluxe rooms and beach houses, and amenities that cater to families, couples and companies.
“With the same level of exquisite customer service, we’re bringing the Amorita experience from Panglao Island to Dumaguete,” said Amorita Resorts managing director Nikki Cauton.
According to Sta. Monica Beach Club resort manager Cita Alcantara, even before Amorita acquisition, the beach club has been a popular wedding and events place for locals from Cebu, Bacolod and Dumaguete.
“But now that we renovated the place, more guests are staying for two to three nights to enjoy the pool and the spectacular view of the sea and the sunrise,” Alcantara said. “We can also arrange day tours for guests who want to explore the many sites of Dumaguete for minimum charge inclusive of transportation and personal butler service.”
To know more about Sta. Monica Beach Club visit www.stamonicabeachclub.com.
When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment