NEGROS ORIENTAL: Walking Tour at Dumaguete City

 

It was a fine Sunday morning when I arrived at the port from Siquijor. I walked by the bay passing the good old Silliman University, city’s largest university that occupies the northern part.

Silliman University seen from Dumaguete Bay

Silliman Gate Markers at Hibbard Avenue

Silliman Chapel

You can see the oldest building within it near the port: Silliman Hall or officially known as Silliman Anthropology Museum. It has an exhibit of artifacts and archaeological findings, some dating 2,000 years and an ethnographic collection from minority tribes in the Philippines. Silliman Hall is in itself a cultural relic of old America.

Next stop is the Rizal Boulevard named after our national hero, who came from exile in Dapitan, had a stopover here to operate the eye of former head of Negros Occidental.

A landmark at one part of the boulevard is the marker where Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres landed at the bay to establish the first educational and medical institutions in the city.

Walking towards the cathedral is the Quezon Park celebrating its centennial, graced by Rizal monument.

Nearby is the city hall flanked by central schools, which has a colonial stone house motif.


Across the Quezon Park are the two famous landmarks of the city:

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish known as Dumaguete Cathedral is the flagship Catholic church within the city. Regarded as the oldest stone church in Negros, it was originally built in 1754 with coral stones like in Siquijor churches. The reconstruction started in 1585 up to 1936. Nowadays, many modern renovations have been incorporated in the interior and exterior of the church.

The most famous landmark is the Campanario de Dumaguete or simply the bell tower located a few meters away from the cathedral. It was initially built in 1811 as a lookout to forewarn locals of any incoming danger brought about by Muslim pirates. This is the oldest bell tower in the Visayas. Hence, its name was derived from Cebuano word dumagit meaning "to snatch".

Famished after the day’s walk, I took at hot cup of milk at a painitan (breakfast stall) within the public market and bought some budbod kabog (rolled millet rice cakes), a famous delicacy from Tanjay City.

Before leaving Dumaguete, my trip won’t be complete without tasting their famous desserts: sans rival and silvana served at Sans Rival Bistro. The café is already packed with patrons lining up to take home these sweet treats.

I took a quick lunch from the main branch of Jo’s Chicken Inato, a famous chicken barbecue chain that originated here in Dumaguete.

'Til next time Dumaguete! (n_n)

NEXT: NEGROS ORIENTAL: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

NEGROS ORIENTAL: Sauntering at the Provincial Capital

It was a beautiful Friday morning when I landed at Negros Oriental. Technically, the airport is in Sibulan town but it is commonly known as Dumaguete airport as it is just few kilometers away from city center. I walked few meters away from the airport and hailed a multicab bound to my first destination: the provincial capitol. Let the sole-searching begin!

The capitol building is located within the Freedom Park. I saw some students doing their dance practice and others, especially lovers, are just sitting on benches and taking their quality time. Like any other capitol building built before 1950s, the neoclassical style is evident in its high columns. Roman numerals state it was built in 1924.

Dumaguete’s main transport is tricycle for short distances within the city. 


From the capitol, I walked my way to the port. Walking along Silliman Avenue will open your eyes to different restaurants due to proximity to its famous educational institution: the Protestant-run Silliman University. 

One of the buildings that caught my eye is the oldest building within: the Silliman University’s Anthropology Museum. 


I took a selfie before heading to the port to catch a fastcraft bound to Siquijor.

That time, the terminal building was under renovation, so passengers need to secure boat tickets first from sellers outside the gate then pay terminal fee (Php15) upon entrance. I bought a ticket bound to Siquijor at Php150 for 12pm ride. Boarding now!



NEXT: SIQUIJOR: Afternoon tour at the provincial capital