Summer In Dumaguete

Summer in Dumaguete means going to the beach, driving or riding into the mountains to find a remote water fall or grotto, or simply relaxing at a cafe or music venue on a balmy summer evening. Being a college town, the students set the tone, (those who do not go back to their province).

Silliman beach is a favorite free beach popular among the locals, It is no frills, but offers a taste of the local life. From there you can move north along the coast or south and find a variety of resorts from modest to garandiose. North of Sibulan there is Sea Forest resort. Going south there are many resorts to chose from beach to pool resorts, to scuba diving resorts.
Mountain lovers will love to explore Forest Camp resort, it has water, hiking trails, ATV rentals, and guided mountain trekking.

Evenings will find many students at Garahe, or any other numerous acoustic music venues. Special musical events are numerous often sponsored by San Miguel Breweries. These feature national recording artists, and some excellent bands visit Dumaguete on these occasions.

What ever your pleasure Dumaguete offers the best of summer at a lesurly pace. A great combination of popular culture and natural splendor is available.

Dumaguete Sex Workers Numbers Increase

Sex workers in Dumaguete, Sibulan up due to poverty
from The Sun Star Dumaguete
By Victor L. Camion

POVERTY is the main factor of a rapid increase of commercial sex workers in the city of Dumaguete and in the town of Sibulan, a top official of the Silliman University Medical Center (SUMC) extension program disclosed. Dr. Fe Wale, in-charge of Marina Clinic, said there are at least 300 sex workers in Dumaguete City and Sibulan.Marina Clinic is an extension program of SUMC funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). It is tasked to monitor the activities and the protections of the sex workers.

But Wale admitted that only 20 of the more than 300 sex workers are members of the Magdalena group. (a self help NPO) Although some of the sex workers are hiding especially students, majority of them are working openly. Tocino Country in Looc, is a haven of the more than a hundred of sex workers in Dumaguete City, said Wale. She said beerhouses and bars in Sibulan, on the other hand, are the heavens of the sex workers in the town. "We don't have the right to order them to stop being commercial sex workers," admitted Wale.She clarified that their task is to advise them to stop selling their flesh. "They (commercial sex workers) are ready to quit their job so long as they would have an alternative means of earning", Wale said. The doctor stressed that majority of the sex workers are breadwinners for their families.

Myrna (not her real name), president of the Magdalena org., and working as pimp of sex workers at Tocino Country, admitted that although some of the sex workers are selling their flesh just to buy shabu, majority of them are helping their parents in the province.Myrna, who also admitted being a sex worker before, stressed that she was forced to work as sex worker just to provide milk for her daughter.She admitted that at the age of 16, she became addicted to illegal drugs, until she got pregnant.

Ading's Pick Quick

Off The Beaten Path

Ading’s is one of those little spots you would never find on your own. Located far from the Boulevard in Barangay Taclobo, Ading’s offers a unique combination of native and international flair. Ading’s started as a small sari sari store. Sari sari loosely means a little bit of everything. Normally this would refer to various dry goods, snacks, drinks, and candy, all displayed hanging on wires and hooks. Ading has since expanded to a sort of Sari sari, karinderya(cafeteria style native food), karaoke, and watering hole for both in the know Filipinos and foreigners. Quaintly designed in the native style, Ading’s will accommodate only about 30 customers at a time. From the outside the look is unremarkable, but once inside the atmosphere changes. Ading’s bubbly personality and the friendly staff makes you immediately feel at home.

The walls are lined with artfully framed local photography. This sampling from Dumaguete and surrounding area was part of an exhibit at the Maharlika Festival in 2005 right here in Dumaguete. The music playing is always an eclectic mix of old rock, alternative, blues, jazz, and even the local favorite dance sounds.
Drinks include Ice cold beer, and soft drinks at very reasonable prices. Snacks are always available and if your timing is right, you might just be able to sample some native cooking. The Chicken curry is awesome. Since at this point the food service is karinderya (cafeteria) style, the earlier in the day you get there the more likely you are to get a choice. Ading says she would like to eventually offer a small menu from which items could be selected. Even now if there is something you would like, Ading might just prepare it for you if there are ingredients on hand. She is like that.
If you are looking for an authentic native style experience with a twist, Ading’s offers the alternative to the tourist oriented establishments. To find Ading’s, travel west away from the BVLD on Locsin street (the one that Unitop is on). Cross the National highway, keep going past ACSAT College on the right. The road will curve and you will come to a Y. Go to the right (now Larena Dr.), take the first right which is Ceriaco Espina Street (also known locally as Bag-ong dalan). Ading’s is only a few hundred meters on the Left. If you take a tricycle, just tell the driver “Bag-ong Dalan”. It's only about one kilometer from downtown.