Dumaguete makes ties with Korea

THE City Government of Dumaguete signed a sisterhood agreement with the city of Yeongdong-gun in the Republic of Korea for the enhancement of understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two regions.

Mayor Agustin Perdices, in the presence of city officials, recently signed the agreement following a lengthy deliberation by the Municipal Council before the latter gave the local chief executive the authority to enter into a sisterhood arrangement with the South Korean city.

The agreement also aims for the expansion of bilateral ties between both parties, bearing in mind the importance of the Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations.

Tanjay, Peaceful, Friendly City

I made the drive from Dumaguete to Tanjay last Friday. It was a holiday, so the traffic was not so terrible. I was able to complete the drive in less than an hour. Considering the ongoing road repair, this was not bad.

I have always liked Tanjay, it is clean, and it has just enough amenities to make it attractive to me as a potential residence. Tanjay is what Dumaguete was 15 years ago. If simple living without malls, McDonalds, and movie theaters is attractive to you, Tanjay might be a good choice.

Tanjay is a relatively affluent town. There are many Filipino bussiness owners living there, as well as seamen and their families. There are many clean streets with quaint houses lining the way. A residential town, Tanjay has a relatively quiet ambiance.

There are accomodations for visitors ranging from Nelia's lodge at 300 pesos per night to other pension houses nearer to town for 1000 pesos. There are a few upscale restaurants, A Scoobies fast food, and of course an extensive local market located in the middle of the city.

During weekend evenings, you will find the Park Cafe the buzzing spot for young people. Bands play in the park every Friday and people gather to listen while socializing over a red horse or two. It is a simple life, small town Philippine style. Night markets are open near the Park, and people stroll in the early evening hours to see and be seen. Food vendors and small restarants beckon with wonderful smells wafting into the street as you amble by.

Located between Dumaguete and Bais on the national highway, Tanjay is easy to find, and worth the time to do a little exploring. If you play golf, the turn off to Pamplona golf course is at the soth end of town. Bais with it's famous whale watching is only a short drive North.

Casaroro Falls in Valencia

Casaroro Falls in Valencia is only 10 kilometers from Dumaguete. Visitors to Dumaguete often trek to this tourist spot to sample the mountain adventures available in Negros. An hour’s jeepney ride will easily take visitors to this spot. A private van hired for a trip to this tourist spot near Dunaguete is about 1000 pesos ($20.00).

Casaroro Falls is hidden deep in the crevices of the rough Valencia mountains. Casaroro Falls feeds the Banica river from the natural rock basin beneath the waterfalls. This eco tourist spot near Dumaguete originates from a 100-foot high natural spring water source, and is fed by the seasonal rains. The narrow path to the mouth of the falls is one of its unique features, the relatively narrow water flow out of its mouth creates a resounding boom as it hits the rock basin. The loud droning effect is a hypnotizing constant drum beat that makes the environment seem primordial. You can easily imagine yourself in a place untouched by time.

Casaroro Falls features a challenging 350-step climb to the site from the level ground below. The undulating character of the terrain makes this tourist spot near Dumaguete a favorite hiking destination of novice hikers and climbers. Along the climb, sightings of rare birds may provide respite and renewed vigor for the climber, take plenty of bottled water as well!.

Enjoying the waterfalls doesn’t come without first testing the endurance and determination of the visitor, only those with enough perseverance and stamina for the steep climbing get to see this spectacular waterfall near Dumaguete. The 300 plus step concrete staircase is the only link to this tourist spot near Dumaguete.

The Casaroro Falls eco tourism destination near Dumaguete is worth the effort to find it . An adventurous tourist who wants excitement and adventure against a backdrop of rocky mountains and rough terrain will no doubt enjoy this challenge.

Timing your visit is important, during the rainy season the falls are full and spectacular, but it is dangerous to make the trek at this time. Best to wait until after the rainy period and before the summer dry period. this of course varies from year to year. Use common sense as there are no park rangers to save you if you get in trouble. That said there are locals who will be happy to escort you down and back for a small fee.

Father Tropa's Zoo

If you travel south of Dumaguete on the National Highway you will find the town of Zamboangita. The name is interestingly a bastardization of the original dialect word for Octopus. Apparently long ago legend has it, there was a giant Octopus caught and displayed on the beach and the name stuck. Traveling a few kilometers further south going towards Siaton, you will see (if you look very carefully) a small sign for Father Tropa’s Zoo on the right side of the road.

Father Tropa was a religious leader in the Philippines that had a following which believed that Jesus would come back to earth in a space ship in the year 2000. He even hosted a TV show titled Spaceship 2000. Well the year has come and gone, and so has father Tropa, but his zoo remains. Father Tropa was a dedicated environmentalist and did his best to protect native wildlife. His existing zoo is an outgrowth of his interest in protcting animals. It is a zoo unique to the Philippines, and unlike any zoo you might have encountered in the western world. Humble would be a kind way of describing it. In the genre of bizarre, quirky, and entertaining, it is an interesting stop if time allows.

Passing through the narrow gate is best accomplished on a motor bike or small car. A gate keeper will collect 10 Pesos per person to enter or park, not sure how they apply the fee. In any event you pay, enter, and park. When I entered with my wife we were greeted by a diminutive guide who spoke no English, and very little of any language it seemed. He had this never ending smile and giggled incessantly. He was determined to show us every display and animal.

First on our tour was this largish low building that looked like a Barangay hall or meeting place. Once we were through the doors and our eyes adjusted to the lower light levels, a strange and surreal world awaited. Reminiscent of a Bruegell painting, there were displays representative of your average house of horrors. Our guide was laughing in his imbecilic manner and pointing out every display with great pride. This hall was home to what might be called the dead stuff. Long tables with dusty jars full of formaldehyde in which were preserved every aberration of genetics known to man, including a human fetus with multiple limbs. If you are sensitive or squeamish, don’t enter, because the stuffed two headed calf will certainly put you off.

Other exhibits included many moth eaten examples of taxidermy, both domestic and wild critters. Some of the displays have been artfully repaired with duct tape. Actually this was my favorite part of the zoo. It either brings out the teenager in you, or makes you ill. After the initial shock and cursory tour, our over zealous guide bent down and dragged a large flat box from beneath one of the tables. I was wondering what surprise we were in for now… As it turned out this boxed contained a large very alive Python. Without hesitating he gingerly raised the snake and draped it around my wife. She is very OK with this stuff and played along with the gonzo theatrics. What I don’t understand is how these snakes, and there were more, live in boxes under a table. But there was no time to ask. We were whisked outside again and showed the various animals kept in rusty wire fences and cages. I tried to get some photos, but the cages were so ugly and constricted, it was hard to get anything worthwhile. One of the proudest moments for our guide was when he showed us the “giant” chicken. Essentially a standard size domestic type from Europe or the U.S., compared to the wild native chickens in the Philippines, it was indeed giant. At this point I was muttering to myself but enthusiastically enjoying our tour.

Next up where the two dozen Monkeys in cages, most I assume donated or orphaned. The highlight live animal was the giant crocodile. This thing in a low pool was immense. We missed the feeding, but apparently they throw it a live goat or dog once in a while. I was very glad to miss that. My wife described an earlier visit with here family where in fact a dog was sacrificed in from of visitors.

The last exhibit we saw was father Tropa’s grave. Yes he is there among his beloved animals, forever enshrined, but not stuffed thank goodness.

So if you get tired of coral, exotic fish, white sand beaches, and mountain climbing, Father Tropa’s awaits you, ready to give you an alternative zoological experience.