Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental Province - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 5

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:20 PM

BSP GUEST HOUSE
Capitol Area,Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-2818

BETHEL GUEST HOUSE
Rizal Ave. Dgte City
Tel #: (035) 225-2000-2009

CITYWOODS
Ipil St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-2220

C & L SUITES INN
Perdices cor. Pinili St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-6219/422-9671

DIVE INN YUISHIN
Calindagan, Dumaguete City

EL ORIENTE BEACH RESORT
Mangnao, Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 255-5544 or 0668

GAZEBO PENSION HOUSE
Cervantes St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-0579/422-7807

GSP HEADQUARTERS DORMITORY
Capitol Area, Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-0087

COCO GRANDE HOTEL
Hibbard Ave. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-0833/422-4858

HAROLD'S MANSION GUEST HOUSE
Hibbard Ave. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-8000/422-4961

HOME GUEST LODGE
Hibbard Ave. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-3327

HONEYCOMB TOURIST INN
Rizal Blvd. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 255-1181

INSULAR HoTEL
Siliman Ave. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 422-4771

INTERNATIONAL GUEST HOUSE
Ma. Cristina St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 255-4771

LA RESIDENCIA AL MAR
Rizal Ave. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-7100, 7101/422-8449

NEGROS LODGING HOUSE
Dumaguete South Road, Calindagan Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-9622 0r 9623

OK PENSION HOUSE
Sta. Rosa St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-4636 or 5702

OPENIAS HOTEL
Katada St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-5214

DUMAGUETE ROYAL SUITES INN
Rovira, Rd Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-2195 or 2197

PLAZA MARIA LUISA SUITES INN
Legaspi St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-3267 or 7994

PHCCI RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
Banilad Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 255-7984

SALESIAN RETREAT CENTER
St. Louis School - Don Bosco Compound
Calindagan Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 255-0442

STANFORD PENSION
San Jose St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-1577

SOUTH SEA RESORT HOTEL
Bantayan, Dumaguete City
Tel #: (0350 420-0801, 0903 or 0905

STA. MONICA BEACH RESORT
Banilad, Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-0704

VINTAGE INN
Ligaspi St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-1076 or 9106

LORENZO G. TEVES MEMORIAL AQUA CENTER
Capitol Area, Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-7817 or 3392

WORLDVIEW PENSION PLAZA
Perdices St. Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-4111 or 4112

YMCA GUEST HOUSE
North Road, National Highway Dumaguete City
Tel #: (035) 225-1519 or 3633

SJM LE' GRANT
Cangmating Sibulan Neg. Or.
Tel. (035) 419-8935/225-7994

ANTULANG BEACH RESORT
Antulang Siaton Neg. Or.
Dgte. Desk: (035) 225-0613, 0614, 0392

APO ISLAND BEACH RESORT
Kan-Upe, Apo Ialand, Dauin Neg. Or.
Dgte. Desk: (035) 225-5490

ATLANTIS BEACH RESORT
Lipayo, Dauin Neg. Or.
Tel #: 424-0578
e-mail add: genesis2@mozcom.com

BAHIA DE BAIS HOTEL
Dewey Island, Hiiltop, Capiniahan Port, Bais City
Tel #: (035) 402-8850 or 8851

ELDORADO BEACH RESORT
Lipayo, Dauin Neg. Or.
Tel #: (035) 424-0238, 0098, 0094

ESCOSA'S BEACH RESORT
Tandayag Amlan Neg. Or.
Tel #: (035) 417-0676
FOREST CAMP
Apolong Valencia Neg. Or.
Tel #: 255-2991

HANSEATIC BEACH RESORT
Tamao, Tayasan Neg. Or.
Tel #: (035) 407-6010

LA BOCA BEACH RESORT
Amlan Neg. Or.
Tel #: (035) 527-0925/417-0560
Dgte. Desk: (035) 225-4800

WUTHERING HEIGHTS HOTEL and RESORT
San Jose Negros Oriental
Tel #: (035) 417-0300 or 0470
Dgte. Desk: 225-0300

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:22 PM

The oldest stone church in the whole of negros island.. built in the 16th century.. got burned in the 1800s.. was rebuilt in the early 1900s renovated last year.. St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish..

Its facade taken from quezon park
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9625/dgtecathedral1jo.jpg

This skylight in the Dumaguete Cathedral gives a green glow to the altar area. I was impressed by it's kaleidoscope-like shape.
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8716/dgtecathedralglass0gs.jpg

The Dumaguete Cathedral is the oldest stone church in Negros. It was originally built in 1754, reconstructed in 1885 and extended in 1936. Since then, many modern touches have already been incorporated into the cathedral's interior and exterior. Despite the changes, the cathedral still remains a beautiful sight to behold.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7547/dgtecathedralinterior1wn.jpg

Blue Glass: This skylight is found directly above the center crucifix of the Dumaguete Cathedral. This glass, combined with the circular skylight (also found on this page) gives a distinct blue and green glow to the altar area.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5696/dgtecathedralblueglass5wh.jpg

The altar facade (pardon for the pic.. got this from istockphoto)
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4819/dgtecathedralaltar3dl.jpg

its BELFRY: Dumaguete City's Spanish belfry is one of the city's most memorable landmarks. It was built in 1811 to warn the citizens of attack.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/3081/dumaguete145vv.jpg
http://img419.imageshack.us/img419/7112/dgtebelfry9jr.jpg

This statue is an example of the various decorations that can be found in Quezon Park, which is in front of the cathedral.
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6560/dgtequezonstatue6jg.jpg

-- photos by roytc

Aside from being a college town and a tourist destination for people from all over the world, Dumaguete is also the capital city of Negros Oriental. The American colonial influence is evident once again in the design of the capital building.

(a repost from Thread II)

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Foundation University
http://www.i-oriental.com/content/images/institutions/fu.gif

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1600/fu17om.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/7626/fu20yq.jpg

Silliman University
http://www.i-oriental.com/content/images/institutions/su.gif

http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/5396/sufacade7eu.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/792/sillimanfireworks0vi.jpg

St. Paul University Dumaguete
http://www.i-oriental.com/content/images/institutions/spud.gif

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9287/spud2se.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3897/spudlads7ly.jpg

Negros Oriental State University
http://www.i-oriental.com/content/images/institutions/norsu-logo.gif

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5043/norsufacade2iw.jpg

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:25 PM

DUMZVILLE BAYWALK
http://img418.imageshack.us/img418/5968/dgteposter6df.jpg
http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/2962/dumaguete012rc.jpg
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3875/dumaguete029jc.jpg
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4502/boulevard20yf.jpg

THE CAPITOL
http://img418.imageshack.us/img418/3674/dgtecapitol2rk.jpg

JOLLIBEE LEE PLAZA
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/9541/leesuperplaza0vb.jpg

UP, UP AND AWAY
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8229/dgtemarketaerial7ja.jpg

DUMZVILLE'S SUNRISE
http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/6296/dgteboulevardsunrise5rs.jpg

EUROPE? NAHH.. ITS LA RESIDENCIA AL MAR
http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/255/donatilanodumaguete3rh.jpg

SILLIMAN BY THE SEA
http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/5396/sufacade7eu.jpg

ANNUAL NATIONAL PYROTECHNICS COMPETITION.. BANG!
http://img473.imageshack.us/img473/7197/buglasanfireworks2rn.jpg

LARGEST TRICYCLES IN PINAS!
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/2306/dumaguete103db.jpg

ST CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/483/dgtecathedralpark7ks.jpg
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6131/dgtecathedralaltarfacade8hc.jpg

ATLANTIS BEACH RESORT
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/9526/atlantisdgte3vl.jpg

SILLIMAN CHURCH FIREWORKS
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/792/sillimanfireworks0vi.jpg

(a repost from Thread II)

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:29 PM

the persian palate in the spanish heritage (?).. hu wants shawarma???.. a;)
http://img418.imageshack.us/img418/151/spanishheritage22jz.jpg

a european and persian establishments in a spanish building in the philippines.. multi-national?? hmmm..;)
http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/394/spanishheritage0oj.jpg

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:30 PM

yaY foR DumaGueTe!...

nicko

July 26th, 2006, 05:43 PM

just passed by the capitol.. its having a major face lift in preparation for buglasan.. the pathways are already brick paved.. and the stage as well is being renovated.. its roofs are being ripped off and its is being extended both sides.. its not finished though.. hmm.. can't wait to see how it looks like weeks from now.. i think its going to look good!...;p

congwats nato! third thread nata!!..;)

BYAHILO

July 27th, 2006, 04:36 AM

congrats for the new thread!

kelan kaya exact date ng Buglasan? peeps update nyo naman ako kung kelan yung date ng competition ng mga festivals. i will drop by dgte either b4 or after ako mag massakra festival in bacolod. and mag iloilo/guimaras trip

daghang salamat!

ritche

July 27th, 2006, 05:20 AM

I’m back in Dumaguete for the past two weeks after being absent for almost a year, and I have seen the fast evolution of the City. It is growing faster than before.

There are now 24-hour fastfood establishments which obviously cater to the growing number of BPO workers, probably one, if not the only, main driver of the city’s economic transformation. In the downtown area, and in areas even outside the immediate surroundings of Dumaguete, there a lot of constructions going on, with many of them bigger than the constructions that we have seen here in the last two to three years.

The designs of most of the buildings have also become more modern, with a lot of them utilizing glass and other colorful and modern materials for their façade and front portions. These edifices make the Dumaguete landscape more colorful and modern.

I would like to point out some of my thoughts regarding the city’s progress. Thinking ahead, when Dumaguete shall have been overtaken by development, progress and modernity, it would be better that there will be only a few high rise buildings dominating the skyline rather than a multitude of low rise buildings that consume a lot of space. This is happening in big cities. There are a lot of shanties and makeshift buildings made of low-grade materials to house the low-capital businesses that are there to get a share of the money of these cities’ burgeoning population. As a result, they contribute to the shabby look and pollution of these cities.

Having only a few but beautiful and modern buildings will save spaces, which can be converted into greeneries and parks. This would also make our city appear modern and healthful.

Traffic in Dumaguete is getting terrible! There are just plenty of backward-looking pedicabs. They should be replaced with more modern and efficient mode of transportation, at least in the main thoroughfares. They may be allowed to ply in the city’s streets, but they must be forbidden to ply in the main thoroughfares. If the pedicabs can’t be replaced right away, I suggest we paint them brightly and nicely so they will become tourist attractions, such as what are being done to the jeepneys in Fort Bonifacio.

Dumaguete still has plenty of room to grow, and we are very fortunate that we have not yet reached the level of development of such areas as Metro Manila, Cebu, Baguio, even Sta. Rosa in Laguna. There are just a lot of ugly things about these places. They seem to have developed hastily and there is plenty of pollution in these areas. Their streets and skylines, lacking character, are not that beautiful anymore. We can actually learn from their mistakes. We can also take a look at great cities in the world that have successfully integrated development and environmental protection seamlessly.

Really, it is time for some cool changes here….

ritche

July 27th, 2006, 05:37 AM

Guys, we are putting up a language center here in Dumaguete. The website is http://www.connectivelanguage.com. Yes, the yellow banners in the downtown area were posted by my company. We are helping foreigners and Filipinos who want to speak the English language in a conversational manner fast, and also those who want to teach the English here and abroad. Chinese students will be coming to Dumaguete in September to learn the English language in preparation for the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. We want Dumaguete and Oriental Negros to be known as the best place wherein one can learn to speak the English language effectively.

Matteo

July 27th, 2006, 07:53 AM

so what happened at you guys' meet at Coco?

nicko

July 27th, 2006, 05:34 PM

sad to say i wasnt able to make it.. ;( but ritche is planning to have another one..;)

Miguel

July 27th, 2006, 07:34 PM

suroy-suroy
Visayan word for "tripping"

Old Churches in Negros Oriental

http://www.waypoints.ph/details/bacong/bacong01.jpg
http://www.waypoints.ph/details/bacong/bacong03.jpg
Bacong Church

The Bacong Church is the oldest church in Negros Oriental. It is one of the 26 Spanish era churches listed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as National Cultural Treasures. These churches were given priority status that needs to be conserve and protected. The national hero Leon Kilat who fought against the Spaniards in the Visayas was once an acolyte in this church.

http://www.waypoints.ph/details/zmbgtc/zmbgtc01.jpg
http://jasm.daa.jp/dgte-photos/tada/Zamboanguita/Zam7_m.jpg
Zamboangita Church

Zamboangita Church is a church made up of cobblestones.

http://www.waypoints.ph/details/dauin/dauin01.jpg
http://jasm.daa.jp/dgte-photos/tada/Dauin/Dau1_m.jpg
Dauin Church

Dauin's colonial Church of San Nicolas is regarded as one of the province's oldest. In front of the church and along the beach are the ruins of two dome-shaped watchtowers said to have been used to warn against pirates.

Miguel

July 27th, 2006, 08:29 PM

BELL TOWER
Dumaguete's Most Prominent Landmark

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid209/p6a0a5646cf86a09c56b43b010df0f454/ee226526.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid209/p51743d8e9bfcfcc9dedea78e5bc5a46c/ee226523.jpghttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid209/p94654b5f1fa50daca146c9b6a6adb5a9/ee22650b.jpg

BELL TOWER

An old landmark of the city and mute witness to the city's history when pirates from the Mindanao used to come and kidnap beautiful local maidens in the late 18th century. Built between 1774 and 1776, the bellfry stood and served as a watchtower, alerting village people of marauding pirates when its bell was rang. Improvements were made on the bellfry in 1885 together with the renovation of the church and convent.

wis

July 27th, 2006, 09:13 PM

nice pics miguel.. im from negros oriental but i did not paid much attention to churches other than in dumaguete and sibulan :) i will perhaps spend some time visiting some churches and view them in a tourist perspective..

Miguel

July 27th, 2006, 11:17 PM

Hi wis. I'm from Sibulan. Do you often go to the St. Anthony Parish Church in Sibulan every 13th of the month?

Animo

July 28th, 2006, 02:19 AM

nicko

July 28th, 2006, 01:15 PM

suroy-suroy
visayan word for tripping

Antulang Beach Resort
Siaton, Negros Oriental

Paradise lost...... now found.

Nestled 40 kilometers south of Dumaguete City, Philippines, ANTULANG BEACH RESORT is proud to be the only resort in Negros island with private pool villas as well as suites and cottages equipped with heated outdoor jacuzzis, satellite TV, DVD/audio players and mini-bars. Suspended on seven sprawling hectares of sheer cliffs peppered with bright-colored bougainvilleas, swimming pools and premium rooms are positioned right at the cliffs’ edge, ensuring guests a commanding view of an endless sea, while winding staircases lead directly to the half a kilometer stretch of isolated white sand beach. Activities such as diving, kayaking, horseback riding and rappelling are offered along with scheduled cruises to famed Apo Island and nearby Tambobo Bay. An added highlight for our guests: Although sunrise and sunset are both visible from the resort, at certain times of the year one can marvel at Antulang’s sunset and the simultaneous rising of a full moon.

If there's one thing we take pride in, it's the beaches of Antulang. White and pristine against the beckoning turquoise-blue seas, few guests have resisted its allure. Take a walk down a winding staircase from your cottage on the cliff and stroll along the shell-cluttered, secluded beach as you welcome the sunrise. And keep an eye on the water, you just might see a jumping sailfish or a glimpse of a resident spinner dolphin!

Manta rays, hawksbill turtles, groupers and a multitude of marine life await the most discriminating diver. Our night dives come highly recommended--guests swear it's like diving in your very own private aquarium! And if snorkeling is more up your alley, Antulang's shallow corals are home to colorful clownfish, butterfly fish, eels and the occasional octopus.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p819d911a851c923d5284c9825b770e98/f0405192.jpg
Yachts and sailboats from around the world dock at nearby Tambobo Bay

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pab4e6c1c138b7686e9df907a542b28e8/f04051b0.jpg
The Borna Quatro, a visiting sailboat from Coruña, Galicia (Spain) anchors at the resort

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pb7d78bf4e82bdf309007939b73d85909/f0405185.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p7c29bc538caa55b66ef9cbe61fc3b468/f0405187.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p94c1c0a5e9356e1bed59dfa1eff33a73/f040518e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p2e8840d97b4f167b362aa62d7b21784d/f0405193.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p51ab05f7bb368c87a244c11e2f813300/f0405195.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pa03095fcb338a2b74fc225f0ffc35e2c/f0405199.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/ped01da91d03341c05e9f992ad93fcdf3/f040519c.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p303d53ed857eb8e5c195f9e88ab6057f/f040519d.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p745ca5e54dd7eae0052811784cb5fd3c/f040519f.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pcdfb54e311ecb60a962416d825585708/f04051a1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pd9f02cb3090cabc7a44875b17f63bb55/f04051a4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p9d69e1ed8455874deec9fb40202a58f5/f04051a6.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/pc11c3cf68dad446342a84172da19d184/f04051ab.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p6af94aa1a97b48d8093ca2b313b048f7/f04051b6.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid200/p6606af648097b2a170f21c5e54a8f45f/f04051c1.jpg

for more pictures and information, log-on to www.antulang.com

reposted from thread 2

nicko

July 28th, 2006, 01:18 PM

suroy-suroy
visayan word for tripping

APO ISLAND
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Philippine Pride, World Reknowned Diving Paradise

Apo Island is a tiny bit of paradise in the central Philippines. Its beautiful reef teems with colorful schooling fishes, sharks, sea turtles and, of course, hundreds of kinds of corals. Residents make a good living from fishing as well as from other trades and crafts.

But it was not always so. More than 20 years ago, the reef was nearly fished out. Desperate fishermen used cyanide, dynamite and weighted nets to force scarce fish out of the corals — while destroying the habitat the fish depended on. As their reef collapsed, fishermen had to travel greater distances in small boats to find enough fish for their families to survive.

Then biologists from nearby Silliman University proposed an unheard-of plan to the people of Apo: Stop fishing in one-quarter of the island's waters. Let the fish find sanctuary — and breed and mature — in this no-fishing zone, and they will replenish the surrounding waters where fishing with nondestructive methods is allowed. But the most daring proposition was that the people of Apo would create and manage the sanctuary themselves.

With little to lose, the islanders agreed to try the plan. Within a few years, they saw amazing results as their waters once again filled with fishes. At the same time, the people learned other livelihoods to take some burden off the reef as their main source of income. Today the entire Apo Island reef is a community-managed marine reserve that includes the fish sanctuary. It is a model for other Philippine fishing communities as well as a tourist destination.

Apo Island might not have the beaches of Boracay but it is what's beneath the surface that makes people from all over the world come and wanting to witness the beauty of this underwater paradise.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pdd40a738c81aeffe8531f81bdaa0ff83/efd02b03.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p9ec90ee72800c69830eab47e8e0eeb0d/efd02aed.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pd841ef782c7464a7f4b4ff2ff9a5edaa/efd02afb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pf625b4553c4584081469039c506ba6de/efd02af4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/paf3536a5721101fbf9f5e71f2ba45dc2/efd02ae6.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pabe86705fac3d39751f36c83f688b66c/efd02ad8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p02f6c48a7ef20d7a5399b99869dbcdb9/efd02ace.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pfba6c85a9045d31e95c6f15dc94ab52e/efd02ac3.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p0fbf2e84c5fb2ba70381abe5f117abf0/efd02ac1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid182/p08f8a7efc02d6bb5131ee06f2c5b12cd/f2c49c3a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid182/p5cb71e95a677f9c0569b1cfe6e82b2ce/f2c498ca.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid182/p59628655d3c8b619825ab544be0aa4f3/f2c4963c.jpg

DID YOU KNOW?

-that Apo Island is the first successful community managed marine sanctuary which has served as a model for other marine sanctuaries in this country and in other countries

-Philippines can take pride as a giant replica of Apo Island is permanently exhibited at the World's Largest Aquarium; Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p82fa33bf8ed6ba4dc68cf6fb48b13439/efd016bc.jpg

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/wildreef/tertiary_template.cfm?article=32

APO ISLAND ONLINE INTERACTIVE GAME
Did you know also that there's an online game about Apo Island? Just follow this link: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/SEA/interactive_module.cfm?id=9

MYSTERIES OF APO ISLAND

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p8cb933d0cdc3cee8fc0c718cc407dfc0/efd016b7.jpg

Foreigners travelled even from afar just to have a first hand account on the enchantment of this place. Now, it is high time for Filipinos to discover also the other natural wonders in this country.

reposted from thread 2

nicko

July 28th, 2006, 01:21 PM

suroy-suroy
visayan word for tripping

TWIN LAKES (Lake Danao and Lake Balinsasayao)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid181/pc1a0ce109d2e51607cde397cfdffabf1/f2d8d637.jpg

Twin Lakes

Balinsasayao and Danao Twin Lakes, which are in barangay Villanueva, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, are a haven of pristine flora and fauna. There are two routes to the Twin Lakes that are accessible only with 4WD vehicles and dirt bikes. On the way, you’ll be greeted by the sincere and warm smiles of the accommodating natives who are active and instrumental in protecting the lake against exploitation. Once here, you will not only behold the beauty of the lakes, but will also enjoy its cool and clear waters.

While here, you can: go kayaking on the clear waters. As you paddle quietly around the sparkling lake, you’ll see and hear many wild birds sing their beautiful songs; go fishing with lines and hooks for tilapia and carp in the lake – a true joy especially when you’re with our native friends; mountain climbing to get an aerial view of the Twin Lakes, which is only separated by a narrow ridge. In these surrounding forests you’ll see rare flowers, orchids, and birds; stay overnight – either in the cottage (for 10 to 15 people) or in tents. Either way, you’ll have a rustic and native experience you’re sure to want to experience again. And when it’s time for you to leave this wondrous and magnificent place to head back to the city, the beauty and serenity of Twin Lake’s will be forever etched into your hearts.

other photos c/o sassy40s of dgte.org

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b172/sassy40s/DSC00205.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b172/sassy40s/DSC00210.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b172/sassy40s/DSC00221.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b172/sassy40s/OntheBancaLakeBalinsasayao.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b172/sassy40s/DSC00201.jpg

I went to this place twice already. The first time, we had to climb to the mountain for 4 hours as these lakes were situated near its apex. Notice how near are the peaks and the clouds in the picture. And mind you, the lakes are so huge. These are just some of the hidden treasures of Negros Oriental that even some Negrenses weren't able to visit or even heard about.

reposted from thread 2

wis

July 28th, 2006, 01:48 PM

Hi wis. I'm from Sibulan. Do you often go to the St. Anthony Parish Church in Sibulan every 13th of the month?

i used to go every 13th when i was a child with my parents, it has been a long time since i'm inside that church.. but i always go to sibulan since my gf lives there, near the plaza.

wis

July 28th, 2006, 01:51 PM

You know what these churches and other monuments in our country would looks really great if we don't make them look so "antique". It would be good to see them look like they were just made yesterday. :)

hi animo,

nice old pics of pinas on the other threads.. im enjoying it.

i agree with you, restoration is the word for it.

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:12 PM

http://static.flickr.com/37/113644555_a35f6f3202.jpg?v=0

Oriental Negros, Pioneer in Quality Education (http://www.investoriental.com/ICT-pioneer.html)

"Dumaguete is the Only City of its size (100,000) with 4 Universities. There are around 2,000 faculty and staff, and one in every four people is a college student. College students number more than 25,000. The service and retail sectors get a third of their sales from education related spending. Education contributes P2B to the economy annually."

Silliman University (1901)
The first American investment when they arrived in Dumaguete City was a private school called Silliman Institute (now Silliman University).

Centers of Excellence/Development in Biodiversity Conservation, Nursing, Education, Coastal Resources Management, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Sciences, Business & Management Education and Biology.

National Artist for Literature Dr. Edith Tiempo - a graduate of Silliman, started the oldest Creative Writing Program in Asia, producing a majority of PEN and Palanca Awardees.

It is the only university that owns its fiber optic system; it is one of only two academic institutions in the Philippines that have extensive fiber optic backbones.Costing US $2.5 million in 1997, the fiber optic backbone connects all colleges and buildings in the University.

First school in the Philippines to deploy wireless Wi-Fi B2B LAN technology on its campus; WIFI and Fiber Optics are the main media used for data communication within the University

St. Paul University (1904)
First St. Paul school in the Philippines was established in Dumaguete City (At present, there are 42 schools and 23 hospitals managed by the St. Paul of Chartres sisters all over the country)

St. Paul University Dumaguete is the first ISO 9000 certified school in the Philippines.

Negros Oriental State University (1907)
The Beginnings of what is now the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) date back to 1907, from a single woodworking class at what was then the Negros Oriental Provincial School, the forerunner of the present Negros Oriental High School. As more industrial arts subjects were added, a separate arts and trade school on the secondary level called the Negros Oriental Trade School was established 1927.

This was the provincial trade school which became East Visayan School of Arts and Trade in 1956 and the Central Visayas Polytechnic College in 1983. In June 25, 2004, became Negros Oriental State University.

The newest State University in the country and a pioneer internet service provider in Oriental Negros. NORSU is the gateway for province-wide One Government Network and has the biggest student population in Oriental Negros

Foundation University (1947)
First non-profit, non-stock college in the Philippines was established in Dumaguete City named Foundation College (now Foundation University).

Operates a CISCO Networking Academy consistently having 100% certification rate.IT Center open 24/7 so students can work, do research, browse, chat, have lessons, or even play online games

Its Computer Science program focuses on working with open source programming.IT is applied to all disciplines. It also hosts several student-designed and built websites for local NGOs, including the website for the Oriental Negros Innovation Awards, a pioneering business plan competition aimed at generating more new businesses in the province.
_________________________________________________________________

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/suhall.jpg
The famous Silliman Hall.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/sumainlibrary.jpg
Silliman University Library, once tagged as Asia's largest, is probably among the best in Southeast Asia, according to some observers (http://su.edu.ph/nonacadunits/library/library.htm).

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/luce.jpg
Luce Auditorium, donated by Henry Luce of Time Warner, Inc., has a near perfect acoustics system. It is the best auditorium in the Philippines after the CCP.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/cba.jpg
The College of Business Administration Building.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/as.jpg
Arts and Sciences Building.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/newmens.jpg
New Men's Dorm.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/suchurch.jpg
SU Church

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/hsnew.jpg
New High School building.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/multimedia.jpg
Multimedia Center.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/scheide.jpg
Scheide Chapel.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/succ.jpg
Computer Center Building. Silliman is reputed to be among the very few universities in the world to own its fiber optic system.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/newsuesbldg.jpg
Elementary School building

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/amphi.jpg
The Silliman amphitheater.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/thewall.jpg
The Freedom Wall.

http://su.edu.ph/tour/bldgs/pics/bell.jpg
"The Bell."

According to PRC, Silliman University, #1 (or #2?, usually #1) in Nursing.
#1 in Accountancy.
Always in the top 3 in PT.
Center of Excellence in Coastal Resource Management.
Center of Excellence in Education, etc., etc.
The Tiempos organized Asia's first Writers' workshop hosted by Silliman University.
Dumaguete, the country's University Town, has the highest hiring rate among cities in the country for the callcenter industry.

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:13 PM

http://imageserver4.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0317/TZ200317000601142.jpg

Fiber-rich City
http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/images/pbmimgs6/CCtrain_NewClass.jpg
Dumaguete's telco infrastructure qualifies it to ride on the growth of global outsourcing industry

By Dominique Cimafranca

One secret that will serve Dumaguete well in its ambitions is the telecommunications infrastructure in the city. Unknown to many, Dumaguete actually has a robust high-capacity network already in place. This network consists of microwave links and a fiber-optic backbone which connect the city not only to Manila and Cebu City, but to Mindanao and other islands, as well.

The fiber optic links going into Dumaguete are among the best for a city outside of Metro Manila. The total capacity of these fiber links is a whopping 320 Gbps* which translates to 4.5 million high quality data and voice lines – a capacity which can accommodate five million call center agents. Bandwidth-hungry outsourcing businesses such as call centers, transcription services, and digital post-production will find ample room for growth for their telecommunication needs.

Redundancy is another key feature of Dumaguete’s telco infrastructure. Dumaguete is a landing site for the fiber optic backbone networks of Globe Telecommunications, as well as Telecphil – the national consortium of telco providers. In addition, microwave communications supplement the links, assuring that service businesses need not fear outages caused by a downed cable.

Investment promotion is going full-speed ahead for Dumaguete with the coordinated efforts of local government, national agencies, and non-government organizations. Already boasting of topnotch graduates, the city is well positioned for growth in the booming international services outsourcing industry.

*320 gbps and growing...
_________________________________________________________________
IT/ITES Firms

"In the past few years, several software development companies have emerged in the Philippines, as well as many other IT-related enterprises, like Medical Transcription Services and Call Centres, most of them however clustered in big cities like Manila and Cebu. Little did the world know that Dumaguete City, apart from its human resources, has access to the country’s most advanced telecom infrastructure right outside its doorstep, comprising a high speed fibre optic backbone network with a 320Gbps capacity!

This rarely promoted advantage this little city has over the rest of the country, combined with four well reputed universities and several other learning institutions, and added to that a considerably lower cost of operating businesses compared to the metro cities, makes Dumaguete City probably the most attractive place in the Philippines for ICT growth today. " - Nestwood Software Development Corporation (http://www.nestwood.com/default.aspx?tabid=47)

An investment location is known by the corporation/companies it keeps. These are the current ITES firms in Dumaguete:

http://static.flickr.com/53/114105612_6d24543eed.jpg?v=0 Teletech Holdings Corp. (http://www.teletech.com/global.asia.count.phil.html)

http://static.flickr.com/50/131723394_e6f0553357.jpg?v=0 SPI Technologies (http://www.spitech.com)

http://www.tri-edge.net/images/Logo.gif
Tri-Edge Resources GLP (http://www.tri-edge.net/)

http://static.flickr.com/39/114105609_f18e6534b2.jpg?v=0 Entheos IT Corp. (http://www.entheosit.com/)

http://static.flickr.com/56/114105610_7848021456.jpg?v=0 Nestwood Development Corporation (http://www.nestwood.com)

http://static.flickr.com/42/115574335_272b601583_m.jpg
IT Outlook (http://it-outlook.com)

Bayantel Communications (http://www.bayantel.com.ph/news/presscenter14.shtml)

Innove Communications (http://www.innove.com.ph/)

More vital facts about Dumaguete here (http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/archives/magazine/vol11-2004/11-6/geographics.htm).
_________________________________________________________________
Philippine fiber optics network - "The fiber optic telecommunications backbone of the Philippines is located in Oriental Negros. As a result, the province boasts of state of the art telecommunications facilities. Its geothermal powerplants ensure stable supply of electricity." - OneIPC website (http://www.investoriental.com/tourism.html)

http://static.flickr.com/39/113644001_d7180c36a2.jpg?v=0

Visayas fiber optics network
http://static.flickr.com/53/113644003_4953a5a7e7.jpg?v=0

Negros fiber optics network
http://static.flickr.com/45/113644002_8ce0bb86b6.jpg?v=0

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:18 PM

WorldView Pension Plaza
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/worldView.jpg

C&L Suites Inn
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/c&l.jpg

Bethel Guest House
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/bethel1.gif

Maria Luisa Suites Inn
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/mariaLuisa.jpg

Dumaguete Royal Suites Inn
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/dumagueteroyal.jpg

Gazebo Pension House
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/gazebo.jpg

OK Pension House
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/ok.jpg

Harold's Mansion
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/harolds.jpg

La Residencia Al Mar
http://www.touroriental.com/content/popups/hotels/gifs/laResidencia.jpg

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:30 PM

Dumaguete City offers a unique mix of small-city life and healthy intellectual and industrial activity

By Veneeth Iyengar and Danah Fortunato

http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/images/pbmimgs6/silimanHall.jpg

It is difficult to tell where the schools end and where Dumaguete City begins. They are so intertwined, their edges seamlessly stitched together by huge, yet graceful ancient acacia trees, that you could not tell them apart.

Silliman University is the oldest of the four universities in Dumaguete

Upon arrival in Dumaguete, the capital city of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas, you are greeted by so much green that first-time visitors instinctively look around for all the concrete and huge buildings that we have come to expect of a "city". Instead, you see all those towering trees lining major streets, and what seems to be a very young population.

Tracing roots

Dumaguete is built on the shores of Negros Oriental beneath the reassuring presence of Mt. Talinis, the second highest peak in the Visayas next to the more famous extinct volcano, Mt. Canlaon. According to historian Caridad Aldecoa-Rodriguez, the first recorded sighting of this part of the Philippines was by members of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition in 1565. He had sent a frigate to check out the islands that could be seen from Bohol and they came back with stories of this lush island with dark-skinned people, hence the name "Negros".

Like most old places in the Philippines, the city features a historic landmark that echoes this connection with the Spaniards:

El Campanario, or the belfry of the Dumaguete Cathedral, whose patron saint is Catherine of Alexandria. Church historian Fr. Roman Sagun, Jr. states that the lower, older parts of this tower can be dated to the 1760s when it first served as a lookout post – an early warning device – for the fast sailing ships the Moros used to raid and pillage towns and kidnap citizens for slavery. In those days, the bells rang to warn of danger. Today, the bells ring at dusk to call parishioners to pray the Angelus.

Strong academic institutions

With a population of just around 100,000 people, 25 percent of Dumaguete’s residents are college students. There are nine higher education institutions, including four large universities, which address their educational needs within the city.

Silliman University, founded in 1901 by American Presbyterian missionaries, is the oldest of the four universities in Dumaguete. It is designated a Center for Excellence in the fields of biology, business, marine science, mechanical engineering, nursing, information technology, physics, and teacher education by the Commission on Higher Education. From its founding, Silliman has always attracted students from other parts of the country and abroad. Recently, the university signed agreements with some Korean universities for their students to take English courses in Dumaguete.

St. Paul University-Dumaguete will be having its Centennial celebrations in October this year, with colorful events lined up. The first school set up in the Philippines by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, the system now includes seven university campuses spread out all over the country, and one hospital in Iloilo. Its strengths are in the areas of accounting, nursing, the arts, and education. Foundation University was founded by University of the Philippines’ eighth President, Dr. Vicente Guzman Sinco, in 1957. In recent years, the school has quietly positioned itself as a leading higher education institution in the areas of education, agriculture, the arts and sciences, and has put up a very robust sports program.

The Negros Oriental State University officially became a university only in July this year, but traces its history back to 1907, when the first trade classes were held at what was then the Provincial High School. For a long time, it was mainly a trade school before becoming a polytechnic college. Now, it can boast of strengths in agriculture, mechanical engineering, architecture, the arts, and education.

Cultivating IT

Last year, Dumaguete leveraged its status as a University Town and positioned itself as a spoke of the IT hub that is Cebu. The skills and qualifications obtained by graduates of Dumaguete colleges and universities have been attracting IT-enabled businesses in the city. According to City Mayor Agustin Perdices, "Dumaguete is blessed to have superior human resources, a high quality of life, and world-class telecommunications facilities. We are uniquely positioned to service the needs of the emerging IT industries."

Dumaguete wants to develop a portfolio of investments that are indicative of the high quality of graduates that it produces. Its graduates excel not only in verbal English communication skills, but also in other areas that business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are looking for such as excellent written English skills, proficiency in the arts, and information technology. The topnotch nursing and accounting programs in Dumaguete are validated annually by high passing rates in board exams.

The aggressive and sustained approach in branding the province to appeal to the IT industry and the rest of the country has resulted in several large and leading BPO companies visiting Dumaguete City. Among these are SPI Technologies, PeopleSupport, IBM, Epixtar, Client Logic, Sykes, and Convergys.

The approach would not have been effective if not for the three-way cooperation among business, government, and the academe. While business and government were act ing as cheerleaders and trumpeting the virtues of having this University Town and the quadruple redundancy fiber-optic connectivity, the colleges and universities have been quick to adapt to the needs of industry. The schools are very proactive in learning what IT companies need in terms of human resource requirements and are more than willing to accommodate their academic and training needs.

http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/images/pbmimgs6/ApoIsland.jpg

Sites to see

Around this area, there are a lot of varied activities that any reasonably healthy individual with limited time to spare can enjoy. World-class diving and snorkeling at Apo Island Marine Reserve take only half a day, since transportation on land and sea come often enough and are fairly reliable. A vertical section of the reserve, all the way from the houses and coconut trees on the beach down to the coral cliffs, has been copied by the Shedd Aquarium of Chicago, even to the extent of importing the sand to make it realistic. A visit to the place is a must.

A visit to Apo Island is a must

An hour north of Dumaguete is Bais City, with its famed whale and dolphin-watching tours out on Tañon Strait, which separates Negros and Cebu Islands. If one does exactly as the tour guides say, he or she can be within an arms--reach of these fast moving cetaceans.

For those who would rather have solid ground beneath their feet, there are the short trips to the town of Valencia, halfway up Mt. Talinis. The town has taken advantage of its beautiful park-like environment to offer guided hikes up into the forests for bird-watching, to see Casaroro Falls, or simply to see the rainforest. They even have guides who can do all the birdcalls! A hornbill flying over a valley carpeted with the green crowns of trees makes every peso of your plane ticket to Dumaguete worth it.

Culture and arts

Dumaguete happens to be the center of all things cultural in this part of the Philippines. The National Writers’ Workshop – the oldest writing workshop in Asia – under National Artist for Literature, Dr. Edith Tiempo, is held annually in May and has for its panelists many literary luminaries.
Also the hometown of National Artist for Film, director Eddie Romero, the city is host to the annual “Buglasan Festival,” a big extravaganza of festivals from all the towns and cities of Negros Oriental. Held every third
week of October, it gathers in one place all the best the towns can offer, showcased by booths that simulate their various attractions like the powerful Canlaon Volcano, the caves of Mabinay, the waterfalls and forests of Valencia, and the Marine Reserve of Apo Island.
A high point of the festivities is the street dancing by the different towns’ contingents, which winds its way through downtown Dumaguete on the first day to open the festival.

As a small town, Dumaguete City is made up of citizens who see themselves as neighbors who look out for, and help, each other. It is this kind of “small town” mentality that pervades the atmosphere and translates into cooperation, sharing, and a quick response time – all of which are attributes industries look for in an ideal investment place.

Veneeth Iyengar is a US Peace Corps volunteer responsible for bringing in IT investments into the province. He has a degree in Economics from the Krannert School of Management, Purdue University. For inquiries, email: iyengarv@yahoo.com

Danah Fortunato is the President and a founding Trustee of TVB Group Inc., an NGO dedicated to promoting Dumaguete as a University Town. For inquiries, email: danahvf@yahoo.com

Source: Philippine Business Magazine: Volume 11 No. 6 -Geographics

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Here's the excerpt from Pres. Arroyo's speech pertaining to Oriental Negros:

"We will lengthen the Dumaguete runway for tourism as well as electronics. Valencia, Oriental Negros could attract semiconductor firms with power rates subsidized by the geothermal field of Palimpinon. Negros will also advance energy independence with ethanol projects in San Carlos City and Tamlang Valley, once the biofuel law is passed."

as I said before, there is a plan to put up an export processing zone in Valencia...

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:37 PM

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:39 PM

"We will lengthen the Dumaguete runway for tourism as well as electronics. Valencia, Oriental Negros could attract semiconductor firms with power rates subsidized by the geothermal field of Palimpinon. Negros will also advance energy independence with ethanol projects in San Carlos City and Tamlang Valley, once the biofuel law is passed. (You have done your part, Migs) "

As I said before, there is a plan to put up an export processing zone in Valencia...

ritche

July 28th, 2006, 03:43 PM

And now for something completely different...

This render of the Portal West Building is from suacona.com:
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/6412/portalwestxw1.jpg

Highlights from an article in the Weekly Sillimanian:
- Part of the Twin Portals Building Project (TPP)
- Construction is under way. Completion expected in 10 months
- Commercial and office space will be leased, though it's not sure yet what businesses will be allowed
- Estimated cost: Php43 million (subject to change)

Other info from suacona.com:
- Entrance to offices is through a two story lobby fronting Hibbard Avenue.
- Parking spaces both perpendicular to the road and inside the campus

Portal West Building, Silliman University
Main anchor, National bookstore

Coffee

July 28th, 2006, 04:43 PM

And here's post #500!

nicko

July 28th, 2006, 05:31 PM

lets gather at thread 3!

Miguel

July 29th, 2006, 01:03 AM

i used to go every 13th when i was a child with my parents, it has been a long time since i'm inside that church.. but i always go to sibulan since my gf lives there, near the plaza.

really? our home is also near the plaza. what's her name?

wis

July 29th, 2006, 01:25 PM

really? our home is also near the plaza. what's her name?

her name is Jenny, you probably dont know her since they just transfered there about a year now.

non-resident of sibulan may not know this: along the wharf (to the right if your facing the cebu) a healthy ecosystem thrives just a few feet away from the beach. the first time we went there for a swim we were amazed to see soo many live corals and multicolored fish at the waist-deep of water. unfortunately we did brought any gogles but for sure, next time we will. hope goverment of sibulan will do something to protect and preserve that area.

nicko

July 29th, 2006, 02:19 PM

suroy-suroy
visayan word for tripping

Casaroro Falls
Valencia, Negros Oriental

The most photographed waterfall in Negros Oriental

http://www.geocities.com/sualumnicebu/casaroro1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/sualumnicebu/casaroro3.jpg

A 100 meter tall single column of water dropping into a swimming basin of very cold water that is surrounded by steep rock walls.The site is a very popular excursion site. Access to the falls is currently being improved to accommodate the young and old alike.

reposted from thread 2

nicko

July 29th, 2006, 02:59 PM

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3742/sumedicalcenterwp3.jpg

Silliman University Medical Center

Dumaguete City, Philippines

Silliman University Medical Center is a 140-bed facility located on the Silliman University campus in Dumaguete City, Philippines. It started as an infirmary in 1901 and became a hospital in 1923. Today it serves both the university and the surrounding community.

The medical center maintains a high degree of professional excellence in its services and training programs and has gained a wide reputation for graduates of character and integrity. Training programs offered include post graduate internships, residency training in internal medicine, medical technology, clinical experience for nursing students, physical therapy, nutrition and dietetics, nursing aides' training for health work, and clinical pastoral education for pastors and seminary students. The medical center provides curative care on both an in patient and out patient basis.

--- A 4 level Medical Arts Building is on the rise on hospital's left side lot. The two buildings will be connected through a bridge installed at the 4th level.

--- A MediMall will also be constructed right infront of the Marina Clinic.

--- Dri sad diay ko ga duty.. heheh..;)

nicko

July 30th, 2006, 01:43 PM

Anything new??..;)

nicko

July 30th, 2006, 02:07 PM

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4706/dumaguetefromspaceme8.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/359/dgteonairne6.jpg

nicko

July 30th, 2006, 02:10 PM

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8704/dgtemarketaerialbl4.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1671/dgtenorecoaerialrt1.jpg

nicko

July 30th, 2006, 02:12 PM

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9598/dgtefloresaerialvb2.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2180/dgtepoliceaerialqv0.jpg

nicko

July 30th, 2006, 02:53 PM

Founded in 1904, St. Paul University in Dumaguete is the first school built by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in the Philippines. It led the way for the foundation of more than 60 Paulinian universities, colleges, and hospitals in the country.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3147/spudkq4.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4216/spudcroshf3.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2314/spudsignpx6.jpg
The marker depicting the arrival of the French nuns. Declared as a national historical landmark by the National Historical Institute during its Centennial Celebration.

ritche

July 30th, 2006, 06:50 PM

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/179/2893/1024/article11.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/179/2893/1024/article21.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/179/2893/1024/article31.jpg

ritche

July 30th, 2006, 07:01 PM

Coffee

July 30th, 2006, 07:30 PM

The Park Building renovation is looking very nice... especially in the evening, when they turn on the flourescent lights inside and you can see how the work they've been doing on the inside. On the ground floor they've knocked down the old walls on all three sides to give a few extra meters of sidewalk.

Construction on the Portal West Building doesn't seem to have really started yet, despite what the Weekly Sillimanian said three weeks ago. I don't see any activity going on behind the blue tarp that they put up.

The building at the Po's Marketing site is getting taller, and it seems like it'll reach a fourth floor. There's also apparently connected contstruction going on at an adjacent piece of land that wasn't Po's Marketing before... is that part of the same building? We'll see...

ritche

July 30th, 2006, 07:32 PM

http://www.geocities.com/dumaguetecitydotcom/dumaguetecity.jpg

ritche

July 30th, 2006, 07:35 PM

Somebody told me that the Mcdonald's at the former Park Theater is going to push through, as well as the Greenwich in the former Po's Marketing...I hope that the 24-hour Mercury Drug near the Provincial Hospital will also be realized...hmmm the construction of the port in Siaton will start this week.

sugarboy

July 31st, 2006, 12:09 AM

@ritche, is it true that there's a new golf course in oriental apart from the one in pamplona? fill me in please. :) salamat

Christendom

July 31st, 2006, 08:25 AM

Coffee

July 31st, 2006, 01:41 PM

It's weird that I've never really posted pics of Valencia, even though it's where I live. Anyway, I was walking around the poblacion area this morning and took some pics. Things may look damp because it was raining pretty hard a few minutes earlier.

Our Catholic Church:
http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/8163/valenciachurchpj2.jpg

Another view of the church, taken from the plaza:
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2347/valenciastairsbi9.jpg

Amphitheater in the plaza, where programs and concerts are held:
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6173/valenciaamphiiz4.jpg

Municipal hall and a fountain:
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/3482/valenciahallmu8.jpg

This is a nice street. It has a wide sidewalk, and even a strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3249/valenciastreetyu7.jpg

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 02:15 PM

wow.. the last time i went to valencia was i think eons ago when guested hotfm.. wew.. it never looked as good as those pictures especially the park.. way to go valencia!.. niceeeeeeeee..;) and yeah, i think valencia park looks way much better during christmas especially at night..;)

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 02:18 PM

its good to hear mcdonald's is pushing through.. but about greenwich.. wud it be much better if they wud look for another place? greenwich ever mall is just few meters away from po's building.. mas nice unta if it wud be sumwer a bit far.. perhaps like sa south nila ibutang.. or sa tapad sa amoa.. hehehehe..

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 02:21 PM

and yeah.. silliman university college of nursing will be having their ground breaking ceremony for their 4 storey college building.. it wud be much bigger and much expensive than cba building.. it wud have virtual labs and a stimulation hospital.. hmmm.. its going to be built behind jollibee north road..

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 03:04 PM

sol y mar condominium / rizal boulevard
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7438/boulevardvl9.jpg

the capitol
http://img419.imageshack.us/img419/7019/dgtecapitol01vj4.jpg

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 03:11 PM

ever mall
http://img325.imageshack.us/img325/6626/dumaguete10er5.jpg

la residencia al mar hotel / don atilano, wakagi, and monterey restaurants
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2705/laresidenciaalmarmo1.jpg

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 03:13 PM

mart one / expressions / pizza hut
http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/173/martoneaq1.jpg

silliman university church
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3696/suchurch01vm7.jpg

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 03:14 PM

mart one / expressions / pizza hut
http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/173/martoneaq1.jpg

silliman university church
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3696/suchurch01vm7.jpg

nicko

July 31st, 2006, 03:17 PM

lee super plaza
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/2493/leesuperplazans2.jpg

early morning yoga at the boulevard
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/6912/dgtesuboulevardbv3.jpg

ritche

August 1st, 2006, 08:09 AM

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6665/dgtebizparksd0.jpg
Guys, have you heard about this?

Sinjin P.

August 1st, 2006, 08:17 AM

^^ Nice to hear that development but what's with the logo? It looks like a coffin... :D

ritche

August 1st, 2006, 08:19 AM

congrats DUMAGUETE CITY for your part III thread...

good projects coming soon to your cities...ROBINSONS MALL, INT'L AIRPOT, NEW CALL CENTERS, AND ALSO FOR YOUR NEW SCHOOL UNIVERSITIES.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

And export processing zone in Valencia with Intel, Texas Instruments, and related multinational corporations, as well as electronics firms, as possible locators...up, up and away....

ritche

August 1st, 2006, 08:21 AM

Guys, I'll be having loads of pics soon...watch out for them.

By the way, the budget for the College of Nursing building has ballooned to P140 million. Am I right, nicko?

ritche

August 1st, 2006, 08:29 AM

^^ Nice to hear that development but what's with the logo? It looks like a coffin... :D

I made that myself...can't find a jpeg copy of the project's logo. Those "coffins" are supposed to be skyscrapers...Hehehe :)

It will have Robinsons and Teletech, other IT companies, as well as some condos, hotels, commercial establishments, retirement homes, as locators.

ritche

August 1st, 2006, 08:40 AM

@ritche, is it true that there's a new golf course in oriental apart from the one in pamplona? fill me in please. :) salamat

There are actually three golf courses in Oriental Negros. Bravo Golf Course in Sibulan (18 hole), Ang Tay Golf Range (9 hole), and of course, Pamplona (18 hole).

altec

August 1st, 2006, 12:37 PM

And export processing zone in Valencia with Intel, Texas Instruments, and related multinational corporations, as well as electronics firms, as possible locators...up, up and away....

i once work at maxim-dallas semiconductor in gateway business park cavite. and i would really recommend this firms to be here in oriental negros and especially students/graduates of electrical or electronics eng'g ---this is good news. dumaguete business park....where could this be?

altec

August 1st, 2006, 01:13 PM

Air traffic control tower -
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/dc001.jpg

Departure terminal -
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/dc002.jpg

Arrival Terminal -
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/dc003.jpg

The fresh new airbus a319 - i love the design. :) though its late on its arrival here... :(
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/dc006.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/dc004.jpg

altec

August 1st, 2006, 01:18 PM

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g29/alteclint/airportaerial.jpg

nicko

August 1st, 2006, 05:07 PM

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6665/dgtebizparksd0.jpg
Guys, have you heard about this?

yep ritch, i've already heard about this.. in fact, it was early last year that i knew about it.. i think it will be in the area where rob and teletech is located.. the area is ok.. not so huge but it can accomodate offices, condos, it centers, and more..

i've seen its original logo.. ritche's version is good.. but the original logo has more of those skyscraper thingy..

nicko

August 1st, 2006, 06:04 PM

claire isabelle mcgill luce auditorium in SU
http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/6782/sulucedl4.jpg

st catherine of alexandria altar facade
http://img307.imageshack.us/img307/5926/dgtecathedralaltarfacadeak0.jpg

silliman main library
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8836/sulibol0.jpg

-- sowi diay sa double post sa previous page.. hihi..

Animo

August 2nd, 2006, 06:04 AM

by Rachelle Nessia

Dumaguete City (31 July) -- Around 20 student leaders from various high schools in Dumaguete City participated in the Orientation-Workshop on Child Participation over the weekend at Plaza Ma. Luisa Suites Inn.

Conducted by the Philippine Information Agency, the activity aimed to orient student leaders of their various participation rights and how to eventually build up awareness on the importance of children's participation in various arenas in the home, school, community and government.

The two-day workshop is an offshoot of an earlier trainor's training conducted by Unicef in Cebu City to develop the skills and capacities of identified adult and youth trainers in the Visayas area to effectively interact, educate and encourage youths and children to assert their rights as underlined under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly their right to participate.

The said activity is spearheaded by PIA in coordination with the provincial government of Negros Oriental, the Sixth Country Programme for Children Provincial Communication Task Force and Unicef. (PIA)

Coffee

August 2nd, 2006, 06:42 AM

yep ritch, i've already heard about this.. in fact, it was early last year that i knew about it.. i think it will be in the area where rob and teletech is located.. the area is ok.. not so huge but it can accomodate offices, condos, it centers, and more..

i've seen its original logo.. ritche's version is good.. but the original logo has more of those skyscraper thingy..

Yeah, I saw the logo for that Dumaguete Business Park on the streamers that were put up for that Visayas Area Conference. Nice. :) This business park is the land in Calindagan, right? Did Julio Sy sell all of his land for the business park? Because the entire lot is 20-hectares... that would make it bigger than Eastwood City (16 hectares) or the Rockwell Center (15.5 hectares) in Metro Manila. :) A lot of potential there. I just hope they have everything nicely planned with regards to layout, traffic, open space, etc.

ritche

August 2nd, 2006, 11:31 AM

I heard all of the lots there are just leased out...The Dumaguete airport will be expanded towards the mountains, not towards the sea. I heard the plan is to put a tunnel there where the highway could pass underneath, and the runway above...Cool if this will be realized and I think this is more economical rather than rerouting the highway somewhere. They should design a nice, new airport terminal, as much as possible world class...

ritche

August 2nd, 2006, 11:48 AM

GMA 7's "Lagot Ka...Isusumbong Kita!" will shoot special episodes in the Silliman Unviersity gymnasium and other parts of the campus on August 5.

Alumni and External Affairs Director Jocelyn de la Cruz accepted GMA Television Network's request to use Silliman facilities, saying that it "is a good exposure for Silliman to bring back the nationwide 'household name' level of our presence as an educational center."

The show's location manager, Ma. Cristina Linaban, said, "we chose Dumaguete as part of the show's nationwide tour, and we chose Silliman because it is one of the best universities in Dumaguete."

"Lagot ka...Isusumbong Kita!' is a GMA 7 sitcom aired every Monday, at 10:30-11:30 pm, featuring local television stars Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez, Pilita Corrales, Raymart Santiago, Maureen Larrazabal, and Alica Mayer. the advance party arrived in Dumaguete yesterday (August 1) while the cast will arrive today.

Last year, Silliman got exposure in the Star Cinema's movie 'Close to You", GMA 7's "Bubble Gang" sitcom episodes, and some television shows.

Source: the Weekly Sillimanian, Aug. 2, 2006

ritche

August 2nd, 2006, 01:03 PM

http://static.flickr.com/71/204740404_38f323372e.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/66/204740400_cb498af480.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/65/204740397_023dc79741.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/73/204739073_994be20bd6.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/67/204739070_fcde93d952.jpg?v=0

wis

August 2nd, 2006, 03:35 PM

ritchie,

where is this or what building?

http://static.flickr.com/66/204740400_cb498af480.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/65/204740397_023dc79741.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/73/204739073_994be20bd6.jpg?v=0

ritche

August 2nd, 2006, 04:01 PM

That's in Silliman University...CBA Building garden.

ritche

August 2nd, 2006, 04:13 PM

http://static.flickr.com/57/204740411_3bdd56dc78.jpg?v=0 :)

wis

August 2nd, 2006, 04:23 PM

That's in Silliman University...CBA Building garden.

tnx.. i suspected it to be the new CBA bldg.

nicko

August 3rd, 2006, 09:25 AM

http://static.flickr.com/57/204740411_3bdd56dc78.jpg?v=0 :)

dba DES appliance mall ni siya??..

nicko

August 3rd, 2006, 09:29 AM

http://static.flickr.com/71/204740404_38f323372e.jpg?v=0

i like the building.. i noticed netopia seems to be having good business here.. after the opening of three netopia branches (silliman, perdices, park) in a month, i heard they will have another one near st paul univ as their fourth branch.. im not sure though..

nicko

August 3rd, 2006, 09:31 AM

i saw a greenwhich poster that announces their hiring for their pos branch.. apply ta!

Animo

August 3rd, 2006, 08:04 PM

TOURISM in Central Visayas is booming!

It is just timely that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 24, mentioned that the entire three Visayas regions be the focus of the tourism industry in the country -- with the famous Boracay in Western Visayas and the rich and scenic coastal towns of Easter Visayas and, of course, the unique bounties of the Central Visayas waiting for local and foreign tourists to explore.

The Department of Tourism in Region 7 (or Central Visayas) published a beautiful brochure having useful information concerning the four provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

The brochure is impressive. Unfortunately it does not have a name. So I will call it "A 4-in-1 Central Visayas tourism brochure."

Bohol is described as "An Eco-Cultural Paradise"; Cebu is labeled as "The Metropolis of the South"; Negros Oriental is described as "Bounty of the Oriental Seas"; Siquijor has no label, but the brochure shows the province's photo of an old convent in the municipality of Larena, claimed to be the oldest Catholic convent in Asia. Since Siquijor has no label, I will name it Magic Island.

Central Visayas has natural and man-made attractions. Visiting this region is an experience! Most tourists say it is the place for a total experience of RRI -- rest, recreation, and inspiration -- where you find an abundance of nature, history, and culture.

Bohol, described as a quaint limestone island, is the tenth largest island in the Philippines. The island province has amazing natural wonders as well as important historical monuments. It is famous for its cone-shaped Chocolate Hills (almost 500 of them) located in the municipality of Carmen. Bohol is also famous for its unpolluted waterfalls, beaches, virgin forests, caves, caverns, and rivers.

The island is home to the tarsier, so-called smallest monkey in the world although it is not really a monkey. The greatest legacy of Bohol is its colorful history and culture -- it is the site of the longest revolt against Spain led by Boholano chieftain Dagohoy (1744-1829). It is home to 20 colonial churches.

Cebu is where commerce and recreation belnd harmoniously. Called the Queen City of the South, it offers the best of both worlds -- beach fun on stretches of clean, white sand, city convenience in modern shopping malls, discos, and parks. Visitors won't leave Cebu without buying a variety of souvenir items from fashion accessories to dried mango preserves.

Places to visit in Cebu are Magellan's Cross, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño formerly known as the San Agustin Church built in 1565, Fort San Pedro, Taoist Temple, Lapu Lapu Monument in Mactan, Kawasan Falls in Badian, Moalboal Beach Resort, and many other beach resorts and tourist spots.

Negros Oriental is "for those who love nature at its best". Beyond the stretch of its ssugarcane fields, you can see beautiful mountain ranges on one side and a glittering sea on the other. The major attractions include Apo Island, a haven for scuba divers and those who would just do snorkeling. Apo Island can be seen from Dumageute's Rizal boulevard. It is accentuated with crystal clear waters, colorful corals, and rich marine life.

The tourism brochure describes Negros Oriental as an underwater spectacle in motion citing Bais City, the place for dolphin watching, which is a one-of-a-kind experience. There is Mt. Talinis, a challenge for the adventurous hikers who love to discover rare flora and fauna, and verdant forest. Tourists would love to see the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao in Sibulan. There are caves in Mabinay and some towns in the north. There is also Canlaon Volcano in the north where tourists dare to scale the crater because of its magical effect.

Siquijor boasts of diverse attractions, but specifically the sea with white or yellow sand. Siquijor is a coral island. One really has to go to this smallest island in Central Visayas to affirm what visitors mostly say, "Siquijor heals the spirit of any weary traveler with its peace and tranquility". The island is popular for its folk traditions of healing rituals -- it gets a name as a mystical island paradise. Siquijor is the home of the historical St. Isidore Labradore Church, and the bell tower of St. Francis of Assisi, and the old Cang-isok house (a must-see for those people who love old wooden houses). Also, Siquijor boasts of its butterfly sanctuary where one of the biggest butterflies in Asia is found.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2006/08/04/oped/joy.g..perez.sensitivity.html

ritche

August 4th, 2006, 09:19 AM

"Bounty of the Oriental Seas..." That's good development. By the way I heard that a company in Manila is interested in putting up a spring resort near Valencia...

For the not-so-good news: the talk of Mcdonald's locating at Unitop has bogged down due to price considerations. They will still open though, but later, and at the former location they were eyeing: at the Cang's Inc. building. It will take sometime though, maybe at least a year, because Cang's still has to build its new mall/department store in Daro before they could allow McDonald's to start renovating their former building.

ritche

August 4th, 2006, 09:24 AM

i like the building.. i noticed netopia seems to be having good business here.. after the opening of three netopia branches (silliman, perdices, park) in a month, i heard they will have another one near st paul univ as their fourth branch.. im not sure though..

It's actually very viable. Sayang though that they were not able to avail of a space in the RM Building, that colorful mini-mall along Rovira/national Highway. I hope another commercial building will soon rise in the area.

And whatever happened to the mall/commercial area supposed to be constructed at the Villa Amada at the ukay-ukayan area? That area is already fenced with GI sheets. Maybe they are afraid of Robinsons? :) .

Christendom

August 4th, 2006, 09:36 AM

the robinsons mall under construction na or wala pa? how about the gaisano mall in your city?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/zyanz/bacolod/festival_masskarabacolodtwohead.jpg
www.metrobacolod.cq.bz

nicko

August 4th, 2006, 12:34 PM

there is no gaisano mall here.. but there is lee super plaza and its LP hypermarket, a sister company of the gaisanos.. its supposed to be named gaisano but i dnt know y its not..

nicko

August 4th, 2006, 12:35 PM

And whatever happened to the mall/commercial area supposed to be constructed at the Villa Amada at the ukay-ukayan area? That area is already fenced with GI sheets. Maybe they are afraid of Robinsons? :) .

i dint know that there is to be a mall/commercial center in Villa Amada.. (umm.. asa ng Villa Amada? hehehe..)

nicko

August 4th, 2006, 12:43 PM

TOURISM in Central Visayas is booming!

Negros Oriental is described as "Bounty of the Oriental Seas";

Negros Oriental is "for those who love nature at its best". Beyond the stretch of its sugarcane fields, you can see beautiful mountain ranges on one side and a glittering sea on the other. The major attractions include Apo Island, a haven for scuba divers and those who would just do snorkeling. Apo Island can be seen from Dumaguete's Rizal boulevard. It is accentuated with crystal clear waters, colorful corals, and rich marine life.

The tourism brochure describes Negros Oriental as an underwater spectacle in motion citing Bais City, the place for dolphin watching, which is a one-of-a-kind experience. There is Mt. Talinis, a challenge for the adventurous hikers who love to discover rare flora and fauna, and verdant forest. Tourists would love to see the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao in Sibulan. There are caves in Mabinay and some towns in the north. There is also Canlaon Volcano in the north where tourists dare to scale the crater because of its magical effect.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2006/08/04/oped/joy.g..perez.sensitivity.html

hmmmm.. niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..;)

nicko

August 4th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Bethel Guest House and Shakey's Pizza taken from the blvrd walkway..
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/389/blvdbethelhf2.jpg

Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park, the Capitol, and of course, the mighty Cuernos de Negros
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6383/cpitolde6.jpg

St Catherine of Alexandria parish
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/405/cthdralug4.jpg

-- pix coming from an american student studying in SU.

rmb

August 4th, 2006, 01:37 PM

For the not-so-good news: the talk of Mcdonald's locating at Unitop has bogged down due to price considerations. They will still open though, but later, and at the former location they were eyeing: at the Cang's Inc. building. It will take sometime though, maybe at least a year, because Cang's still has to build its new mall/department store in Daro before they could allow McDonald's to start renovating their former building.

Where in Daro? Near Villa Amada?

Sinjin P.

August 4th, 2006, 01:51 PM

^^ rmb, where have you been? Where's my prize? :colgate: :jk:

nicko

August 4th, 2006, 02:21 PM

i can wait for a year as long as they will occupy the whole Cang's building, ok lang para dako.. ;)

rmb

August 4th, 2006, 02:44 PM

It's in my hands... hehehehe... ipa-LBC nako? Anyway uli ko dumagute mga August 11

nicko

August 5th, 2006, 07:06 PM

umm.. anyone home??

nicko

August 5th, 2006, 07:08 PM

can any1 take shots on PHCCI building?.. i want to c its construction development.. hehe..

sugarboy

August 5th, 2006, 10:25 PM

There are actually three golf courses in Oriental Negros. Bravo Golf Course in Sibulan (18 hole), Ang Tay Golf Range (9 hole), and of course, Pamplona (18 hole).

Where is Bravo Golf Course in Sibulan? How far is it from the coastal road?

rmb

August 6th, 2006, 09:38 AM

Glad to here the developments of the city.... I'll inspect all the places.. hehehhe
Uuwi kasi ako next week and I hope I'll enjoy my break. Kita kits... :)

Sinjin P.

August 6th, 2006, 10:37 AM

It's in my hands... hehehehe... ipa-LBC nako? Anyway uli ko dumagute mga August 11

Sure. :colgate: Naa naman kay address nako diba? :D

Coffee

August 6th, 2006, 11:10 AM

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 04:20 PM

Feasibility study? If Bohol can afford to have two malls, how much more Dumaguete that has a higher purchasing power. If there are any hitches in the construction of the Robinsons here, it's because of personality problems, not with Dumaguete as a market.

You see, that mall is very long overdue. It's just that some people are belittling the Dumaguetenos, or are holding back what are supposed to be good for us.

Actually, I was with the group conducting the feasibility study and Dumaguete was good for a large mall two years ago. How much more these days? And the statement at the Visayan Daily Star news two months ago that Dumaguete is very much capable of having two malls should put all the doubts to rest.

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 04:30 PM

Where is Bravo Golf Course in Sibulan? How far is it from the coastal road?

about 1.5 kilometers. the area is really nice...

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 04:36 PM

can any1 take shots on PHCCI building?.. i want to c its construction development.. hehe..

I can't promise but I'll try this week to take pics of the almost completed PHCCI building. Guys, the roofing of its globe-shaped facade is glass. Cool. And besides, it is an "intelligent building", meaning it is very ready for computer networks and high-speed internet.

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 04:43 PM

Dumaguete will soon have a third Jolllibee branch. Guess where it will be located?

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 04:55 PM

The Oriental Negros government is now preparing for the holding of the Buglasan Festival in October.

Capitol has released an initial of P1 million to renovate the Freedom Park stage which will be the scene of almost all presentations from the participating towns and cities in the province. Provincial Board Member Mariant Escano-Villegas, head of the festival committee, said she sought the funding to make the stage more presentable to the audience and convenient for all participants.

Berchmans Patrimonio, assistant provincial general services officer, said Villegas had recommended that the stage house a dressing room on each side, a kitchenette, and an electronics control room.

Patrimonio said they want a design that will not expose the participants waiting for their presentations, but the budget may not be enough and an additional P400,000 might be needed to complete the designs.

He also said the stage floor will be replaced with wood and the roof elevated.

He assured that the renovation will be completed before the festival.*RG

Visayan Daily Star, Saturday, August 5, 2006

ritche

August 6th, 2006, 05:15 PM

The results of the latest AIM Cities Competitiveness survey will be out in a few weeks and I already know the result because I know the ones doing the survey. Dumaguete has improved in ratings, but not enough to put it to the top 10. But don't get disheartened guys. Dumaguete will come back with a vengeance once the things being planned are implemented and put in place...

born_n_dgte

August 6th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Is there a good resorts in Agan-an/Cangmating, Sibulan area? Akong parents live in Bolocboloc, I want to find a nice resorts where me, my husband and daughter can stay when I go back home. My husband and I prefer to stay close to the family. I hope anyone can give us some inputs with photos. We stayed at Baybayon Beach Resort before but it's been a long time, so, I don't know if it's still a good resort to stay or not.

I found a few resorts in Agan-an to Cangmating but the problem is they don't have a website where we can get information. I want to see some photos - hehehehe. Thank a lot in advance.

BYAHILO

August 7th, 2006, 04:20 AM

flesh_is_weak

August 7th, 2006, 08:47 AM

first time in here...you've got a lovely cathedral, i find the skylight to be very charming...

anyway, just let me get to business...i have nothing against dumaguete, or negros for that--its a beautiful place and i intend to visit it someday (although ive been to san carlos once, pero thats in occidental, right?)--but its just that ive seen in the news today that a certain congressman macias who's supposedly from your place is very, can i say, enthusiastic about breaking up our dear cebu into four different provinces...so basically, i wanna ask a favor from you people, if perhaps you could tell him to leave our province alone, he's a big pain in the *ss to us cebuanos...why dont he just concentrate on developing his own turf rather than focusing his time on something that would be detrimental to the progress of another place...

oh yeah, i did read something about him (the congressman guy...) had always been kind of vindictive towards cebu...i dont bout you people there in negros, but i dont think his attitude is befitting that of a civilized person, now you dont want the reflect on you, do you? well, please, for the good of our province and your province, kindly do something about him...

nicko

August 7th, 2006, 02:26 PM

Dumaguete will soon have a third Jolllibee branch. Guess where it will be located?

uhhh.. LP hypermarket? South road near Don bOsco?.. Or in Rob? hehehe.. haaayzzz..

nicko

August 7th, 2006, 02:30 PM

btw, bwt rob.. wat if the news really comes from them? well, even though dgte is more than ready to have mall, but what if the rob is really not pushing through?? is there sumthing that dgte can still do? i really dnt know.. its pretty dismal.. :(

ritche

August 8th, 2006, 09:16 AM

@Pirena, that move of Congressman Macias is his alone...we are not in the business of dipping our hands on the affairs of other places. On the other hand, it would also be well for you to take care of the Cebu Congressmen who are moving to break cebu into pieces...

@Nicko, the new Jollibee would be at the Dumaguete Business Park...

ritche

August 8th, 2006, 01:16 PM

@Coffee, can you give us more information about the soon-to-rise export processing zone or ecozone in your town?

ritche

August 8th, 2006, 01:29 PM

Guys, it's good to have something to look forward to. This one's written by Dominique Cimafranca.

Owing to a freak incident involving the high energy particle accelerator at Fermilab this week, certain portions of the Internet experienced a momentary temporal displacement of +/-5 years. Web sites, emails, and even entire conversations from the past and the future manifested themselves in the presence. I managed to retrieve a fragment of an article about Dumaguete from the year 2011. Of course, the Fermilab incident could just have been a prank, so the article's veracity is in doubt. Nevertheless I present what little I've recovered:

June 13, 2011--If you're looking for the history of change in the sixth most competitive city in the Philippines, you need look no further than the permanent photograph exhibit of the Dumaguete City Museum. Pictures dating back to the late 1800's chronicle the city's evolution from a sleepy agricultural village to a bustling university town and finally to the acknowledged technology services hub in Western Visayas that it is today.

Looking at the pictures, you'll note a curious thing. Through most of its hundred year history, the changes in Dumaguete have been most evident its architecture: nipa-thatched roofs of the Spanish period giving way to art deco structures of the American period, finally in turn giving way to the modern glass-and-steel buildings today. Yet in the last ten years there's been a more subtle change that's not reflected in the city's edifices. The Dumaguete in the pictures is not quite the Dumaguete that you experience in the streets, and you can't tell why.

And then it hits you: it's the people that have changed.

The pictures depict scenes indistinguishable from small-town Filipiniana: laid back people in perpetual summer wear, mismatched t-shirts, tight-fitting jeans or beach shorts or pedal pushers, and loose-fitting flip-flops, whose monthly highlight perhaps is the next town fiesta. Even the still shots convey the unmistakable feeling of unhurried langour.

All this is a marked change from the Dumaguete that you see today, or from other small towns its size. Dumaguete is clearly a young person's city now, and they move with confidence and determination. To be sure, they're still a friendly bunch -- after all, Dumaguete is still the City of Gentle People -- but beneath this cheer is an undercurrent of urgency and responsibility. These are young people going somewhere to do something important.

So meet the 'Duppies', Dumaguete's own brand of young professionals. They are the driving force behind the emergence of Dumaguete as the center for e-services in the Visayas, outpacing Bacolod and going head to head with Cebu. It's a workforce 7,000 strong, and one with a global reach. They work in professional tasks as varied as customer contact, software design, electronic publishing, system administration, and legal and financial consultation for customers from the United States to Europe to the Middle East to Korea and Japan.

It's amazing to see how Duppy culture has penetrated and transformed the city over the past few years. Take the bustling 24-hour entertainment centers, for example. Though their shiny offices are evenly distributed along Dumaguete, Valencia, Sibulan, and Bacong, Duppies congregate in hip places like Claytown Central, Calindagan Metro, and the Rizal Boulevard Baywalk in between shifts to unwind. Such places, old-timers say, would have been unthinkable five years ago when the city shut down as early as eight o'clock.

Lest the thriving entertainment centers be dismissed as a frivolous concession to Duppy tastes, think again: tourism to Dumaguete has actually shown a 30% year-on-year increase over the past three years because of the appeal of the barhop row. Roughly 75% of tourism is of domestic origins, and most importantly, about 40% of those local tourists -- young Filipino professionals and artists -- eventually decide to relocate to the city and find jobs among the seven big e-services companies here.

The upshot of all this is a professionalization of local services within the Dumaguete area. Housing, hotels, health care, security, sanitation, telecommunications, and other local infrastructure are already ranked among the best in the country, yet another reason for the influx of new talent into the city. Admittedly, housing costs have become steep in the areas nearby offices, but that's being addressed by real estate development in Dauin and Tanjay.

Roughly three quarters of these support services in Dumaguete have come from entrepreneurial ventures and franchises originating outside of Dumaguete. Sadly, the casualties of the rapid development of the city have been local businesses left in a daze by the sudden demand for competent, customer-oriented, and professional services.

For a while it almost seemed that this local services bottleneck would leave Dumaguete in the lurch, were it not for the timely entrance of opportunity-hungry entrepreneurs from outside the city. Poor performers eventually found themselves culled from the market, and the survivors learned to adjust to the new vagaries of a customer-oriented culture. Go to any local establishment now and you'll be treated to first-class customer service from cheerful, confident, and intelligent sales people eager to please. As they say, you can't get better service than Dumaguete service.

Yet another aspect of this transformation is the dynamic between the burgeoning e-services empire and the school system. Dumaguete, as the residents like to remind visitors, still has its roots as the Philippines' only university town, and it's a crown they're not planning on relinquishing anytime soon.

As would be expected in locations where industry and academe are in close proximity, industry relies on schools to turn out the graduates that it eventually absorbs; the schools, in turn, rely on grants and research exchange programs provided by the industry to keep its programs relevant. To a large extent, this symbiosis is happening within Dumaguete.

But whereas you'd expect the primary interaction to occur between universities and industry, Dumaguete's model is unique. For one thing, the influence of industry can be seen in the city's high schools and even as early as grade school. IT literacy among teens and pre-teens in Dumaguete is the highest in the country, as is their English, math, and science proficiency.

In the last couple of years, the city has seen the rise of professional trade schools that run side by side with the more traditional universities. The trade schools are a finishing school focused on one thing: getting their students employed in the e-services industry. This model has been successful in supplying people for low-level outsourcing work such as application programming, transcription, contact centers, and copyediting. The professional schools have become the avenue of choice for lower-income youths eager for their first job.

Where the professional trade schools hit their limit, and where the universities come in, are for the outsourcing jobs that require a higher degree of analytical work and industry-specific proficiency, such as software engineering, electronic design, human resources, industrial design, and legal and financial consulting. These positions require a considerable amount of training, expertise, and even research work, something that falls squarely in the purview of the universities. Industry partners have been more than willing to provide grants and mentors for these programs.

At first glance, this delineation between professional schools and universities might seem disadvantageous to the local universities. Why would people opt for the longer and more intensive university programs when they already find faster employment with the professional schools? Surprisingly, that isn't the case. Statistics have shown that roughly half of professional school graduates eventually opt for a full degree with the universities with the expectation of more serious responsibilities and higher pay. As a result, enrollment in the universities here showed a 15% increase for undergraduate programs and 10% in graduate programs last year, the highest in recent memory. University officials are optimistic with the trend.

A curious but happy side effect of this industry-focused approach in the universities is the artistic backlash. Too much focus on business process outsourcing, cried the different faculties of the arts not more than three years ago. Jarred from their complacency, the colleges set about upgrading their programs and inviting prominent artists to professorial chairs, going so far as to establish inter-university programs dedicated to the resurgence of literature, music, dance, and the visual arts. The result has been a renaissance of the arts in the city and a friendly ongoing rivalry with the more practical disciplines.

Even then, it's a rivalry with positive consequences. Studies have shown that graduates exposed to literature and philosophy become better legal consultants; similar correlations have been made between music and engineering and between visual arts and industrial design. Industry and the arts may be competing on the surface, but at least two e-services companies have provided generous grants to several arts programs.

Ultimately, none of this would have been possible without the astute vision and active participation of the local city governments of what comprise Metro Dumaguete, the governments that the Duppies helped elect. Pivotal for Dumaguete was the hotly contested 2007 mayoral election, the year when the then 2,000-strong BPO workforce in the city was a crucial player. Despite opposition from the solid bloc of pedicab drivers, what is called the BPO vote carried the win for Mayor ----

At this point, my Internet connection timed out as the temporal glitch corrected itself like a stretched rubber band suddenly released from tension. I hit the reload button several times, unfortunately coming up with a 404 error each time. Sadly, this is all that I've managed to download.

I advise caution against too much credulity on this report; the events narrated herein are too fantastic to be believed. Dumaguete, after all, is a small town too set in its ways to change so much in ten years, much less five. Am I right?

Duppies, indeed!

nicko

August 8th, 2006, 02:25 PM

thanks for the post ritch.. ive read that already at metro post..;) go duppies!

The Cebuano Exultor

August 8th, 2006, 02:25 PM

Dude, are you a Sillimanian, too? If so, unsa imong college?

bluejay03

August 8th, 2006, 05:19 PM

The Park Building renovation is going great and it looks like it's almost done. I passed by there last night and it seems like they're moving in things like shelves for whatever businesses will be operating there.

In other news... I heard from a friend of a friend that Robinson's conducted their feasibility study and concluded that a mall in Dumaguete wouldn't be profitable, so they're not going to push through. And that really confused and disappointed me because I thought it was already a sure thing. Can anyone clarify on what's the real status of things?

I don't think Robinson's will not push through with the plan to put up the community mall. I read the 2005 Annual Report of Robinson's Land (RLC) and it was prominently mentioned there. Plus, there were several press releases on RLC's plans ( I recall one from the Philippine Star). RLC will not go through the hassle of announcing to its shareholders, if the plan to put up a mall is not definite. So, let's hope that it does pushes through...

nicko

August 9th, 2006, 08:59 AM

im definitely crossing my fingers.. -crosses fingers-

nicko

August 9th, 2006, 09:40 AM

ritch, its gud u posted vital informations bwt dgte sa Next IT Hub thread.. at least, dghan na nkabalo bwt out city's potential in IT.. dumzville peeps, post sad ta ddto!

Narjz

August 9th, 2006, 09:43 AM

Unsa na may au sa Dumaguete karon?? gimingaw na gyd ko kaau dha...labi na nga akong nakit an ang pinakanindot nga boulevard...nindot kaau isuroy suroy dha presko kaau ang hangin...

wis

August 9th, 2006, 11:42 AM

ako pud mingaw na sa dgte. nia ra man unta ko lapu-lapu apan wa jud ko ka-uli sa pipila ka semana. basin karong bulan sa agosto maka-uli ko ug maka-suroy sa booth area. hinaut dili mu-ulan.. apan wa pa gayud ako naka sulay ug FD na wala nag-ulan. :scouserd: :cheers:

nicko

August 9th, 2006, 04:17 PM

mao jud.. expect jud na sa FD ma-ulan!.. but its nice rman sad.. murag part njud ang rain sa FD.. kung way rain, murag dli FD.. FD = Rain..;)

btw, naa nay mga contestants sa Ms Silliman.. they had their press con sa cafe antonio.. saw them on tv patrol.. hmmmmm.. ok lang.

Narjz

August 10th, 2006, 04:03 AM

unsay FD bai??

Coffee

August 10th, 2006, 06:16 AM

Hey, that "Unitop" at the Park Building will already be opening on August 18. That's Friday next week. A lot sooner than I expected things to be opening there...

@Coffee, can you give us more information about the soon-to-rise export processing zone or ecozone in your town?

I'll tell you what I know if ever I find out anything. :p

wis

August 10th, 2006, 10:13 AM

unsay FD bai??

Founder's Day.. apan technically Founder's Week na sa Silliman U. Suroy nya didto bai, malingaw jud ka.

nicko

August 10th, 2006, 11:35 AM

i dnt find UNITOP interesting.. sorry to say.. but its just another one of those oversized sari-sari store.. gi usikan ko sa place..

ritche

August 10th, 2006, 12:06 PM

Yeah, I think Unitop is just an oversized store for cheap China-made goods.

Guys, there are no inidications that Robinsons isn't coming to Dumaguete except that they are priioritizing other establishments to open at the Dumaguete Business Park in order to capture a larger crowd when they open.

ritche

August 10th, 2006, 03:56 PM

Dude, are you a Sillimanian, too? If so, unsa imong college?

I started college in UP, finished it at the school of comm. in silliman, finished my master's here, and went again to work in UP. I qualified for a masteral degree in UP but didn't take it there...hehehe :)

Christendom

August 12th, 2006, 11:50 AM

Friday-Saturday, November 18-19, 2005 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Visayas cities seen as next destination for outsourcing services

BACOLOD CITY -- The cities of Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Dumaguete were listed among the potential destinations for outsourcing services outside Metro Manila.
The list was prepared by NeoIT in its study, "Outsourcing to the Philippines: Metro Manila and Beyond," which aims to identify the most attractive destinations for information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services as well as the cities that are likely to emerge as centers of excellence in this field.
Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairperson of the Bacolod City Information Technology (IT) Team, said the inclusion of Bacolod in the list should encourage the local government and the private sector to work harder in developing this city into an IT hub.
"We cannot afford to waste time. The momentum we need is here. Our local officials, our schools, our IT professionals and the business sector must join hands to further propel Bacolod’s competitiveness," she said.
In terms of offshore city competitiveness, Cebu topped the list, followed by Davao, Clark, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, and Dumaguete. The study showed that Metro Manila is still the most popular outsourcing destination in the country. The government, however, is preparing smaller cities for BPO services.
Bacolod ranked second in terms of the financial factor which includes cost of living, cost of doing business and availability and cost of real estate. It ranked fifth in terms of people factor or the size of labor pool, number of tertiary schools, English language proficiency and labor quality.
Another factor in the study was infrastructure, which includes telecommunications, power, airports, and transportation. Also considered were the catalyst factor or government support and initiatives, social and political stability, presence of IT and BPO companies, climate, and key developments catering to the information and communications technology (1CT) industry. -- Robert Leonoras

SOURCE:
http://itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=111805e

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

nicko

August 12th, 2006, 12:38 PM

wew.. just passed by PHCCI building.. and it was just awesome.. even my frnd from cebu hu was with me found it really good.. we had to stop and see it for a moment.. sayang, we had no cams.. he said there is nothing like it he had seen before.. but also said that it wud have been best if it was built by the waterfront to add up the skyline by the boulevard..

someone has to take some shots like asap!...;)

nicko

August 12th, 2006, 12:41 PM

this year's buglasan festival for three weeks compared to last year's 2 week duration.. almost 5 million is spent just for the preparation alone..

nicko

August 12th, 2006, 01:17 PM

A PAGEANT 60 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Imagine yourself to be in the year 1946. It is the dawn after the Second World War, and people are still shell-shocked from the darkness that descended on the country in 1941. Three years of living under the fear of the shadows of Japanese soldiers have left Dumaguete—and Silliman University—smoldering in ruins. http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7728/mssu1940sol8.jpg Everything reminds you of grim realities, and everyone seems to be preoccupied in finding lost family members and in rebuilding homes bombed or ransacked and occupied by enemy forces. All is now on the road to a state of recovery—but all that is anchored on some flimsy sense of hope. Morale was down, and Sillimanians return to a campus still reeling from war ghosts.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3908/mssu1955kp5.jpg And yet amidst the sorrowful and miserable mist that blanketed the reconstruction stage, the desire to divert the students’ attention from the pervading atmosphere of gloom sprouted almost out of nowhere. Comprising a comradeship they called “Barbaric Inc.,” a group of aspiring Silliman writers—staff members of The Sillimanian, which is the old name of what is now the Weekly Sillimanian—introduced what could have easily been regarded as a public mockery of the serious mood of that time. They introduced to Silliman a popularity contest of sorts where friendships and acquaintances were the winning tickets to the titles Most Popular Coed, Campus Cover Girl, and Campus Headline Girl which were equal to the ranks of first, second, and third places, respectively.

But instead of drawing the public’s ire, the writers’ massive campaign stirred up what could now be regarded as the badly-needed spark to ignite the extinguished fire of student activism in campus activities.

Now reawakened, everyone, by casting his vote, was involved in the selection of the “best” among the candidates. When the votes were tallied, Miss Patria Obsequio was adjudged as the Most Popular Coed, while Zonzayda Cueva was proclaimed Campus Cover Girl and Evelyn Gentilez as Campus Headline Girl. Their prizes? A month’s worth of movie passes to the Town (which used to be V Cinema, now a parking lot behind Cang’s) and Park Theaters.

Since then, the search for the fairest of Silliman’s women—in a pageant older than Miss Universe or Miss World—has metamorphosed into what it is now today.

In 1947, although still determined by campus votes, the title Most Popular Coed was changed to Miss Silliman. Freshman Leticia San Gabriel of the College of Education romped away with the crown.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9513/mssu1951rm2.jpg By 1949, more titles were vied for and these included Miss Silliman, Miss Collegiate, Miss Student Government, Miss Sillimanian, and Miss High School.

As years passed, the Miss Silliman title was changed to recognize the selection of beauties through a talent showdown. Miss Silliman then became Miss Mardi Gras. Here, the contestants paraded in their costumes to the rhythm of the Silliman Band’s music at the amphitheater where the casting of votes was held. Time further witnessed the evolution of the title, from Grand Carnival Queen, to Miss Lakambini, to Mutya ng Silliman, and finally back to Miss Silliman.

It was only in the late 1960s that Miss Silliman underwent a landmark change that resulted into what is now, by all accounts, a full-fledged pageant. http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9720/mssu1992gh6.jpg Evolving from being a plain popularity contest, beauty became an important criterion for the search, as well as a sense of glamour, wit, and womanly build. But foremost among these considerations was the intellectual capabilities of the candidates who represented the cream of Silliman women. In 1979, the conservative audience in Dumaguete City saw an unraveling of flesh courtesy of a new pageant portion and became quite irked by its introduction, thus abolishing the bathing suit segment, which was briefly resurrected only in 1996, during the 50th anniversary of the pageant.

Today, the Miss Silliman is considered to be the top in the list of the most awaited Founders’ Day activities of Silliman University in Negros Oriental. Every year, hordes of Sillimanians—students and alumni—as well as non-Sillimanians flood the gates of the Silliman gymnasium, hoping to snare tickets to the year’s best show. http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8841/mssu2001rr3.jpg Miss Silliman has become very much a part of Dumaguete’s history as crowds swarm the city streets during the Parada Silimaniana just to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned Miss Silliman waving her hand.

Such colorful history of the Miss Silliman marks its changes through time, through challenges, and through the conventions of every period. http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4599/mssu2003af9.jpg One thing’s for sure, however: Miss Silliman will continue to hold unto its original purpose—to bolster flagging morale, and to provide color for a few days in August. But most of all, it is a celebration of another kind of beauty—a beauty with purposeful intelligence—the way only the Miss Silliman Pageant can truly be.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/641/mssu2006ep4.jpg
watch out for this years ms silliman on august 25!

www.misssilliman.com

ritche

August 13th, 2006, 05:14 PM

ritche

August 13th, 2006, 05:21 PM

Guys, did you notice that they are putting brick tiles flooring at the boulevard? I can't wait to see that finished...hmmm, the coolest thing to happen at the boulevard. Let's watch for the expansion of the boulevard and the construction of the Palafox-designed port terminal.

Miguel

August 14th, 2006, 02:19 AM

ritche

August 14th, 2006, 05:42 AM

Construction of the Portal West Building (National Bookstore) is now in fullswing...

nicko

August 14th, 2006, 06:37 AM

the brick tiling of the boulevard has long been planned.. at last, its going to push through!..

nicko

August 14th, 2006, 06:40 AM

all hotels in here are almost fully booked for the 3 week buglasan festival!!!.. including the new hotel palwa.. the province is encouraging residents to accomodate tourists hu does not have any place to stay..

bluejay03

August 14th, 2006, 12:43 PM

One of the most beautiful faces I've seen in the Miss Silliman pageant was the 1995 queen Cherokee Dawn Esguerra, a Donita Rose look alike, then followed by the 1996 titlist, Yvonne Forster, with beauty resemblance of Lucy Torres. Though all these years, even once, I still haven't watch the Miss Silliman live. :weirdo:

I concur with that. I was at still at CBA at that time. Yvonne was a Freshman when she won the pageant. She's half-German from what I heard from friends. Cherokee Dawn or CD has a very strong resemblance to Donita. She represented MassCom then.

There was another very pretty Ms. S.U., Ms. Ninotchka Sierra. I'm not sure if I got the spelling right.

bluejay03

August 14th, 2006, 01:24 PM

Guys, anybody know if Mr. John Gokongwei ever studied at S.U.?

nicko

August 14th, 2006, 02:39 PM

did he?

altec

August 14th, 2006, 11:05 PM

i dnt find UNITOP interesting.. sorry to say.. but its just another one of those oversized sari-sari store.. gi usikan ko sa place..

unitop is just like another improved tops and buttoms....i dont find it very interesting too. well, its very cheap bcoz it sells low quality items. i knew it...

i hope robinsons or sm now starts constructing and for sure. we need a mall thats 'high end'...

Miguel

August 15th, 2006, 05:16 AM

I concur with that. I was at still at CBA at that time. Yvonne was a Freshman when she won the pageant. She's half-German from what I heard from friends. Cherokee Dawn or CD has a very strong resemblance to Donita. She represented MassCom then.

There was another very pretty Ms. S.U., Ms. Ninotchka Sierra. I'm not sure if I got the spelling right.

Here's a picture of Ninotchka Sierra, Miss Silliman 1992, taken from its official website (www.misssilliman.com). There are no pictures of Yvonne and CD there, i hope they could update it soon.

http://www.sillimanians.com/misssilliman/images/1992.jpg

This year's pageant doesn't have foreign students or mestizas on its line-up unlike last year but nevertheless this year is a parade of true Filipina beauties.

ritche

August 15th, 2006, 09:36 AM

Guys, anybody know if Mr. John Gokongwei ever studied at S.U.?

I've seen him in one of the older yearbooks of Silliman. Maybe he studied in Silliman but didn't finish a course. Or maybe in high school...

Dinho

August 15th, 2006, 02:10 PM

nicko

August 15th, 2006, 02:48 PM

ey, sum1 take sum pics! heheh.. apila nlng sad ang PHCCI.. nindut jud kaau ang PHCCI dah..

nicko

August 15th, 2006, 02:53 PM

i like hotel palwa's motiff.. looks so tropical with its huge murals of abstract palm trees all over its exterior walls..

habagatcentral1

August 15th, 2006, 04:23 PM

Worst Oil Spill in Philippine History hits Western Visayas!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=9647981#post9647981

ritche

August 16th, 2006, 07:35 AM

Guys, the tallest building in Negros Island (hopefully) will soon rise here in Dumaguete. I will not give any more details, for you to be excited and watch for it...

Hope to post the schedule of Buglasan soon. I have a copy with me. Its going to be the longest running festival in the country...

Christendom

August 16th, 2006, 07:38 AM

Guys, the tallest building in Negros Island will soon rise here in Dumaguete. I will not give any more details, for you to be excited and watch for it...

cool, how many floors? Bacolod soon have too. 12/f plus.

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

ritche

August 16th, 2006, 07:39 AM

More than ten. But won't give you additional details. Hehehe.

nicko

August 16th, 2006, 11:56 AM

Guys, the tallest building in Negros Island (hopefully) will soon rise here in Dumaguete. I will not give any more details, for you to be excited and watch for it...

duhh!! cge na ritch! spill it out! hehehe.. basi dugay pana kaau..

nicko

August 16th, 2006, 11:59 AM

btw ritch, mind if u can post the sched of buglasan for the sake of the people hu wants to visit??..

averatec3200

August 16th, 2006, 02:51 PM

duhh!! cge na ritch! spill it out! hehehe.. basi dugay pana kaau..

Is it already allowed in dumaguete? I thought the building code in dumaguete prohibits buildings to be more than 120 ft tall.

BYAHILO

August 17th, 2006, 01:05 AM

saan malka kuha ng sked ng Buglasan? kelan yung competition ng lahat ng festivals? id love to drop by dgte this coming october.

thanks

nicko

August 17th, 2006, 03:26 PM

Is it already allowed in dumaguete? I thought the building code in dumaguete prohibits buildings to be more than 120 ft tall.

is there such code? hmm.. i dint know there is.. pero anyway, if there really is, i hope it'll be revised to accomodate more developments.. but as of the moment, ritche hasnt made some specifics on that soon-to-be tallest building.. i do hope he does.. wew..

averatec3200

August 17th, 2006, 05:06 PM

I think so... lee plaza applied before for a 9 storey department store but was eventually forced to scale it down due to height limitations.

I do hope they will amend it, as this hampers growth.

BTW, any news on when Teletech will be opening its new building? It looks almost complete.

Coffee

August 17th, 2006, 08:14 PM

I think so... lee plaza applied before for a 9 storey department store but was eventually forced to scale it down due to height limitations.

Wow, a 9-storey department store... that would be a lot of escelators. How many storeys is Lee Plaza now anyway? 5 storeys above ground and 2 basement levels?

I also didn't realize that Dumaguete had a building code. It's hard to tell, with buildings so widely varying... Especially walking downtown along Perdices Street, it's annoying that the sidewalks are so inconsistent. I wish there was some way to move all the buildings back to make a nice uniform 5-meter wide sidewalk, with parking space for cars and motorcycles. :p

I guess it's a good thing that we have a building code for various reasons. The idea of having the tallest building in Negros is exciting though. :) I hope it will really happen.

BTW, any news on when Teletech will be opening its new building? It looks almost complete.

A few days ago I was talking with someone that works as a trainer at Teletech. He said that they'll probably move to their new building in September or October, though he didn't seem sure. He said it's getting really crowded and "market-like" at their current site. He also said Robinsons will start construction next year.

nicko

August 18th, 2006, 06:18 AM

nicko

August 18th, 2006, 06:21 AM

i cud just imagine if that soon-to-be tallest building is gna be located by the boulevard.. it wud look gud.. and dumaguete will look good as a whole.. i just wished PHCCI building was built by the waterfront.. usik kaau coz it looks so good yet its knda hidden..

Christendom

August 18th, 2006, 09:13 AM

Friday, August 18, 2006

Dumaguete market passes DTI standards
BY RENE GENOVE

The Dumaguete City public market passed all the criteria set by the Department of Trade and Industry selection team in the ongoing month-long search for the provincial winner of the Pambansang Pamilihan award.

The team that evaluated the market Tuesday said, its occupants complied with the law on the use of price tags, proper weighing scale, exhibit of a price board, presence of a consumer welfare desk, clean market surrounding including the presence of trash cans with garbage regularly disposed, clean comfort rooms with adequate water supply, and has a market vendors association. Jose Ronnie Fortin, officer-in-charge of the City Economic Enterprises Office, said all vendors have been regularly monitored.

Those who failed to comply with the DTI standard are penalized, Fortin said.

The Dumaguete City public market is composed of 10 buildings with 934 stalls, 23 of which have padlocked after the occupants failed to pay their rentals and other obligation to the government. He said the problem is the existence of were the ambulant vendors who have no business permits, and were able to elude outside the roving market task force.*RG

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/August/18/negor4.htm

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

ritche

August 18th, 2006, 12:49 PM

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818/TZ200818033933577.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818/TZ200818033933280.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818/TZ200818033932999.jpg?90.90.519040.2

PHCCI Building is an "Intelligent Building", meaning it is ready for internet and computer network connections. All the cables are hidden, including telecommunications and network cables.

ritche

August 18th, 2006, 12:51 PM

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818/TZ20081803342720.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818/TZ20081803343283.jpg?90.90.519040.2

averatec3200

August 18th, 2006, 01:02 PM

PHCCI Building is quite big for the cooperative alone... will they be leasing the space also to other businesses?

The bldg. is ideal for an ICT company....

Dinho

August 18th, 2006, 04:58 PM

nicko

August 19th, 2006, 03:12 AM

ritche

August 19th, 2006, 05:13 AM

I inquired if PHCCI would have some of their spaces leased because my company was looking for an office space. They said they would occupy every nook and cranny of the building.

Guys, you should see the building at night time. It is just stunning. When all the lights are on, you can see its nice interior that would strike even people from Manila and Cebu in awe. The green glass panels (or fiber glass?) on its globe-shaped facade are already installed. The building should be finished in a few more weeks. I hope to have plenty of pics by then...

Hmmm, I hope more buildings of this kind will soon rise in the city. We need more intelligent and green buildings here to make the city modern and environment friendly.

The Portal West Building (National Bookstore) is fast rising. I can already see four yellow steel columns being erected, and they don't require concrete bars. The height of the yellow steel columns were predetermined to equal the height of the building. I heard somewhere that the contractor is using a new technology which would allow the scarce usage of concrete. Meaning the building would be more of a steel, glass and other modern materials.

There is a proposal for GMA 7 to occupy the upper portions of the building for their studio here in Dumaguete (remember when the former President of GMA 7 Butch Jimenez spoke during the commencement exercises of Silliman last March? The proposal was presented to him during that time. And my good friend, Jonah Lim of the SU School of Communication, is very upbeat about it. Yes, he was the one who won an award in the international filim festival in San Francisco, California.)

The building at the former Po's Marketing is growing to be of a gigantic size. I think it will be at least four storeys high. And judging from its footprint dimensions, I could see that the building would be massive, probably one of the largest buildings in the downtown area.

Christendom

August 19th, 2006, 05:21 AM

Christendom

August 19th, 2006, 05:24 AM

http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/2537/picture0047ru.jpg

this is where TELETECH dumaguete is currently and temporarily holding its operations as its own building is still underconstruction at the dumaguete business park..

another nice building! tag-as man gali ang mga building. GO GO GO Dumaguete!

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

ritche

August 19th, 2006, 06:04 AM

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818%5CTZ200818205348274.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818%5CTZ200818205348946.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818%5CTZ200818205349258.jpg?90.90.519040.2

ritche

August 19th, 2006, 06:05 AM

Christendom

August 19th, 2006, 06:36 AM

there's a plan to build an airport to Valencia? domestic or international standard? TY!

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

altec

August 19th, 2006, 09:34 AM

PHCCI Building is quite big for the cooperative alone... will they be leasing the space also to other businesses?

The bldg. is ideal for an ICT company....

i agree, it looks like an ICT company. :) this should be at the IT park! :) its better than the teletech building.

altec

August 19th, 2006, 09:36 AM

another nice building! tag-as man gali ang mga building. GO GO GO Dumaguete!

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

its really nice without the power lines.. this is an edited pic...

wis

August 19th, 2006, 09:59 AM

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818%5CTZ200818205349540.jpg?90.90.519040.2

http://imageserver1.textamerica.com/user.images.x/40/IMG_519040/_0818%5CTZ200818205348680.jpg?90.90.519040.2

yes.. cheering practice.. :cheer: :carrot: :pepper:

that just brought back some memories :scouserd:

nicko

August 19th, 2006, 06:37 PM

indeed.. memories... haaay..

nicko

August 19th, 2006, 06:41 PM

WOWW..nice design & crystal buildings!

www.metrobacolod.cq.bz
(U/C)

yeah.. WOW.. what i like about the building is its dramatic tilt of its walls mga 15 - 25 degress which give it a nice and modern effect.. never seen like that before..

and of course, its unique lobby that has an all glass crystal-effect and roud ceiling.. not a typical cooperative building.. sa boulevard unta na gbutang.. hehe

nicko

August 19th, 2006, 06:44 PM

btw ritch, cgurado na ang greenwhich sa pos building?

Coffee

August 21st, 2006, 02:25 PM

The Negros Chronicle says that the PHCCI Building cost about P130 million, and it will be inaugerated on September 3.

BYAHILO

August 22nd, 2006, 02:22 PM

wala pa rin bang date ang buglasan?

tenks

Coffee

August 22nd, 2006, 02:46 PM

I guess Buglasan will be in mid-October, like last year. Not sure what the exact date is.

Here are some pictures I took today...

The Boulevard on a partly coudy day:
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6510/boulevardhu3.jpg

Bricks! This sign says: "Re-surfacing of your boulevard with terracotta pavers... made possible through the use of your taxes... Thank you for your cooperation while this work is being undertaken (sometime in September)"
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7303/resurfacingkj7.jpg

The finished product of the Park Building renovation:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7812/unitopgj8.jpg

The beautiful new PHCCI building, nearing completion:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8940/phcci1jm1.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2493/phcci2qh0.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8695/phcci3rp3.jpg

ritche

August 22nd, 2006, 04:13 PM

wala pa rin bang date ang buglasan?

tenks

Guys, keep reminding me about the Buglasan skeds. I always forget.

The cafe inside Hotel Palwa is really nice and cozy. And its rooms are nice too. I would highly recommend the place for those who are bringing along their vehicles. It is near a gasoline station.

At least four other hotels will rise in Dumaguete in the next two years. These are the Provincial government-owned hotel at the Capitol area (at least 60 rooms), the hotel/commercial area at the former Po's Marketing ( four-storey building), a hotel in Claytown Daro, and at least one large hotel at the Dumaguete Business Park (it could be a branch of the Bayview Park Hotel in Roxas Boulevard in Manila).

I passed by the Dumaguete Business Park area today and saw that they are finishing the main road entrance along the Calindagan road and the entrance along the national highway.

Guys, there might be a big surprise next month. If a big businessman from Manila comes to town, it will signal the start of ------------ of ---------.

According to a source, at least two big shopping malls will be constructed here in the next two years. Guess what these shopping malls will be?

ritche

August 22nd, 2006, 05:07 PM

-edit-

habagatcentral1

August 22nd, 2006, 05:45 PM

Originally posted in Dinagyang.com by Lewdsaint:

PROJECT SUNRISE
Kasimanwa,

Here's the website in response to the 811 Oil Spill Disaster in Guimaras. Kung sino gustong tumulong sa inyo please try to visit the site.

http://www.projectsunrise.org/

Contact Info:

Task Force Sunrise
Office of the Governor
Guimaras, Philippines
Tel. No. +63 33 2371134
Fax No. +63 33 2371111
Email: help@projectsunrise.org

for people who wanted to help the Guimarasnons somewhat cushion their agony as of this moment and help clean up the shores of the mango country. This is not just a Visayan problem, this is a national issue.

Thanks Dumagete and Oriental Negros!

wis

August 23rd, 2006, 02:04 AM

Guys, keep reminding me about the Buglasan skeds. I always forget.

The cafe inside Hotel Palwa is really nice and cozy. And its rooms are nice too. I would highly recommend the place for those who are bringing along their vehicles. It is near a gasoline station.

At least four other hotels will rise in Dumaguete in the next two years. These are the Provincial government-owned hotel at the Capitol area (at least 60 rooms), the hotel/commercial area at the former Po's Marketing ( four-storey building), a hotel in Claytown Daro, and at least one large hotel at the Dumaguete Business Park (it could be a branch of the Bayview Park Hotel in Roxas Boulevard in Manila).

I passed by the Dumaguete Business Park area today and saw that they are finishing the main road entrance along the Calindagan road and the entrance along the national highway.

Guys, there might be a big surprise next month. If a big businessman from Manila comes to town, it will signal the start of ------------ of ---------.

According to a source, at least two big shopping malls will be constructed here in the next two years. Guess what these shopping malls will be?

enough teasing Ritche, spell it out man.. love to hear DGTE having lots of developments.

hope the time will come that dumaguete can offer enough jobs so that we will no longer have to stay away to have one..

ritche

August 23rd, 2006, 04:31 PM

Okay, okay.

Had a talk with a really high government official today. From our talk, I learned that the Dumaguete Business Park is designed by the Palafox Associates.

Here are some information that I got about Robinsons:

-They are already starting some works on the mall, maybe working on the prefabricated parts.

-The total footprint area of the mall is 6 hectares (60,000 sqm), 4 hectares (40,000 sqm) footprint area for the mall and 2 hectares (20,000 sqm) for the parking area.

-It will be a two-storey structure. From the figures above, I could deduce that the gross floor area will be about 80,000 sqm (or about 8 hectares). It will be bigger than some SM Malls.

-It is probably designed by Palafox and it will be finished in one-and-a-half years due to its gigantic size.

-Best of all, it will use Silliman Hall as architectural motif, and therefore would be more Ayala-like as it will do away with generic Robinsons designs and other box-like architecture of typical Philippine malls. And it will be one of the biggest Robinsons mall.

ritche

August 23rd, 2006, 04:40 PM

Here are some events during the Buglasan and their schedules:

Oct 13, Friday: Oriental Negros Performs (Opening Salvo with fireworks) at the Freedom Park stage

Oct. 14, Sat.: Buglasan 4X4 challenge
Buglasan Xtreme Sports
National Buglasan Bike Race
Oct. 15: Opening Parade and 5th Buglasan Horseshow
Buglasan Mototrada
Rondalla
National Bike Tournament
-more next time....

nicko

August 24th, 2006, 06:29 AM

nicko

August 24th, 2006, 07:51 AM

from www.43places .com

Why is Dumaguete worth visiting?

"great nightlife…entry point for siquijor and apo island…
spend great outdoors in bais and twin lakes…nearby…

need to go back to this city…urban yet still one of the cleanest…lots of friendly motorcycles"
by: anaktagaytay

"...i remember Dumaguete distinctly. i’m sure it’s changed a lot. my dad says it too crowded now and stuff like that, but i can’t wait until i’m able to visit there again. i hear the beaches and resorts are amazing."
by: Egirl71

"i wanna write a poem on the famed rizal blvd. i wanna check out siliman university. i hope to visit before i turn 30."
by: alunsina

"I miss my lolo and lola’s house there. My lolo built me a swing in the backyard. We’d walk to the beach every day, because it was just a few minutes away. I remember the air smelled like salt and orchids.

When my lolo got sick, they moved in with us at Kalsangi, and they rented the Dumaguete house out. I can tell that they never really wanted to leave…"
by: Katrina

"I am in love with the idea of this place.

Tranquil and with lots of nice people.

Next to Baguio, maybe I would want to settle here for a while."
by: purplerevolt

"This place really rocks. A nice quite city with everything that a simple life could ask for. Could also be called City of Universities as it has a lot of colleges and universities. Very ideal for a quite college life."
by: mydith

nicko

August 24th, 2006, 04:41 PM

BYAHILO

August 28th, 2006, 08:46 AM

guys, may nabasa ako sa isang site na october 20 daw yung festival competition sa buglasan.
can somebody comfirm if this is the correct date?

nicko

August 29th, 2006, 05:37 PM

SSC has been gone for days.. i thought SSC gone for good.. wew.. im glad its back.. so, where were we???.. hmmm..

Christendom

August 30th, 2006, 05:08 AM

thanks for spilling it out ritch.. but still u dint answer some of our questions like about the soon-to-be tallest building and the soon-to-be two incoming malls..

do you have any pics of incoming malls & tallest bldg especilly the Robinsons Mall? cguro nami ang landscape sng Rob.

nicko

August 31st, 2006, 02:17 PM

12TH SU PRESIDENT
Negros Chronicle (August 27, 2006 issue)

Malayang pushes community ties
Dr. Ben Malayang, 12th president of Silliman University said that his administration will reach out to revive healthy linkages with the immediate community because this is where one of the basic strengths of Silliman University lies.
This declaration was welcomed by the community at large in that for the past years, Silliman U has been mostly confined and focus on pursuing centers of excellence in various fields while working on linkages with the community was not a priority. Dr Malayang was guest of “Dumaguete Tonight” public affairs program of DYEM ENERGY FM, the sister enterprise of the CHRONICLE. The program is hosted by veteran anchor Florence Baesa.
Explaining his stand on community linkages, Dr Malayang said that Silliman U which has the facilities for study, might be useful to supply the city government and the community with a data base that can help achieve progress for the city and province.
He also commented that environmental concerns which has impact on community life must be undertaken with factual basis and not just proceed with out mutual consultation. He was referring to the pier reclamation issue which SU opposed. People say that millions in pier expansion funds were diverted by PPA to Bohol because of Silliman’s loud opposition. Silliman U wants to preserve the ambience of the city as a historical, cultural, and intellectual center which should not be too urbanized so as to disrupt the academic community.
Being a university town, Dumaguete is No. l in human resources, graduates, for hiring by call centers and other cyber technology ventures.
Dr. Ben Malayang, will be formally installed as the 12th Silliman University President tomorrow, Monday afternoon during simple but colorful investiture rites at the Luce Auditorium. Meanwhile, the SU President announced the construction of Portal West Building on the east side of the Hibbard Hall and west side of the Gate of Knowledge. The structure was a project initiated by the Silliman University Alumni Council of North America intended for the purpose of raising non tuition fee revenues by renting out the spaces to corporate organizations, businesses, and other interested parties. The university hopes that through this venture the Silliman administration can bring in more resources to efficiently and effectively answer the needs of students faculty and staff on a more sustained basis. Along this line, the President calls on the members of the university community and the alumni to donate funds for the realization of the building’s construction as a concrete gesture to their loyalty to their alma mater.
Dr. Ben Malayang III, who hails from Oroquieta City, Misamis Oriental, graduated from Silliman University High School and earned his baccalaureate degree in Philospohy from UP-Dilliman in 1974. He earned two Master’s degrees in International Affairs (Southeast Asian Studies major in Economics and Political Science) and in Philosophy, both in 1983. He also earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990. Dr. Malayang has had the privilege of being involved in many local and international institutions among some of them are the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

nicko

August 31st, 2006, 02:20 PM

Silliman U. is top SSS employer
Negros Chronicle (August 27, 2006 issue)

Silliman University has been adjudged by the Social Security System (SSS) as the recipient of this year’s Top Employer Award for the Visayas. Prior to this, Silliman was selected as the Top Employer for Western Visayas.
SSS Western Visayas Cluster Assistant Vice President Atty. Cecilia Sabig, in a letter, congratulated Silliman. “This is in recognition and appreciation of Silliman’s compliance to Philippine laws, most notably, the SS Law, and other factors including the general reputation and social contribution of the employer,” she wrote.
Silliman has 720 regular faculty and staff members working in its 13 academic units (College of Agriculture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Information Technology and Computer Sciences, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, College of Performing Arts, College of Law, Divinity School, Medical School, School of Basic Education, School of Communication) and in its nonacademic and support units.
The Western Visayas award covers the islands of Negros and Panay, while the Visayas award covers Western and Central Visayas. With the award, Silliman is vying for the national SSS Top Employer Award. Silliman was nominated together with other reputable corporations and organizations in the region and the country.
The other awardees in the country are: Mercury Drug for the National Capital Region, Philips Semi-Conductor Philippines, Inc. for Luzon, and Dole Philippines for Mindanao.
Silliman will be awarded simultaneously on September 1 in Bacolod City, for the Top Employer for Western Visayas, and in Manila, for the Top Employer for Visayas, during the celebration of the 49th Anniversary of SSS.

Coffee

August 31st, 2006, 03:52 PM

A few days ago I got took a peek to see behind those protective walls covering the construction at the Po's Marketing site. It looks like they were finally starting to tear down the columns and walls of the old burned up Po's Marketing building. The ground floor wall of the new building will be further back, probably to allow more space for sidewalk. By the way, I think that the columns of the building are actually reaching high enough for a possible 5th floor, but that's just speculation. :)

The PHCCI building will be inaugerated on Sunday. The walls around it have been taken down. The grounds around the building are looking nice, but based on what I saw I'm concerned there isn't enough parking space, considering the building's size. Still, beautiful building. :)

I guess the Teletech building is being prepared for use... there are Teletech banners hanging from it, and the road leading to it is taking shape. I heard it has a gym and lounge and other facilities to make employees comfortable. :)

And here's an article on another interesting future development: Bridges connecting Leyte-Bohol-Cebu-Negros-Guimaras-Panay. Probably won't happen anytime soon, but I'm glad to know the government has it on their sights for the future.
Make trans-Visayas bridges a priority, guvs urge Arroyo (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/August/31//topstory1.htm)

ritche

September 1st, 2006, 10:31 AM

Yes, I think the building at the former Po's Marketing will be at least 5 storeys high.

@ericd001, the schedules for the Buglasan Festival are still being adjusted. Maybe we will just have to wait for the schedules to be posted on the web, or until the authorities here come out with official schedules which will possibly be in a few weeks.

Robinsons is now hiring architects, masons and leasing officers. Construction will go full blast on November. Final design is not yet out, but minimum total floor area is 60,000 sqms, and maximum of 80,000 sqms. I hope Robinsons will go for the higher area. I heard Tito Lance Gokongwei (hehehe) is here in Dumaguete this very day to speak before the members of the tourism councils in Central Visayas, and I don't know what other things he will be doing. Let's see what will come out...

Yes, it's confirmed that Robinsons here is designed by Palafox and it will adapt the Silliman Hall as an architectural motif. We don't know, however, what its name will be. Robinsons Metro Dumaguete is cool, but it could also be Robinsons Place Dumaguete. On the other hand, they could adapt an altogether different name such as what they did at the Robinsons Starmills in Pampanga, and I think it will be best if they do this owing to the unique characteristics of the mall...

The design of the Teletech building looks bad on the outside, but I heard it's nice inside. They will still be constructing another building beside the almost-finished building, which will possibly be Teletech's administration building.

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 11:44 AM

i heard that the place where teletech and robinsons is located is now called DBPI-IT or Dumaguete Business Park, Inc. and IT Plaza.

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 11:49 AM

Robinsons is now hiring architects, masons and leasing officers. Construction will go full blast on November. Final design is not yet out, but minimum total floor area is 60,000 sqms, and maximum of 80,000 sqms. I hope Robinsons will go for the higher area. I heard Tito Lance Gokongwei (hehehe) is here in Dumaguete this very day to speak before the members of the tourism councils in Central Visayas, and I don't know what other things he will be doing. Let's see what will come out...

yeah, its true.. in fact there was already an ad in Negros News that Robinsons is looking for resident civil engineers for their project here.

and also, the 10th Visayas Regional Council is now taking place at the Rizal Boulevard. I passed by there this pm and there was traffic.. i noticed huge buffet preparation right in front of Bethel Guest House, Shakey's and straight to Honeycomb..

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 11:54 AM

Silliman University College of Nursing just had their ground breaking ceremony last Sunday for their 3-storey college building. It will be built right behind Oriental Hall. Its a huge building as i was able to see its model. It will have virtual laboratories, an auditorium, return demonstration rooms with cams to observe students while they perform their procedures and it will have mini hospital. It will be an additional structure to add to Silliman's skyline. It's also going to be an intelligent building.

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 11:57 AM

in addition, silliman university college of law will also be extending their building back towards science complex.. lots of construction going on in the silliman campus aside from the west portal building and the silliman university medical arts buiding

Dinho

September 1st, 2006, 01:45 PM

habagatcentral1

September 1st, 2006, 03:46 PM

I am so glad that Dumaguete is finally booming. I think that Dumaguete might even surpass both Bacolod and Iloilo in terms of growth this year. WOW!!! Looking forward to a long road trip to Dumaguete and back to Bacolod next summer.

How I wish I can go DGT. BCD and ILO yup (syempre, hometown, hehehe!) but I'm very curious of Negros Oriental.

By the way, I like your Silvanas and Sans Rival there. I forgot what bakery was that but that's what my friend from Dumaguete brings as a pasalubong. :)

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 04:22 PM

How I wish I can go DGT. BCD and ILO yup (syempre, hometown, hehehe!) but I'm very curious of Negros Oriental.

By the way, I like your Silvanas and Sans Rival there. I forgot what bakery was that but that's what my friend from Dumaguete brings as a pasalubong. :)

the name of the bakeshop is Sans Rival.. the name speaks for itself.. it has one of the most delicious Sans Rival and Silvanas in the universe! heheh.. its been present in dumaguete for decades (since 1970s).. it has branches in Manila (House of Silvanas) and in the US (i dnt know specifically where)..

nicko

September 1st, 2006, 04:26 PM

nicko

September 2nd, 2006, 10:13 AM

i just passed by DBTI-IT Plaza and the concrete road from the highway going to teletech building is now extended towards the back of the Ceres terminal.. its quite long and at the back portion of the terminal are mounds of gravel, sand, stones, steel fabrications, and other construction materials as well as several heavy equipment working on it.

Coffee

September 2nd, 2006, 11:57 AM

Oh, that road is open and drivable now?

nicko

September 2nd, 2006, 01:19 PM

as far as i was able to see, it is not.. the gates were still there..

ritche

September 2nd, 2006, 05:22 PM

Just some glimpses from the last AIM 2005 Cities competitiveness survey:

-Dumaguete improved in competitiveness compared to the last two surveys taken in 2002 and 2003, but others improved faster than Dumaguete.
-Dumaguete is at number 1 in terms of number of banks per 100,000 population, meaning it is a net saver city. According to AIM Professor Lopez who conducted the lecture at the Silliman MBA Presentation Room, it is very possible the money generated in Dumaguete (as well as its other resources such as geothermal energy and fiber optics) are fueling the growth of neighboring provinces.
-Paradoxically, it ranks low in income per household.

What do this mean?

There are plenty of super-rich individuals and families residing in the City. These money probably come from the many businessmen, hacienderos and foreigners living in the city. Unfortunately, there are not that much job opportunities in the city yet as of the time the survey was taken (2nd half of 2005). The entry of Teletech in the last quarter of 2005 was not yet taken into consideration.

Dumaguete also scored well in infrastructure and human resources.

With the entry of Robinsons and other big businesses, as well as Teletech and other IT companies, and the many infrastructure projects being undertaken, we would see a big improvement in the next survey, especially in dynamism of local economy. I can see that Dumaguete is making greater progress than other cities nowadays.

Will these advancements put Dumaguete in the top 10 in the next survey? I am very positive that Dumaguete would advance greatly in the next survey, and barring any disruptive circumstances, I am almost certain that we would be back in the top 10 as we were in the first competitiveness survey conducted by the AIM.

nicko

September 2nd, 2006, 06:15 PM

i hope dumaguete will be back on the top ten.. *crosses fingers*

ritche

September 2nd, 2006, 06:25 PM

-Hope not just in the top ten among small cities, but in the top ten among all the cities in the country...and we have all the capabilities if we put our hearts and minds together...What are our brains and resources for? :)

ritche

September 3rd, 2006, 05:12 AM

Mr. Oliver Lemence
August 13-19, 2006 issue - MetroPost

The Provincial Government of Oriental Negros is “head over heels” in its preparation in what could be the biggest and longest running festival in the country dubbed as Buglasan- Festival of Festivals.

Oriental Negros Gov. George P. Arnaiz in a press conference last Thursday, said the festival will run for 17 days beginning October 13 to 29 with a budget of P 4.5 Million.

“The budget will come from various combinations of resources – mostly from sponsorship, rentals, income-generating activities and the provincial fund,” he disclosed.

Provincial Board Member Mariant Escaño Villegas, director general of the event, said the extension of 17-day festivity is being made in response to strong public clamor.

“We used to have it only for seven days and then we extended to ten days until we moved it to 17 days of fun and fair,” she explained.

Villegas said at the moment, there are 15 local government units who have expressed their intention to participate n the Buglasan Festival.

The Buglasan Festival, now on its seventh year, is a brain child of Gov. Arnaiz to promote the richness of the culture and the arts of the Oriental Negrense, celebrate its unique local festivals, presents it sports and agri-tourism potential and serves as a vehicle for socio-economic development.

The Buglasan Festival has attracted an estimated 200,000 local and foreign visitors yearly, Villegas claimed.

“Right now, Arnaiz explained, our hotels and resorts can no longer accommodate advanced booking in anticipation of the Buglasan Festival. We are encouraging a Home Stay Program to accommodate more tourist arrivals, the governor added.

TO respond to the growing influx of tourists, Arnaiz has created the Home Stay Program Task Force under the auspices of the Provincial Tourism Unit. “It will serve as the best alternative to hotel accommodations where foreigners will be exposed to the local folk culture and traditions. “They will experience true Filipino hospitality,” he said.

This year, the Buglasan will include new fun-filled events, such as the Songwriting Contest, the Rondalla Senior Division, the International Night, where foreign students, visitors and the locals join a night specials and events; the Buglasan Rap, River Kayaking, Open Lawn Chess Tournament; Lutong Garbo sa Oriental Negros; Fun Flying Competitions, Battle of the Bands, Community Talents Night and the Buglasan LGU Tourism and Fair Awards and a Photo/Video Competitions.