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Yes, it is definitely still open. And what a great place for those who seek solitude - I wish I could live there.

Amazingly, the entrance fee of P100 per adult is the same as it was in 2007.

There are views to the mountains and to Cebu. The gardens are well planted - not spectacular but serene. Small buildings and animal sculptures dot the gardens and the loo even has a seat!

There is a covered dining area but not sure how to obtain permission to use it - I expect, if it is available for use, that users have to bring their own food. Anyone interested should enquire at Jo's Chicken Inato, across the National Highway, as that is where payment is made for entry fee to the gardens.

There is also building work going on and it seems as if greater use for events may be intended (I am just guessing here).

For anyone still looking for a 'bird' (not sure everyone may understand that meaning) there is one very lonely one there, as shown in the photos below.

 

I leave for the Philippines to live in 10 days so my prospective is from someone going to live there. Last year I was at the end of my marriage and I knew a change was needed. I made the decision to live closer to the ocean. I looked into Florida but the costs are too high for my meager pension. I looked into Mexico, Panama, Ecuador but didn't find anything on the internet that suited me. I've always liked Asian women and wanted to visit Thailand . Thailand's visa situation didn't look good so I looked at Cambodia next, I read somewhere it's the most landmined country in the world so no thank you. Vietnam didn't feel right because of the war even though I joined the military after the war in 1979. When I found out the Philippines had 7,107 islands and spoke English I wanted to try it. Then I found out about the girls being willing to date older men I said bonus. I'm 55 and dating a filipina who is 47. So I'm not interested in 20 year old girls but to each their own. A 3 month test run convinced me to try living in the Philippines. I will take a one month vacation in Japan before heading to Dumaguete. That's my boring story of why I'm moving there.

 

While those numbers are nice for a quiet home body who already has a partner for the rest its no where near accurate. If your new you won't have transportation and may very well hate taking jeepneys and easyrides hence taking trikes far more often. Transportation costs for a semi active single guy can easily jump to a couple thousand a month. If your looking for nicer food and not fine eating cheap most meals groceries can easily jump to $15k a month when your dipping into anything not local. Eating out can get very expensive if your not a home body, single, and going out a lot also as you surely won't be eating like a local but spending anywhere from 100-300p per meal per person. If you don't have your own furniture and not looking to spend to buy all of your own then your looking for a fully furnished place which usually runs 15-18k a month (yet some of these come with free internet and cable already). I would also say more then $1500 a month for visa renewal since its $3k now to renew every 2 months but at 6 months and a year there are additional costs that can take your renewal up to $7k peso's. Then you'll need to also be planning an exit ticket come your 3 year mark (fortunately its now 3 years instead of 16 months) which requires an exit clearance, travelers tax, round trip ticket to another country, throw away exit ticket to another country. But what about electronics, gadgets, buying a ride, and a future lady? You'll be spending a bit on cloths for her, you'll probably want a decent phone for yourself and potentially her as well. Maybe you'll want a computer, laptop, tablets? Maybe you'll want a motorcycle? How about going out to the movies or swimming at a nice pool or hot springs?

For those who have been here a long time and settled into the way things are and learned to live in a mix between a foreigner and a local they can do it fairly cheap. For newer guys or single guys (especially newer single guys) its rarely ever the case.

I'd say for right now someone should want at least 60k peso's to live semi comfortably as a single or with just a GF. But soon as you start adding in family and such expenses start going up quickly more often then not.

 

Just an update. Project complete and have now moved in. All good - no glitches. Delighted with the outcome!

 

Opinions are like eyes and a#@holes, (we all have 1 or 2). I quit going there after several less than acceptable experiences over the years. I expect good service from a 4ner owned establishment. Service, cleanliness and quality of food are paramount too getting hold of my entertainment money. The staff have been there for years and most days (busy or not) one has to stand, wave or go to the inside for their attention at which point they seem disinterested in whether or not you are enjoying the place.
With proper management, a staff who puts in an effort for their pay (makes for good tips) this place could be the most successful venue on the blvd. With so few places left on the bvld to spend a few hours I think it's a shame this real estate is wasted in it's current use...

 

Main Problem as I see it is we should STOP thinking about what OUR country was/is like and concentrate with what we have to work with.
There is a lot out there that can be done but we have to start thinking here, how can we utilize things. Improve and educate others.

JMHO

JP