LP's 1.2 HECTAR PUREGOLD MALL The Sulu Sea is booming. Crystal clear waters, unspoiled beaches, lush hillsides. Tired of bumper to bumper traffic and the insanity of Dumaguete. Beat the maddening crowd. Opportunity abounds. Come live the other side of Negros Oriental. Naysayers need not apply.
One - one way to spoil a "treasure" is to advertise it and then over populate it. Two - no matter how big the store is, until they learn how to properly run the supply/order chain, it will just mean more space to be "out of stock".
Between Dumaguete City and Bayawan lie many other places where people can live near "crystal clear waters" (maybe a bit of poop here and there, but nothing's perfect!), "unspoiled beaches" (apart from a bit of trash here and there), "lush hillsides" (it rains not only in Bayawan) and lower traffic density. Also places north of DC. Agree that people might at times need to venture into DC for stores, restaurants, dental and medical - but I suspect that is the same for residents of Bayawan. One mall will not make that great a difference. Sometimes when people keep pushing their place it seems they are either a very nice person, extremely interested in the well-being of their fellow mankind ( ) or they have an ulterior motive.
Yes. Motive: Try to do something nice for expats and the naysayers find their way. Stay in Dumaguete as long as you like naysayers. You are where you belong.
Bayawan is really too far from Dumaguete. Going there to shop would burn a lot of time so most likely the new mall will only survive if people in Bayawan and nearby towns like Santa Catalina and Basay will all go and shop there. It will surely have plenty of shoppers during the fiesta of Bayawan, hopefully.
Are you able to recommend any good hotels and restaurants suitable for Western tastes in and around Bayawan?
- I've eaten, but not stayed, at the Hotel Maefinn. I was already booked somewhere else (at the C&L), but I asked them if I could see the rooms and they looked nice. The Maefinn is where I'd stay next time based on what I saw and other's reviews. - The food at the Maefinn's restaurant was OK, and they did serve some Western style dishes. Ambience very "Western" comfortable. Just a tad pricey by Bayawan standards, if I recall correctly. - The C&L hotel, right across the street from the new mall, is OK, but it's gone downhill somewhat in the years since it opened. I believe it's a little cheaper than the Maefinn and serves free breakfast. Hopefully they will spruce things up to take advantage of the business the mall should bring. - If you don't mind "local" but still similar to Western style food, you might be OK with Mang Inasal and Jo's Chicken Inato (both are Filipino BBQ chicken chains). And not too expensive if you're going to have to take a bunch of family members out to eat - One other place, Talipapa, local style food, open-air, casual atmosphere, is a nice place to have a few cold ones and watch the sunset. It's seaside near one end of Bayawan's very long "Boardwalk" (actually a boulevard).
Hotel Maefinn in Bayawan. Great restaurant too. Cañamaque Royal Suites Apartment Hotel if looking for bare bones but clean. No elevators in town yet. Nice beach & food at Talipapa. Several other smaller food fares along the boulevard. Getting ready to open a large mall next month. Hopefully it will bring some more restaurants. About 20km north you will find Funtasea Resort. Several small resorts along the way. It is slow so if you are looking for companionship bring it. Beautiful sunsets.
I asked a few weeks ago if they were going to fix the place up and told them that it was now dirty and the bathrooms were crap. As of now they are working on the 4th floor with renovations.
