The article seemed to focus on the attitude of criticism rather than much factual information. I think there is a reason we live in Bacong instead of Dumaguete. If you need things (stores, medical care, an airport if it is sunny and the planes can fly, etc) Dumaguete is close by but you can escape the traffic, choking air, and crowds in a few minutes by going to Valencia, Bacong.or Sibualon. So you get the benefits of Dumaguete's urban center without the problems that some are noticing.
I enjoyed the article (thanks Davey) and thought it is fairly accurate. You can hear some negative talk at McDo and some positive comments at Sans Rival at the mall and probably vice versa. I agree with Dave, living in the outlying towns are less stressful and less to complain about. One rather simple question to ask yourself, could you have what you have here if you were back where you came from? If you could, you probably shouldn't be here, if not, give your (probably youthful) partner a squeeze, have lunch and refreshments at a beach resort, and relax and enjoy this chapter in your life. Happy New Year friends.
Agreed Dave, Yet Dumaguete is still rated a Top Place to Retire. Based on this particular and another Thread Article one would wonder if anyone would agree. Having said that of course, when People do move here, we all tell them to reside in outlying areas for the very reason you mention. Would Any of us actually want to live in the middle of Any city in the World. London for a one off is a great Place to move to, but people Live in Kent or Surrey or other surrounding Counties and commute. London is for Shopping, Theatres and Airports, So as is Dumaguete. A Hub Centre Time that these Article writers got things into perspective and told a whole Story, not just the criticizing of the Actual city but the beauty? and amenities surrounding the City. There has to be a reason People want to come and live here, but you would not have guessed it from the last 2 Articles we have followed. JP.
From the article: I agree with this quote and much of the article. Like many of us here on the forum, I choose not to live in Dumaguete for many of the reasons stated in the article and in this thread (does anyone here actually live in Dumaguete? Seems almost everyone I know lives outside the city.). I have been in Dumaguete for about 5 years and there has certainly been a shift in the feel of the city. For me it is shifting to a direction I don't care for. It is a young Bacolod, and I hate Bacolod. Cities like Bacolod are what I consider "Provincial Metros". It's a small town that has severely outgrown what it was designed to handle, they are poorly managed, laws (such as smoke testing) are rarely/if ever enforced, they lean towards trikes and jeepneys instead of taxis and buses and so on. These cities are basically "wannabe" cities in my eyes, they are miserable places to live. For me, if I am going to be living in or near a metro I'm going to pick a metro that at least has a government that somewhat knows what they are doing. From what I have found, Iloilo seems like a much better option than other major metro areas in the Philippines. Dumaguete hasn't yet hit a level I find unbearable, but when it does (and at this rate it will in the next 5 years or so) I will be looking to make a move to Iloilo.
I think one of the main reasons foreigners come here is because of foreigners that live here. The City also gets more than it fair share of good press. Also look at the alternatives here in the Philippines. If wanted to live in a slum I would have moved to one of the metropolitan areas in the US not to Manila or Cebu. It is much more comfortable when you see a hundred of your countryman in a day than if you one see only three in a day (like my visit to CdO) There of coarse is an illusion feeling of safety when you see more foreigners in the area because you feel someone may just stand up for you when you are if you have a problem or get in trouble. There are many foreigners that will give you honest advice here, which of coarse make the community appealing. In the areas outside of metro Dumaguete I find most of the locals are friendly and helpful. Another big issues is, that at least, in Bacong the people are friendly toward Foreigners. I have seldom worried about my personal safety or items in the Bacong. I had to walk (took a trike the last 5 KM) into Dumaguete, about 12 kms, on Christmas eve about 10 PM because I lost my motorcycle key while in town earlier in the day and had to take my spare in a retrieve the bike. It was a very pleasant walk, and I was never concerned about my safety. I did stop for a bottle of water at one the the local "un-signed 7-11 stores" know as Sari-sari stores. The owner asked if I was scared walking in to town in the middle of the night. I showed her my pepper spray (legal to own here) and told her "no". I was was never challenged, even by a dog, on my whole trip. It was a nice walk, and I saw many little things I miss on my almost daily journeys because I did not have to focus on the other law-abiding drivers on the road, and the road manics driving in all directions on any place on the road that suited their personal desires at the moment.... yeah there is no enforced driving rulers here, only the law of the survival. It is amazing how important saving a few nano-seconds on the road is when compared to the person that can not even get on the escalator in the mall and stands there holding up everyone. Once you can accept that there is no enforced laws, and no foreigner type of logic, or any one acting as if we are part of the same team instead of just constantly acting selfishly, then you will enjoy your stay. Since it takes longer than the three plus years I have lived here to do that level of acceptance I do not know when that needed level of acceptance hits the soul deep enough to ignore all the chaos and confusion. I have been told that using a 375 ml - 80 proof medicinal injection daily by mouth of Tanduary Rhum can cut the acceptance time down considerably . ,( I know a few here will disagree that it will only take a few San Miguels to make the area look wonderful and all the woman beautiful too) After saying all of that, and some could be construed as negative if not downright sarcastic, I am still living here after three years, and have no intention to moving to far away, until the world stops spinning from all the medicial Tanduary Rhum injections I am taking on a daily basis to survive. HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A YEAR AHEAD IN THE DUMAGUETE AREA...
I think Dave hits the nail on the head. This article is really less about Dumaguete and more about attitude. I run the yourlifeinthephilippines.com site and after Terence submitted the article we did have a discussion about it. The two points he did a good job of highlighting are that you can look at Dumaguete (and life) with the glass half full mentality or the class half empty. Your perception will then be shaped by that outlook. then if you want to look at Dumaguete with the class half empty attitude, maybe you should stop and look at the alternatives. As for my feelings about Dumagueete? After living here now for a year, I would have to say I am not in love with the downtown core but as others have pointed out , all we have to do is go for a ride 15 minutes out of town to find a whole different world. That is the one I do love, and yes Bacong and Valencia are two places that top the list. On the other hand, when I want a big mac, a little nightlife, or need some decent medical care, I can get it without having to travel several hours. Best of both worlds in my cup that is more than half full.
