⌛ Is there strong intellectual/cultural/artistic vibe in Dumagets?

Given the Univeristy setting, are there alot of artists in the city? i have read the posts extensively and am thinking spending more time in the philippines shuttling between my home in Berkeley, California and Manila but considering doing something in dumagets. What are ur opinions?

 

Dumaguete is just a small city, some artists there will not stick staying in Duma, they also go somewhere (big cities) where they can find more opportunities as an artist.So if you are looking lot of artists, you better look in manila or cebu.

 

thanks daff...how about the students and faculty at all those universities? Is there a vibrant intellectual life...guest speakers, symposiums, etc..What do you guys do there if u are looking for nightlife and cultural life?

 

In a word, no. I have been here three years, artists do exist here, mostly they offer derivitive works based on genres offered up by western masters. I know one local painter quite well, Susan Canoy, a great lady, and very talented, but in order to make a living and support her two kids she compromises here own vision to create saleable works to local Chinese moneyed bussiness leaders.
There are some literary types here but there is no active arts scene like you might expect in a city with so many universities. The large percentage of students are marginally literate in culture of any kind, and spend there days memorizing text books to pass exams, I know, I have a step daughter. The rest of the time they text their friends.
I spent sometime trying to ferret out the cultural mavens of the town. The best I could do was get involved with the Maharlika Sunrise Festival when it was held here in Dumaguete in 2006. I was graciously invited to display some photos of mine and attended the nightly festivities, The festival was and is designed to promote Philippine indiginous art, from dance, visual arts, poetry and crafts. It was only attended by a few locals and some other foreigners. Most of the young student population prefered the the band playing from Manila on the Boulevard or the Why Not disco.

If you move here I can give you some names of folks in Cebu and Palawan.

There is an article on mt blog about the Sunrise festival.

 

I am not sure but, I did see a good deal of scarecrows walking around and singing something about having something! Or if they only had something?

Of course, there are erudites here. Its a college town!

 

That's disappointing, but not surprising.
Afterall, I have noticed that Philippine college courses are more or less similar to high school curriculum in the U.S. (actually, U.S. high schools are now even more flexible in terms of subjects one can take to graduate) where you don't have a choice but to take all the required courses for that major. Memorization and conformity being key to good grades.
I guess it's hard to raise creative young talents in that type of an academic environment.
Too bad.

 

Just to be clear about my comments, yes there are intelectuals residing here, several Phds from one of the local universities frequent our place, but the question asked was is there a "vibe" in town, no is the correct answer.

But if you want old foreigners jammin at Devlins, we got that one covered in spades... :D

 

what kind of music do you play at Devlins?

 

Good question, nothing too complicated, or culturally significant, CCR, Eric Clapton, Cliff Richards, Chuck Berry, Stones, Steppenwolf. All with no practice and a laid back devil may care attitude. We never had a base player, or keyboard join us. just Two guitars trumpet drums and a conga player once. Some combo huh?

 

I would suggest that you take a look at the Silliman University web site for "vibrant intellectual life" around Dumaguete.

I noticed that they have the "Albert Faurst Lecture Series on Culture and the Arts. In addition, there are plays (Love letters), music (Bach to Gershwin) The Dean of Tenors Mr. Ramon Acoyaw. His Lincoln Center Recital debut was hailed a triumph. Also, Jay Cayuca the legendary Filipino violin virtuoso as well as the famous Duma Jammers at Devlins!

You might need tickets in advance for the show at Devlins though!