december-2011

The establishments over on the
other side of the wide street also
say something about the charms of
Dumaguete. Silliman Hall is at one
end, signaling the beginning of a row
of boutique hotels, restaurants and
bars, with the odd offi ce building or
two thrown in. Only here, perhaps, can
you fi nd something like the surprisingly
sophisticated Casablanca delicatessen
and restaurant — which is attached to
the Dumaguete Academy of Culinary
Arts and offers a globe-trotting array of
dishes — a few doors down from Pirate
DISCOVER DUMAGUETE
Bay, which is as much of a dive as its
name suggests.
You don’t have to wander too far
to be able to take your pick, from the
Spanish-themed Café Antonio, built
within a heritage house and furnished
with antiques; Moon Café, fi lled with
university students and backpackers
of every color and stripe; and the
understated KRI, with a modern menu
that would be a standout in the most
chic parts of Metro Manila.
It’s a chicken-and-egg type of
dilemma, trying to fi gure out whether
{ 166 }
From top: The Moon Café
offers live entertainment to go
with your meal; the historic
Dumaguete Church is always a
pretty sight at night. Inset: The
Boulevard comes alive with a
fi reworks display.
the boundless creative energy here
has attracted artists, intellectuals and
travelers, or whether it’s the presence
of those people that contribute so much
to the city’s vibrancy. But now the city
seems to have managed to fall into a
virtuous cycle, nurturing an atmosphere
that is greatly conducive to creativity,
which in turn also continually attracts
the people who keep the atmosphere
alive.
Cebu Pacifi c fl ies to Dumaguete from
Manila. www.cebupacifi cair.com