On Top of The Island | Siquijor Island, Philippines

I wish I could translate the exact same amazing view that I saw when I was standing on that observatory deck. It was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. It was the whole of the island! I saw the beaches that I went to. I saw the roads that I passed. My eyes couldn’t help it. I teared up while I was turning around to see the whole of the island. Holymothernature, you are amazing. The Philippines is amazing!

This is taken atop the observatory tower in Mt. Bandilaan Nature Park. The island on the left side is Dumaguete. And the island far across in the middle is Bohol/Cebu.

Click the photo to pan through the panorama.

Siliman University | Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City, Philiipines

Siliman University is one, if not the most famous university in the Visayas region. It is considered to be one of the country’s top university. It is also one of the oldest university in the country, being more than a hundred years old, since its establishment in 1901.

Ship & Tricycle | Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City, Philippines

A tricycle rests along Rizal Boulevard while a ship docks across the sea to the port of Dumaguete.

He Whistles A Tune | Dumaguete City, Philippines

Just outside the belfry, a man sits along the sidewalk and whistles a tune for everyone that passes along.

Ligawan | Dumaguete City, Philippines

A guy serenades a girl under the umbrellas on a rainy night. She looks smitten as the guy plays the guitar while they date along the street food place along the pier

Ligawan is courtship.

Checkers Mates | Rizal Park, Dumaguete City, Philippines

A group of men watch closely as two other men battle it out with a game of make shift checkers at the park. They’re using bottle caps of red and yellow for the checkers game. It seems to be an intense game on bright, sunny day.

Post Resting | Rizal Park, Dumaguete City, Philiipines

A man seems to be comfortable resting while sitting on a tiny space of the bottom of a post.

Dumaguete Belfry | St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Dumaguete City, Philippines

Beside the cathedral is another landmark of Dumaguete City, the Dumaguete Belfry. This bell tower is the oldest in Visayas. During the 1800s, it was built to warn the locals of incoming danger and threats by Muslim marauders who come in search of slaves.

Dearly Beloved | St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Dumaguete City, Philippines

When we paid visit to the famous Catholic Church in the heart of Dumaguete, St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, a wake was going on. It was a bit creepy to be sitting in one of the benches and just watch people mourn and not know who it was.

Old Stairway | Cafe Antonio, Dumaguete City, Philippines

The building of Cafe Antonio on the corner of San Juan & Sta Catalina street is a Spanish Heritage Building that truly reflects its time.

SU Cafeteria | Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City, Philippines

This is Silliman University’s Cafeteria from outside the campus, along Hibbard Avenue. I’m drawn to its window panels.

Tree Silhouette | Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines

While we were going around the university, it started to rain. We took cover under this tree for a while and became mesmerized with its silhouette. Then it rained harder and we ran inside the building. 

Alumni Hall | Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philppines

This was the wall near the entrance of the Alumni Hall. It has that 60s mod retro vibe, fit for its building’s purpose.

Trash Cage | Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City, Philippines

So it’s just a trash can or cage. But it looks so interesting for me. They looked like bird cages swinging on grasses. It keeps the boulevard clean.

Waiting for Lightning | Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete CIty, Philippines

And then there was a hint of light but not quite the lightning I was hoping for. We sat there for a long time waiting for a lightning to capture. I crossed my fingers as I hit the shutter and my counter starts to countdown. The sky starts to rumble but my timing just doesn’t coincide with the heavens.