Country > Philippines > Negros Oriental > Dumaguete
Date > 2010 > May
Activity > Lucid Thoughts

May 25, 2010

The Crying Baby

Location : Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Crying Baby
In my dorm, I always hear this crying baby. She cries nearly 100% of her waking time - practically the whole day and some nights too. I'm a Dad too. I know a cry of hunger or a cry for diaper change. It wasn't anything like that. It was a cry of pain. The baby was in constant pain. No, she wasn't being tortured or anything. The mother and the grandparents (who also share my dorm) are nurturing, attentive and tasked practically to their limits with the baby. I was wondering what could be wrong with the baby. I've never seen her...just her cries.

Hare-Lipped
I get annoyed by crying babies. I remember as a kid, I couldn't stand the cries of my baby brother - I'd go into my room and seal all openings to deaden the outside noise. But on this baby, even if she cries as I go to sleep, surprisingly specially to me, I never got annoyed. Instead, I felt compassion for the baby for being in such pain (as I was imagining it) and to the mother and grandparents who hardly get any rest. I'm not really a compassionate guy...maybe it's my Vipassana meditation. This crying went on for over a month until I chanced on talking to the grandfather who was snuggling the baby. I noticed the baby had a harelip. Ah! Maybe that's the cause of her pain. No wonder she was crying most of the time.

The Newspaper Ad
Interestingly enough, that same day, I went to a town plaza I haven't been to before, went to a public library and read a newspaper. That's odd. I never go to a public library and I don't read newspapers. But I did anyway, and advertized boldly on the paper was a picture of a hare-lipped baby...and more importantly, the free service offered by an institution to surgically rectify such condition for free! What are the odds that all these events would happen on the same day?

The Hunt for the Newspaper
I couldn't take the newspaper as it was property of the library...so I decided I'll buy one when I get outside. And then I forgot! A day wouldn't pass without me thinking about that newspaper. I was haunted by the disparity between the small effort on my part and the world of difference that potentially awaits the baby. I got restless. I looked for it after a few days but couldn't find old newspapers being sold. And I forgot the exact date. I tried many news shops but in vain. This morning, after trying a few magazine stands, I finally found it. Eureka!

Ending Thoughts
I gave the newspaper to the grandmother. The information is now in capable hands who'll do something about it. Case closed. I can now resume my life hoping that my little effort will bring a smile to that face for the rest of her life. Good luck baby! I don't even know your name. And yes, there is no such thing as coincidence.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

(May 26, 2010) Couples whose circumstance may change, break-up even if there's nothing wrong with their relationship...even if the ingredients making up the relationship are still viable and intact - both parties may still love each other, respect each other, and can see the other as an integral part of themselves. Why?...more »»

Dumaguete, Philippines

tourist attractions

Filipino Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine - 2175 feet above sea level and perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the neighboring islands
Casaroro Falls - pencil-narrow waterfall dropping nearly 100 feet to a wide and deep lagoon
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes - twin crater lakes 894 meters above sea level
Dumaguete Boulevard - 1km long boardwalk along the main hub of Dumaguete

- hotel

Hotel Essencia - 9-storie hotel in the heart of Dumaguete
39 Real St., Corner San Juan St., Dumaguete City - 09°18'32.1"N 123°18'20.3"E

scuba diving

Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay - homestay in Apo Island, scuba diving, restaurant
Apo Island - 09°04'40.08"N 123°16'09.19"E
Dumaguete Divers - scuba diving in Apo Island, resto / cafe, accommodation
Dauin - 9°11'18.6"N 123°15'54.3"E

cafe

Arteasan Handcrafted Beverages - coffee, tea, milk tea, frappes, waffles, sandwiches
79 San Juan St., Dumaguete City - 9°18'33.0"N 123°18'21.0"E

Dumaguete >> Cebu City by bus/boat

Dumaguete to Cebu City route is done by bus and boat. Ceres bus leaves almost every hour from the Ceres Terminal bound for Cebu City. It goes to Tampi and boards a roro until it reaches Bato, Cebu. From there, it resumes its land travel until Cebu City. 7 hours, PHP xxx.

Dumaguete >> Siquijor (Siquijor Proper & Larena Port) Boat Trips

(as of Jan 2023)

Montenegro Lines - at Dumaguete Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle

Aleson Shipping - at Dumaguete Port, 8 am and 6 pm daily, 10 am M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax

Ocean Jet - 40 mins, docks at Siquijor Port, 0919.066.5964, www.oceanjet.net, marketing@ocenajet.net

Please check first if Atlantis Yohan Express is back in operations

Atlantis Yohan Express - Siquijor Port or Larena Port?

Dumaguete >> Lazi, Siquijor by boat

Dumaguete to Lazi, Siquijor route by Kho Shipping was just opened up in early September 2023. Before, going to Lazi meant going to Siquijor Proper first, then catching the 2pm jeep to Lazi (last trip), adding 1 hour on the trip. Now, Siquijor Proper can be completely bypassed.

Dumaguete Port - take Kho Shipping to Lazi, Tu-F-Sun, 3 hours, Dumaguete departure 1 am, arrival in Lazi Port 4 am, economy P300, tourist P500.

Dumaguete Itinerary

Things to Eat in Dumaguete:

Eat at Neva's Pizza. They have a wood-burning stove and make the best pizza in Dumaguete
Eat the local version of Tempura, fish ball, balut at Tempurahan, an adhoc outdoor section by the City Port entrance.
Eat Paklay, a local delicacy made of pork inards. Popular in Dumaguete's roadside eating places
Try any of the lechon manok (chicken roasted on a spit) that's scattered all over the city
Try the torta bread (bread made with fermented coconut nectar) - you find that along the highway in Dauin...or the Dumaguete Public Market
Eat the breakfast combo - Budbud Cabog (Dumaguete's specialty suman) or puto + tsokolate (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf + native chocolate drink)

Things to Do in Dumaguete:

Stroll along The Boulevard
Taka a tour of Silliman University

Sightseeing / Activities Near Dumaguete:

Valencia
1. Forest Camp in Valencia - a mountain resort fed by the Banica River. Great for getting wet and picnics (blog by Lakwatsero)
2. Go to the Japanese Shrine and Casaroro Falls - 100 meter falls and site of a fierce WWII battle between Japanese, Americans and Filipinos
3. Head out to Camp Lookout in Valencia for great views. Famous writers stay there for the Silliman University National Writers Workshop.
4. Stop by The World War II Museum in Valencia and talk to curator/owner/collector, Constantino "Tantin" Cata-al.
5. Splash on Pulangbato Falls and Hot Spring - via Palinpinon road towards PNOC. Great to dip-in after a day's hike or for hot lazy days
6. Climb Mt. Talinis. At 1864 meters, it lords over Negros Oriental, and home to endemic and rare species of flora and fauna.
Dauin
1. Dive on Apo Island - best for scuba and turtle watching
2. Dive on Dauin's District 1 Marine Reserve - best spot for snorkelling - 10K grouper, turtles, cuttlefish, Titan Triggerfish, etc. This is only one of many marine reserves dotting the Dauin coastline.
3. Soak in Baslay Hot Spring
Sibulan
Go to Balinsasayao Twin Lakes - two lakes almost 1000 meters above sea level
Siquijor
Take the ferry to Siquijor - stay in Siquijor overnight
Zamboanguita
Visit Malatapay Market on a Wednesday and try their lechon, tuba, and grilled fish
Bais
Go dolphin watching and swim on the sandbar
Mabinay
Rappel down Mabinay Caves
Siaton
Experience Lake Balanan

Onward Destinations After Dumaguete

These are the nearest popular destinations from Dumaguete by boat

Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Dumaguete. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Plaridel (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.