Always, an overwhelming wave of gratitude fills me when I get to travel. Even more so when I travel with great company. I’ve had the privilege of visiting two exciting places at the start of this year. Two destinations, two contrasting profiles. One local, one international. One can be described as a summer paradise, the other a winter wonderland. Here’s summer.
Dumaguete and Siquijor
My friend Karl, who’s explored some off-the-beaten-path destinations in the Philippines, has this in his Instagram bio: ‘Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.’ which translates to ‘Don’t be a stranger in your own country.’ I sometimes tease him about how cheesy it sounds, but over the years, as I’ve explored more of my own country, I’ve come to truly appreciate the real meaning behind it.
This year for CNY, Siquijor was the destination my college friends and I landed on. Gino, who unwittingly became designated travel agent, booked our flights and arranged the tour. Unfortunately, Tina couldn’t make it at the last minute so the Super Exclusive Guests (a private joke) were reduced to the four of us: myself, Makie, Gino and Karl. We couldn’t help but surmise that Tina may not have fully appreciated all the activities that awaited us, so maybe it wasn’t so unfortunate after all. (Kidding, Tina – wish you were still there!)
While waiting for our checked suitcases after landing in Dumaguete from Manila, I was quite surprised by how outnumbered we local tourists were by the foreigners. I hadn’t fully grasped how popular these destinations were becoming. I always have mixed feelings about this. More tourists mean more livelihood for the locals, but often it’s still the big businesses that profit from this gentrification. Also, maybe for my own selfish reasons, some fine things are just worth gatekeeping. People ruin good things.
Dumaguete left a positive first impression on me. Though we only had a short drive around the city before heading to the port, I could already feel its relaxed yet vibrant vibe, especially along the boulevard. There’s a sense of history embedded in the city’s streets and architecture, giving it a unique charm. I remember Karl mentioning a few days later that it wouldn’t be so bad to move to a medium-sized city like Dumaguete, where the pace is slower, congestion and pollution are low, yet it still offers everything you need for a convenient life. I concur, and often find myself feeling grateful to have Marbel to return to when the stress of big-city life becomes overwhelming.
Siquijor on the other hand completely bewitched me. Pun intended. If you know you know but if you don’t, I guess you can read a little bit of the island’s story here. Many of these tales might be passed down as folklore, but regardless of one’s beliefs, I think it’s important to always respect the sanctity of any place you visit.
Philippines is so truly beautiful, and I feel I’m barely scratching the surface. I hope I get a chance to see more of my country.