Ranked in 2014 as one of the top places in the world to retire to by both Forbes Magazine and Yahoo, Dumaguete City has garnered a lot of attention recently on the National and International stage for those people looking for a new place to settle down and call home. There is good reason for this which has been verified by the steady influx of both Foreigners and Filipinos who are looking for a better quality of life while not compromising on access to modern amenities. They have come in droves since those rankings have been published, liked what they saw and made the move!
Dumaguete, or “The City of Gentle People” has a unique blend of both modern amenities such as shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, and medical facilities, and close access to the slower, more laid back lifestyle of the provinces. From anywhere in Downtown Dumaguete, it is only a short fifteen minute drive to experience some of the best examples of the raw natural beauty people have come to expect of the Philippines. To the south, along wide cemented highways, you will come across Dauin and Zamboanguita, which is known as the gateway to the world renowned marine sanctuaries of Apo Island where swimming with giant Sea Turtles among vibrantly colored coral reefs is a daily pastime. To the North, you will run into the amazing white sand bars of Bais, where you can enjoy a native bar b q at one of the houses on stilts, after spending the morning watching hundreds of Dolphins put on a show for their land based cousins. To the West, there are Hectares and Hectares of virgin tropical rainforests covering the Negros Oriental Coastal Mountains where you can explore waterfalls, hot springs and breathtaking panoramic viewpoints.
Dumaguete City is also considered a “unitown” as it is home to world renowned Siliman University as well as 2 other Universities and several well respected colleges. This hotbed of Educational institutions also gives Dumaguete City that unique atmosphere common to University towns all over the world.
The final key to Dumaguete’s attractiveness is the affordability. Prices here are considerably lower than most other urban areas of the Philippines so those on a fixed budget income can live a lifestyle far beyond what they could ever have thought possible.
LOCAL HOST OF DUMAGUETE CITY AND NEGROS ORIENTAL
GORDON MCKISSOCK
gord@philippine-expat.com
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