NEGROS ORIENTAL

Negros Oriental has a lot of historical and otherwise interesting sites to visit both as a tourist and as an local. so sightseeing in Negros Oriental is quite interesting wether you are interested in nature or history. I am more interested in nature myself and Negros Oriental has not dissapointed me in that regard.

There are 19 municipalities and 6 cities, which are further subdivided into 557 barangays.
Dumaguete City is the provincial capital and seat of government. It is also the most populous city, despite having the smallest land area.

The cities and municipalities are grouped into three congressional districts, with each district electing a congressman to the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

1st District: Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod
2nd District: Amlan, Bais City, Mabinay, Pamplona, San Jose, Sibulan, Tanjay City, Dumaguete City
3rd district: Bacong, Basay, Bayawan City, Dauin, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Valencia, Zamboanguita

Each town in Negros Oriental celebrates an annual town fiesta, usually dedicated to a saint who is the patron of the town. In some of the larger towns, there are particular fiestas for specific neighborhoods or barangays.
Additionally, the Buglasan Festival, which was revived in 2001, is celebrated annually in December in the provincial capital of Dumaguete and is hailed as Negros Oriental's "festival of festivals".
Negrensee has a vast fertile land resources, Negros Oriental's major industry is agriculture. The primary crops are sugarcane, corn, coconut and rice. In the coastal area, fishing is the main source of income. People are also involved in cattle ranches, fish ponds and logging. There are also mineral deposits like gold, silver and copper.
Negros Oriental is emerging as a technological center in Central Philippines with its growing business process outsourcing (BPO) and other technology-related industries. Negros Oriental is also becoming a notable tourist destination in the Visayas.

GETTING TO DUMAGUETE CAPITAL OF NEGROS ORIENTAL
Dumaguete City can be reached via air and sea transportation from Metro Manila. Hotel accommodation in the city is never a problem. There are several hotels to choose from with all basic amenities such as air condition, hot and cold bath, cable TV and telephone connections.

By Air
There are two daily flights direct to and from Metro Manila to Dumaguete, one in the morning for Cebu Pacific Air and one in the afternoon for Air Philippines. Travel time is only an hour and 10 minutes.

By Sea
If one chooses to travel by sea, there are also ships that can be boarded from Metro Manila to Dumaguete with a travel time of 36 hours. From Cebu City, Pier 1 and Pier4 one can take a fast ferry craft that reaches Dumaguete in 4 hours.

By Land From Cebu to Dumaguete City
For those who would like to travel by road to do some sightseeing and to have a little adventure, there is a bus liner that leaves every hour from its Cebu terminal to the town of Bato where it boards a barge that will cross Tañon Strait. The barge then docks at Amlan, a port in Negros, the bus liner disembarks and takes you all the way to Dumaguete City in less than an hour. Total travel time is approximately 6 hours at regular speed.


Transportation in Dumaguete City
The public mode of transportation in the city is a tricycle, otherwise known as the pedicab. It is a 4-seater cab powered by a 2-wheel motorcycle. However there are also vans or other vehicles for hire.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Twin Lake National Park: (Sibulan 15 mins drive north of Dumaguete)

beautiful lakes where you can enjoy canoeing and walking along the lakeside trails. To get to the lakes you can rent a motorcycle, jeepnie, or have a tour guide take you. The lake is 18 kms from Sibulan.

Dolphin and Whale Watching Tours: ( Bais City. 1 hour drive north of Dumaguete) see whales and dolphine; visit Campuyowhite sands bar, swim and then ride through 400-hectare protected mangrove. Tours ae available at the Capinahan Warf 15 minutes form Bais City. rates are 2,500 to 3,500 fro 15-20 people.

Casaroro Falls: (Valencia, 15 minutes from Dumaguete) then rent motorcycle at the palza . Hike down 335 steps and then up a river to reach a falls, not a trip for the faint hearted! Rent a motorcycle at Valencia plaza to take you to the trail entrance.

Cave Tours/ Spelunking: ( Mabinay, 1.5 drive North from Dumaguete) Explore 7 different caves from beginners level to extreme spelunking! Tour guides and info are available through the vice mayor office at Mabinay City Hall. Prices range from 50-100 per person and 400 for the tour guide.

Lake Balanan Nature Park: ( Siaton, 1 hour drive south of Dumaguete) a tranquil nature park and lake where you can enjoy canoeing and hiking. Rides to Balanan are available at the plaza, a 25-min ride to Siaton.

DIVING and WATER SPORTS

Apo Island and Dauin: ( 3o mins drive south of Dumaguete) featuring some of the best diving in the Philippines with over 20 dive sites around the island. There are several resorts and dive shop in dauin that can provide dive tours, kayaking, jet ski rentals and other water sport activities. take a boat from Malatapay Pier to go to Apo Island.

DINNING and NIGHTLIFE

The Boulevard: (Rizal Boulevard,Dumaguete) Take a walk along Rizal Boulevard and enjoy the ocean view, fine restaurant, bars, karaoke, and dancing.