Dumaguete City is in a festive mood for this day alone, people forget their cares and worries, bond with family friends and acquaintances, share a common thread that unites the community.
As in any fiesta, a special banquet is prepared, each one is free to take his cholesterol fill, since the presence of lechon is inescapable. Happy eating!
No wonder, many locals and visitors alike are drawn to stay in this City of Gentle People where people are English-speaking, friendly, warm, kind, and hospitable.
When one looks around, foreigners from all over the globe — who are now local residents — are visible. Most of them attest to the welcoming ambiance of this City, the charm of dumagit.
Historians say that the rootword of Dumaguete is dumagit (to snatch, capture), because during the colonial period in the 1800’s, many southern pirates engaged in slave trading, used to dock, catch the natives to be sold in Indonesia and Malaysia. Even during those times, human trafficking was rampant.
Over the years however, the word dumagit has evolved and transformed in its meaning. This is because Dumaguete City is the one “captivating” people who come and visit, lure visitors with its natural charm, promise easy living, and languid atmosphere.
Most of those who come from other provinces do so to study in the universities, then decide to stay, and choose to settle down here.
Those who are assigned on government posts or corporate assignments choose to retire and live in the City. There are even people who decided to come and stay, just from canvassing possible places to live in.
While these make the residents proud of their City, it also comes with the responsibility of maintaining the charm of the City, while coping with development which would inevitably bring changes. Hopefully, the change is for the better.
There had been moves to scrap the celebration of fiestas because people tend to overspend, overeat, overindulge during fiestas, but Filipinos by nature do not need a reason to celebrate.
To be friends and family are reason enough to gather and break bread together.
Happy Dumaguete fiesta, everyone!
