The Golden Boulevard

I always wanted to post something about Dumaguete's famous Rizal Boulevard but couldn't find the words to do so.

The Rizal boulevard is one of the must see sites when visiting Dumaguete. History tells us that the place was named as such because Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal strolled by the boulevard before he went to Dapitan during his exile. Aside from its historical significance, the Rizal boulevard is a picturesque stretch overlooking the Island of Fire, Siquijor.

 

It is not because of these reasons however that I had grown to love Rizal Boulevard. I love the place not only because its a relaxing place that makes me momentarily forget about my worries and what-nots but because it is a place which played an important part in my four years of education here in Dumaguete.

When I was an ignorant freshman, new to a place whose language I could not understand, the boulevard soothes my aching homesick heart. I remembered spending the lonely weekend afternoons sitting at the benches, strolling by, and occassionally eating teampura and balut with my friend Smile. Afternoons at the boulevard are the highlights of my weekend and I always look forward to it after a long and tiring school week.

During my junior year, I spent nights and the wee hours of the morning running after child laborers; interviewing tourists,vendors, prostitutes and sometimes, running from gang wars and an exhibitionist who kept on following us and masturbating in front of us. I remembered eating balut at 3am, buying kilos of lanzones and rambutan just to get an interview from the vendors in the area.


Of course, would I ever forget the times I spent there laughing with my friends; shooting for some of the scenes for our short film; or just sit there and enjoy each others company.

Who would forget the memories made in that strip of land that become an integral part in every Dumagueteños life?

I would gladly call myself a Dumagueteña if only for that boulevard. There is probably no other place in Dumaguete that has played that huge part in my life.

And if there is one more thing that would probably bring me back to Dumaguete, its the Rizal boulevard.

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Let me share to you these photos taken by our publication photographer Diana Anne.These photos are intended for their photoblog and for their photo essay for the publication.

For more photos of Dumaguete please visit, Larawan at Katotohanan the publication's official photoblog. All photos are owned by the publication and the photographer. Please ask for permission if you want to post it somewhere else. Thank you.