A
montemar kind of wedding: Only in Oriental Negros By Michelle Eve A. de Guzman
01 April 2008
What’s
more romantic and fun than getting out of the city and
getting married amidst the mountains (monte)
and beaches (mar) of the Philippine South? Want
a one of a kind wedding? Have a montemar wedding
in Negros Oriental.
The province,
the largest of all Central Visayan provinces, provides
60% of Region VII’s total forest
cover. It
offers a treasure trove of tropical forests,
sultry beaches, thundering waterfalls, and awe-inspiring
caves—as well as the comforts of wedding
preparation, from cakes to souvenirs to caterers.
The local wedding suppliers and establishments
are not only cost-effective and of good quality,
they will undoubtedly inject the local, indigenous
flavor to complete your unique destination wedding
experience.
How
to get there?
Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific have
daily direct flights to Dumaguete
City, and Super Ferry also has regular
trips.
Why not have a wedding overlooking Lake Nailig at
the foot of Mt. Talinis?
Trek for half a day up the “Cuernos de Negros”
(Horns of Negros) in Valencia, Negros Oriental to
reach this mirror clear lake surrounded by trees.
Don’t let the word “trek” dissuade
you or your guests, the slopes are gentle and the
picturesque view going up will make you forget you’re
mountain hiking. Mt. Talinis rises almost 6,000 feet
above sea level with a high degree of biodiversity,
with virgin forests, orchids and rare species of wildlife.
To get to the highest peak, you will need to arrange
an overnight hike-slash-camp with a guide (check at
the Island Life Outdoor Store or the Valencia Municipal
Government). But it’s definitely worth it and
will make for an unforgettable destination wedding
celebration.
After watching and reveling in the sunrise atop this mountain
range, go to the province’s capital, Dumaguete City,
and treat your wedding guests to cold beer, grilled pork belly
and sisig at Barefoot Bistro in EJ Blanco Drive, an
outdoor bar and restaurant with native huts, billiards and
the smell of the sea.
The next day, you and your loved one can go to the municipality
of Mabinay for some good, old spelunking. The most visited
caves are Odloman (8870 meters, known as the 2nd longest cave
in the Philippines), Crystal (159 meters with icicle-like
dripstones), and Panligawan and Pandalihan (143 and 282 meters,
popular among amateur cavers).
Finally, head to the Paintball War Games Park at the Fantasy
Village Convention Center on the national highway to appropriately
end your wedding escapade with vibrant colors and energy.
Other sites: Forest Camp, Casaroro Falls, Pulangtubig Falls
in Valencia.
Are
you romantic?
Boulevard
strolls at night or bicycle trips (available for rent
by the outdoor tempura stands) early in the morning,
horse-drawn carriages and ancestral Spanish houses,
are but footnotes to the possibilities of a romantic
wedding in Oriental Negros.
The Antulang Beach Resort (http://www.antulang.com)
in the municipality of Siaton is highly recommended
because of three words: private pool villas.
Surrounded by antulang (gumamelas) bougainvillas
and wild blackberry trees, its premium rooms and facilities
are situated on the edge of limestone cliffs.
Have your wedding at the terrace of their restaurant,
with flowered trellises and the sparkling ocean as your
natural wedding backdrop.
Afterwards, you can go horseback riding on the beach. Or if
you want a bit of adventure, you can also try rappelling down
a picturesque 20-meter drop, kayaking to Tambobo Bay, and
snorkeling in its deep blue waters.
With a breathtaking view of the sea and one’s own saltwater
pool in a little corner of the world, who will not melt at
the luxury of it all?
Other sites: Tirambulo Highland Resort, Mabinay
What
about the beach?
There is a seven kilometre white sand beach that is only visible
during low tide in Bais City. Welcome to the Sandbar, a respite
from the deep waters of Bais Bay and Tañon Strait.
From afar, its cottages seem like they are built on water.
A wedding ceremony by the sunset might just be the way to
go.
And here’s the added treat to both you and your guests:
Before you get to the Sandbar, go on a Dolphin Watch Cruise,
touted as among the most successful dolphin and whale watching
operations in the country.
From dolphins to pygmy sperm whales, the cruise takes everyone
through a body of water acknowledged to have one of the highest
concentrations of cetaceans in the world. A wedding in the
middle of such rich marine life will truly be one-of-a-kind.
When you get back to Dumaguete City, dance to the Visayan
beat during the Wednesday reggae nights of Hayahay Treehouse
Bar and Viewdeck (Flores Avenue, Piapi) fronting the sea.
Savour the smell of habagat, taste their famed oysters, and
drink to a life of wedded bliss.
Recommended months: from May to September
Care
to dive into the Apo way of life?
Start your wedding journey with a Wednesday Market experience
in Malatapay, Zamboanguita, just before riding a boat to internationally
acclaimed Apo Island. The seaside market features livestock
auction, flea market and al fresco beach food stalls that
will surely whet your guests’ appetite for more Negrense
culture.
Then head to Dauin for a 30-45 minute trip to Apo island,
one of the world’s best known community organized marine
sanctuary.
Composed of only 72 hectares, this volcanic island has five
pocket beaches of white pebbles, two mangrove lagoons and
a lighthouse. Diving equipment is readily available, and for
first-timers, snorkelling gear also does justice to the abundant
marine life.
But
the best thing about Apo Island, aside from a sunset
beach wedding by the marine sanctuary, is its friendly
and hospitable people. At 10pm, the electricity is turned
off. And as the couple and guests stay at the Apo Island
Beach Resort, they will immediately notice how Apo Island
inhabitants are working for the good of the whole community.
The resort, the cooperative store, the bakery; all proceeds
are divided among the locals.
Did
You Know?
Marine scientists from Silliman University
encouraged the locals to stop dynamite fishing
in 1982.
Apo island is now home to over 650 documented
species of fish and 400 species of corals,
making it one of the top dive sites in the
world.
Encircled
by love for both nature and for people, your appreciation
for living and new beginnings can only increase thousand-fold
in this Island.
Recommended time to visit for the full Negros Oriental experience:
October for the provincial fiesta, Buglasan Festival of Festivals
in Dumaguete City.
