Rizal Boulevard
700 meters of bliss
700 meters.
That's approximately how long Rizal Boulevard is in Dumaguete City. Although it is not as long as Roxas Boulevard in Manila, every centimeter of this strip of road and beach won't disappoint. Whether you may be a local, or a student, or a tourist, this attraction surely has almost everything you want to spend a fruitful weekend or a hopeful morning.
But aside from the rich culture, entertainment, and leisure that it offers, Rizal Boulevard's history is also just as colorful. Named after Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, this 700-meter strip is said to be once a favorite hangout of the national hero himself. During his stopover in Dumaguete City on his way to exile in Dapitan, he made a brief visit here and often strolled around the area. It is but interesting to note how Rizal was able to find bliss and satisfaction in just a brief stroll in this part of Dumaguete before spending four years of punishment for a crime that the Spaniards then framed him of doing.
The beautiful lineup of Spanish-style lampposts throughout the strip welcomes you once you arrive in Dumaguete by boat, especially if you arrive here by night. From the airport, it only takes a short 15-minute ride to get here. Not too far away, the century-old Silliman Hall and the east quadrangle of Silliman University also give you a sense of prestige despite the city's provincial feel. To add to the amazing pattern of lights, the plethora of acacia trees scattered throughout the boulevard gives you a cool breeze whenever you stroll and watch the rolling waves. All throughout the day, Rizal Boulevard is filled with people, both tourists and locals. In the morning it is a favorite jogging, cycling, and exercising spot, and in the evening, especially on weekends, it is filled with music, chatter, and pure entertainment, while the aroma of different foods served in the long line of restaurants here will surely make you go hungry.
Tourists will also find a haven in Rizal Boulevard, since numerous hotels and restaurants run along its strip. And whether you're a foreign or local visitor, your taste buds will absolutely come to life because of the varied cuisines restaurants serve here. Italian, Austrian, Chinese, American, Spanish, Japanese, Mexican, Korean, French, and Filipino dishes are served here, making Rizal Boulevard a melting pot of cultures and giving tourists a wide array of foods to choose from and enjoy.
Rizal Boulevard is also known for street food that everyone craves for whenever coming to Dumaguete City. In the area just right across the Silliman Hall is a group of street food carts serving purely Filipino finger foods such as tempura, fish balls, kikiam, and the exotic balut. If you're a music lover, restaurants nearby also have bands that play dance, mellow, and funk music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Stressed? There are community masseuses ready to soothe you at a very affordable price, which are much lower compared to massage parlors.
Dumaguete's main commercial district, or the downtown area, is just a stone's throw away from here. There are four major streets linking the boulevard to the city, namely: Silliman Avenue, Perdices Street, Dr. V. Locsin Street, and Santa Catalina Street, all of which make any business establishment, be it a department store, a specialty restaurant, or a computer shop, accessible from any point in the Rizal Boulevard.
This month of August is one of the perfect times of the year to visit Dumaguete and the Rizal Boulevard, since the strip is a favorite spot for parades and festivities. And because August is Founders Season in Silliman University, the boulevard is filled with Sillimanian alumni from all over the globe, and students also rock the area with torches to open the much-awaited Hibalag Booth Festival, a staple activity every Founders Week in Silliman. Another perfect time to visit is in October, when Negros Oriental celebrates the Buglasan Festival. Seas of people gather together in the boulevard to watch the beautiful fireworks display during the final days of the celebration.
If only the nooks, crannies, and lamp posts of the Rizal Boulevard could talk, they surely would have thousands of stories to tell. These thousands of stories have made this 700-meter boulevard one of Dumaguete City's best loved places. And again, a visit to Rizal Boulevard will never disappoint you.