Manila membership scene diva now Dumaguete’s fab tour handbook
Life-style

To 90s rave little ones, Angelo Villanueva was Supermodel Diva of the membership scene. These instances, he appears simply as fierce with Dumaguete’s purely pure wonders as backdrop.
Dahl D. Bennett | Apr 02 2022
“I’m not a diver, I’m a diva,” reads the caption of Angelo Villanueva’s image the place he’s revealed posing on a ship with Dumaguete’s turquoise waters within the backdrop. He’s donning a two piece—a bikini base and a vivid orange turban, that’s. If almost something, the image partly captures how lifetime in unhurried, small-important, idyllic Dumaguete has allowed this earlier style stylist and 90s membership scene decide to proceed letting his fabulous flag fly.
“From speedy-paced city chaos to time truly slowing down—it was the best resolution I’ve ever produced,” states Villanueva, who moved to this seaside metropolis in Negros Oriental in 2009.

Previous to Dumaguete, Villanueva’s every day life in method and Manila’s event scene was at an fascinating situation. “I used to be doing the job in these sorts of a artistic setting,” says a single of native publishing’s early stylists. His corporations have been wanted in runway exhibits, occasions, and answer launches. On high of a busy occupation in vogue, he was a acquainted sight in Manila’s occurring golf equipment from Malate to Makati, the place he straddled amongst DJing and actively taking part in door bitch.
Earlier than he made the large transfer to Dumaguete and remaining the “large undesirable metropolis,” he did situation his readiness, inquiring the Manila boy in him, “Will I endure?”

However not solely did Villanueva endure he thrived and comfortably carried on together with his ‘diva’ persona, this time throughout as a regional tour guidebook, an envoy for Dumaguete’s affluent society and its well-liked and hidden sights. In his wonderful caftans, main jewellery, huge shades, with a local bag in tow, the towering decide (that’s the reason he’s generally known as “Supermodel Diva,” a moniker from his ABG’s instances) accompanies bakasyonistas on bespoke excursions all-around Negros Oriental structured by the agency he runs, Dumaguete Outdoor. “The transition was genuinely pretty fast. I solely tailor-made to buhay probinsya,” he suggests.

The dedication to maneuver to Dumaguete was additionally partly due to to his household’s hyperlinks to the province. “My grandparents have been being each Negrosanons and my father was born on this article,” shares Villanueva, a single of three sons of Fidel V. Ramos’s former Press Secretary, Hector Villanueva.
The extraordinary and fearless ex stylist shares the very same story with so a number of others—expats and Manila’s city warriors alike—who’ve determined to make Negros Oriental’s idyllic metropolis their family. Within the course of, the place has somehow transformed them—and primarily for glorious. “[My] life type has adjusted from the outrageous years of metropolis dwelling. [Dumaguete] has supplied me a a lot more healthy, younger, constructive outlook in life.”

Dumaguete’s ‘charms’ are planet common, a lot in order that Forbes Journal rated it fifth in a list of seven finest areas to retire in all around the world in 2014. It was additionally the primary metropolis within the Visayas to be offered the Best Retirement Location Deemed as Retiree-Useful (RADAR) place by the Philippine Retirement Firm beneath the Division of Tourism in 2019.
‘Finest Retirement Place’ place however, Dumaguete ticks so numerous containers for anyone looking to set one’s roots in a spot characterised by little city comfort with a cosmopolitan vibe. Prime on that itemizing are its seashores and pure parks that stretch to the relief of Negros Oriental. The effortlessly inexpensive worth of residing and sunny climate (the metropolis is hardly visited by typhoons) are additionally major considerations for retirees who shift listed right here.
Dumaguete additionally boasts an intercontinental crowd comprised not solely of pupils (there are all-around 300 worldwide pupils from 53 nations world wide studying in Silliman, in accordance to the college’s web site) however vacationers and expats. There may be additionally a superior vary of eating locations that present intercontinental delicacies.

Dumaguete can also be identified for its vibrant academic, cultural, artwork, and literary scene that springs from this Faculty city’s seven faculties and 4 universities, essentially the most recognizable of which is Silliman Faculty which is now 120 a number of years aged.
What pulls this charming mixture of factors of curiosity collectively is essentially the most distinguished of all Dumaguete landmarks, the 780-meter extended Rizal Boulevard that overlooks the Visayan sea and is the centre of train within the city. It’s a individual of the preliminary websites precisely the place new web site guests will possible have their first expertise with the city’s famed ‘mild people.’

It was no shock then that when the close by governing administration launched it can assist methods to place up a entirely-funded PHP 23-billion township simply 30 meters offshore from Dumaguete’s shoreline, residents like Villanueva have been caught off guard. The tour guideline joined a few protest actions earlier 12 months in direction of the rise of the 174-hectare reclamation endeavor dubbed as Dumaguete’s “Good Metropolis.” The mission was set on preserve last September.
In accordance to his Instagram, the previous variety of months, Villanueva has been going to completely different locations within the place, reuniting with outdated buddies, very doubtless profiting from the extra relaxed pandemic limits. However summertime is on this article and the diva is once more residence in Dumaguete and “again in movement,” as he locations it. Undertaking his excursions over again, taking his website guests to Apo Island, the Manjuyud Sandbar, the Casaroro Falls in Valencia. Exhibiting all people the attraction and soul of this enticing metropolis of Negros Island.
Dumaguete’s attraction and soul are the fairly explanations women and men like Villanueva determine on to maintain listed right here for excellent. “Dumaguete attracts you into its arms,” he suggests. “Everyone seems to be conscious of every particular person different to some diploma. It’s safe and a improbable setting to live in. It’s possible you’ll not at all need to return to the concrete jungle.”
