Cebu and Negros Islands
Sunday, March 13
On our flight to Cebu we could see the fish pens as we flew over Laguna de Bay and the volcanoes dotting Lake Taal. I remembered to take a malaria pill and I felt safer because there was an outbreak of cerebral malaria in the St. Lucia area of the penal colony on Palawan that we had visited.
We changed planes in Cebu and arrived in Dumaguete, on the island of Negros Occidental at 9:30. As we came through the gates were surrounded by lovely girls who placed necklaces of ipil ipil seeds round our necks. Attached to the woven chain was an abalone shell–a good luck charm purported to attract money. We ate our bounteous breakfast buffet here in the open dining pavilion of bamboo..
Silliman University is a private university founded in 1904. We were especially interested in the work of Dr. Angel Acala in his marine laboratory. Through his efforts a museum has been established at the university and field work is carried out from the marine laboratory located on the beach near the hotel.
Sumilon Island
Sumilon Island, off the southern tip of Cebu and 14 kilometers from Dumaguete City, is a marine conservation park. Dr. Acala made a knowledgeable host for our trip to the ranch of Dr. Jose S. Garcia, about 30 km from Dumaguete City. Our caravan of jeeps took the rough road north of Siaton in their stride. As we climbed higher there were spectacular views of the sea.
The Garcia ranch is a bird sanctuary. The afternoon bird hike was too hot and long for me so I spent the time in the bamboo home of Dr. Garcia who spread a mat for me and I had a nap. He told me that even though he would prefer to let his ranch of 700 hectares be totally devoted to bird habitat, he is required by the government to plant rice and maintain a number of cattle. As we talked we heard the “wonk-wonk” of the white-breasted swamp hen and a group of mallards flew in and alighted on the pond.
The last mile or so of “road” leading to the sanctuary is only defined by guess and as we started back the jeep ahead of us hit a stone ledge and leaped into the air. It came down with wheels twisted. Our driver—the mechanic for the university—diagnosed it as a broken king pin. We took off to catch the jeeps ahead, as it would be needed to transport the passengers in the disabled jeep. I hung on to the door of the jeep, spending more time in the air than on the seat. Gus described it as “the wild ride of Mr. Toad”
We dined Sunday evening at the North Pole Restaurant. Since this was the first building in Dumaguete City to have air conditioning, it was well named. Our guests included Dr. Garcia and Dr. Acala. The seven course dinner included squash soup, stuffed shrimp, paella, chicken, French fries, potato salad with carrots, flan de coconut and tea. The tables were decorated with floral arrangements in pierced tin containers.