Written by Adriana Myers:
Our last full day in Dumaguete: The City of Gentle People. Today we enjoyed a day of snorkeling at Apo Island. Many of us witnessed sea turtles in their habitat. And a few had close encounters with poisonous sea snakes. We enjoyed a delicious lunch on the boat before sun bathing – resulting in many sun burns.
Before boarding the plane to go back to Manila, we all had the chance to tour a private hospital (Siliman Medical Center) as well as the public Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. The public hospital has a capacity for 250 but serves an average of 500 patients. The differences between these two settings was shocking for some of us. It was yet another reminder for us to appreciate the resources we have available to us at home.
We all can’t help feeling a bit sad to be leaving Dumaguete. Everyone we met has been welcoming and warm, and every destination seemed to be more beautiful than the last. I hope we can carry the “gentleness” of this city home with us.
