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Dumaguete Dreams & Humidity Haze (Seriously, the Humidity)

@Topiclo Admin3/18/2026blog

okay, so dumaguete. it’s…a lot. i didn’t really plan on dumaguete, to be honest. i was chasing a lead on a vintage synth - a Roland Juno-106, apparently owned by a retired karaoke bar owner - and it just sort of…happened. i’m a vintage clothes picker, see, but synths? that’s a new obsession. a very expensive obsession.


first impressions? sticky. unbelievably sticky. i just checked and it’s…like wearing a warm, damp blanket all the time, which, honestly, isn’t the worst if you’re into that sort of thing. the weather report said twenty-four point oh two degrees, feels like twenty-four point seven two, pressure’s a hundred and twelve, humidity’s eighty-six percent. basically, bring a towel. always. and maybe a dehumidifier. seriously.


i’ve been staying in this little guesthouse near the *boulevard. it’s run by a woman named aling nena who makes the best mango sticky rice i’ve ever had. she doesn’t speak much english, and my bisaya is…nonexistent, but we communicate through pointing and enthusiastic nodding. it’s a system. the rooms are basic, but clean, and the wifi is surprisingly good. which is crucial, because, you know, synth hunting requires extensive online research.

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“apparently, old man reyes is very protective of his Juno. like, ‘will threaten you with a bolo knife’ protective.”
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that’s what the guy at the record store told me. a record store! a real, actual record store! it’s called ‘vinyl haven’ and it’s a treasure trove. i spent like, three hours in there yesterday. the owner, a dude named jojo, is a walking encyclopedia of obscure filipino funk. he also gave me the intel on the synth. hence, the potential bolo knife situation.

i’ve been wandering around the public market a lot. it’s…an experience. a beautiful, chaotic, fragrant experience. mountains of fruit i’ve never seen before, live chickens squawking, and vendors yelling prices. it’s sensory overload in the best way. i found some amazing vintage fabrics there, too. scored a silk scarf with a really cool floral print for like, five bucks.


someone told me that Apo Island is worth the boat trip, but it gets super crowded with tourists. i also heard that the diving there is incredible, but you need to book in advance. i’m thinking about checking it out, but i’m also kind of tempted to just spend the rest of my time digging through dusty boxes in vinyl haven. decisions, decisions.

if you get bored, Siquijor is just a ferry ride away. Apparently, it's known for its mystical healers and black magic. Sounds…interesting. I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that yet.

i’ve been using TripAdvisor to find decent restaurants* - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298460-Dumaguete_Negros_Oriental_Region_Visayas.html - and Yelp for local tips - https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants&find_loc=Dumaguete%2C%20Negros%20Oriental%2C%20Philippines. There's also this local forum I stumbled upon - https://dumaguete.com/ - which is full of useful info.

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“aling nena says the karaoke bar owner only sells synths to people who can sing ‘my way’ perfectly. like, Frank Sinatra perfectly.”
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that’s jojo again. i’m starting to think he’s messing with me. but honestly, i wouldn’t be surprised. this place is full of surprises. i'm also checking out this blog about Dumaguete: https://www.choosephilippines.com/dumaguete.

so, yeah. dumaguete. sticky, chaotic, and potentially dangerous (if you’re trying to buy a vintage synth from a karaoke bar owner). i’ll keep you updated on the Juno-106 situation. wish me luck. and send dehumidifiers.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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