Dalaguete: A Slow-Paced Town Where Life Is Still Simple

Why do the most peaceful places hold the loudest stories? Stepping off the bus in Poblacion, Dalaguete, flashes of exhilarating adventures from my younger days flooded my mind. While the bus stop wasn’t remarkable, it somehow felt like a portal to another time.

Suddenly, I was transported to the days when Dalaguete, Cebu was a bustling tourist town. I remembered the days when people flocked to the town to witness the beauty of its mountains and discover its secrets.

But as the sound of the bus engine faded into the distance, I was brought back to the present. Then, I realized Dalaguete wasn’t the town I once knew.

The town nowadays moves at a slower pace.

It’s a place where Saturday mornings are lazy and easy-going. 

And it’s a town where time moves slowly, unhurried by the crazy and hectic modern world.

The once-busy town is now filled with intimate conversations, children’s laughter, and the simple rhythm of everyday life.

It may no longer be the lively town that once fueled my local micro-adventures, but I’ve come to love it just the way it is.

Moments later, a motorcycle driver approached us, asking if we were headed to Mantalongon. 

I said “yes,” though I wasn’t sure where exactly we’d go. 

The thing is, I just wanted to escape the chaos of modern life and find solace in Dalaguete’s picturesque landscapes.

And so, my niece and I hopped on the motorcycle to kick-start our unplanned adventure.

Where would this adventure take us?

Would I learn anything from this weekend trip?

I didn’t know the answer to these questions.

All I knew was that I was ready to explore this new version of Dalaguete.

My Dalaguete adventure 

Our Dalaguete adventure was just what the doctor recommended.

On our way to Osmeña Peak, the stress and worries I carried seemed to melt with each sharp turn of the road.

The fresh mountain breeze and emerald hills of Dalaguete somewhat calmed my restless soul.

I wish I could spend at least a day every week doing this.

I’m sure it would do wonders for my stressful life.

Suddenly, I remembered a lovely overlooking place with gorgeous views of the mountains in South Cebu.

So, I asked the driver to go to that place.

First stop: The Scenic Overlook 

What exactly is the name of this place?

I’m not entirely sure.

But let’s just call it “The Scenic Overlook” because that’s the first thing that comes to mind whenever I see it.

Although I don’t know the name of this overlook, I have so many beautiful memories of this place.

I remembered the first time I stopped by this place to explore a secret underground labyrinth called Eagle’s Cave.

I also remembered the times I ventured to Dalaguete with Team Bang, a group of hikers who once shared my passion for discovering local wonders.

Those were the simple carefree days.

Those were the days when life felt lighter, and I was content exploring places close to home.

As I admired the view and recalled those moments, something suddenly came into my mind.

What happened to me?

Can I become that version of myself again?

The truth is, life lately has felt like an endless race. 

I’m thriving and successful in a corporate setting where every day I hear words, like performance, optimize, and revenue.

But somewhere along the way, I have lost a piece of myself. 

I lost the one who found joy in simple adventures and the beauty of the world around me.

Don’t get me wrong.

I love the perks that come with this setting.

It allows me to travel wherever I want and has opened doors to explore incredible places across the Philippines. 

It even gave me the opportunity to conquer the five tallest mountains in the country.

Yet, despite all the milestones I’ve achieved, there’s still an ache.

There’s a void and a hole in my soul that no success seems to fill. 

I feel like I’m on a relentless sprint to nowhere, constantly running, chasing success and happiness, only to collapse, wondering why it never feels like enough.

While staring at the view and looking at my niece’s smile, I found out what was missing in my life lately: contentment.

It’s something that Dalaguete, Cebu has embraced amid the recent changes.

2nd stop: Osmeña Peak

Soon, we arrived at the registration area of Osmeña Peak, and it was so different from how I remembered it.

I don’t mean that in a negative way.

It’s clean, organized, and even has plenty of parking spaces now.

And the strangest thing is, it’s not crowded with tourists.

We then listed our names and paid the environmental fees.

We were also assigned a guide who would lead us to the summit of Osmeña Peak.

I honestly don’t need a guide to hike Osmeña Peak.

It’s an easy hike that I’ve done several times before.

I even hiked it decades ago in high school when there was no paved road from Mantalongon Market to Osmeña Peak.

But I didn’t complain and I was even excited to have a guide for this hike.

At least, I could share my blessings with others.

What’s more, I could gain some local insights into this more slow-paced version of Dalaguete, Cebu. 

So, we followed the guide and hiked the rocky trail in Osmeña Peak.

Along the way, I noticed there were only a handful of tourists visiting Osmeña Peak and  Dalaguete, Cebu that day.

I asked the guide if this has been happening frequently.

She said Osmeña Peak has been quiet lately.

She mentioned that things have changed drastically because of the pandemic and new attractions in Cebu, like Badian Highlands and 150 Peakway, Dalaguete, Cebu.

“How could new attractions affect an icon like Osmeña Peak,” I asked myself.

I’ve been all over the Philippines, and iconic attractions never go out of fashion.

I’ve seen Mount Mayon, the Banaue Rice Terraces, Mount Apo, and Mount Pulag.

And even with all the new attractions and developments, these places never lose their appeal.

Local explorers, no matter how many times they’ve seen these places, always come back.

But it’s different here in Cebu.

Our island thrives on reinvention, always offering fresh destinations for locals to explore.

To me, this works like a double-edged sword.

On one side, it gives locals seemingly endless opportunities for adventure. 

But on the other side, it reflects our modern culture that struggles to find contentment. 

You see.

We live in a world that’s always on the go. 

From new gadgets to new trends, there’s always something vying for our attention. 

There’s nothing inherently wrong with having ambitions and lofty goals. 

But sometimes, the constant chase after “more” can leave you exhausted, restless, and stuck in a never-ending loop of comparison.

The views from Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete

I’ve seen these views hundreds of times in my life.

And yet, they never fail to amaze me.

My niece and I took a bunch of photos of the stunning views.

She obviously enjoyed the trip and said the view was awesome.

Soon, a few tourists arrived at the summit and were blown away by the panoramas.

I told my niece to sit, relax, and enjoy the fresh mountain air and stunning view.

In a way, I was telling her to be present and enjoy the moment.

And in a strange, poetic way, it was also teaching me the value of contentment.

As someone who’s always on the go, I don’t get a lot of chances to pause and reflect.

While sitting atop Osmeña Peak, I felt something shift. 

The view was absolutely breathtaking, but it wasn’t the beauty of Dalaguete that stirred something in me.

It was the stillness. 

For the first time in a while, my mind wasn’t racing to the next task or goal. 

Instead, it was focused on the present moment.

This was contentment in its purest form.

And this is something everyone needs these days.

Here’s the thing.

Our world is keeping us restless and is pushing us to do more, buy more, and achieve more.

The world wants us to be more than ordinary.

And that’s why millions of people worldwide are depressed and anxious these days.

Our thoughts can often feel like a blur and a whirlwind of unmet expectations and anxiety.

But as I admired the stunning jagged peaks of Dalaguete, I realized how important it was to escape the rat race.

The thing is, contentment isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges or giving up ambition.

It’s about finding happiness in the present.

It’s about enjoying a view you’ve seen a hundred times or sharing a moment with your loved ones without distractions.

Getting back to the base

On our way back to the base, I felt more energetic and younger.

I thought I could run a hundred miles that day, and climb 7 more peaks.

Not only did the hike bring me inner peace, but the sun’s rays and fresh air rejuvenated my f*cked-up body.

And more importantly, it made me happy and gave me a more positive outlook on life.

I always believed contentment enhances happiness.

Because true and pure happiness is found in appreciating what you already have.

Most people think happiness can be found in future achievements, such as a bigger house, a promotion, or a dream vacation you’ve been eyeing for years.

But even if you achieve those things, you’ll still feel unhappy eventually.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

Remember the void I mentioned earlier?

The satisfaction of achieving a goal is always fleeting if you don’t value contentment.

That’s because we quickly set our sights on the next goal.

When I got promoted years ago, I was happy for months.

Then, I asked myself “What’s next?”

When I completed Mount Dulang Dulang last year, I was happy for a couple of weeks.

Then, I asked myself “What’s next?”

So, I climbed Mount Kitanglad, and Mount Kalatungan, completing my journey to the 5 highest mountains in the Philippines.

And how did I feel months later?

I still have the urge to chase more towering peaks and more death-defying mountains.

I was persistently moving the goalpost, looking for epic adventures that would spice up my life.

And this hike in Dalaguete, Cebu made me realize that I should slow down, and be more present.

It made me realize why a simple and slow-paced life is the key to pure happiness.

The journey to Badian Highlands 

I’ve heard a lot of positive reviews about Badian Highlands.

People were constantly praising it, saying it was one of the best attractions in Cebu.

Even though I wasn’t fond of it, I was curious to see it in person.

So, we hopped on the motorcycle and made our way to Badian Highlands.

Along the way, I was a bit discouraged by the sights.

They weren’t unpleasant, but I saw many limestone mountains altered to make way for this paved road.

I support development and growth.

And I understand this highway was built for convenience and to make lives easier for people living in the remote lands in Badian and Dalaguete.

Still, it’s a bittersweet thought that crossed my mind. 

Yes, progress comes with a price. 

The convenience of highways and new attractions often means sacrificing the natural beauty that once defined these places.

But will all this destruction ever end?

Will we ever be content with our progress?

As history often tells us, humans have an insatiable desire for destruction, power, and development.

In other words, we are greedy and all this deforestation will never end.

When we finally reached Badian Highlands, it was undeniably beautiful. 

We were amazed by the jagged mountains, azure sky, and unobstructed view of Negros Island.

But I wouldn’t say it’s one of the best attractions in Cebu or it has the best view in the Badian-Dalaguete area.

If you really want the best view in the area, go and climb Kandungaw Peak and Casino Peak.

Getting to the top might not be as convenient as driving to Badian Highlands, but it’s definitely worth it.

And besides, a mountain can teach many valuable life lessons.

We didn’t spend a lot of time in Badian Highlands.

I’ll be blunt with it: there’s nothing special about Badian Highlands.

Getting back to Poblacion, Dalaguete

There were two ways to get back to Cebu from Badian Highlands.

We could go to Badian town proper, and catch a bus there.

Or, we could go back to Poblacion, Dalaguete, and hail a bus back to our home city.

I went with the latter.

I wanted to explore the town, and soak up its charming small-town vibe.

As we made our way to Poblacion, Dalaguete I chatted with the driver, to get more local insights about the area.

And in a thematic twist, he shared ideas on how to live a life of contentment.

He mentioned how his life was once living in the bustling Cebu metropolis.

He said he hadn’t been in Metro Cebu since the year 2000.

And he said that he found contentment and happiness living in the mountains of Dalaguete, Cebu.

Maybe, this person was sent by the Universe to tell me to slow down and take care of my mental health.

Poblacion, Dalaguete

We still had plenty of time to do other things, when we arrived at Poblacion.

We could have traveled to Oslob to see The Ruins or explored the beach resorts in Dalaguete, Cebu. 

But suddenly, I remembered the word “contentment”.

There was no need to rush and move to another place to find happiness that day.

And that’s why we decided to explore the area and have lunch at one of the local eateries.

Soon, we took a bus back home, and I realized it was as memorable as some of my out-of-town trips.

This weekend trip reminded me of the importance of slowing down. 

Happiness isn’t found in the next promotion, adventure, or achievement.

It’s found in moments like the ones I’ve experienced on this trip, such as a stunning view, a loved one’s smile, and the stillness of a mountaintop.

You see.

When you stop having an endless list of desires and start embracing what’s within reach, you unlock a deeper, more lasting sense of joy. 

And in Dalaguete, I found that joy, waiting quietly in the simplicity of the present moment.

That’s the beauty of exploring a slow-paced town where life is simple.

What is Dalaguete known for?

Dalaguete, nicknamed the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu”, is known for its agriculture, beach resorts, and scenic mountains.

What mountain peak is in Dalaguete, Cebu?

Osmeña Peak is the most notable mountain in Dalaguete. However, there are other stunning mountains in this town, including Katampuko Peak, Casino Peak, and Kandungaw Peak.

How much is the fare from Cebu City to Dalaguete?

The bus fare from Cebu City to Dalaguete costs around 150 to 170 pesos per person.

Can we camp in Osmeña Peak?

Yes, camping is possible in Osmeña Peak. It’s also ideal for newbies since it’s an easy climb, and has a few stores nearby.