One year has passed since I left the Philippines with a promise to return for a much longer stay than the 21-day free visa. After much consideration of where to travel next, I decided it was best to return to SE Asia while my connections I had made there were still strong. Philippines were high up on that list of places because I felt so rushed in my short time here last May. Before I arrived in 2011 I became friends with Harold through Facebook on a recommendation from friends. He answered all my questions and welcomed me at the airport. He invited me along on a dive trip with his friends to Malapascua leaving that evening! My first week was spent with Harold, his close friends and some EPIC diving. It was a great start to my short visit to the Philippines.
I spent the next 2 weeks rushing around trying to see as much as I could squeeze in but it just wasn’t enough time! I got to experience my first Filipino fiesta, a family party of Harold’s close friends, amazing wreck diving, and beautiful coral reefs full of life. I did some jungle trekking and swam in waterfalls, visited lush jungles, relaxing beaches, and felt the welcoming nature of the Filipino people. More than enough reasons to return.
Now I am back and to stay in Dumaguete for a few months and enjoy all the perks the Philippines has to offer. I decided to base myself in here mostly because of the hospitality I received from Harold and the friendship we continued over the past year. Harold’s Mansion is the perfect place to use a base as it is located in the middle of the Visayas and an ideal push off point for world class diving in the islands that surround it and a chance to dive with whale sharks in nearby Oslob.
Harold is an involved member of the community and is able to help connect me with plenty of opportunity for volunteering, which was an important factor. The staff at Harold’s Mansion are always willing to offer assistance and suggestions for travel around the Philippines and to make sure you enjoy your time in Dumaguete with jungle treks, lakes, waterfalls and loads of diving sites available for day trips. Harold is usually available to spend time with the guests and make sure they are getting the most out of their holiday and quick to help in anyway he can. I couldn’t be more thrilled about my return to Dumaguete and Harold’s Mansion and looking forward to some fun in the Philippines.
-Jenn Rose
I really do love living in the Visayan Islands. Last weekend some friends were visiting and we did a daylong dive trip to Siquijor. I see this magical island across the Bohol Sea often but had never been there for scuba diving…that is until Harold organized a dive trip for us from Dumaguete. In less than an hour we were there and in the water. Our first dive was at a place called Paliton. It is a cool wall dive with nice hard corals and ribbon eels…. also there is a little cave that you can swim into. The second dive was at a place called sunken island. The DM told us to be prepared for strong currents and at first I was apprehensive since I thought it would be like Coconut point all over again but the current was not nearly as strong. Since we were swimming around this little island at some points you’d swim into the current and sometimes against. It was fun. With Siquijor so close by and Harold Mansion’s able to arrange a trip for us I will definitely go back for more diving. This weekend we are planning some exploratory dives and camping in Siaton. I’m told they have some great coral there and I can’t wait to find out if it true!
