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Monday, May 30, 2016

Dapitan City, An Old Grandeur in Mindanao

By Jong Cadion

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte (May 30, 2016) – Dapitan will always be a special place, taking into account its historicity, evidences of which we try to preserve and conserve for posterity; lest future generations will be robbed of very important and notable proofs of its beauty, eccentricity, arcadia and grandeur such as the markers, heritage houses, furniture, clothing, books, manuscripts, pictures, paintings, and the huge and mighty trees that still stand proud and erect, surviving the tests and challenges of nature for more than 150 years!

Like the trees, Dapitan itself is an awe to be discovered! It is so beautiful with its long stretch of shoreline of black sand in some areas and pinkish white sand on others! It has wide navigable rivers rich with edible and delicious products, waterfalls, caves, rapids, two islands which triangulate with the mainland and serves as a haven for whales and dolphins to name a few!

I believe these inherent qualities and conduciveness for good living prompted the Subanen tribe, known as the earliest settlers, to form settlements at Dapitan’s coastlines. They engaged in commercial trade with people from neighboring islands including those coming from parts of Asia and some parts of Europe. Prompted mostly by atrocities committed on them by moro pirates, they decided to venture upriver and into the hinterlands which did not fail them as fruit bearing trees and other agricultural products abound!

In 1563, a large group of Boholanos led by Datu Pagbuaya arrived in Dapitan. They instantly liked Dapitan’s environs and felt at home! They decided to make their settlement and called it Dapitan, a place where they felt invited to stay. In 1565, Legaspi and his expeditionary group came to Dapitan.  They were received hospitably by Datu Pagbuaya and his people.  This encounter culminated with a “Treaty of Friendship” between Pagbuaya and Legaspi and marked the beginning of the Dapitanons defense of the Spanish crown and faithful adherence to the Catholic faith, to the extent of giving free assistance to Spain’s pacification of Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon. Thus, the era and rule of Datu Pagbuaya and his descendants in Dapitan gained popularity not just in Mindanao but also in the Visayas and Luzon! Their strength, bravery and success in warfare gained them the trademark as “the Brave and Noble Nation of Dapitan”.

Dapitan was already in the Philippine map as early as the 1500s! Dapitanons should be very proud!

The Spanish Philippine conquest and rule brought forth in Dapitan another notable Filipino, the greatest man the Malayan race has ever produced, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He spent four fruitful years of exile in Dapitan showing the versatile person that he was, very much ahead of his time! He was a teacher, a poet, a writer, a painter, a sculptor, an engineer, a surgeon and ophthalmologist, a scientist, a sports enthusiast! A farmer and a leader to the community! He was well loved not just by the locals of Dapitan but by his friends from around the world as well. Dapitan is so blessed to have sheltered Rizal and his greatness! Everything that is reminiscent of Dr. Jose Rizal may be found at the Rizal Shrine, in Dapitan’s barangay Talisay.  Hence, Dapitan got the descriptive title, "the Shrine City of the Philippines”!

Dapitan City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong in an interview with CNN Philippines said that based in the history of Dapitan City, Local leaders took turns in leading the administration of Dapitan but for a longer span of time, nothing much had been done about the Rizal Shrine, no representations made to the national government until Dapitan lost its name in history. It doesn’t ring a bell anymore, it lost its importance... Such a pity considering the fact that Dapitan is the only place which no other place could replicate, unless they can produce another Rizal.

With all the wonders possessed by Dapitan, the same failed to supply the needs of its constituents. Dapitanons then needed to travel and apply elsewhere to have a salaried and stable job. The main product before was copra when the price in the market was still competitive. Another was fish and other agricultural products. It can feed the family but still no room for advancement except for the landlords.

Agolong disclosed that the vision for the revival of the glory of Dapitan came to being in 2001. It was during the administration of Mayor Rodolfo H. Carreon Jr that most if not all the streets in the poblacion were cemented as part of the preparation for a Tourism Masterplan. The aim was to make Dapitan a competitive tourist city offering historical tourism, ecotourism and manmade tourist facilities. When the Tourism Plan was laid down, it seemed impossible considering the garagantuan amount of money needed to finance everything in the plan. It was also during the time of Mayor Rodol that commenced the planning of the construction of the New Government Center.

Agolong said that theduring the time of Mayor Dominador G. Jalosjos' three term administration produced the imposing unique and respectable structure of the New Government Center! It saw the sprouting of tourist facilities such as the delienation of Dapitan Poblacion into two zones namely the Old Dapitan and the New Dapitan! Farol de Kumbate proudly adorned the lamp posts of old Dapitan while the erection of the Global lights silently magnifies the new Dapitan Zone.

Agolong added that Handuraw Festival in honor of Rizal was also added to the major yearly activities. Participation from the private sector was greatly encouraged with marketing and promotions and tax holiday support from the local government. Hence, a number of well-meaning Dapitanons took the challenge and came up with hotels and pension houses business; Dapitan's ultimate entertainment venue, the Gloria de Dapitan; and of course, the only theme park in Visayas and Mindanao, the Fantasyland. It also has travel and tours operation with a fleet of big buses transporting domestic tourists from different points in Mindanao. Dakak Park and Beach Resort had been renovating their resort for more than four years already. Adding up the best facilities which may be found in other posh resorts and surpassing them.

To date, Agolong said Dakak now has the longest zipline in Asia at 1.3 kilometers. Dapitan City received a lot of help through the construction of infrastructure projects from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Governor Rolando E. Yebes, Governor Rommel Jalosjos, Congressman Cesar Jalosjos, Congresswoman Cecilia J. Carreon, Congressman Bullet Jalosjos, from the Senators and Congressmen friends. Their contributions produced the Punto de Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan.

She said that during the hosting of Palarong Pambansa 2011 the facilities was introduced, widening of the Rizal's Trail, Face-lifting of the City Square, 1.2 billion continuing road project from the Rizal Shrine to the municipality of Rizal and a lot more.

City Tourism Officer said, Mayor Rosalina G. Jalosjos' present administration pushed for the continuance of the effective tourism programs of her predecessor and added programs and events that would give our city a new name, the City of Festivals. Kagang Festival was launched in February in the coastal barangays and Ulang Festival for the barangays along the riverbanks. Entertainment and Services are being offered to the barangay folks to let them feel the same level of importance as those living in the poblacion.

Again, the private sector is also very active in coming up with different kind of interesting and enjoyable events through the constant courting of the Mayor Agolong said. Dapitan was the proud host the most expensive motorbikes in the world during the 3rd International Motorbike Conference, three years after we successfully hosted the Palarong Pambansa 2011. National offices held their conferences here almost every month! While skydivers and motocross riders found their home in our beautiful city. Soon we will be holding the World Arts Camp Olympiad courtesy from the able and active participation of the frontliners from the private sector. We will soon be visited by international golfers in less than three years when the Greg Norman Signature Golf Course will be completed. National Geographic enthusiasts will have their eyes on us as we extract the sunken galleon. Russians will become a natural sight in the next years to come as they already forged a sisterhood with our neighbor city, yet Dapitan has everything the Russian market wants. We are eyeing not just domestic tourists as clients but the only international community. Just recently, groups from Mainland China, Hongkong, Taiwan and Singapore took turns in their arrival and immersion here in Dapitan since January for our magnifiscent and awesome offering of Fly and Dive Package within the Dapitan Sea Triangle.

She said all these activities were being backed up by a consistent marketing and promotions team from the trimedia making it sure that our activities will always make it in the news locally as well as in the regional and national television news. Participation in various Trade and Industry Expositions both local and international also played a very big part in the success of our tourism activities and missions.

Historian Florentino Cad described Dapitan in the 1500s as the capital of Mindanao. "if Manila stood as the pride of Luzon and Cebu to Visayas, Dapitan was considered the pride and strength of Mindanao." Dapitan today is making a raging comeback redeeming its glory days! We just need to do our share and do away with our negative behaviors which will take a toll in Dapitan's consistent advancement!

Meanwhile, the 36th National Folkdance Workshop which was being held here for 5 days made its culmination last Saturday May 28, 2016, through the voluntary presentations of what the 1,200 participants from all over the country learned during the 5-day workshop. It was the centerpiece of our Heritage Month celebration vis a vis the Santacruzan 2016 which is a mirror of our religious opulence from the time of our forefathers up to the present.

The City Tourism Officer also inviting everyone to witness the traditional Santacruzan on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 and make a trip down the lane of Dapitan's historic, proud and preserved past.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

ARMM pushes completion of ‘Dream Road 2’ project


MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 28 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has allocated PhP250 million for the construction of the 32-kilometer Kapai-Upper Tagoloan road.

Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) the construction of the 32-kilometer road will begin next month. The construction of the Kapai-Lower Tagoloan section is ongoing.

The 32-kilometer stretch is part of the 65-kilometer Marawi-Kapai-Tagoloan-Talakag, Bukidnon road construction. It is to be completed in 2019.

Adiong said the road project dubbed as “Dream Road 2” will connect this city and the towns of Kapai and Tagoloan to the province of Bukidnon through the municipality of Talakag.

Adiong said the road, once completed, will serve as an alternate route and would shorten the travel time to one-and-a-half hour to Cagayan de Oro City coming from this city.

Adiong, who visited the road project on Friday, said the travel time at present is three-hours from this city to Cagayan de Oro City via the city of Iligan.

Adiong said the completion of the road will also hasten the transport of goods and other products to this province from Cagayan de Oro City and vice-versa.

He disclosed that the DPWH-ARMM has spent PhP111 million for the road rehabilitation and construction of Kapai section while DPWH Region 10 has allotted PhP75 million from this year’s budget for the ongoing construction of the Lower Tagoloan section.

He said ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the provincial government and allocated additional PhP230 million for the “Dream Road 2,” the construction of which is ongoing.

Engineer Mickey Macabantog of DPWH Region 10 said they have also requested additional PhP250,000 to be included in the 2017 national budget for the full completion of the road project.

Mayor Misangcad Capal of the nearby town of Tagoloan said the full completion of the Dream Road 2 project will benefit his constituents.

Dulce Capal, Tagoloan Liga ng mga Barangay president, said the completion of the road would provide easy access to the students in going to school.
“At present, they have to climb steep mountains on foot just to go to school,” Capal said.

Tagoloan Councilor Simpanoray Sarip said it is only during the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino, III that development projects, such as the Dream Road 2, have reached their place. (PNA)
ZST/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION


Friday, May 27, 2016

Dapitan City Celebrates Tuloy Festival, Hosted National Folk Dance Workshop




Dapitan City Hall

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte -- After its feisty holding of the National and Local Elections, the Local Government Unit have resumed its implementation of their lined up annual activities.

It has been a very busy week for the Dapitanons as they celebrated Tuloy Festival in Barangay Sicayab Bucana, the fish capital of the city and at the same time hosting the 36th National Folkdance Workshop with more than 1,200 participants from all over the country, Vity Tourism Official said.

City Tourism Officer Apple arrie Agolong said the Fluvial Parade, Invitational Hiphop Dancing Competition, Tuloy Catching Contest and Tuloy Cookfest were just among the many activities aside from the nightly presentations during of the festival.

Agolong disclosed that Mayor Rosalina G. Jalosjos with Barangay Captain Sardane was hopeful that the barangay being the fish capital of the city can sustain its title by strongly implementing fishing laws that may protect marine resources from illegal fishing and harvest.

Meanwhile, the National Folkdance Workshop is on its final day with a presentation tonight to properly showcase everything they learned from the 5day activity.

The Participants were enjoyed their historical and city tour in Dapitan which is dubbed as the Shrine City of the Philippines.

Along with every group's tour is the visit to Dakak Park and Beach Resort, Gloria de Dapitan which housed the Fantasyland and a group picture with the world's smallest man, Junrey Balawing at the second floor of the City Tourism Office. (JDC)

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