450th Founding Anniversary of Dapitan City, a Cocksure Celebration for the locals and tourists alike!

By JONG CADION

DAPITAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (November 17, 2013) - The City Tourism Office had already finalized the activities for the 3-day celebration of the 450th Founding Anniversary of Dapitan commencing on November 21 until the 23rd.

The celebration will highlight in reliving the arrival of a group of Boholanos to Dapitan led by Datu Pagbuaya in 1563 and made the place its permanent settlement.

The City Tourism Officer, Apple Marie Agolong said the formal opening of the 3-day celebration will be on November 21, 2013 at 8:00 o’clock in the morning through a simple yet meaningful program to be attended in by all elected officials of the city, heads of offices and government employees.

Then at 7:00 o’clock in the evening follows the first ever “Quest for Ginoong Dapitan” (Muscle Mania). On November 22 at 6:00 pm, a choral competition will take center stage as different choirs from schools and other music groups will compete for the “Dapitan Hymn Contest”. Each group will sing an original composition about Dapitan.

The winning entry would then become as the official Dapitan Hymn. The culmination activity is on November 23 with the “Invitational Interpretative Hiphop Dance Competition” at 7:00 o’clock in the evening. It will be very interesting to see how these dancers from all over Mindanao would do their own dance interpretation of the theme to be integrated in their carefully prepared Hiphop Dance entry, Agolong added.

 

City Mayor Rosalina “Nene” G. Jalosjos hopes that through her administration, Dapitanons would revisit history and do their part in promoting Dapitan as the ultimate tourist destination not just in the region but in the entire Philippines as an eco tourism haven rich in history, interesting traditions and mores, and its being a heritage zone declared by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts.

Its designation as a heritage zone comprised the entire City of Dapitan City. All activities will be held at Dapitan City Culture and Sports Complex. 

Dapitan City’s main product is its Tourism Industry where people generate their livelihood. It is known as the shrine City of the Philippines where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled for four fruitful years. Other tourist destinations in Dapitan are the 5 Star Dakak Park and Beach Resort which already has the title of having the longest zipline in Asia at 1.3 kilometer and right now commencing the construction of the Greg Norman Golf Course.

The Gloria de Dapitan which housed the very popular Fantasyland considered as the only theme park in Visayas and Mindanao with their horroriest house, circus, acrobatics, awesome rides, 5D movies, magic presentations and their mascots; the two diving havens, Selinog and Aliguay Islands; caves and waterfalls and a lot more! All you have to do is visit and be amazed with everything.