Dapitan's Raging Comeback

By: Apple Marie A. Agolong 
City Tourism Officer-Dapitan City   

Dapitan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Map of Zamboanga del Norte with Dapitan highlighted

The last time i wrote an article was more than ten years ago! Being articulate does not always guarantee that the same person may be able to translate her thoughts into a good story. But the students who approached me were so hopeful that i will accept the task which they said they will consider a "big favor" from me if i oblige. Geesh, how can i say no, especially if I will be writing about the tourism industry of Dapitan City?

Dapitan has always been a special place, taking into account the bits of history of its past and the tangible remnants which we try to preserve and conserve lest the future generations may be robbed of very important and notable pieces of evidences of its beauty, eccentricity, arcadia and grandeur such as the markers, heritage houses, furniture, clothes, 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!

Rizal Shrine, in barangay Talisay in Dapitan City

Ilihan viewing Hill of Dapitan City

Like the trees, Dapitan itself is an awe to be discovered! It is so beautiful with its long stretch of beach both with black sand in some areas and pinkish white sand on the other side! It has the perfect white sand beaches and several fish sanctuaries! It has wide navigable rivers rich with edible and delicious products, waterfalls, caves, rapids, two islands which form a triangle with the mainland and serves as a haven for whales and dolphins to name a few!

I believe these inherent qualities and conduciveness to a good living prompted the earliest settlers who were our ancestors, the Subanens to form its settlement in the seashore area.. With a lot of traders around the world who preferred to do repairs of their vintas or refueled their galleons or pirates who showed violence and injected fear among the locales, they decided to venture onwards and inwards along the riverbanks and the surrounding areas nearby which didn’t fail them as fruit bearing trees and other agricultural products abound!

Then in 1563, came a large group from Bohol led by Datu Pagbuaya who instantly liked Dapitan and felt at home! The era and rule of Datu Pagbuaya and his children in Dapitan gained popularity not just in Mindanao but also in Visayas and Luzon! Their strength, bravery and success in warfare gained them a trademark.

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

The Spanish conquest and rule brought forth in Dapitan another notable fellow, the greatest man the Malayan race has ever produced, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He was sent here in exile for four fruitful years practicing 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, an 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 around the world as well. He was being researched and visited by international patients! Dapitan was so blessed to become the home of Rizal's greatness! Everything that is reminiscent of Dr. Jose Rizal may be found at the Rizal Shrine, in barangay Talisay. Hence we got the descriptive title, "Dapitan, the Shrine City of the Philippines!

Punto de Desembarco de Rizal in Dapitan

The Rizal Shrine in DapitanCity  today stands exactly

on the same spot where Rizal built his home.

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.

Former Dapitan Mayor Pedro Adasa

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.

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 notall 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, eco-tourism and man-made 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.

Dapitan City Hall, the New Government Center.

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 delineation 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.

Former Congressman Romeo "Nonong" Jalosjos

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.

The Gloria de Dapitan Fantasyland entrance

The longest zipline in Asia at 1.3 kilometers

To date, 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, Palarong Pambansa 2011 facilities, widening of the Rizal's Trail, Facelifting of the City Square, 1.2 billion continuing road project from the Rizal Shrine to the municipality of Rizal and a lot more!

Punto de Desembarco de Rizal in Dapitan

Dakak Beach Resort in Dapitan City

Mayor Rosalina G. Jalosjos and

Vice Mayor Rubin E. Cad

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.

Dapitan was the proud host to 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 Costume Festival courtesy from the rich 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.

Greg Norman Signature Golf Course

All these activities were being backed up by a consistent marketing and promotions team from the tri-media ensuring that our activities will always make it in the news locally as well as in the regional and national television news.

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 on Dapitan's consistent advancement!