The City of Dapitan is a 2nd class city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 68,178 people in 13,560 households. It is historically significant as being the place where the national hero, Jose Rizal was exiled by the Spaniards and is known as the “Shrine City in the Philippines.” The city also boasts of Gloria’s Fantasyland, the first amusement park in the Visayas-Mindanao region.

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Taguilon
Taguilon is home to the Dakak Park and Beach Resort. It is a producer of coconut and agar (based on sea weed) as well as a fishing port. The pier in Taguilon is a secondary/alternate port to the main passenger/cargo port in Dapitan City. Additionally, during severe storms at sea, ferries and other ships find shelter in the Taguilon cove.

Local Festival
The “Kinabayo Festival” occurs from June 12 – July 25 of every year, with centerpiece events happening from the 16th to the 25th of July, and culminating with the annual feast of St. James, the Greater, Dapitan’s patron saint. Traditionally, this festival ia a re-enactment of the Battle of Covadonga, where the Spanish forces under Pelagio took their last stand against the Saracens and were only able to reverse the tide of war with the miraculous apparition of St. James, the Greater. The annual revelry is on its 2nd year only, but it promises to become a popular, exotic, and colorful attraction, which will lure thousands of visitors to the city. For more info, visit  www.dapitan.com.

Attractions

Historical and Cultural Landmarks

Rizal Shrine – major historical landmark of theCity. It is the original estate of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who lived for four years in Dapitan as an exile from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896.Other structures that could be found at the Rizal Shrine are the following:

a. Casa Cuadrada – Rizal’s Home together with members of his family who came to visit him. It has been faithfully reconstructed in its original light, native materials.

b. Casa Redonda – an octagonal dwelling which served as the pupils quarters. It was later converted to a clinic and it was here where George Taufer, the foster father of Josephine Bracken was operated on his eyes.

c. Casa Redonda Pequena – a hexagonal structure which served as the chicken house.

d. Casitas de Salud – there are two of these structures intended as tea houses but which our national hero converted into clinics to accommodate patients from far flung municipalities.

e. Aqueduct – a reservoir which served as a good water system. Bamboo tubes used to connect the diversion canal to the kitchen and lavatory.

f. Mi Retiro Rock – it is a natural heart shaped rock so called because it was here where our national hero is known to have scribbled beautiful verses of his famous poem “Mi Retiro” and “Himno a Talisay”. He also spent many hours watching the sunset here.

g. Amphitheater – an open air auditorium with a seating capacity of 500 which was constructed beyond the Mi Retiro Rock by the city government from funds from the office of the Reginal Commissioner headed by Rear Admiral Romulo M. Espaldon, now Minister for Muslim Affairs. h. Rizaliana – a modern, concrete building constructed in 1972 which houses all Rizalian books, periodicals and all sorts of historical exhibits. Part of it also serves as the Office of the Rizal Shrine Curator.