There's No Place Like Home

      There is a common saying that says “There is no place like home”. Exactly, there is really no place like home. Even the most traveled person who had already crossed different countries and gone to lots of beautiful and extravagant places will still back to the place where he/she belongs. Why I am writing this article? It is because I would like to share with you the place where I came from and where I spent most of my childhood until adulthood years. And that special place is Dipolog City, the Orchid City of the Philippines.

Dipolog City is situated in the Northwestern part of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. The city itself is not really that big compared to Cebu City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro and other known big cities. It can be compared to Dumaguete City where life is so slow and people are just relaxed doing their own thing. Dipolog City is the capital city of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte. It is also the twin city of Dapitan where our Philippine Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled during the colonization of Spaniards. A large amount of tourists come to Dipolog City because of the following tourists activities such as “Sinulog sa Dipolog” wherein it is celebrated every 3rd Saturday of January featuring pageantry and street dancing for the Sto. Niño; “Katkat Sakripisyo” at Linabo Peak in April; “Pagsalabuk Festival” in May with harvest rituals of the Subanens, the Dipolognons (called to the people of Dipolog City) celebrated the festival every year during fiesta where there are street dancing, motor cross competition, sky diving exhibition, searching of Ms. Pagsalabuk Queen, Frisbee tournament, and Battle of the band; “Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer” during 3rd Saturday of May; “Araw ng Dipolog” marked July 1 to 6 with sports, cultural, and beauty pageants highlighted with Mutya sa Dipolog; “October 7 Fiesta” which is the Feast of the Lady of the Holy Rosary; “Pasko sa Dipolog” nightly shows in December where in every barangays of the city presents a variety show; “Araw ng Zamboanga del Norte or the Hudyaka Zanorte Festival” celebrated every first week of June.

Dipolog Plaza Magsaysay

Linabo Peak

Outside of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral

Mutya Ng Dipolog

Pagsalabuk Festival

Sardine Industry

Dipolog Fountain

Santa Cruz or Punta Corro

Linabo Peak - Top view of Dipolog City

Sungkilaw Falls

Dipolog Beach

Our Lady of Holy Rosary Cathedral

Dipolog Fountain

Dipolog Beach during Sunset

Dipolog Hall

Goodtimes Cafe and Art Gallery

Goodtimes Cafe and Art Gallery

3003 Steps to Linabo Peak

Dipolog Boulevard

Dipolog Boulevard

Cogon Ecotourism Park - Tree House

Dipolog Rotonda

Cogon Ecotourism Park - Cottages

Cogon Ecotourism Park - Night Owl

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

Dipolog City is considered as one of the cleanliest city and the most peaceful city compared to other city in Mindanao. That’s why tourist can visit Dipolog City safely any time for vacation or for other reasons. Dipolog City is also known for sardines. The Sardines industry stems from the rich fishing area of its shore. For travelers who are nature lover and adventurous, there are plenty of tourist spots you can visit in Dipolog City. The first tourist spot is the “3003 Steps to Linabo Peak or Mt. Linabo Park” wherein it is the venue for the annual “Katkat Sakripisyo” of Catholic devotees who perform their penitential rites during the Lenten Season and at the peak of the mountain you can overview the twin city of Dipolog and Dapitan and is a community chapel for prayer and contemplation. This is the Dipolog’s highest elevation point – 486 meters above the sea level. The 14 Stations of the Cross punctuate the way up. Then next spot is the “Cogon Ecotourism Park”. It is a 344-hectare reforestation area situated in Barangay Cogon established in 1958. Mature trees are growing wild in the area; species such as Mahogany, Teak, Yemane, Lumbayao, Molave, Acacia, Narra, Mayapis, Lauan, Narig, Tianong, Duguan, Lumbayao, Rattan and Nato. It is also one of the favorite camping sites of different mountaineering groups. Adjacent to Barangay Cogon is Barangay Diwan, part of the eco-tourism complex housing the Organization of International Spiritual and Cultural Advancement or OISCA Forest Park, a joint project of the OISCA of Japan, locally managed by Heroshi Ikeda, and the City Government of Dipolog. It also houses the Dipolog OISCA Children’s Forest Park. You can also find there the botanical gardens. The most prominent feature of the park is the Sungkilaw Falls wherein another nature wonders that gives visitors with a wonderful view of clear foamy water that gushes down from a seemingly dry formation of huge pockmarked rocks. Then another spot is the “Santa Cruz or Punta Corro” is the spot where migrating Boholanos from the VisayasOur Lady of the Holy Rosary Cathedral” constructed by the Spanish friars sometime in 1895 with Dr. Jose Rizal designing the church altar from a sketch requested by his former professor, Fr. Jose Villaclara. The sketch of the altar was patterned after that of San Ignacio Church in Manila. Another spot is the “Dipolog Hall”. It is built on July 1, 1913 under the administration of General John J. Pershing. The corner street houses the Monument of Three Prominent Dipolognons namely Hon. Pascual T. Martinez, the first appointed Mayor of Dipolog in 1913-1918), Rev. Fr. Nicasio Y. Patangan, the first Filipino Diocesan Priest of Mindanao and Eugenio R. Margate, a farmer for 25 years who introduced the MARGATE SYSTEM OF PLANTING RICE. He also authored the book “Humay” and “100 Kabanes Matag Hektarya” and he was declared as “MAN OF THE YEAR 1954”. The original design of the town wall was the exact replica of the town hall of Maribojoc, which was designed by the Americans. The original hall was exactly the same size that of Maribojoc's down to the size of the jail. But today the hall was expanded and its original design could not be seen anymore. Next spot is the “Dipolog Fountain” wherein it is known for the Fountain of Blessings. The statutes represent the tri-people of Mindanao, which symbolize the diverse cultures prevailing in Dipolog. The bowl raised to heavens is a gesture of thanksgiving and offering to God Almighty for the generous outpouring of graces and blessings, bountiful harvests and sustained peace and prosperity. Again another spot is the “Dipolog S and J Handicraft” (formerly boholana) wherein they sell Souvenir products and remembrance products. Tourists are welcome to visit or to watch the shop's products. Another spot is the “Goodtimes Café and Art Gallery” where it is a private mini-park-cum-art-gallery and restaurant. It is about 1000 square meters with a two-storey ancestral house with artwork collections. Everywhere are objects and collectibles including chinaware, figurine, paintings, sculptures, gruesome paper mache masks, odd-shaped driftwood, and a twenty-five year old stereo from which soft music flows all day and night. Then, another spot is the “Plaza Magsaysay” where it is a landscaped park just beside the city hall and fronting the Holy Rosary Cathedral is an ideal place for small outdoor meetings, strolling and relaxing. Then next is the “Dipolog Beach” where a velvet stretch of fine gray sand, exquisite solitude as the fiery sun dies in the horizon to the onset of twilight, broken only by the distant cries of fishermen returning to shore with the day’s catch. And lastly, the most popular attraction of the city is the “Dipolog’s Boulevard” which has become a popular haven for exercise and leisure of the Dipolognons. It is also the site for various celebrations and festivals in the city.

If I were to ask where to live and settle down, I will prefer Dipolog City because I hardly believed that there is no place like home.