Exploring the Philippines and Asia - Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

Yesterday, we went back to Dapitan from Dipolog by airconditioned van.  Fare was Pesos25 per person.

The main thing in Dapitan is the city's association with Jose Rizal, our national hero,  who lived here for four years as a prisoner by the Spaniards.

I personally really enjoyed our visit to this place which is called Rizal Shrine which is actually a 16 hectare property where Jose Rizal's house made of native materials are kept and restored to this day, his toilet, his kitchen, his swimming pool, his bamboo water system, his clinics/hospital houses - 1 for male and 1 for female, his dorm for his students, his chicken house and the modern day made of cement building addition - the Rizal Museum

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To see all these and be reminded of his life and greatness is a wonderful experience.

Rizal lived here for four years.  In school, we were taught Jose Rizal was exciled in Dapitan.  Actually he was brought here escorted by Spanish guards and if I am not mistaken, also by Spanish officers.  He was a great threat to Spain and here in Dapitan is where he can do less damage to Spain and because of the location, surrounded by waters, it was difficult for him to escape or be helped to escape.   He was a prisoner and as such, he was with Spanish guards the entire time.

Four years later he was brought to Fort Santiago in Manila and 5 months later he was executed by firing squad in Luneta.

During our brief visit and tour of his property, I am in awe of his intelligence which to this day, in my personal opinion has not been equaled by any person dead or alive.

I am touched when he wrote his mother of his accomplishments - one of which was he bought a 16 hectare property in Dapitan by the sea.  He said he already full paid the property and that the property is titled.  He proceeded to describe the property and he even enumerated the kinds of trees he planted or had planted and what trees are already existing and the number of trees per type of tree.  

The greatness of this man is unbelievable.

We had lunch in a place called "dampa" which is actually restaurants partially submerged in a river.  We chose the restaurant called Inato Lang.  This is our best meal in our entire trip.  We had two torta eggplant, 1 ampalaya con carne, 1 crispy shrimps and 2 rice.  Bill was Pesos 285. 

Dapitan is small, clean, beautiful, surrounded by blue sea, huge trees everywhere, back in time ambiance, smiling and kind people, my kind of town.

I asked my husband, if he has to choose only 1 favorite city, which one is it - Dumaguete or Dapitan.  He chose Dumaguete, I chose Dapitan.