Wikipedia

Dapitan

Dapitan, officially the City of Dapitan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dapitan; Subanon: Gembagel G'benwa Dapitan/Bagbenwa Dapitan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Dapitan), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,202 people.[3]

Dapitan
Component city
City of Dapitan
Saint James the Greater Church
Dakak Park and Beach Resort
Liwasan ng Dapitan
José Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape
City Hall of Dapitan
Port of Dapitan
Flag of Dapitan
Flag
Nicknames: 
  • Shrine City of the Philippines
  • Historic City of the South
  • Rizal City of the South
Motto: 
Abante Kaayo Dapitanon (Forward More Dapitanon)
Map of Zamboanga del Norte with Dapitan highlighted
Map of Zamboanga del Norte with Dapitan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Dapitan is located in Philippines
Dapitan
Dapitan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°39′18″N 123°25′27″E / 8.6549°N 123.4243°E / 8.6549; 123.4243
CountryPhilippines
RegionZamboanga Peninsula
ProvinceZamboanga del Norte
District 1st district
Founded1629
CityhoodJune 22, 1963
Barangays50 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorSeth Frederick P. Jalosjos (Nacionalista Party)
 • Vice MayorAlfredo A. Sy (APP)
 • RepresentativeRoberto T. Uy Jr.
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate15,672 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total390.53 km2 (150.78 sq mi)
Elevation
33 m (108 ft)
Highest elevation
590 m (1,940 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total85,202
 • Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
 • Households
19,828
DemonymDapitanon
Economy
 • Income class3rd city income class
 • Poverty incidence
35.59
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 890.5 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 1,482 million (2020), 1,120 million (2012)
 • Expenditure₱ 786.5 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 294.1 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityZamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (ZANECO)
 • WaterDapitan City Water District (DapCWD)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
7101
PSGC
0907201000
IDD : area code +63 (0)65
Native languagesSubanon
Cebuano
Chavacano
Tagalog
Catholic dioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog
Patron saintSaint James the Great
Websitedapitancity.gov.ph

It is historically significant as the place where José Rizal was exiled by the Spanish colonial authorities for his threat to start revolutionary activities. He is considered a national hero, and this is known as the "Shrine City in the Philippines." The city is also home to Gloria's Fantasyland, the first amusement park in Mindanao.

History

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The earliest settlers of Dapitan were the Subanens, a nomadic tribe of Austronesian stock known to have settled and lived along the banks of the river or “suba” out of which their present-day tribal identity originated.[5]

Early cartographers of the Philippines showed Dapitan's location on their maps of Mindanao in varying names, such as "Dapito" in Kaerius' map of 1598, "Dapite" in Dudley's map of 1646, "Dapyto" in Sanson's map of 1652, and "Dapitan" in Moll's map of East Indies 1729 and in Murillo Velarde's map of 1734.[5]

Dapitan was already a thriving settlement when Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in 1595. It is believed that some Augustinian friars accompanied Legazpi's expedition, who converted the natives to Christianity. Foremost of the converts were Pedro Manooc, son of Pagbuaya, and Manooc's daughter, Maria Uray. A permanent mission was founded at Dapitan in 1629 headed by a Jesuit missionary, Father Pedro Gutierrez.[5]

It was only after the establishment of the Jesuit mission that a strong and stable form of government was finally established. The Spanish authorities adopted the local form of government that was already existing but placed the officials under the absolute control of the Spanish government. The settlement came to be known as the "pueblo", and its head variously called either "Datu", "Capitan" or "Cabeza de Barangay". The politico-military commandancia of Dapitan until the end of the Spanish domination in 1898 was still dependent on Misamis. It was only during the revolutionary period that Dapitan became an integral part of the Filipino forces in Zamboanga.[5]

Cityhood

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Main article: Cities of the Philippines

On June 22, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal signed R.A. 3811 which converted Dapitan into a chartered city.[6] It is officially renowned as the “Shrine City of the Philippines.”

Geography

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Dapitan is situated at the mouth of the Dapitan River on Dapitan Bay, and is the northernmost point of the Zamboanga Peninsula. It is about 404 nautical miles (748 km; 465 mi) south of Metro Manila; 156 nautical miles (289 km; 180 mi) to Zamboanga City; and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to Dipolog.[7]

Climate

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Climate data for Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 104
(4.1) 		76
(3.0) 		92
(3.6) 		97
(3.8) 		199
(7.8) 		238
(9.4) 		195
(7.7) 		193
(7.6) 		178
(7.0) 		212
(8.3) 		171
(6.7) 		110
(4.3) 		1,865
(73.3)
Average rainy days 14.7 12.5 15.8 17.5 27.6 28.5 29.0 27.5 26.9 27.9 23.5 18.2 269.6
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[8]

Barangays

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Dapitan is politically subdivided into 50 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Currently, there are 8 barangays which considered urban, 27 are interior, 13 are coastal, and 2 are island barangays.[9] In 1955, the sitios of Sipalok, Barcelona, and Potungan were converted into barrios.[10]

Barangays of Dapitan
Administration Population
Barangay Class Barangay Captain[11] 2020[3] 2015[12] 5 year change
Aliguay Island Lyn Marie B. Evardo 720 682 +5.57%
Antipolo Interior Zosimo P. Sygaco 1,457 1,510 −3.51%
Aseniero Interior Elma O. Tacbaya 2,098 1,924 +9.04%
Ba-ao Interior Lucila B. Bagalanon 955 849 +12.49%
Bagting Urban (Poblacion) Raul B. Carreon 1,019 1,215 −16.13%
Banbanan Coastal Eutemio E. Bulay-og 1,302 1,092 +19.23%
Banonong Urban (Poblacion) Hamilcar F. Tacbaya 4,164 4,437 −6.15%
Barcelona Interior Gregorio A. Jarapan Jr. 2,226 2,128 +4.61%
Baylimango Coastal Zenelo B. Obnimaga 1,440 1,390 +3.60%
Burgos Interior Gil D. Quimiguing 1,390 1,378 +0.87%
Canlucani Coastal Marvin B. Balanay 1,344 1,176 +14.29%
Carang Coastal Merba L. Yabo 790 759 +4.08%
Cawa-cawa Urban (Poblacion) Delfin A. Malingin 2,634 2,746 −4.08%
Dampalan Interior Alexander D. Villa 1,616 1,474 +9.63%
Daro Interior Diosdada T. Sangual 673 572 +17.66%
Dawo Urban (Poblacion) Francis Dick R. Dy 2,522 2,655 −5.01%
Diwa-an Interior Dioscoro S. Caermare 1,149 1,078 +6.59%
Guimputlan Coastal Carmelito E. Bulay-og 817 811 +0.74%
Hilltop Interior Edgardo E. Bulagao 904 765 +18.17%
Ilaya Interior Predemar D. Quizo 2,873 2,975 −3.43%
Kauswagan (Talisay) Interior Hazel E. Sapalleda 1,511 1,217 +24.16%
Larayan Interior Nerio B. Seripa 2,502 2,018 +23.98%
Linabo Urban (Poblacion) Arsenia D. Adrias 1,530 1,505 +1.66%
Liyang Interior Nicomedes D. Catahay 877 1,122 −21.84%
Maria Cristina Interior Narciso A. Jumuad Jr. 2,396 2,045 +17.16%
Maria Uray Interior Marlon B. Aseñas 1,632 1,525 +7.02%
Masidlakon Interior Felix P. Tacbaya 1,423 1,198 +18.78%
Napo Coastal Lilia S. Adasa 1,042 1,044 −0.19%
Opao Interior Ludivico E. Hamoy 1,527 1,510 +1.13%
Oro Coastal Junito S. Tagapan 1,119 1,113 +0.54%
Owaon Interior Meneciano S. Dajuela 2,264 1,922 +17.79%
Oyan Interior Rene G. Senio 790 859 −8.03%
Polo Coastal Oscar S. Balladares 2,795 3,226 −13.36%
Potol Urban (Poblacion) Clifford D. Hamoy 1,648 1,729 −4.68%
Potungan Interior Dick L. Dangcalan 1,652 1,559 +5.97%
San Francisco Interior Cipriana B. de los Santos 590 555 +6.31%
San Nicolas Interior Clark C. Carreon 1,561 1,294 +20.63%
San Pedro Coastal Cyrus I. Alipoyo 2,220 2,017 +10.06%
San Vicente Coastal Arniel R. Lacquio 2,640 2,781 −5.07%
Santa Cruz Urban (Poblacion) Miguel B. Gahisan Jr. 1,462 1,683 −13.13%
Santo Niño Coastal Crisologo R. Jumuad 2,007 1,810 +10.88%
Selinog Island Felix B. Tuballa 692 697 −0.72%
Sicayab-Bucana Coastal Danilo B. Sardane 2,796 2,537 +10.21%
Sigayan Interior Liza S. Lear 1,034 919 +12.51%
Sinonoc Interior Maribel A. Petalcorin 1,519 1,578 −3.74%
Sulangon Interior Edwin S. Carreon 3,569 3,150 +13.30%
Taguilon Coastal Rene D. Galleposo Jr. 3,384 3,358 +0.77%
Tag-ulo Coastal Sheila B. Sumalpong 722 754 −4.24%
Talisay (Matagobtob Poblacion)[a] Urban (Poblacion) Marilyn O. Frankera 3,245 3,084 +5.22%
Tamion Interior Tarcisio G. Bayron 960 993 −3.32%
City of Dapitan 85,202 82,418 +3.38%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority – Philippine Standard Geographic Code – City of Dapitan – Barangays
  1. ^ The official website of the City of Dapitan refers to this barangay as "Talisay", while the Philippine Statistics Authority refers to this barangay as "Matagobtob Poblacion."

Taguilon

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Main article: Taguilon, Dapitan
 
Dakak Beach Resort

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. Additionally, during severe storms at sea, ferries and other ships find shelter in the Taguilon cove. One can find the mount Lalab overlooking the islets of Silinog and part of Balyangaw.

Talisay

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Talisay is a seaside barangay where José Rizal spent four years in exile. A park and shrine honoring the Philippine national hero can be found in the José Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape, a protected area declared in 2000, located in the old Rizal farm site in the barangay.

Demographics

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Population census of Dapitan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,086—    
1918 12,866+3.14%
1939 28,295+3.82%
1948 37,984+3.33%
1960 27,517−2.65%
1970 37,781+3.22%
1975 46,261+4.14%
1980 54,694+3.40%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 59,372+0.82%
1995 62,997+1.12%
2000 68,178+1.71%
2007 72,792+0.91%
2010 77,441+2.28%
2015 82,418+1.19%
2020 85,202+0.66%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15]

Economy

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Poverty incidence of Dapitan

10
20
30
40
50
2006
46.70
2009
40.02
2012
28.98
2015
36.14
2018
27.12
2021
35.59

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Government

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Dapitan City Hall
Mayors of the
City of Dapitan[24][25]
Rodolfo A. Carreon Sr., January 1960 to December 1964
Germanico A. Carreon, August 1964 to April 30, 1986
Buensorceso Carpio, December 1, 1987 to February 2, 1988
James A. Adaza, 1988 to 1998
Joseph Cedrick O. Ruiz, 1998 to 2001
Rodolfo H. Carreon Jr., 2001 to 2004
Dominador G. Jalosjos Jr., 2004 to 2010, December 2010 to May 2012
Patri B. Chan, June to November 2010; May 2012 to January 27, 2013
Agapito J. Cardino, January 28, 2013, to June 30, 2013[26]
Rosalina G. Jalosjos, July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2022
Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos, June 30, 2022 to present
 
Old seal of the city, NHCP version
See also: Dapitan City Council

Dapitan's seat of government, the City Hall, is located at the Dapitan Government Center in Barangay Dawo. The local government structure is composed of one mayor, one vice mayor and ten councilors all elected through popular vote. Two ex officio members are added to the City Council with one representing Dapitan's 50 Barangay Captains being the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President, and one representing Dapitan's 50 Barangay Youth Council Presidents being the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President. Each official, with the exemption of the ABC and SK Presidents, is elected publicly to a 3-year term and can be re-elected up to 3 terms in succession. The day-to-day administration of the city is handled by the city administrator.

Tourism

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See also: Dapitan Heritage Zone
 
Liwasan ng Dapitan (Dapitan City Plaza)
 
Punto del Desembarco de Rizal
 
Rizal Shrine
 
St. James the Greater Parish
Liwasan ng Dapitan (Dapitan City Plaza)
Dapitan City Plaza ("Liwasan ng Dapitan"), also known as the City Square, was beautified and developed by Dr. José Rizal during his exile. With the assistance of the Spanish Politico-Military Governor of Dapitan, Gov. Ricardo Carnicero, Rizal made the City Square comparable to those he saw in Europe.[27] It has an area of one hectare, more or less.
Punto del Desembarco de Rizal
Rizal disembarked in Punto del Desembarco de Rizal (Rizal's Point of Disembarking). A 20-foot cross also stands in the place to symbolize the propagation of Christianity in the locality of Dapitan.
Rizal Park and Shrine
Rizal Park and Shrine is a major historical landmark in Dapitan. In August 1892, Rizal, together with Governor Carnicero and Francisco Equilor, a Spaniard living in Dipolog, won a lottery bet which financially enabled Dr. Rizal to buy a 10-hectare piece of land from Lucia Pagbangon. Rizal moved to the area in which the shrine currently stands in March 1893. Later on, his mother, Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda, his sisters, and some relatives from Calamba, Laguna, came and lived with him in Barangay Talisay (which is where the shrine is located) until 1896. Rizal Shrine was declared a national shrine through Presidential Decree No. 105 issued by then-President Ferdinand Marcos on January 24, 1973.
Casa Real
Rizal stayed in Casa Real with Governor Carnicero from his arrival until he moved to the present-day location of Rizal Shrine in Barangay Talisay in March 1893. The appearance of Casa Real is similar to that of the old city hall, with bamboo on each side and the upper portion made up of wood. A replica of Casa Real will soon rise near its marker.
St. James the Greater Church
This church was built in 1871 in honor of St. James the Greater, Dapitan's patron saint. The design of the interior walls is more or less one meter thick and still original except for the furnishing. The altar and the interior hane undergone several renovations. Inside is a historical spot where Rizal stood while hearing Mass every Sunday. At the mezzanine is the priceless heritage organ that bears the year wherein it was made – 1827 – at the choir loft. It was brought to Dapitan by the Augustinian Recollect fathers. A German-made instrument with European pipes, it is a manual pipe organ.
Cotta de Dapitan
Established in 1761, the fort was made to monitor the waters of northern Zamboanga. The fort was made on top of the sacred Ilihan Hill. Currently, the fort is in dire need of conservation.

Festivals

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Dapitan has launched a diversified fiesta celebration of its Patron St. James or Señor Santiago, whose memorial is celebrated every July 25, for the locals through a three-in-one affair, combining religious, cultural and sports events in its Kinabayo Festival.

The Kinabayo Festival kicks off July 16 and culminates on July 31 with various events taking place within the Shrine City of the Philippines.

Transportation

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Sea

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Port of Pulauan

Dapitan is served by the Port of Pulauan in barangay San Vicente (albeit ferry schedules often list the destination as Port of Dipolog, a neighboring city). There are daily ferries from/to Dumaguete and from/to Cebu City.

Air

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Dapitan is catered by Dipolog Airport through Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific. From Dipolog take a shuttle bus to Dapitan which is 20–30 minutes ride, that's 12 kilometers from the airport to the City proper of Dapitan.

Notable personalities

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Sister cities

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Philippines

Local

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International

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References

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  1. ^  City of Dapitan | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Dapitan History". dapitancity.gov.ph. Dapitan. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Republic Act No. 3811 - An Act Creating the City of Dapitan". The Lawphil Project. Arellano Law Foundation. June 22, 1963. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Geographical Location". dapitancity.gov.ph. Dapitan. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Dapitan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "Barangays". Dapitan Official Website. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. ^ "An Act Converting into Barrios Certain Sitios in the Province of Zamboanga Del Norte". LawPH.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  11. ^ "Baranggay Officials Database". bod.ncr.dilg.gov.ph.
  12. ^ a b Census of Population (2015). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  14. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  15. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  16. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  18. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  19. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  20. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  21. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Previous Mayor". dapitancity.gov.ph. Dapitan. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  25. ^ "Mindanao City Mayors 1988-2013" (PDF). MindaNews. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  26. ^ Romero, Purple S. (April 16, 2013). "The Supreme Court and last-minute mayors". Rappler. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "Liwasan ng Dapitan: Dapitan City Plaza". June 18, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  28. ^ "Sister cities join 82nd Davao foundation day". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  29. ^ "Partnerská města". litomerice.cz (in Czech). Město Litoměřice. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dapitan.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dapitan.
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