The ORCHID City

The City of Dipolog (Filipino:Lungsod ng Dipolog, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dipolog) (Subanen:Gembagel G'benwa Dipuleg/Bagbenwa Dipuleg) is a 1st class city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Geographically, the city is surrounded by rolling hills to the southeast and the Sulu Sea to the north.

Dipolog is known for its wild orchids (the orchid city) and its sardine industry. It is also known as the Gateway to Western Mindanao and has been called the Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines.

History

Dipolog shared much of its cultural history with the ancient town of Dapitan to which it once belonged. It traces its beginnings long before the Spanish conquistadores set foot on the island of Mindanao. Dipolog was previously known as Tulwanan, in native language, literally meaning a settlement by the river. Its earliest settlers all belonged to the Subanen Tribe called Subanon or river people with established religion founded in animism. These Austronesian peoples descended from the malay ethnic group which roamed Mindanao and Southeast Asia via land bridges as early as 30,000 years ago. Later migrations of other tribes were made by water and took place over several thousand years.

By the 12th century the Subanen settlers had colonized most of what is now Zamboanga Peninsula region. It was customary for tribes to establish their settlements at the mouth of large river systems due to the abundant food supply. However, due to frequent raids from seafaring Chinese pirates, they decided to move their settlements inland.

In the 14th century, Tulwanan was established 6 kilometers inland, adjoining the river near the present day baragay center of Lugdungan.

In the 15th century, settlers from neighboring Negros and Bohol islands established coastline settlements in Mindanao but suffered the same raids by Chinese pirates, prompting them to also move their settlements away from the coastline. They established another settlement in what is now called Sianib, a barangay of present day Polanco town, some twenty kilometers from the coast at Barrio Gulayon(Barangay Gulayon).

It was only in 1563 that the first recorded Visayan settlement of some 800 families from Bohol, led by the chieftain Datu Pagbuaya, landed in Mindanao and established a coastal settlement in what is now called Dapitan. This settlement was strong enough to repel the Chinese pirates of the Sulu Sea. As a result, Dapitan Bay was scene of many bloody conflicts between Pagbuaya's men and Chinese pirates.

Philippine Republic

By June 21, 1969, Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed into law the Dipolog City Charter, under Republic Act 5520, making Dipolog a chartered city effective January 1, 1970. Mayor Felicisimo Herrera was made the last Municipal Mayor (1963–1970) and the first City Mayor of Dipolog (1970–1978). On March 8, 1982 the Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted the Dipolog City March composed by Mrs. Antonina O. Romano as the City's official song.

Tourism

LINABO CLIMB - The 3003 Steps to Linabo Peak offers a panoramic view of the twin cities of Dipolog and Dapitan. It is also the venue for the annual “Katkat Sakripisyo” of Catholic devotees who perform their penitential rites during the Lenten Season.

COGON PARK - The Cogon Eco-Park is a 344 hectares reforestation area situated in Barangay Cogon established in 1958. The most prominent feature of the park is the Sungkilaw Falls.

STA. CRUZ - (Punta Corro) is the spot where migrating Boholanos from the Visayas landed and established settlement.

DIPOLOG HALL - Built on July 1, 1913 under the administration of General John J. Pershing.

DIPOLOG FOUNTAIN - Located at Estaka-Turno road junction is 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.

Known Tourism Activities

1. Sinulog sa Dipolog every 3rd Saturday of January featuring pageantry and street dancing for the Sto. Niño,
    
2. Katkat Sakripisyo at Linabo Peak in April,
    
3. Pagsalabuk Festival in May with harvest rituals of the Subanens,
   
   
   
   
   Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer during 3rd Saturday of May,
   
    
4. Araw ng Dipolog marked July 1 to 6 with sports, cultural, and beauty pageants highlighted with Mutya sa Dipolog,
    
5. October 7 Fiesta which is the Feast of the Lady of the Holy Rosary,
    
6. Pasko sa Dipolog nightly shows in December.
    
7. Araw ng Zamboanga del Norte or the HUDYAKA ZANORTE FESTIVAL celebrated every first week of June.
   Many dipolognons celebrate this activities every year but some don't due to different beliefs and religion.

COME AND VISIT DIPOLOG NOW!

Baby Story

One cold night while i was brushing my teeth outside the house, my cousin came up to me and told me to hurry up because it's late night and there maybe things that will surprise me while I'm outside. I was terrified so I hurried up and went inside.

When we were about to sleep, i ask her about what she meant on what she said a while ago. And here is what she told me:

     "There was a pregnant woman who stays somewhere near our town. She was good and loved by everyone, without knowing that someone was very envy of her. One night while the woman was walking home, she was murdered along with her baby in the womb. Later on the next day, her body was found and everyone in their place were in search of the murderer but they were all in vain.

     "The family was mad that they want revenge. So, on the burial day, one of the sisters of the woman put 5 black chicken on her coffin and some black roses and handkerchief. Nobody knows what it was about but they where a bit confused why it was there because for sure it mean something.

     "Days passed since the death and burial of the woman. Suddenly, stories broke out in their place that every night there is a baby crying somewhere in the streets. Soon the story got worst because "habal-habal' drivers said that every time they travel at night, someone will suddenly ride on their backs and it was like screaming and crying like a baby and when they look on their side mirror, they will see a freaky, scary looking child with all those fangy-teeth. And that's the reason why they don't travel at night anymore.

     "For almost a month, that story went through and the grieved family felt bad. One of the sisters went to the grave and prayed for peace on her dead sister. Days go on and the story subsided but they were still not so sure if it was already over."

After that story, I prayed to God that I won't have a nightmare and then I went to sleep.

Girl with the Scar

It is long been told in our place that there is a girl named Maria Tigbas. She was named like that because she has a scar in her face that was "tigbas" by his husband long ago.

It started when she was working as a nurse in London. After some time, she went back to the Philippines acting suddenly so strange. When his husband left her with their children for work, Maria did something horrible. Deep in the night, she sneak into her children's room and killed them. Worst of all is that, she even cooked and ate them, some of it, she put in the refrigerator.

When his husband came home the next day, he was shock why the house was so silent and he couldn't hear his son's and daughter's laughter or talks. In he goes and found Maria in the dinning table with all those preparations set for him. He ask where she get those tasty looking food and where are there children. Maria hesitated to answer. She ran away from her husband and looked so afraid. Her husband became so confused until he found his children's clothing at the kitchen. He ask Maria again and so she answered that it was their children that she cooked. Her husband got so angry and mad, so he took the ax in their backyard which was placed in the kitchen door and ran to his wife to kill her. She was able to escape but her husband hit her on the face, which lived a mark until her last life.

She travel from place to place but no one helped her because many knew about what she is because her husband was able to spread the news to the near places. Until she starved to death and was never found.

*This is a myth....A story told to us by our friends and family to prevent us from strolling at night in the town.

Giant Chicken

Depressed :/

This week,  a sad week. It made me eat so many, fail so many, spend so many, study so many, sleep so ... 

Poem for depressed people :) (smile though your heart is aching)

The Crowd

by: Gisselle Vargas

All alone I stand still watching from a distance
I scream as the people walk by but no one listens
A shadow different from the rest stares back at me
I try to grasp it but it disappears right in front of me

I'm left standing still as the day turns into night
I look at the crowd and tears begin to fill my eyes
Not one familiar face in a group of many
Not one looks up or notices me

I'm like an old statue that everyone has seen
They all walk past me like they know where I've been
Yet no one cares to see where I'm going
Or how I got there or am I hurting

Suddenly I realize that I'm not the unnoticed
While no one looks at me, I'm the observant
At the end, I have stood firm on the ground
While everyone is searching for the peace I have found

Source: The Crowd, Depression Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/family/poetry.asp?poem=22949#ixzz0wIMJzkQm