Everything is set for the most expected event of the year 2006 for Dipolog City's Sister Town and the Shrine City of the Philippines- Dapitan City.

Activities lined up for the festivities known as the Kinabayo Festival from the 16th of July until the 25th the day of the feast of the City’s Patron Saint- St. James the Greater.

One of the most sought highlights is the prestigious annual search for Miss Dapitan in which for the current year different preparations were done most especially on the promotions and exposures for the candidates.

In a private interview with the Chairman of the Committee on tourism, City Councilor Apple Marie A. Agolong, the more advanced and massive promotions of the Miss Dapitan pageant candidates is one of the sure strategies for the Local Government of Dapitan to enhance the tourism industry of the City.

For this year, there are 11 fresh native Dapitanons who will vie for the title Miss Dapitan who continued preparing for a more satisfying presentation of beauty and wit. They have gone through different occasions of pictorials and tapings for exposure. Pictures includes poses in Dakak Park and beach Resort one of the considered superb resorts in the country, poses at Gloria de Dapitan- a modern park mall with highlights poses at the only resto bar inside the mall- Bistro Paborito which is owned and managed by Councilor Agolong and her husband, School Principal Joseph Alvi Agolong.

Both Councilor Agolong and her husband confirmed full support for the local government in terms of promotions as they revealed that they will be posting pictures of the candidates and will post brochures inside the resto bar for promotion of the said pageant. (Office of the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism)

The latest that Dipolog offers to pleasure seekers and those who love nature is a cruise along Dipolog River and along the city boulevard especially to witness the beautiful sunset and a moonlight evening.

Department of Tourism Reg’l Dir. San Juan (left) watches on as PHILTOA President Perry Alegre (middle) are greeted by City Tourism Council Chairperson Evelyn Uy during their visit.

Meals are offered on board, either breakfast, lunch or dinner at one’s pleasure plus entertainment, either plain music for relaxation or sing-along while on cruise. Interested parties may contact the Top Plaza Hotel at Tel. No. (065)212-5777 or 5888.  (Dipolog Chronicle, Vol.V No.52)

People go caving or spelunking, the sport of cave exploring, because it can mean different things to different people. For some, it can be escapism from the daily grind, no wonder that most of the professionals are involved in this kind of sport.

To others, they consider caving as a fun away of getting exercised and become physically fit because it is sometimes regarded as mountain climbing underground.

Here in the vast province of Zamboanga del Norte, we have quite a lot of caves situated in the different municipalities but sad to imagine that only few of them are recognized and explored by our local cavers. Another reason is that, unfortunately, sad to say that we do not have much cave explorers in the province to call upon this need.

“Even some of the locals residing within the vicinity  do not have the guts and courage to explore their caves. Some of the residents have their strong belief in myths while others have the fear of the unknown”, said Basil Gonzales, a mountaineer and member of the Dipolog Outdoors Society.

For this reason, cavers like Basil desire for a more progressive and developmental approach towards the important significance of our caves and that that locals should be well educated and informed about the caves so that they may fully enjoy the thrill of caving.

The development of the caves in Zamboanga del Norte may persuade more cavers to organize more caving trips and expedition.

Caves are often hollow and are also understood as the natural passage into the earth especially those with opening to the surface. The exploration and exhibitions conducted into these natural passageways is what we called ‘caving’.

It may not be the first time a cave has been entered but it might also be the exploration on a more personal level by someone who has not been in that particular cave before.

Caving usually involves being part of a group of cavers who often get as much fun out of being together as a group while in the cave. This also means helping each other during the entire duration of the sport and helping each other through every obstacle they encounter. It is a simple pleasure in life to share your wonder with your companions of your amazement of these passages which brings out a good adventure experience that causes the development of camaraderie between cavers while being underground.

Last month, the members of the Dipolog Outdoors Society Incorporated (DOS) organized a caving trip in the Libuton Cave in the Municipality of Manukan. To them, caving is very dangerous especially to those people who are new in this kind of adventure and must need plenty of experience, endurance and the desire for adventure.

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The Dipolog Chamber of Commerce & Industry welcomes the entry of new transport players in Zamboanga del Norte as Cebu Pacific and Negros Navigation announced the opening of their air and sea links, respectively, in the province.

Cebu Pacific (CEB) will open three times weekly flights to Dipolog City starting July 13 using their newly acquired Airbus 319, it was learned. The Manila-Dipolog service departs Manila every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 11:45 am arriving in Dipolog at 1:00 pm and leaves Dipolog at 1:30 pm to arrive back in Manila at 2:45 pm.

Negros Navigation, on the other hand, is putting up trips from Dipolog to Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Palawan and various other ports in Visayas and Mindanao. “Dipolog Chamber is especially proud that Cebu Pacific has finally honored our invitation for the airline to fly to Dipolog and complement our initiatives of bringing development in this part of the country,” said Chairman Edwin Capili and President Edgar Bagarinao in a letter to Cebu Pacific President and CEO Lance Gokongwei.

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The local dialect in Dipolog is the Visayan dialect or more commonly known as "Bisaya".If you want to learn or study Bisaya then this link is for you.

Click here 

1948 Cafeteria
Contact Person: Dr. Johnny Franco
Address: Padre Ramon St., Dipolog City
Tel. No.                       : +(63) (65) 212 2837
Accommodation           : Open Air
Seating Capacity           : 50-75 seats
Description & Specialties: Fastfood / Barbeque
Price Range: Php 20.00 to Php 50.00

Alison's Food Plaza
Contact Person:  Mr. Alex Lim
Address: Gen. Luna St., Dipolog City
Telephone: +(63) (65) 212 6503
Accommodation: Open Air with TV - 150 seats & Air-conditioned Room – 60 seats
Specialty: Chinese & Ihaw-ihaw treats
Price Range: Php 50.00 to Php 300.00

Cana's Cake Shoppe
Contact Person: Cana’s Cake Shoppe
Address: Padre Ramon Street, Dipolog City
Tel. No.: +(63) (65) 212 6974
Accommodation: Fully Air-conditioned
Seating Capacity:20 seats
Specialty: Cakes and Pastries; Caters Foreign & Native Delicacies
Also Accept:  Pasalubong Goodies, Catering Services, Kiddie Birthday Packages, Party Balloons, Fondant Wedding Cakes, Rental of: Eating Utensils; Food Warmers w/ Food Attendants
Price range: Php 22.00 to Php 400.00

Circus Caffee
Contact Person: Circus Caffee
Address: Echavez Street, Dipolog City
Tel. No.: +(63) (65) 212
Accommodation: Fully Air-conditioned
Seating Capacity: 40 seats
Specialty: Pizza and Pasta; American Dishes and Burgers
Price ranges: Php 120.00 to Php 180.00 Read more

This is the list of all Hotels, Inns, and Pension Houses situated in the locality and its neighboring town Dapitan City

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The local tourism office of Dipolog said that the development site where the Agri-Tourism fair building is to be erected is ready in time for the full swing og the Hudyaka 2006 and this same site will also be used as the regional office of Wow Philippines showcase in the city

The said site will be located in the Zamboanga del Norte Sports Complex,Estaka,Dipolog City.It is expected that quite a few exhibitors will join in the upcoming fair, it is reported that the ornamental plant growers and the handicraft and bottled sardines producers of this city has already signed on.

Also the municipalities and localities in region 9 will be actively participating in the many activities lined-up in the festival.They will also showcase their different cultures,products and will be performing a traditional dance inside their booths.

In the opening of the Hudyaka 2006, the local organizers are hoping that no less than the Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyoand Sec. Joseph Ace Durano of Dept. of Tourism and other prominent national officials will grace the event.

News gathered from : The Local Tourism Dept. of Dipolog

Maria Lourdes Krätschmann            26-Feb-2006 00:41

I've been in Dipolog City in the mid 80's. I was so impressed. To the sceneric view that appears here in your website one can see there's a big difference. I's improving and it's growing. I am hoping in deed thru your website I can get some information about my former "barkada" in Cebu City. His name is Donald Lubrico from Dipolog City. I am looking forward to to hear back from you. I enjoy looking your interesting website. Maybe by my next visit to the Philippines, I will visit Dipolog City for the second time.

Jerry O'Bryan                                 18-Feb-2006 19:46

Visited Dipolog in Fall '05. Beautiful, clean and friendly place. Recommend Dipolog River cruise, San Migs at Good Times Cafe, local fruits.

Nestor Aliman                                16-Dec-2004 05:19

Nice scenes from the place of by childhood. They evoke pleasant memories of times past.
Thanks for making these pictures available.

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The houses are cheap, the taxes low, the climate heavenly. Living South of the Philippines sounds too good to be true — but it isn't, as long as you resist the impulse to rush.

So I rushed to the streets to gather the truth, which was spectacularly breathtaking that changes from the busy Rizal Avenue to the exceptionally clean Dipolog Public Market within a five-block-walk, and into a continuing exhibition of beauty and culture as I went forward to smell the cool sea breeze in the Dipolog Boulevard.

Dipolog City real estate has appreciated greatly in a few years and that the central historic district remains the focus of attention for most people. The amount of development in recent years, however, has led to a slowdown, but it may, she says, be a buying opportunity for worthy and deserving people who work relentlessly for their hard-earned money.
The subdivision, as I describes it, “an ideal place for retirees” — those ranging, say, from the very lowest cost to no more than Php 2 Million.There are 4 models of houses, all having an average lot size of 300 square meters, the Khristian, Raymond, Ralph and Henrich that are in the last stages of completion. I learned that I could buy a 195 square meter Khristian or Henrich dream house with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths for about Php 3 Million. The cost also varies if I plan to purchase a Raymond fantasy home that has an area of 210 square meters, or buy a slightly large and desirable scenic lot for about Php 4,200 per square meter. Get a little fancy and you can get an elegant  Ralph model house, still at Php 12,000 per square meter, with magnificent views from a large attic room, which all models have by the way, in a prime location in the subdivision. Read more