Dipolog City

I have wrote about places all over the Philippines but I haven’t wrote about my hometown. This is my chance. Hello Dipolog City, I miss you!

Dipolog is a 2nd class city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

I was born in Montalban, Manila but months after my family decided to move to Dipolog City. This is where I grew up, finished my high school and met my life long friends.

Destination: Dipolog City, Philippines

How to get to Dipolog: NAIA Manila to Dipolog by Airline (PAL or Cebu Pacific).

Cost: Regular fare is at 2000Php one way. You can wait for promos to get cheaper air fares. I got 97 Php round trip tickets from the zero fare of www.cebupacificair.com for my break this July 2010. Coolness~!

Flight time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

5 Places to Visit:

1. Dipolog Boulevard. This is now the longest boulevard in the south. The most appropriate time to visit this is around 4 to 6 in the afternoon so you can witness a great sunset. Grab a pepsi and tempura and enjoy the view.

How to get here: From a city point, ride a local tricycle
Cost: 7 Php each.

2. Linabo Peak. The 3003 Steps to Linabo Peak is one of the favorites and desired destinations of  local and foreign tourist. It offers a fantastic view of the twin cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, the sky, plains and sea horizon after trailing the 3003 concrete steps wind along the tunnels of verdant trees.

How to get here: From a city point, rent a local tricycle. This is a 10 to 20 minute ride from the city.
Cost: 50 to 100 Php.

3. Sunkilaw Falls. A popular falls in the south. I have been wanting to get here but I never got any chance. I will update details as soon as I can.

4. City Tour (Dipolog Rotonda, City hall, Cathedral, and Magsaysay Park, Roxas Park, Provincial Capitol and City Museum in Convention Center).

How to get here: From a city point, ride a local tricycle
Cost: 7 Php per ride

5. Aligway island. A virgin white island west of Dipolog City. Warning: No electricity here. The beach is great!

How to get here: Go the tourism office. Ask reservation for a boat ride from Dipolog Boulevard.
Cost: 1500 Php for a boat ride to the island. 7 Php for the tricycle.

5 Things to Do:

1.  Skim boarding in Galas beach.

How to do this: Ask your hotel or someone where you can rent a skim board. Ride a tricyle to the old Galas pier. On the side of the pier is a plain of fine black sand shoreline. Beautiful sunset awaits a great skim boarding experience.
Cost: 10-15 Php for the tricyle.

2. Try “tinolang Diwit-diwit” or sword fish from local restaurants. A must try for food trippers.
How to do this: Go to a local restaurant. I would suggest somewhere in the market place. Ask hotel if they can serve this dish for you. Dipolognons are known to be skilled in cooking. (I’m not one of those)

3. Barbecue dinner @ Dipolog boulevard on Fridays or Saturdays.
How to do this: Go to the Dipolog Boulevard at night. Local bands play in central stage for free. Join and meet some locals to get free beers. hehe
Cost: 7 Php

4. Food trip at Grandmas cakes or Big Joe’s.
How to do this: Ride a tricycle. Ask the driver to take you to Grandmas or Big Joe’s. I think all of them know the place in the city.
Grandmas offers the best chocolate cakes and mango pudding. Big Joe’s burger and shakes is comparable to that of Burger King. Not really. I love whopper.
Cost: 7 Php

5. Get bottled sardines.
Montano’s bottled sardines is known all over the world. It’s just the best! You can get it fresh at factory price in Montano warehouse in Turno Dipolog City.

How to do this: Ride a tricycle. Ask the driver to take you to the Montano warehouse in Turno. 5-10 minutes away.
Cost: 7 Php

Events to witness:
1. Sinulog sa Dipolog every 3rd Saturday of January featuring pageantry and street dancing for the Sto. Niño.
2. Araw ng Zamboanga del Norte or the HUDYAKA ZANORTE FESTIVAL celebrated every first week of June.

Alternatives:

1. Dapitan and Dakak Tour. Dapitan is just 20 minutes away from Dipolog City. It house old Spanish houses, the Gloria sa Dapitan Theme Park, Rizal Exile shrine and fine black sand beaches. The famous Dakak beach resort is 15 minutes away from Dapitan City. I shall write another log regarding this.

2. The Provincial Library.

You can also visit the Provincial library at the side of the convention center. It houses and operates 2/3 mobile libraries in Zamboanga del Norte.

It’s fully air-conditioned and FREE. I met friends here before and I promised to promote the Library. I usually come back here to read newspaper and say hello to them. Thanks Mrs. Nunag.

Till next time.