I decided to go to Dapitan City because of a friend’s invitation. It was her father’s hometown, and she’d spent many childhood summers by the beach near their ancestral home. Dapitan really wasn’t part of my travel plans – my friend warned me that visitors only had two reasons for going to the city, being a sleepy rural province: it’s either 1) to visit family and friends; 2) or to vacation at Dakak, a well-known beach resort in the city. Really, there was little to look forward to.
Dakak enjoyed its high-time in the early 90s, when it was known as a premiere destination with 5 star accommodations. It has since been clouded over by more popular islands in the Visayas – Boracay, Palawan and Bohol, among others. I reminded myself to keep expectations low.
Dapitan - A Hero’s City
Dapitan City, labeled as the “Shrine City of the Philippines”, is located in the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the northwestern coast of Mindanao. It is known as such because it is where national hero Jose Rizal lived during his four-year exile in 1892.
Rizal’s home has since been made a shrine cum park, where replicas of the estate have been built in an effort to preserve history, including Rizal’s house, the dormitory and classroom for Rizal’s students.
The shrine has a museum that houses Rizal memorabilia: photographs of him growing up and of his family, a family tree detailing ancestors and next of kin, and a code of ethics which lists the hero’s own version of the commandments. A section is even reserved for photos of the women of his life!
The Rizal Shrine, however, is only but a side trip to our real destination. It was summer after all, and the beach is where the action was at.
Dakak – 15 Hectares of Secluded Fun
Dakak Park & Beach Resort has a homey tropical feel, Philippine fiesta style. The private 750-meter beach is on a beautiful cove with fine white sand. The beach is converted into a dining area at night, where tables are set up so guests can enjoy a buffet of grilled seafood and other Philippine delicacies while watching the entertainment onstage--a cultural dance show featuring local talents.
On our first night, we watched the Singkil, a Philippine folk dance that illustrates the story of a Maranao princess being abducted and eventually being rescued by her husband. The second night had guests doing the luau for a Hawaiian-themed dance show.
The resort rests on 15 hectares of lush greenery. And to emphasize the back-to-nature feel of the place, natural spring water is used for the resort’s swimming pools.
The place also offers various activities for the adventure seeker: you can scuba dive at one of the many dive sites nearby, jetski, waterski, go cove hopping, or even do some cave exploration.
If you opt to stay indoors, you can go bowling, sing your heart out at the karaoke bar, play tennis at the courts or hang out at the billiards hall.
The resort accommodations were satisfactory. The native style cottage bungalows are made up of a main bedroom with a connecting toilet and bath. Each room is equipped with the basics: airconditioning, a TV, and a mini-bar. Simple, comfortable and hassle-free. The facilities, obviously, haven’t been renovated in a while, but it still makes for a comfortable stay.
We went during Holy Week, which is at the peakest-of-the-peak season. Most resorts are packed and noisy with activity during this time, but Dakak was a welcome respite from the usual Holy Week madness.
I’d recommend Dakak for nature lovers who want to escape to a quiet place and lounge around, but also want the option of enjoying water sports and other outdoor activities. It is a good place to bring the family. My relatively low expectations were exceeded: the place is a thing of beauty, and I’d go back if given a chance.
