Dapitan, officially the City of Dapitan (; Subanon: Gembagel G'benwa Dapitan/Bagbenwa Dapitan; ), is a component city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 87,699 people.
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
Precolonial era 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.
In 1564, the people of the Dapitan Kingdom, headed by Pagbuaya, initially based on Bohol, migrated to what is now Dapitan after their territory was subjugated. The polity existed until 1595, when Dapitan was brutally subjugated by the Spanish colonizers.
Spanish colonial era 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.
Dapitan was already a thriving settlement when Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition arrived in 1565. It is believed that the Augustinian friars that accompanied Legazpi's expedition 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.
The Augustinian friar Andrés de Urdaneta of the Legazpi expedition records the name of the settlement as "Daquepitan", and later "Dacpitan."
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 1818 census recorded that Dapitan had 686 native families and 2 Spanish-Filipino families.
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.
Cityhood
On June 22, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal signed R.A. 3811 which converted Dapitan into a chartered city. On November 8, 1963, president Macapagal signed Proclamation No. 179 which also converted Dapitan into a city, with him appointing Germanico Carreon and Francisco Hamoy as the city's mayor and vice mayor respectively on November 12. It is officially renowned as the "Shrine City of the Philippines."
Geography 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 south of Metro Manila; to Zamboanga City; and to Dipolog.
Climate
Barangays 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. In 1955, the sitios of Sipalok, Barcelona, and Potungan were converted into barrios.
Barangays of DapitanAdministrationPopulation Barangay Class Barangay Captain 2024 2020 4 year change Aliguay Rural (Island) Dennis E. Llena 097201001 Antipolo Rural (Interior) Samuel J. Elcamel 097201002 Aseniero Rural (Interior) Ronilo B. Dawat 097201003 Ba-ao Rural (Interior) Lucila B. Bagalanon 097201004 Bagting Urban (Poblacion) Helen Grace D. Sy 097201048 Banbanan Rural (Coastal) Jenet T. Enguito 097201005 Banonong Urban (Poblacion) Hamilcar F. Tacbaya 097201049 Barcelona Rural (Interior) Gregorio A. Jarapan Jr. 097201006 Baylimango Rural (Coastal) Grezelda I. Pacaro 097201007 Burgos Rural (Interior) Cyrus S. Tigon 097201009 Canlucani Rural (Coastal) Edna C. Abad 097201010 Carang Rural (Coastal) Merba L. Yabo 097201011 Cawa-cawa Urban (Poblacion) Delfin A. Malingin 097201050 Dampalan Rural (Interior) Alexander D. Villa 097201012 Daro Rural (Interior) Diosdada T. Sangual 097201013 Dawo Urban (Poblacion) Sushmita R. Jalosjos 097201051 Diwa-an Rural (Interior) Constancia A. Belotindos 097201014 Guimputlan Rural (Coastal) Carmelito E. Bulay-og 097201016 Hilltop Rural (Interior) Edgardo E. Bulagao 097201017 Ilaya Rural (Interior) Predemar D. Quizo 097201018 Kauswagan Rural (Interior) Hazel E. Sapalleda 097201046 Larayan Rural (Interior) Nerio B. Seripa 097201019 Linabo Urban (Poblacion) Crispino S. Saldon III 097201053 Liyang Rural (Interior) Nilo C. Pegarido 097201020 Maria Cristina Rural (Interior) Hermoso C. Sagapsapan 097201021 Maria Uray Rural (Interior) Luz B. Caga-anan 097201022 Masidlakon Interior Exelliador B. Jumalon 097201023 Napo Rural (Coastal) Lilia S. Adasa 097201024 Opao Rural (Interior) Mary Angeli N. Lasquite 097201025 Oro Rural (Coastal) Grace C. Tagapan 097201026 Owaon Rural (Interior) Meneciano S. Dajuela 097201027 Oyan Interior Rene G. Senio 097201028 Polo Urban (Coastal) Oscar S. Balladares 097201031 Potol Urban (Poblacion) Clifford D. Hamoy 097201054 Potungan Rural (Interior) Nilbert B. Dalman 097201032 San Francisco Rural (Interior) Elma D. Maglinte 097201033 San Nicolas Rural (Interior) Hanibal A. Magsayo 097201034 San Pedro Rural (Coastal) Erlan D. Darunday 097201035 San Vicente Rural (Coastal) Arnel R. Lacquio 097201036 Santa Cruz Urban (Poblacion) Miguel B. Gahisan Jr. 097201055 Santo Niño Rural (Coastal) Crisologo R. Jumuad 097201042 Selinog Rural (Island) Felix B. Tuballa 097201040 Sicayab-Bucana Rural (Coastal) Joie S. Sardane 097201038 Sigayan Rural (Interior) Liza S. Lear 097201039 Sinonoc Rural (Interior) Marivie O. Petalcorin 097201041 Sulangon Rural (Interior) Ramil A. Balladares 097201043 Taguilon Rural (Coastal) Elmer B. Yongco 097201045 Tag-ulo Rural (Coastal) Sheila B. Sumalpong 097201044 Talisay (Matagobtob Poblacion) Urban (Poblacion) Marilyn O. Frankera 097201052 Tamion Rural (Interior) Helen R. Dagpin 097201047 City of Dapitan 097201000 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority – Philippine Standard Geographic Code – City of Dapitan – Barangays
Taguilon
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 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
Economy
Government Mayors of the City of Dapitan Rodolfo A. Carreon Sr., January 1960 to November 1963 Germanico A. Carreon, November 12, 1963 to April 30, 1986 Buensorceso Carpio, December 1, 1987 to February 2, 1988 James A. Adasa, 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 Rosalina G. Jalosjos, July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2022 Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos, June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025 Evelyn T. Uy, June 30, 2025 to present
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
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. 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 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 Sea