Dapitan City - Day 2 :: Out and About The Shrine City in the Philippines

Day 2 - Nov 21, 2015

We were clueless as to how the tour would go here in Dapitan. Because in my experience travelling to other provinces, usually there is a fixed price. Like in the City tour in Puerto Princesa for instance. So, that morning, after breakfast, we just stood at the corner of the street beside Travelbee Inn and hailed the first tricycle in sight.



We asked the driver how much would it cost if we get him to tour us around. He didn't give a price, instead he just said it's 9 pesos per trip. When we got to Rizal Shrine, he volunteered that he'd wait for us outside. In short, he brought us to all the places. At around 1 PM, we were back at the Inn. How much we paid? We didn't count the trip anymore. We thought that because he was honest about the fare and was nice all throughout, we gave him some amount and he was very thankful.

Here are the places we visited:

Rizal Shrine -

Guests need to register names at the entrance. No entrance fee for now. But our guide said there will be in the future once the museum opens up. A guide is available to explain more about the life of Jose Rizal and history of this shrine. No fees for the guide but donation is accepted.

newly built Museum. it was closed when we visited.

Sulu sea at the left. during Jose Rizal's time, water from the sea covers this place that Rizal sometimes had to use a banca (small boat) to go to one cottage to another.

Mi Retiro Rock. This is where Rizal wrote his poems Mi Retiro. Our guide said this is Rizal's favorite spot. He and Josephine Bracken would come here to watch the sunset. 

Casa Redonda (Octagon house). Where Rizal held his clinic and also serves as the quarters for Rizal's students.

Casa Cuadrada (Square house). Also served as quarters for Rizal's students

There are other 2 houses - Casa Residencia, which is the main house. This is where he and Josephine Bracken lived together as husband and wife. Another is Casitas de Salud, which is the health houses. This is used as a lodged for patients who needs to stay longer.

St. James The Greater Church -

After Rizal Shrine, we asked the driver to bring to the church, where Rizal used to hear mass.

Built in 1871 in honor of their patron, St. James the Greater. 

St James the Greater

Grotto outside the church

Map Relief of Mindanao - 

Right across the church is the Map Relief of Mindanao. Built by Rizal as a tool in teaching geography and history to his students.

Liwasan ng Dapitan

Also, across the Church is the Liwasan ng Dapitan (Dapitan City Plaza). Rizal helped to develop this Plaza.

Parochial School beside the church

Landing Site -

This monument marks the site where the steamer "Cebu" landed at 7PM on June 17 1892 carrying Rizal to spend his years of exile.

Heritage House -

I was in awe upon seeing this heritage house. It is grand and designs are elaborate.

Another way of touring the city is through a bike. Travelbee offers bike for rent is available for only 50 pesos for the entire day of use. They have a Bike Map, which I think is their unique serviceTheir town is pretty small, so the distances aren't far. We didn't have any worries of getting hit as public transportation are not much. I personally enjoyed this activity so much, being the first time to have done this.

That afternoon, we biked around and visited again the Plaza, Jose Rizal Memorial State University and Sunset Boulevard.

Biking. More fun in the Dapitan!

Sunset Boulevard. Where Fantasyland is. At night, this street becomes busy as people flock to eat grilled food at restaurants along the street.

Beach along Sunset Boulevard. People would come here to swim. Cottages are available. 

we let our kids play in the sand til it's almost dark

I enjoyed our visit in Dapitan. There are so much history in it. The fact that Rizal's exile became very productive and significant by serving the people as a physician, did community projects like water system, lighting system and a lot more.

What's interesting about his life is that he does not gamble nor smoke. But his only addiction is the lottery. He won in a lottery, together with his 2 other friends, for P20,000 (twenty thousand pesos) in 1982. Split it into three people and that leaves them P6200 (six thousand two hundred pesos) each. And from this winnings he bought a land in Talisay, where Rizal Shrine is now located.


Dapitan City - Day 1: Getting to Dapitan City and Travelbee Heritage Inn

Dapitan City - Day 2 :: Out and About The Shrine City in the Philippines

Dapitan City - Day 3 & 4 :: Dakak Park Beach Resort