DAPITAN TOURIST SPOTS: Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte

Who haven't heard about Dapitan? Almost every Filipino knows that Dapitan played a significant part in our history as this is the place where our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled during the Spanish rule in the Philippines. But not everyone knows where Dapitan is. It's actually located in the province of Zamboanga del Norte. That's why during this trip, I made sure that I visit this place after my day tour in the luxurious Dakak Beach Resort. From the resort, I took a habal-habal to Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City to have a piece of history and to know the place where Rizal spent four years of fruitful exile before he was executed in Bagumbayan.

The Rizal Shrine, a National Shrine is lcoated in Barangay Talisay, it is exactly on the same spot where Rizal built his home in exile which lasted four years, from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896. It features replicas of the houses which were rebuilt on their original sites. They are made from bamboo and nipa to resemble the original structures.

Casa Residencia (main house) is Jose Rizal's house and the biggest among the houses in the shrine. I was able to enter and saw one bedroom with a bed and a photo of Rizal.

Casa Residencia

Bedroom

Veranda

Casitas de Salud (health houses) one for males, the other for female patients. Built by Rizal, they are intended to accommodate patients from far flung municipalities.

Casitas de Salud

Casa Cuadrada (square house) is the dormitory for Rizal's pupils. The area underneath the house served as a workshop area for his pupils.

Casa Cuadrada

Casa Redonda, a separate house with eight sides which served as Rizal's clinic. It was here where George Taufer, the foster father of Josephine Bracken had his eye operation.

Casa Redonda

Other interesting structures inside the shrine grounds are the dam and the water system that Rizal built.

The Dam

At one end of the shrine near the seaside is where you'll find the so-called "Mi Retiro Rock" or Rizal's retreat rock. The rock got its name from Rizal's poem "Mi Retiro" which he wrote its first few stanzas while sitting on this rock. It is also called "Lover's Rock" as it is the favorite spot of Rizal and Josephine Bracken. He also spent many hours watching the sunset here.

Mi Retiro Rock

View on top of the rock

View of Sulu sea on top of the rock

There's also a museum called Rizaliana Museum which was built in 1971 and houses some photos, artifacts, memorabilia and even Rizal's clothes. Before leaving the shrine, I had a souvenir photo with "the" Dr. Jose Rizal. This monument of Rizal was built on March 8, 1987 by the Order of the Knights of Rizal.

With Jose Rizal

Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte will always be synonymous with our National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. As this is one of the major tourist destinations in the city and a historical site, one should not leave without visiting Rizal Shrine in Dapitan.

Jose Rizal Monument

How to Get to Rizal Shrine in Dapitan

Your entry point will be Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have daily flights to Dipolog City from Manila and Cebu. From the airport, you could take a tricycle to the city terminal. There are mini buses and vans at the Dipolog terminal that will take you to Dapitan City. Travel time is about 45 minutes from Dipolog City, fare is 25 pesos. Upon reaching the town center, you could hire a single motorcycle (habal-habal) or a tricycle to Rizal Shrine which is just approximately 2 kilometers away from the city center.

There are also fast crafts that travel daily from Cebu to Dapitan City. Trips from Cebu City to Dapitan City is about 5 hours with stop over in Tagbilaran City and Dumaguete City.

This is part of my trip in Zamboanga Peninsula that happened in July 12-15, 2012. Zamboanga del Norte is the 71st province on my list.


READ MORE FROM THE LINKS BELOW:

• The Luxurious Dakak Beach Resort
• Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City
• A Historical Walking Tour in Dapitan
• Montaño Spanish Style Sardines, the Best Pasalubong from Dipolog City
• The Century-old Dipolog City Cathedral
• TRAVEL GUIDE: Dipolog and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte

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