Crossing Misamis Occidental: Dipolog to Pagadian

Dakak

This was God's belated birthday gift to me - an unplanned but much dreamed about tour of the Philippine islands. On July 9, 2008, we boarded Philippine Airlines for an almost one and a half hour travel to Dipolog, the capital City of Zamboanga del Norte. After filling our grumbling stomach with seafood laden lunch at the "Kamayan ni Nanay" along the coastal road of Dapitan City, we took the 10 to 12 kilometers long and winding road to Dakak, a well developed beach resort with amenities like a swimming pool, casino, a golf course and well manicured landscaped gardens. 

It was the only white sand beach I had seen among the many coves in that area. 

But of course my Dapitan City sojourn would not be complete without a visit to Rizal Shrine - the place of Rizal's three year-exile.

A small hut just before the landing of the left stairs served as his kitchen. The left veranda is continuous to the bridge that connects to the antipolo type toilet.

When I was taking the picture of his bed, I felt Rizal's spirit permeating in the atmosphere. That was also the time when a woman dressed in long white dress - a Rizalista - went beside me and with much reverence informed me that it was the same bed Rizal used.

In the middle of the hill at the back of his house, Rizal created a basin that catches the water coming from the spring to build his swimming pool. The water from this pool drains to the irrigation system that he built to water his crops. 

On flat grounds are the huts he used as his clinic, and dormitory for his students.

The heart-shaped stone in the middle of small lagoon served as the place for his trysts with Josephine Bracken. It also overlooks the area where the river delta meets the sea where the Spanish soldiers took him when he was transferred to Fort Santiago.

On July 10, 2008 at 9:00 AM we left the lush mountains of Zamboanga del Norte.

They said I would appreciate the sceneries if we were to take the cross country route from Zamboanga del Norte to Pagadian Zamboanga del Sur, BUT the rugged terrains might make me useless for the rest of the day. To maintain my sanity for the scheduled 6 PM lecture that I was supposed to give, they opted that we take the long 5 to 6 hour trip along the coastal roads of Misamis Occidental.

Most of the times, we found ourselves travelling alone particularly along the well paved coastal highway of Oroquieta, the capital city of Misamis Occidental. A far cry from the traffic I almost always experience when we travel along the highways of Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. It was then that I agreed that despite the long route, this would turn out to be a pleasure and leisure drive.

I specifically requested that we stop over the famed centuries old church of Jimenez.

Old church of Jimenez Misamis Occidental 

It was so unfortunate that we were not able to go inside. We were told to come back at 1:30 because the guard was taking his break. Well, obviously that was not feasible, so we just grazed on the sprawling plaza where dogs and horses were allowed to hang around. We noticed this rustic ambiance as we crossed Misamis Occidental from Dipolog to Pagadian. 

Given enough time, I would have also requested that we go to the tideland white sand island that dissapears during high tides. The Dolphin site in the boundary of Jimenez and Tigdok where a zoo would soon rise was being developed to be a tourist destination.

1:30 PM: We had our lunch at Chicken Atiatihan in Ozamis City. After loading our tummy with chicken barbecue, pochero, sisig, chicken skin, mango shake costing us less than 600 pesos for 4 persons , we proceeded to Cota - an Intramuros like Spanish portress along the sea.It was also used by the constabularies of America and Japan when they occupied the Philippines. 

Inside the cota is the image of the blessed virgin Mary Dela Concepcion Y Del Triunfo or simply called as Virgen sa Cota which is a historical, cultural and pilgrimage destination. Being there five days before its feast day (July 16), I took the opportunity to pray for intercession for continuous outpouring of God's graces to my family.






From Ozamis City, the road went steeply up. When we reached the peak we were welcomed by a rain shower indicating that we were already in Zamboanga del Sur.But I was puzzled by the tricycle with the side car tilted up... there must be something wrong in the way it was built...but the driver seemed so at ease. 

I could not really fathom why, until from up the hill came the site of Pagadian City. The steep road goes directly straight into the sea.Now, I can not imagine how a normally placed sidecar could go down that road without tumbling down or without throwing the passengers out. 

Of all the cities we passed through ...from Dapitan City to Dipolog, Oroquieta, Ozamis ... Pagadian City is a set apart for it is a city in the real sense of the word...wide paved roads, buildings, big establishments like Jolibee, Chowking, malls, soon to rise Gaisano and tertiary state-of-the-art hospital... yet the air is pure, the environment so rustic.

Mindanao is so beautiful, so pristine, so rich ...no wonder people are fighting for their right to own it.

You may also like

El Nido Palawan: Philippines' Last Frontier

Camiguin: The Island of Seven Volcanoes

Dingalan Aurora: Island Paradise Luzon

El Nido. Philippine's Last Frontier Part 2

Cross country drive: Manila to Pagudpud