Delving the Dignified Dapitan and Dipolog

"Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lovely place where he prayed. . .
 "Let's go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came."

Luk. 4:35,38

Dapitan and Dipolog. What is common about them? Well starter, both names begin with letter D. On a serious note, both cities are part of ZaNorte.

Punto del Desembarco de Rizal. Located at Dapitan. This is where Rizal first set foot when he was exiled.

A cross in front of the Rizal Shrine. I don't know which was made first or why would they built a cross in front of Rizal Shrine. It is still a mystery for me.

Church of St. James. This church is located just near the famous Relief Map of Mindanao by Rizal. The map was molded by Rizal for his geography class to the boys in Dapitan. It was also a part of the beautification project of Rizal in Dapitan. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

The bell tower and St. James. Notice the lamp post? One of the things I noticed when I was in Dapitan was the old stylish lamp posts around the city.

Inside the St. James the Great Church. This church was built by Jesuits on 1871. Funny how they came up with an Alice in Wonderland like ceiling. Fascinating!

The altar.

During our stay in Dakak, our package includes a free lunch out of the resort which we availed during our Dapitan tour. We were transported by a boat just like in Loboc. I forgot the name of the restaurant but this is also managed by Dakak. What I cannot forget was 10-15min serene boat ride along a river in unknown Dapitan.  It was priceless!

An ancestral house in Dapitan. It felt like we were transported back in time when Rizal was in the area when we saw this house.

The heart shaped rock. Are you familiar with this rock? Try to remember from your Rizal classes during college. Oh yes, it was where he dragged his writing table and chair on top of the rock and wrote "Mi Retiro". A poem he later sent to his mother after her eye operation.

Have I told you that I had this light fascination when I was in Dapitan. This one is a smaller version of the lamp posts seen at Baywalk in Manila.

Gloria Fantasyland. The rides are nothing like Enchanted Kingdom but the landscapes and lights are well executed. The picture on the bottom right is part of the courtyard for their Horror house.

Superb food at Gloria de Dapitan. I forgot the name of the pizzeria but we ate here two evenings in a row. The food is that great!

From Dapitan to Dipolog. We were dropped off by Dakak shuttle at Dipolog airport. We opted to be very early so we could stroll around Dipolog for a while. Our first destination was Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral.

This church has been through a renovation. The altar has undergone more renovation because of its deterioration. The original altar was designed by Rizal himself.

This cross is along Rizal avenue facing the Holy Rosary Cathedral is a marker planted by the migrating Boholanos in Dipolog during the early 1900.

A snapshot of the busy Dipolog River.

As I was waiting for takeoff bound for Manila, I suddenly remembered my high school days in the seminary. For our finals in our Spanish class, we were required to deliver Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios."

All these familiar words came rushing out of my lips:

"Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,

Perla del mar de oriente, nuestro perdido Eden.

A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,

Y fuerra mas brillante, mas fresca, mas florida,

Tambien por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio,

Otros te dan sus...sus...susmaryosep!

Bawal ang pork, bawal ang beans.

Deifying the Delightful Dakak

"Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. You heavens, bless the Lord. Sun and moon, bless the Lord. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. All you birds of the air, bless the Lord."

Daniel 3:52,59,62,78,80

     





The first quarter of the 2010 was coming to an end. What perfect way to end it was of course officially starting my own Sun, Sand and Sea vacation.


So I set out to my next destination, wait for it, Dakak! 


Oh yes it was Dakak! The well advertised beach resort down South because of the noon time show Eat Bulaga.


Thanks to an airline, I was able to score promo tickets to Dipolog. I was even lucky to book a room at Dakak by the last minute.


And so there goes Padre on the plane again. We arrived at Dipolog and the shuttle to Dakak was there waiting for us. Dakak here I come!

Before the sun sets on our second day, I climbed up this hill to see the whole of Dakak.

No Pain, No Gain. I got this picture because of my persistence to climb up the hill on my own.

One of God's wonders and I am so blessed to have witnessed such creation.

What is the South known for? As I was wondering for an inspiration for my photos, I saw the famed roofs of the South.

The best that I can get in a vacation is tranquility.

Dakak offers a lot of activities for their guests. One will not run out of activity around the resort. This volleyball net never runs out of players. I was lucky to get a shot of it at high noon.

I waited. Took pictures. Waited. Almost gave up. Went around. Came back. Then suddenly it happenned! They finally heard my prayers and flew right across my lens!

I don't want to be criticized by the Animal Rights Organizations. But there was just so many of them and I got fascinated. I just have to take some pictures. Don't worry; I put them back after their pictorial.

No they are not fishermen coming back from the sea. They were just cleaning the shore along Dakak.

The clean, serene, private Dakak shore. 

This is the other side of the Island.

This is Dakak by day.

The Kumintangeros and their Kumintang.

The cultural show presented by Dakak resort for its guests every weekend. It was nice to again watch a show as such. It made me look back on our cultural dances. I've already forgot how good Filipinos are in showing off gracefulness by dancing because of all this media hype on Krumping.

Super fresh, super yummy, supper delicious oyster I had....in Dakak.

Light fascination.

At the end of the day I was still not satisfied. No wait, let me rephrase that, I was still hungry for more. I still wanted to take more photos, go to more places. How I wish I can do all that in one blow.


As I end my trip, I looked at my wallet and thought to myself, God will provide.

The Flight of Clark's Hot Air Balloon

"Let my prayer rise to you like incense, and my hands lifted up as in an evening sacrifice."

Psalm 141:2

The first take home work I had for my photography class was to produce a photo that is Raw - meaning it is unedited. A pure product me and my new buddy - My Camera.

It was 2010 - the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was coming up. I decided that it will be my subject for the take home work.

It was all in all successful. I had nice shots. Sadly, that time, I only took photos behind the fence, away from where the real thing happens.

This 2011, I had the priviledge to go beyond the fence. Thanks to my good friend William Uy of JAC Motors.

I went on the first day of the event for the 2010 and 2011 Fiesta.

Woke up around 3 in the morning to go to the Hangar. Above: Flag raising (or rather Flag falling) for the opening ceremony last 2010. Below: There was no Flag falling from the sky time (2011). The event started late by the way.

Since it was my second time, I was already aware of the traditions of balloon festivals. The Hare and the Hound. First to take flight among the balloons is the Hare. As soon as it is on its flight, the rest or the Hounds will start getting ready to take off. From left to right: The photo that I submitted for our take home work. It is the Hare that landed back on the Hangar at Dusk last 15th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (left photo). As I've said the event started late on the 16th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, so the Hare was lit up late as well (center photo). The Hare is all set to lead the rest of the Hounds iinto flight (right photo).

The hare is ready to go up in the perfect sky.

Hounds getting ready to take flight.

The balloons of the 15th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

The balloons of the 16th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

This balloon has caught my attention. I was able to take pictures of it from behind the fence the previous Fiesta.

This year, I think this was my favorite model. I took more photos of this modelesque balloon more than the others.

These balloons are just wating for the 15minute mark of the Hare. The Hounds may only take flight 15 minutes after the Hare has took off.

There goes the balloons but my model is still getting ready.

Finally, my model is up, up, and on its way. How I wish I was on that same balloon on this beautiful morning sky. 

Last Fiesta, on my way back to my hotel to grab a quick nap, I chanced upon a balloon landing just a few meters outside the Hangar. This was a great oppurtunity to appreciate the chase crew of each balloons.

The amazing Paragliding afternoon exhibition for the 15th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

The 16th Fiesta, while the audience wait for the hounds to take off, the Paragliders showed off their skills and talent. 

In the afternoon of the 15th Fiesta, I went back hoping to get great shots at dawn. I was lucky enough. The balloon on the side has just landed back. while the audience are waiting for the other balloons to land back, Paragliders kept the audience attention on the sky.

I did not stay until the afternoon last 16th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. It was so hot and humid. Also, the program was just the same. Nothing new to look forward to. However, this year was different for me. I was able to go beyond the fence and be up close and personal with the models...err...the balloons.

Again, I'd like to give thanks to my classmate in photography, William Uy, and likewise to my grade school classmate Homer Llaguno for Nikon telephoto lens I borrowed last 2010 for the fiesta.

Target for the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta:

Take RAW photos to be submited for the photography class. - DONE!

Target for the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta:

Go beyond the fence. Be up close and personal with the balloons. - DONE!

Target for the 17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta:

Ride the balloon!