BASIC FACTS
Origin of Name and Brief History
The origin of the word 'Dapitan"
is history itself. It tells of Datu Pagbuaya who left his realm in the
island of Panglao, Bohol to escape the Ternatans at whose hands his
borther Dailisan met an untimely end. With Pagbuaya were his followers
numbering 800 families. Uncertain about their destination when asked about
the exodus, the followers simply replied: 'Didto sa Pagadapitan'. "Dapit"
in Visayan means "to invite". They crossed the sea to
northern Mindanao or the so-called "Dakuyang Yuta" (literally
"big land"), and after several days of travel, came upon a bay
with a picturisque hill beyond and decided to settle there. Thus, the
historic settlement of Dapitan. The permanent Dapitan mission was founded
in 1629, headed by a Jesuit missionary Fr. Pedro Gutierrez. The Spanish
authorities adopted the local form of government that was already
existing. Dapitan remained a part of the Zamboanga peninsula until 1952
when it was divided into two provinces, the Norte and Sur. Dapitan became
a chartered city in 1963 by virtue of R.A. 3811 and became the first
chartered city in Zamboanga del Norte.
| basic facts |
| historical attractions |
| natural scenic spots |
| local festivities |
| recreation facilities |
| accommodations |
| transportation |
| dining/entertainment |
| convention facilities |
| support services |
Geography
Dapitan lies on the northwestern coast
of the island of Mindanao. It is a double-wedge-shaped mass of land
bounded on the north by the Sulu sea, and linked on the south by the
municipalities of La Libertad and Mutia, on the east by the municipalities
of Sibutad and Rizal, and on the west by Dipolog City and the municipality
of Polanco.The city has a total land area of 215
square kilometers and is 14 kilometers from Cipolog City. The 50 stars on
its official seal represent the 50 barangays under it.
Languages/Dialects
Spoken
Approximately 99.3 percent of the total household population in the city
speak Cebuano while the remaining 0.7 percent speak Subanun, Ilonggo and
Filipino, among others. A few of the elder folks speak Spanish.
Climate
Dapitan's climate is characterized by
rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. Warm months
are May and June and the cold months are December, January and February.
Major Industries
The economy of Dapitan is fundamentally
agricultural. The five (5) leading crops are coconut, palay, corn and
fruit trees.