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Published April 15, 2025 10:25pm
Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte is known is the place of exile of Dr. Jose Rizal after he was arrested by Spanish authorities in 1892.
It's a must-visit for history buffs, as it is the home of several sites related to the hero and author of "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo."
Mav Gonzales took us to Dapitan in the latest installment of Balikbayan, the GMA Integrated News Summer Pastyalan, on Tuesday's "24 Oras."
Here are some of the locations you should not miss in this coastal city in Mindanao.
1. Punto del Desembarco de Rizal
A landmark is erected at the exact location where Rizal made port in the city on July 17, 1892: the Punto del Desembarco de Rizal. The polymath arrived in the evening and stayed in the city for four years.
2. Relief Map of Mindanao
The Relief Map of Mindanao at the Dapitan Plaza is one of Rizal's creations. It shows Mindanao's landscape, including the elevated terrains. Rattan sticks were used to measure the scale of Mindanao.
3. St. James the Greater Parish
Another historical attraction is the St. James Greater Parish, which was built in 1871. Rizal attended mass outside the church, as he was viewed with suspicion due to his masonic membership and his writings.
4. Rizal Shrine
Of course, you can't go on a trip to Dapitan without visiting the Rizal Shrine, the 16-hectare estate purchased by Rizal during his exile.
It includes a replica of the house where Rizal lived and a museum with preserved artifacts such as Rizal's clothes, blackboard, address cards, and eye surgery tools.
5. Lover's Rock
For a romantic stop, drop by the Lover's Rock, the very same spot where Rizal and Josephine Bracken, his common-law wife, went on dates. They were not allowed to get married, so they promised themselves to each other at that spot. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
