RedGage

ART EXHIBIT, ETHNIC DANCES AND CULTURAL SHOW AT DAKAK

Dakak Park and Beach Resort is the closest place to paradise one could ever experience, with its beauty and serenity. Dakak started operating on 1988, was conveniently positioned in the southern part of the Philippines and surrounded by mountains in its west. Situated at Taguilon, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Dakak tactfully eludes the typhoon belt, making it anideal all-season destination for travelers. Dakak Park and Beach Resort continuously strive to carry out its mission - "an abundance of recreational activities and entertainment, warm Filipino hospitality, and environment friendly ambiance."

Roused from sleep, I sat up. Something was excitingly moving at my seat that afternoon of February 25, 2013 when we the Ebenezerian had our Educational Field Trip at Dakak. It was 2.30 p.m., and the thrill in the voice of a woman beside me was unmistakable. "Wake up, we're about to arrive!"

\           Over the years, I'm used to travelling to places together with my family and friends.

Dapitan, according to some, isn't really a part of route by most travel writers. Being a sleepy rural province, visitors mainly have two reasons: either to go to see family and friends or to spend time at Dakak, a well-known beach resort in the city. So there isn't really so much to look forward to for this place, I thought. The sunset still shone vividly as it displayed at the western part of the city on that balmy late afternoon summer skies two years ago.

Whilst we steered through, my breath caught at the site of a seemingly lonely forest. At it were housed native structures and a concrete building. "It's a shrine; the national hero's shrine," the tourist guide told me lightheartedly.

He was referring to the Rizal Shrine. And out of curiosity, my mind had begun to change: No, it's a mistake. There's actually so much to look forward to for this place. 

Stepping into the grounds of the museum in Rizal Shrine was almost akin to stepping back in time. 117 to 113 years ago, this small yet splendid town in the Philippines on the northern tip of Zamboanga Peninsula (Northwestern Mindanao) served as the exile place of a political prisoner, who changed the entire fate of his nation.

Historians recited that from 1892 to 1896, this place in Dapitan is where Dr. Jose Rizal spent one of the unforgettable phases of his life. Dapitan is where Rizal battled frustrations and depressions over the oppressive rule of colonial Spain, and spent most of his time as a scientist, linguist, physician, teacher, scholar and writer, artist, farmer, and even as a businessman.

Upon entering the museum, a huge photo of the national hero greeted me. The museum's walls showed Rizal's photo collections from childhood to adulthood, including the ladies of his life.

I saw some of his personal things of 1890s vintage; the numerous artworks such as paintings of his Irish wife, Josephine Bracken, whom he had met in Dapitan, and several European-style sculptures which influenced him during his studies in Western countries.

"Dapitan is Rizal," curator Gabriel M. Cad told me as we trekked through the sixteen-hectare outdoor-type museum. "Without him, this city perhaps would never be known in the whole world."

Native structures made of lumber, bamboo, and nipa hut, fringed the historical shrine. There were a total of six replicas apart from the main house. Among them:

• the Casa Redonda, an octagonal-shaped clinic where Rizal did an eye operation on George Taufer (Josephine Bracken's foster father);
• the Casitales Hospitales, originally a tea house but was later used as a clinic when the number of his patients increased;
• the Casa Redonda Pequena, the place where Rizal raised his chickens;
• and the Mi RetiroRock, a naturally heart-shaped rock,where Rizal spent most of his time writing and reading poems during twilight time.

His pupils' dormitory or the Casa Cuadrada was just footsteps away from the Mi Retiro Rock.

"The main house has been the favourite site for visitors," Mr. Cad continued, as we neared Jose Rizal's 8-metre-wide and 6-metre-long rectangular-shaped Casa Residencia, with a room and a bathroom.

From the three verandas of the house, I could certainly see the grand view of the bay. Beside was his water system and dam, where the hero long ago taught his pupils how to swim. All these were kept safe and maintained despite century old.

"All houses are replicas, but we make sure the structures and designs are 100% accurate from the original settings," explained Mr. Cad, "including materials used and exact location of the houses."

I spent almost 2 hours at Rizal Shrine. The Ebenezerians had to go back to the resort. We dined on "Gloria de Dapitan", a three-hectare commercial and leisure park located along Sunset Boulevard. At it were bars, restaurants, shopping stores, sports and beauty centres, and amusement rides, among others.

Our last night at Dakak was exceptional. We watched the "Singkil", a Philippine folk dance that illustrates the story of a Maranao princess being abducted and eventually rescued by her husband. The other had guests doing the "Luau", a Hawaiian-themed dance.

The memorable jaunt in Dapitan 4 months ago stays vivid to me. From its nostalgic museum, to its historical sites, down to its natural charms, Dapitan---it seems to me---remains a living legacy.

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. The play shows the culture, beliefs and tradition of the Filipinos. It shows how their life is being affected with their belief as a Filipino. The play also shows how their past life affects their present. This shows how we Filipinos value our love ones even to their final resting place.

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.