Dipolog

The town appeared in the 1734 Murillo Velarde map as Diporog.

Earliest recorded political history of Dipolog started in 1834 with the re-organization of Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis. At that time, Tulwanan's political territory was still part of the Municipality of Dapitan with Don Domingo Ruiz, a native, as its capitán or town executive. Sometime that year, a Spanish Recollect missionary arrived in Tulwanan looking for its barrio executive or local chieftain. Upon meeting a native, the missionary asked; "¿Dónde está el capitán?" or "Where is the captain?". The native understanding only the word "capitán" pointed to the west and said in Subanen Di-pag, meaning across the river. Guided by his servant, a Tagalog boy named Antonio Subido, the missionary proceeded down river and upon reaching the Boholano settlement, named the place "Dipag".

Technically, Dipag and Tulwanan were two different settlements at that time with the former composed of Boholano natives and the latter mostly of Subanen ancestry. When the friar returned to Dapitan, he identified the location of the larger Boholano settlement as Dipag but was not officially written. Frequent conversations by the Spaniards pronounced it in Spanish accent Dipolog which was eventually adopted by the natives. The final political survey surprisingly added the letter 'L' written on it after officially becoming a barrio of Dapitan. From that time Tulwanan's political identity ceased to exist. By the 12th century the Subanen settlers had colonized most of what is now Zamboanga Peninsula region. It was customary for tribes to establish their settlements at the mouth of large river systems due to the abundant food supply. However, due to frequent raids from seafaring Chinese pirates, they decided to move their settlements inland.

In the 14th century, Tulwanan was established 6 kilometers inland, adjoining the river near the present day barangay center of Lugdungan.

In the 15th century, settlers from neighboring Negros and Bohol islands established coastline settlements in Mindanao but suffered the same raids by Chinese pirates, prompting them to also move their settlements away from the coastline. They established another settlement in what is now called Sianib, a barangay of present-day Polanco town, some twenty kilometers from the coast at Barrio Gulayon(Barangay Gulayon).

It was only in 1563 that the first recorded Visayan settlement of some 800 families from Bohol, led by the chieftain Datu Pagbuaya, landed in Mindanao and established a coastal settlement in what is now called Dapitan. This settlement was strong enough to repel the Chinese pirates of the Sulu Sea. As a result, Dapitan Bay was scene of many bloody conflicts between Pagbuaya's men and Chinese pirates.

In 1565, Don Miguel López de Legazpi who was accompanied by famed navigator Fr. Andrés de Urdaneta, an Augustinian friar, visited the Boholano chieftain Datu Pagbuaya on the invitation of Datu Sikatuna. There they found the place of Datu Pagbuaya to be a thriving settlement. In his chronicle, Fr. Urdaneta named the place Daquepitan. Peter Kaerius (Pieter van den Keere) identified the location as Dapito in his cartographic map of 1598. It was later identified as "Dapite" in Robert Dudley's map of 1646. Other names ascribed to the location include "Dapyto" in Sanson's map of 1652 and "Dapitan" which can be found in Moll's map of the East Indies, 1729 and in Murillo Velarde's map of 1734. After Legazpi's visit, the Christianization of Mindanao was officially initiated by the Augustinian friars who arrived with him.

In 1581, members of The Society of Jesus came to the Philippines for the purpose of evangelization. When the country was divided among four religious orders in 1598, the Jesuits were given the Diocese of Cebu which covered the Visayas and Mindanao. Thus Dapitan came to be under the jurisdiction of the courageous men of St. Ignatius and it was Father Pascual de Acuña S.J. who started the Jesuit mission there.

In 1609, the squadron of Juan Juarez Gallinato S.J. defeated the Manguindanau Muslims in a ferocious battle near Dapitan.[12]

Also in 1609, a permanent Dapitan mission was founded and thereafter headed by a Jesuit missionary, Father Pedro Gutierrez, marking Dapitan as the Center of Evangelization in Mindanao.[13] Mission stations were subsequently established later by the Jesuits in Zamboanga, Iligan, Basilan and Butuan. Outside of these areas, however, the whole of Mindanao remained untouched by the Spanish Cross.

The Santa Cruz Marker (Punta Corro) is the spot where migrating Boholanos from the Visayas landed and established settlement.

By the 18th century, with the Spanish Naval Fleet anchored at Dapitan Bay, much of the piracy—now conducted mainly by moro bandits—was under control within the Sulu Sea. Settlement in coastal areas resumed with new settlers from Negros and Bohol eventually settling in Isab, and Nipaan. The largest settlement, however, was made at the mouth of the Dipolog river by the Boholanos who were not associated with Pagbuaya.

From Ruiz, civil administration changed hands in stable succession, with Martino Belarmino, who was popular by the name Maglinte. Francisco Magallanes, Victorio Gobune; another man whose name history record had as Toribio had his chance, followed by Venancio Narvaez, Francisco Orbita, Bautista Narvaez, Martencio Yebes and Sabino Bengua.

By 1889, administrative designations reverted to Capitanes, and those appointed were Martin Fernandez, Tomas Narvacan, Eustaquio Cajocon, Simplicio Lacaya, Basilio Tabiliran, Maximiano Ruiz and Bruno Ordinaria in 1898.

By February 1894, the Catholic Chapel constructed by the Jesuits was renovated for the first time, on an altar designed by Dr. José Rizal to which now stands the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral.

By 1896, the friars established Dipolog as a regular parish and installed Father Esteban Yepes its first administrator in 1897.

After the transfer of Spanish sovereignty to the United States in 1897, the U.S. occupation forces renamed the Capitan to Presidente Local, with administrative support from a Vice Presidente Local, a Delegado de Justicia and a Delegado de Policia. Martin Fernandez was appointed Presidente Local in the year 1900, followed by Diosdado Mercado, Gaudencio Zorilla and Isidro Patangan as Presidente Municipal between 1901 and March 1904.

By 1900, Dipolog was a thriving commercial community with new settlers arriving from the island of Cebu, outgrowing its principal town of Dapitan which exclusively remained part of Pagbuaya's clan.

By 1910, John Helper, who was previously appointed Secretary of Zamboanga Province, visited Dipolog for two days and conversed with its principalía and members of the Centro Catolico de Dipolog. He was asked later of the possibility of converting the community to an independent Municipality.

By 1912, Gov. John J. Pershing of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu decreed the separation of Dipolog from Dapitan and reorganize as a municipality again.

By July 1, 1913, Gov. John J. Pershing declared Dipolog as a Municipality. General Pershing also appointed Pascual Tan Martinez, who was appointed the Municipal President of Dapitan since 1910, as its first Municipal Mayor.

The first public school teachers of Dipolog, during this time, came also from Bohol, particularly Maribojoc and other towns. Most were only elementary graduates. But they were well-educated by the American soldier-teachers in Bohol. One of them was a certain Felisa Ruaya who taught at the American-established schools in Dipolog. She lived first near the beach in Punta Corro. Then she married an Adriatico, a native of Polanco. Because the inhabitants converted to Christianity, it cannot be determined whether or not the residents were of Subanen heritage. Felisa Ruaya was the mother of former Zamboanga del Norte vice governor Concordio Ruaya Adriatico.

Aerial view of Dipolog Field in 1945.

Governor Matias Castillon Ranillo Sr. noticed that the waters at Punta Coro wharf were choppy for ships to anchor. Governor Ranillo was determined to provide an alternative access to southern Zamboanga peninsula. Governor Ranillo's jurisdiction was then the entire Zamboanga peninsula prior to its division between del Norte and del Sur. During Governor Ranillo's term, aviation was a young technology but he made sure that an airfield was established in Dipolog.

He was elected Governor in 1937 and re-elected in 1940 but his term was cut short when Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon urged him to run as the lone Assemblyman of Zamboanga peninsula. President Quezon fondly called him "El Gallo Escondido de Malacanang". In November 1941, he was elected as Assemblyman but one week before his scheduled departure for Manila, World War II broke out. On October 30, 1944, upon the request of the guerrillas, he mobilized the able-bodied men of Dipolog and Home guards who cheerfully volunteered to clear the airfield of grass and shrubs.

In 1942, when the Japanese invaded the Philippines, Zamboanga acting Governor Felipe B. Azcuna moved the capital from Zamboanga City to Dipolog. On March 8, 1945, on Dipolog airfield, the first American invasion of Zamboanga peninsula took place. The successful landing at Dipolog airfield established a base for the subsequent recapture of Japanese-held San Roque airfield near Zamboanga City, followed by Sanga Sanga in Sulu, and from there to Borneo and the East Indies. After the defeat of the American-Filipino forces in Corregidor, most of the province went under Japanese control. This designation lasted until June 16, 1948, when the capital was transferred from Dipolog to Molave, Zamboanga del Sur through Republic Act No. 286 signed by President Elpidio Quirino.

The Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Capitol in Dipolog in 2021

Certain portions of Dipolog were organized into separate municipalities of Polanco and New Piñan, by virtue of Executive Order No. 467 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on August 22, 1951.[14]

On June 6, 1952, Zamboanga province is separated into two provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur through Republic Act (RA) No. 711. Dipolog became the capital of Zamboanga del Norte upon creation.[15]

On June 21, 1969, through the effort of former Congressman Alberto Q. Ubay, President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law RA No. 5520, making Dipolog a chartered city effective January 1, 1970.[4] The date is both significant and historic as that coincided with the Apollo 11 launching which carried the first men to the moon on June 21, 1969. Mayor Felicisimo Herrera was made the last Municipal Mayor (1963–1970) and the first City Mayor of Dipolog (1970–1978). On March 8, 1982, the Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted the Dipolog City March composed by Mrs. Antonina O. Romano as the city's official song.

Dipolog was the site of at least one major assassination during the Marcos Martial law era - the gunning down of Human Rights lawyers Jacobo Amatong and Zorro Aguilar by two soldiers of the Marcos government, who were never caught.[16][17][18] Both lawyers have since been honored by having their names included in at least two streets in the city, inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines’ Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the heroes and martyrs who fought against Ferdinand Marcos and his martial law regime.[16]

Map of Dipolog with barangay partitions.

Dipolog is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Dipolog has a tropical rainforest climate, according to the Köppen Climate classification with ample rain distributed quite evenly throughout the year and warm to hot temperatures. The city experiences a wetter period from June to December, with June, October and November being especially wet.

Dipolog is predominantly a Cebuano-speaking city, particularly a standard variant commonly used in Northern Mindanao. The language is locally known as simply Bisaya or Binisaya, and is spoken by more than 90% of the total city population.

Most inhabitants are Roman Catholics, having been the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog since its inception in 1967. Like most Mindanao cities and towns, there is a significant portion of Muslims in the city. Other religious groups represented include the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayans), the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (Protestants), Iglesia ni Cristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witness, Seventh-day Adventist Church (Adventists), and some local Baptists churches among others.

Dipolog is best known for its bottled sardines production. Apart from sardines, industries in Dipolog include DN Yubros Steel Corporation,[33] a member of DN Steel Group of Companies through DN Joint Ventures.[34][35]

Currently, the city is well equipped with telecommunication facilities from landlines, mobile networks and 5G broadband.

Local malls and shopping centers in Dipolog include:

• Roy Plaza (Rizal Avenue, Central),
• Dipolog Shopping Center (Rizal Avenue corner Lacaya Street, Central),
• Lee Plaza City Central Dipolog[36](Quezon Avenue, Miputak), and
• CityMall Dipolog (National Highway, Santa Filomena).
• Gaisano Grand Mall Dipolog (Under Construction)

Entrance to the 3,003 Steps to Linabo Peak

Sungkilaw Falls

P'gsalabuk Circle Rotonda

Esplanade of Dipolog Boulevard

Explore Dipolog landmark in Dipolog Boulevard

• Linabo Peak - The 3003 Steps to Linabo Peak offers a panoramic view of the twin cities of Dipolog and Dapitan. It is also the venue for the annual “Katkat Sakripisyo” of Catholic devotees who perform their penitential rites during the Lenten Season.
• Cogon Eco-Tourism Park - The Cogon Eco-Tourism Park[39] is a 344-hectare reforestation area situated in Barangay Cogon established in 1958. Mature trees are growing wild in the area; species such as Mahogany, Teak, Yemane, Lumbayao, Molave, Acacia, Narra, Mayapis, Lauan, Narig, Tianong, Duguan, Lumbayao, Rattan and Nato. It is also one of the favorite camping sites of different mountaineering groups. Presently, under development in the area are the construction of Information Center, Subanen Valley, Picnic cottages, well landscaped ground at the entrance, parking area, aviary, and different cages for animals. Adjacent to Barangay Cogon is Barangay Diwan, part of the eco-tourism complex housing the Organization of International Spiritual and Cultural Advancement or OISCA Forest Park,[40] a joint project of the OISCA of Japan, locally managed by Hiroshi Ikeda, and the City Government of Dipolog. It also houses the Dipolog OISCA Children's Forest Park. The most prominent feature of the park is the Sungkilaw Falls.
• Casa Bernedo - a century-old house owned by the Filipino-Spanish Bernedo family, for tourists. On July 1, 2012, Casa Bernedo is developed as Dipolog's Center for Culture and the Arts in time for Dipolog's 100th Centennial Anniversary on July 1, 2013, and currently houses the Dipolog Tourism Office. The ground floor serves as a venue for visual arts and photography exhibits.[41]
• ONAY Museum - This is where the collection of nameplates, medals, pictures and other memorabilia of General Alexander Yano, the 38th Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the first Mindanao-born general, is located. The name "ONAY" came from his last name in reverse.
• Santa Cruz - The tall cross stands at Punta Corro, the spot where migrating Boholanos landed and to establish a settlement. The cross was erected by the settlers on Roodmas, May 3, 1905, in thanksgiving for their safe journey. Mass was once said at the spot before the Spaniards established a chapel 1.5 kilometers inland along the town's center street (now Rizal Avenue). The town cathedral was later built in 1894 to replace the old church. Dr. José Rizal designed the high altar from a sketch requested by his former professor and former curé of Dipolog, Fr. José Villaclara.
• Dipolog City Hall - Completed on July 1, 1913, under the administration of General John J. Pershing as Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. The original design of the town wall was the exact replica of the town hall of Maribojoc, Bohol, which was designed by the Americans. The original hall was exactly the same size that of Maribojoc's down to the size of the jail. But today the hall was expanded and its original design can not be seen anymore. It is located near the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral and the Plaza Magsaysay. The hall building was constructed under the administration of Mayor Fermin D. Kagatan. The corner street houses the Monument of Three Prominent Dipolognons[42] namely:
  • Pascual Tan Martinez, the first appointed Mayor of Dipolog in 1913–1918;
  • Rev. Fr. Nicasio Yebes Patangan, the first Filipino Diocesan Priest of Mindanao; and
  • Eugenio Redulla Margate, a farmer for 25 years who introduced the Margate System of Planting Rice.
• P'gsalabuk Circle - Located at Estaka-Turno road junction is the "Fountain of Blessings". P'gsalabuk is a Subanen (Lumad) term which means "togetherness". The statues represent the tri-people of Mindanao: the Subanen, Muslims, and Christians, which symbolize the diverse cultures prevailing in Dipolog. The bowl raised to heavens is a gesture of thanksgiving and offering to God Almighty for the generous outpouring of graces and blessings, bountiful harvests and sustained peace and prosperity.
• Dipolog Boholana Handicraft & Pasalubong (formerly S and J)- Located at Gen Luna St. Cor Magsaysay near Dipolog Boulevard, Dipolog, they sell Souvenir products and remembrance products. Tourists are welcome to visit and take a look at the shop's products. The souvenir shop is visited by many tourists, both local and foreign. It is owned by Elsa Leones. In late 2010 the original S and J is supposed to be located at Bonifacio Street but then transferred. It is also the premier pasalubong and souvenir store in the province.
• Dipolog Boulevard - known as the Foreshore Development and Wellness Center, it is an esplanade in Dipolog. It is a future-proof esplanade which involves the development of 1.6 kilometers stretch of foreshore area spanning from Santa Cruz of Barangay Central to Purok Bularan of Barangay Miputak, and will soon reach the future Dipolog City Port Area (formerly Galas Feeder Port) in Barangay Galas. Equipped with adequate facilities like basketball courts and playground park, the city's boulevard serves as a tourist destination for every young and old to enjoy. It is also the site of the annual "Pagsalabuk Festival", motor company trade shows, and sporting events like marathons, triathlons, and dragon boat racing as part of the DIPOLOG SPORTS CITY 2020 vision. Extension is currently underway to extend the boulevard for another kilometer reaching the seaport of Galas making it a total of 2.6 kilometers. When completed, it is expected to contribute in the expansion of commercial activities and protection of coastal areas of the city against large sea waves during typhoon periods.
  • Boulevard Commercial Complex - a two-building structure which is a host to prospective locators who wish to do business in the area, augmenting the presently existing restaurants, bars, and several food and beverage peddlers.
  • Explore Dipolog Landmark - features the slogan of the same line. It is now open and it is near the Dipolog Watchtower.

• Sinulog sa Dipolog Festival, every 3rd Saturday of January featuring pageantry and street dancing for the Santo Niño,
• Katkat Sakripisyo at Linabo Peak every Lenten Season
• P'gsalabuk Festival[43] in May with harvest rituals of the Tri-people of Mindanao (Subanens, Muslims & Christians) -- a celebration of unity amidst diversity,
  • Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer on 3rd Saturday of May,
• Adlaw sa Dipolog (Dipolog's Founding Anniversary) marked July 1 to 6 with sports, cultural, and beauty pageants highlighted with Mutya sa Dipolog,
• Dahunog sa Dipolog on October 7 which is the Feast of the Lady of the Holy Rosary
• Pasko sa Dipolog (PASADI) showcases nightly shows by Dipolog's respective 21 barangays in the month of December.
• Dipolog Film Festival is an annual competition which exhibits short films made and shot by Dipolognons.

Dipolog has its own bus terminal in Barangay Miputak. It provides daily trip to any places in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and cities like Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, Cubao, Quezon City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Cotabato City, and General Santos City .

Dipolog relies on the nearby Port of Pulauan in Dapitan, especially for trips bound to Dumaguete, Cebu City, and Manila.

The city can now reach Municipality of Oslob, Cebu through Lite Shipping Corporation[44] via Pulauan Port, while dredging is undergoing in Galas Port (officially Dipolog City Port) in Barangay Galas by the City Government of Dipolog.[45][46] The city also has daily direct trips to Cebu from Dipolog through the Cebu-based Medallion Transport Inc. Docking port is at the Dipolog City Port in Barangay Galas.[47] Dipolog to Cebu City,[48] which Medallion had plied since March 2015, has trips everyday except Saturday at 7:00pm. While Cebu City to Dipolog has everyday trips at 8:30pm using M/V Lady of Joy and M/V Lady of Good Voyage. Meanwhile, Dipolog to Dumaguete, which they had plied since 2018, has trips every day at 11:00am and Dumaguete to Dipolog has everyday trips at 5:00pm using M/V Lady of Perpetual Help.

Dipolog Airport (IATA: DPL, ICAO: RPMG) is the city's domestic airport located in Barangay Minaog. Daily itinerary trips from and to Manila, and from Cebu through Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

• DXDR RMN Dipolog 981 (Radio Mindanao Network)
• RPN DXKD Radyo Ronda 1053 Dipolog (Radio Philippines Network)

• 88.1 Jack FM Dipolog (Subic Broadcasting Corporation)
• 88.9 First Love Radio (First Love Broadcasting Network)
• 89.7 Radyo Kidlat Dipolog (Philippine Broadcasting Service/Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative)
• 90.9 Magik FM Dipolog (Century Broadcasting Network)
• 91.7 Radyo Rapido (Kalayaan Broadcasting System)
• DXAA 92.5 (Andres Bonifacio College Broadcasting System)
• 93.3 Star FM Dipolog (Bombo Radyo Philippines)
• 95.9 Radyo Bisdak Dipolog (Times Broadcasting Network Corporation)
• 97.5 Juander Radyo Dipolog (Capitol Broadcasting Center/RSV Broadcasting Services)
• 98.1 Infinite Radio Dipolog (St. Jude Thaddeus Institute of Technology)
• 100.5 Radyo Natin Dipolog (Manila Broadcasting Company/Radyo Natin Network)
• 103.7 Energy FM Dipolog (Ultrasonic Broadcasting System)
• 106.1 FMR Babe Radio Dipolog (Philippine Collective Media Corporation)
• 107.7 Brigada News FM Dipolog (Brigada Mass Media Corporation)

• GMA TV-4 Dipolog
• GTV Channel 26 Dipolog

• Orient Cable TV
• Dipolog Cable TV Network
• Cignal TV
• G Sat