Sometime
in October, I saw an announcement posted by the National Historical Commission
of the Philippines over the Internet about its open invitation for Doing Local
and Oral History Seminar Workshop on December 1-2, 2017 in Dapitan City. I
submitted my online application attached a 400-word essay expressing my intent
of joining the seminar as required from applicants.
By
the last week of November, I received a letter from the NHCP informing me that
my application was approved. Later in the seminar, I learned that more than a
hundred had applied but only 70 were accepted. Honestly, I have been praying
for such an opportunity to come. Praise God, He did not only give me this
chance to attend this seminar in which the topic is of so much interest to me,
He also gave me this gift of finally visiting Dapitan, one of the cities in my
bucket list.
By
six o’clock in the morning of November 29, 2017, I hitched on a car of our
ICO-Municipal Treasurer for Tacloban in which we arrived at 11:30am. By 12:30
noon, I was already on my way to Ormoc via a commercial van. I arrived at the
Ormoc’s pier at 2:35pm and by 3:45, I was already on board a Supercat bound for
Cebu. I arrived at the Cebu Pier 1 at 6:30pm. I hurriedly get a ticket for
Cokaliong ship on my way to Dapitan via Dumaguete. The ship left Cebu at 7pm
and arrived in Dumaguete pier by 2am of November 30. By 7am, the ship left
Dumaguete and arrived at Dapitan pier at 11:00am. By the gate of the pier, I
hired a motorcycle that took me to the gate of the Jose Rizal Memorial State
University.
From
the gate I just walked to the school’s guest house where I will be staying
overnight. I checked-in and paid 150 pesos, then, I went out of the school and
look for some food outside. I took my lunch which I had for 60 pesos only.
Then, I walked around the vicinity. I noticed that the city was very quiet
which is quite strange for any city that I have been. No tall buildings, no big
commercial establishments. Very peaceful. Perhaps, it was because of the
holiday, Bonifacio Day, but my observation has not change in the succeeding
days either. By the end of the street along the university’s campus, I
continued to walk on the street and found the historic plaza of Dapitan. I saw
the old Municipal Hall which seems to be struggling in its structural integrity
given its perceivably rickety second floor and veranda. Today, the building is
being used as police station. In front of the building are three old cannons in
different sizes. These were used during the Spanish period.
I
crossed the street and passed thru the entrance of the old plaza complex. I
read first the historical marker and it says that it was Rizal who designed it.
It used to have a kiosk at the center but now what stands there is the statue
of Rizal built during the American period. It looked like the one in Luneta,
but here Rizal was holding his medicine bag and a book. The kiosk which is now
concrete is on the left side of the plaza. During Rizal’s time, I have learned
later that the kiosk was originally made of wood.
In
keeping with the Christmas tradition, the plaza is dotted with landmarks from
different parts of the world aside from the towering Christmas Tree with a big
i-love-dapitan cut-out below. I saw a replica of Taj Mahal, Chinese Imperial
Palace and Germany’s Brundestag Wall as well as the replica of Rizal’s house in
Dapitan.
I
came near the Rizal monument and read the inscription. From there, I saw the
church and the parochial school beside it. I wanted to enter the church but all
the doors were closed. I learned that the patron saint of the city is Saint
James the Greater. Just across the church is a portion of the plaza which has
some mounds of land covered by carabao grass forming the map of Mindanao. This
was originally designed by Rizal with Fr. Sanchez and some of the students of
the Parochial School. I realized how great Rizal is with all these indelible
marks he left this city with as well as in the country.
I
took a tricyle to Gloria Mall which is only five minutes or less from the
plaza. There are not so many people along the way. There was even lesser inside
the mall. It was the smallest mall I have ever visited. I asked myself where
all the people have gone. This place should be the busiest area in any city. Only
a few are eating on their restaurants and food stalls around the mall. I bought
a cone ice cream and ate it while surveying the complex. There was a small
park, a cockpit arena and a carnival called Fantasyland. Not so many people are
there either. I assume it must be because of the martial law which is in effect
in the entire Mindanao due to Marawi siege. I was already hungry but not yet
interested to eat my dinner. I entered a coffeshop and drink a medium-sized
cappuccino and a piece of cheap bread. After this late merienda, I took a
tricycle again and went back to the Dapitan Plaza as I really wanted to see the
park all lit-up with the Christmas-around-the-world theme and the giant
Christmas Tree. I strolled around the park, got nearer the replicas and had
some photos of it. When it started to rain, I went inside the kiosks and waited
until the rain stopped. Then, I started walking back to the university but
before going inside, I first took my dinner in a carenderia just across the
main gate. Then, I walked back to the guesthouse and laid down myself in bed
and started watching the mid-90’s movie titled Rizal in Dapitan. I find it so
difficult to sleep until past midnight perhaps because I am a stranger to this
place.
I
woke up at five in the morning, took a bath and readied myself to Dapitan
Resort Hotel where the seminar-workshop will be conducted. I checked out at
seven and before 7:30 I was already at the venue. The hotel looked old perhaps
because of an average maintenance of it. On the right side is the pavilion
which can only accommodate a little over a hundred persons.
On
the registration table, I finally met NHCP’s Mona Quizon. She was the one whom
I have constantly communicated with when I was inquiring about the founding
date of my hometown, Lavezares. I told her how happy I am to meet her and
thanked her too, for her prompt reply to my inquiry which required her to make
an immediate research. Of course, NHCP’s reply to my inquiry then was signed by
its then Chairperson, Professor Maria Serena Diokno, who to my surprise is our
speaker for the two-day seminar-workshop. In morning of the first day, Prof.
Diokno discussed all about doing local historical research. She really is an
expert.
After
lunch time, we had a walkabout around the city starting off at the Punto del
Disembarko de Rizal or the landing site of Rizal. This historical shrine was
only developed in 2009 presenting the night when Rizal first arrived in
Dapitan. The images of Rizal and his Spanish escorts were all made from bronze.
From there, we walked to the plaza which I already had a tour in advance the
day before. Then, we went inside the St. James Church, then to the Casa Real
where Rizal first stayed with Commandante Militar Ricardo Carnecero. Casa Real
now houses the Public Attorney’s Office and the Philippine Coconut Authority.
We also took a look at the old convent which is now being used as a high
school. We also passed by the old Rizal Hospital now being used by the
Department of Agrarian Reform. All these structures are located around the
plaza.
On
the adjoining streets near the plaza are the old ancestral houses of prominent
families of Dapitan. This town center is truly a model of old town planning
design which is also called as the plaza complex, a legacy of Spanish colonial
period.
On
the morning of the second day, Prof. Diokno discussed how to conduct oral
history. Beforehand, I thought oral history is very easy to do, now I know it
is a very complicated process.
On
the afternoon, we visited the Rizal Shrine on a guided tour. Finally, I have
seen and felt for real Rizal’s historic sojourn in this 16-hectare property.
There I saw Rizal’s hospital made up of wood and nipa. Inside, we found the
operating table, his small office and some wooden chests. Then, we went to his
main house also made of wood and nipa. Beside his house is his kitchen made
also of wood and nipa. The kitchen has an open window so that the smoke will
just freely go. It was intentionally detached from the main house so that if
ever there would be fire, the main house will be spared. Inside the kitchen, we
found some old earthen cooking equipment and native utensils.
In
the main house, there is only one room for Rizal. There was a sala, a study
nook, and a dining space. All were made of hard wood. In his study nook, there
was this table attached a drawer where Rizal kept his papers. One would notice
that the chair was higher than normal. This was custom-made for Rizal so he can
reach the table as he is short of height. He was only 4’11. I sat on his chair
and by the other side on the dining chair. I can only imagine how this place
used to be like on an ordinary day during Rizal’s stay. On the sala, a
life-sized image of Josephine Bracken is seated. All of us had a photo with
her. In front of his house is the giant tree which Rizal planted more than a
century ago.
A
few steps away from his house near the mountainside is the irrigation system
that Rizal had built. It was really an illustration of his engineering prowess.
Up to this day, the irrigation structure is very much preserved. Near the sea
shore, we found Rizal’s schoolhouse where he taught 16 or 24 boys about
different subjects. The schoolhouse is also made of wood and nipa. There was a
small table and a small blackboard in it which are only replica of the original.
The schoolhouse floor was really high I assume they also conduct classes under
it.
Finally,
we reach the heart-shaped Mi Retiro rock where Rizal and Josephine spent
romantic moments and exchanged vows. This is also where he wrote the famous
poem, also the longest titled Mi Retiro. He wrote it as requested by her
mother. On the far end of Rizal’s property is the mini-amphitheater where
Rizal’s students performed.
We
walked back and got inside the Museo ni Rizal. The two-storey building was only
inaugurated last year. The design was both modern and classical. There was
natural lighting as glass panels partly surround the structure. The museum
showcases Rizal’s artifacts and memorabilias, some are original and some are
replicas. As one enters the building, the first thing that will be noticed is
the three sets of Rizal’s clothing situated right at the center. These are
encased on a glass. These include Rizal’s black coat, a chaleco paired with a
trouser and what appears to be his pajama set. Beside it is the original
blackboard and the table that he used for his students. There was also a mini
photo gallery of the members of his family. Hanged on the walls are the
pictures of the important people whom he had close contact with while he was
Dapitan, farm tools, animal specimens which he discovered and later on
scientifically named after him, letters which he sent to his sisters and his
friends like Blumentritt, Fr. Pastells and so many others in the various fields.
There is also the model laid down on a small table showing the map of Mindanao
which he designed in front of the church. We also found the surgery tools which
Rizal used as a doctor as well as replicas of his sculptures of different
figures. The original of these sculptures are housed at the National Museum
according to the curator. There are really more to these that I can remember.
When
the tour ended, we went back to the venue on a tricycle. It was the last
activity, actually, for the seminar. I no longer waited for the closing
ceremony as I really have to catch the 4pm ship bound for Cebu via Dumaguete.
At exactly 3:45 in the afternoon, I was already on board M/V Zamboanga. The
ship was brand new and it felt so comfortable especially that I was staying at
the tourist class. At eight in the evening, the ship had a stop-over in
Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental. I step down from it, took a tricycle
to Chowking and took siomai mami for my
dinner. Dumaguete City is a busy city. There were lots of people and cars. If I
only have more time I would go around the city. I had this feeling this city is
one of the progressive cities in the country as this home to sugar barons and
hacienderos. Right in front of the port area is the famous Silliman University.
At 11 in the evening, we departed Dumaguete Port. By 5 in the morning of the
following day, December 3, we were already at Cebu pier. At 7:45 am, I was
already on my way to Ormoc via fast cat. At 11:30am, I was on my way to
Tacloban. I arrive there at 1:30pm. I got some refreshment at Savemore then
boarded on a Grandtours van at 3:00pm and arrived in Calbayog at seven in the
evening. Since Grandtours has no more trip for Allen, I waited for Turbanada
until 8:30pm. I boarded it as a chance passenger. By 10:45 in the evening, I
was finally home.
I took my dinner. Then, fell asleep with Rizal in my mind.
