MINDANAO’S HISTORIC DAPITAN,
JOSE RIZAL’S HOME FOR 4 YEARS
In this week’s episode of the Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao, we feature the quiet and idyllic coastal city of Dapitan, the only place in Mindanao which is part of the epic on the life of the Philippines’ national hero.
The Great Malay, Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, spent four years of his life in a small coastal town in Zamboanga del Norte, Dapitan, from 1892 to 1896, shortly before he was executed by the Spanish Guardia Civil in Bagumbayan, Manila on Dec. 30, 1896.
It was in Dapitan where Dr. Rizal, at 35, met the 17-year-old Irish lady, Josephine Bracken, who carried his child who died at birth and was buried somewhere in the 16-hectare health and agriculture enclave that he developed fronting Dapitan Bay.
In Dapitan, Dr. Rizal was involved in agriculture and organized what could perhaps be the first farmers cooperative to protect coconut farmers of the area from the monopoly of Chinese traders.
He was also involved in the trading of Abaca and other products like coffee and Cacao.
Most of all, Dr. Rizal established an informal school where he taught young boys the same subjects being taught in our schools now, including agriculture.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao media team visited Dapitan City to see how the place looks like 123 year after Dr. Rizal left on board the Spanish vessel Colon in October of 1896.
The feature on Dr. Jose Rizal's Shrine is part of MinDA's advocacy to present the Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao.
#BeautyBountyOfMindanao!
#IsladeDestierro!
#TheOtherFaceOfMindanao!
17 июн 2020
