Ilihan Hill viewed from Dapitan City Plaza with Rizal Monument visibleStrategically located on high ground, the fort has wall fortifications on the slopes of the hill supported with cannons and accessible via a 209 step stairs (access near Lourdes Grotto) leading to the top of the hill.
part of the 209 steps leading to the top of Ilihan Hill Fort de DapitanBefore reaching the top, you can see ruins of the old fortress but not other structures and cannons. Two of the cannons can be seen in front of Dapitan City Hall while hill now is planted with young mahogany trees and old mango trees besides other plants.
the only visible part of the old fortress are ruins of the old walls...no more cannons nor fortifications can be foundOn top of the hill, you can get a sweeping view of Dapitan Bay, the city proper, fish ponds, Rizal Park, several bridges and a river around the place that you'll soon realize that Dapitan City poblacion is actually an island.
Note that when Tutubi inquired about the place at Dapitan City Tourism Office, the tourism staff remarked that it's been a long while somebody inquired about the place. Tutubi just replied that he's an explorer and not an ordinary tourist. :P
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remark:
It would've been better if the local government of Dapitan reconstruct the old Spanish fortress based on the original design of the cotta for tourism, historical and heritage showcase of their place to complement the Rizalian character of their city.
It looked like a very nice place. By the way, how many Rizal Monuments are there in Pinas? There's one in Luneta, di ba?
ReplyDeletekyels, i don't know. rizal monuments outnumber towns and cities in the philippines for all of them have at least one rizal monument. there are also jose rizal in europe, even south america
ReplyDeleteThe place is amazing
ReplyDeletei love the steps and the view of the ponds! the place looks clean. i'd love to live in a place as fresh-looking and breezy as this. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one thing I've notice about Pinas - it is so amazingly green :)
ReplyDeleteVery true - Rizal has monuments and statues dedicated to him wherever he went.
this reminds me of my visit years years back.
ReplyDeletewent last week... dapitan is, to the truest sense of the term "charming little town" (even though its a city) quiet, people are friendly and every inch photogenic, wish they could have done something about their church i guess it went to a very bad plastic surgeon. the ceiling is something though... the dogs are the exceptions. not very friendly.
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