CEBU CITY — Amid its aggressive promotional and marketing campaign, Dapitan City is gearing up for one of the most anticipated events in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

BEACH goers frolic at Dakak Beach Resort during the fifth edition of Estivale Dakak in Dapitan City. (File photo)
The city tourism office announced that Estivale Dakak, dubbed as the premier music festival in the South, will unfold on May 4 at the enchanting Dakak Beach Resort.
“If there is LaBoracay, Dapitan has Estivale,” said city tourism officer Apple Marie Agolong.
Agolong said the seventh edition of Estivale promises to be a fun-filled event with the first day treating participants to a variety of sports events.
Merchandise booths will also be available during the first day of the event.
A non-stop beach party follows the next day with the country’s popular music bands providing entertainment, said Agolong.
Dapitan has been on a massive promotional and marketing campaign with its tourism officials collaborating with various local government units to promote its key tour packages: The Visitamos Rizal and Unlimited Fun in Dapitan.
Cebu was one of the places that Agolong and his fellow tourism officials recently visited.
Dapitan has been recognized by the Department of Tourism as the most-visited place in Zamboanga Peninsula.
“The goal is to keep that status,” said Agolong.
The massive promotional and marketing campaign is part of Dapitan’s bid to encourage more Filipinos to pay homage to the place of exile of the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Dapitan is also shaping to be a top venue for major sporting events. Led by Mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos, himself a sports enthusiast, Dapitan gathered the world’s top triathletes when it hosted the 5150 Ironman last year.
“Dapitan is known to be a place with a laid back lifestyle and yet it is not running out of major, festive and fun-filled events," Agolong said.