"The Vegetable Basket of Cebu"

Have you ever heard Dalaguete in Cebu? Ahm.. Let me tour you to my paradise.,my Hometown :)

Utanon Festival

The Municipality of Dalaguete, Cebu celebrates its annual town fiesta in honor of its patron saint, San Guillermo every 9th and 10th of February. One of the highlights of the celebration is the street dancing and showdown competition called "Utanon Festival".

Utanon Festival is also a form of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces the Dalaguetnons have received from San Guillermo and for giving them a place so rich in agriculture and music.

Utanon Festival is a celebration of good harvest through dance and music. Through music because Dalaguete is not only the Vegetable Basket of the Province of Cebu but also the Music Capital of the island as well.

Why is it called Dalaguete?

THE DALAKIT TREE -  ORIGIN OF THE NAME DALAGUETE

“The natives look upon the tree not for its gigantic size, nor for its fruit which is of no use, but rather for the religious observance of the natives” (Alcina 1668: 473-485). They highly consider this tree for their belief that it harbors spirits or diwatas who could impose sickness if maltreated or hand in fortunes and gifts if placated. When fully grown, the intertwining roots are exposed from the earth and from huge caverns that could house several people.

The dalaket (Ficus benjamina linn) tree is the foundation of the origin and name of Dalaguete. In ancient times, before the coming of the Spaniards, these trees have been used by people as major landmarks. People gathered under its encompassing shades and conduct social and economic activities such us festivities, contest, trading meetings and other community gatherings. They establish market places under the shades of the dalaket where they sell their products and conduct trade with local roving traders bringing in Chinese and Asiatic goods from the port of Cebu.

Heritage

 San Guillermo de Aquitaña Church

• The parish of Dalaguete was established in 1711 under the advocacy of San Guillermo de Aquitania.
• The current structure, made from coral blocks, was started in 1802.
• Like Argao, the interior is richly decorated with ceiling paintings and a baroque-rococo style retablo that was added in 1802-1825.
• Two interesting details is the presence of a pair of facing tribunas, balconies located at the apse which is quite rare in Cebu’s churhces.
• It belfry also contains a clock, although not working anymore, another rarity in the province.
• A century old watchtower fronting it gives testament to its turbulent past when Moro slave raiders frequented the town.
• At the side of the church is a small, probably, a mortuary chapel with bas reliefs.
• The coral stone arch at the cemetery is also memorable for it’s bas relief and inscriptions.
• This church and Argao Church is similar in design from the form of the facade to the placement of the belltower as well as the attached convent that it is easy to confuse the two. Compared with the latter, the relieves are much simpler and fewer and the convent longer.

Municipality of Dalaguete

The Municipio

• Local residents believe that the Municipal Hall, the seat of government of the town, must have been built around 1832 following the completion of the parish convent on that same year, and is the very same government house that Spanish chroniclers Buzeta and Bravo mentioned about in their 1851 report.
• The original structure was L-shaped with a symmetrical façade and clay tiles roofing while the walls are made of coral stones. By the passing of time, the roof is replaced with galvanized iron sheets and a canopy is added at the main entrance area. Recently, and upon the completion of the new annex building to house the Legislative and the Executive offices way back in 2002, the second floor area is converted into the present Museo sa Dalaguete.
• The municipio was host to two hostilities – first when it was stormed and occupied by local rebels at the height of the 1898 uprising, and second, when it was made the center of the civil government of the Japanese occupation forces during the Second World War.

Here are some of the greatest attraction you can find and visit,in  Dalaguete.

First, From my Hometown Casay,Dalaguete,Cebu.

Dalaguete Beach Park

This particular tourist spot was built during Pres. Marcos. It was first namely as ARGAO BEACH CLUB. Then time goes on, it was discovered that this property was under the municipality of dalaguete. That time it was Permanently changed into Dalaguete Beach Park. It was happy to say that the entrance payment ,somehow can be afford by a normal citizen so Come on!

Here comes the Center of the people attraction. Its entrance is P20.00 only,serves as cheap but--- to tell you this place is very famous in tourists.

Obong Spring
Obong,Dalaguete,Cebu

One part of you wants to go to the beach. The other wants to go taste fresh water. Well, if you want to taste the best of both worlds, go to Obong Spring. In Obong Spring, you’ll see the two meet. Literally.

Obong Spring is a natural spring water system which flows very near the beach. The steady flow of fresh water (which in time turned into a pool), meets with sea water when the tide is high.

For the wild ones, jumping off this huge rock could be fun!

Children enjoying the cold fresh water.

See that tree? The spring can be found underneath that.

You can set up a picnic table virtually anywhere.

When you actually enters the place, you can actually feel the Shivering. ohhh Feels good right?

I'm inviting you to visit and refresh this coming Summer Vacation!!