Recharged and inspired at Dakak

RELAXING AT the Dakak Beach Resort did not only give me a breather from work and from the tantrums of my children. The marvelous beauty of the powdery white sand beach, lush vegetation, clear seawater and fresh salty air recharged my spirit in a way that only Dapitan can offer.

When I received invitation from Zamboanga City-based journalist Cheng Ordoñez for the 1st media summit on ecotourism at Dakak, Dapitan City, I did not hesitate to give my consent. Frankly, it’s not about the subject on ecotourism, as I have read and heard so much about it already. It is because of Dakak.

I was the first one to arrive at Dakak on the first day of the summit. While I was waiting at the lobby, a German national was happily giving P50 bill tip to all the resort staff in the resort lobby and restaurant. They were all smiles thanking him and bidding him safe trip back home in Germany. Amused by what I saw, I nodded at his Filipina wife. She smiled and said, “He always does that every time we come here for our yearly vacation.” I thought he must have been very happy every time he visits Dakak so that his generosity overflows.

Capturing the moments
An hour later, my colleagues in the media arrived in a big pump boat. The tourism staff of Dapitan City gave them a grand welcome. Dancers in native costumes frolicked on the powdery white sand accompanied by a festive drumbeat. The festive atmosphere overwhelmed the place so that my colleagues tried to capture the moment in every click of their digital cameras.

For the next two days of the summit, we had thousands of shots of interesting places, people and events of Dapitan in order to capture the beauty and energy that we experienced in the city. It is not really a summit, as we usually understand the word. It is more of a guided tour in red carpet treatment for the 30 journalists meant to show to the world thru the media that visiting Dapitan, especially Dakak, is worth one’s time and money.

Rich heritage
Aside from allowing us to experience the posh Dakak Beach Resort, the summit organizers showed us the rich cultural heritage of Dapitan that centers on the exile of Jose Rizal, the national hero, in the city. We saw the memorabilia of Rizal at the Rizal Shrine, underscored by the weird beliefs of a Rizal cult maintaining the shrine. The cult members believe that Rizal is an incarnate of Jesus Christ and will someday reincarnate in another human form to bring salvation. Regardless of their beliefs, Rizal in his life works left a legacy that brings hope to those who long for a better world.

This hope that I saw at the Rizal Shrine made my swimming at the famous beach of Dakak not only refreshing but also meaningful. As I was recharged, I could see where I should spend my renewed energy. As I recalled the reason that drove Rizal to maximize his energy, I could see the social problems of today as nothing less that should drive anybody to maximize his energy for a better world. I have to do my best to make the public well-informed, thanks to my reflections while swimming at the famous beach.

Lots of fun
Swimming is not what only Dakak can offer to her visitors. Visitors can also go scuba diving, kayaking, banana-boating, water skiing and fishing. As alternative, they can also swim at the swimming pool with tumbling waterfalls. They can get relaxing massage on the beach, on the pool or in the room. They can go on horseback riding or mountain bike riding. They can also play bowling, billiard, tennis or golf.

In December, a casino will open at Dakak. Construction is now ongoing on what used to be the front desk building. The casino will surely make the leisure time of Dakak visitors more exciting. It is an added color that will attract more moneyed visitors.

Spiritual renewal
I don’t have enough time and money then to enjoy everything what Dakak can offer. But, my being there served the purpose. I only went there to get recharged. Like a cell phone that needs to be recharged, I also need the energy coming from the transcendent source provided through the marvelous beauty of nature -powdery white sand beach, lush vegetation, clear seawater, and fresh salty air. While swimming, I got recharged by nature’s best, as well as inspired by my thoughts on the optimism imprinted at the Rizal Shrine. It is a spiritual renewal that one can only experience at Dakak of Dapitan.

Now, I have a mouthful to share to others about what I experienced at Dakak. During the summit, the summit organizers kept on telling us to help in promoting Dakak so that it can bring back its glory days in the early 90’s in which hundreds of foreigners flock Dakak in a day. As for me, promoting the posh beach resort is only incidental, as I am just sharing an account of one my most memorable spiritual moments.