DiscoverDagohoy
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Dagohoy.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Dagohoy
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Dagohoy
- Dinalungan slides noiselessly down the eastern shore of Aurora, where the green of the Sierra Madre-slopes succumbs to the off-whites of the Pacific.
- The mosaic of mounds of pine shaded hills, crystal streams, and undeveloped coast that the weary traveller stands basking in invites him to rest and breathe.
- The indigenous Dumagat communities who have been here since time immemorial are still embedding their historical practises into modern life.
- Visitors come up a twisting coastal road with Baler, the trip itself providing a glimpse of falling waterfalls and rich rainforests.
- To the traveller who books his flight using the option of booking with world pinoy flights the route to Dinalungan is close to cinematic and the landscape is like a living postcard unfolding.
- In holidays to Dinalungan, Aurora, there is nothing to be heard to break the silence of the villages, and there is nothing to be heard to break the roar of the sea, which unite in creating the sense of an extreme serenity.
- Capital (of the province): Baler
- International airport: No international airport in Dinalungan
- Nearest commonly used:
- Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark, Pampanga) – domestic and international flights
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) – major international gateway
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Dumagat/Agta (in indigenous communities), Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The shore is a series of rugged cliffs as the sea breaks upon the old cliffs and necessarily presents a stark and dramatic scene that seems to have never been softened by age.
- There are many waterfalls on the mountain sides whose waters have a turquoise hue which captures the sunlight and distracts the weary hikers to splash and refresh their tiredness.
- The Sierra Madre rainforest is covering a majority of the municipality and this gives an eco-adventurer a living laboratory of vegetation and animals.
- The Dumagat families showcase their sophisticated stone tools and basketry along the riverbanks giving visitors a chance to peep into a world that hardly connects to the internet.
- Every morning, local fishermen bring to the city fresh Pacific fish, which is a gastronomic miracle this area and the smell that pervades the streets.
- The rocky seashore provides a haven place to both the walkers and the family, each of them has a champion spot of their own privacy amid the splashing waves.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- January-May seasons are the dry periods and the skies are clear and the roads are reliable, thus it is the safest time of the year to go trekking into the forest depths.
- February and March are usually sunny and with light winds, hence those preferring to be out in nature and not overheated by the high summer.
- Monsoon seasons, July to September, are characterised by heavy rains and more intense winds that may reduce rivers into raging streams and roads into muddy tracks.
- River flow slows down even during drier seasons, yet even in the drier parts of the year, keen travellers can have the fun of swimming or going on a serene kayak trip in still water.
- To enjoy the silence of the scenery, one should not come during the peak monsoon when the traffic of rivers will be less and the roads will be more dangerous.
- In case you are thinking of going on holidays to Dinalungan, Aurora, you would probably find the most pleasant weather and the most secure routes during the dry season.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Ecotourism
- Walk inside the thick trees of Sierra Madre and each leaf and twig has its storey of the ancient ecosystems.
- Trace marked paths through exotic orchids and great pine trees centuries old.
- Engage in tree-planting exercises which can be used to replenish lands lost to small scale logging.
- Find out what the local guides know about sustainable forest management practises that have made the area clean.
- Take the foggy mornings which drift above the river, and bathe the hills in a faint airy light.
- Walk away with a better understanding of the subtle nature of the relationship between human life and nature.
Cultural Encounter
- Pay a visit to the villages of Dumagat and see their traditional weaving and making of ceremony masks.
- Be present at some type of community meet, where the elders give out myths that describe how the stars move and the pattern of rivers.
- Savour fermented fish and dishes made of roots made of the ancestral recipes that have been preserved over the ages.
- See the polite act of exchanging presents which reflects the values of sharing and reciprocity of the community.
- Understand how the Duma latest people overcome contemporary difficulties preserving their identity.
- Come back home with tales of resilience, community and the extreme level of attachment between people and place, from your holidays to Dinalungan.
Adventure Trekking
- Accept the challenge of ascending steep ridges that look out panoramic views of the Pacific horizon.
- Cross secret paths, which twist and turn through moss-grown woods, one view opening on another of green water.
- Try your endurance and walk through narrow ridges where a steady heartbeat is needed and the feet must be moving steadily.
- Reach some lonely clear streams, where you may get your feet cooled in pure, cold water after a long walk up.
- Eat and drink with the other trekkers in the evening as the sun descends on the mountains, and turn the sky red and gold.
- Have the excitement of overcoming the challenges of nature be a reminder to you of the reward that is the result of endurance.
Secluded Beach Hideaway
- Find a secluded cove in which a few scattered rocks alone have disturbed the shore, and the adventurous laggard has his privacy.
- Enjoy the sweet swish of waves, which swish one into the meditative stillness, free of the chatter of the city.
- Just walk on the sun-kiss warm sand that seems like a warm blanket that touches your skin like a natural warm blanket.
- See the crabs of the place running along the edge, to remind you of the wild beauty of which you are surrounded.
- Take a picture when the sun sets and the sun sets behind the horizon, and the water is turned into liquid gold.
- Come back rejuvenated, and having learned that this secret secret is a refuge to those who want to be alone and with the quiet company of the quiet country.
Reason 05
Discover More
Fishing Experience
- Go out with local fishermen, in the first light of dawn, and drop the nets into the blue briny water, where the rhythmic thwack of the oars cuts through the water like a lullaby.
- Study the ancient arts of net weaving and bait choice that have enabled the community to be self-reliant over the years.
- Savour the freshest catch which is cooked on the spot whose flavours are enhanced with a squeeze of the local lime.
- See the way the fishermen honour the bounty of the sea and only what they need goes to waste leaving the rest as a bounty to the future generation.
- Take pictures of the sunrise at the harbour, and the sky shines in pink or gold.
- Experience the relationship between the people and the ocean, the relationship that has existed innumerable generations.
Agricultural Tour
- Visit the terraced rice paddies that are filled with life as they descend down the mountains in gentle slopes.
- Visit farmers who practise rotating crops in such a manner that they can retain soil fertility showing sustainability.
- Taste coconut sap and playfully find out how it is made into a sweet, refreshing beverage that is a favourite among the locals.
- Behold the fine work of insects and plants, a natural ecosystem that provides the abundance of the region.
- Take away a little package of dried root vegetables, a flavour of the history and strength of the land.
- Drive away with gratitude of the amount of work that sustains the community and the complex knowledge that has been developed over generations.
Mountain Hike
- Make a walk that will bring you to the head of the Sierra Madre, where it uncovers to an endless horizon.
- Listen to the wind on your cheeks as you stop to look at the panoramic view of the Pacific colliding with the valley below.
- Hear the chorus of the birds which sing in the canopy, a symphony of the music of nature, which pervades the air.
- You will have to enjoy the fresh, clean smell of pine needles that fill the air around you, reminding you of the breath of the forest.
- Pull up at a little clear strip, and have a packed lunch which is enlivened by the flavour of local bread and fruit.
- Go back with the feeling of achievement and the newfound admiration of the mountains which protect such an untold secret of the world, experienced on your holidays to Dinalungan.
Community Homestay
- Live with a Dumagat family in a small thatch-roofed house that seems to embrace the earth.
- Eat together the dishes of freshly grown wild herbs and boiled river fish, and each mouthful is an explosion of flavour.
- Attend a weaving session during which you get to know how to spin simple threads into cloth in a rhythmic and graceful movement.
- Have intimate discussions on the hopes, dreams of community and how they are able to take care of the land.
- Go for a stroll in the adjacent forest, especially by night, towards sunset, and hear the nocturnal animals and the world and you.
- Depart with a truer of the people whom we live with, with you memories which are supreme to words, a special part of your holidays to Dinalungan.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- The Dumagat people believe in oral tradition, so they preserve the tales of spirits, rivers, and mountains passed by generations to generations.
- This is a patchwork of drums, dances and colourful costumes that are part of their festivals which change with the season.
- The centuries-old farming practises emphasise balance and do not turn the forest into a dead resource.
- Craftsmanship of the community through the perfection of the basketry, stone carvings and woven mats has shown a great respect on natural material.
- Morning and evening rituals welcome blessings of the spirits of the ancestors, strengthening spiritual connexions with nature.
- The open invitations to learn will create cultural exchange and the visitors who are modest and respectful will find open invitations that will help them receive education as well as the host.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- Pacific fish which is caught freshly and usually grilled on wood embers, provide a smoky flavour which can hardly be imagined elsewhere.
- Taro and cassava root foods are boiled into substantial stews that keep the heart warm on colder nights.
- Forest clearings provide wild greens that give a peppery crunch to plain rice bowls.
- Left to ferment, coconut milk makes a sweet milk sauce, mildly, yet ideal with fish and vegetables.
- The traditional breads are baked in clay ovens, and their crusty surface is broken by a soft aromatic interior.
- Sweet desserts are prepared using domestic fruits and sugar cane, which offer a freshly natural sweet taste that goes well with any food.
Fun
- Bathing in crystal clear rivers as the whistling water flows above you is a refreshing break to the heat of the sun.
- Walking through shaded paths, one can find uncovered waterfalls each place of which would be a nice picnic place.
- Strolling on the rocky coastline, with the wind blowing through you hair, makes you feel on top of the world and adventurous.
- Drifting down the small river streams allow you to have a peep into some of the remote coves that are inaccessible.
- Playing with the local children in the games of hide-and-seek and tag makes the day a happy, mutual celebration.
- Sleeping in a tent among the stars, hearing the sound of the night choir, makes a boring night an experience of a lifetime.
Fashion
- Breathable materials such as linen and cotton, which are lightweight and would suit the moist weather conditions, and the fact that they should dry fast.
- Strong-smelling shoes are required; every pair of rubber and high-ankle sandals will serve the feet well on an uneven path and a shaggy coast.
- Wide-brimmed caps and sun hats help the travellers to avoid the Philippine sun, which is very strong and ruthless.
- Modest and plain attires demonstrate respect towards the local traditions, particularly visiting Dumagat villages.
- An ordinary waterproof bag that fits in a small size contains some essentials like water, snacks and a first-aid kit.
- Reusable water bottle will keep the visitors hydrated and reduce plastic pollution in this clean environment.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The Sierra Madre forest boasts of tall pines, tall bamboo groves, and a vivid understory that consists of ferns.
- One can find a wide range of birds ranging between kindly-feathered kingfishers and junglefowl, which is difficult to find, during the early morning walks.
- A variety of amphibians are found on the river valleys and their cry reaches the mist as the sun sets.
- Concealed lagoons- reflections of the sky- are refuge of freshwater fish and water plants.
- The rude shores are in favour of shell-gatherers whose shells shine in the afternoon sunshine.
- The sunset over the ocean is an ominous image of natural fireworks, by which the colours fill the horizon, in dazzling glimpses.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- May 15th, fiesta of the town in honour of San Isidro Labrador with music and dancing and procession of coloured lanterns.
- Native events are organised all throughout the year enabling visitor to observe rituals that praise the sea and the earth.
- There is the Aurora Day on the 19th day of February, when the whole province is united, and there are parades, cultural performances, and common dinners.
- A local marketplace sells the freshest goods monthly, where the locals buy and sell rice, coconuts and hand-woven fabrics.
- River Rhythm festival highlights the local drumming and reflects the sound atmosphere of harmony of the area.
- Heritage Walk is an annual guided tour which educates about historic places, ancient burial sites and sacred groves, a great way to learn during your holidays to Dinalungan.