The Political View

Dipolog earliest recorded history started in 1834 when a Civil Government was organized by the Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis under whose jurisdiction Dipolog belonged. A town executive called “Capitan” was appointed together with a "Teniente" and an "Aguacil" to maintain law and order. Don Domingo Ruiz was appointed as town executive at that time. As more and more settlers came to stay composed mostly Boholanos, Cebuanos and pioneers from Negros, a succession of capitanes governed the town.

In 1903, while visiting Dapitan, Judge William H. Taft, President of the Second Philippine Commission, decreed that Dapitan district which included Dipolog and the neighboring township must be separated from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Province and annexed to the Provincia Mora which later become Zamboanga Province. The Town Executive then called Presidente Local was Gaudencio Dalmacio Y Zorilla.

The following years came the “reversion”. On March 4, 1904 while Isidro Patangan was the Presidente Local, the Provincial Secretary of the Provincia Mora, an American, delivered a written order that effective immediately, Dipolog was converted into Barangay of Dapitan to be represented only by two councilors with two policemen to maintain peace and order. People filed protests and petitions against the order to no avail.

However, in 1913 the return to townhood was finally heard. General John J. Pershing, Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, granted the petition to elevate Dipolog into a town again on condition that the town hall be constructed within 6 months. Prominent men lead by Isabelo Echavez and Eleuterio Barinaga assumed the responsibility of soliciting construction materials and money for the building . On July 1, 1913, amid solemn inspiring ceremonies, Gen. Pershing announced the township of Dipolog from the balcony of the Town Hall. On the same occasion, the General appointed Pascual T. Martinez as the first Municipal President.

On June 6, 1952, a bill was passed by then Congressman Roseller T. Lim which was approved as Republic Act 711 created Zamboanga del Norte with Dipolog as the capital and Zamboanga del Sur with Pagadian as the capital town.

When Eng’r. Felicisimo L. Herrera was elected Municipal Mayor of Dipolog in 1963 he carried the aspiration of the people to make Dipolog a city. So, on June 21, 1969, through Congressman Alberto Q. Ubay, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed into law Republic Act 5520 making Dipolog a chartered city effective January 1, 1970. The signing in June 1969, coincided with the launching of Apollo 11 which carried the first men on the moon. This is the reason why there is a rocketship at the center of Dipolog’s Logo. The First City Mayor then was Eng’r. Felicisimo L. Herrera.

Today, Dipolog has developed into a vibrant city, not only the seat of government of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte. The administration of the present City Mayor Roberto Y. Uy is steering the destiny of the city towards a vision to become a trading hub of Northwestern Mindanao.

Why DIPOLOG?

History says, that in the early years of Dipolog’s existence, a Spanish Recollect Missionary arrived in Tulwanan a settlement beside the river believing that townsite was still there. Upon meeting a native he asked: “Donde esta el Capitan?” the native understanding only the word “capitan” (meaning the townhead), pointed to the west and answered in subanen dialect “Di.....pag” which means across the river. The Missionary together with his muchacho, a tagalog named Antonio Subido, proceeded across the river and upon reaching the townsite he named the place “Dipag”. Through the years this was corrupted by mispronunciation intermingling of Visayan and Subano words into what it is today.......DIPOLOG.

The ORCHID CITY

Dipolog got its name as “The Orchid City” based on a contest conducted sometime in the early 80^s and was won by Mrs. Victoria A. Jimenez from the Department of Education Culture & Sports(DECS). This is not the reason that Dipolognons has grown a lot of orchids in their homes but for the symbol it stands. By tradition in special occasion, like graduation, a bouquet or corsage of orchids usually offered or pinned on the breast of the person honored. The orchid referred to here is the native “pangadlaw” which is white in color, symbolizing purity in heart in acknowledging success and achievement. The orchid then is a symbol of success and achievement that Dipolog is associated to. Be it in sports, academic, culture presentation and other competition, Dipolog has garnered several honors in the region and sometime in the national level. So for every success we have, we say “An Orchid For You”.