DAPITAN -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office has acknowledged the recently concluded "Hudyaka ZaNorte" festival as "the best in the Zamboanga Peninsula."

The declaration came after an overwhelming success of the recently concluded festival, which is also in celebration of the 57th founding anniversary of Zamboanga del Norte.

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DOT Regional Director James Elridge Adraincem said: "It's the big pride of the ZamPen region," even as he expressed optimism that Hudyaka Festival is the best vehicle for promoting tourism industry in this part of the country.

He said the DOT regional office is now working out to include "Hudyaka" in the infomercials of DOT.

Although some areas in the region are faced with peace and order problems, the tourism director believed that "Hudyaka' could still invite tourists and visitors to Zamboanga del Norte.

This year, the Hudyaka festival was held for the first time in Dapitan City starting from May 29 to June 7, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor on the opening day.

FantasyLand Thrill

President Arroyo, after opening the 2009 ZaNorte Hudyaka Festival last May 29, led in the inauguration of the P200 million Gloria's FantasyLand owned by former Zamboanga del Norte Representative Romeo Jalosjos.

FantasyLand is located inside the Gloria de Dapitan commercial complex. It is the biggest theme park outside Metro Manila with 35 rides comparable to that of the Disneyland.

"With the FantasyLand around, Dapitan City is no longer just a fitting place for reminiscing the life that the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, had spent while in exile here. It has also transformed into a perfect place for having fun at the Gloria de Dapitan's FantasyLand -- the country's newest place for fantasies and for the kid-fun within every person, as it welcomes visitors and their imaginations with fun-filled entertainments," Lana Jalosjos, president of the family-owned entertainment company, said.

"FantasyLand is the place where visitors -- indigents and non-indigents -- are able to "fly, fight, laugh out and shout" within distance of beautiful fairy queens and their escorts who welcome visitors as they step inside the main entrance to the world of FantasyLand. Of course, there are also the entertaining mascots not very far from every ride -- singing and dancing to the tunes of children rhymes," said Consuelo Locop, manager of Gloria de Dapitan.

Indigent children

The Visayan and Mindanao regions are now famous in tales that come out from the stories of some 2,000 indigent kids who benefited from the "Bless the Indigent Children" project jointly sponsored by the FantasyLand management and the Rotary Clubs all over these areas.

The project brought the indigent children assisted by their guardians to Dapitan last May 24, 29, and 30, and gave them free rides, food and accommodation, plus a tour to Dakak where they camped out for a day.

The Jalosjos family, who owned the FantasyLand, Dakak Park and Beach Resort and the Gloria de Dapitan, wanted to share their blessings to the indigent children and made them FantasyLand's first riders of all its 19 rides.

On these dates, the atmosphere of FantasyLand created a fantasy world that most kids, and probably some adults, imagine. The architectural style of the structures inside FantasyLand depicts the images that are truly entertaining for both young and adult, and it continues to improve today.

"To explore the Fantasyland's exciting rides, get the FantasyLand tickets at hand, and enjoy the mesmerizing attractions of the biggest theme park outside of Metro Manila thats is now in Dapitan City," Dindo Ilagan, FantasyLand Executive Director, said.

Gloria's FantasyLand is composed of 19 rides, including four interactive rides that can be found nowhere in the Philippines but here, and are comparable to the Disneyland theme parks. These are: Old Western Train, Midi Flume Ride, Mini Coaster Ride, Flying Balls Wheel Ride, Tea Cups Ride/Choco Cups, Wonder Flight, Telecombat Ride, Carousel Ride, Horse Carousel Ride, Bumper Car Ride, Giant Roller Coaster, Apollo Ride, Swinger Ride, Pirate Ship, Happy Journey Ride, Fight Shark Ride, Horror Walk, and Go Kart Race Circuit.

Merry-making and showcases

This year's Hudyaka ZaNorte festival featured a blend of various dance festivals of the 25 towns and two cities of the province where festival champs of each town and city converge in a single celebration.

The grand prizes of the dance showdown went to Sibutad (1st place), Polanco (2nd) and Dipolog (3rd).

This year's crown for the Search for Miss Hudyaka 2009 went to the candidate representing Sibuco town. Ms. Katipunan and Ms. Roxas were 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively.

People from over ZaNorte joined in the merrymaking, while local government units (LGUs) showcase their agricultural products and eco-tourism destinations in native booths.

Dubbed as the "Twin-City Province," Zamboanga del Norte is known for the beauty and charm of the Orchid City of Dipolog and the historical, rustic quaintness of the Shrine City of Dapitan.

The Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, lived in exile in this once sleepy city from 1892 to 1896. While here, he practiced medicine, conducted scientific studies, and pursued his artistic and literary endeavors.

The province is also famous for its Dakak Beach with its beautifully shaped cove and powdery white sand, famous for its diving sites and magnificent sunset horizon.

Other tourist destinations worth rediscovering include the Aliguay and Piñahon white sand islands, Gloria de Dapitan, Situbo and Sungkilaw falls, Libuton Cave, Maraz Golf Course, Maniway Peak and a lot more.