Dipolog City is located on the north coast of the Mindanao island.

08°35' North
123°20' East

The population is roughly 110,000 (of which about 1% are foreigners) and the city itself covers an area of about 12 kmē.

Dipolog began as a tribal settlement of the Subanons - Malay migrants.  In 1834 a civil government was established by the Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis.
In Subano, "Di...pag" means "across the river", and Dipag became the town's name.  The Dipag name got changed to Dipolog, as a result of the mixing with the Visayan language.
It became the capital of Zamboanga del Norte (and became a city) on 1st January 1970.  The city is also widely known as the "Orchid City", reflecting the relaxed and friendly good spirit.

The main language is Cebuano/Visayan, although a lot of people also speak English and/or Tagalog.  The original Subanon dialect is still spoken in the highlands.  The population in Dipolog is very religious, and Catholics make up 95% of the population.
The main cathedral is the "Holy Rosary Cathedral" which was built by the Spanish Friars about a century ago.

A well known festival is the Sinulog sa Dipolog - held on the 4th Saturday in January.
In December, Dipolog becomes the city of Christmas lights - and the standard of lights in some houses is surprisingly good.

Dipolog City is located on the north coast of the Mindanao island.

Good things to do in Dipolog :

- Relax and enjoy the city
- Use the local tricycles to get around with ease
- Smile and be friendly with the locals
- Visit the local market
- Have a walk to the breakwater and swim in the sea
- Take a trip on a pumpboat (and why not go to the Aliguay Island - which should cost just a few hundred pesos - about 5 Euros each way)
- See inside the Holy Rosary Cathedral