Dalaguete: The Summer Capital and Vegetable Basket of Cebu   

Dalaguete is a first class municipality 84 kilometers southeast from Kilometer Zero of the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Hailed as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu and its Official Summer Capital (via Cebu Provincial Board Resolution 215-2006 dated January 23, 2006), the town is well-known for its cooler than the usual highlands where about 60 tons of farm fresh vegetables are harvested and delivered on a daily basis to Cebu City and the neighboring towns and provinces.

The town’s array of crowd drawer destinations includes, among others, the refreshingly cool Obong Spring (where the dalakit tree, reputedly the very tree where Dalaguete got its name still stands), the Mantalongon mountain ranges (home to the unique rock formations and the route of choice leading to the famous Osmeña Peak), and the Dalaguete Beach Park (part of the former Argao Beach Club).

Indeed, the town is host to some of Cebu’s remaining natural heritage sites – breath-taking mountain ranges with its chilling natural breeze that almost soothes to the bone, enchanting forest patches that are home to some of the world’s most endangered flora and fauna, and coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life.

The town of Dalaguete is known as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu as well as its summer capital. For the past years, it has been living up to its name by providing vegetables for its people and also the nearby towns. Just like any other community that is engaged in farming, its farming folk aim for a better harvest and higher production.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION:

Dalaguete is a first class municipality located approximately 84 kilometers south of Cebu City. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Argao, on the south by the Municipality of Alcoy, on the west by the municipalities of Badian and Alegria and on the east by Bohol Strait.

HISTORY:

The dalaket  tree is the foundation of the origin and name of Dalaguete. In ancient times, before the coming of the Spaniards, these trees have been used by people as major landmarks.The place where the church or the poblacion were laid have been the site of a communal gathering area for the natives. It was also the abode of a huge dalakit tree which provide shade and shelter while people conduct their activeities. “Adto ta mag-abot sa dalakit.” “Adto ta magtigom-tigom sa dalakit” [Let us meet at the dalakit]. These and other popular phrases have the common practice of our ancestors when coming up with an agreement to meet or conduct an activity specifically at the site where the dalakit is situated. For several generations in pre-hispanic Dalaguete, the area have always been unofficially called as dalakit. Its accessibility and its reputation as a communal area for community gathering have prompted the leaders Spanish authorities to construct the church and eventually establish the area as part of an encomienda. From this common ground, and from this tree, begun the conception of a larger town which later come to be known as Dalaguete.

Language experts know that in Spanish, the letter “G” is often pronounce “K” so that the word dalakit is in fact spelled out by them as dalaguet. There is no “K” in the Spanish language. The nearest other spelling would have been “Dalaquet”, with a “q” instead of a “g” which, when written by hand in those early days, would also have been interchanged. Whatever the case, thus was born christened the town of Dalaguete.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS AND LANDMARKS 

Want to go nature trekking or wanna cool down after basking around under the heat of the sun? Or perhaps you want to discover caves under some rock formation? Dalaguete has it all when it comes to mountain climbing, camping or nature trekking or skinny deeping. Campers and mountain climbers from all over the province come to this place for nature trekking and mountain climbing due to the cold climate of Osmena Peak and the icy cold spring of Obong.

The Obong Spring is a fresh water spring which emanates near the beach. Because of steady outpour of water, a pool of freshwater meets the sea especially when the tide is high and the water become brackish.The spring is in the humble municipality of Dalaguete, where Dalakit trees are found. Host to a 400-year-old dalakit tree  to which, according to legend, Dalaguete's name is derived from.  Local and foreign tourists from all walks of life make their way to Barangay Obong, most specially on weekends, to unwind and bathe in the icy cool waters of the spring. 

Osmena Peak is known to be the highest peak in the province and Island of Cebu. Base on actual GPS altitude, it stand approximately 1000 meters above sea level. Osmena peak is located in the vicinity area of Mantalungon, (a town that is around 700 to 800 meters and probably one of the highest towns in Cebu. Mantalungon has been known as the vegetable kingdom of Cebu. Its really unusual finding this town where you feel it was like an area in the Cordilleras were they have their trading post for vegetable dealers and townfolks and children are wearing jackets at high noon.

Rock Formation is located a few kilometers outside the borders of Barangay Mantalongon. It is located already in the premises of Sitio Lugsangan, Barangay Tabon. It is also a favorite destination of mountaineers, not only from the town itself but also by people from other municipalities, for its fresh cool air and mountain view top.

“Dakong Bato” translates to Big Rock in the English language. Once you will see the landmark just before you enter the resort’s gate, you will instantly understand why such the name… for it literally is what it means. 

Located at the southern part of Cebu specifically at the municipality of Dalaguete in Barangay Coro, guests of Dakong Bato Beach and Leisure Resort are assured of no problem finding it as this has been used as a marker to signify entry into the said municipality. 

Rockwalled Resort is located just outside of Dalaguete along the highway. Built on a cliff the resort has 8 rooms and a number of cottages for day use. There is a natural (seawater) swimming pool, a cave to explore, KTV and function rooms. This resort is famous for its cave and its refreshing freshwater. 

Rockwalled is built on a cliff with a few rooms and cottages.

Dalaguete Beach Park

Brgy. Casay - A truly developed public beach, Dalaguete Public Beach has been the favorite among the locals due to its excellent sandy palm-fringed shoreline and clean waters. With no entrance fee, locals and other out-of-towners frequent the place especially during weekends. The beach is usually overcrowded during Sundays.

Kyleville Resort is a great facility located in a secluded place in Dalaguete Municipality of Cebu, Philippines. Kyleville offers interesting facilities and services. Some of them can be easily accessed in the cities but your experience in this special place could be different .

DELICACIES:

 TORTA  

 BANANA MEAT

BIBINGKA (with latik)

TOSTADO

UTANON FESTIVAL 

The Municipality of Dalaguete celebrates its annual town fiesta in honor of its patron saint, San Guillermo every 9th and 10 February. One of the highlights of the celebration is the street dancing and showdown competition called "Utanon Festival".

Utanon Festival is also a form of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces the Dalaguetenons have received from San Guillermo and for giving them a place so rich in agriculture and music.

Utanon Festival is a celebration of good harvest through dance and music. Dalaguete is not only the Vegetable Basket of the Province of Cebu but also the Music Capital of the island as well.