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Dingalan (pronounced as ding-galan) is a municipality on the Pacific coast of Aurora province in the central part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Cut off from the rest of the country by the Sierra Madre mountains, it is one of the least explored areas of the province, but is being dubbed as the "Batanes of the East" due to similarities in their natural setting.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Dingalan sits on a gap in the Sierra Madre mountains formed by the Dingalan River, which then leads to Dingalan Bay, an extension of the Pacific Ocean. It forms the southern half of Aurora and shares boundaries with the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Quezon, but is separated from the rest of Aurora by the Mingan Range, a subsection of the Sierra Madre.
The people of Dingalan are a mix of indigenous Dumagats and migrants from Central Luzon, Quezon Province and the Ilocos. From the logging heydays of the 1970s, they are now primarily engaged in farming, fishing and tourism. They speak a variety of languages including Tagalog, Ilocano and Dumagat. It is home to about 29,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]The only way of entry to Dingalan is through a highway (Route 114) that goes through the narrow pass from the neighboring town of Gabaldon in Nueva Ecija province. From Metro Manila, take the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road at Cabanatuan and then Palayan-Gabaldon-Dingalan Road. Since the 2020s, construction has been ongoing to connect the town with the provincial capital Baler to the north, and to the town of General Nakar in Quezon province to the south.
There are limited once-a-day bus services from Metro Manila, while a more frequent option is to disembark in Cabanatuan and ride another bus or passenger van heading to Dingalan. Travel time from Metro Manila is between 5-6 hours, while it takes 2 hours to drive from Cabanatuan. Travelers from northern Luzon can also take a passenger van at San Jose in northern Nueva Ecija, with a 2-hour travel time.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transport in the downtown. Due to the uneven terrain and poor roads, a 4WD is recommended. Some attractions are only accessible by hired boat from Dingalan Port.
- 1 Dingalan Port, Dingalan-Gabaldon Road, Aplaya.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Suah Rock Formation, Paltic. A cliff at the edge of a promontory overlooking Dingalan Bay. The landscapes evoke those in Batanes.
- 2 White Beach, Paltic. A stretch of white sand that serves as the jump-off point for the trail leading to Suah Rock Formation and surrounding sites. It is primarily accessible by boat from Dingalan Port.
- 3 Matawe Rock Formations, Matawe. A series of jagged limestone outcrops and tidal pools continuously pounded by the open waves of the Pacific Ocean, best viewed during low tide.
- 4 Dingalan Grotto, Paltic. A roadside monument to the Virgin Mary overlooking Dingalan Bay accessible following an ascent of 1,200 steps.
- 5 Umiray Bridge, Umiray. A bridge near the mouth of the 80 kilometres (50 mi) Umiray River which separates Aurora from Quezon province and offers panoramic views of the eponymous valley.
- 6 Laktas Falls, Ibona. A secluded cascade.
- 7 Lamao Caves, Paltic. A natural grotto continuously battered by the waves of the Pacific Ocean.
- 8 Tanawan Falls, Tanawan. A cascade within the Dingalan Adventure Park complex.
- 9 Dingalan Lighthouse, Paltic. A solar-powered lighthouse on a cliff with an elevation of 100–150 metres (330–490 ft) overlooking Dingalan Bay.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dingalan Adventure Park, Purok 2, Tanawan, ☏ +63 956 730 8346, dingalanadventurepark@gmail.com. 8AM–5PM. An extensive ecotourism park and recreational area covering many of the town's natural attractions.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 House of Tapsi, Dingalan-Gabaldon Road, Poblacion, ☏ +63 961 752 7449. 9AM–9PM M-F, 7AM-10PM Sa-Su. Restaurant with all-day servings of jerky (tapa) and fried rice (sinangag), a common breakfast combination.
- 2 Kalaw Restaurant, Tanawan (inside Dingalan Adventure Park). Filipino cuisine.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Tea'mbre Cafe, Dingalan-Gabaldon Road, Tanawan (near the boundary marker with Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija), ☏ +63 977 473 4970. 10AM–8PM M-W and F, 10AM-7PM Th, 9AM-8PM Sa-Su.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gina's Guest House, Butas na Bato, ☏ +63 919 443 5158.
- 2 Pacific Buddies Beachfront Resort, Ibona, ☏ +63 999 222 1980, +63 917 182 2986, pacificbuddies@gmail.com.
- 3 J'6 Palm Beach Resort (428 Mercado Beach Resort), Matawe, ☏ +63 968 181 1677, mercadoresort428@gmail.com.
- 4 Cave Beach Resort, Aplaya, ☏ +63 929 588 8263, bookings@cavebeachresort.com.
- 5 Zen Tierras Farm by Cocotel, Sitio Agusis, Matawe, ☏ +63 908 868 1205, zentierrasfarm@gmail.com.
- 6 Fil Dane Inn, Gomez Street, Purok 1, Poblacion.
- 7 Buboy and Lourdes Cottages, White Beach, Paltic.
- 8 Coastal Cove Resort, Butas na Bato, ☏ +63 917 853 8035.
- 9 Flory's Beach Resort, Butas na Bato, ☏ +63 912 930 7620, syllineestaniol@gmail.com.
- 10 Cariño Beach Resort and Campsite, Matawe, ☏ +63 960 476 7039, carinobeachresort.dingalan@gmail.com.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Crime is minimal in town, as the few residents seem to know each other and there are no escape routes for offenders to escape apart from the road back to Gabaldon.
When a strong typhoon signal is raised, local authorities will order hotels not to take in tourists and order those already in town to evacuate.
Stay healthy
[edit | edit source]Avoid getting into a major medical emergency during your stay at all costs, as facilities and resources at the town's community hospital are limited. The nearest standard hospitals are in Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.
Respect
[edit | edit source]The indigenous Dumagat communities still adhere to their precolonial customs and belief systems and are widely respected even by the non-Dumagat resident population. You are expected to exercise maximum respect for their traditions and when visiting them.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3207.
Cellphone and internet signals can be quite patchy.