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Dupax is a historic town in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. Having been split into northern and southern halves since 1978, it counts natural and Spanish-era monuments among its attractions.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Dupax was founded by the Spanish in the 18th century along the headwaters of the Magat River and the foothills of the Caraballo mountains following the relocation of indigenous peoples of different ethnicities from surrounding villages. Until 1978, it was the largest town in Nueva Vizcaya in terms of land area, covering the entire province's panhandle up to the triboundary with Quirino, Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces.
Dupax was a prosperous town during the Spanish era, but declined afterwards when planners decided that the Philippine highway network should bypass the area in favor of neighboring Aritao and Bambang, resulting in its sleepy rural setting. Paradoxically, this led to the preservation of heritage structures and a slower influx of predominantly Ilocano migrants that enabled the indigenous Isinay language, which has almost died out elsewhere, to survive in town.
In 1978, Dupax was split into two halves: Dupax del Norte (North Dupax), and Dupax del Sur (South Dupax). In 1979, the southernmost villages of both municipalities were separated to form the town of Alfonso Castañeda. Due to the close proximity of the two Dupaxes and the isolation of Alfonso Castañeda, this guide covers only Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Apart from the barangay of Gabut in Dupax del Sur, Dupax is bypassed by the Maharlika Highway, the main thoroughfare in Nueva Vizcaya. Instead, it is connected to the road through two-lane provincial roads linking the area to Aritao (for Dupax del Sur) and Bambang (for Dupax del Norte). As it is bypassed by buses and jeepneys, tricycles are the only form of public transportation heading to both Norte and Sur.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the most common transport between barangays, but due to uneven terrain, an SUV or any 4WD is recommended.
See
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- 1 Saint Vincent Ferrer Church (Dupax del Sur Church), Aritao-Quirino Road, Dopaj, Dupax del Sur, ☏ +63 960 387 7184, parishofficestvincentferrer@gmail.com. The main Roman Catholic church in Dupax del Sur, built in the Baroque style during the 18th century and declared a national cultural treasure in 2001. Beside the convent is a souvenir shop and museum showing church antiquities. The courtyard also features a centuries-old acacia tree.
- 2 Spanish Flagpole, Aritao-Quirino Road, Dopaj, Dupax del Sur (in front of Dupax del Sur Plaza and beside the "Dupax del Sur" sign). A red-brick flagpole built in 1873.
- 3 Dampol Bridge, Aritao-Quirino Road, Dopaj, Dupax del Sur (beside Saint Mary's School). A 19th-century red-brick bridge built over a creek and still used by motor vehicles. The roadway itself is modernized, but its original structure is still intact and can be seen after borrowing a key from caretakers at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church to unlock a gate leading the bottom of the bridge.
- 4 Sea of Clouds, National Road, Binuangan, Dupax del Norte. A stretch of upland rural highway leading to Quirino province, so-called because the low-lying clouds appear to inundate the area in the mornings.
- 5 Bundok Pag-ibig, Maharlika Highway, Gabut, Dupax del Sur. Meaning "Love Mountain" in Filipino, it is more of a grass hill that somewhat resembles the iconic Windows computer screen, particularly when the rainy season turns the surface green.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dupax Watershed Forest Reserve, Dopaj, Dupax del Sur. An ecotourism site in the forested foothills of the Caraballo mountains leading to panoramic vistas over the surrounding valley.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dupax del Sur Public Market, Aritao-Quirino Road, Domang, Dupax del Sur.
- 2 Dupax del Norte Public Market, Aritao-Quirino Road, Malasin, Dupax del Norte.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Green Oasis of Dupac, Aritao-Quirino Road, Mangayang, Dupax del Sur, ☏ +63 917 523 8353, greenoasisofdupax@gmail.com. 12NN-8PM Tue-Sat, 11AM-8PM Sun. A farm-to-table restaurant serving fusion Filipino and Mediterranean cuisine.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]Safety
[edit | edit source]The southern parts of Dupax del Sur along the Caraballo Mountains and the eastern parts of Dupax del Norte along the Namamparang Range are vulnerable to landslides, especially during the rainy season.
Respect
[edit | edit source]Since 2025, there has been an ongoing protest movement against mining activities in Dupax del Norte. Caution is advised when discussing the issue.
Connect
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