DAPITAN City, a fast developing tourism capital in Zamboanga Peninsula, has decided to allow people from all walks of life the chance to see its beauty and splendor through the camera lenses and later the photo results gathered from photographers who will be joining the "Discover Dapitan Photo Contest" slated from July 16 to September 15, 2009.

After the competitions, judges will decide who will bring home as much as P400,000 from the best photographs that contestants shoot from the different tourist spots of this tourism scenery-rich City of Dapitan.

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So, what makes a photographer a winner? Technical quality, clarity and composition are all important, but so too is a flair for the unexpected and the ability to capture a picture-perfect moment in selected tourist spots.

This is because winning photo entries will be developed into postcards, posters and other materials the city will undertake to promote Dapitan as a tourist destination.

For the Major Category, photos must be taken from The Island Tour (Aliguay & Selinog Islands) and Dapitan Aqua-marine Park also known as Dampa and the River Cruise.

For the Minor Category, photos must be taken from Dakak Park Beach Resort & Casino, Rizal Shrine and Historical Trail, Gloria de Dapitan & Fantasyland, and Eco-Tourism Adventure Sports & Water Adventure.

Aliguay Island is part of Dapitan City. It is one of its barangays and is about one to two hours boat ride, depending on the weather. The island is under the custody of the Philippine Navy, declaring it as a marine sanctuary. The water surrounding it has lush coral beds and excellent white sand beaches, excellent for snorkeling.

Selinog Island is a protected landscape and seascape -- a marine protected area in the Philippines. It can be reached by traveling two hours by boat off the coast of Dapitan City. Some visitors consider it the best beach they have seen so far with its pristine and crystal-clear water.

Dampa is a newly operated park that offers aquamarine products through various cottage-like restaurants and videoke bars. It is at its best at nighttime when beautiful lights engulf the park-by-the-pond. It is located right immediately after the main bridge entering Dapitan City. Fresh fish can be fished out of the fishpond where the park is located.

Dakak Park and Beach Resort is a world-class beach resort owned by former congressman Romeo Jalosjos and family. It is known for its beautifully shaped cove white sand beach. Dakak beach resort is also a diving mecca in Mindanao and a perfect vacation getaway for local and foreign tourists. Dakak visitors often described themselves in this beautiful tropical island strolling on a magnificent pristine crystal turquoise blue waters in a powdery white sand beach, with a landscape of a beautiful shaped island cove out to deeper blue waters, laying themselves in a hammock and looking at the sunset horizon under lush native trees and hear the waves that clash quietly against the shore. Dakak offers the kind of relaxing moment that almost every vacationer is looking for.

Dakak boast of 15 hectares of wooden land, a natural reservoir for native plants and animals, providing the ideal setting for a 750-meter private beach blanketed with powdery white sand. This beautiful beach resort is situated on the tip of Northern Zamboanga in Mindanao and is surrounded by mountains on its east side.

Entertainment and culinary treats abound as well. One can dine on freshly grilled seafood, sample exotic Filipino dishes, continental cuisine and feast on an array of fresh fruits. Be treated to a cultural show or a party the night away at Dakak Pirates Bar or Fusion Disco.

The newest addition to its entertainment package is the opening of the Casino. Its exclusivity is a big plus in addition to its being a vacation haven suited for family trips to while away time.

Rizal Shrine is considered a major historical landmark of the Philippines where hundreds of visitors come and see for themselves how the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, lived in exile in this 16-hectare sanctuary. Rizal acquired the property during his exile and built several structures, like the Casa Cuadrada, Casa Redonda, Casa Redonda Pequena, Casitas Hospitales, Aquaduct, Mi Retiro Rock, Amphitheater and the Rizalina.

Aside from being historic, Dapitan is also known as one of the country's tourist's destinations that fulfilled the dreams of its forefathers whose struggles and endeavors had resulted marvelously. Because of this landmark, Dapitan is included in almost every itinerary of tourists who will be visiting some areas of Mindanao.

A plan to restore and promote Rizal's historical trail and legacies in Dapitan included the construction of "Punto de Desembarco de Rizal en Dapitan Landmark or Rizal's Landing Site and Sta. Cruz Marker.

Rizal landed on the beach of Sta. Cruz, Dapitan, at 7 p.m. on July 17, 1892, to begin the life of an exile in Dapitan. It came to be known as Rizal's Landing Site later. With the help of the townsfolk, Rizal rebuilt the town's Plaza, In front of St. James Church. They also made the "Relief Map of Mindanao" out of stones, soil and grass. The Relief Map of Mindanao is located across the St. James Church with a total land area of 900 sq meters created by Dr. Rizal purposely as a motivating device for teaching history and geography to the townsfolk and further beautifying the city plaza.

Aside from the enchanting Dakak Park and Beach Resort and the historic Rizal Shrine, which are among country's favorite tourist destinations, Dapitan City can boast of a world-class commercial center. Gloria de Dapitan, which is situated at Sunset Boulevard, is a one-of-its-kind three-hectare commercial complex.

Right at the very heart of Gloria de Dapitan is Gallera de Dapitan, which architects Fernando Mirasol designed. It has a deluxe cockpit that may also be used for live entertainment shows, boxing matches and other crowd-drawing competitions. There is fully air-conditioned Exodus Bowling Center, which is the first of its kind in northwestern Mindanao, and could be at par with best bowling lanes in Metro Manila. It has eight lanes and setting the pins are computer-aided. Those who enjoy boxing, aerobics and belly dancing, there are state-of-the-art fitness equipment at Powerhouse Gym-the biggest gym is Zamboanga peninsula.

Its newest addition is the DapitanESS call center, the first call center to operate in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Gloria's fantasyland in Dapitan City is the newest and only amusement park in the Visayas and Mindanao. Among the attractions of Gloria's fantasyland are kids' favorite rides that include choco-cup ride, bump car ride, the midi-flume ride, the carousel, the swinger, the Apollo, the mini-train, a giant roller coaster, horror house and the inter-active rides like Happy Journey, Fight Shark, World of War, Pirate Ship, Ferry's Wheel, Horror walk, go kart race circuit and Telecombat, among others. The multi-million amusement park is located inside Gloria de Dapitan.

The photography contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers who register with the Dapitan City Tourism Office during the prescribed registration period, which is from July 16 to September 15, 2009.

Official entry forms are available at the Dapitan City Tourism Office and City Information Division from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

A registration fee of P500 per participant is necessary plus an additional P500 per additional entry. Only up to three entries are allowed per category.

Like any other contest, rules are set by the organizers, and for the "Discover Dapitan Photo Contest," here are the contest rules: (1) Photos must be taken from the selected categories in the present time. Old photos of the places mentioned are not allowed to be submitted as entry; (2) Entries must be submitted with the duly accomplished registration form together with the digital file (.jpg) in cd-rom. Failure to submit the .jpg cd-rom form will disqualify the entry/s; (3) Any digital manipulation tool (e.g. cut & paste, healing, cloning, etc) that is not applicable or doable in the printing of analog media (film) will disqualify the entry. Although post production like exposure control (dodge & burn), color saturation (control), creative cropping, all are doable when printing from the negative, even color toning and conversion to black and white, as long as it is done across the negative and not on a portion of it or an area only is acceptable; (4) All entries shall become the property of the Dapitan City Government and cannot be used, reproduced, reprinted without the consent, the photographer, likewise cannot submit the same photos, or any variant of the photos to any other contest except on his personal file; (5) Winners will be published in the local news paper and announced over the radio; and (6) Judges decision is final and non-appealable.

Prizes for the Major Category are P100,000 plus plaque (First); P5,000 plus plaque (Second) and P2,000 plus plaque (Third).

For the Minor Category: P25,000 plus plaque (1st), P5,000 plus plaque (2nd), and P2,000 plus plaque (3rd).