Exploring Dao

Dao Century Old Catholic Church
Dao Church	Municipal Hall
Historic Bandstand	Bandstand Friends
Eco Park Kiddie Pool	Eco P. Swimming Pool
Dao Eco Park Pavillon

This is the first time that I visited Dao, Capiz while attending the 5-day Boy Scout of the Philippines 21st Western Visayas Regional Jamborette, in 6 February 2008 after an hour of opening ceremony at the grand arena, Camp Escutin, Brgy. Matagnop, Dao, Capiz.

Sometime in 2007, "Dao was declared regional champion for the first time in the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) annual search in Western Visayas," said PIA news.

"Dao town, which is included in Category B (4th to 6th class municipality) has been declared as first runner-up in said regional competition for more or less five consecutive years before it eventually captured the regional title," added the news.

Dao is one of the 16 towns of the province of Capiz. It is a 4th class municipality. In 2000 census, it has a population of 30,623 people in 5,921 households. It has 20 barangays: Aganan, Agtambi, Agtanguay, Balucuan, Bita, Centro, Daplas, Duyoc, Ilas Sur, Lacaron, Malonoy, Manhoy, Mapulang Bato, Matagnop, Nasunogan, Poblacion Ilawod, Poblacion Ilaya, Quinabcaban, Quinayuya, and San Agustin (Ilas Norte).

Dao according to its residents is a kind of sturdy wood, which is used for making a banca or boat. The place is abundant with that kind of tree and that's how it got its name. Now Dao, peaceful town was the consistent winner of Cleanest and Greenest municipality of the province of Capiz for 6 years and was recently declared as the cleanest and greenest municipality of the whole region of Western Visayas.

The plaza of Dao is well-maintained. It is enhanced by the century-old Roman Catholic Church and a stately municipal hall.

Dao is also bolstered by its 2-year old Eco park in the hilly part of Brgy. Duyoc, a 3-kilometer distance from the town proper. The place is refreshing, cool and serene. It has 2 swimming pools to cool off, several cottages to rest and a giant slide for the kids to play on. It has cozy lounge, a bar and videoke for amateur and professional singers.

Camp Escutin where the Jamborette was encamped is another tranquil, nature-riched place. It is ideal for scouting activities. The benevolent Escutin family has never regretted donating the said vast of land for the boy scout campsite. To recognize their exemplary gesture to scouting movement, the Regional Boy Scout of the Philippines gave them honor during the opening ceremony. The old man, Don Luis Escutin received the prestigious and meritorious recognition.

Exploring Dao is a reminisce of my tender age. Visiting its market, I am reminded of my hometown La Carlota 42 years ago when I was 14 years old. The market stall, the arrangement and main market at the center. They are a reminder of my younger years.

The bandstand in the plaza is also another nostalgic memento of my formative time. Our place has a bandstand at the center just across the municipal hall of La Carlota. I used to play, dance, horseplay there together with my contemporaries.

The old-century Catholic church is another recollection of the past for it is similar with the Catholic church here in our place. It is also more than centuries old.

Out of 5-day scouting experience I have had, I was really indebted to the hospitality extended us by the Alejo's family like Gingging, Marycris and Flor who used to serve us with our day-to-day meals during our stay with Matagnop till the conclusion of our regional scouting jamborette there. I will be really missing their friendly smiles. And also my instant acquaintance with Roxanne and Andrea at the public plaza bandstand a day before we break camp and heading home to La Carlota,Negros Occidental.

Exploring Dao just what I did is like going back to my remote past.