Daanbantayan is a first class municipality located at the northernmost tip of the Province of Cebu. It has a total land area of 9,227.26 hectares comprising of twenty barangays (2 island, 13 coastal and 5 inland). According to the 2015 census, Daanbantayan has a population of 84,430 with 48,601 registered voters as of the 2016 election. Its main source of livelihood is farming and fishing, owing t
o its mostly agricultural and coastal areas. Daanbantayan is a renowned tropical getaway among local and foreign tourists. Malapascua Island is especially famous for its pristine, white powder-like sandy beaches and breathtaking dive spots. The rich marine life and diverse coral reefs in Bounty Beach makes it the best location for snorkeling and diving. Malapascua also hosts a long string of dive sites including Gato Cave and Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can regularly be sighted. Monad Shoal is best known as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be seen regularly at and just before sunrise. Daanbantayan celebrates its annual fiesta with nightly activities starting on the 21st of August and ends on the 30th with the Haladaya Festival street-dancing. Daanbantayan locals celebrate the festival in honor of Datu Daya, the legendary chieftain of the town as well as Saint Rose of Lima, the municipality’s patron saint. Derived from the words “Halad” (offering) and “Daya”, it is a form of prayer manifested through street dancing and chanting participated in by students of different elementary and secondary schools from 20 barangays of Daanbantayan. Participants perform in intricate costumes and props — shimmering shields and colorful headdresses make the dances all the more eye-catching.
