Dasmariñas

Dasmariñas is located approximately south of Manila, and part of the sprawl south of Metro Manila; uncontrolled suburban developments led to the present crowding situations and cacophonous traffic.

History

The city originated from the barrio (present-day barangay) of Tampus, then part of Imus. The Spanish colonial administrators formed the present city from a merger of smaller barrios namely Malagasang, Malinta, Nancaan (Langkaan, since divided into two barangays), Paliparan, Salacay and Salitran. The original town was named Tampus in 1866, until it was renamed as Pérez Dasmariñas in honor of Governor-General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas at the same year. Dasmariñas was founded not by the petition of barrio dwellers, but by orders of the Spanish military and religious groups. A downtown area, or población is founded between the barrios of Salitran and Nancaan, and the parish church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was built.
As the Philippine Revolution erupted, Spanish town administrators ordered the execution of suspected "Masons", and continued advances by Filipino revolutionaries led into the Battle of Pérez Dasmariñas, which led to 150 Filipino casualties, including generals Flaviano Yengco and Crispulo Aguinaldo. During the Philippine-American War, Pérez Dasmariñas was protected from American advances, but Americans eventually advanced and occupied the town. The new civil government renamed the town into the present name.
Dasmariñas also witnessed bloodshed during World War II, where advancing Japanese troops killed every men on each barangay. Since the Allied liberation in 1945 and Philippine independence in 1946, the town began to be swamped by migrants from Manila, leading into an economic boom. The Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan ("Dasmariñas New Town") relocation area, the largest socialized housing complex in the Philippines, further added the town's population during the Marcos regime. The city gained cityhood after repeated attempts, and it officially became a city in 2008, under Republic Act 9723.

By bus

Buses serve Dasmarinas, mostly plying the four to six-lane (and frequently congested) Aguinaldo Highway. Most depart from the Parañaque Integrated Transport Exchange (PITX), but some come as far as Santa Cruz in Manila or Fairview in Quezon City. By the way, Dasmarinas serves as a midpoint for trips to Tagaytay or western Batangas, and only a few bus routes end at Dasmarinas.

Bus companies

• Jasper Jean TransportOperates city buses between its Dasmariñas terminal and SM City Fairview via CAVITEX and EDSA. Many services stop at Dasmarinas's poblacion.

• MetroExpress ConnectOperates point-to-point (P2P) buses between Starmall Alabang (Muntinlupa) and Savemore in Salitran via Daang Hari, and Robinsons Place Dasmariñas and The Circuit in Makati. Single trip costs (Alabang-Salawag).

By taxi

You can take a taxi from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to the city. A trip takes 40-60 minutes depending on the traffic condition. It costs ₱400-1000 depending on your destination.
You can also take a taxi from Clark International Airport (CRK) to the city. A trip takes 2 to 4 hours depending on the traffic condition. It costs ₱900 to 2000 depending on your destination.

The easiest way of getting around the city is by tricycles. They will bring you to any part of the city within minutes. A trip costs ₱20-60 depending on your destination.
You can also catch jeepneys which are common around the city. They run on fixed routes and you can hail and ride on any part of the route. A trip costs ₱8-24 depending on your destination.
Another way of getting around the city is by taxi. You can catch taxis on the Central Business District and it will bring you to any part of the city. A trip costs ₱200-600 depending on your destination.
Buses can also be found on the city. Like jeepneys, they run on fixed routes and you can hail and ride on any part of the route. A trip costs ₱20-100 depending on your destination.

• Museo De La Salle

Golfing is the main pastime of both tourists and residents. It is available at the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Festivals

• Paruparo Festival (November 26) - A festival commemorating Dasmariñas' city charter, people wearing butterfly costumes dance on parades on the main thoroughfares of the city.

• De La Salle University DasmariñasFounded as General Emilio Aguinaldo College Cavite campus from 1977 to 1987 as part of the Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan development, it since served as a satellite campus of De La Salle University in Manila. Inside the campus is the affiliated De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, which offers health-related courses. It has about 29,000 students as of 2014.

There are many hotels and resorts in Dasmarinas.

• Spring Plaza Hotel

  address: Aguinaldo Highway, Bucal
  Has basic rooms with fans and bathroom or deluxe rooms with A/C, cable TV, and hot water.

• Kalipayan Resort