Misamis Occidental

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Misamis Occidental (Template:Langx; Subanen: Sindepan Mis'samis; Template:Langx; Template:Langx), officially the Province of Misamis Occidental, is a province located in the region of Northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Oroquieta while Ozamiz is the most-populous city. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Panguil Bay to the south and Iligan Bay to the east.

Etymology

The province is named after the early settlement of the Spaniards at the entrance to the Panguil Bay. The name Misamis is believed to have been derived from the Subanen word kuyamis which is a variety of the coconut, the staple food of the early settlers. During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location, and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word kuyamis easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word Misamis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Spanish colonial era

The area of now Misamis Occidental was first occupied by the Subanen people, who were followed by the Maranao, and later the Visayans, who settled in the coastal areas. During the 1750s, coastal villages in southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao suffered attacks from bands of Muslim pirates, who burned houses and crops, and captured people to be sold as slaves in Maguindanao, Sulu, Borneo, or the islands now known as Indonesia. In response, the colonial government in Manila created a flotilla and appointed a Spanish Jesuit missionary, José Ducos, as its commander.

After several successful battles against the pirates and when some peace had been restored, it was decided to build a stone fort at the mouth of Panguil Bay, at a place called Misamis, and Ducos was put in charge of the construction. The construction began in 1756. It was officially called “Fuerte de la Concepción y del Triunfo”.<ref>BERNAD, M.. Father Ducos and the Muslim Wars, 1752-1759. Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints, North America, 16, dec. 1968. Available at: <http://philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/2272/4273>. Date accessed: 10 Feb. 2015.</ref>

Maps of Misamis, before its division
in 1880
in 1899
in 1918

In 1818, Mindanao was organized into five politico-military districts, one of which was the Segundo Distrito de Misamis, the largest district in Mindanao. This area was composed of today's Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and the northern parts of Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato.

In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the district of Misamis until February 27, 1872, when the Spanish Governor General Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada issued a decree declaring Cagayan the permanent capital of Segundo Distrito de Misamis. During this era, the name of the town was Cagayan de Misamis.<ref>https://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php/item/303-history-of-cagayan-de-oro-city.html</ref>

American colonial era

On November 2, 1929, Legislative Act No. 3537 passed, dividing the old province of Misamis into Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, which took effect on January 1, 1930. Misamis Occidental comprised the original nine towns of Baliangao, Lopez Jaena, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Aloran, Jimenez, and Misamis. Don José Ozámiz y Fortich became the first governor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 6, 1930, the provincial council of Misamis Occidental selected Oroquieta to become the capital town (cabecera) of the province.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1935, the Provincial Capitol Building, commonly called as the Capitolio, begun construction and became the seat of executive and legislative power of the province in the town of Oroquieta.

Japanese occupation

On May 6, 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Misamis Occidental, beginning their brief occupation of the province during World War II. In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated the province, and with the help of the recognized guerilla units, defeated the Japanese forces.Template:Explain During World War II, Oroquieta became the capital of the Free Philippines with the Capitolio serving as the seat of government of the Free Philippines. The United States Forces in the Philippines under Colonel Wendell Fertig. which was based in Misamis Occidental, was the rallying point for the guerrillas in Mindanao. This was historically significant because it is the only time in Philippine history when its capital was in Mindanao, in the region then known as Misamis. The Free Philippine Government was then issuing Misamis Occidental emergency notes. Late President Manuel L. Quezon, upon knowing that Oroquieta was made a capital of the Free Philippines and that the town was issuing emergency notes, authorized the printing of the Mindanao emergency note.

Postwar Era

On July 16, 1948 — the town of Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321,<ref name=ChanRobles-RA321>Template:Cite web</ref> making it the 4th city in Mindanao after Zamboanga, Davao, and Marawi. It was also renamed to Ozamiz after José Ozámiz y Fortich who was Misamis Occidental's first governor and also a congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, senator of the Philippines, and a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government.

During the Marcos dictatorship

Template:Main The late 1960s in Mindanao saw a rise in land dispute conflicts arising from the influx of settlers from Luzon and Visayas,<ref>See "History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos" By Luis H. Francia|[1] Link to page in the referenced book</ref><ref>For an in-depth survey of indigenous peoples and forced land seizures in the Philippines, see [2] Cultural Survival Quarterly.</ref> and from the Marcos administration’s encouragement of militia groups.<ref name=Case>The Bangsamoro Struggle for Self-Determintation: A Case Study</ref><ref name="MackerrasMackerras2003">Template:Cite book</ref> News of the 1968 Jabidah massacre ignited a furor in the Moro community, and ethnic tensions encouraged with the formation of secessionist movements,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> starting from the largely political Muslim Independence Movement and Bangsamoro Liberation Organization, and eventually the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).<ref name="MackerrasMackerras2003"/> Additionally, an economic crisis in late 1969, violent crackdowns on student protests in 1970, and 1971, and eventually the declaration of Martial Law all led to the radicalization of many students.<ref name="Rodis">Template:Cite web</ref> Many of them left schools in Manila and joined New People's Army units in their home provinces, bringing the New People's Army rebellion to Mindanao for the first time.<ref name="MiclatinArguillas">Template:Cite book</ref>

The September 1972 declaration of Martial Law began a 14-year period historically remembered for its human rights abuses,<ref name="McCoy199909202">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Abinales&Amoroso20052">Template:Cite book</ref> often involving the warrantless detention, murder, and physical, sexual, or mental torture of political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> These were often attributed to military-endorsed Militias - including a number of armed cult groups - which were used to enhance the military's numbers as it fought various resistance movements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=hrw>Template:Cite book</ref>

On August 24, 1981 marked a particularly bloody incident in Misamis Occidental history, when members of a fanatical pseudo-religious paramilitary sect called the "Rock Christ" strafed the house of the Gumapons, a Subanon family, in Barrio Lampasan, Tudela, Misamis Occidental. Ten of the twelve persons in the house, including an infant, were killed.<ref name="DoyoMaCeresMLMassacres">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

Contemporary

In May 2010, the people of Misamis Occidental elected their first female governor, Herminia M. Ramiro.

In September 2024, the Panguil Bay Bridge was opened, connecting the province to Lanao del Norte, allowing easier and faster access to the other provinces of Northern Mindanao.

Geography

Misamis Occidental is located near the narrow strip of land linking Northwestern Mindanao, to the North-central part of the island. Covering a total area of Template:Convert Template:PSGC detail, the province is bounded on the northeast by the Bohol Sea, east by Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay, and the west by the Zamboanga del Norte and Sur provinces. Except along the coastal area, hilly and rolling land characterized the provincial terrain. Towards the western border, the terrain is particularly rugged.

Administrative divisions

Misamis Occidental comprises 14 municipalities and 3 component cities, which are organized into two legislative districts and further subdivided into 490 barangays.

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City Template:Small municipalityTemplate:Ref label		District Template:PSGC detail	Population			Template:PSGC rubric	AreaTemplate:PSGC detail		Density		Template:Abbr	Coordinates Template:Ref label
			Template:Small Template:PH wikidata		Template:Small Template:PH census		km²	Template:Nowrap	/km²	Template:Nowrap
Aloran		1st	Template:Percent and number	27,934	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	38	Template:Coord
Baliangao		1st	Template:Percent and number	18,433	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	15	Template:Coord
Bonifacio		2nd	Template:Percent and number	34,558	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	28	Template:Coord
Calamba		1st	Template:Percent and number	23,227	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	19	Template:Coord
Clarin		2nd	Template:Percent and number	39,356	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	29	Template:Coord
Concepcion		1st	Template:Percent and number	9,324	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	18	Template:Coord
Don Victoriano		2nd	Template:Percent and number	9,664	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	11	Template:Coord
Jimenez		1st	Template:Percent and number	28,909	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	24	Template:Coord
Lopez Jaena		1st	Template:Percent and number	25,507	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	28	Template:Coord
Oroquieta City	†	1st	Template:Percent and number	72,301	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	47	Template:Coord
Ozamiz City	∗	2nd	Template:Percent and number	140,334	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	51	Template:Coord
Panaon		1st	Template:Percent and number	10,797	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	16	Template:Coord
Plaridel		1st	Template:Percent and number	39,840	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	33	Template:Coord
Sapang Dalaga		1st	Template:Percent and number	20,490	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	28	Template:Coord
Sinacaban		2nd	Template:Percent and number	19,671	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	17	Template:Coord
Tangub City	∗	2nd	Template:Percent and number	68,389	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	55	Template:Coord
Tudela		2nd	Template:Percent and number	28,599	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	33	Template:Coord
Total				621,993	617,333	Template:PAGR	2,006.63	Template:Convert	Template:Sigfig	Template:Convert	490	Template:Small
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Demographics

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The population of Misamis Occidental in the 2024 census was 621,993 people,Template:PH wikidata with a density of Template:Convert.

The dense population along the coast consists mainly of ethnic Cebuanos. Thus, Cebuano is the lingua franca of the province. Most of the native Subanens live in the interior uplands. Other inhabitants not native to the province include Maranaos, Maguindanaons, Tausugs, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Bicolanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinans, Hiligaynons, and Warays. They are minority residents of the province who speak their respective native languages to varying degrees in addition to Cebuano.

Religion

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Catholicism

Template:Further As of 2013, Roman Catholicism remains the predominant faith of the people of Misamis Occidental having 70 percent affiliation while the second most members are with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church with 20%.

Others

Several Protestant Churches as well as Islam are the minorities present in the province.Template:Citation needed

Economy

Template:Stack The province economy depends firstly on fishing, secondly on coconuts, and thirdly on rice. The province has Template:Convert of coastline fronting the rich fishing grounds of Panguil and Iligan bays. It also has the biggest area of brackish water fishponds in the region. Tangub City is a fishing port in Panguil Bay famous for seafood. Coconut is the chief crop. This is processed into oil, desiccated coconut, and coir, most of which are shipped to Cebu. Coconut processing is the main industry in Oroquieta City. Other crops grown in the province are rice, corn, abaca, coffee, cacao, and rubber.

Resources

Wood is the major forest product. Predominant species are the lauan group, apitong, tanguige yakal, and Philippine mahogany. There is also an abundant supply of bamboo, rattan and various vines. Forest land in the province has an area of 66,002.46 hectares; 53,262 hectares of which are considered a national park (which has legal implications).Template:Citation needed

The province has a considerable deposit of clay especially in the municipalities of Lopez Jaena and Concepcion. Plaridel is the largest in rice production, and the longest coastal town in the province.

There are also abundant sources of sand and gravel.

The province is traditionally a net exporter of various commodities. Historical data from the Ozamiz Port District of the Bureau of Customs show that outgoing commodities, which is mainly of coconut products, far outweigh incoming cargoes.

Being a coco-based province, major manufacturing firms in Misamis Occidental are engaged in the production of crude coconut oil, cooking oil, lard, margarine, laundry soap, and desiccated coconut. Other products are furniture, ceramic gifts toys and housewares, processed food like banana chips, and marine products.

Locally fabricated agri-industrial machines and equipment are also available in the province.

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Tourism and attractions

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Langaranan Festival, Plaridel
Baobaon Islets, Plaridel
Shang's Resort, Plaridel
Century-Old Nazareno Dam, Plaridel
Caluya Shrine, Sapang Dalaga
Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape
Binalbal Festival, Tudela
Christmas Festival of Lights, Tangub City
Dalit Festival, Tangub City
Dampawan Festival, Concepcion - September
Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, Ozamiz City
Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel & Adventure Park, Tangub City
Asenso Global Gardens and View Deck, Tangub City
Immaculate Conception Cathedral Pipe Organ, Ozamiz City
Inug-og Festival, Oroquieta City
Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park
Mount Malindang Range Natural Park and Lake Duminagat
Grand Perangat Festival - November
Baga Falls, Sapang Dalaga
Suman Festival, Clarin
Sinakbang Festival, Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental

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Government

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