Misamis Occidental

Misamis Occidental
Misamis Occidental
Province
	(from top: left to right) Mount Malindang as seen from Panguil Bay, Lake Duminagat, Downtown Ozamiz and Port of Ozamiz.
	Flag Seal
	Nickname: Mis Occ
	Location in the Philippines
	Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E / 8.33°N 123.7°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao
Founded	November 2, 1929
Capital	Oroquieta
Largest city	Ozamiz
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Atty. Henry S. Oaminal (NP)
• Vice Governor	Rowena L. Gutierrez (Asenso Pinoy Party)
• Legislature	Misamis Occidental Provincial Board
Area
• Total	2,006.63 km2 (774.76 sq mi)
• Rank	60th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Malindang)	2,404 m (7,887 ft)
Population (2020 census)
• Total	617,333
• Rank	50th out of 81
• Density	310/km2 (800/sq mi)
• Rank	26th out of 81
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	3 Oroquieta ; Ozamiz ; Tangub ;
• Municipalities	14 Aloran ; Baliangao ; Bonifacio ; Calamba ; Clarin ; Concepcion ; Don Victoriano Chiongbian ; Jimenez ; Lopez Jaena ; Panaon ; Plaridel ; Sapang Dalaga ; Sinacaban ; Tudela ;
• Barangays	490
• Districts	Legislative districts of Misamis Occidental
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7200–7215
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
ISO 3166 code	PH-MSC
Spoken languages	Cebuano; Subanen; Maranao; Tagalog; English;
Income classification	2nd class
Website	misocc.gov.ph

Misamis Occidental (Cebuano: Kasadpang Misamis; Subanen: Sindepan Mis'samis; Maranao: Sedepan Misamis; Filipino: Kanlurang Misamis), 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. The province of Misamis was originally inhabited by Subanens who were an easy target by the sea pirates from Lanao.

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 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.^[4]

Etymology

The name Misamis is derived from Subanen word kuyamis which is a variety of coconut.

History

Spanish colonial era

The area of now Misamis Occidental was first occupied by Subanen which was followed by Maranao and later Visayans settled in the coastal areas. During the 1750s was the time that the 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, 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”.^[5]

Maps of Misamis, before its division into two provinces
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 Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao, Zamboanga del Norte, and the northern part of 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.

American invasion 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.

On January 6, 1930, the provincial council of Misamis Occidental selected Oroquieta to become the capital town (cabecera) of the province.^[6]

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

Japanese occupation era

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.^{[further explanation needed]} During World War II, Misamis became the capital of the Free Philippines as the seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitolio. The United States Forces in the Philippines under Colonel Wendell Fertig 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.

Philippine independence

On July 16, 1948 — the town of Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321,^[7] making it the 4th city in Mindanao after Zamboanga, Davao and Marawi, also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after World War II hero Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, senator of the Philippines, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government.

On August 24, 1981 - Members of a fanatical pseudo-religious paramilitary sect called the "Rock Christ" strafed the house of the Gumapons, a family, in Barrio Lampasan, Tudela, Misamis Occidental. Ten of the twelve persons in the house, including an infant, were killed.^[8]^[9]

Contemporary

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

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 2,055.22 square kilometres (793.52 sq mi)^[10], the province is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay, and the west by the Zamboanga del Norte and Sur. 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.

† Provincial capital and component city
∗ Component city
Municipality

City or municipality^[A]		District^[10]	Population			±% p.a.	Area^[10]		Density		Barangay	Coordinates^[B]
			(2020)^[3]		(2015)^[11]		km²	sq mi	/km²	/sq mi
Aloran		1st	4.5%	27,934	27,625	+0.21%	118.06	45.58	240	620	38	8°25′00″N 123°49′11″E / 8.4166°N 123.8198°E / 8.4166; 123.8198 (Aloran)
Baliangao		1st	3.0%	18,433	17,092	+1.45%	81.72	31.55	230	600	15	8°39′37″N 123°36′04″E / 8.6603°N 123.6012°E / 8.6603; 123.6012 (Baliangao)
Bonifacio		2nd	5.6%	34,558	32,345	+1.27%	155.02	59.85	220	570	28	8°03′08″N 123°36′49″E / 8.0523°N 123.6137°E / 8.0523; 123.6137 (Bonifacio)
Calamba		1st	3.8%	23,227	21,676	+1.32%	104.64	40.40	220	570	19	8°33′29″N 123°38′39″E / 8.5581°N 123.6443°E / 8.5581; 123.6443 (Calamba)
Clarin		2nd	6.4%	39,356	37,548	+0.90%	84.50	32.63	470	1,200	29	8°11′59″N 123°51′42″E / 8.1998°N 123.8616°E / 8.1998; 123.8616 (Clarin)
Concepcion		1st	1.5%	9,324	10,937	−2.99%	61.60	23.78	150	390	18	8°25′22″N 123°36′17″E / 8.4227°N 123.6048°E / 8.4227; 123.6048 (Concepcion)
Don Victoriano Chiongbian (Don Mariano Marcos)		2nd	1.6%	9,664	10,183	−0.93%	284.60	109.88	34	88	11	8°15′56″N 123°36′16″E / 8.2656°N 123.6045°E / 8.2656; 123.6045 (Don Victoriano Chiongbian)
Jimenez		1st	4.7%	28,909	27,654	+0.85%	81.43	31.44	360	930	24	8°20′03″N 123°50′24″E / 8.3343°N 123.8400°E / 8.3343; 123.8400 (Jimenez)
Lopez Jaena		1st	4.1%	25,507	25,055	+0.34%	94.70	36.56	270	700	28	8°33′06″N 123°46′03″E / 8.5516°N 123.7675°E / 8.5516; 123.7675 (Lopez Jaena)
Oroquieta City	†	1st	11.7%	72,301	70,757	+0.41%	237.88	91.85	300	780	47	8°29′07″N 123°48′21″E / 8.4852°N 123.8059°E / 8.4852; 123.8059 (Oroquieta)
Ozamiz City	∗	2nd	22.7%	140,334	141,828	−0.20%	169.95	65.62	830	2,100	51	8°08′49″N 123°50′43″E / 8.1470°N 123.8452°E / 8.1470; 123.8452 (Ozamiz)
Panaon		1st	1.7%	10,797	10,209	+1.07%	46.80	18.07	230	600	16	8°21′53″N 123°50′24″E / 8.3648°N 123.8400°E / 8.3648; 123.8400 (Panaon)
Plaridel		1st	6.5%	39,840	38,900	+0.46%	80.00	30.89	500	1,300	33	8°37′15″N 123°42′34″E / 8.6208°N 123.7095°E / 8.6208; 123.7095 (Plaridel)
Sapang Dalaga		1st	3.3%	20,490	19,983	+0.48%	93.93	36.27	220	570	28	8°32′28″N 123°33′59″E / 8.5412°N 123.5664°E / 8.5412; 123.5664 (Sapang Dalaga)
Sinacaban		2nd	3.2%	19,671	18,391	+1.29%	99.09	38.26	200	520	17	8°17′07″N 123°50′35″E / 8.2852°N 123.8431°E / 8.2852; 123.8431 (Sinacaban)
Tangub City	∗	2nd	11.1%	68,389	63,011	+1.57%	162.78	62.85	420	1,100	55	8°03′40″N 123°45′03″E / 8.0610°N 123.7509°E / 8.0610; 123.7509 (Tangub)
Tudela		2nd	4.6%	28,599	28,932	−0.22%	98.52	38.04	290	750	33	8°14′35″N 123°50′43″E / 8.2430°N 123.8454°E / 8.2430; 123.8454 (Tudela)
Total				617,333	602,126	+0.48%	2,006.63	774.76	310	800	490	(see GeoGroup box)
^{^} Former names are italicized. ^{^} Coordinates are sortable by latitude. (Italicized entries indicate the generic location. Otherwise, they mark the city or town center).

Demographics

Population census of Misamis Occidental

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	45,370	—
1918	81,015	+3.94%
1939	210,057	+4.64%
1948	207,575	−0.13%
1960	248,371	+1.51%

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1970	319,855	+2.56%
1975	356,319	+2.19%
1980	386,328	+1.63%
1990	424,365	+0.94%
1995	458,965	+1.48%

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2000	486,723	+1.27%
2007	531,680	+1.23%
2010	567,642	+2.41%
2015	602,126	+1.13%
2020	617,333	+0.49%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^[11]^[12]^[12]

The population of Misamis Occidental in the 2020 census was 617,333 people,^[3] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

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 in 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

Catholicism

As of 2013, Roman Catholicism remains the predominant faith of the people of Misamis Occidental having 70 percent affiliation and 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 are present in the province.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Poverty incidence of Misamis Occidental

10

20

30

40

50

2006
43.95

2009
46.46

2012
42.79

2015
45.09

2018
26.80

2021
18.30

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]

The province economy depends firstly on fishing, secondly on coconuts, thirdly on rice. The province has 169 kilometres (105 mi) 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 on 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 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).^{[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 an 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, ceramics 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.

Tourism and attractions

Langaranan Festival Plaridel, Misamis Occidental
Baobaon Islets Plaridel, Misamis Occidental
Shang's Resort Plaridel, Misamis Occidental
Century-Old Nazareno Dam Plaridel, Misamis Occidental
Caluya Shrine Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental
Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape
Binalbal Festival, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
Christmas Symbols Festival, Tangub City
Dalit Festival, Tangub City
Dampawan Festival, Concepcion, Misamis Occidental - September
Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, Ozamiz City
Hoyohoy Highland Stone Chapel & Adventure Park, 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
Pas'ungko S'g Mis. Occ. Festival of all Festivals - November
Sapang Dalaga Falls
Suman Festival, Clarin, Misamis Occidental - Clarin, the Suman Capital of Misamis Occidental
Sinakbang Festival, Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental

Government

Current officials