Misamis Occidental

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.

Misamis Occidental
Province
(from top: left to right) Baliangao seascape, Lake Duminagat, Downtown Ozamiz, Jimenez Church, Panguil Bay Bridge, and Mount Malindang.
Flag Seal
Nickname:  Mis Occ
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao
Founded	November 2, 1929[1]
Capital	Oroquieta
Largest city	Ozamiz
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Atty. Henry S. Oaminal Sr. (NP)
• Vice Governor	Rowena L. Gutierrez (Asenso Pinoy Party)
• Legislature	Misamis Occidental Provincial Board
Area [2]
• 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  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	621,993
• Rank	50th out of 81
• Density	310/km2 (800/sq mi)
• Rank	26th out of 81
Demonym	West Misamisnon
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	3 Oroquieta Ozamiz Tangub
• Municipalities	14 Aloran Baliangao Bonifacio Calamba Clarin Concepcion Don Victoriano Jimenez Lopez Jaena Panaon Plaridel Sapang Dalaga Sinacaban Tudela
• Barangays	490
• Districts	Legislative districts of Misamis Occidental
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
ISO 3166 code	PH-MSC
Spoken languages	Cebuano Subanen Maranao Tagalog English
Income classification	1st class
Website	misocc.gov.ph

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.^[4]

History

Spanish colonial era

The area of now Misamis Occidental was first occupied by the Subanen people, which was 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”.^[5]

• 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.

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.

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 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.^{[further explanation needed]} 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.

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. 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.

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.

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 2,055.22 square kilometres (793.52 sq mi)^[10], 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.

Political map of Misamis Occidental

•  †  Provincial capital and component city
•  ∗  Component city
•   Municipality

City or municipality[A] District[10] Population ±% p.a. Area[10] Density Barangay Coordinates[B] (2024)[11] (2020)[3] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi Aloran 1st 4.5% 28,095 27,934 +0.14% 118.06 45.58 240 620 38 8°25′00″N 123°49′11″E Baliangao 1st 3.0% 18,500 18,433 +0.09% 81.72 31.55 230 600 15 8°39′37″N 123°36′04″E Bonifacio 2nd 5.6% 34,942 34,558 +0.26% 155.02 59.85 220 570 28 8°03′08″N 123°36′49″E Calamba 1st 3.8% 23,808 23,227 +0.58% 104.64 40.40 220 570 19 8°33′29″N 123°38′39″E Clarin 2nd 6.4% 39,867 39,356 +0.30% 84.50 32.63 470 1,200 29 8°11′59″N 123°51′42″E Concepcion 1st 1.1% 6,608 9,324 −7.78% 61.60 23.78 150 390 18 8°25′22″N 123°36′17″E Don Victoriano 2nd 1.6% 10,214 9,664 +1.21% 284.60 109.88 34 88 11 8°15′56″N 123°36′16″E Jimenez 1st 4.7% 29,265 28,909 +0.29% 81.43 31.44 360 930 24 8°20′03″N 123°50′24″E Lopez Jaena 1st 4.1% 25,806 25,507 +0.27% 94.70 36.56 270 700 28 8°33′06″N 123°46′03″E Oroquieta City † 1st 11.5% 71,373 72,301 −0.30% 237.88 91.85 300 780 47 8°29′07″N 123°48′21″E Ozamiz City ∗ 2nd 23.1% 143,620 140,334 +0.55% 169.95 65.62 830 2,100 51 8°08′49″N 123°50′43″E Panaon 1st 1.8% 10,891 10,797 +0.20% 46.80 18.07 230 600 16 8°21′53″N 123°50′24″E Plaridel 1st 6.5% 40,321 39,840 +0.28% 80.00 30.89 500 1,300 33 8°37′15″N 123°42′34″E Sapang Dalaga 1st 3.4% 21,006 20,490 +0.59% 93.93 36.27 220 570 28 8°32′28″N 123°33′59″E Sinacaban 2nd 3.2% 20,176 19,671 +0.60% 99.09 38.26 200 520 17 8°17′07″N 123°50′35″E Tangub City ∗ 2nd 11.0% 68,419 68,389 +0.01% 162.78 62.85 420 1,100 55 8°03′40″N 123°45′03″E Tudela 2nd 4.7% 29,082 28,599 +0.39% 98.52 38.04 290 750 33 8°14′35″N 123°50′43″E Total 621,993 617,333 +0.18% 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% 1970 319,855 +2.56%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 356,319 +2.19% 1980 386,328 +1.63% 1990 424,365 +0.94% 1995 458,965 +1.48% 2000 486,723 +1.27% 2007 531,680 +1.23%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 567,642 +2.41% 2015 602,126 +1.13% 2020 617,333 +0.53% 2024 621,993 +0.18%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][13]

The population of Misamis Occidental in the 2024 census was 621,993 people,^[14] 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 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

Main article: Religion in the Philippines

Catholicism

Further information: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamis

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.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Poverty incidence of Misamis Occidental

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 24.47 2003 54.30 2006 43.95 2009 46.46 2012 42.79 2015 45.09 2018 26.80 2021 18.30 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

The province economy depends firstly on fishing, secondly on coconuts, and 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 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).^{[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.

Tourism and attractions

• 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

Government

See also: Governor of Misamis Occidental and Misamis Occidental Provincial Board

Misamis Occidental Provincial Capitol

1975 Seal of the province, registered in NHCP.

Misamis Occidental

• Governor: Atty. Henry S. Oaminal Sr.(NP)
• Vice Governor: Rowena “Wheng” L. Gutierrez (Asenso Pinoy Party)
• ABC President: Salvador C. Canlas Jr. - Ex-Officio Board Member
• SK Federation Chairman: Clara Mie V. Villanueva - Ex-Officio Board Member
• IPMR: Juanidy M. Vina - Ex-Officio Board Member
• PCL President: Lowida L. Alcalde - Ex-Officio Board Member

1st District

• Member, House of Representatives: Jason P. Almonte (NP)
• Members, Sangguniang Panlalawigan:
  • Alejandro “Alex” J. Guantero Jr. (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Winston “Dondon” V. Catane (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Rosanne Marie “Tata” L. Paylaga-Lim (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Donna R. Iyog (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Agnes C. Villanueva, CPA (Asenso Pinoy)

2nd District

• Member, House of Representatives: Sancho Fernando “Ando” F. Oaminal (Lakas)
• Members, Sangguniang Panlalawigan:
  • Calven Tito C. Decina (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Nemesio D. Lahaylahay Sr. (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Eduardo “Tata” C. Cebedo (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Atty. Heinjie B. Estano (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Jerry R. Cuizon (Asenso Pinoy)

Notable people

• Allen Dizon - actor
• Eunice Encarnada - ABS CBN'S Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 7 Grand Finalist, 2nd Placer
• Cherry Lou - actress

See also

• Laguindingan Airport, the first international airport in Northern Mindanao region.