Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Tudela, officially the Municipality of Tudela, (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Tudela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tudela), is a municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 29,082 people.^[5]

Tudela
Municipality
Municipality of Tudela
Binalbal Festival
Flag
Motto:  Abante Tudela!
Map of Misamis Occidental with Tudela highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Tudela Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°14′50″N 123°50′33″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao
Province	Misamis Occidental
District	2nd district
Founded	December 28, 1920
Named after	Tudela, Navarre
Barangays	33 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Estela “Cha-Cha” Obut-Estaño (Asenso Pinoy Party)
• Vice Mayor	Wheng L. Parojinog (Asenso Pinoy Party)
• Representative	Sancho Fernando “Ando” F. Oaminal (Lakas)
• Municipal Council	Members Joel “Bodo” L. Bodiongan (ASPIN) Juscille S. Campo (NP) Rosito “Jun” Y. Tampong Jr. (ASPIN) Nelvin C. Lague (ASPIN) Ronnil “Jinggoy” R. Obut (ASPIN) Restituto “Otto” S. Llorong (ASPIN) Marites P. Mixdon (ASPIN) Arsenio “Manager” A. Singidas (ASPIN)
• Electorate	19,421 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	98.52 km2 (38.04 sq mi)
Elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	29,082
• Density	300/km2 (760/sq mi)
• Households	7,123
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	23.48 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 172.1 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 632 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 57.41 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 121.1 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Misamis Occidental 2 Electric Cooperative (MOELCI 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7202
PSGC	1004216000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
Native languages	Subanon Cebuano Tagalog
Website	www.tudelamisocc.gov.ph

Tudela is widely known for its colorful and interesting Binalbal Festival, where many revelers are clad in very gory costumes like a giant Halloween costume party.^[6] It is held every New Year's Day (Jan. 1).^[7] Close to the border of Tudela is the eco-tourism attraction Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), which is located in its boundary with Sinacaban, its neighboring town to the north.

History

Spanish colonial era

Founded by Padre Antonio Olleta as the visita of Tudela and by 1884 it was already a pueblo with four barrios.^[8] It was named after Tudela, Navarre, Spain, the hometown of Padre Olleta.^[9]

American colonial era

The present territory of Tudela was once part of the former municipality of Loculan.^[10] Through Act No. 951, issued by the Philippine Commission on October 21, 1903, the number of municipalities in the then-undivided Misamis province was reduced from 24 to 10, Loculan was effectively abolished after being joined with the municipality of Misamis.^[11]

During the American occupation, the inhabitants in Loculan petitioned to be separated from Misamis and organized into two independent municipalities. Thus, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison (through the efforts of Senator Jose F. Clarin) issued Executive Order (EO) No. 61 on December 28, 1920, creating the municipalities of Tudela and Clarin. Barrio Tudela became the seat of government of the municipality of Tudela. The organization became effective on the first day of 1921.^[10]

The first appointed Municipal President was Primitivo Ninang and his first Vice President was Pirigrin Sengidas. The following councilors appointed were Pio Adecir, Simeon Fuentes, Gregorio Madula, Casimeo Rubio, Julio Maliao, Florentino Olarte, Felix Codilla, and Isidro Sol.

The first appointed Municipal Secretary was Jose M. Castaños, known as “Secretario Municipal Interino”. The Provincial Fiscal nominated him and it was approved by Municipal Council Res. No. 123, series of 1923.

Spanish Language was used in the preparation of minutes, resolutions and ordinances from 1921 up to 1928 and in the later part of 1929 during the term of Ulpiano Balazo as Municipal President.

Territorial changes

Its territorial jurisdiction has been reduced in April 1924, by virtue of EO No. 20, Barrio Balicaocao was transferred to Clarin.^[12] In 1982, through Batas Pambansa Blg. 171, Barangays Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan were annexed to the newly created Don Mariano Marcos (now Don Victoriano)^[13][14]

Martial law

Main article: Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship

See also: Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos and Subanen people

A notable incident in Tudela during the Marcos dictatorship took place on August 24, 1981, when members of a pseudo-religious paramilitary sect strafed the house of the Gumapons, a Subanon family, in Sitio Gitason, Barrio Lampasan. Ten of the twelve persons in the house, including an infant, were killed.^[15][16]

Geography

Tudela is bounded on the north by the municipality of Sinacaban, to the south by the municipality of Clarin, to the east by Iligan Bay, and to the west by the municipality of Don Victoriano and Mount Malindang. It is a 20-minute drive from Ozamiz City to the south, and 45-minutes drive from Oroquieta City to the north.

Barangays

Tudela is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Balon
• Barra
• Basirang
• Bongabong
• Buenavista
• Cabol-anonan
• Cahayag
• Camating
• Canibungan Proper
• Casilak San Agustin
• Centro Hulpa (Poblacion)
• Centro Napu (Poblacion)
• Centro Upper (Poblacion)
• Colambutan Bajo
• Colambutan Settlement
• Duanguican
• Gala
• Gumbil
• Locso-on
• Maikay
• Maribojoc
• Mitugas
• Nailon
• Namut
• Napurog
• Pan-ay Diot
• San Nicolas
• Sebac
• Silongon
• Sinuza
• Taguima
• Tigdok
• Yahong

Climate

Climate data for Tudela, Misamis Occidental
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	69 (2.7)	44 (1.7)	37 (1.5)	29 (1.1)	87 (3.4)	137 (5.4)	131 (5.2)	141 (5.6)	143 (5.6)	134 (5.3)	68 (2.7)	53 (2.1)	1,073 (42.3)
Average rainy days	9.9	7.6	7.4	8.1	21.6	26.5	26.4	26.6	25.8	24.3	15.1	10.4	209.7
Source: Meteoblue[17]

Demographics

Population census of Tudela

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1939 11,057 —     1948 11,477 +0.42% 1960 13,361 +1.27% 1970 17,877 +2.95% 1975 19,625 +1.89% 1980 21,893 +2.21% 1990 19,070 −1.37%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1995 22,805 +3.41% 2000 23,047 +0.23% 2007 25,113 +1.19% 2010 27,371 +3.18% 2015 28,932 +1.06% 2020 28,599 −0.24% 2024 29,082 +0.40%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22]

In the 2024 census, the population of Tudela was 29,082 people,^[23] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

Places of worship:

• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Roman Catholic) - Purok 1, Upper Centro
• United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Upper Centro
• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses - Purok 1, Taguima
• Seventh Day Adventist Church - Basirang; Nailon
• Kristohanon (Church of Tudela) - Purok 1, Barra
• Liberty Bible Baptist Church (Bible Baptist) - Taguima
• Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) - Hulpa
• Church of the Back to Christ Royal Family in the 7th Millenium - Silongon
• Grace Gospel Church of Christ, TCM - Cabol-anonan
• Grace Banner Fellowship, TCM - Purok 7, Balon
• Christ's Banner Fellowship - Nailon
• Assembly Of God - Purok 3, Centro Napu

Economy

Poverty incidence of Tudela

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 45.47 2003 53.18 2006 43.70 2009 38.01 2012 38.07 2015 34.49 2018 24.38 2021 23.48 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

The majority of the population depends on agriculture and fishing. Commerce is also progressive in this municipality. People in the municipality and of the neighboring barangays of Clarin and Sinacaban towns depend on the local market, instead of going to Ozamiz City, the economic hub in the province.

Crops: Palay, corn, banana, kamoteng-kahoy (cassava), sweet potato, coconut, fruits (mango, durian, lanzones), and vegetables.

Products: aquaculture products: shrimps, prawns, crabs, tilapia, bangus (milkfish); furniture; poultry products; breads and pastries; fishes and shells.

Tourism

• Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park: located along the mangroves of Tigdok and Libertad Bajo, baranggays of Tudela and Sinacaban, respectively - a wildlife park that serves as a sanctuary for endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier, which are also found in the forests of nearby Mount Malindang.
• Binalbal Festival - held every January 1, one of the oldest and longest running festival in the municipality as it can be traced back to as early as the 1920s.^[7]
• Araw ng Tudela - held every December 28
• Mount Malindang Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park
• Barra Beach, Barra
• Camarin Beach, Camarin, Cabol-anonan
• Tudela Market Place
• Bagsakan Center
• Tudela Highland Resort and Eco Park (formerly known as The Subanen Village), Sitio Tonggo, Namut

Government

The governance of Tudela is managed by the elected, appointed and OIC Mayors from 1921 up to the present, as follows:

• 1921-1928 - Primitivo Ninang, first appointed
• 1928-1935 - Ulpiano Balazo, appointed
• 1935-1937 - Alberto Raagas, appointed
• 1938-1940 - Jose Singson, elected
• 1940-1943 - Alberto Raagas, elected
• 1943-1946 - Eladio Lagura, elected
• 1946-1947 - Eligio Dajao, appointed
• Feb. 1947 - Dec.1947 - Antonio Enriquez, appointed
• 1948-1959 - Gregorio Gamotin, elected
• 1960-1986 - Antero Singidas, elected
• 1986-1988 - Bernadette P. Encinareal, OIC
• Dec. 1988 - Feb. 1989 - Panfilo S. Olarte, OIC
• Mar. 1989 - Apr. 1989 - Nilo Y. Obut, OIC
• 1989- 1992 - Bernadette P. Encinareal, elected
• 1992- 2001 - Felix L. Sarigumba, elected
• 2001-2007 - Nilo Y. Obut, elected
• 2007-2016 - Estela Obut-Estaño, elected
• 2016-2025 - Samuel L. Parojinog, elected
• 2025 - present - Estela Obut-Estaño, elected

Infrastructure

Transportation

Air

Tudela is accessible by plane and is served by the Ozamiz Airport. There is a short tricycle ride to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal, where a local public utility vehicle known as a "balik-balik" provides transportation to Tudela.

Sea

Served by the Port of Ozamiz. From the port, travelers may take a tricycle to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal, where public utility vehicles provide transportation to Tudela.

Land

The public mode of transportation within this municipality is usually by tricycle and habal-habal, while the balik-balik is a means of transport to and from Ozamiz City, the nearest city.

Utilities

Communication

Telecommunications and internet are available. Mobile phone networks (Smart, Globe, Sun Cellular (now part of Smart)^[32] and DITO Telecommunity) operate extensively in the municipality.

PhilPost has its office in the Municipal Hall. Most of the municipality is serviceable by commercial couriers (e.g. LBC, JRS Express, Air21, 2GO, etc.) based in Ozamiz City.

Electricity

All 33 barangays are energized by Misamis Occidental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI II).

Water

Poblacion area is served by the Metro Ozamiz Water District (MOWD).^[33] Rural barangays have their own water systems funded by the government.

Education

Preschool

Every barangay in the municipality has their own Day Care Center under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

• San Isidro Academy Pre-school Department
• Ozamiz Elementary School Pre-school Department
• there are also church-operated pre-schools in the Poblacion.
• Tudela Liberty Baptist Christian School Pre-school Department

Elementary

• Balon Elementary School
• Barra Elementary School
• Basirang Elementary School
• Bongabong Elementary School
• Cabol-Anonan Elementary School
• Camating Elementary School
• Colambutan Bajo Elementary School
• Sebac Elementary School
• Tudela Central Elementary School
• Tigdok Elementary School
• Tonggo Elementary School
• Upper Centro Elementary School
• Gumbil Elementary School

Secondary

• Tudela National Comprehensive High School.
• San Isidro Academy of Tudela Inc.
• Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges, Inc.. Founded as Northern Mindanao Academy in 1946.
• Colambotan Bajo National High School. The first public secondary school in the municipality.

Tertiary

• Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges, Inc.. Founded as Northern Mindanao Academy in 1946.

Technical Vocation

• Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges, Inc.