Misamis Occidental – Christmas Symbols Capital of Mindanao
Christmas is one of the most celebrated events in the Philippines. In Mindanao, the city of Tangub is flocked by local and foreign tourists eager to witness the yearly Christmas lights presentation prepared by the local government.
But more than a Christmas attraction, Tangub City and the rest of Misamis Occidental has something to offer all year round. From religious festivals to scenic parks and bodies of water, Misamis Occidental has the sights to make a visitor yearly add this province in his travel itinerary.
Demographics
1. Population –531,
680 (as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area –2, 055.2 sq. km
3. Capital – Oroquieta City
4. Language/Dialect –Cebuano, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions
Cities (2)
Municipalities (14)
Christmas in Tangub
City
During the Christmas Season, Tangub City figuratively lights
up with Christmas lights and decors that are displayed throughout
the city. Each barangay displays its own unique Christmas
setup at the city plaza.
Fort Santiago / Cotta
Fort
Both a religious and historical site, this fort was built to
serve as an outpost during the Spanish occupation. Inside the
fort is a said to be miraculous image of the Virgin Mary which
has attracted devotees.
Pipe Organ of Immaculate
Conception Cathedral
It is one of the few pipe organs in the country and the only
one in Mindanao.
Cultural
Pipe Organ of Immaculate
Conception Cathedral
Location: Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
A German priest, Father Herman Schablitzki S.V.D, assisted by
one carpenter and one electrician, assembled the organ in six
weeks and it was completed on May 31, 1967. It was inaugurated
on July 16, 1967; the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Oroquieta City Museum
Location: 3rd Floor City Hall Annex Building Independence Street,
Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental
The city museum showcases a collection of various antique pieces
loaned or donated by some pioneering families of Oroquieta.
The museum’s priceless collections offer a glimpse of
the “Oroquietanian Heritage.”
Historical
Fort Santiago (Cotta
Fort and Shrine)
Location: Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
Also know as Fort of Nuestra Señora del Triunfo dela
Cruz, it was built in 1756 to protect this region from marauding
pirates. A special chapel was built inside the walls of the
fort and an image of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.
The fort was renovated and restored to its original design in
2006.
Memorial Hill
Location: Tangub City, Misamis Occidental
The place is a small hill inside the prison reservation compound.
It has a World War II Vintage Japanese canon and a site of a
grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is also a burial site of Eriberto
Misa, the famous Prison’s Director from years 1937 to
1949.
Man-made
Ciriaco H. Pastrano
Hanging Foot Bridge
Location: Poblacion II, Brgy. Taboc Norte, Oroquieta City, Misamis
Occidental It is a 75 meter long, 20 feet-high hanging bridge
that overlooks the sea and the market area. This bridge connects
the communities of Layawan and Taboc Norte. Crossing this hanging
footbridge provides a scenic view of the Layawan River below.
Bacarro’s Printing
Press
Location: Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
It is considered as the oldest printing press in Mindanao and
one of the oldest in the country. It started its operation in
1938 and still operational up to the present.
Naomi's Botanical
Garden and Tourists Inn
Location: Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
The property sits on a 12 hectare property of local and imported
tropical flowers, plants and fruit seedlings. There are fully
air-conditioned private rooms, Function halls, tennis court,
Golf range, ceramics factory, pottery and a bakery inside this
sprawling garden.
Misamis Occidental
Aquamarine Park
Location: Libertad Bajo, Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental
It features a wildlife park that houses a wide array of animals,
most are native to the Philippines. It also features hotel accommodations
of hut-style suite cottages that line the mangroves.
Natural
Layawan River
Location: Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental
A consistent awardee of the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran as
the Cleanest Inland body of Water in the Philippines. Layawan
River’s pristine water flows directly from the bosom of
Mt. Malindang and is ideal for fishing, swimming and other water
sports such as water tubing.
Lake Duminagat
Location: Don Victoriano Chiongban, Misamis Occidental
It is a crater lake located in Mt. Malindang Natural Park. Lake
Duminagat holds a central place in the spirit life of the Subanon
people, who look on the lake as sacred and a source of healing
water.
Mount Malindang Range
Natural Park
Location: Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental
Mt. Malindang is a mountain range rising from 600 meters to
2,404 meters above the mean sea level. The range covers 53,
262 hectares of which about 33,000 hectares is still covered
with forest vegetation while more than 20,000 hectares is cultivated
and inhabited by forest occupants mostly members of the Subanen
Tribe. It is inhabited by diverse species of fauna including
the rare ones such as the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga
jefferyi), Rofous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax),
Tarsier (Tarsius philippinensis) and Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus
volans)
Sebucal Hot Spring
Location: Brgy. Sebucal, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental
It is a natural hot sulfur spring that comes from the heart
of Mount Malindang. It is one of the favorite destinations for
mountaineers.
Religious
Nuestra Señora
del Triunfo dela Cruz (Our Lady of Triumph)
Location: Fort Santiago, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
Inside the chapel and outside Fort Santiago, on the wall facing
the bay, is an image of the Virgin Mary in the pink and blue
attire. The image on the Cotta's wall is believed to be miraculously
growing and has been the object of pilgrimage of devotees from
all parts of the country, particularly every July 16, its feast
day.
Bukagan Hill Bells
Location: Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
There are four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill. The bells
were named after “St. Peter”, “St. Marien”,
“St. Joseph” and “St. Michael” and were
originally purchased by Bishop Patrick Cronin, D.D. for the
Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Due to its massive weight,
a total of seven tons, it was impossible to place them in the
Cathedral. The huge bells were installed in Bukagan Hill Bells
and officially inaugurated in July 16, 1948.
St. John the Baptist
Church
Location: Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
Made from coral stone, the church is considered as one of the
best preserved colonial churches in Mindanao. It was constructed
by the Augustinian Recollects in the second half of the 19th
century. Religious paintings are present in its ceiling.
Dalit Festival
Place: Tangub City, Misamis Occidental
Date: September 25 - 29
The event celebrates the feast of Saint Michael. Dalit means
"offering". The festival is opened with the offering
of a live goat killed by the wildlife hunters after the blessings
of the tribal head are made. Selected beauties dressed in their
ethnic costumes are also being offered as a modern version of
the festival.
Inug-og Festival
Place: Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental
Date: October 15
An annual event in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary (“Birhen sa Santo Rosaryo”). The festival
is celebrated with street dancing and ritual presentations by
contingents of dancers, props men and instrumentalists in colorful
indigenous costumes.
Subayen Keg Subanon
Place: Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
Date: December 1 - 8
A week-long festivity marking the feast of the Our Lady of Triumph.
The main feature is the Subayan Keg Subanon is the street dancing
competition which highlights the lifestyles of the Subanons
as depicted in songs, dances, and other forms of simulated social
expression. Participants wear creative costumes and props bearing
the colors red and black, the most common color in Subanon costumes.
Christmas Symbols
Festival
Place: Tangub City, Misamis Occidental
Date: December 1 – January 2
The whole city is lit up by thousands of Christmas lights as
each barangay displays its own unique Christmas setup
at the city plaza. Most materials used for decoration are indigenous,
recycled and low-cost. Other activities during the event include
agr-trade fair, fireworks displays and bazaar.
By Air:
There are direct flights from Cebu to Ozamis City. The
plane lands at Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Airport in Brgy.
Labo, Ozamis City. Travel time is one hour.
By Air-Land-Sea:
From Manila, take a plane bound for Dipolog City or Cagayan
de Oro City. From there, ride any available public transportation
bound for Mukas, Lanao del Norte or Tabigi, Lanao del
Norte port. There is a barge there bound for Ozamis City.
Barge ride is 10-15 minutes travel time