|
MISAMIS ORIENTAL
Dubbed as the "City of Golden Friendship," Cagayan de
Oro City is located along Macalajar Bay in the Central Coast of
Northern Mindanao and serves as a regional center for Region 10.
Some of the city’s main attractions are the spectacular Catanico
Falls, Macahambus Cave and Gorge, the Shell Museum and a stretch
of beautiful beaches. Cagayan de Oro is fast gaining an image as
the most favored convention center in Southern Philippines. Now,
it takes pride in its latest premier attraction -the Gardens of
Malasag Eco - Tourism Village.
BRIEF HISTORY
Misamis Oriental used to be a part of Cebu. In 1818,
it became a "conregimento" comprised of 4 "partidos" or
divisions; namely, Partido de MIsamis, Partido de Dapitan,
Partido de Cagayan and Partido de Catarman. During the latter
part of the 19th century, Misamis was one of the 6 districts of
Mindanao, and later, one of the seven districts in Mindanao and
Sulu at the close of the Spanish era with Cagayan de Misamis,
now Cagayan de Oro, as its capital. When it was still a part of
the district of Cebu, there were 12 Spaniards and 9 Filipinos
who successively served as "governadore" with Mayor Carabello as
the first governor in 1874.
Legislative Act. No. 3537, approved in November 2, 1929, divided
the province of Misamis into two provinces due to the lack of
geographical contiguity: Misamis Oriental and Misamis
Occidental. However, it was not until 10 years later that the
division was implemented by an amendment, Act. No. 3777, adopted
on November 28,1939. When Misamis Oriental became a separate
province, Don Gregorio Pelaez was its first Governor. Since
then, there were 14 past governors who were elected and
appointed by operation of law.
The earliest known settlers of the territory were the Negritoes.
Centuries later, Malay colonists with Mongoloid features, fought
the natives for the control of the rich Cagayan River coastal
plains. The struggle for possession has finally won the native
Visayans over the Bukidnons. In the 1500ดs most of the Mindanao
area had fallen under the Muslim and the inhabitants were
converted into Islam. As part of Mindanao, the people of the
territory were obliged to pay tribute to the Muslim rule. |
Information
provided by
Department of Tourism. Government of Philippines.
