Cagayan de Oro City
Cagayan de Oro City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 
8°29′N 124°39′E / 8.483°N 124.65°E / 8.483; 124.65
| City of Cagayan de Oro Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro |
|||
 |
|||
|
|||
| Nickname(s): City of Golden Friendship | |||
 |
|||
| Country |  Philippines |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Island | Mindanao | ||
| Region | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | ||
| Class | 1st Class City | ||
| Province | Misamis Oriental (Capital) | ||
| Districts | 1st and 2nd Legislative districts of Cagayan de Oro City | ||
| Barangays | 80 | ||
| Incorporated (Town) | 1871 | ||
| Incorporated (City) | June 15, 1950 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Strong Mayor-council Government | ||
| - Mayor | Constantino G. Jaraula (Lakas-CMD) | ||
| - Vice Mayor | Vicente Y. Emano (Lakas-CMD) | ||
| - Headquarters | Executive Building (Old City Hall) | ||
| - 1st District Congressman | Rolando A. Uy (Lakas-CMD) | ||
| - 2nd District Congressman | Rufus B. Rodriguez (PMP-UNO) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 488.86 km2 (188.7 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 10.0 m (33 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 553,966 | ||
| - Density | 945/km2 (2,447.5/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Cagayanons, Kagayanons | ||
| - Languages | Cebuano (Majority), Filipino, Spanish, Maranao, Higaonon, Ilongo, Waray, English | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP Code | 9000 | ||
| Area code(s) | 8822 (MisOrTel), 88 (PLDT-PhilCom and others) | ||
| Abbreviations | CDO, CDOC, CdeO, Cag. de Oro | ||
| Website | www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph | ||
The City of Cagayan de Oro (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro) abbreviated CDO, CDOC, CdeO or Cag. de Oro, lies along the northern coastline in the island of Mindanao, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of the province of Misamis Oriental, classified as a first class city. Claimed by its avid residents as one of the Philippines' most progressive cities and one of its most picturesque. The city serves as the regional center being the most populous highly-urbanized city in Northern Mindanao (Region X). According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has an estimated population of 553,996 people.
Cagayan de Oro is a coastal city facing the Macajalar Bay. Several creeks and rivers run through the city. The southern portion of the city is dominated by hills, gorges, plateaus and mountain ranges of Bukidnon province.[1] The city is known by many nicknames such as "Gateway to Northern Mindanao" because of its location and good transportation facilities, "City of Whitewater Rafting and River Trekking" it is a primary whitewater rafting destination in the country that has a whole year round of maneuverable rafting courses and is located within the city limit, "ICT Goldmine of the Philippines" and "A City in Bloom, in Blossom and in BOOM!" because of the great strides it has made by way of progress, notably in the last few years. Officially, Cagayan de Oro is known as the "City of Golden Friendship" (Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigalaay) for the naturally warm people and old-fashion hospitality. The official city seal bears this phrase.
In its history, Cagayan de Oro was devastated by fierce battles in the 20th century. The American invasion in 1900s Philippine-American War and the second world war changed Cagayan de Oro landscape. Heavy bombardment in World War II leveled the city to the ground. It destroyed the old St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral built in 1845, robbing Cagayan de Oro of its last Spanish heritage. There are also other places in the Philippines with a "Cagayan" name. One must distinguish Cagayan de Oro from Cagayan province in Northern Luzon and the Cagayan Islands in the Sulu Sea.
Etymology
The name Cagayan can be traced back during the arrival of the Recollect friars in 1622, the area around Himologan was already known as cagayan. In fact, early Spanish documents in the 1500s already referred to the place as cagayan. The area of Northern Mindanao, which included Cagayan, was granted as an encomienda to a certain Juan Griego on January 25, 1571. Language researchers trace the etymology of the name "Cagayan" as coming from the Proto-Philippine language, the root of many Filipino languages. In this language, which was Malayo-Polynesian, the word for water was "Ag". "Agus" was the "flow of the water" hence "Agusan" was "the place where there is a flow of the water". In that same language, "Kagay" means "river". "Kagay-an" means "the place of the river". That is the root of the name of Cagayan de Oro, derived from the great river that runs through the city. It also derived from a lost, ancient sound that evolved into "Kagayan", "Karayan", "Kalayan" and others. These derivatives all mean "River".[2] Former Congressman and Vice President of the Philippines Emmanuel Pelaez appended "de Oro" to "Cagayan" in recognition of the gold mining activities in the area known to Spanish explorers which is a combination of the ancient Malayo-Polynesian and Spanish languages that translates to "City of the River of Gold."
Meanwhile, the abbreviation "CDO" which has become the most popular contraction of the official name of the city has considerably lost popular support from local folks in recent years as a conscious effort to dissociate the city from the brand of processed meat sporting the same name.
History
The area was first inhabited around 377 AD (the late Neolithic Period), island natives lived in a settlement then known as Himologan[3] (now known as Huluga), eight kilometers from present day Cagayan de Oro. The natives were polytheistic animist and paid tributes to Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, the Sultan of Maguindanao. In 1622, two Spanish Augustinian Recollect missionaries came in contact with the natives of Himologan and in 1626, Fray Agustin de San Pedro persuaded the chief of Himologan, Datu Salangsang, to transfer his settlement down river, to the present day Gaston Park. Fray Agustin later fortified the new settlement against warriors who were sent by Sultan Kudarat.
On February 27, 1872, the Spanish Governor General Carlos Maria de La Torre issued a decree declaring Cagayan the permanent capital of Segundo Distrito de Misamis. During this era, the name of the town was known as Cagayan de Misamis. On January 10, 1899, Cagayan de Misamis joined the Philippine government of Emilio Aguinaldo and celebrated its independence from Spain. It was the second time the Aguinaldo government was declared and the new Philippine flag raised on the Mindanao island. By virtue of the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States; this caused friction and resulted in the Philippine-American War. In March 31, 1900, the Americans occupied Cagayan de Misamis and on April 7, 1900, battle erupted in the town center led by General Nicolas Capistrano[4] and Filipino resistance fighters. This would later be known as the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis. The Americans won the war, and about forty years later, gave the Philippines its independence July 4, 1946.[5]
In 1738, Spanish dominance was felt in Cagayan de Oro. When Misamis gained status of province in 1818, one of its four districts was the Partidos de Cagayan. In 1871, the "Partidos" became a town and was made permanent capital of Misamis. In 1883, the town became seat of the Spanish government in Mindanao for the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte. Consequently, from a purely farming-fishing area, Cagayan de Oro emerged into a booming commerce and trade center.
The war years in Cagayan de Oro were prompted by the presence of the Americans in 1898. The Americans were initially and successfully repulsed by the local forces led by former Mayor Apolinar Velez at the historic battle of Macahambus in June 4, 1900. After the troubled years, peace finally brought back the economic activities to normal under the guidance of Americans. On June 15, 1950 former President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 521 in Malacañang Palace, which granted the status of a chartered city to the Municipality of Cagayan de Misamis. This was made possible through the efforts of then former Congressman and Vice President of the Philippines Emmanuel Pelaez. Today, Cagayan de Oro is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and was declared a highly-urbanized city by the Ministry of Local Government on November 22, 1983.
Geography
Cagayan de Oro is located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao. It is situated in Mindanao, the second giant of the archipelago of all the mass of the Philippines. To the south, the city is bordered by the Bukidnon Province and Lanao del Norte (Iligan City). The Municipality of Opol, Misamis Oriental borders the city on the west and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to the east. To the north lies Macajalar Bay facing the Bohol Sea. Its total land area is 488.86 km² representing 13.9 percent of the entire Misamis Oriental Province. It includes 25 kilometers of coastline and a fine deep water harbor, Macajalar Bay. 44.7 percent of the surface of Cagayan de Oro is classified as agricultural land, and 38.4 percent is classified as open spaces.[6]
Topography and Soil Type
Cagayan de Oro is characterized by a narrow coastal plain along the Macajalar Bay and by highland areas separated by sleepy inclined escarpment. The lowland is relatively flat and its elevation is not more than 10 meters above the mean sea level. The highlands bound the city in the south from east to west. They consists of plateaus, terraces, gorges. Creeks and rivers traverse and drain to Macajalar Bay. There are seven rivers namely: Cagayan de Oro River, Iponan River, Bigaan River, Cugman River, Umalag River, Agusan river and Alae River. The more notable creeks are Binono-an, Bitan-ag, Indulong, Kolambog, Sapong, and Umalag. About 13,587 hectares or 28 percent of the city's land area have a slope between 0 and 8 percent, which is appropriate for most land uses. Such areas are concentrated on the narrow coastal plain, the flood plain areas of the Cagayan de Oro and Iponan Rivers, and in the upland terraces. The remaining 72 percent of the land have slopes that are greater than 8 percent which pose a challenge to development.
Cagayan de Oro soils are predominantly clayey. Other soil structure are sand, sulfaquent, loam, and clayey loam. Soils which are good for agricultural production are San Manuel Loam and Bantog Clay. The Matima Clay and Umingan Clay Loam are of lesser quality for agricultural production. Other soil types which do not have any agricultural value are hydrosol, beach sand and stony clay. Some of these soils are in rough mountain regions not suitable for exploitation, others are in lowland which are suitable for resort and urban-related uses. The concentration of clay in Barangay Bulua has produced a pottery industry, patronized not only in Cagayan de Oro City but also by surrounding areas. Recently, a German ceramist has made experiments on Bulua clay, mixing it with materials from Surigao and other places in Mindanao.
Climate
Cagayan de Oro has a tropical climate. The average temperature whole year round is 28 °C (82 °F). The highest recorded temperature in the city was 39 °C (102 °F) on June 1998. Cagayan de Oro receives an even amount of rain through out the year. The driest month is April, while July is the wettest. Wet season in the city starts in June and ends in November. Drier season starts in December and ends in May.
[hide] Weather averages for Cagayan de Oro, Philippines  |
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37 (99) |
38 (100) |
38 (100) |
38 (100) |
38 (100) |
39 (102) |
37 (99) |
37 (99) |
36 (97) |
37 (99) |
38 (100) |
37 (99) |
39 (102) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 17 (63) |
17 (63) |
18 (64) |
20 (68) |
22 (72) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
18 (64) |
20 (68) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
| Source: Weatherbase[7] February 2007 | |||||||||||||
Language
Cebuano or Visayan, is the city's main conversational language. English is mainly used for business, written text and is also widely used by the academic community. Most of the local population are also fluent in Filipino, the country's national language. Other ethnic dialects are Higaonon, Spanish, Ilongo, Maranao, Waray among others.
People
The residents of Cagayan de Oro are a mixture of Spanish-American, Maranao, Bukidnon and Chinese blood. People from Cagayan de Oro are called Cagayanons or Kagayanons, the Higaonon are early settlers of Cagayan de Oro. Most are brown-skinned of Malay descent and some with mixed ancestry popularly known to locals as mestizo. People from Cagayan de Oro are warm and hospitable giving it the name the City of Golden Friendship.
There are about 44 percent of the household population in Cagayan de Oro classified themselves as Binisaya/Bisaya, 22.15 percent as Cebuano, 4.38 percent as Boholano, while 28.07 percent as other ethnic groups (2000 Philippine census).[8]
City Events
- Kagay-an Festival is held every 26th to the 28th of August in celebration of Cagayan de Oro's patron, Saint Augustine of Hippo (Señor San Agustin). Highlights of the Kagay-an Festival are the Kagay-an Agro-Trade Fair, Miss Kagay-an Tourism, Higaonon Street Dancing, Golden Float Parade and the Lambagohan Fluvial Parade. There are also cultural shows, competitions and concerts. The word "Kagay-an" means "the place of the river" is the root of the name of Cagayan de Oro, derived from the great river that runs through the city.
- Charter Day every 15th of June, the city celebrates the cityhood of Cagayan de Oro. It was on June 15, 1950 that Cagayan de Misamis became a city and its name changed to Cagayan de Oro.
- Kumbira a culinary show and exhibit that started in 1996 by local hoteliers and restaurants, it is now one of the most anticipated culinary show and exhibit in the region. There are food demonstrations, culinary competition and seminars. Hotel and Restaurant Management schools from neighboring provinces participate and showcase their students talent along with local hoteliers. This is usually held in mid of August as part of the Kagay-an Festival.
- Kagay-an Agro-Trade Fair a trade fair showcases the different indigenous and home-made products from various parts of Northern Mindanao including Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental province. Products include woven bags, goat's milk, soap, local wine, processed food and others. It is one of the core activities of the Kagay-an Festival.
- Holy Week Trek March or April (movable) on the eve of Good Friday (Thursday evening), thousands of Cagayanons trek Malasag Hill for the annual "Via Crucis" or "Way of the Cross". The 3 kilometer trek ends at the Corsillo Retreat House.
- Sakay-Sakay sa Lumbago organized way back in the mid 1980's, this fluvial parade, also called Lambagohan Festival, is held along the Cagayan de Oro river. Lambago (scientific name Hibiscus Tiliaceus) is a type of tree that used to be commonly found along the banks of Cagayan de Oro river.
- Miss Kagay-an Tourism Filipinos are fond of beauty pagents and Cagayan de Oro is no exception. Local girls compete for the most prestigious beauty pageant in the city. The event, also known as Miss Cagayan de Oro, is held before the city fiesta or Kagay-an Festival.
- Golden Float Parade started in 2007, it includes marching bands from different city schools. It is also participated by local government departments and commercial establishments. It is one of the core events in the Kagay-an Festival.
- Independence Day every June 12, Philippine Independence Day is celebrated also in the city. Government, military parades and exhibits mark on this event.
Religion
Roman Catholic is the city's dominant religion, represented by almost 80 percent of the population. Other religious affiliations include Protestants, Baptists, Evangelicals, Iglesia Ni Kristo, Philippine Independent Church, Islam and Pentecostal. The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is an Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is a Metropolitan See in the island of Mindanao the archdiocese comprises three civil provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin. Today, the current Archbishop is the Most Reverend Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D., who was installed on March 4, 2006 and its seat is located in the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral.
Recently, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church has also decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to San Agustin's Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro, in Mindanao, so that Nazarene devotees from Mindanao may not have to travel to Quiapo, Manila for their annual pilgrimage.
Infrastructure
As the trade and services center of Northern Mindanao, the city is a prime location for cost-effective air, land and sea transit. Moreover, its striving business community and the necessary business support facilities makes the process of doing business relaxed and pleasurable. The soundness of the Cagayan de Oro business climate with its rural flavor combined with the warm and easy nature of the local people gives it a self-contained setting that motivated an increasing number expatriate business to stay in the city for good. As an urban center with a regional market orientation, a high level of market sophistication and an economy closely intertwined with the economies of the entire region, the city is poised for planned, rapid and sustained growth.
Utilities
- There are six major land based phone companies PLDT-PhilCom, MisOrTel, Smart Broadband (formerly CruzTelCo), ItalTel, SoTelCo and BayanTel serving the city.
- Mobile phone services are provided by Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, Sun Cellular and Red Mobile, operate vital transmission towers in the city.
- There are several internet companies operating in the city offering dial up, broadband, Wi-Fi and cable services. The Pueblo de Oro IT Park located in Upper Carmen is the first PEZA-registered IT park in Mindanao. The IT Park currently houses one of Cagayan de Oro's call centers.
- The only cable-based company in the city is the home-grown Cable 21 Technologies, a sister-company of the Parasat Cable TV Inc.
- Water services is provided by the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), it was the first water district established in the entire country.
- Electricity is provided by the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (CEPALCO). CEPALCO, which began operations in 1952, covers the City of Cagayan de Oro and the Municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan, all in the Province of Misamis Oriental, including the 3,000-hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate and caters to more than 100,000 consumers. The Company's distribution system network now includes 138KV, 69KV, 34.5KV and 13.8KV systems. CEPALCO is also operating the developing world’s first and largest (at the time of its inauguration in 2004) on-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant. The 1-megawatt polycrystalline silicon-based PhotoVoltaic plant in Indahag of this city is connected with the distribution network of CEPALCO.
- Road network of the province and that of Cagayan de Oro City already reached 797.133 and 406.87941 kilometers respectively. This already includes the 210.137 kilometers all-weather, two-lane highway connecting the province to Iligan and Butuan cities. Davao is accessible via Butuan City and the alternative route that passes through the province of Bukidnon.
- Bridges there are 65 bridges, covering 2,219 linear meters. Length ranges from 6 to 199 linear meters. Types: reinforced concrete deck girder bridge (RCDG), steel, bailey, timber, spillway and footbridge.
Education
Cagayan de Oro is the education hub in Northern Mindanao, home to several universities, colleges and tertiary schools. It has three major private universities, namely: Capitol University, Liceo de Cagayan University and Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan as the first Mindanao university. These institutions specialize in various disciplines such as medicine, nursing, commerce, engineering, and law, as well as graduate and post-graduate courses. The Mindanao University of Science and Technology formerly (Mindanao Polytechnic State College) is the only state university in the city[9].