Legislative Act No. 3537 passed on November 2, 1929 divided the old province of Misamis into Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental. The Occidental comprised the towns of Baliangao, Lopez Jaena, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Aloran, Jimenez, and Misamis. The original nine (9) municipalities of the province of Misamis Occidental grew into the present three cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta and Tangub and the fourteen (14) municipalities of Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Concepcion, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Lopez Jaena, Panaon, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban and Tudela with a total of 490 barangays.
The name “Misamis” is believed to have been derived from the Subano word “Kuyamis” which is a variety of sweet coconut – the staple food of the yearly settlers in this place. During the years the name persisted as an inference of geographical location and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word “kuyamis” easily gave way to the more conveniently pronounceable but corrupted word “Misamis”.
GEOGRAPHY
Misamis Occidental is located near the narrows strip of land linking northwestern Mindanao to the north central part of the island. It is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by the Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay and west by Zamboanga del Norte and del Sur. The fact that three of its boundaries are bodies of water makes fishing as one of its main industries. Except along the coastal area, hilly and rolling lands characterize the provincial terrain. Towards the western border, the terrain is particularly rugged. The province falls between 6 and 9 degrees east longitude.
The province has a total land area of 2,024.18 square kilometers representing 65 percent of the total land area of the Philippines. Tudela has the biggest land area equivalent to 13.8 percent of the total province area. The municipality of Panaon shares the smallest area of only 46.80 square kilometers.
CLIMATE
The climate belongs to the Fourth type where rainfall is more or less fairly distributed throughout the year. The average rainfall in the past twenty years was recorded at 182.5 millimeters. The rainiest months are November and December; the driest are February, March and April. The entire province is outside the typhoon belt, but it is sometimes affected by freak storms.
LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Cebuano, Tagalog, Subano and English
Misamis Occidental - Christmas Capital Of Mindanao
Description
Bounded on three directions by bodies of water, Misamis Occidental is known to its neighbors for beautiful waters and bountiful fish and seafood for export. In fact, Layawan River in Oroquieta City is a constant awardee of the national environmental recognition, Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran, as Cleanest Inland Body of Water. But there is one other place that is drawing tourists into this coastal yet rugged province – the city of Tangub, which comes alive especially at Christmas.
The yuletide season is equated with a one-of-a-kind celebration in Tangub, which has been tagged as the “Christmas Symbols Capital of Mindanao.” Come December, the cityfolk get busy creating unique interpretations and presentations of the different known Christmas symbols. Indigenous, low-cost, and often enormous, these Christmas showcase pieces are then lavishly displayed at the city plaza and highway barangays for competition, and collectively, as a truly breathtaking sight to behold.
Tourist-friendly Tangub City also mounts the Dalit Festival every 29th of September, which is the feast of day of its patron, Saint Michael, the Archangel. The festival is the city’s simple way of saying “Mabuhay and Welcome to Tangub.” Dalit, which means “offering,” presents the unique way of fostering friendship, unity, and love of all Tangubanons to their visitors. Among the varied activities and presentations are rituals and dances that depict the Filipino way of life.
Geography
Misamis Occidental is located near the narrow strip of land linking northwestern Mindanao to the north central part of the island. It is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by the Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay, and west by Zamboanga del Norte and del Sur. The fact that three of its boundaries are bodies of water makes fishing as one of its main industries. Except along the coastal area, hilly and rolling lands characterize the provincial terrain. Towards the western border, the terrain is particularly rugged. The province falls between 6 and 9 degrees east longitude.
Political Subdivisions
The province has a total land area of 2,024.18 square kilometers representing 65 percent of the total land area of the Philippines. Tudela has the biggest land area equivalent to 13.8 percent of the total province area. The municipality of Panaon shares the smallest area of only 46.80 square kilometers.
Population
Misamis Occidental has a total population of 488,665 (1999 projection) with the bulk from the cities of Ozamiz at 108,541, Oroquieta at 59,637, and Tangub with a total population of 49, 981. The Municipality of Concepcion comprises the lowest population among the 15 municipalities of the province at 5,342 occupying a land area of 61.60 sq.km.
Language/Dialect
Subanon, pronounced "Subanen," is the dialect of the province, used mostly by the members of the Subanon Tribe. However, most residents are Cebuano-speaking and can speak tagalog and English as well.
Climate
The climate belongs to the Fourth type where rainfall is more or less fairly distributed throughout the year. The average rainfall in the past twenty years was recorded at 182.5 millimeters. The rainiest months are November and December; the driest are February, March, and April. The entire province is outside the typhoon belt but it is sometimes affected by freak storms.
Industries
Pitati mat weaving; ceramic vases and potteries; Philippine Compak Boards, which produces particle boards; and Naomi's Botanical Garden for cutflowers, ornamental plants, and fruit seedlings.
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