HISTORY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY by:ATTY. “TOMMY” C. PACANA

Two thousand years ago, there were already ancient Kagay-anons living around the vicinity of Hulaga, Himologan and Tagbalitang caves around 8 kilometers south of Cagayan de Oro City.
Fr. Francisco Demetrio, S.J., noted archeologist and Filipino folklorist of Xavier University had collected tools, implements, potteries and shards from these areas and subjected these to the Carbon dating process at the Philippine Historical Museum to determine their age.
It was found that these tools and implements were already used by the ancient Kagay-anons during the Neolithic Age.
This shows how old Cagayan de Oro is before the coming of the Spanish “conquistadors” to the Philippines in march 1521. There were three great Sultanates of Mindanao and Sulu.
These were Sultanates of Sulu under Sheriff Aljaluddin, the Sultanate of Maguindanao under Sheriff Mawi, and Tagoloan under Sheriff Mohammed Kabungsuwan.
The Sultanate of Tagoloan extended from Baloi, Lanao del Sur, to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro (or Kalambaguhan, by which name it was then known), was merely a passageway from Baloi to Butuan, which was already a great trading center like Zugbu, Panay and Manila.
Kalambaguhan has a small settlement of Bukidnons who lived along the riverbanks of the Kalambaguhan River. This river (now the Cagayan River) was so known because of the “Lambago” trees that grew profusely along its banks.


During this time, however, the Cachel Corralat (Sultan Kudarat) marauding warriors attacked such places as Manticao, Tagnipa, (El Salvador), Iligan and Kalambaguhan to bring these places with their domain. They captured the women, children and working animals of the inhabitants in these places and brought them to their Sultanate.
Because of these constant raids, the Bukidnons along the river fled to the hills of Hulaga led by their ruler, Datu Salangsang.
Sometime in 1622, long after the Spaniards had established themselves at Butuan, Spanish friars under Fray Agustin de San Pedro known as “El Padre Capitan” went to see Datu Salangsang and sought to invite him and his people to come down to their told settlement at Kalambaguhan under the protection of the Spaniards.


Datu Salangsang’s aunt, a Christianized woman of influence whose name was Magdalena Bacuya. With a messenger from El Padre Capitan reiterated his offer to Datu Salangsang and convinced him to come down to their ancient settlement of Kalambaguhan.
To protect the Bukidnons from the constant raids of the Muslim from Cachel Corralat, El Padre Capitan built a fortification around the settlement, which is now Gaston Park.
Several raids of the Maguindanao warriors were repulsed by the courageous El Padre Capitan that the Muslims never returned again to the settlement.
It was from this small settlement that the present Cagayan de Oro originated. A small church was built on the site, which later became the present San Agustin Cathedral.


Thereby, the fame of El Padre Capitan as an able military strategist, spread far and wide. He vanquished the Muslims around Lake Lanao.
The people of Cagayan de Oro come from a blend of two cultures those of the Muslims and Bukidnons. These were the native people that had settled in the region long before the coming of the Spaniards in fact, the first Christians among these natives were the Muslims from Lanao who were the descendants of the Samporna clan.
They were the first to be baptized along with the Bato-Batos, the Wagas, Abas, Dagumbals and several families.


ANOTHER VERSION IS MORE ROMANTIC


Another version of how Cagayan de Oro got its name is told in of that story of a Bukidnon chieftain on the eastern side of Cagayan River (whose name according to old folks was Mansicampo), once had a quarrel with a Muslim Datu across the river (now the RER Subdivision), his name was Bagongsalibo.
The quarrel became intense that the Bukidnon chieftain wanted it settled by war. However, the Muslim Datu across the river wanted to live in peace with his people in that part of Cagayan.
Mansicampo then called on all his followers and relatives from the Bukidnon tribes of Daan Lunsod, gathered on the eastern side of the river ready for combat then Mansicampo ordered his son, the Bagani, to go and see Datu Bagongsalibo and arranged for a council of war.
Therefore, the young prince went to see the Muslim Datu and confirmed with him. During the conference, however the young prince noted that there was a beautiful young woman who kept on peeping from behind a door looking at him.
She was so beautiful that the young prince was immediately captivated and forgot his main purpose in the council. The young prince immediately proposed his intentions to the Muslim Datu who was only too willing to accept his land in marriage as he was not very keen about going to war against a neighbor.
When the Bukidnon chieftain heard about his son proposing marriage to the daughter of his enemy. His warriors bid goodbye and left to live near the hills of Lumbia vowing never return to his former settlement which he now call “Kagayha-an” (or in Bukidnon, a place of shame).
Since then, Cagayan de Oro has grown into one of the most peaceful and progressive cities in the entire Philippines.


Read More....http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/legend.htm

HISTORY OF Cagayan de Oro City, by:ATTY. “TOMMY” C. PACANA

WHITEWATER RAFTING IS ORO'S PRIMARY OTOP

HIGHLIGHTING one of the city's famous wild rapids, the City Council during its regular session yesterday presided over by Councilor Dante Pajo adopted a resolution declaring the Whitewater Rafting as the primary One Town, One Product of Cagayan de Oro.

Councilor Alden Bacal, chair of the committee on tourism, authored the resolution even as the city continues to promote the white water rafting adventure to local residents and tourists.The One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which aims to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs. Under the OTOP, local chief executives of each city and municipality take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service, which has a competitive advantage. OTOP Philippines supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. LCR




Source: http://cagayandeoro.gov.ph
by: Lorebeth C. Requiroso

City of Cagayan de Oro

The City of Cagayan de Oro (kă-gə'yăn dĕ ôrô); abbreviated C.D.O. or Cag. de Oro ; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro; is the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental, the regional center for Northern Mindanao (Region 10). According to the 2000 census, the city has an estimated population of 470,000 individuals in 200,000 households

Official Seal Of The City Of Cagayan de Oro

History

The area was first inhabited around 377 AD (the late Neolithic Period), island natives lived in a settlement then known as Himologan (now known as Huluga), eight kilometers from present day Cagayan de Oro. The natives were polytheistic animist and paid tributes to Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kuradat, 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 the1898 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 and Filipino resistance fighters. The U.S. won the Philippine-American war, and about forty years later, gave the Philippines Indepence on July 4, 1946. When World War II erupted on May 1, 1942, Japanese forces invaded Cagayan de Misamis, destroying most of the town. Cagayan was liberated from Japanese occupation on May 10, 1945, but in the process, suffered heavy aerial bombardment from the United States Air Force. Cagayan de Misamis was slowly transformed as the economic center of Northern Mindanao with the establishment of the Philippine Packing Corporation, presently known as Del Monte Philippines, Inc...

It was through the efforts of Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez, that the town of Cagayan de Misamis became a city on June 15, 1950 and its name changed to Cagayan de Oro. Congressman Pelaez appended "de Oro" to "Cagayan" in recognition of the gold mining activities in the area known to Spanish explorers.

Geography

Cagayan de Oro is located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao. To the south, the city is bordered by the Bukidnon Province. The Municipality of Opol, Misamis Oriental borders the city on the west andTagoloan, 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% of the entire Misamis Oriental Province. It includes 25 kilometers of coastline and a fine deep water harbor, Macajalar Bay. 44.7% of the surface of Cagayan de Oro is classified as agricultural land, and 38.4% is classified as open spaces

Economy

Cagayan de Oro is the base to both local and multi-national companies such as Del Monte Philippines, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, and others. The city's economy is largely based on industry, trade, service and tourism. Link2Support and Arriba are among the few call centers that have recently opened their doors to the city. Cagayan de Oro is a young city compared to other highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. The city's annual income has reached a local record of 1.345 Billion Pesos as of the fiscal year, 2006. With the ongoing construction of the Laguindingan International Airport, business analysts predict the entry of more foreign and local investments and an increase in tourism activity in the region will make Cagayan de Oro as one of the chief cities in the southern part of the Philippines.

Government

Cagayan de Oro City has been administered by elected and appointed officials since June 15, 1950. The city political government is composed of the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, sixteen City Councilors and one Sangguniang Kabataan Federation representative.

Barangays & Congressional Districts

The city is politically subdivided into eighty barangays (bä-räng-gīs) and two Congressional Districts. Cagayan de Oro was divided into two Congressional Districts with Cagayan de Oro river as its natural boundary in February 22, 2007. Each district elects eight City Councilors and one Congressional Representative. The first Congressional District is composed of twenty-five Barangays while the 2nd Congressional District is composed of fifty-five Barangays; forty of these barangays are located within the municipality.