Cagayan de Oro

This article is about a city in the Philippines. For other uses, see Cagayan (disambiguation).

Cagayan de Oro Dakbayan sa Cagayán de Oro Lungsód ng Cagayán de Oro
—  Highly-urbanized City  —
City of Cagayan de Oro
(From top, left to right): Cagayan de Oro at sunset, Provincial Capitol, Limketkai Hotel and Resort in under construction, Heritage Monument of Misamis Oriental, St. Augustine Cathedral, Claro M. Recto Avenue—Velez St., Cagayan de Oro at day.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): "City of Golden Friendship" "Melting Pot of Mindanao" "The New Adventure Capital of the Philippines"
Map of Misamis Oriental province showing the location of Cagayan de Oro.
Cagayan de Oro Map of the Philippines showing the location of Cagayan de Oro.
Coordinates: 8°29′N 124°39′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Class	1st Class City; Highly-urbanized
Province	Misamis Oriental (Capital)
Districts	1st to 2nd Districts of Cagayan de Oro
Barangays	80
Settled	1871 (as Cagayan de Misamis)
Incorporated (City)	June 15, 1950
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Oscar Moreno (LP)
• Vice Mayor	Ian Acenas (NP)
Area
• Total	488.86 km2 (188.75 sq mi)
Elevation	10.0 m (32.8 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	602,088
• Density	945/km2 (2,450/sq mi)
• Demonym	Cagayanons, Kagay-anons
• Languages	Cebuano (Widely spoken), Filipino, English
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	9000
Area code	088 to 08822
Abbreviations	CDO, CDOC, CdeO, Cag. de Oro
Website	www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph

Cagayan de Oro; (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro); abbreviated CDO, CDOC, CdeO and or Cag. de Oro, is the capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in the north-southern Philippines. It serves as the regional center for the Northern Mindanao (Region X), and is part of a growing Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro. It is bordered by the municipalities of Opol to the west of the city and Tagoloan to the east. According to the 2010 Census of Population in the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro has an estimated population of 602,088 (2.78%) inhabitants—making it the 10th most populous city in the Philippines.

History

See also: Battle of Cagayan de Misamis

The area was first inhabited around 377 C.E. (the late Neolithic period), island natives lived in a settlement then known as Himologan (now known as Huluga), eight kilometers from present day Cagayán de Oro. The natives were polytheistic animists.

In 1622, two Spanish Augustinian Recollect missionaries came in contact with the natives of Himologan and in 1626, Fray Agustín de San Pedro persuaded the chief of Himologan, Datu Salangsang, to transfer his settlement down river, to the present-day Gaston Park. De San Pedro later fortified the new settlement against Sultan Kudarat's raiders.

In 1738, Spanish dominance was felt in Cagayán 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 a permanent capital of Misamis.

On February 27, 1872, Governor-General Carlos María 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 Cagayán de Misamis.

In 1883, the town became a seat of the Spanish government in Mindanao for the Provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

On January 10, 1899, Cagayán de Misamis joined the 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. On March 31, 1900, Americans occupied Cagayán de Misamis and on April 7, 1900, battle erupted in the town center led by General Nicolas Capistrano 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. 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 Kagay-anons forces led by Mayor Don Apolinar Vélez at the historic Battle of Makahambus on June 4, 1900.

The American forces attacking Makahambus, circa 1900.

After the troubled years, peace finally brought back the economic activities to normalcy under the guidance of the United States. Consequently, from a purely farming-fishing area, Cagayan de Oro emerged into a booming commerce and trade center.

In 1948, the barrios of El Salvador and Molugan with their sitios known as Sala, Sambulawan, Sinaloc, Lagtang, Talaba, Kalabaylabay and Hinigdaan were separated from Cagayan de Oro to form the town of El Salvador.

In 1950, the barrios of Opol, Igpit, and Lower Iponan were separated from Cagayan de Oro to form the town of Opol.

On June 15, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 521, which granted the status of a chartered city to the Municipality of Cagayan de Misamis. This was made possible through the efforts of then Cagayan de Oro Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez.

Cagayan de Oro was then declared a highly urbanized city by the Ministry of Local Government on November 22, 1983.

The name Cagayán de Oro can be traced back during the arrival of the Spanish Augustinian Recollect friars in 1622, the area around Himologan (now Huluga), was already known as "Cagayan". Early Spanish documents in the 16th century already referred to the place as "Cagayán". The area of Northern Mindanao, which included Cagayán de Oro, was granted as Encomienda to a certain Juan Griego on January 25, 1571. It was Emmanuel Peláez who appended de Oro to Cagayán.

Martial Rule

During the regime of the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, Cagayan de Oro earned the reputation as the center of political opposition in the Philippines. Independent-minded politicians in Cagayan de Oro helped restore democracy at EDSA in 1986. In 1987, Cagayan de Oro became a congressional district in the Congress of the Philippines. The first congressional representative was Benedicta B. Roa.

Geography

See also: Metro Cagayan de Oro

NASA—false-color satellite image of Macajalar Bay and the metropolis area.

Cagayan de Oro is located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao region. It is situated in Mindanao, the second giant of the archipelago of all the landmass of the Philippines.

The southern portion of the city is bordered by the Provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte. The Municipality of Opol borders the city on the west and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to the east. To the north lies Macajalar Bay facing Bohol Sea.

It’s total land area is 488.86 km² representing 13.9% of the entire Misamis Oriental Province. It includes 25 kilometers of coastline and a 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.

The city is frequently categorized and referenced according to geographic factors:

• 1st district (West area) - consist of 24 barangays which mostly are suburban.
• 2nd district (East area) - 17 barangays, including city proper barangays from 1 to 40.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification system, Cagayan De Oro has a tropical climate with an annual average temperature of 28 °C . In June 1998, the city recorded its highest temperature to date of 39 °C .

Cagayan De Oro does not receive an even amount of rainfall throughout the year . The driest months are March and April whilst August and September are the wettest months . The rainy or wet season lasts from June till November with the relatively drier season lasting from December till May . The city lies outside the typhoon belt but is affected by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone .

Climate data 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)
Daily mean °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)
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)
Avg. rainy days	10	7	6	6	8	13	14	14	15	15	11	11	130
Source: Weatherbase

Crime and law enforcement

Cagayan de Oro is the base of major military and police camps in the Northern Mindanao region. Camp Vicente Alagar, located in Barangay Lapasan, is the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in the city. It has jurisdiction over the entire region.

Camp Edilberto Evangelista, located in Barangay Patag is the largest military camp in Mindanao with an area of 129 hectares. It is home to the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. Camp Evangelista's external jurisdiction covers the Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions. Minor military camps are also located in Barangay Lumbia and Upper Puerto.

In 2009, the crime rate in Cagayan de Oro decreased. An annual accomplishment report revealed a crime solution efficiency rate of 97.18 percent in 2007. It exceeded the 85 percent crime solution efficiency rate goal set by the police.

Demographics

Population census
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	21,779	—
1918	28,062	1.7%
1939	48,084	2.6%
1948	46,266	-0.43%
1970	128,319	4.75%
1975	165,220	5.19%
1980	227,312	6.59%
1990	339,598	4.1%
2000	461,871	3.12%
2007	553,966	2.63%
2010	602,088	2.82%
2011	722,557	20.01%

As of the 2010 Census of Population in the Philippines, the population of the city was 11,477,344 making it the 10th most populous city in the Philippines.

About 44% of the household population in Cagayan de Oro classified themselves as Visayan (Binisaya or bisaya), 22.15% as Cebuano, 4.38% as Boholano, while 28.07% as other ethnic groups (2000 Census).

Languages

Cebuano is the city's lingua franca, due to the influx of Cebuano speakers from the Visayas. English is mainly used for business and in the academe. Most of the local population is also fluent in Filipino.

Culture and arts

There are several notable events in the city. Each barangays or barrios has its own feast locally known as Fiesta literally as festivals honoring their patron saints after achieving recognition in their own rights.

Kagay-an Festival, is a week-long festival in celebration of Cagayan de Oro's patron saint Señor San Agustin, held every month of August. "Kagay-an" thus means a river. Highlights of the Kagay-an Festival are Kahimuan Trade Fair that features the native products of the city and province particularly on agriculture products, Miss Kagay-an, Folkloric Street Dancing Competition which features colorful attires and cultural dances of the Higaonon tribes, Golden Float Parade, Halad sa Lambagohan, PE Rhythmic Dance Competition, Kalo Festival and Kumbira that started on 1996 by Kagay-anons hoteliers and restaurants. A culinary show and exhibit, it has been evolved over the years and it now hosts a culinary competition among students and professionals all over Mindanao.

The competition is divided into students and professionals where Hotel and Restaurant Management schools and professional chefs compete against each other in their respective categories. There are also cultural shows, competitions and celebrity concerts.

Charter Day is the city's celebration of its cityhood established on June 15, 1950. It is a non-working holiday and a roster of special activities is lined up annually to mark this special occasion.

Religion

Main article: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro

Most Reverend James T.G. Hayes, the first Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.

St. Augustine Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in Mindanao.

Roman Catholicism is the city's dominant religion, represented by almost 87% of the population. Other religious affiliations include the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, Philippine Independent Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Christ's Commission Fellowship, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Islam, and others.

Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is an Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The archdiocese comprises three civil Provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin. It is a metropolitan see in the island of Mindanao.

The current Archbishop is Most Reverend Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D., who was installed on March 4, 2006, and its seat is located at St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral.

Recently, the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church has also decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to Jesus Nazareno Parish Church in Cagayan de Oro, so that Black Nazarene devotees from Mindanao may not have to travel to Quiapo in Manila for their annual pilgrimage.

In recent decades, Protestants abound in the city. One of the known Protestant groups in the city is Pentecostalism, which dramatically increased forth with 2.8% total population. About 20 churches have been settling in the metropolitan area.

Celebration International Church has one of the highest member attendances with a record of 735 members. In addition, three main Pentecostal mother churches are situated in the suburban area and few in the metropolitan areas.

Also, Adventists, Mormons, and Methodists are surged in the suburban areas and few in the city. Although, many Protestants are sourced from foreign countries such as Korea, Australia, and USA and other countries with Protestant populations.

Cuisine

Main article: Philippine cuisine

Cagayan de Oro is noted for its pineapple industry.

Cagayan de Oro’s food culture includes a variety of world cuisines influenced by the city's immigrant history. Western and Austronesian immigrants have made the city famous for pastel bread, chicharrón, and ham. Numerous Chinese and Korean restaurants are also present in the city. Some mobile food vendors licensed by the city sell street food like kwek-kwek, fish balls, tempura, and grilled meat.

Sports

Main article: Sports in the Philippines

Cagayan de Oro is the home of Cagayan de Oro Stars and Cagayan de Oro Rapids basketball teams. This major teams of the city is member community of Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association, an amateur commercial basketball league in Southern Philippines sanctioned by the country's National Sports Association for basketball, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). Also it is the home of Holcim MoneyGram-Misamis Oriental and Holcim Pryce Pharma which commencing the Misamis Oriental. Aside from the basketball, Cagayan de Oro also to be known for its oldest lawn tennis clubs like the Golden Friendship Tennis Club. In addition, the city is ornamented with amateur volleyball teams as Xavier University Volleyball Team, DLSU Lady Archers Volleyball Team, and UP alumni association.

The city was known to its leading sport, chess, one of the most common recreations by continuing championships in Mindanao since 1990’s. Also, the white water rafting and Kayaking has its annual sport events through the Cagayan River.

Cagayan de Oro also designate a number of sports venues, including one of the largest sports complex in Mindanao the Pelaez Memorial Sports Center, Xavier University Gym, Liceo de Cagayan University Gym and other, a sports and entertainment complex that also hosts concerts. The Pelaez Memorial Sports Center serves as the home complex of Misamis Oriental sports teams.

Economy

See also: Economy of the Philippines

Skyline of Cagayan de Oro as viewed from Carmen hill.

Skyline of Cagayan de Oro as viewed from Carmen hill.

Cagayan de Oro is claiming as the Melting Pot of Mindanao, but later determined as self-proclaimed. It is also a business hub of Northern Mindanao region, considered as one of the most progressive and competitive cities in the country. It was recorded to have reached the annual income of 1.345 billion pesos as of the fiscal year in 2006. The city's economy is largely based on industry, commerce, trade, services and tourism.

Investment in Cagayan de Oro for the first six months of 2012 have reached 7.4 billion pesos outpacing the local government's expectation of to nearly 100 percent. Investments in the city is dominated by malls, high rise hotels and condominiums and convention centers.Net income for 2011 pegged at 1.8 billion pesos.

With the ongoing construction of the Laguindingan International Airport located in the Municipality of Laguindingan, 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.

Infrastructure

• There are five major land based phone companies MisOrTel, PLDT-PhilCom, Smart Broadband (formerly CruzTelCo), BayanTel and ItalTel serving the city.
• Mobile phone services are provided by Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular.
• There are several internet companies operating in the city offering dial up, broadband, Wi-Fi and cable services. Pueblo de Oro Business 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.
• Water services are provided by the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), it was the first water district established in the entire Philippines.
• Electricity is provided by the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (CEPALCO). CEPALCO, which began operations in 1952 that covers 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 power plant. The 1-megawatt polycrystalline silicon-based Photovoltaic (PV) plant in Barangay Indahag of this city is connected with the distribution network of CEPALCO. It is the biggest solar power plant connected to the power grid in Southeast Asia.

Transportation

Port of Cagayan de Oro, one of the busiest ports in Mindanao.

As the gateway to Northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is very accessible by land, air and water transportations.

The Cagayan de Oro Port in Macabalan area is located near the estuary of Cagayan de Oro River. it has an anchorage depth of 18 meters and is around 400 meters from the shoreline. It has two authorized cargo-handling operators. With the recent completion of the P250 million rehabilitation project, the port is now the largest international and domestic seaport in the country.

The seaport serves regular trips to and from Manila, Cebu City, Tagbilaran, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo City and Jagna, Bohol. General Milling and Del Monte Philippines also operates their own port facilities within Cagayan de Oro. The $85 million Mindanao International Container Port is located in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental 17 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro serves the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate.

Lumbia Airport is the second-busiest airport in Mindanao after Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City which caters domestic flights to and from Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao City and Zamboanga. It is set to be replaced by the larger Laguindingan International Airport, currently under construction in the Municipality of Laguindingan, some 46 kilometers southwest of Cagayan de Oro.

Laguindingan International Airport sits on a 4.17 square kilometer site in Barangay Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and located 46 kilometers from the existing Lumbia Airport. It was inaugurated on January 11, 2006, with groundbreaking ceremonies presided by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who advocated the idea of an international airport in the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor.

The Market City and Eastbound Integrated Bus Terminal offers a regular land trips to and from eastern towns of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon including Malaybalay and Valencia City, Gingoog City, Kabacan, North Cotabato, Butuan City, Surigao in the Caraga region, Davao City, Tacurong and Balingoan (ferry going for Camiguin). Westbound Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal is also offering a regular land trips to and from western towns of Misamis Oriental including Laguindingan and El Salvador City, Iligan City, Marawi, Oroquieta, Ozamiz City, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga City and some parts of western Mindanao.

Several means of public transportation are also available within the city. A number of companies also operate taxi services. There are also a couple of river taxis that operates ply down to the Cagayan de Oro River for both locals and tourists.

Medical facilities

Cagayan de Oro has a hospital bed to population ratio of 1:474 as of 2003. There are twelve major private and government-run hospitals including fifty Barangay Health Centers and twenty Family Planning Centers.^{[citation needed]}

J.R. Borja Memorial Medical Hospital (formerly City Hospital) and Northern Mindanao Medical Center (formerly Provincial Hospital) are the two main government-run hospitals while the Polymedic Medical Plaza, Maria Reyna – Xavier University Hospital, and Capitol University Medical City are privately owned.

Shopping centers

See also: List of shopping malls in Cagayan de Oro

There are several shopping malls in the city. Notable ones are Limketkai Mall, SM City Cagayan de Oro, Robinsons Cagayan de Oro, Ororama chain of stores, Centrio, Paseo Mall, and Gaisano City Malls.

Education

The city has three major private universities: the Capitol University, Liceo de Cagayan University and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. The Mindanao University of Science and Technology is the only state university in the city. Other higher education institutions include Southern Philippines College, Pilgrim Christian College, Cagayan de Oro College – PHINMA Education Network, Lourdes College and St. Mary's Academy of Carmen run by the RVM Sisters, and STI College - Cagayan de Oro with a secondary education program in Barangay Kauswagan. There are also a number of foreign schools in the city with study programs.

Notable public and private elementary and high schools include Cagayan de Oro National High School, Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School, Regional Science High School 10, City Central School, Corpus Christi School, Nanuri International School, International School, Golden Heritage Polytechnic College, Vineyard International Polytechnic College, and Montessori de Oro. There are also schools in Cagayan de Oro that use the Accelerated Christian Education system. Two of these schools include Lapasan Baptist Christian Academy and Shekinah Glory Christian Academy. There are two Chinese schools in the city: Kong Hua School (Roman Catholic) and Oro Christian Grace School (Evangelical Christian).

Law and Government

See also: List of mayors of Cagayan de Oro City

Elected and appointed officials have administered Cagayan de Oro since June 15, 1950, with a strong Mayor-council government. The city political government is composed of the Mayor, Vice Mayor, two Congressional districts Representatives, sixteen Councilors, one Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation Representative and an Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Representative. Each official is elected publicly to a three-year terms.

The following are the current City Officials of Cagayan de Oro:

• City Mayor: Hon. Vicente Y. Emano
• Vice Mayor: Hon. Caesar Ian E. Acenas

• House of Representatives
  • 1st district (West): Rep. Jose Benjamin A. Benaldo
  • 2nd district (East): Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez

Barangays and Legislative districts

Main article: Legislative districts of Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro is politically subdivided into 80 barangays. These are grouped into two congressional districts, 24 barangays in the 1st District (West) and 56 barangays in the 2nd District (East), with Cagayan de Oro River as the natural boundary. The city has a 57 urbanized barangays and 23 rural barangays all in all.

1st district

• Barangays: Baikingon, Balulang, Bayabas, Bayanga, Besigan, Bonbon, Bulua, Canitoan, Carmen, Dansolihon, Iponan, Kauswagan, Lumbia, Mambuaya, Pagalungan, Pagatpat, Patag, Pigsag-an, San Simon, Taglimao, Tagpangi, Tignapoloan, Tuburan, Tumpagon—with a population of 290,913 (as of 2010 Census of Population in the Philippines).

2nd district

• Barangays: Agusan, Balubal, Bugo, Camaman-an, Consolacion, Cugman, F.S. Catanico, Gusa, Indahag, Lapasan (Agora), Macabalan, Macasandig, Nazareth, Puerto, Puntod, Tablon, and the city proper barangays of Barangay 1 (Poblacion), Barangay 2 (Población), Barangay 3 (Población), Barangay 4 (Población), Barangay 5 (Población), Barangay 6 (Población), Barangay 7 (Población), Barangay 8 (Población), Barangay 9 (Población), Barangay 10 (Población), Barangay 11 (Población), Barangay 12 (Población), Barangay 13 (Población), Barangay 14 (Población), Barangay 15 (Población), Barangay 16 (Población), Barangay 17 (Población), Barangay 18 (Población), Barangay 19 (Población), Barangay 20 (Población), Barangay 21 (Población), Barangay 22 (Población), Barangay 23 (Población), Barangay 24 (Población), Barangay 25 (Población), Barangay 26 (Población), Barangay 27 (Población), Barangay 28 (Población), Barangay 29 (Población), Barangay 30 (Población), Barangay 31 (Población), Barangay 32 (Población), Barangay 33 (Población), Barangay 34 (Población), Barangay 35 (Población), Barangay 36 (Población), Barangay 37 (Población), Barangay 38 (Población), Barangay 39 (Población), Barangay 40 (Población)—with a population of 311,175 (as of 2010 Census of Population in the Philippines).

Tourism

Whitewater rafting in the Cagayan de Oro River.

Tribal houses in Malasag Eco-Tourism Village.

Gen. MacArthur Memorial Marker in Macabalan Wharf.

Heritage Monument of Misamis Oriental in Vicente de Lara Park.

The Press Freedom Monument in Vicente de Lara Park.

Whitewater rafting has been one of the tourism activities being promoted in the Cagayan de Oro River. The city government and the Department of Tourism made it as the banner tourism activity in Cagayan de Oro. Due to the national government's aggressive tourism campaign, local and foreign tourist arrivals in the city are on the rise. In 2004, the city registered a tourist arrival of 307,820; an increase from a previous of 232,257 in 2003.

• Vicente de Lara Park is situated in front of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental with age-old mahogany trees that provide a therapeutic canopy for the promenades, a Press Freedom Monument and the Heritage Monument of Misamis Oriental designed by national artist Eduardo Castrillo. The park, used to be known as McArthur Park, is a popular jogging area during the morning.
• Divisoria Night Café and Market is set up on Friday and Saturday nights. Kagay-anons and visitors gather in the colorful street lights of Plaza Divisoria (Golden Friendship Park) to have barbecue and seafoods among many choices and enjoy the live band music, beer, and also the great bargains from the nearby Night Market.
• Gaston Park and St. Augustine Cathedral, the park is located along St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, the city's main Roman Catholic Church and Seat of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. This park eventually became an execution ground for Spanish criminals turned later into a training ground for the local revolutionaries during the American occupation and noted for its water-dancing fountain, is a favorite place to unwind for many Kagay-anons, especially during Sundays.
• Whitewater rafting or Kayaking in the Cagayan de Oro River has gained popularity through the years after former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself went whitewater rafting in 2002.
• Gen. MacArthur Memorial Marker is a historical marker located at the edge of Cagayan de Oro Port; the monument commemorates two historical events.
• Plaza Divisoria is located in downtown area, it was built circa 1900 as a town divider Divisoria or fire breaker after a great fire that almost burned down the entire city. The park, used to be known as Golden Friendship Park, is dedicated to local and national heroes like former President Ramon Magsaysay, Andrés Bonifacio, José Rizal, and former Cagayan de Oro mayor Justiniano R. Borja. Most of the Kagay-anons soldiers who died during the Philippine-American War are buried beneath the monument and has survived the ravages of time including World War II.
• Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, located in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. This 7 hectares village has replicas of tribal houses in the region and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay. The tourism village is owned and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority.
• Makahambus Cave and Adventure Park is an underground cave with a 130 foot (40 m) circular gorge. The ravine is thick with various species of plants and huge trees. It is the site of the historic Battle of Makahambus Hill between Kagay-anons and American soldiers during the Philippine-American War circa 1900.
• Huluga Caves is an archaeological site in Sitio Taguanao, Barangay Indahag. It is composed of an open site and two caves where skeletal remains of a child and woman were found. A fragment of the woman's skull was 377 A.D. by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, United States. The open site is the venue of prehistoric settlement.
• Plaza de Los Heroes is a memorial park dedicated to the heroes of the Three Battles of Cagayan de Oro during the Philippine-American War. It is located along Mastersons Avenue in Upper Carmen.
• Kagay-an Resort used to be Lawndale Spring Resort in the Taguanao area, is usually packed with families and groups on weekends lounging in the cold springs.
• Museo de Oro is a museum located within the campus of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan. The museum exhibits artefacts dug from Huluga Cave and repertoire of Bukidnon and Maranao cultures that have survived the ravages of time.
• Pueblo de Oro Township in Upper Carmen is an expansive class business and residential area designed by Robert Trent Jones II. It is also home to the Pueblo de Oro Business IT Park, the first PEZA-registered IT park in Mindanao. The IT Park currently houses one of Cagayan de Oro's call centers.
• Museum of Three Cultures is a museum of Capitol University. It houses a gallery of Maranao antiquities from Tugaya, Lanao del Sur; a gallery of ethno history which shall display Cagayan de Oro history, Butuan archaeological artefacts, lumad arts and crafts from the Higaonon and Manobo cultures, and a treasure of Christians lowland artefacts of Northern Mindanao; and finally an art gallery and coffee shop that promotes the local visual arts of Mindanao. It also has a research archives that will house Spanish era documents, photographs, memorabilia of well-known personalities in Mindanao, which is open to all researchers and students of culture.
• La Castilla is a museum of Philippine household heirlooms and antiques. This is the Peláez family memorabilia administered by the Liceo de Cagayan University.
• Monigue Cave is located in Barangay Mambuaya this city; the cave entrance is flowing water from underground stream. The cave has a small opening that seems too narrow to be passable, it has a six inches airspace between ceiling and water that you have submerge yourselves one by one, equipped with a helmet and a water-proof cap lamp. It contains a beautiful sparkling formation, which is called the Calcium Carbonates (CaCO3) or Calcites. These stalactites and stalagmites, white and brown, are sign of oxidized materials that take 50–60 years to form an inch the cave is definitely spellbinding. There were formations of flowstone, gurpool-resembling, rice terraces, transparent crystals and picturesque speleothems, such as cathedral drapes and icons.
• Catanico Falls, concealed by a huge boulders, the rapids, cascading falls and natural pool of Barangay F.S. Catanico.
• Executive Building (Old City Hall) used to be known as Casa Real de Cagayán, is a former Spanish Governors residence and seat of the local government.
• Palalan Falls is surrounded by boulders and stones dubbed by the city as "Oro" stone similar in characteristics with the Mangima stone.
• Migtugsok Falls is located at Barangay Cugman and it is composed of five beautiful cascading waters, where the beauty of nature could be experienced, unexploited by the carelessness of human search for progress and development.
• MOGCHS Administration Building was part of the 1907 Gabaldon initiatives to established and build public schools all over the Philippines under the American regime.
• Casa del Chino Ygua (Balay na Bato) was built in 1882 by the Sia family; they are the first Chinese migrants in Cagayan de Oro. Most of the revolutionaries died and buried behind the house during the Philippine-American War.
• High Ridge is located on a hilltop of Aluba area. High ridge has been open to the public for outdoor picnics and a scenic view of Cagayan de Oro.
• Mapawa Nature Park is for horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking adventures.
• The DXCC Museum is a museum of a well-known radio broadcasting station located at Don A. Velez Street.
• City Archives Museum is a newly opened museum, used to be an Old Water Tower built circa 1922 just across the cathedral and Gaston Park. Recently, it was been upgraded into a museum that houses antiquities, memorabilia of well-known families in the city and a gallery parade of Cagayan de Oro history.

Media

Main article: List of newspapers in the Philippines

Notable media publications in the city are the Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro and Super Balita. Ang Katarungan is the city's major English-Cebuano language paper published since 1926.

There are seven television stations in the city are operated by broadcast networks — ETC TV 5, ABS-CBN TV 2, GMA TV 12, RMN/BEAM/Jack City 8, TV5 Channel 21, Channel 35 Northern Mindanao,Channel 45 Gateway rainbow tv, and Studio 23 and the eight television station, is operated by the Cagayan de Oro College Broadcast Network. The Parasat Cable TV Incorporated and Jade Cable TV are the two cable systems in the city.

Notable events

Tropical Storm Sendong

Cagayan de Oro, together with Iligan, were the worst hit cities in Mindanao when Tropical Storm Washi (PAGASA name: Sendong) made landfall that caused flash floods in December 2011.

On December 16, 2011, Tropical Storm Sendong caused widespread flash floods in Northern Mindanao. In Cagayan de Oro, hundreds living near the banks of the Cagayan de Oro River were killed, with hundreds still missing. The total death toll in Northern Mindanao (including Iligan City and nearby regions) is estimated to be at least 1500.

Officials said that despite government warning, some people did not evacuate. Five people were killed in a landslide, but all others died in the flash floods. The flash flooding occurred overnight, following 10 hours of rain, compounded by overflowing rivers and tributaries. Most of the victims had been sleeping. In some areas, up to 20 centimeters of rain fell in 24 hours. More than 2,000 have been rescued, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and at least 20,000 people are staying in 10 evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro. Officials are also investigating reports that an entire village was swept away.

International relations

Sister cities

See also: List of sister cities in the Philippines

Cagayan de Oro has sister cities worldwide, as classified by the city government.

Local

International

Bacolod City, Philippines (1985) Iligan City, Philippines (1986) General Santos City, Philippines {1987) Bacoor City, Cavite, Philippines (2012) Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines Iloilo City Philippines Zamboanga City, Philippines Butuan City, Philippines Cotabato City, Philippines Makati City, Philippines Olongapo City, Philippines Baguio City, Philippines Cebu City, Philippines Legazpi City, Philippines Angeles City, Philippines

Lawndale City, United States (1986) Tainan City, Taiwan (2005) Harbin, China (2007) Norfolk, United States (2008) Gwangyang, South Korea (2012) Chicago, United States (2012) Chiang Mai, Thailand (2013) See also List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines Mindanao References External links Official website of the City Government of Cagayan de Oro Local Governance Performance Management System