Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Tudela Simbalagon
Municipality
Map of Misamis Occidental showing the location of Tudela
Tudela Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°14′49.2″N 123°50′42″E / 8.247000°N 123.84500°E / 8.247000; 123.84500Coordinates: 8°14′49.2″N 123°50′42″E / 8.247000°N 123.84500°E / 8.247000; 123.84500
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province	Misamis Occidental
Founded	February 21, 1921
Barangays	33
Government[1]
• Mayor	Estela Obut Estano
Area
• Total	98.52 km2 (38.04 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	27,371
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	7202
Dialing code	88
Income class	4th
Website	www.tudela.gov.ph

Tudela (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Tudela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tudela) is a fourth class municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 27,371 people in 5,422 housholds.

Tudela is widely known for its colorful^[3] (very much like a giant Halloween costume party, the Tudela Binalbal Festival, where many revelers are clad in very gory costumes) held every New Year's Day (Jan. 1).Close to the border of Tudela and Sinacaban, its neighboring town to the north, is the beautiful and popular eco-tourism attraction called Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park, known for its sanctuary for dolphins (and other endangered sea animals) on Dolphin Island, a ten-minute boat ride away from its other attraction which is located along the mangroves of Tigdok and Libertad Bajo, baranggays of Tudela and Sinacaban, respectively - a wildlife park that serves as sanctuary for other endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier found in the forests of nearby Mount Malindang (a national park and another eco-tourism attraction in the area). For hotel accommodations, the park offers very comfortable, fully air-conditioned, local hut-inspired suite cottages built along the mangroves.

Originally, Tudela had 36 barangays. Today it has 33 barangays since 1995. The 3 other barangays namely Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan were annexed to the newly created municipality of Don Victoriano.

History

During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Tudela was previously known as Simbalagon. In 1847, a Spaniard named Juan Tejada founded the sitio of Simbalagon (after Simbalagon River, a tributary of Clarin River).

The origin of its name is ambiguous. One version claims that a certain Father Jimenez, a Spanish priest, changed its name from Simbalagon to Tudela after his birthplace in Spain. The other version states that in 1854 another Spanish priest named Apolinario Tudela was assigned in the town of Misamis (presently, the City of Ozamiz). Simbalagon, at that time a sitio of Misamis, was later renamed Tudela in honor of the priest.

A legendary derivation of the name of Tudela is that a group of people was sentenced to have their tongue cut off because of their false accusations against the Spanish government. The first syllable of Tudela was derived from the Spanish word ‘todos’ meaning all (the convicted) and ‘dela’ of the native dialect, meaning tongue.^[4]

On February 21, 1921, during the American occupation, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison, through the efforts of Senator Jose F. Clarin, created the Municipality of Tudela through Executive Order No. 61 Series of 1920.

Barangays

Tudela is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

Geography

Tudela is bounded on the north by the municipality of Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, to the south by the municipality of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, to the east by Panguil Bay, and to the west by the municipality of Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Mount Malindang. It is 20 mins drive from Ozamiz City to the south, and 45 minutes drive from Oroquieta City to the north.

Transportation

Air

Tudela is accessible by plane and served by Ozamiz City Airport, a short ride of motorcycle from the airport to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBJT).

Sea

Served by Port of Ozamiz City.

Land

The public mode of transportation within this municipality is by tricycle and habal-habal.

Economy

The majority hardly depends on agriculture and fishing. Commerce is also progressive in this municipality. There are many Tudelanhon businessmen. People in the municipality and of the neighboring barangays of Clarin and Sinacaban towns depend on the local market, instead of going to Ozamiz City, the economic hub in the province.

Crops

Palay, corn, banana, kamoteng-kahoy(cassava), sweet potato, coconut, fruits (mango, durian, lanzones), and vegetables.

Products

Aquaculture products: shrimps, prawns, crabs, tilapia, bangus(milkfish); furniture; poultry products; breads and pastries(the pineapple pie of Lee Bakery is one of the most requested for pasalubong); fishes and shells.

Attractions and Points of Interest

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park. Located along the mangroves of Tigdok and Libertad Bajo, baranggays of Tudela and Sinacaban, respectively - a wildlife park that serves as sanctuary for other endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier found in the forests of nearby^[5]

Binalbal Festival-every January 1.

Araw ng Tudela - every February 21

Furniture Shops(Bamboo)-located at barangay Nailon, along the national highway.

Mount Malindang National Park

Barra Beach

Education

Elementary

• Tudela Central Elementary School
• San Isidro Academy Elementary Department
• Basirang Elementary School
• Sebac Elementary School
• Gumbil Elementary School
• Barra Elementary School
• Locsoon Elementary School
• Pan-ay Diot Elementary School
• Ozamiz Elementary School-located in barangay Cabol-anonan, named in honor of late Sen. José Ozámiz.
• and more than 20 barrio schools are proportionally distributed within the municipality.

Preschool

Every barangay in the municipality had their own Day Care Center under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

• San Isidro Academy Pre-school Department
• Ozamiz Elementary School Pre-school Department
• there are also church-operated pre-schools in the Poblacion.

Secondary

• Tudela National Comprehensive High School.
• San Isidro Academy
• Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges. Founded as Northern Mindanao Academy on 1946.
• Colambotan Bajo National High School. The oldest public secondary school in the municipality.

Utilities

Communication

Telecommunications and internet are available. Mobile phone networks (Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular) operate extensively in the municipality.

PhilPost has its office in the Municipal Hall. Most of the municipality is serviceable by commercial couriers (e.g. LBC, JRS Express, Air21, 2GO, etc.) based in Ozamiz City.

Electricity

All 33 barangays were energized by Misamis Occidental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI II).

Water

Poblacion area is served by Misamis Occidental Water District (MOWD). Rural barangays have their own water systems funded by the government.

Financial Institutions

• Misamis Bank (Main Office)- formerly Rural Bank of Tudela. Consolidation of Rural Bank of Tudela, (Misamis Occidental), Inc. and Rural Bank of Kolambugan, Inc. into Misamis Bank, Inc.,^[6]
• Paglaum Multi-purpose Cooperative
• Lorenzo Tan Multi-purpose Cooperative
• RD Pawnshop
• M Lhuiller
• Palawan Pawnshop

Places of worship

• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church(Roman Catholic)-Upper Centro
• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church(Philippine Independent Church)-Centro Hulpa
• United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Upper Centro
• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses-Purok 1, Taguima
• Sevent Day Adventist Church-Basirang; Nailon
• Kristohanon(Church of Tudela)-Barra

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

v t e Province of Misamis Occidental Municipalities Aloran Baliangao Bonifacio Calamba Clarin Concepcion Don Victoriano Chiongbian Jimenez Lopez Jaena Panaon Plaridel Sapang Dalaga Sinacaban Tudela Component cities Oroquieta Ozamiz Tangub