Ozamiz

Ozamiz
Component City
City of Ozamiz
Ozamiz Port
Seal
Nickname(s): Pilgrimage Destination
Motto: Better Image, Better Lives
Map of Misamis Occidental with Ozamiz highlighted
Ozamiz Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°09′N 123°51′E / 8.15°N 123.85°E / 8.15; 123.85Coordinates: 8°09′N 123°51′E / 8.15°N 123.85°E / 8.15; 123.85
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province	Misamis Occidental
Legislative district	2nd District of Misamis Occidental
Chartered	1757
Cityhood	July 16, 1948[1]
Barangays	51
Government[2]
• Mayor	Reynaldo O. Parojinog Sr. (NUP)
• Vice Mayor	Nova Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez (NUP)
Area[3]
• Land	169.95 km2 (65.62 sq mi)
Population (2010)[4]
• Total	131,527
• Density	774/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
• Language(s)	Cebuano, Filipino, English, Ilonggo, Ilocano, Maguindanao
Demonym(s)	Ozamiznon
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code[5]	7200
Dialing code	88
Income class	3rd class
Website	www.ozamiz.gov.ph

Ozamiz (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Ozamiz, Filipino: Lungsod ng Ozamiz) is a third class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 131,527 people.^[4] Although City Resolution 251-05 officially spelled Ozamiz with a "z" as its last letter rather than with an "s", it is alternatively spelled as Ozamis.

Geography

Ozamiz is close to Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte provinces, while across the bay is Lanao del Norte. It is 45-minute drive from Oroquieta City, 30 mins drive from Tangub City, 20 mins drive from Tudela, less than 2 hrs drive from Pagadian City, 3 hrs drive from Dipolog City, Dapitan city and 4 hrs drive to Cagayan de Oro City. Lanao del Norte is only a 20 mins ferry ride across Panguil Bay. Ozamiz city is 52 kilometres (32 mi) from Maria Cristina Falls, the main source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao.

Barangays

Ozamiz City is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.^[3]

History

Entrance to Spanish fort

The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from "Misa" after the Catholic Mass. The origin and the growth of the old Spanish town, Misamis, was due to the presence of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo, which was constructed some time in the 18th century in order to control the pirate activities originating in the nearby Lanao area. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.

After the Second World War, Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321 on July 16, 1948. RA 321 also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after a WW-II hero José Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate.

Demographics

Economy

Ozamiz City is agricultural by resources, but it has become the center for Commerce, Health, Transportation, and Education in this part of Mindanao, considering its strategic location and its peaceful atmosphere. The city has good harbor location, its local port is the principal outlet of mineral deposits, agricultural and forest products of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, parts of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Shopping

Due to the location of the city, Ozamiz City enjoys several and notable malls and shopping centers within its city center. People coming from Misamis Occidental, parts of Lanao del Norte and parts of Zamboanga del Sur will come also to Ozamiz for their shopping needs.

Gaisano Capital Mall Ozamiz is noted as the biggest mall in the city with the expansion of a new South Wing Mall in 2011. Novo Ozamiz also expand and construct their own bigger building with a hotel named Asia Novotel in 2010. Unitop Ozamiz also expand their building in 2012 in front of City Public Mall with a bridge/sky walk for an easy access from the 2nd floor of both buildings. City Public Mall, formerly known as City Public Market, is the biggest public establishment in Northwestern Mindanao. It is owned and managed by the Local Government Unit of Ozamiz and opened on May 28, 2009. Robinsons Supermarket opened to the public on November 30, 2012.

Tourism and culture

Notable events and festivals

The feast of Our Lady of Triumph of the Cross at Cotta Shrine is celebrated every July 16 which is also the Charter City anniversary. Subayan Keg Subanon festival is also held on the same day. The Cotta entertainment area has free live band concerts and other musical variety shows each weekend. Fireworks displays are held at Cotta during Fiesta and holidays. It can be seen across Panguil bay as far as Lanao del Norte.

The feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is celebrated every December 8 while every 4th Sunday of January is the Sr. Sto. Nino Fluvial Parade held at Panguil Bay. Balanghoy Festival is held annually at Cotta area.

Attractions

Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo

• Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo – also known as Cotta Fort and Shrine, is a fort built in 1755 by Father Jose Ducos to serve as a Spanish outpost in the area. A special chapel was built inside the walls of the fort and an image of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, in the pink and blue attire, was enshrined in the chapel and outside the fort on the wall facing the bay, was a carved image of the Virgin Mary. The image on the Cotta's wall is believed to be miraculously growing and has been the object of pilgrimage. The fort was renovated and restored to its original design in 2006.

• Bukagan Hill – has a view of the city, Panguil bay, the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. There are four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill. The bells were named after “St. Peter”, “St. Marien”, “St. Joseph” and “St. Michael” and were originally purchased by Bishop Patrick Cronin, D.D. for the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. However, the bells weigh 7 tons and were found to be too heavy and too large for the cathedral's belfry. The people felt that it was very expensive to construct a special belfry for them considering that a lot of fund raising effort was made for the building of the cathedral and the installing of the pipe organ. It was through the efforts of then City Mayor Fernando T. Bernad that the bells were finally given a place at the Bukagan Hill. With the help of Jesus Y. Varela, the huge bells were installed in Bukagan Hill Bells and officially inaugurated on July 16, 1948.^[7]

• Naomi's Botanical Garden and tourists Inn – sits on a 12 hectare property of local and imported tropical flowers, plants and fruit seedlings. There are fully air-conditioned private rooms, Function halls, tennis court, Golf range, ceramics factory, pottery and a bakery inside this sprawling garden.

• Mt. Malindang Golf and country Club – this is a pre-war army facility converted into a golf course located in Bagakay at the foot of Mount Malindang.

• Immaculate Conception Pipe organ – found in the choir loft of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, is the only existing pipe organ in Mindanao and one among the few throughout the country. An Irish Columban priest, Father Sean Lavery, who was in charge of the liturgical and musical development in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral realized the need for an organ. Funds were raised through donations and a musical extravaganza organized by the parish raised enough money to buy the pipe organ. Father Lavery asked the help of a German priest, Father Herman Schablitzki S.V.D., who came to Ozamiz City to get the specification needed to guide the organ builders in Germany. Father Schablitzki himself, assisted by one carpenter and one electrician, assembled the organ in six weeks and it was completed on May 31, 1967. It was inaugurated on July 16, 1967; the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.^[8]

Transportation

Air

Ozamiz Airport, Ozamiz City, Philippines

Ozamiz-Labo Airport was reopened last July 5, 2007, 9 years after Philippine Airlines (PAL) stopped their operations using Fokker and Sunriser planes in 1998 and eventually its closure due to short runway in which cannot accommodate jet planes. Air Philippines, a subsidiary airline of PAL, was the first airline served the airport for Manila using B737-200 which is also the first jet plane to land the airport. PAL Express, also subsidiary by PAL, was then served in Ozamiz for Cebu again using their Q300/Q400. Cebu Pacific Air also launched and opened their service in Ozamiz with its first flight from Cebu last November 10, 2008 using the brand-new ATR72-500. Due to strategic location and increasing the volume of passengers, cargo and tourist arrivals, Cebu Pacific launched its Manila route using the spacious and bigger Airbus 319 and the comeback of Philippine Airlines (PAL) take-over the Air Philippines service to Manila using also the Airbus 319 last June 16, 2009. Due to fierce airline competition, increasing of flights to/from Manila and Cebu was complement with the comeback of Airphil Express (formerly Air Philippines) for Ozamiz-Manila v.v. last August 18, 2011 using their brand-new and bigger Airbus A320. Cebu Pacific Air also change its aircraft from Airbus 319 to Airbus 320 for Manila and from ATR72-500 to Airbus 319/Airbus 320 for Cebu last 2010–2011. In 2012, Philippine Airlines stop their operations to Manila last March 25, 2012 and retake-over again by Airphil Express. Airphil Express also change their aircraft from Q400 to Airbus 320 for Cebu flights last summer. Cebu Pacific Air also increase its flight to Manila in late afternoon last summer until July 2012. as of now, Airphil Express and Cebu Pacific Air served to Manila and Cebu using Q400, Airbus 319, and Airbus 320. The influx of airline companies serving Ozamiz City and the general areas of Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur will surely benefit the riding public due to fierce airfare competition.

Sea

There are several major shipping lines serving Cebu and Iligan routes namely: 2GO Travel (formerly SuperFerry, Negros Navigation and Cebu Ferries), Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Carlos A. Gothong Lines, and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.(PSACC former Sulpicio Lines). Cokaliong Shipping Lines increased their Cebu service from thrice to 5 times weekly. Local shipping lines like Daima have trips from Ozamiz to Mukas, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte routes through Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries that transport passengers, cars/trucks and goods across Panguil bay.

Land

Rural Transit, Super Five Transport, & Lotradisco are the dominant public land transportations to Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, & Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte ferrying across the Panguil Bay and to Pagadian City, Dipolog City, and Dapitan City. The public mode of transportation within the city is by trisikad/pedicab and motorized tricycle. Passenger Vans, Ordinary Jeepneys, & Multicab Jeepneys are also available for Oroquieta, Dipolog, Cotabato, Molave, Calamba, Jimenez, Bonifacio, Tangub, Don Victoriano, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Baliangao, Concepcion, Sinacaban, Panaon, & Sapang Dalaga routes.

Education

The presence of two universities in Ozamiz, La Salle University (Ozamiz City), formerly known as Immaculate Conception College (ICC) and Misamis University, makes it a premier education center in Northern Mindanao. Students coming from Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental come to Ozamiz to pursue their college education.

Secondary Schools:^[9]

• Misamis Union High School formerly Misamis Chinese High School. This is the only Chinese School in Misamis Occidental.
• Ozamiz City National High School
• Labo National High School
• Pulot National High School
• Stimpson Abordo National High School
• Labinay National High School
• San Antonio National High School
• Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trades
• FMC MA School and Tutorial Services, Inc.

Health

Hospitals and healthcare facilities:

• Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (MHARS-RTTH)- a 200 bed capacity tertiary hospital owned by the Dept. of Health.
• Misamis University Medical center (MUMC)- a tertiary hospital located at Brgy. Bagakay.
• Medina General Hospital- a 200 bed capacity tertiary hospital located at Brgy. Carmen Annex.
• Faith Hospital
• S.M. Lao Memorial Hospital
• St. Joseph General Hospital, formerly St. Mary General Hospital

Media

• Misamis Cable TV Network
• ABS-CBN (MIT-RTVN) Channel 7
• GMA TV Channel 5 – relay TV station
• KMTV (Misamis Cable Channel 16, Fil Products Channel 15)
• Radio One FM 97.5 MHz (DXLM-FM)
• 93.3 mHz "Easy Rock" DXTM FM of Manila Broadcasting Company
• Dan-ag sa Dakbayan Broadcasting Network – DXDD-AM 657, DXDD-FM 100.7 Cool Radio
• La Salle University-Ozamiz – LSU-FM 94.5 MHz
• Radio Mindanao Network DXOC-AM 1494 "Radyo Mo Nationwide"; DXOC-FM 96.1 MHz iFM
• DXSY-AM 1242 kHz "Radyo Bantay" (Times Broadcasting Network Corp.)
• DXEL fm - sharp radio 89.1 MHz by Prime broadcasting Network inc.

Sister cities

• Tangub City, Philippines
• Oroquieta City, Philippines
• Iligan City, Philippines
• Cotabato City, Philippines
• Dipolog City, Philippines
• General Santos City, Philippines
• Cebu City, Philippines
• Iloilo City, Philippines

See also

• Metro Cagayan de Oro
• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ozamiz City.

• Ozamiz City Government
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System

	Don V. Chiongbian	Clarin	Iligan Bay
		Ozamiz City
	Tangub City	Panguil Bay Tubod, Lanao del Norte	Panguil Bay Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte

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