Name of the Province
“Misamis” is derived from the word
“MISA” which is the Spanish term of mass. When Christianity
was yet new in the Philippines, the word “MISA”
was shouted by converts everytime priests traveled in area around
the province. Thus, over a period of time, the Spanish Missionaries
started calling the province by the name Misamis.
Other sources revealed the word “Misamis”
is derived from “KUYAMIS”, a variety of sweet coconut,
which was the staple food of the earliest known Negrito settlers
of the territory. The word “KUYAMIS” was corrupted
to Misamis when the Spanish colonizers came.
Political Subdivisions
Misamis used to be a part of the province of
Cebu. In 1818 it became a corregimiento comprised of four (4)
partidos or division: Partido de Misamis, Partido de Dapitan,
Partido de Cagayan and Partido de Catarman.During the latter
part of the 19th century, Misamis was one of the six (6) districts
of Mindanao, and later, one of the seven (7) districts of Mindanao
and Sulu at the close of the Spanish era with Cagayan de Misamis,
now Cagayan de Oro, as its capital.
When it was still a part of the district of
Cebu, there were twelve (12) Spaniards and nine (9) Filipinos
who successively served as “governadores” with Major
Jose Carabillo as the first governor in 1874.Legislative Act.
No. 3537, approved in November 1929, divided the province of
Misamis into two provinces due to lack of geographical continuity:
Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental.
However, it was not until ten years later that
the division was implemented by Amendment Act. No. 3777, adopted
on November 28, 1939. When Misamis Oriental became a separate
province, Don Gregorio was its first Governor. Since then there
were twenty three (23) gubernatorial terms of office occupied
by twenty three (23) governors who were elected and appointed
by operation of law.
Geographical Location
Misamis Oriental is one of the five provinces
of Northern Mindanao. Falling between eight degrees twenty eight
minutes thirty eight seconds five hundred sixteen latitude (8º28’38”516
Lat.) and one hundred forty two degrees thirty eight minutes
thirty five seconds two hundred thirty five longitude (142º38’35”235
long.), the province is located along the northern coast of
the island of Mindanao.
The province is bounded on the north by Macajalar
Bay, on west by Iligan Bay, on the south and southwest by the
provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte and the east by Agusan
del Norte.
Climate
Two types of climates in the province are based
on rainfall distribution. The first type, which occurs in the
eastern municipalities of Kinoguitan to Magsaysay, has a very
pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January and generally
wet the whole year. The second type, which occurs in the central
and western part of the province, is relatively dry from November
to April and wet during the rest of the year.
It covers the municipalities of Sugbongcogon,
in the east and down to Lugait in the west. The climate is usually
pleasant with warmer days and cooler nights.
Language/ Dialects
Cebuano, Tagalog, Maranao, Hiligayon, Ilonggo, Waray, and English.
Political Subdivision / Population
Misamis Oriental is one of the 22 provinces
of Mindanao and one of the 4 provinces of new Region 10. It
has two cities, Cagayan de Oro, the capital, and Gingoog City,
a component city, and twenty four (24) municipalities with three
hundred forty nine (349) barangays. The province is divided
into districts, comprising the following municipalities with
its corresponding 1995 population estimates:
First
District |
| 1. Balingasag |
2. lagonlong |
3.Salay |
4. Binuangan |
| 5. Sugbongcogon |
6. Kinoguitan |
7. Balingoan |
8. Talisayan |
| 9. Medina |
10. Gingoog City |
11. Magsaysay |
|
Second
District |
| 1. Claveria |
2. Jasaan |
3. Villanueva |
4. Tagoloan |
| 5. Opol |
6. El Salvador |
7. Alubijid |
8. Laguindingan |
| 9. Gitagum |
10. Libertad |
11. Initiao |
12. Naawan |
| 13. Manticao |
14. Lugait |
|
|
