Traveling A-Z Misamis Occidental

By Jacky Lynne A. Oiga

April 2, 2011, 4:15am

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (photo source: www.flickr.com/gemurdesigns)

Considered as the aquamarine center of the Philippines, Misamis Occidental has a long coastline and two sheltered bays that are spawning grounds for crabs, shellfish, and prawns. The province is also home for the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), a rescue center for dolphins and other marine animals surrounded by a thick mangrove forest.

The name “Misamis” is believed to have been derived from the Subano word “kuyamis” which is a variety of sweet coconut—the staple food of the local settlers and its main produce. The name persisted through the years as an inference of geographical location. And upon the advent of the Spanish colonization, the word “kuyamis” easily gave way to the more pronounceable word “Misamis.”

Misamis Occidental is located near the narrow strip of land linking northwestern Mindanao to the north central part of the island. It is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by the Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay and west by Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.

The province used to be known as the Historical Gateway of Northern Mindanao. But with the recent boom of eco-tourism in the province, more divers and snorkelers, both foreign and local, are landing at the Ozamis Airport to visit the famous Dolphin Island in MOAP and sample Panguil Bay’s mud crabs and tiger prawns.

Fast facts

Local dialect:

Subanon is the dialect of the province, used mostly by the members of the Subanon Tribe. However, most residents also speak Cebuano.

Festival: 

Dalit Festival in Tangub City – The festival coincides with the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel every 29th of September. Dalit means ‘offering’ which presents the unique way of fostering friendship and love of all Tangubanons to their visitors.

Places of Interest:

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park — The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park or MOAP has a sanctuary of dolphins that is open for public viewing. They have species from bottlenose and pantropical spotted dolphins, and a single false killer whale.

Sinacaban Bird Watch – A 15-minute ride on a pump boat takes nature lovers to a white sandbar where they could enjoy watching migrant birds fly over every morning and afternoon.

Panguil Bay and Fish Traps — Famous for its panoramic view and tiger shrimps for export

Hoyohoy Highland Park – Offers panoramic view of Panguil Bay and the surrounding cities and towns about 13 kilometers from the highway

Pipe Organ from Germany — The pipe organ is housed at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral and is the biggest of its kind in Mindanao and second biggest in the Philippines.

Bacarro’s Printing Press – The oldest printing press in operation located at Jimenez, Misamis Occidental since 1938
Baliangao Mangrove Walk – A half kilometer board walk inside the mangrove / marine sanctuary

Circiaco Pastrano Hanging Bridge — A 75 meter hanging bridge with 20-feet elevation connecting Barangay Layawan and Taboc Norte, overlooking the sea and the whole market area.

How to get there:

By air, there are flights from Manila to Ozamis City.

By land, tourists could take the bus from Cagayan de Oro City to Lanao del Norte port and take a 15-minute barge ride to the Ozamis City Port.