Ozamiz City

This is us. True misamisnons. Such a very nostalgic and gratifying historical account from an american. At the turn of the 20th century, an american civilization of misamis could have started in this era and thus, beautifully related in this poetic story. There were no names mentioned, but reading this, put us back in a time travel to our unique history. This story certainly happened after the spanish visitors surrendered their authority over the philippine archipelago with the treaty of paris. The fort of cotta was found by the americans in state of abandonment. It seems that before americans arrived along the shores of panguil bay, misamisnons showed more cultured mannerism and finesse, obviously an influences inherited or acquired from our spanish predeccessors. A brass band with dressed up members welcomed the visitors with the sound of "a hot time" and "after the ball". A misamisnon woman was also depictedwith a beautiful harp, evidencing the misamisno

Ozamiz City  usually celebrates two religious festivals to commemorate its so-called "foundation". First is every July 16 of the year in honor of the Blessed Virgin of Cotta (The Feast of Our Lady of Carmel del Triunfo) and 2nd, on every December 8 to celebrate the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion, which was recently declared as a national holiday. In retrospect, the date July 16 was actually originated from an order of Spain to all spanish colonies (obviously including the Philippines) to commemorate the victory of the christian armies in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in the year 1212.  On the other hand, December 8 was celebrated as result of the Vatican declaration of the doctrine of Mary, the Immaculate Concepcion on December 8, 1845.  These two festivities while presently considered as legal holidays are actually not the real and true foundation day of Ozamiz City, but two traditions of religious importance pre-dating WW1 and WW2. The old spanish capital,

Not necessarily in the order or hierarchy of excellence and quality food and service, this blog presents a simple and modest picture of authentic delicacies and food culture in Ozamiz City. Numerous restaurants and coffee nooks owned and operated by ozamiznon entrepreneurs are sprouting in and out of the city proper where people and tourists meet and have the pleasure and opportunity to eat and taste different local delicacies like seafoods, homegrown-organic or fertilizer-free veggies, chicken inihaws, kinilaw and etc. The oldest of these however is what used-to-be a mini-store  situated in the busy crossroad of the city for halo-halo and famous mognolia ice-cream in 70s up to the present - the North Pole Halo Halo.     1. Chicken Ati-Atihan Restaurant - Circumferential Road  2. Batsoy Eatery - National Highway 3. Bethany Garden - Airport Access Road 4. Big Catch - Brgy. Aguada   5. Big J's - National Highway 6. Bo's Cafe, near City Hall

With the recent opening of the shoreline by-pass road or boulevard from the port of ozamiz to the southern highway (to Pagadian), the new provincial and local government should now rethink and strengthen its resolve and efforts on how to develop the decades of neglected Bukagan Hill. This historical hill used to be the beacon of hope and safety of the american-misamisnon WW2 guerilla soldiers housing two big spanish bells to warn them of the approaching japanese during the war. The newly completed boulevard or by-pass road makes it now easy to access this site by foot or vehicles to the hilltop and thus, added to the natural attractions of Bukagan Hill as potential tourism spot of Ozamiz and Misamis Occidental. It is now incumbent upon the new government to start the planning and development in motion, including the declaration of Bukahan Hill as heritage site. The access road up to the bell site should be finished, the surrounding ground of the belfry should be landscaped and fenced,

"The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the 2.935-kilometer Ozamis Coastal Bypass Road that now serves as a diversion road from the busy main roads of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said DPWH Misamis Occidental 2nd District Engineering Office headed by District Engineer Carol Lyn C. Abinales recently inaugurated the road section, which was constructed in the amount of P138 million. The new Ozamis Coastal Bypass Road traverses the city’s Barangay Bongbong, Malaubang, and San Roque then to Port Road, which can be used by motorists without using Ozamis-Pagadian Road and Vicente Ostia Avenue,” said DE Abinales. DE Abinales added that they are also proposing for the extension of the coastal bypass road up to Barangay Catadman, to provide further convenience in traveling around the Ozamiz City. The extension of Ozamis Coastal Bypass Road is included in the proposed projects of the District for CY 2019." Source

Except for the majestic Malindang mountain in the background, Cotta Shrine and Bukagan Hill, Ozamiz City is not naturally gifted with white sand beaches compared to the other provinces of the country. But, with its present peace and order situation improving, the old city is recovering and economic activity are building up. Not known to many however, lies a potential spot for local tourism. It appears like a sleeping and huge piece of searock (or submerged area of corals) just a few minutes from the city (in the beaches of barangay San Antonio), with white sandy periphery, is waiting to be found, developed and promoted as a diving spot. It is now up to now the LGU to take the initives to declare  this spot as a natural protected area. Being part of Panguil Bay, this area is a rich source of marine products for food.