Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral Cagayan de oro city

Let us take a glimpse of the religious side of cagayan de oro city. The City's history dates back many centuries before the Spaniards came to Cagayan when the territory was called Kalambagohan. Its main town, Himologan, was a hill-top fortress situated some eight kilometers south of the present Poblacion. At the time when the first Spanish missionaries came in 1622, the people of Cagayan had tributary relation to Kudarat, the Muslim Sultan of Maguindanao empire in Cotabato. However, the people had not embraced Islam and instead, many became Christians after sometime. Because of this, Muslim warriors began to attack the settlement. As a defense strategy, the priests persuaded the people to transfer from the hilltop to a better location which is the present site of the Saint Augustine Cathedral. The Cagayanons were able to defend themselves for almost 250 years from Muslim harassment. In 1738, Spanish dominance was felt in Cagayan. When Misamis gained status of province in 1818, one of its four districts was the Partidos de Cagayan. In 1871, the "Partidos" became a town and was made permanent capital of Misamis. In 1883, the town became seat of the Spanish government in Mindanao for the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte. Consequently, from a purely farming-fishing area, Cagayan emerged into a booming commerce and trade center. The war years in Cagayan were prompted by the presence of the Americans in 1898. The Americans were initially and successfully repulsed by the local forces led by Major Apolinar Velez at the historic battle of Macahambus in June 4, 1900. After the troubled years, peace finally brought back the economic activities to normal under the guidance of Americans. St. Augustine School, the forerunner of the present Xavier University and of Lourdes College, was inaugurated in 1928. On June 15, 1950 President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 521, which granted the status of a chartered city to the municipality of Cagayan de Oro. Following these events, the socio-economic order underwent some far-reaching changes. Activities grew in scale and importance until it developed as the administrative center for the entire Northern Mindanao (Region X and XIII). Today, Cagayan de Oro is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and was declared a “Highly Urbanized City” by the Ministry of Local Government last November 22, 1983.

Coconut Crab in Cagayan de oro

Maybe you wonder what is this strange creature is. It is nowhere to be found here in the Cagayn de oro city. This is from the island of Batanes brought here by my uncle who just came back from their Summer vacation from Batanes. The coconut crabs (Birgus latro) are also known as "tatus" in Batanes, Philippines, which literally means ‘palm thief’. They are a popular delicacy in the locality because of its delicious taste. They are being cooked by boiling but sometimes they also use sauce and other seasonings.The coconut crab climbs trees to eat coconuts or fruit, to escape the heat or to escape predators. It is a common perception that the coconut crab cuts the coconuts from the tree to eat them on the ground . Coconut crabs cut holes into coconuts with their strong claws and eat the contents; this behavior is unique in the animal kingdom.In the 1980s, Holger Rumpf was able to confirm a report, observing and studying how the crabs open coconuts in the wild. The animal has developed a special technique to do so: if the coconut is still covered with husk, it will use its claws to rip off strips, always starting from the side with the three germination pores, the group of three small circles found on the outside of the coconut. Once the pores are visible, the crab will bang its pincers on one of them until they break. Afterwards, it will turn around and use the smaller pincers on its other legs to pull out the white flesh of the coconut. Using their strong claws, larger individuals can even break the hard coconut into smaller pieces for easier consumption. But do not worry this coconu crabs will not be cooked for food because my uncle plans to make an artificial habitat for it so that many Ivatan children here in Mindanao specially in Malinao, Kalilangan, Bukidnon can see a real live coconut crab.

The Black Nazarene of CDO

Here in the city we have the replica or "callejeron" of the famous Black Nazarene icon which was given by the Quiapo Basilica to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.Msgr. Monsanto head of the archdiocese of Cagayan de oro said the image is not only a gift to the parish but also to the people of Mindanao who are besieged with a continuing unstable peace and order condition and uncertainties brought about by the global financial crisis. This is the only replica of its kind in the entire Mindanao region. The image is now housed in the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church, adjacent to Gaisano Mall. It has become a pilgrimage site for devotees of the Black Nazarene from all over Mindanao. The Jesus Nazareno Parish Church will celebrate its feast every January 9. All activities will be done simultaneously with the events in Manila.

A City in Bloom, in Blossom, and in BOOM!

We Cagay-anons are proub to be one. Our city Cagayan de Oro is known by many nicknames such as "Gateway to Northern Mindanao" because of its location and good transportation facilities, "Rafting Capital of the Philippines", it is a primary whitewater rafting destination in the Philippines that has a whole year round of maneuverable rafting courses and is located within the city limit, "ICT Goldmine of the Philippines" due to its number of ICT infrastructures and businesses mushrooming the city providing job opportunities for ICT personnel and "A City in Bloom, in Blossom and in BOOM!" because of the great strides it has made by way of progress, notably in the last few years. Officially, Cagayan de Oro is dubbed as the "City of Golden Friendship" (Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigalaay) for its warm and hospitable people.There are lots of magnificent places to see in Cagayan de Oro. The Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, Museum of Three Cultures, Monigue Cave, and Macahambus Adventure Park are just a few options. You also don't want to pass up on great adrenaline-pumping activities like whitewater rafting, kayaking, rappelling, or zip lining in the Macahambus Adventure Park.

Tsada Cagayan de oro

Tsada is a unique word that only Cagay-anons use. Any Visayan speaking person here in the Philippines can distinguish Cagay-anons when this word is spoken. It literally means Nice or Beautiful and it is commonly used when we apriciate something or see something good. Tsadacdo blog will showcase the sights and sounds to show you how tsada Cagayan De Oro City " The City Of Golden Friendship Is ".