The Latest from Cagayan de Oro and Surrounding Areas
Despite the constraints of the island-wide community quarantine imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Mindanao’s biggest business event closed with an optimistic outlook for a “Better Normal” than what existed before the global recession.
Over 500 virtual delegates attended the 29th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) hosted by the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.… Continue reading... “Stepping Up for a Better Normal”
Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon officially conferred the title of Field Marshal on General Douglas MacArthur in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on August 24, 1936. He was presented at that time with a gold baton and a unique uniform.
Civil society organizations and other people’s organizations closely working with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro welcomed the ACDO’s recent transition of leadership with a simple fellowship dinner at the Bishop’s House on August 31, 2020.
The event was preceded by a Holy Mass at the St Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral graced by recently installed Archbishop Jose Araneta Cabantan, D.D.… Continue reading... “Civil Society welcomes ACDO leadership transition”
It’s ironic how some 75 years later, many Kagay-anons are still unaware that it was their own compatriots who liberated Cagayan, Misamis on 12 May 1945 and not the Americans.
So while we still enjoy a modicum of attention following the recent 75thAnniversary of Cagayan’s Liberation (albeit a muted one at that) let’s take a look back at how things were unfolding at that time and how come guerrillas, rather than American soldiers, liberated the town from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA).… Continue reading... “The Macajalar Bay Landing and the Liberation of Mindanao”
It remains little known to this day, but Misamis was the only region in Mindanao which actively joined the Katipunan revolt against Spain.
On September 29, 1896, 350 revolucionarios, including 50 Bukidnon lumads, overwhelmed the Spanish garrison and raided the armory of the Fuerza Real de Nueva Victoria in Calaganan, (present-day Balo-i, Lanao del Norte).… Continue reading... “The Forgotten Katipunan Revolt in Mindanao”
Along with the old houses, street names and landmarks which have become a part of the heritage of Cagayan de Oro, are some trees and their fruits which seem to have inexplicably disappeared over time.
Two trees which have figured prominently in the culture and heritage of Cagayan de Oro are the Lambago and Kayam.… Continue reading... “The Forgotten Fruit Trees of Cagayan de Misamis”
Cagayan, Misamis (as Cagayan de Oro in the island of Mindanao, the Philippines, was then known) got its first whiff of World War II when a B-17D bomber crash landed at the Cagayan Airfield (site of the present Patag Golf Course) on 14 December 1941.
Raul Ilogon, whose father Jesus ran away from their home to join the guerrillas at the tender age of 17, tells how the latter used to tell them how he saw the wounded airmen from that B-17 near their house.… Continue reading... “The story of that B-17 that crash landed at Patag in 1941”
One of the most unusual guerrilla operations in the Philippines during World War II was the guerrilla raid on Talisayan, Misamis Oriental, which was conducted with the assistance of the US Navy to eliminate and wipe out the Japanese garrisoned at this key objective.
Amphibious in nature, the operation involved guerrilla units of the 110th Infantry Division, 110th Division United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) with an original strength of 200 men but which rose to 350 when a call for volunteers was issued.… Continue reading... “Guerrilla Raid on Talisayan”
When Cagayan de Oro had to mark the 75th Anniversary of its Liberation from Imperial Japan on May 12, 2020 behind closed doors, it recalled a similar situation when everyone’s freedom of movement was drastically curtailed by the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945.
The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) imposed tight restrictions on travel between towns and travelers had to provide “passes” similar to the Barangay Exit Pass permits only one person to step outside a residence for essential errands like medicines, foods and the like.… Continue reading... “Life During Wartime”
Few Kagay-anons today are aware that the first camp commander of the Philippine Army’s biggest military camp in Mindanao was a Lumad (native Kagay-anon).
Major Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan was initially assigned as Cadre Commander of the 2nd Misamis Oriental (Machine Gun) Cadre at Camp Bulua (present day Camp Edilberto Evangelista) in Cagayan, a post he served in from January 1-Dec.… Continue reading... “75th Cagayan Liberation Anniversary Feature – Maj. Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan, 1st Camp Commander of the‘Kampo’”
