HISTORY AND CULTURES OF NORTHERN MINDANAO

Province Capital

Bukidnon Malaybalay City

Camiguin Mambajao

Lanao del NorteTubod

Misamis Occidental Oroquieta City

Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro City

*Cagayan de Oro City serves as the regional center.

Vital Statistics

Region 10, usually called Northern Mindanao, is composed of 5 provinces: Misamis Oriental, Misamis
Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin and Lanao del Norte. It is comprised of 9 cities: Cagayan de Oro,
Gingoog, El Salvador, Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, Malaybalay, Valencia, and Iligan. The whole region
covers a total land area of 19,279.60 sqr km. with a total population of 4.297 million as of the 2010
Census. It has 84 municipalities and about 2,020 barangays.

Northern Mindanao, which geographically lies within Latitude 7º15′ to 9º15′ North and Longitude
123º30′ to 125º30′ East, is bounded on the North by the Bohol Sea, on the South by Lanao del Sur and
North Cotabato; on the West by Zamboanga provinces; and on the East by Agusan Provinces and Davao.

Geographical Features

Topography

Geologically, this region is a combination of plains, rolling hills, mountains and coastal areas with rich
soil, abundant minerals and agricultural resources. It has a strategic location which is why it serves as the
gateway to and from the rest of Mindanao. Its modern port facilities and extensive road networks linking
it to various parts of the Mindanao region makes it an ideal destination for tourism all year round.
Moreover, it also has abundant water resources which led to the development of hydroelectric power
plants in the area. These plants generate the bulk of power available in the Mindanao grid.

Climate
Three types of climates prevail in the different areas of this region:

Type II—No dry season with very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January in the
province of Camiguin and Misamis Occidental.

Type III—Relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year, affecting Misamis
Oriental and Central Bukidnon.

Type IV— Throughout the duration of the year, rainfall is evenly distributed in Northeastern Misamis
Oriental and Bukidnon.

Culture

Northern Mindanao is a region rich in culture, which can be seen in their numerous festivals. One of the
most popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City. They celebrate the
feast day of St. Augustine every 28th day of August. Another festival is Kaamulan festival in Bukidnon. It
is an ethnic cultural festival wherein people allocate a relative amount of their time to remember the
culture and traditions of the seven ethnic tribes in their area. It is also considered as a thanksgiving
festival to celebrate their bountiful harvest. Moreover, another famous festival in the region is the
Lanzones festival in Camiguin, which is a 4-day celebration of this fruit. It is held every 3rd week of
October. It is essential to note that the sweetest Lanzones can be found in the islands of Camiguin.
Regularly celebrating different causes as one whole community shows that the citizens of Region 10
value camaraderie and friendship.

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Some parts of this region are known to have preserved their tribal beliefs and customs. An example is
the Higaunon, a mountain tribe in Bukidnon. Apparently, they still believe in the existence of spirits and
gods. Furthermore, they have a god for each element. Another superstition is they need to please the
spirits so they will experience something good in return. People in this tribe still live according to their
traditions with farming as their primary source of income. Additionally, the ancestors of its current
inhabitants mentioned that the region was occupied by four tribes but when northern-central Mindanao
was divided into provinces, migrants from Visayas and Luzon began to dominate the region. Since that
happened, the tribal communities went to the mountains and forests to continue living out their cultural
heritage.
tribe-higaonon

The region’s culture can also be seen in their establishments and churches. These include: the
Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Misamis Oriental, Macapagal-Macaraeg Heritage House in
Lanao Del Norte, General MacArthur Maker and Saint Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro. These
places represents a glimpse of Northern Mindanao’s history because the events that occurred in these
locations moulded Region 10 to be what it is today. The province of Camiguin is home to century old
churches such as the Santo Rosario Church and Old Catarman Church Ruins. Baylao Church is considered
as a miraculous place because a lot of individuals connect it to how its existence saved numerous lives
during the eruption of Mount Hibok Hibok. Besides that, there are also a lot of ancestral homes that can
be found in this region that date back all the way to the Spanish era.

guiob-church-ruins

Language

There are a lot of ethnic languages in the region. Bisaya, Boholano and Cebuano are the major ones.
Native languages are still used like Higaonon in Misamis Oriental, Marinao in Lanao Del Norte, Subanen
in Misamis Occidental, Binukid in Bukidnon and Kinamiging in Camiguin. English and Tagalog are also
understood but not usually spoken.

450px-visayan_language_distribution_map

Tourism

Northern Mindanao has 4 major port facilities which makes it very easy to reach. The port in Ozamis is
one of the busiest port in terms of passenger traffic. The region is also accessible by air through the
Cagayan de Oro airport. It is also accessible by land from Davao, Butuan and Zamboanga. Due to its high
accessibility, it is one of the prime destinations for vacation in the country.

Bukidnon

Bukidnon, which is the fourth largest province in the Philippines, makes up half of Northern Mindanao. It
has a sweeping amount of banana, sugarcane, and pineapple plantations. On top of that, it is also
Mindanao’s major producer of corn and rice. Those who would want to escape the Metro’s unbearable
heat could visit this city and enjoy its cool climate brought about by the fact that it is a plateau about 915
meters above sea level surrounded by a number of mountain ranges.

For adrenaline junkies, a visit to the Dahilayan Adventure Park would be a fantastic idea! It offers
numerous ATV rides, has activities for every member of the family, and has the longest zipline in Asia.
Speaking of great heights, Kampo Juan is well-known for its 120-meter hanging bridge suspended 165
meters over a river. It doesn’t stop there! Bukidnon is the home of Mt. Kitanglad – the fourth highest
peak in the Philippines at 2,899 meters. Moreover, it boasts Sumilao’s numerous caves, all of which are
worth exploring. Bukidnon isn’t just wealthy when it comes to its natural resources, it is also rich in
culture. It has the living heritage of the Manobo, the Higaonon, the Talaandig, the Matigsalug, the
Tigwahanon, the Bukidnon, and the Umayamnon.

Camiguin

Contrary to the geographical size of Bukidnon, Camiguin serves as the second smallest island in the
Philippines with only around 240 square kilometers of land area. To the surprise of many, within it
actually lie seven volcanoes, hence Camiguin being known as the island “born of fire.” Much of the island
was formed through volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Camiguin’s natural attractions are definitely what keeps visitors coming. White Island, a sandbar, and
Mantigue Island are great for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Additionally, for those who want to feel
refreshed, cool waters amid ferns, boulders, and trees may be found at Tuawasan Falls and Katibawasan
Falls. Visitors may take a dip in different springs as well. There’s Santo Niño Cold Spring, which offers
waters at 20 degrees Celsius and tiny fishes that will give you an incredibly unique massage! In contrast,
individuals may take a hot dip in Ardent Hot Spring. Its temperature reaches up to 40 degrees Celsius
because its waters are heated by Mt. Hibok-Hibok, an active volcano. Indeed, mountaineers and hikers
would never run out of things to do here. They can choose to take on the challenge of trekking on the
steep volcanoes, with one of them rising to a peak of over 1,600 meters. In addition to that, there are
dive sites and forests for exploring as well. As people venture this beautiful island, they must keep their
eyes wide open for what Camiguin is best known for – its sweet Lanzones, a fruit about the size of a
grape, with light brown skin and translucent flesh. This island will certainly get nature lovers’ hearts
racing to the beat of their content!

Lanao del Norte

Similar to most provinces in the region, land and water can be found on both sides of Lanao del Norte. A
combination of mountains, plateaus, and coastline makes up its terrain. Iligan offers a significant number
of tourist amenities. It has numerous scenic spots including waterfalls (Tinago Falls, Mimbalut Falls,
Maria Cristina Falls, Limunsudan Falls, and Hindang Falls), cool springs, caves and fine beaches. On top of
that, it offers a couple of good hotels and inns with state of the art technology. What makes Iligan
distinct from other locations is its cultural mix of Christians, Muslims and Higaonons. The combination of
these different groups alongside a good marketing strategy equates to the prevalence of a wide array of
ethnic products which may be found Iligan’s shopping centers. These various amenities collectively serve
as an open invitation for visitors to venture this particular city.

Misamis Occidental

Misamis Occidental is surrounded by different bodies of water. It has Iligan Bay to the east, Panguil Bay
to the southeast, and Mindanao Sea to the northeast. The province’s terrain is mostly hilly. There are a
ton of family-friendly activities in this area. Visitors may opt to visit a mini zoo located within a mangrove
forest at the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park. Moreover, a variety of mangrove trees and a couple
of endangered species may be located in Baliangao Wetland Park as well. In line with this, people have
the option to check out a man-made sanctuary for rescued dolphins called Dolphin Island. There’s also
Lake Duminagat, a crater lake that was formed by volcanic eruptions. It is famous because it supposedly
has powers that may heal the people who decide take a dip in it. Misamis Occidental is worth going to
because besides the fact that this place is picturesque because it is rich in natural resources, it is also a
mix of different cultures and Spanish influence.

Misamis Oriental
Misamis Oriental is the most convenient starting point when it comes to planning a trip to Northern
Mindanao because its provincial capital, Cagayan de Oro, has daily flights to Manila and vice versa. For
the adventurous type who seeks for thrill in nature, White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro would
definitely be a fantastic idea. Citizens of CDO have developed the habit of rafting since the mid 80’s
which is why it still remains as one of the most popular pastimes in this part of the region. This
recreational activity allows individuals to become witnesses to the marvelous scenery of the Cagayan
River.

Most Cagayan de Oro rafting companies pick people up in the city center. If it’s a large group, they may
be picked up at the location of their choice. The rafting starts at Barangay Dansolihon, which is 20
kilometers from the city center. Starting from this point, travellers will get to pass by the Lumbia Airport
and the Macahambus Cave, which was used by Filipino Soldiers during the second World War. There is
no denying that Misamis Oriental is absolutely rich in natural resources – both underwater and on land.

Economy

Region 10 has the largest economy in the Islands of Mindanao, contributing 24.3% of the island’s total
production. According to the Philippines Statistical Authority (PSA), the region’s economy contributed
3.73% to the country’s GDP. In 2013, agricultural production increased by 3.5% due to the growth in
production by all sub-sectors. Shown in graph 1 below is the share by sub-sector in Northern Mindanao.
Crops still dominate the share and the other 3 top shares are livestock (orange), poultry (blue) and
fisheries (red). The region is also known to be the top producer of pineapples in the country and it grew
by 3.63% in 2013. Table 1 below also shows the top commodities produced, which constitutes 64.41% of
the region’s total agricultural production. There was a significant growth in the production of palay
because of irrigation projects in the region. Bukidnon is known as the food basket of Mindanao and is
home to a number of plantations such as Lapanday diversified products corporation, Del Monte and Dole
Philippines. These plantations regularly produce pineapples, bananas and corn. In addition to that,
almost 40% of the workers in the Northern Mindanao region is employed in the agricultural sector.

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(Graph 1)

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(Table 1)

In 2013, the region’s growth slowed down from 7.2% to 5.6% and this is connected to the decline of the
industry and service sectors. As shown in the graph 2, the service sector still dominates the economy of
the region at 41.9%. The service sector is comprised of trade, transport and communications, real estate
and etc. Recently, the region experienced fast growth in the industry sector at 39.4%. These industries
are located in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. There is a steady growth in manufacturing and construction in
the region within the past few years. In Northern Mindanao, Misamis Oriental possesses most of the
regional investments. It is considered as one of the fastest growing provinces in the region. Bukidnon
was the second biggest contributor to the annual investments held in Northern Mindanao, which were
made in 2006. On the other hand, Misamis Occidental experienced a 26% growth in 2006, which made it
the second fastest growing province in terms of investment.

Sources:

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru10/profile/iligan/7_tourism.html

http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/region-10-northern-mindanao/top-destinations/

http://vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Northern-Mindanao-Region-X-Profile

http://www.mb.com.ph/neda-region-10-fastest-growing-economy-in-mindanao/

http://cagayandeoro.da.gov.ph/about-us/da-rfu-10/

http://r10.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile

http://www.mb.com.ph/neda-region-10-fastest-growing-economy-in-mindanao/

http://www.raftingphilippines.com/?page=home&task=cagayan-de-oro
http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/misamis-occidental/

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru10/

http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/119097-northern-mindanao-election-violence-
watchlist

http://countrystat.psa.gov.ph/?cont=16&r=10

http://www.bukidnon.gov.ph/home/index.php/about-bukidnon/general-info/brief-history

https://www.quora.com/Philippines-What-is-the-history-of-Camiguin-Island

Featured Image: http://mapio.net/s/75603205/