Rediscovering Cagayan de Oro City

How much information do you know about your current city or town?

Let me rephrase that...if a visitor asks you to identify tourist spots in your current place of residence, would you be able to show that person around your city and town and be able to give him or her a good impression of your place?

I reckon most of us would not be able to effectively promote our own city or town to first time visitors. I have been assigned here in Pampanga for two years now and I am bothered by the fact that most of my staff are unaware of the historical facts about the city. I was even amused when I was sharing information about the city that they have these bewildered look on their faces as it was their first time to hear those information. This lack of information among its residents is detrimental to local tourism of the city.

I had the chance to rediscover Cagayan de Oro City during my recent visit last September. The city holds a very special place in my heart as I hold a lot of great memories of the city, apart from it being my birthplace. I consider myself a Kagay-anon by heart. The trip was intended as a visit to my grandmother, who is already bedridden, but I managed to squeeze in half a day to just revisit some of Cagayan de Oro's tourist spots and I discovered new and interesting information about my birthplace.

Cagayan de Oro City Museum

The old structure of the city water storage tank has been standing on its location as far as I can remember. Even before the development of the new road systems in the city, the structure is one of the "city icons" that will greet you as you enter the city from the Carmen area. I could say that the old water tank has formed part of the city's skyline next to the Cathedral.

The old water reservoir of Cagayan de Oro was converted to the three-story City Museum.

The museum is still a work in progress but one can support the development of the museum by making a visit. It is also important to note that picture taking is not allowed on the second and third floor of the museum. A trip to this museum will give you a brief on the humble beginnings of Cagayan de Oro along the river and its development to what it is now.

Some old photographs and old radio transistors are on display at the City Museum of Cagayan de Oro.

Getting there: Hop onto a motorela, a major mode of transportation in the city, and ask the driver to bring you to the San Agustin Cathedral. The Cagayan de Oro City Museum is located on the left side of the Cathedral. Fare is about Php10.

San Agustin Cathedral

The San Agustin Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in Mindanao and has attracted visitors especially in the month of August when the city celebrates the feast day of San Agustin. The cathedral is personal to me as I was baptized in this cathedral.

The San Agustin Cathedral is located just right beside the Cagayan de Oro River. In fact, the landscaped garden on the right side of the cathedral offers a great view of the river. The original church was constructed in 1845 but the subsequent bombings during World War 2 in 1945 completely damaged the structure except for the wooden cross that is now found at the front of the cathedral. The present structure, with its Gothic design, was constructed with the help of Father James Hayes.

The San Agustin Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City.

The interior of the San Agustin Cathedral provides a refreshing atmosphere for churchgoers and visitors with its high ceilings, white washed walls, and grilled open windows that provide proper ventilation inside the cathedral. The images of saints are found at the back end of the cathedral while the pulpit is found under the dome of the cathedral.

The pulpit of the San Agustin Cathedral sits under the cathedral's dome.

The stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes is a source of pride for Kagay-anons. These were a donation from American Catholics and are a century old.

The stained glass windows of the San Agustin Cathedral are a century old.

Getting there: The San Agustin Cathedral is just right beside the Cagayan de Oro City Museum.

Gaston Park

Gaston Park is a popular park in Cagayan de Oro. It is a huge park right beside the San Agustin Cathedral and just right in front of the City Museum. Even when I was a child, I have always seen this park as a venue where most residents would enjoy a late afternoon stroll or spend quality family time right after hearing mass. The park has a play area for kids and are frequented by peddlers that sell balloons, toys, and snacks.

The Gaston Park, which sits right beside the San Agustin Cathedral, is an archeological and historical site.

My earlier visit to the city museum revealed a lot of information about Gaston Park. This park, named after a former mayor of Cagayan de Oro, was an excavation site that yielded pieces of artifacts that indicated that it was a site of a community of the early settlers of the city. Records have also shown that it was also the site of first Spanish settlement in the area

Another view of Gaston Park.

Exploring the park area also yielded an important historical landmark - a stone memorial was erected on the grounds of the park that recognizes the heroes of the "Battle of Cagayan de Misamis". It is a bloody encounter between Filipino and American forces where hundreds of Filipino fighters lost their lives.

The marker of the "Battle of Cagayan de Misamis".

Getting there: The Gaston Park is just right outside the San Agustin Cathedral.

Cagayan de Oro City Hall

Just right across the San Agustin Cathedral and Gaston Park stands the Cagayan De Oro City Hall - the seat of the Executive Office of City Cagayan de Oro. The present structure was built in 1940 and is one of the very few buildings that survived the World War 2 bombings of the city.

The Cagayan de Oro City Hall sits right beside the Cagayan de Oro bridge.

On the same site once stood the Casa Real de Cagayan or the official residence of the Provincial Governor. This is where the Philippine Flag was raised on January 10, 1899 declaring Philippine Independence in the region.

Getting there: The Cagayan de Oro City Hall is just across San Agustine Cathedral and Gaston Park.

Makahambus Cave and Gorge

I have been to Cagayan de Oro a couple of times but it was only now that I have picked up on the buzz about the Makahambus Cave and Gorge. I have to admit that the cave started to be a point of interest when Cagayan de Oro tourism started to level up when Whitewater Rafting Adventures started attracting visitors to the city. The feedback that I got from relatives was not that exciting but the discussions I have been reading on the internet was enough to pique my curiosity.

The stone sign that shares the historical relevance of the Makahambus Cave and Gorge.

The Makambus Cave and Gorge is located in Lumbia about 30-40 minutes away from the city center by taxi. The cave is a "thru" cave, with a total length of 57 meters that allow visitors to enter from one end and exit on the other end. A platform was constructed at the end of the cave to offer visitors a spectacular view of the Cagayan River. There are a number of guides available in the area that can assist you in traversing the cave for a generous tip.

The entrance of the Makahambus Cave and Gorge.

The cave also played a significant part in the history of the city and the country as it was the site of a bloody battle between American and Filipino troops in the 1900 where the Filipinos won over their counterparts. This victory was recognized as the first victory of the Filipinos in the country and the only battle won in Mindanao.

The Makahambus Cave and Gorge offers a spectacular view of the Cagayan River.

Though the trip to Makahambus Cave and Gorge was interesting but the experience in itself lacks in excitement. I actually suggest to those wanting to visit the cave to make it as a side trip when trying out the many adventure activities, like Whitewater Rafting or Ziplining, that are present in the area.

Getting there: You can hire a taxi for a roundtrip fare of Php500 from the city center or the San Agustin Cathedral.

Plaza Divisoria

Also known as the Golden Friendship Park, Plaza Divisoria is a stretch of parks dedicated to local heroes. Interestingly, the stretch was originally designed as a fire break for the early settlers of the city. Plaza Divisoria divides the city center into two so it serves as a barrier to prevent fire from spreading to other side of the city. It was later developed into small parks which made it what it is today.

The Grand Stand in the middle of Plaza Divisoria.

At present, Plaza Divisoria is now surrounded with different business establishments that offer various services and goods. The mix of these establishments are local and national businesses thus making it a bustling city center during the day.

Getting there: You can take a jeep or a motorela anywhere in the city and you can ask the driver to bring you to Divisoria.

Sidetrip: Cogon Market

Cogon Market is one of the many public markets that you can find in Cagayan de Oro City. It is located strategically near the city center which makes it accessible to both local and foreign tourists.

Some of the wares sold in Cogon Market.

Cogon Market changed drastically through the years. It no longer has the usual shops selling batik or Muslim merchandise which I enjoyed going to before. It has now a proliferation of pirated DVD shops along the side shops. The second floor was already converted into a mall while the ambulant vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and other merchandise are found along the side streets near the main building.

Ambulant vendors are found along the side streets near Cogon Market.

Cogon Market, in my opinion, has lost its original charm. It has completely acquired a new identity which is sad because I believe that the public market is a reflection of the city or town’s personality. With the development of Cogon Market, it did not only lose its charm but it lost part of the city’s charm.

Getting there: You can take a jeep or a motorela anywhere in the city and you can ask to be dropped off at Cogon Market.

Hop On: The Motorela

One thing that I always look forward to when I visit Cagayan de Oro is getting around the city with the ever dependable Motorela. It is an innovative mode of transportation in the country where a carriage is attached to motorcycle. It is more commonly known as Tricycle. There are a lot of variations of the tricycle and each region has its own unique design. You would be pleasantly surprised that the number of people that it can accommodate would largely depend on the design.

The Motorela is a major mode of transportation in Cagayan de Oro City. A must try when you visit the city.

Cagayan de Oro’s motorela is not an exception. The carriage is attached to the motorcycle’s body making it look like a small jeepney. It can accommodate a total of 6 passengers, excluding the driver. These little vehicles are easy to find in the city as they ply most of the short distance routes of the city. So when you get the chance to visit Cagayan de Oro, do not miss out hopping into a motorela and enjoying the ride.

***

Rediscovering Cagayan de Oro was a great experience that made me appreciate my birthplace. I discovered that the places that I use to just pass by, when heading off to a friend’s house or the beach, is actually an excavation site that holds the secrets of early settlers of the city or a battle ground where Filipino lives were lost because of their fight for freedom. It is amazing how you get to discover these facts and build your sense of pride for your city or town. It gives you a different view of the city, one that just makes you feel proud of your birthplace. Hence, I challenge you to discover something new about your city or town and share it with your friends.

As for me, I will always find a home in Cagayan de Oro. It is more than just the adrenaline adventures that it is known for. It is a home with a rich cultural heritage that every Kagay-anon should preserve and be proud of.