Oroquieta city

 

Oroquieta City is located in Northern Mindanao. Oroquieta City is the capital of the Province of Misamis Occidental. It is nestled in the northeastern region of the province where its coastal boundary is facing the Iligan Bay.

The geographical location of Oroquieta comprises of five different boundaries. To the north lies the municipality of Lopez Jaena, to the east is the open wide bay of Iligan City, down to the south is its sister town Aloran, facing to the southeast is the municipality of Conception, and then to the northwest is Sapang Dalaga. Its total geographical area is estimated 263,934 kilometers comprising almost 13% of the Northern Mindanao land area.

Oroquieta has a very moderate, but changing climatic condition where rainfall is at appropriate level to suffice the much needed water for farmers to cultivate farms and grow crops. However, like most other regions of Mindanao, Oroquieta’s Hot Summer season, commonly called "Kuaresma" begins in January and lasts through the third week of April. Kuaresma also marks the yearly Christian observation of "Holy Week" - beginning with Ash Wednesday which usually falls in February, and and ends on Resurrection or Easter Sunday which usually falls during the last week of March or first week of April. This season's change is usually described by the old folks' common expressions "Kuaresma na" - meaning hot season and Christian's Holy Week observation. The peak of this hot season cycle is in March.



Following the Kuaresma season, a good amount of rainfall arrives resulting in mild temperature. Such mild temperature is evident by the arrival of the prevailing North Wind called "Amihan." The mild temperature usually appears during the last days of April through the month of June. This is the best season to plant rice and corn crops. The "Amihan" is also believed to be the main factor in the arrival of different species of fish and sea creatures. The squids called "Lumayagan" (an Oroquieta delicacy) arrive in high volume where fishermen enjoy to catch them and prepare in a special recipe called "Kilawin." Kilawin is the Filipino version of of the Japanese "Fish Sushi" except Kilawin is made from squid.

Inug-og Festival

Inug-og is an ethnic festival of the Suban-on culture that is celebrated on the 14th of October, in conjunction with the weeklong Fiesta celebration. This festival showcases tribal performance of street dancing in tribute to Oroquieta City’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Performers are dressed up in ethnic costumes while performing rituals in the street and dancing to the rhythm of the parade.

Tabanog Festival

One of Oroquieta City’s favorite past times is the Tabanog (Kite-Flying) Festival, which is held during the Summer months. The festival is held in the Plaza, near the bay front. Oroquieta City’s bay front is somewhat comparable to Chicago’s Lake Michigan, except the warm and soothing trade winds are irresistible to everyone’s desire to a fly kite with full enjoyment.

The Tabanog festival is a competition open to legal residents of Oroquieta City only. Each person may only register one kite, and registration must be done before the scheduled festival date. This year the Tabanog Festival was held on April 20th from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the kite registration deadline was April 19th. Kite entries were required to meet the requirements for dimension and description.

How we get there? In a short bus trip, getting to Oroquieta City really can be half the fun. Regardless of which direction you are coming from, either from Dipolog or Ozamiz, your journey will be filled with the changing landscape of mountainous greenery and simultaneous passage alongside the shining seas and volcanic sand-colored shorelines of Misamis Occidental.