Ozamiz

Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo marker

The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word kuyamis, a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from the Spanish word Misa (Catholic Mass). The old Spanish town grew in size due to the nearby Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo. The fort was constructed some time in 1756 in order to attempt to combat the pirate activities originating in the nearby Lanao area. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.

In October 1942, Wendell Fertig established the command headquarters of the growing guerrilla resistance to the Japanese occupation of Mindanao in the Spanish fort in the city. His headquarters was abandoned June 26, 1943, due to a large Japanese attack.[8] Until the end of the war, the Japanese occupied this fort. During the Japanese occupation of Misamis in World War II, the "Cotta" was garrisoned by a contingent of Japanese who dug foxholes near or under the walls. This undermining of walls later led to the destruction of the southwest bastion in the earthquake of 1955.[1]

After the war, Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321 on July 16, 1948. This also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after a hero José Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate.

Ozamiz is nearby the Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte provinces, while Lanao del Norte is across the bay. Ozamiz is 52 kilometers (32 mi) from Maria Cristina Falls, the main source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao.

In the 2020 census, Ozamiz had a population of 140,334 people,[4] with a density of 830 inhabitants per square kilometer or 2,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Ozamiz is agricultural in terms of natural resources, but the city has become the center for commerce, health, transportation, and education, considering its strategic location. Its location makes for a good harbor, as its local port is the principal outlet of mineral deposits and agricultural and forest products of the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, parts of Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.

Local officials are elected every 3 years. The city local government is composed of the mayor, vice mayor, ten councilors, one Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representative, one indigenous people (IPMR) representative, and an Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) representative.

Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo

Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, also known as Cotta Shrine, is a fort built in 1756 by Father José Ducos to serve as a Spanish outpost in the area. A special chapel was built inside the walls of the fort and an image of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception was enshrined in the chapel. An image of the Virgin Mary (Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepción y del Triunfo de la Cruz de Migpangi) was carved on the outside wall of the fort, facing the sea. The image is believed to be miraculously growing and has been a pilgrimage destination. In 2022, the fort was renovated and restored to its original design. As of now, Cotta is undergoing a development consisting of the construction of a boulevard with a Spanish galleon replica, a park, a mini commercial complex for food stalls, ticketing offices, restos, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Bukagan Hill has a view of the city, Panguil Bay, and the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. There are four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill, named "St. Peter", "St. Marien", "St. Joseph", and "St. Michael". They were originally purchased by Bishop Patrick Cronin, D.D., for the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. However, the bells weigh 7 tons and were found to be too heavy and too large for the cathedral's belfry. Given the recent costs of installing an organ at the cathedral, it was commonly thought that the installation of the bells would prove too expensive but, through the efforts of then City Mayor Fernando T. Bernad and Jesus Y. Varela, the bells were finally given a place at Bukagan Hill, and were officially inaugurated on July 16, 1948.[22]

Naomi's Botanical Garden and Tourist's Inn sits on a 12-hectare property. The garden features a variety local and imported tropical flowers, plants, and fruit trees. The hotel has fully air-conditioned private rooms, and is home to a variety of amenities, including function halls, a tennis court, a golf range, a ceramics factory, and a bakery.

Mt. Malindang Golf and Country Club is a pre-war army facility converted into a golf course located in Bagakay, at the foot of Mount Malindang.

The Immaculate Conception Pipe Organ, found in the choir loft of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is the only existing pipe organ in Mindanao, and one of only a few anywhere in the Philippines. It was Father Sean Lavery, an Irish-Columbian priest in charge of music at the cathedral, who first thought of the idea of an organ at Immaculate Conception. Funds were raised through donations and a musical extravaganza, organized by the parish, to buy the pipe organ. Father Lavery requested the aid of a German priest, Father Herman Schablitzki S.V.D., in designing the organ. Father Schatblitzki visited Ozamiz to take measurements to give to the organ builders back in Germany. Father Schablitzki himself, assisted by one carpenter and one electrician, assembled the organ in six weeks, and it was completed on May 31, 1967. It was inaugurated on July 16, 1967, the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.[23]

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built from the ruins of a church destroyed in an earthquake in 1955. It was one of the earliest designs of nationalist art for architecture Leandro Locsin. His simple style of squares, circles, and half circles are evident throughout the external and internal designs of the church. Alterations to the façade of the cathedral were performed later.

Ozamiz City currently has seven hospitals and healthcare facilities:

• Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARS MC): a 500-bed capacity tertiary hospital owned by the Department of Health
• Misamis University Medical center (MUMC): a tertiary hospital located at Barangay Bagakay
• Medina General Hospital: a 200-bed capacity tertiary hospital located at Barangay Carmen Annex
• Faith Hospital
• S.M. Lao Memorial Hospital
• St. Joseph General Hospital, formerly St. Mary General Hospital
• St. Padre Pio Medical Clinic: located at JEM bldg., Medina Avenue, Barangay Carmen Annex

There are two universities in Ozamiz: La Salle University (formerly known as Immaculate Conception College (ICC)) and Misamis University. Most students coming from Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental come to Ozamiz to pursue their college education. Additional schools and institutions include:

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines
• Labo Airport

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ozamiz.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ozamiz.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Ozamiz City Government
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System