By PJTremedal,BNDMisOC-CIB/OCM
Layawan was the oldest name of Oroquieta, which was the barrio in the province of Misamis since 1861 until 1879. The early settlers then of the barrio were Boholano peddlers. They found so many stray animals along the river, thus they named the place Layawan, which means a place of stray animals. Then in 1880, Layawan changed its name into Oroquieta when it became a town. Some sources revealed that the town got its name from a famous barrio in Spain where Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest here and General Domingo Mariones y Murillo, a hero in the battle of Oroquieta, were born.
Another version is that Oroquieta had derived its name from two Spanish words ‘ORO’ and (QUITA) ‘KITA’. Accordingly, the early inhabitants then had found gold along the river, thus, the name ‘ORO’ which means Gold and ‘QUITA’ or ‘KITA’ which means to find came into the word Orokita.
Oroquieta was created into City under R.A. 5518 and inaugurated as a chartered city on January 1, 1970. The charter converting the municipality of Oroquieta into a city is signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 25, 1969. Oroquieta City is bounded on the south by Aloran and the north of Lopez Jaena. On the eastern side is Iligan Bay, with Concepcion on the southwest and Sapang Dalaga on the northwest. Lowland plains and coastal lowlands are located in the City’s eastern side while highlands and mountains tower over its western side.
The City occupies roughly 26,393 hectares, the majority of which comprises the mountain barangays of Mialen, Toliyok and Sebucal, averaging less than a thousand hectares per Barangay, the 47 barangays of the City outsize its urbanized counterparts. In the 2007 census, it has a population of 65,349 people.
Today, Dubbed as the “City of Good Life”, Oroquieta City is a 3rd class city and the capital of the province of Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao. The city has been awarded by the national government as it proves to what kind of place it is; in 2007 it was awarded the Clean and Green city of Mindanao as an example. Oroquieta City is and will always be the home of hospitable and peace loving people.
OROQUIETA TRADE FAIR (October 1, 2010 to January 15, 2011)
A four-month Trade and Commerce exhibits of the Oroquietanons in artistically designed booths that showcases the people’s aqua-agri-indigenous endeavors. It is where you can find and buy and bring home as souvenirs of their native products, the taste of its native delicacies, and artifacts for valuable home decors.
EMPLOYEES FUN DAY (October 5, 2010)
A one-month sports and recreation day of all local and national employees of the government. It is where you can experience the camaraderie of employee-employer relationship that eventually enhances good working metabolism.
OPENING PARADE AND DRUM & BUGLE CORPS COMPETITION (October 7, 2010)
A Civic-military Parade participated by both local and national government offices, Schools, non-government organization, and people’s organization, and other civil societies tramping their feet with beat and sound of the Drum & Bugle Corps. As a finale, competition of the corps will follow.
TALENT NIGHT OF THE SEARCH FOR MS. OROQUIETA TOURISM (October 7, 2010)
Every City Fiesta, a search for the beauteous woman of Oroquieta to become the ambassador of goodwill will takes place; it is a weeklong search for their beauty and brains. But on this date, Their Talents will be showed and be judge as part and parcel of the Search for Miss Oroquieta City Tourism 2010.
LABYUGANAY (Mountain Bike Competition)) October 10, 2010
An 80-Km Mountain Bike Race that enthusiasts of the strong, the experience, and the fastest bike rider will beat each other to an endurance race. Labyuganay is an open competition of bike enthusiasts from Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga Provinces and from Visayas and Luzon areas.
Miss OROQUIETA TOURISM 2010 (October 11, 2010)
This is the final search for Oroquieta’s Ambassador of Goodwill. 12 Finalist of beauty and brain, body and faces of ladies between 18-24 years old will compete with each other in their best wears, swimsuits, long gowns and wittingly answers questions to make audiences and judges’ laugh, cry, and even shout from good answers. Ms. Oroquieta Tourism 2010 is the goddess of the city tourism potentials and destinations.
INUG-OG FESTIVAL (October 14, 2010)
“Inug-ug” is a Visayan word that comes from its root word “Ug-Og” meaning shake or a movement that rattles, tremble or warble. But if you transform it into body movements,” Inug-ug “actually is a mixture of cultures, thus in Oroquieta City, whose population is tri-people, every October of each year, Inug-ug is a symbol of oneness and unity.
To make emphasis on its symbol, the local government adopted it into a festive mood, where people meet other people to share their blessing with one another as it is connected to the people’s religious beliefs, but because Oroquietanons is a Christian dominated majority, Inug-ug festival is now celebrated in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
Inug-ug Festival is a competition of choreographed dance movements that depicts not only the Christians and the Muslims, but to its lumads, the Subanens of Misamis Occidental.
CONCERT AT THE GYM (October 14, 2010)
A free and open concert of Original Pilipino Music talents and R&B Bands who are invited by the Fiesta Steering Committee to add joy and merrymaking of the yearly celebration. Dance and Singing Talents from Manila, Cebu or world known artist will come and perform their musical renditions. The young and old alike will gather again to be a part of the City Fiesta Celebrations.
OROQUIETA GRAND CONCEPT PARADE (October 15, 2010)
A pre-fiesta parade of conceptualized by participants depicting the culture and art of Oroquietanons. The city pride of showcasing the tri-people of the city and its 47 barangays, government and non-government organizations, and civil societies parading in neo-ethnic colors of unity and oneness.
FIESTA DAY (October 16, 2010)
People of all walks of life, visitors, local and foreign tourists, came and share their mood of belongingness and thanksgiving in honor of the patron saint, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. Relatives, Friends, and visitor will join every Oroquietanons to celebrate and exchange pleasantries in a reunion or get-together for peace and happiness along with sumptuous food and delicacies to eat.
FIESTA NIGHT FEVER (October 21-23, 2010)
It literally means a night for night owls, disco dancing with live band, and meeting pleasantries with friends, relatives, and love ones in the city street and city plaza or the city gym, where food and drink flows until wee hours of the morning but with responsibility to go home safely. This is the night of all nights.
The activities of the fiesta celebrations are now simultaneously prepared by each committee assigned by the Fiesta Steering Committee under the supervision of Hon. Ruvy “Alay” Ala, Chair, Committee on Tourism and Mr. Jay Lorenzo-Tourism Officer Designate and with the authority from the honorable City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte.(History of the city and some additional facts from www.oroquieta.com/ www.oroquietacity.gov.ph / www.wikipedia.com)
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