The City of Cagayan de Oro (abbreviated C.D.O. or Cag. de Oro ; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro) is the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental, the regional center for Northern Mindanao (Region X). According to the 2000 census, it has an estimated population of 461,877 people in 200,000 households. It is known as the "City of Golden Friendship". [Source: wikipedia]

Tourism

• Plaza Divisoria was built in 1901 as a town divider (divisoria) or fire breaker after a great fire that almost burned down the entire town. It is now a park dedicated to local and national heroes like President Ramon Magsaysay, Andres Bonifacio, Dr. Jose Rizal, and former Cagayan de Oro Mayor Borja.

• The Night Café at the Divisoria area is set up on Friday and Saturday nights. Locals and visitors gather in the streets of Divisoria to have barbecue and seafood, among many choices, and enjoy the music, beer, and also the great bargains from the nearby Night Market.

• The Pueblo de Oro Golf Course in upper Carmen is an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

• Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village is located in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. This 7 hectare village has replicas of tribal houses in the region and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay. The tourism village is owned and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority
  

• Gaston Park is located across the San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral area. Famous for its water fountain, the park remains to be a favorite place to unwind for many people, especially during sundays.

• Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral is the home of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. Rebuilt in the 1950s, this place of worship is also famous for its century old stained glass.

• White Water River Rafting along the Cagayan de Oro river has gained popularity through the years after President Macapagal-Arroyo herself went whitewater rafting last 2002\

• Macahambus Cave & Gorge is an underground cave with a 130 foot (40 m) circular gorge. The ravine is thick with various species of plants and huge trees. It is the site of the historic battle between local and American soldiers during the Philippine-American War
  

Culture
Natives of Cagayan de Oro are called Kagayanons. They are of Malay, Spanish, American, and Chinese descent.

Shopping

• Limketkai Center
• Robinsons Cagayan de Oro
• SM City Cagayan de Oro
• Makro
• Ororama Chain of Stores
• Cogon Market Area

Featured sites:

Official Website of the Government of Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro City

The City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo , Tagalog: Lungsod ng Cebu) is the capital of Cebu in the Philippines and is the second most important metropolitan center in the country. The city lies on the eastern shore of the island of Cebu and is the first Spanish settlement in the country. It is the country's main domestic shipping hub and is home to more than 80% of the country's inter-island shipping companies. Cebu is also the main hub, outside of the capital, of international flights into the country and is the most important center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao, the southern parts of the country. It is because of this and other important aspects that Cebu City is dubbed the Queen City of the South. According to the official 2000 census, it has a population of 718,821 people in 147,600 households. [source: wikipedia]

Historical Sites

Magellan's Cross
The most famous of all historical landmarks in Cebu City. This cross was planted in Cebu shores by Ferdinand Magellan in April 14, 1521, marking the spot where the first Catholic Christians- Rajah Humabon, Queen Juana and about 400 followers were baptized by Fr. Pedro de Valderama.

Taoist Temple
Located at Beverly Hills, Cebu City. This temple preserves the teachings of Lao-tse the 600 B.C.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño
The BASILICA MINORE DEL SANTO NIÑO, the only basilica in the Far East, is yet another historic landmark that will never cease to amaze its visitors.

 

 Top 8 Tourist Destinations:

BAGUIO. The country’s summer capital, Baguio City, stands amidst the mountainous region of the Cordillera. Situated 1,500 meters above the sea, Baguio is one of the few places in the country blessed with a cool climate. At any given time, it is eight degrees cooler in Baguio than the lowlands. Apart from the numerous sightseeing “musts”: Burnham Park, Club John Hay, Lourdes Grotto and the Mines View Park, Baguio is also a great shopping place. Delight on freshest vegetables and strawberries, Baguio is also the jump-off point to the famous Banawe Rice Terraces. Official Website: http://www.baguio.gov.ph/

BOHOL. The country’s tenth largest island, Bohol is a veritable masterpiece of nature with its blend of pristine white beaches, wonderful dive sites, virgin forests and rolling hills. Situated in Central Visayas, Bohol is particularly popular for the Chocolate Hills. This natural wonder consists of hundreds of dome-shaped limestone hills covered with grass which dried up and turn brown under the sun. It is also in Bohol where the historic blood compact between the Boholano chieftain Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi took place. Other points of interest include the Jesuit-built Baclayon Church and the underground watersprings of Hinagdanan Cave. Official Website: http://www.bohol.gov.ph/ 

BORACAY. Known far and wide as an island paradise, Boracay has charmed vacationers with its powder white sand, crystal blue waters and purposely laid-back pace. Located at the northern tip of Panay island, Boracay is about three hours away from Manila. Sun worshippers from all over the world visit Boracay yearly, and some have even made it their second home. It is no wonder, therefore, that French, German, Spanish and English can be heard spoken in the island. The culinary fare is equally exciting, featuring a wide range from Thai and Austrian to Belgian and Filipino. Numerous water sports facilities, including dive shops, are on hand as well as a sprinkling of bars and discos. Most visitors, however, prefer to sit back and enjoy the sun. Website: http://www.boracay.com/

CEBU. In the island of Cebu, the worlds of business and leisure go hand in hand. Called the “Queen City of the South”, Cebu is the site of the new and exciting business ventures between local and foreign capital. But amidst such hectic commercial activity, Cebu’s numerous beach resorts and exhilirating historicity beckon tourists of all races. The city is also blessed with numerous museums and churches. As for the shopping, Cebu offers a lot of souvenir ideas from export quality fashion accessories and furniture, handcrafted guitars and handicrafts, to dried mango preserves, sugar coated biscuits, and peanut wafers. Official Website: http://www.cebu.gov.ph/ 

DAVAO. Known for its elegant orchids, exotic fruits and Muslim heritage, Davao is a bustling city teeming with cultural diversity. It is the industrial hub of Mindanao with corporate centers, manufacturing sites, shopping centers, hotels, and casinos. Davao also features various points of interest for the adventurous visitor. Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country and home to the Philippine Eagle, is a close distance from Davao City. Caroland Farms, 13 kms from the city, is a bird and wild duck sanctuary. Samal island offers an array of beach resorts for serious unwinding. Official Website: http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/

LAOAG/VIGAN. Time-locked Ilocos is a broad hardy country blessed with impressive wide highways and stretches of narrow cobblestoned roads, antiquated towns dominated by heavily-buttressed grand churches and Antillan ancestral homes, and a brave people who, by sheer industry, harnessed a formidable terrain into a source of sustenance. A seemingly tempestuous sea rimmed with uneven rock formations and ascetic mountains are the two scenic images that first impress the visitor to Ilocos. Wedged between the wild China Sea and the rugged Cordillera mountain range, the region presents a visual feast that is at once dazzling in its boldness. Divided into Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, their capitals - Vigan and Laoag City - are anchor tourist destinations and part of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. Website: http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/ 

PALAWAN. An island of peace and quiet, it seems time has stood still for Palawan. Situated between Mindoro Island and North Borneo, Palawan is the country’s last frontier. It is the home of over 80 cultural minority groups.It is a sanctuary for the most exotic plant, animal and aquatic life in the country including the Calamian deer, the Palawan bearcat and the tarsier. As if these were not enough, Palawan also features white sand beaches, black marble caves, and breathtaking dive sites. Visit Calauit Island, Ursula Island, El Nido beach, and Saint Paul Park for an unforgettable Palawan sojourn. Official Website: http://www.palawan.gov.ph/ 

MANILA. Manila is a microcosm of the rhythm of the islands, named after a delicate white mangrove plant, this charming city lives as a silent witness to the country’s turbulent history. Once ruled by the Islamic Rajah Sulayman, the city was captured one after the other by the Spaniards, the Americans, and then the Japanese. Today, the city is the country’s capital, a fast growing metropolis spurred by the country’s robust economy. Given its fascinating history, Manila is a showcase of different cultures. The enterprising tourist might want to visit the ruins of Intramuros or Corregidor, the greens of Rizal Park, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the mystique of Chinatown, or the urban veneer of Makati and Ortigas. Official Website: http://www.manilacityph.com/

HISTORY

Divided into four distinct phases:

• The pre-Spanish period (before 1521 )
• The Spanish period (1521-1898 )
• The American period (1898-1946 ); and
• The post-independence period (1946-present )

Pre-Spanish Period The first people in the Philippines the Negritos are believed to have come to the islands 30 000 years ago from Borneo and Sumatra making their way across then-existing land bridges. Subsequently people of Malay stock came from the south in successive waves the earliest by land bridges and later in boats called barangays. The Malays settled in scattered communities also called barangays, which were ruled by chieftains known as datus. Chinese merchants and traders arrived and settled in the ninth century A.D. In the 14th century Arabs arrived introducing Islam in the south and extending some influence even into Luzon. The Malays however remained the dominant group until the Spanish.

Spanish Period Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines and claimed the archipelago for Spain in 1521, and for the next 377 years, the islands were under Spanish rule. This period was the era of conversion to Roman Catholicism. A Spanish colonial social system was developed with a government centered in Manila and with considerable clerical influence. Spanish influence was strongest in Luzon and the central Philippines but less so in Mindanao, save for certain coastal cities.
The long period of Spanish rule was marked by numerous uprisings. Towards the latter half of the 19th century, Western-educated Filipinos or ilustrados (such as national hero Jose Rizal) began to criticize the excesses of Spanish rule and instilled a new sense of national identity. This movement gave inspiration to the final revolt against Spain that began in 1896 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo and continued until the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Aguinaldo declared
independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

American Period Following Admiral George Dewey’s defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, the U.S. occupied the Philippines. Spain ceded the islands to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (December 10, 1898 ) that ended the war.

Post-Independence Period The early years of independence were dominated by U.S.-assisted postwar reconstruction. The communist-inspired Huk Rebellion (1945-53) complicated recovery efforts before its successful suppression under the leadership of President Ramon Magsaysay. The succeeding administrations of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-61) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) sought to expand Philippine ties to its Asian neighbors, implement domestic reform programs, and develop and diversify the economy.
In 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-86) declared martial law, citing growing lawlessness and open rebellion by the communist rebels as his justification. Marcos governed from 1973 until mid-1981 in accordance with the transitory provisions of a new constitution that replaced the commonwealth constitution of 1935. He suppressed democratic institutions and restricted civil liberties during the martial law period, ruling largely by decree and popular referenda. The government began a process of political normalization during 1978-81, culminating in the reelection of President Marcos to a six-year term that would have ended in 1987. The Marcos government’s respect for human rights remained low despite the end of martial law on January 17, 1981. His government retained its wide arrest and detention powers, and corruption and cronyism contributed to a serious decline in economic growth and development.