Spanish colonial era

The area of now Misamis Occidental was first occupied by Subanen which was followed by Maranao and later Visayans settled in the coastal areas. During the 1750s was the time that the coastal villages in southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao suffered attacks from bands of Muslim pirates, who burned houses and crops, and captured people to be sold as slaves in Maguindanao, Sulu, Borneo or the islands now known as Indonesia. In response, the colonial government in Manila created a flotilla and appointed a Spanish Jesuit missionary, José Ducos, as its commander.

After several successful battles against the pirates, when some peace had been restored, it was decided to build a stone fort at the mouth of Panguil Bay, at a place called Misamis, and Ducos was put in charge of the construction. The construction began in 1756. It was officially called “Fuerte de la Concepción y del Triunfo”.^[5]

• Maps of Misamis, before its division into two provinces
• 
  in 1880
• 
  in 1899
• 
  in 1918

In 1818, Mindanao was organized into five politico-military districts, one of which was the Segundo Distrito de Misamis, the largest district in Mindanao. This area was composed of today's Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao, Zamboanga del Norte, and the northern part of Cotabato.

In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the district of Misamis until February 27, 1872, when the Spanish Governor General Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada issued a decree declaring Cagayan the permanent capital of Segundo Distrito de Misamis. During this era, the name of the town was Cagayan de Misamis.

American invasion era

On November 2, 1929, Legislative Act No. 3537 passed, dividing the old province of Misamis into Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, which took effect on January 1, 1930. Misamis Occidental comprised the original nine towns of Baliangao, Lopez Jaena, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Aloran, Jimenez, and Misamis. Don José Ozámiz y Fortich became the first governor.

On January 6, 1930, the provincial council of Misamis Occidental selected Oroquieta to become the capital town (cabecera) of the province.^[6]

In 1935, the Provincial Capitol Building, commonly called Capitolio, begun and became the seat of executive and legislative power of the province, in the town of Oroquieta.

Japanese occupation era

On May 6, 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Misamis Occidental, beginning their brief occupation of the province during World War II. In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated the province, and with the help of the recognized guerilla units, defeated the Japanese forces. During World War II, Misamis became the capital of the Free Philippines as the seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitolio. The United States Forces in the Philippines under Colonel Wendell Fertig based in Misamis Occidental, was the rallying point for the guerrillas in Mindanao. This was historically significant because it is the only time in Philippine history when its capital was in Mindanao, in the region then known as Misamis. The Free Philippine Government was then issuing Misamis Occidental emergency notes. Late President Manuel L. Quezon, upon knowing that Oroquieta was made a capital of the Free Philippines and that the town was issuing emergency notes, authorized the printing of the Mindanao emergency note.

Philippine independence

On July 16, 1948 — the town of Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321,^[7] making it the 4th city in Mindanao after Zamboanga, Davao and Marawi, also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after World War II hero 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, senator of the Philippines, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government.

On August 24, 1981 - Members of a fanatical pseudo-religious paramilitary sect called the "Rock Christ" strafed the house of the Gumapons, a Subanon family, in Barrio Lampasan, Tudela, Misamis Occidental. Ten of the twelve persons in the house, including an infant, were killed.^[8][9]

Contemporary

In May 2010 — the people of Misamis Occidental elected their first female governor, Herminia M. Ramiro.

Administrative divisions

Misamis Occidental comprises 14 municipalities and 3 component cities, which are organized into two legislative districts and further subdivided into 490 barangays.

Political map of Misamis Occidental

Religion

As of 2013, Roman Catholicism remains the predominant faith of the people of Misamis Occidental having 70 percent affiliation and the second most members are with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church with 20% while several Protestant Churches as well as Islam are the minorities.

Resources

Wood is the major forest product. Predominant species are the lauan group, apitong, tanguige yakal, and Philippine mahogany. There is also an abundant supply of bamboo, rattan and various vines. Forest land in the province has an area of 66,002.46 hectares; 53,262 hectares of which are considered a national park (which has legal implications).

The province has a considerable deposit of clay especially in the municipalities of Lopez Jaena and Concepcion. Plaridel is the largest in rice production, and the longest coastal town in the province.

There are also an abundant sources of sand and gravel.

The province is traditionally a net exporter of various commodities. Historical data from the Ozamiz Port District of the Bureau of Customs show that outgoing commodities, which is mainly of coconut products, far outweigh incoming cargoes.

Being a coco-based province, major manufacturing firms in Misamis Occidental are engaged in the production of crude coconut oil, cooking oil, lard, margarine, laundry soap and desiccated coconut. Other products are furniture, ceramics gifts toys and housewares, processed food like banana chips and marine products.

Locally fabricated agri-industrial machines and equipment are also available in the province.

Current officials

Asenso Misamis Occidental

• Governor: Atty. Henry S. Oaminal (NP)
• Vice Governor: Rowena “Wheng” L. Gutierrez (PDPLBN)
• ABC President: Freddie B. Malicse - Ex-Officio Board Member
• SK Federation Chairman: Alyssia Ann D. Pao - Ex-Officio Board Member
• IPMR: Juanidy M. Vina - Ex-Officio Board Member
• PCL President: Lowida L. Alcalde - Ex-Officio Board Member

Asenso Distrito Uno

• Member, House of Representatives: Jason P. Almonte (PDPLBN)
• Members, Sangguniang Panlalawigan:
  • Alejandro “Alex” J. Guantero Jr. (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Winston “Dondon” V. Catane (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Rosanne Marie “Tata” L. Paylaga-Lim (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Donna R. Iyog (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Agnes C. Villanueva, CPA (Asenso Pinoy)

Asenso Segundo Distrito

• Member, House of Representatives: Sancho Fernando “Ando” F. Oaminal (NP)
• Members, Sangguniang Panlalawigan:
  • Calven Tito C. Decina (PDPLBN)
  • Nemesio D. Lahaylahay Sr. (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Eduardo “Tata” C. Cebedo (Asenso Pinoy)
  • Atty. Heinjie B. Estano (NP)
  • Jerry R. Cuizon (PDPLBN)

Former governors