

The name “Misamis” is believed to have been derived from the Subano word “Kuyamis” which is a variety of sweeto coconut – the staple food of the early settlers in this place. During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word “kuyamis” easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word “Misamis”.


In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Misamis Occidental, beginning their brief occupation of the province as part of 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.


Political Subdivisions
The province has a total land area of 2,024.18 square kilometers representing 65 percent of the total land area of the Philippines. Tudela has the biggest land area equivalent to 13.8 percent of the total province area. The municipality of Panaon shares the smallest area of only 46.80 square kilometers.

Misamis Occidental has a total population of 488,665 (1999 projection) with the bulk from the cities of Ozamiz at 108,541, Oroquieta at 59,637, and Tangub with a total population of 49, 981. The Municipality of Concepcion comprises the lowest population among the 15 municipalities of the province at 5,342 occupying a land area of 61.60 sq.km.

Subanon, pronounced “Subanen,” is the dialect of the province, used mostly by the members of the Subanon Tribe. However, most residents are Cebuano-speaking and can speak tagalog and English as well.

The climate belongs to the Fourth type where rainfall is more or less fairly distributed throughout the year. The average rainfall in the past twenty years was recorded at 182.5 millimeters. The rainiest months are November and December; the driest are February, March, and April. The entire province is outside the typhoon belt but it is sometimes affected by freak storms.

Major Industries
Pitati mat weaving; ceramic vases and potteries; Philippine Compak Boards, which produces particle boards; and Naomi’s Botanical Garden for cutflowers, ornamental plants, and fruit seedlings.