Today is the 73rd Charter Day of Cagayan de Oro City.
Here are some interesting facts.
Starting 1946, Misamis Congressman Pedro S. Baculio lobbied in the Philippine Congress so that Cagayan de Misamis, which was reeling from the ashes of war, would be declared a city. On December 17, 1949, the new Congressman Emmanual Pelaez introduced House Bill No. 54, entitled “An Act Creating the City of Cagayan de Oro”. President Elpidio Quirino signed the city charter at 11:30 am, June 15, 1950.
Pelaez appended “de Oro” to “Cagayan” in recognition of gold mining in the hinterland barrios known to Spanish explorers in 1500s.
The first appointed mayor of Cagayan de Oro was Max Y. Suniel, followed by Justiniano R. Borja in 1954. Borja was elected as mayor again in 1955, and was repeatedly elected and appointed until he died on October 3, 1964. He was called the “Arsenio Lacson of Cagayan de Oro”, being responsible for the phenomenal growth of the city since 1959, when he opened the Cogon Market.
Here are some old photos from the internet of old Cagayan de Misamis and a link to its history.
Birthing a City. Birthing a Nation. Birthing Tomorrow.
