Ormoc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ormoc
Independent component city
City of Ormoc
View of Ormoc from Ormoc Bay
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Ormoc, Beautiful Land
Anthem: Ormoc, Dutang Matahum (English: Ormoc, Beautiful Land)
Map of Leyte with Ormoc highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Ormoc Location in Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Leyte (geographically only)
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Founded	February 26, 1834
Cityhood	June 21, 1947
Barangays	85 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
Area
• Total	613.60 km2 (236.91 sq mi)
Elevation	234 m (768 ft)
Highest elevation	1,318 m (4,324 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	230,998
• Density	376.463/km2 (975.036/sq mi)
• Households	56,048
Demonym(s)	Ormocanon
Economy
• Income class	1st city income class
• Poverty incidence	25.51 % (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 1,674 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 6,575 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 1,591 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 878.7 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Leyte 5 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 5)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6541
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)53
Native languages	Cebuano Tagalog Waray
Website	www.ormoc.gov.ph

Ormoc (pronounced [ʔoɾˈmok]), officially known as the City of Ormoc, is an important city in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. It's an "independent component city," which means it manages its own affairs and isn't directly controlled by the province of Leyte.

The city's name comes from the old Visayan word ogmok, which means "lowland" or "flat plain." Ormoc is known for its sweet pineapples and celebrates an annual Piña Festival to thank the saints Peter and Paul for good harvests.

With a population of over 230,000 people (as of 2020), Ormoc is the second largest city in Leyte by population, after Tacloban. It's a busy center for business, culture, and transportation in the western part of Leyte.

Ormoc has faced challenges from strong storms. In 1991, Tropical Storm Thelma caused severe flooding. Later, in 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda) caused a lot of damage to the city. Despite these events, Ormoc continues to rebuild and thrive.

History of Ormoc

Bus transport service in the city

How Ormoc Began

Long ago, during the Spanish rule, people from nearby towns moved to the fertile plains of Ormoc. Most of these early settlers were Malayan people. They traded a lot with the Chinese, Javans, and Indonesians.

Life was sometimes dangerous because of attacks from Moro pirates. The people of Ormoc created a smart warning system using watchtowers to alert everyone when pirates were coming.

Spanish Times

In 1595, Jesuit missionaries arrived in Leyte. By 1597, they started a mission in Ormoc, and many locals became Christians. However, their peace didn't last long. In 1634, a ruler from Sulu named Raja Bungsu led pirates who captured many people from Ormoc. Other towns were also attacked. Many brave people in Ormoc fought back, but they were outnumbered and lost their lives.

Becoming a City

Ormoc officially became a city on October 20, 1947. It was the fifteenth city in the Philippines and the very first in the Eastern Visayas region.

Later, in 1950, some areas that were once part of Ormoc City, like Lonoy and Kananga, became their own town called Kananga.

Major Storms and Floods

Ormoc has experienced two very destructive natural disasters.

In November 1991, Tropical Storm Thelma (also called Uring) caused a massive flood. Heavy rains made the rivers overflow, leading to widespread destruction. Many homes were destroyed, and thousands of people were affected. A monument called "Gift of Life" was built in 2011 to remember those who lost their lives.

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever, hit the Philippines. Ormoc suffered huge damage, with about 90% of its buildings affected.

Recent Changes in Barangays

In 2021, the city council decided to merge many of Ormoc's smaller neighborhoods, called barangays, into four larger ones: North, East, West, and South. This change was approved by the people of Ormoc in a special vote (plebiscite) held in October 2022. This reduced the total number of barangays from 110 to 85.

Geography and Location

Former flag of Ormoc

Former seal of Ormoc

Ormoc City is a port city located at the head of Ormoc Bay. It's the largest city in Leyte by land area. The land in Ormoc is mostly gently rolling plains. High mountains separate Ormoc from the eastern part of Leyte. Several rivers and streams flow through the city, including the Bao River and the Anilao and Malbasag Rivers.

Barangays: Ormoc's Neighborhoods

Ormoc is divided into 85 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has even smaller sections called puroks and sometimes sitios.

The four new large barangays are:

• East (includes former Barangays District 9–11, 16, 18, 25, 28)
• North (includes former Barangay District 29)
• South (includes former Barangays District 1–8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, 27)
• West (includes former Barangays District 14, 19–22, 24, 26)

What is Ormoc's Climate Like?

Ormoc City has a tropical climate. This means it's generally warm all year round. It experiences both wet and dry seasons. The city gets a good amount of rain, especially from June to November.

People of Ormoc

Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church

The people who live in Ormoc are called Ormocanons. Most of them speak Cebuano, which is common in western and southern Leyte. Some people also speak Waray.

Like most Filipinos, Ormocanons are mostly Roman Catholic. They celebrate their annual city fiesta on June 28 and 29 to honor their patron saints, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. There is also a small Muslim community in the city.

Ormoc's Economy

Aviles Street

Real Street

Ormoc's economy is a mix of different activities. These include farming, fishing (aquaculture), industries, tourism, and various services. The main crops grown here are sugar cane, rice, and pineapple.

The city is important for providing electricity to the country. It has a large geothermal power plant called Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant. This plant uses heat from the Earth to create electricity for the Eastern Visayas Region and even parts of Luzon and Mindanao.

Ormoc is also a gateway to the Leyte Industrial Development Estate. This area has big factories like the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Plant, which is one of Asia's largest fertilizer factories, and the Philippine Associated Smelter and Refining Company, a major copper processing plant. These industries help Ormoc's economy grow.

Fun Places to Visit in Ormoc

Ormoc City Sports Complex

Lake Danao

Ormoc has many interesting places for visitors to explore:

• Lake Danao is a beautiful, violin-shaped lake. It's about 3 kilometers long and sits high up in the mountains. You can rent floating cottages and boats there. It's now a protected national park.
• Tongonan Hotsprings National Park is located among green hills. This park is known for its warm, healing pools and a geyser that shoots out boiling water and steam. It's also where the first geothermal power plant in the Philippines was built.
• Pineapple Plantation is a large farm where Ormoc's famous "Queen Pineapple" is grown. These pineapples are known for being very sweet and are a popular souvenir.
• Centennial Park was built to honor Filipino soldiers and to celebrate 100 years of Philippine independence. It's a nice place in the city for relaxing and picnics.
• Lake Kasudsuran is another beautiful lake in Ormoc. It's hidden in a forest and can only be reached by walking.
• Alto Peak is the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas. It's a great spot for hiking and seeing farming communities.
• Sayahan Falls is a newly discovered waterfall that became popular after photos of it were shared online. It's a beautiful natural spot.
• Puente dela Reina is the oldest bridge in Ormoc, built in the 1800s. Its old cobblestones are still there. In the past, boats used to dock here for trade.
• Western Leyte Guerrilla Warfare Forces Monument remembers the Filipino fighters who bravely fought against the Japanese during World War II.
• Ruins of Cong. Dominador Tan Residence are the remains of an old mansion built in the 1930s. It was used by the Japanese army during World War II and was damaged during the Battle of Ormoc Bay. It's now a historical site.

City Infrastructure

Getting Around Ormoc

Port of Ormoc

Ormoc Airport

The Port of Ormoc is the city's main seaport, where ships come and go. Ormoc also has its own airport, the Ormoc Airport, but it doesn't have regular commercial flights. For commercial flights, people usually go to the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban.

Power and Electricity

Ormoc is home to one of the biggest power plants in Southeast Asia, the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant. This plant provides electricity to the entire Eastern Visayas Region and even helps supply power to Luzon and Mindanao.

Learning in Ormoc

Eastern Visayas State University - Ormoc Campus

Ormoc is an important center for education in western Leyte. It has many schools for all ages, both public and private. For college, students can choose from several institutions like Saint Peter's College of Ormoc, Western Leyte College, and the Ormoc campus of the Eastern Visayas State University. There's also a Chinese school called Ormoc Se San School.

Famous People from Ormoc

Many talented individuals come from Ormoc, including:

• Johnriel Casimero - a professional boxer
• Monica Cuenco - a singer and theater actress
• Rey Evangelista - a former professional basketball player
• Richard Gomez - an actor and former mayor of Ormoc City, now a Congressman
• Chico Lanete and Garvo Lanete - professional basketball players
• Lucy Torres-Gomez - an actress and former Congresswoman, now the mayor of Ormoc City
• Robert Bolick - a professional basketball player
• Analyn Barro - an actress

Images for kids

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  View of Ormoc from Ormoc Bay

• 

  Flag of Ormoc

• 

  Seal of Ormoc

• 

  Map of Leyte with Ormoc highlighted

• 

  Bus transport service in the city

• 

  Former flag of Ormoc

• 

  Former seal of Ormoc

• 

  Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church

• 

  Aviles Street

• 

  Real Street

• 

  Ormoc City Sports Complex

• 

  Lake Danao

• 

  Port of Ormoc

• 

  Ormoc Airport

• 

  Eastern Visayas State University - Ormoc Campus

See also

In Spanish: Ormoc para niños