Ozamiz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ozamiz
Component city
City of Ozamiz
Downtown Ozamiz
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Gem of the Panguil Bay Gateway to Northwestern Mindanao Historical, Cultural, and Pilgrimage Destination
Motto(s):  Fortis in Fide (Strength in Faith)
Map of Misamis Occidental with Ozamiz highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Ozamiz Location in Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao
Province	Misamis Occidental
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Founded	1757
Cityhood	July 16, 1948
Named for	José Ozámiz
Barangays	51 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
Area
• Total	169.95 km2 (65.62 sq mi)
Elevation	216 m (709 ft)
Highest elevation	1,923 m (6,309 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	140,334
• Density	825.737/km2 (2,138.65/sq mi)
• Households	32,933
Economy
• Income class	3rd city income class
• Poverty incidence	20.96 % (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 1,058 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 1,763 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 749.6 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 333.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Misamis Occidental 2 Electric Cooperative (MOELCI 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7200
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
Native languages	Subanon Cebuano Tagalog
Feast date	July 16 ; December 8
Catholic diocese	Archdiocese of Ozamis
Patron saint	List • Immaculate Conception • Blessed Virgin of Cotta
Website	ozamizcity.com

Ozamiz, officially known as the City of Ozamiz, is a lively city in the Philippines. It is located in the province of Misamis Occidental and is the most populated city there. In 2020, about 140,334 people called Ozamiz home.

You might sometimes see the name spelled "Ozamis." However, the official spelling, as stated in the Ozamiz City Charter Act, is Ozamiz. In 2005, the city passed a resolution to confirm this spelling.

Discover the History of Ozamiz City

Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo marker

Ozamiz started as an old Spanish town called Misamis. People believe its name came from the Subanen word kuyamis, which is a type of coconut. Some stories also say the name came from the Spanish word Misa, meaning Catholic Mass.

The town grew because of a Spanish fort nearby. This stone fort, called Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, was built around 1756. Its purpose was to help stop pirate attacks from the Lanao area. By 1850, Misamis became the main city of the District of Misamis.

During the American occupation, some parts of the town were separated. These areas became new towns called Clarin and Tudela.

In October 1942, during World War II, a guerrilla leader named Wendell Fertig used the old Spanish fort as his headquarters. He was leading the fight against the Japanese in Mindanao. The Japanese took over the fort in June 1943 and stayed there until the war ended. They dug trenches near the walls, which later caused part of the fort to be damaged in an earthquake in 1955.

After the war, Misamis officially became a city on July 16, 1948. It was also renamed Ozamiz. The city was named after José Ozámiz, a local hero from Misamis Occidental. He was a governor, a representative in Congress, and later a senator.

Geography and Location

Ozamiz is located on the eastern coast of Misamis Occidental. It is close to the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte to the west. Across the Panguil Bay is Lanao del Norte.

The city shares borders with Tangub to the south and Clarin to the north. Ozamiz is about 52 kilometers (32 miles) away from Maria Cristina Falls. This waterfall is a major source of electricity for Mindanao.

Climate in Ozamiz City

Population and Demographics

In the 2020 census, Ozamiz had a population of 140,334 people. This means there were about 826 people living in each square kilometer.

Economy and Commerce

Ozamiz has many natural resources, especially in farming. But it has also become a key place for business, healthcare, transportation, and education. Its location is great for a harbor, making its port important.

The port is where minerals, farm products, and forest goods from nearby provinces are shipped out. These provinces include Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, and parts of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Shopping Centers in Ozamiz

Ozamiz has several popular shopping spots in its city center.

• Gaisano Capital Mall is the biggest mall in the city. It got even larger with a new South Wing Mall in 2011.
• Novo also built a bigger store with a hotel called Asia Novotel in 2010.
• City Public Mall used to be called City Public Market. It is the largest public building for business in Northwestern Mindanao. The Ozamiz government owns and manages it, and it opened on May 28, 2009.
• Robinsons Supermarket opened its doors on November 30, 2012.
• Puregold Ozamiz opened in 2019. It was also home to the first 7-Eleven in the growing city.
• Unitop Ozamiz made its building bigger in 2012, right in front of the City Public Mall. However, it closed in 2022.

Culture and Celebrations

Festivals and Events in Ozamiz

Ozamiz celebrates several important events throughout the year.

• The city's Charter Day anniversary is on July 16. On this day, they also celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Triumph of the Cross at Cotta Shrine. The Perangat Festival (once called Subayan Keg Subanon Festival) is also held then.
• On December 8, people celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Both July 16 and December 8 holidays feature fireworks shows. These are usually held near the Cotta Fort or at the City Hall.
• The Sr. Santo Nino Fluvial Parade happens every fourth Sunday of January. This parade takes place on Panguil Bay.

Explore Tourist Spots in Ozamiz

Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo

Immaculate Conception Pipe Organ

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, also known as Cotta Fort, is an old fort built in 1756. It was a Spanish outpost in the area. On the outside wall of the fort, there is a special outdoor shrine. It is dedicated to the Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepción y del Triunfo de la Cruz de Migpangi, also known as the "Birhen sa Cotta" (Virgin of the Fort). Many people believe the image of the Virgin is miraculous and visit it often. The fort was fixed up and returned to its original look in 2002.

Bukagan Hill is in Barangay Malaubang. At the top of this hill, there are four large bells. Their names are "St. Peter," "St. Marien," "St. Joseph," and "St. Michael." A bishop named Patrick Cronin bought these bells for the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. However, the bells were very heavy (7 tons!) and too big for the cathedral's bell tower. It was too expensive to install them there. Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Fernando T. Bernad and Jesus Y. Varela, the bells found a home at Bukagan Hill. They were officially opened on July 16, 1948.

Naomi's Botanical Garden and Tourist's Inn is a large property, covering 12 hectares. The garden has many different local and imported tropical flowers, plants, and fruit trees. The inn offers air-conditioned rooms and has many facilities. These include event halls, a tennis court, a golf range, a ceramics factory, and a bakery.

Mt. Malindang Golf and Country Club was once an army facility before the war. It was turned into a golf course. You can find it in Bagakay, at the base of Mount Malindang.

The Immaculate Conception Pipe Organ is located in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It is the only pipe organ in Mindanao and one of the few in the entire Philippines. Father Sean Lavery, an Irish-Columbian priest, first thought of having an organ for the cathedral. Money was raised through donations and a music show to buy the pipe organ. Father Lavery asked a German priest, Father Herman Schablitzki S.V.D., to help design the organ. Father Schablitzki visited Ozamiz to take measurements for the organ builders in Germany. He then put the organ together himself with the help of a carpenter and an electrician. It took them six weeks, and it was finished on May 31, 1967. The organ was officially used for the first time on July 16, 1967.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built after an earthquake in 1955 destroyed the old church. Its design was one of the early works of famous Filipino architect Leandro Locsin. His simple style, using squares, circles, and half circles, can be seen throughout the church's design. Some changes were made to the front of the cathedral later on. The cathedral is also home to a wooden image of the Birhen sa Cotta.

Transportation Hub

Air Travel

Ozamiz Airport

Ozamiz Airport, also known as Labo Airport, reopened on July 5, 2007. This was nine years after Philippine Airlines (PAL) stopped flying there. The airport could not handle jet planes because its runway was too short, which led to its closure.

Air Philippines, a PAL airline, was the first to use a jet plane (a B737-200) at the airport. This plane flew from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Then, PAL Express, another PAL airline, started direct flights to Mactan–Cebu International Airport. They used their Bombardier Q400 planes.

Cebu Pacific Air, a competitor, began serving Ozamiz on November 10, 2008, with flights to Cebu. They used their new ATR72-500 planes. Because many passengers and cargo needed to travel, Cebu Pacific started a Manila route with their Airbus A319. PAL also began flying to Manila with their Airbus A319s on June 16, 2009.

When Air Philippines changed its name to Airphil Express (now PAL Express), it restarted its Ozamiz to Manila service on August 18, 2011. They used their Airbus A320. This made Cebu Pacific change their aircraft for Ozamiz Airport. They replaced all their ATR72-500s with Airbus A319s and Airbus A320s. Even with strong competition, PAL stopped its flights to Ozamiz on March 25, 2012. This left PAL Express and Cebu Pacific as the main airlines serving the airport.

Ozamiz Airport will get a ₱300 million upgrade. This project will add runway lights and make the runway longer, from 1.9 km to 2.1 km. A new passenger terminal building will also be built.

Sea Travel

Port of Ozamiz

The Port of Ozamiz serves the city. It has routes connecting Ozamiz to Cebu, Manila, and Iligan.

Local shipping companies like Daima offer trips from Ozamiz to Mukas, Kolambugan, and Lanao del Norte. They use roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries. These ferries carry passengers, cars, trucks, and goods across Panguil Bay.

Land Travel

Most travel within Ozamiz City is done by trisikad/pedicab and motorized tricycle. For longer trips between provinces, people mainly use Rural Transit, Super Five, UV Express, and public utility jeepneys like Lotradisco.

Healthcare Facilities

Ozamiz City has several hospitals and healthcare centers:

• Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARS MC): This is a large hospital with 1000 beds. The Department of Health owns it.
• Misamis University Medical Center (MUMC): A hospital located in Barangay Bagakay.
• Medina General Hospital: This hospital has 200 beds and is in Barangay Carmen Annex.
• Tobias Feliciano Faith General Hospital, Inc.
• S.M. Lao Memorial City General Hospital
• St. Joseph General Hospital: This hospital was formerly known as St. Mary General Hospital.
• St. Padre Pio Medical Clinic: Located at JEM bldg., Medina Avenue, Barangay Carmen Annex.

Education Opportunities

Ozamiz is a great place for students, especially those from nearby provinces. Many students from Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental come here for college.

There are two universities in Ozamiz:

• La Salle University (formerly Immaculate Conception College or ICC)
• Misamis University

Other Schools and Institutions

Secondary Schools

Here are the high schools in Ozamiz:

Sister Cities Around the World

Domestic Sister Cities

Ozamiz has friendly relationships with these cities in the Philippines:

International Sister Cities

Ozamiz also has a sister city in another country:

• Jersey City, New Jersey, USA (since 1995)

Notable People from Ozamiz

• Cherry Lou - an actress

Images for kids

• 

  Downtown Ozamiz

• 

  Flag of Ozamiz

• 

  Seal of Ozamiz City

• 

  Map of Misamis Occidental with Ozamiz highlighted

See also

In Spanish: Ozámiz para niños