HISTORY OF Cagayan de Oro City
By ATTY. “TOMMY” C. PACANA
CHAIRMAN, HISTORICAL COMMISSION
  

THE COMING OF THE AMERICAN

From 1622 to 1898, the Spaniards ruled over the entire Philippine Archipelago until the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 signed between Spain and the United States in Paris where the Philippine Island was turned over the United States by Spain for a payment of 120, 000, 0000 dollars.

When the Americans came, the Kagay-anons were restive and hostile. At the time, the “Tercios Revolucionarios “ was organized and among whose leaders where Anselmo Abejucla, Apolinar Velez, Nicanor Capistrano, Cayetano Pacana, Uldarico Akut, Tirso Neri, Agripino Bautista, Near Vicente, Roa Y. Racines, Justo Gaeron and others.

This revolutionary leaders organized and trained the Cagayanons to do battle with the American forces. Armed only with a few rifles and bolos. This Kagay-anons fought the Americans in the famous battles of Cagayan in April 7, 1900 and the battle of Macahambus in June 4, 1900.

The Kagay-anons in spite tremendous odds like lack of training, lack of arms, lack of food, medicines, transportation, heavy artillery and competent military strategies necessary in modern combat made a good account of themselves in sheer courage and undaunted bravery that won the admiration of the Americans were soundly defeated not only by arms but by sound strategy.

The Kagay-anons revolutionaries could not fight along drawn-out war against the American as they lack the essential weapons, logistics, food, medicines and manpower.

General Nicolas Capistrano therefore was forced to surrender to the American forces at Sumilao Bukidnon. Sometime in August 1900 from that day, peace reigned over Cagayan de Oro.

Civil government was then immediately organized in Cagayan de Oro, immediately after that, Tirson Neri, who featured prominently as a revolutionary leader during the revolution was the first mayor of Cagayan de Oro. He was the one who opened the streets around the present Divisoria.

His team was form 1901 to 1903. After him, Cayetano Pacana became Mayor of Cagayan de Oro and opening of streets, roads to the rural areas continued Cayetano Pacana’s term as from 1903 to 1905. Therefore, the political, social, economic and spiritual development of Cagayan de Oro continued until the outbreak of the 2nd World War in December 8, 1941.

The mayors of Cagayan de Oro from 1901 to 1941 were the following.

1. Tirson Neri  1901 – 1904
2. Cayetano Pacana 1904 – 1905
3. Pedro Velez 1905 – 1906
4. Cipriano Vamenta, Sr. 1906 – 1908
5. Isidro Vamenta 1908 – 1909
6. Anastacio Neri 1909 – 1910
7. Ramon B. Neri 1912 – 1916
8. Uldarico Akut 1912 – 1916
9. Segundo Gaston 1916 – 1919
10. Pedro P. Mabulay 1919 – 1922
11. Fernando Pacana, Sr 1922 – 1925
12. Vicente P. Castro 1925 – 1928
13. Apolinar Velez 1928 – 1931
14. Lucio S. Ramos 1931 – 1934
16. Julio B. Pacana 1934 – 1937
1938 – 1941
(First Mayor to be re-elected)
17. Herminiglido Wanceña 1941 – 1945
After the war, the following Mayor were elected:
1. Lucio S. Ramos 1946 – 1947
2. Maximo Y. Suniel 1948 – 1953
3. Pedro SA. Baculio March 1953 to December 1953
4. Justiniano R. Borja 1954 – 1964
5. Jesus V. Seriña Sr. 1964 – 1971
6. Reuben R. Canoy 1972 – 1976
7. Concordio C. Diel 1976 – 1979
8. Pedro N. Roa 1978 – 1980
9. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. 1980 – 1984
10. Pablo P. Magtajas 1984 – 1998
11. Vicente Y. Emano Present Mayor
 
Legal Basis
Creation of Cagayan de Oro
 Republic Act 521
 
On June 15, 1950, Republic Act 521 was passed by Congress granting a CITY CHARTER to Cagayan de Oro City. The first city mayor was then MAYOR MAXIMO Y. SUNIEL. From that time up-to-the-present, Cagayan de Oro City grew and developed into the most progressive and peaceful city in Mindanao. Its growth and development has been unsurpassed and is still going on at a rapid rate.
 

THE CITY’S MANDATED FUNCTIONS:

1.       Exercise thru the city Mayor, general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services and activities of the City Government.

2.       Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the city and in the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the city.

3.       Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, programs, objectives and priorities particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agro-industrial development and countryside growth and process.

4.       Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities for the people.

5.       Approve ordinances and resolutions necessary for an efficient and effective City Government.

6.       Promote the general welfare.

7.       Exercise the inherent powers of Government as police power, taxation and imminent domain.

8.       To maintain peace and order among the City residents.

9.       AND OTHER INHERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT

  This, in brief, is the History of Cagayan de Oro City.
  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

THE CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO ITS LEGAL BASIS

The grant of the City Charter or REPUBLIC ACT NO.521 making CAGAYAN DE ORO a Chartered City took place at Malacañang Palace on June 15, 1950 when President Elpidio Quirino signed the said law. Congressional representative Emmanuel Pelaez of Misamis Oriental who fathered REPUBLIC ACT NO.521 in Congress. Mayor Maximo Y. Suniel and other Officials of Cagayan de Oro City were present at the signing.

Actually, it was the brainchild of the former Congressman of Misamis Oriental, the late PEDRO SA. BACULIO who introduced a bill in Congress for the grant of the City Charter to Cagayan de Oro.

This was not however pushed thru because of political reverses and it was the new Congressman of Misamis Oriental Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez who worked for the bills passage in Congress and its approval by President Elpidio Quirino.

Officials headed by Mayor Maximo Y. Suniel, Vice Mayor Pedro P. Sambaan, Waldo McVickers, Herardo Sabal, Pio L. Roa, Juan Regalado, Alfredo M. Shapu and Dr, Jesus V. Seriña.

Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez at the Patag Airport, at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday June 21, 1950, a big bouquet was tendered in the honor at the MAJESTIC HOTEL in Cagayan de Oro where many invited guests other than Government Officials attended.

On the afternoon of the same day at around 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, the City Officials led by Maximo Y. Suniel, Vice Mayor Pedro E. Pimentel and all the City Councilors took their oath of office at the Plaza Kiosk in the Divisoria. The expenses for al these official activities was Php 500.00.

It must be recalled that the Municipality of Cagayan, Misamis Oriental was established sometime in 1901. Its first Mayor who was then called the Municipal President was Tirso Neri a stalwart Cagayanon leader battle in war and peace.

He was the Municipal President from 1901 to 1903. Next to succeed him was Cayetano Pacana or “TANO TANO” as his fellow Cagayanons fondly called him, he was a hero in the battle of Cagayan on April 7, 1900, in the battle of Macahambus on June 4, 1900. His term was from 1903 to 1905. All other Mayors followed successively up to the present.

From 1901 to 1950 or for a period of 50 years more or less Cagayan grew and developed into one of the most peaceful and prosperous cities in Mindanao. From 1950 to the present, the City has developed into one of the most dynamic in economics in the entire country and is still growing and developing at a fast rate that very soon it will dominate the economic landscape of the entire Mindanao area.
  

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