Oroquieta

Oroquieta, (formerly/originally known as Layawan), officially the City of Oroquieta (Dakbayan sa Oroquieta; Lungsod ng Oroquieta), is a 4th class component city and capital of the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 72,301 people.

Etymology
Some sources reveal that the town got its name from the barrio in Spain where Father Tomás Casado, the first parish priest, and General Domingo Moriones y Murillo, a hero in the Battle of Oroquieta, were born.

Another version is that Oroquieta had derived its name from the words oro (gold) and quita or kita (to find), in reference to the early inhabitants who had found gold along the river.

History
Layawan was the original name of Oroquieta, which was a barrio in the province of Misamis since 1861 until 1879. The early settlers then of the barrio were Boholanos. They found so many stray animals along the river, thus they named the place Layawan, which means a place of stray animals. A little later, Misamis was divided into two provinces, Misamis Occidental and Oriental. Then in 1880, Layawan changed its name to Oroquieta when it became a town.

At the time of the American occupation, the territory was retained by 1903 when the number of municipalities in the then-undivided Misamis decreased through Act No. 951, issued on October 21; but was reduced by Executive Order No. 67, series of 1916, issued by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, where four barrios were organized into the new municipality of Aloran.

Oroquieta became the capital (cabecera) on January 6, 1930. As capital town, people of various neighboring provinces came and inhabited in the place where they earn their living through fishing, farming, merchandising and other forms of businesses. Soon afterwards its income increased simultaneously with increase in population, resulting from southward migration from Luzon and Visayas to the area.

In 1942, Oroquieta was made the capital of the free Philippines by the recognized guerrillas and later the ongoing troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. (Personal interview with the late Atty. Vicente Blanco, Municipal Mayor during the Japanese Occupation) During this time, President Manuel L. Quezon, together with Sergio Osmeña Sr., a bodyguard and Major Manuel Nieto Sr., landed in Oroquieta after their evacuation from Corregidor to Australia.

The seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitol. The Free Philippine Government was then issuing Misamis Occidental emergency notes. President Quezon, upon knowing that Oroquieta was made a capital of the Free Philippines and that the town was issuing emergency notes, authorized the Printing of the Mindanao emergency note.

Cityhood
Oroquieta was created a city under Republic Act 5518 and inaugurated as a chartered city on January 1, 1970. The charter converting the municipality of Oroquieta into a city were signed by President Marcos on June 25, 1969, in the presence of the then City Mayor Ciriaco C. Pastrano, with the newly elected councilors and other city officials.

Geography
Oroquieta City is bounded on the south by Aloran and the north by Lopez Jaena. On the eastern side is Iligan Bay, with Concepcion on the southwest and Sapang Dalaga on the northwest. Lowland plains and coastal lowlands are located in the city's eastern side while highlands and mountains tower over its western side.

The city occupies roughly 26,393 ha, the majority of which comprises the mountain barangays of Mialen, Toliyok, and Sebucal, averaging less than a thousand hectares per Barangay, the 47 barangays of the City outsize its urbanized counterparts.

Barangays
Oroquieta City is politically subdivided into 47 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.


 * Apil
 * Binuangan
 * Bolibol
 * Buenavista
 * Bunga
 * Buntawan
 * Burgos
 * Canubay
 * Clarin Settlement
 * Dolipos Bajo
 * Dolipos Alto
 * Dulapo
 * Dullan Norte
 * Dullan Sur
 * Lower Lamac
 * Layawan
 * Lower Langcangan
 * Lower Loboc
 * Lower Rizal
 * Malindang
 * Mialen
 * Mobod
 * Ciriaco C. Pastrano (Nilabo)
 * Paypayan
 * Pines
 * Poblacion I
 * Poblacion II
 * Proper Langcangan
 * San Vicente Alto (Dagatan)
 * San Vicente Bajo (Baybay Dagatan)
 * Sebucal
 * Senote
 * Taboc Norte
 * Taboc Sur
 * Talairon
 * Talic
 * Toliyok
 * Tipan
 * Tuyabang Alto
 * Tuyabang Bajo
 * Tuyabang Proper
 * Upper Langcangan
 * Upper Lamac
 * Upper Loboc
 * Upper Rizal (Tipalac)
 * Victoria
 * Villaflor (Transville)

Demographics
According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 72,301 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy
The groundbreaking ceremony and construction of the first mall in Oroquieta City was started in April 2024. The mall is located in Purok 1, Villaflor.

Also Starlite Ferries, a maritime company under the Chelsea Logistics Groups marked its 4th route when it officially opened the new route connecting Oroquieta City to Larena, Tagbilaran, and Cebu, and vice versa on April 28. The Starlite Ferries are stationed at the San Vicente Bajo Port in Oroquieta City.

A Jollibee franchise is located along Oroquieta Highway in a former Shell gasoline station at the city center, with double drive-thru, the first in the Visayas and Mindanao region. Other national and international brands that invested in the city are Robinsons Supermarket, Watsons, Mercury Drug, 7-Eleven Convenience Store, Prince Warehouse Supermarket, Mang Inasal, among others.

Government
Oroquieta City Council (2022-2025):
 * Mayor: Lemuel Meyrick M. Acosta
 * Vice Mayor and Sanggunian Presiding Officer: Aurora Virginia “Jie-jie” M. Almonte
 * Representative, Misamis Occidental 1st District: Jason P. Almonte
 * Councilors:
 * Vincent J. Guantero
 * Joel B. Aclao
 * Sol Jude D. Gamalinda
 * Ret. Col. Isaias “Jun” U. Claros Jr.
 * Joel A. Fernandez
 * Jessie “Jecjec” S. Amboang
 * Aileen “Ai-ai” M. Taladua
 * Arthur Q. Enanoria
 * Noel B. Undag Sr.
 * Diosibel M. Maghinay
 * ABC President: Nanieth Maerl S. Bandala-Acosta
 * SK Federation President: James Anthony N. Sy
 * IPMR: Jolly T. Gumolon

Oroquieta City Council (2019-2022):
 * Mayor: Lemuel Meyrick M. Acosta
 * Vice Mayor and Sanggunian Presiding Officer: Jorge T. Almonte
 * Representative, Misamis Occidental 1st District: Diego "Nonoy" C. Ty
 * Councilors:
 * Sol Jude D. Gamalinda
 * Jessie "Jecjec" S. Amboang
 * Joel B. Aclao
 * Donna R. Iyog
 * Ret. Col. Isaias "Jun" U. Claros Jr.
 * Vincent J. Guantero
 * Arthur Q. Enanoria
 * Noel B. Undag Sr.
 * Aileen "Ai-ai" M. Taladua
 * Diosebel M. Maghinay
 * ABC President: Alfredo Y. Bolleno Jr.
 * SK Federation President: Heinrich Von L. Gonzaga
 * IPMR: Eddie E. Sarancial

Healthcare
Hospitals and healthcare facilities:
 * Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital
 * St. Therese Hospital
 * Dignum Foundation Hospital
 * Oroquieta Community Hospital
 * Tamola-Tan Medical Center

Education
Students coming from Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental come to Oroquieta to pursue their college education.

Universities and colleges:
 * Misamis University (MU) - Ozamis St., Poblacion 1
 * University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) - Rizal St., Mobod Highway
 * Southeast Asian Institute Oroquieta City Campus - National Highway, Upper Rizal
 * Dr. Solomon U. Molina College (DSUMC) - Independence St., Villaflor
 * C-Lan Institute of Technology - LM Building, Ozamis St., Lower Langcangan
 * Oroquieta Agro Industrial School (OAIS) - Villaflor
 * Southern Capital College (SCC) - Juan Luna St., Poblacion 2
 * Stella Maris College (SMC) - Rizal St., Poblacion 1
 * Misamis Occidental Technological Institute (MOTI) - Pastrano St., Poblacion 1
 * Deor 'N Dune Academe School of Technology - JC Building, Barrientos St., Poblacion 2
 * National Institute for Technical Excellence, Inc. (NITEX) - De Barras Building, Barrientos St., Poblacion 2

Secondary schools:
 * Misamis Occidental National High School
 * Talairon National High School
 * Oroquieta City National High School
 * Mobod Integrated School
 * Misamis Occidental Science and Technology High School
 * Senote National High School
 * Rizal National High School
 * Bunga National High School
 * Stella Maris College

Notable personalities

 * Allen Dizon, actor
 * Eunice Encarnada, ABS CBN'S Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 7 Grand Finalist, 2nd Placer.