Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Tudela, officially the Municipality of Tudela, (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Tudela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tudela), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 28,599 people.

Tudela is widely known for its colorful and interesting Binalbal Festival, where many revelers are clad in very gory costumes like a giant Halloween costume party. It is held every New Year's Day (Jan. 1). Close to the border of Tudela is the eco-tourism attraction Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), which is located in its boundary with Sinacaban, its neighboring town to the north.

Spanish colonial era
Founded by Padre Antonio Olleta as the visita of Tudela and by 1884 it was already a pueblo with four barrios. Named after Tudela, Navarre, Spain, the hometown of Padre Olleta.

American colonial era
The present territory of Tudela was once part of the former municipality of Loculan. Through Act No. 951, issued by the Philippine Commission on October 21, 1903, which reduced the number of municipalities in the then-undivided Misamis province from 24 to 10, Loculan was effectively abolished after being joined with the municipality of Misamis.

During the American occupation, the inhabitants in Loculan petitioned to be separated from Misamis and organized into two independent municipalities. Thus, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison (through the efforts of Senator Jose F. Clarin) issued Executive Order (EO) No. 61 on December 28, 1920, creating the municipality of Tudela, along with Clarin; Barrio Tudela became the seat of government. The organization became effective on the first day of 1921.

The first appointed Municipal President was Primitivo Ninang and its first Vice President was Pirigrin Sengidas. The following councilors appointed were Pio Adecir, Simeon Fuentes, Gregorio Madula, Casimeo Rubio, Julio Maliao, Florentino Olarte, Felix Codilla, and Isidro Sol.

The first appointed Municipal Secretary was Jose M. Castaños, known as “Secretario Municipal Interino”. The Provincial Fiscal nominated him and it was approved by Municipal Council Res. No. 123, series of 1923.

Spanish Language was used in the preparation of minutes, resolutions and ordinances from 1921 up to 1928 and in the later part of 1929 during the term of Ulpiano Balazo as Municipal President.

Territorial changes
Its territorial jurisdiction has been reduced. In April 1924, by virtue of EO No. 20, Barrio Balicaocao was transferred to Clarin. In 1982, through ''Batas Pambansa Blg. 171'', Barangays Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan were annexed to the newly-created Don Mariano Marcos (now Don Victoriano Chiongbian)

Martial law
A notable incident in Tudela during the Marcos dictatorship took place on Aug. 24, 1981, when members of a pseudo-religious paramilitary sect strafed the house of the Gumapons, a Subanon family, in Sitio Gitason, Barrio Lampasan. Ten of the twelve persons in the house, including an infant, were killed.

Geography
Tudela is bounded on the north by the municipality of Sinacaban, to the south by the municipality of Clarin, to the east by Iligan Bay, and to the west by the municipality of Don Victoriano Chiongbian and Mount Malindang. It is 20-minute drive from Ozamiz City to the south, and 45-minutes drive from Oroquieta City to the north.

Barangays
Tudela is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.


 * Balon
 * Barra
 * Basirang
 * Bongabong
 * Buenavista
 * Cabol-anonan
 * Cahayag
 * Camating
 * Canibungan Proper
 * Casilak San Agustin
 * Centro Hulpa (Poblacion)
 * Centro Napu (Poblacion)
 * Centro Upper (Poblacion)
 * Colambutan Bajo
 * Colambutan Settlement
 * Duanguican
 * Gala
 * Gumbil
 * Locso-on
 * Maikay
 * Maribojoc
 * Mitugas
 * Nailon
 * Namut
 * Napurog
 * Pan-ay Diot
 * San Nicolas
 * Sebac
 * Silongon
 * Sinuza
 * Taguima
 * Tigdok
 * Yahong

Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Tudela, Misamis Occidental, was 28,599 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Religion
Places of worship:
 * San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Roman Catholic) - Upper Centro
 * United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Upper Centro
 * Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses - Purok 1, Taguima
 * Seventh Day Adventist Church - Basirang; Nailon
 * Kristohanon (Church of Tudela) - Barra
 * Liberty Bible Baptist Church (Bible Baptist) - Taguima
 * Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) - Hulpa
 * Church of the Back to Christ Royal Family in the 7th Millenium - Silongon
 * Grace Gospel Church of Christ, TCM - Cabol-anonan
 * Grace Banner Fellowship, TCM - P7, Balon
 * Christ's Banner Fellowship - Nailon

Economy
The majority hardly depends on agriculture and fishing. Commerce is also progressive in this municipality. There are many Tudelanhon businessmen. People in the municipality and of the neighboring barangays of Clarin and Sinacaban towns depend on the local market, instead of going to Ozamiz City, the economic hub in the province.

Crops: Palay, corn, banana, kamoteng-kahoy (cassava), sweet potato, coconut, fruits (mango, durian, lanzones), and vegetables.

Products: aquaculture products: shrimps, prawns, crabs, tilapia, bangus (milkfish); furniture; poultry products; breads and pastries; fishes and shells.

Tourism

 * Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park: located along the mangroves of Tigdok and Libertad Bajo, baranggays of Tudela and Sinacaban, respectively - a wildlife park that serves as sanctuary for other endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier, also found in the forests of nearby Mount Malindang National Park.
 * Binalbal Festival - every January 1, one of the oldest and longest running festival in the country as it traced back its origin as early the 1920s.
 * Araw ng Tudela - every December 28
 * Mount Malindang National Park
 * Barra Beach, Barra, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
 * Camarin Beach, Camarin, Cabol-anonan, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
 * Tudela Market Place and Bagsakan Center
 * Subanen Village, Tonggo, Namut, Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Government
The governance of the Municipality of Tudela was managed by elected, appointed and OIC Mayors from 1921 up to the present, as follows: • 1921-1928  - Primitivo Ninang, first appointed

• 1928-1935  - Ulpiano Balazo, appointed

• 1935-1937  - Alberto Raagas, appointed

• 1938-1940  - Jose Singson, elected

• 1940-1943  - Alberto Raagas, elected

• 1943-1946  - Eladio Lagura, elected

• 1946-1947  - Eligio Dajao, appointed

• Feb. 1947 - Dec.1947        - Antonio Enriquez, appointed

• 1948-1959  - Gregorio Gamotin, elected

• 1960-1986  - Antero Singidas, elected

• 1986-1988  - Bernadette P. Encinareal, OIC

• Dec. 1988 - Feb. 1989        - Panfilo S. Olarte, OIC

• Mar. 1989 - Apr. 1989        - Nilo Y. Obut, OIC

• 1989- 1992  - Bernadette P. Encinareal, elected

• 1992- 2001  - Felix L. Sarigumba, elected

• 2001-2007  - Nilo Y. Obut, elected

• 2007-2016         - Estela Obut-Estaño, elected

• 2016-to date - Samuel L. Parojinog, elected

Transportation

 * Air: Tudela is accessible by plane and served by Ozamiz City Airport, a short ride of tricycle from the airport to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBJT) also known as "Agora Terminal" where a Tudela modified public utility vehicle called "balik-balik" awaits and bound to Tudela.:


 * Sea:Served by Port of Ozamiz City, then same as at the airport scenario which you have to ride a tricycle going to the Agora Terminal and another ride on a balik-balik bound for Tudela.:


 * Land: The public mode of transportation within this municipality is usually by tricycle and habal-habal, while the balik-balik is a means of transport to and fro Ozamiz City, the nearest city.:

Utilities

 * Communication: Telecommunications and internet are available. Mobile phone networks (Smart, Globe, Sun Cellular (now part of Smart) and Dito Telecommunity) operate extensively in the municipality.:


 * PhilPost has its office in the Municipal Hall. Most of the municipality is serviceable by commercial couriers (e.g. LBC, JRS Express, Air21, 2GO, etc.) based in Ozamiz City.


 * Electricity: All 33 barangays were energized by Misamis Occidenta II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI II)].:


 * Water:Poblacion area is served by Misamis Occidental Water District (MOWD). Rural barangays have their own water systems funded by the government.

Preschool
Every barangay in the municipality has their own Day Care Center under the supervision of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
 * San Isidro Academy Pre-school Department
 * Ozamiz Elementary School Pre-school Department
 * there are also church-operated pre-schools in the Poblacion.
 * Tudela Liberty Baptist Christian School Pre-school Department

Elementary

 * Balon Elementary School
 * Barra Elementary School
 * Basirang Elementary School
 * Bongabong Elementary School
 * Cabol-Anonan Elementary School
 * Camating Elementary School
 * Colambutan Bajo Elementary School
 * Sebac Elementary School
 * Tudela Central Elementary School
 * Tigdok Elementary School
 * Tonggo Elementary School
 * Upper Centro Elementary School

Secondary

 * Tudela National Comprehensive High School.
 * San Isidro Academy of Tudela Inc.
 * Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges, Inc.. Founded as Northern Mindanao Academy in 1946.
 * Colambotan Bajo National High School. The first public secondary school in the municipality.