Misamis Occidental
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Misamis Occidental

Misamis Occidental

Mindanao province bordered by bays and sea, with fishing towns and hilly inland terrain.

Misamis Occidental is a province near the narrow strip of land linking northwestern Mindanao to the north-central part of the island. It is bounded by the Mindanao Sea to the northeast, Iligan Bay to the east, Panguil Bay to the southeast, and the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and del Sur to the west.

With three of its boundaries formed by water, fishing is one of the main industries. The terrain beyond the coastal areas is hilly and rolling, becoming particularly rugged towards the western border, where the wide bulk of Mount Malindang rises through montane forest to 2425 metres.

The province's three cities each have a distinct character: Ozamiz on the southern channel is the busiest, with the Spanish-era Cotta Fort on the seafront; Oroquieta is the provincial capital; and Tangub, at the southern end, is known nationally for its December Christmas Symbols Festival and for the panoramic Hoyohoy Highland park behind the city. On the northern coast, the white sand and mangrove boardwalks of Baliangao are the most rewarding place to swim.

Guide

Getting There

The two nearest airports are at Ozamiz (Labo Airport, with PAL Express flights from Manila and Cebu) and Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur (about 2.5 hours by road from Ozamiz, with more flights). Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte is a further option for the northern part of the province.

By sea, Ozamiz port has scheduled RoRo ferries across to Mukas in Lanao del Norte (about 20 minutes) — the standard short-cut to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. Larger ships from 2Go and Trans-Asia call at Ozamiz on the long-haul routes from Manila and Cebu.

By road, the provincial highway runs the length of the province from Tangub in the south through Ozamiz, Aloran, Oroquieta, Plaridel and on to Dipolog. Buses (Rural Transit and Super Five) connect Ozamiz with Cagayan de Oro in around 5 hours via the Mukas ferry, and the road to Pagadian and Zamboanga in around 3 hours.

Guide

Things to Do

Misamis Occidental's draws are spread across the three main cities — Oroquieta, the provincial capital; Ozamiz, the largest centre and main commercial port; and Tangub, known for its Christmas light displays — together with the inland uplands and the long coastline on Iligan Bay. The Cotta Fort at Ozamiz is the most photographed historical site; the Hoyohoy Highland above Tangub gives the best mountain views; and the beaches of Baliangao on the northern coast are the most rewarding stretch of sand. A short ferry from Ozamiz reaches Mukas in Lanao del Norte and the road south to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

Guide

When to Go

Misamis Occidental has a generally wet climate without a strong dry season, but the relatively driest months are March through May, which are also the hottest. June through November bring the southwest monsoon and the highest rainfall, with occasional typhoons that can affect ferry services across to Lanao del Norte.

The most rewarding time to visit is December, when Tangub's Christmas Symbols Festival lights up the city's main streets for the four weeks before the holiday — one of the more distinctive Christmas celebrations in the Philippines. Mountain hikes in the Malindang range are easiest in the drier months (March–May), when the trails are less slippery and the higher viewpoints are clearer.