On visiting Ozamiz City, you'll realize that the province of Misamis Occidental holds much promise upon deplaning at Ozamiz Airport with various tourist attractions prominently advertised at the arrival area, sadly, no information available on the Internet, thus this post to give some insights on what to expect and places to visit the next time Tutubi gets the chance to visit the place again

The Department of Tourism lists several places to see (tourist sites) in Misamis Ocidental. Some information also available at Misamis Occidental's official website.



The province's hidden gem seems to be Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), recommended by a local to Tutubi but didn't have the time to visit even if it's said to be just a mere 15 minutes away from Ozamiz City pier.

According to the billboard, MOAP, located in Sinacaban town, is "a 15 minute ride from Ozamiz City. For only P130 per person, you can watch and even feed the rescued dolphins, feed the fish, snorkel, kayak, SCUBA dive and do a lot more activities.

MOAP Dolphin Island Amenities:
Dolphin Island Entrance: P130/pax only discounted rate for locals (P250/pax regular rate; including boat fare; children below 7 yrs old pay P15)
SCUBA Diving P1000/dive (inquire for more details)
Snorkeling: P50/hour Kayaking P100/hour

Room rates:
Suite: P2000/night (2 pax, extra bed P300)
Family: P2000/night (6 pax, extra bed P200)
Dormitory: P250/pax/night (14 pax capacity)

For reservations: contact 0927 262 2756 or 0921 248 5858
or email moap_hotel@yahoo.com"

Other Tourist Spots in Misamis Occidental:

Fort Triunfo in Ozamiz City
Ozamiz City Cathedral with its pipe organ
Old Church of Jimenez

Ciriaco Pastrano Hanging Bridge
Hoyohoy Highland Park (Tangub City)
Oklahoma Beach Resort

Tourist Trap:
at Ozamiz Airport, try not to eat the nearby restaurants (e.g. Noynoy's) inside the airport complex. Food is expensive as in more expensive than usual Manila prices, Tutubi called it highway robbery for such simple dishes ordered.

Misamis can be an alternative tourism gateway to Mindanao if given the chance with proper promotion and development of other tourism infrastructure.

Where to stay in Misamis Occidental:

accommodations in Ozamis City

Other Information:

Misamis Occidental is subdivided into 3 cities Oroquieta City, Ozamiz City, Tangub City and 14 towns/municipalities

Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Concepcion, Don Victoriano Chiongbian (Don Marano Marcos), Jimenez, Lopez Jaena, Panaon, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban, and Tudela

How to get to Misamis Occidental:

Ozamiz Airport Terminal fee is the usual P20.00 for small provincial airports.

Flights to Misamis Occidental are via Ozamiz City from Manila serviced by Air Philippines and PAL Express (code-share with AirPhils) with daily flights but prone to delays. Cebu Pacific Flights wil be available in November 2008. Flights from Cebu to Ozamiz started just last September 14, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Buses from Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, Zamboanga City and Dipolog also service the city's commuters. There are are regular ferry scheduled trips from Mukas, Kolambugan town of Lanao del Norte across Panguil Bay for about 30 minutes travel time.

Labels: Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Travel Guides

Looking for a place to stay in Ozamiz City? Since there were not much information posted online, Tutubi was able to gather this list given by a local whom he contacted to help him find a nice hotel in the city in Misamis Occidental. The addresses and actual locations of the places are easy to find due to the concentration of the hotels at or near the city center, walking distance from each other or a short tricycle ride away.

Ozamis City Hotels:

Asian Hotel
Capistrano corner Parojinog Sts
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.1424

Hilbon Hotel
Don Anselmo Bernad Ave
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0351

Plaza Beatriz Hotel
Port Road
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.1394

Palace Hotel
Rizal Ave. corner Juan Luna St.
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0573

Park Hotel
Valconcha St.
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0573

Royal Garden Hotel
Burgos St.
Official Website: http://www.royalgardenotel.com
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0008; +63.88.521-2888; +63.88.521-2889
Remarks: Tutubi stayed here during his visit to Ozamis City, Sept.11, 2008. Rooms were large but there's a limited time
to take a hot shower at 6am-8am and 6pm to 8pm. It's near Shopper's Plaza shopping mall.

lobby of Royal Garden Hotel (distortion apparent in tutubi's lens at wide angle)

Ozamis City Pension Houses:

67th Boulevard Pension House
Cebedo St. (In front of Banco de Oro)

Badong Pension House
Abanil
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.1631

Soriano Pension House
Mabini Ext.
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.1114

Ozamiz City Tourist Inns and Lodges:

Minerva Tourist Inn
Washington St
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0065

Holiday Tourist Inn
Cebedo corner Blumentritt St.
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0073

Sky Lodge
Rizal Avenue
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0425

Naomi's Tourist Inn (Naomi’s Lodging House)
Bañadero Highway
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0024

Country Lodge
Ledesma Extension
Telephone Number: +63.88.521.0472

Please call the indicated telephone numbers for other inquiries, reservations and room rates. Reviews and photos as well as feeback will be posted when available.
Note: a map of Ozamiz City is hard to find online. Even wikimapia doesn't have high-resolution pictures of the place.

Labels: Accommodations, Hotels and Resorts, Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Ozamiz City

The most visited tourist spot in Ozamiz City, a city strategically located at the mouth of Panguil Bay, and the larger Iligan Bay in Northern Mindanao, is an old Spanish Fort named Fuerte del la Concepcion y del Triunfo, more commonly known as Fort Triunfo.

The main gate of Fort Triunfo, sometimes referred as Fort Santiago, quite confusing since Fort Santiago is mostly identified with Intramuros in Manila

The National Historical Institute (NHI) Marker states:

Fuerte del la Concepcion y del Triunfo

"Made of coral stone, rectangular-shaped with four bulwarks: San Fernando, San Jose, Santiago at San Ignatio, 1756, base of the Philippine Constabulary at the time of the Americans and the Japanese. Destroyed by earthquake of 1955. It's where Our Lady of Immaculate Conception was enshrined called Virgin Mary, Virgin of the Fort, venerated and visited by devotees on July 16. Repaired 2002. Declared as National Historical Landmark, 13 March 2002"

the ramp leading to bastion of San Ignatio and where a modern lighthouse stands
Gate of the fort in color, note the use of St. James (San Santiago) riding on a horse

Inside Fort triunfo is a museum (not much on display except sample coral stones used in original construction of the fortress, plus some antiques), the old armory, a Subanen tribal house, and also Lanao and Maguindanao traditional huts.

the museum building inside the fort, not much on display though
outside the wall facing Panguil bay is the image of the Virgin of the Cotta, venerated by Catholics , and also a popular pilgrimage site

A small shrine outside the walls venerating Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion y Triunfo or sometimes the Blessed Virgin of the Cotta of Misamis.

The fort underwent major repairs, some parts, as claimed were not even on the original plan plus the addition of a lighthouse.

From outside the fort, you can get views of Bukagan Hill, where large bells were installed, Cotta Beach, a popular "dipping" spot for the locals.

Fort Triunfo Entrance Fee: P5.00

Note: If you're looking for other ancient Spanish forts, there's Fort Santiago and Intramuros in Manila as well as Fort San Antonio Abad, Cebu's Fort San Pedro as well as its namesake fort in Iloilo, Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, Palawan's Fort Cuyo, Fort Cagayancillo and Fort Culion and Fort Taytay, Fort Victoria in Iligan City, and Fort San Felipe in Cavite City. Note also the small walled City in Jolo, Sulu and the small fort of Pamilacan Island in Bohol.

How to get there:

Flights to Ozamiz City from Manila are serviced by Air Philippines and PAL Express (code-share with AirPhils) with daily flights but prone to delays. Cebu Pacific Flights wil be available in November 2008. Flights from Cebu to Ozamiz started just last Sunday, September 14, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Cotta and Fort Triunfo can be reached from Ozamiz City Airport via a short tricycle ride (fare: P50/person). Buses from Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, Zamboanga City and Dipolog also service the city's commuters. There are are regular ferry scheduled trips from Mukas, Kolambugan town of Lanao del Norte across Panguil Bay for about 30 minutes travel time.

Labels: Lighthouses, Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Ozamiz City, Spanish Forts

A recent trip to Aurora town in Zamboanga del Sur, bordering Lanao del Norte, took Tutubi on a short tour of Ozamiz City, a bustling city of Misamis Occidental, took a surprising turn when he found the Ozamiz City cathedral looked very different from the pictures he saw on the Internet.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception's colorful facade, visible on the city's main road.

Ozamiz City Cathedral
the main altar and nave (oh, did you know that the cental walkway inside a church is called nave, while the aisles are those between rows of seats and between the pews and walls?)
the main attraction of the cathedral is not the newly-redesigned facade and interiors but actually the large pipe organ, claimed to be the second largest in the country and the only one in Mindanao, but not as grand as the world-acclaimed Bamboo Organ of Las Piñas built by Fr. Diego Cera

The cathedral draws the religious on pilgrimages and also attracts curious tourists looking to get a view of the Philippines' second largest pipe organ.

Note:
There will be an upcoming post on Ozamiz City attractions, hotels and the usual tips for this city with not so many online information available.

Labels: Churches, Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Ozamiz City, Pipe Organs