Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Tudela, officially the Municipality of Tudela, (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Tudela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tudela), is a municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 29,082 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.

History

Spanish colonial era

Founded by Padre Antonio Olleta as the visita of Tudela and by 1884 it was already a pueblo with four barrios. It was 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.

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 municipalities of Tudela and Clarin. Barrio Tudela became the seat of government of the municipality of Tudela. The organization became effective on the first day of 1921.

The first appointed Municipal President was Primitivo Ninang and his 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)

Martial law

The September 1972 declaration of Martial Law began a 14-year period historically remembered for its human rights abuses, often involving the warrantless detention, murder, and physical, sexual, or mental torture of political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. These were often attributed to military-endorsed Militias - including a number of armed cult groups - which were used to enhance the military's numbers as it fought various resistance movements.

A notable incident in Tudela during the Marcos dictatorship took place on August 24, 1981, when members of a fanatical pseudo-religious paramilitary sect called the "Rock Christ" 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 and Mount Malindang. It is a 20-minute drive from Ozamiz City to the south, and a 45-minute 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

Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Tudela was 29,082 people, with a density of .

Religion

Places of worship:

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Roman Catholic) - Purok 1, 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) - Purok 1, 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 - Purok 7, Balon
Christ's Banner Fellowship - Nailon
Assembly Of God - Purok 3, Centro Napu

Economy

The majority of the population depends on agriculture and fishing. Commerce is also progressive in this municipality. 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 a sanctuary for endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier, which are also found in the forests of nearby Mount Malindang.
Binalbal Festival - held every January 1, one of the oldest and longest running festival in the municipality as it can be traced back to as early as the 1920s. 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 are energized by Misamis Occidental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI II).

;Water:Poblacion area is served by the Metro Ozamiz Water District (MOWD). Rural barangays have their own water systems funded by the government.

Education

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
Gumbil 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.

Tertiary

Northwestern Mindanao Christian Colleges, Inc.. Founded as Northern Mindanao Academy in 1946.