Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Tudela Simbalagon
Municipality
Map of Misamis Occidental with Tudela highlighted
Tudela Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 08°15′N 123°50′E / 8.250°N 123.833°E / 8.250; 123.833Coordinates: 08°15′N 123°50′E / 8.250°N 123.833°E / 8.250; 123.833
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province	Misamis Occidental
District	2nd district of Misamis Occidental
Founded	February 21, 1921
Barangays	33
Government[1]
• Mayor	Estela Obut Estano
Area[2]
• Total	98.52 km2 (38.04 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	27,371
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	7202
Dialing code	+63 (0)88
Income class	4th

Tudela (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Tudela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tudela) is a fourth class municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 27,371 people.^[3]

Tudela is widely known for its colorful Binalbal Festival, where many revelers are clad in very gory costumes like a giant Halloween costume party.^[4] It is held every New Year's Day (Jan. 1).^[5] Close to the border of Tudela is the eco-tourism attraction Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), which is located in Sinacaban, its neighboring town to the north.

History

During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Tudela was previously known as Simbalagon. In 1847, a Spaniard named Juan Tejada founded the sitio of Simbalagon (after Simbalagon River, a tributary of Clarin River).

The origin of its name is ambiguous. One version claims that a certain Father Jimenez, a Spanish priest, changed its name from Simbalagon to Tudela after his birthplace in Spain. The other version states that in 1854 another Spanish priest named Apolinario Tudela was assigned in the town of 'Kuyamis' (later renamed 'Misamis', which is now the City of Ozamiz). Simbalagon, at that time a sitio of Kuyamis, was later renamed Tudela in honor of the priest, Apolinario Tudela.

A legendary derivation of the name of Tudela also tells that a group of people was sentenced to have their tongue cut off because of their false accusations against the Spanish government. The first syllable of Tudela was derived from the Spanish word todos, meaning all (the convicted), and dela of the native dialect, meaning tongue.^[6]

On February 21, 1921, during the American occupation, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison, through the efforts of Senator Jose F. Clarin, created the Municipality of Tudela through Executive Order No. 61 Series of 1920.

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.

Originally, Tudela had 36 barangays. Since 1995, it has 33 barangays, when 3 barangays (Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan) were annexed to the newly created municipality of Don Victoriano.

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.^[2]

Demographics

Religion

Places of worship:

• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Roman Catholic) - Upper Centro
• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Philippine Independent Church) - Centro Hulpa
• United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Upper Centro
• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses - Purok 1, Taguima
• Sevent Day Adventist Church - Basirang; Nailon
• Kristohanon (Church of Tudela) - Barra

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.

Attractions

• 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.^[7][8] A ten-minute boat ride away from the main park is Dolphin Island, a sanctuary for dolphins (and other endangered sea animals).^[9]
• Binalbal Festival - every January 1.
• Araw ng Tudela - every February 21
• Furniture Shops(Bamboo)-located at barangay Nailon, along the national highway.
• Mount Malindang National Park
• Barra Beach
• Tudela Market Place and Bagsakan Center

Local government

The governance of the Municipality of Tudela was managed by elected, appointed and OIC Mayors from 1921 up to the present, as follows:

Infrastructure

Transportation

Air

Tudela is accessible by plane and served by Ozamiz City Airport, a short ride of motorcycle from the airport to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBJT).

Sea

Served by Port of Ozamiz City.

Land

The public mode of transportation within this municipality is by tricycle and habal-habal.

Utilities

Communication

Telecommunications and internet are available. Mobile phone networks (Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular) 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 Occidental 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.

Education

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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.

Secondary

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

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• Splendour of the Far East: The Philippines

		Sinacaban
	Don V. Chiongbian		Iligan Bay
		Tudela
		Clarin

Province of Misamis Occidental
Oroquieta (capital)
Municipalities	Aloran Baliangao Bonifacio Calamba Clarin Concepcion Don Victoriano Chiongbian Jimenez Lopez Jaena Panaon Plaridel Sapang Dalaga Sinacaban Tudela
Component cities	Oroquieta Ozamiz Tangub