Tudela, Misamis Occidental

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.

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.

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. A ten-minute boat ride away from the main park is Dolphin Island, a sanctuary for dolphins (and other endangered sea animals).

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:

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.