Cagayan de Oro

Understand

The city is on the northern coastline of Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, with Macajalar Bay to the north, the municipality of Tagoloan to the east, Lanao del Norte to the south, and the municipality of Opol to the west. The Cagayan River splits the city into two, the Poblacion (downtown area) being on the eastern side of the river. CDO serves as the regional center of Northern Mindanao (Region X), and is the region's most populous highly-urbanized city. The 2020 census showed the city population as 728,400.

Climate

Cagayan de Oro has a tropical climate, with the average temperature the whole year round being 28°C (82°F). The highest recorded temperature in the city was 39°C (102°F) in June 1998. Cagayan de Oro receives a relatively even amount of rain throughout the year. The driest month is April, while July is the wettest. The wet season in the city starts in June and ends in November, while the dry season starts in December and ends in May. However, the difference in seasons is not very noticeable in the city; there are sunny and rainy days throughout the year and the rain is usually strong but brief (you will notice the season if hiking or driving on dirt roads in the highlands inland from Cagayan de Oro as it gets muddier). Although the city is also outside the typhoon belt, it has been hit by a few tropical systems, most notably Tropical Storm Sendong (international name Washi) in December 2011.

Religion Roman Catholicism is the city's dominant religion, with almost 80% of the population being Roman Catholics. There are also a large number of Seventh Day Adventists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestants and Muslims in the city.

Talk The main local language is Cebuano (Bisaya); Tagalog and English are also common. Other languages commonly spoken in the city include Hiligaynon, Ilonggo, Maranao, and Waray. It is very easy to travel, shop and meet locals using English, especially in shopping malls where there are many other foreigners. English is used for the majority of street and road signs, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting around if you don't understand any Bisaya. However, you might have difficulty conversing with people in the local markets or on public transport in English.

Getting there

By plane

1 Laguindingan Airport (CGY IATA) (in Barangay Moog, in the municipality of Laguindingan, 46 km west of Cagayan de Oro and 61 km east of Iligan). Laguindingan Airport came into service in 2013, and the old Lumbia Airport in CDO was taken out of service. This new airport serves CDO, Iligan, Northern Mindanao, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon. Laguindingan sees a mix of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and smaller ATR-72 and Bombardier Dash 8Q-400 turboprops. No flights operated by widebody aircraft take off and land here due to the insufficient runway length at only 2,100m.

Philippine Airlines has daily flights from Manila, Cebu and Davao, and three times weekly flights from Clark. Cebu Pacific has daily flights from Manila, Cebu, and Davao, as well as weekly flights from Dumaguete, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, and Bacolod. Philippines AirAsia has daily flights from Manila and Cebu, four times weekly flights from Clark, and three times weekly flights from Iloilo. When departing, enter the terminal via the entrance located on the ground floor on the right-hand side. There's a ticket inspection with a security guard, baggage scan a metal detector before you even get inside, so be sure to prepare your printed tickets beforehand. Once you're done checking-in, head upstairs either via the escalators or the elevator and head to the second baggage scan and metal detector. After this, you'll find the departures area and a small number of eating places. There are three gates at the airport numbered 1-3 from right to left when you're facing the runway. The airbridge at Gate 1 is not in use, so you'd have to walk on the apron and use the airstairs instead. Fortunately, courtesy umbrellas are handed out. When arriving and after disembarking the aircraft, either head downstairs or enter the terminal through the double doors found on the right side facing the apron. After entering, you'll see the baggage carousels and eventually the exits leading to the meeters and greeters area. The airport has an observation deck, but it is closed to the general public. Although it is sometimes referred to as an "international" airport, as of May 2018 there are no scheduled international flights to Laguindingan. Since its opening, there have been plans for flights to Seoul or Busan in South Korea, but these have not yet come to fruition. There is only one two-story terminal at the airport which easily gets crowded because of its small size. Magnum Express, LAX Shuttle, Donsal's Express, Odyssey Airport Express, CAGATRANSCO, CDOTRANSCO, and Glorymer Transport operate airport shuttles

Getting around

Jeepneys, multicabs, motorelas, taxis, trisikads and sidecars are the main modes of land transportation in Cagayan de Oro. Like other cities in the Philippines, CDO has its own share of traffic problems. The city experiences significant traffic congestion from 6 am to 8 am in the morning, between 11 am and 2 pm in the noon, and from 5 pm to 8 pm in the evening. These timeframes reflect periods of heightened vehicular activity and commuting, contributing to the traffic issues faced by the city. This is especially evident during Fridays, weekends and holidays, along Claro M. Recto Avenue (where several of the malls are located) and in Divisoria. To catch public transport in the city, look for a loading/unloading zone indicated by a sign and/or a yellow box on the road. If there are no yellow boxes, avoid waiting close to intersections or No Parking areas. Public transport during rainy weather can be unreliable. Jeepneys, multicabs, and taxis are few and far between, and those that do turn up are usually either full or can't be bothered to pick up passengers. In these situations you have a few options: wait for an empty jeepney, multicab or taxi with sufficient empty seats available, wait for the rain to stop, or if worst comes to worst, walk to your intended destination.

By jeepney or multicab Jeepneys and multicabs are usually safe during the day and cost only a tenth of a taxi ride. Fares are usually ₱7 for the first 4 km and ₱6 for students and senior citizens, however this does vary depending on the length of the route. It's a common sight to see conductors riding at the rear, not only collecting the fares of the passengers, but also shouting at passersby the destination and/or intermediate stops. Riding on a jeepney or multicab can be very uncomfortable, especially if you're tall. Not only are the passenger compartments small and claustrophobic, but the drivers would usually want the vehicle to be completely filled with passengers before departing a terminal. To make matters worse, there might even be sacks of rice and farm animals on jeepneys and multicabs that go through the markets. If they don't take you where you wanted to go, then you can take one to a large hub, where you can continue with another one. Jeepney and multicab routes are displayed at the front, windshield and sides of the vehicles, which makes knowing where to go a lot easier. Try to find a full or nearly-full jeepney, since the driver of an empty one will tend to wait for more passengers. Also, avoid catching one if you're in a rush as it'll take you a long time to reach your

See

Religious sites

1 Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral (San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral) (across from Gaston Park). A Gothic-inspired cathedral and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, since it houses the cathedra (seat) of the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro. The present-day cathedral was constructed in 1946, after being destroyed during World War II. Inside the cathedral are centuries-old stained glass windows, while outside its main entrance is a wooden cross from 1888, erected by Augustinian Recollect missionaries. (updated Jul 2017) 2 Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene (Nazareno Parish Church), Claro M. Recto Avenue (next to Gaisano City Mall and across from Centrio Mall). A shrine dedicated to the Black Nazarene located in the heart of the city. The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to Nazareno Parish Church, so that Nazarene devotees from Mindanao do not have to travel to Manila for their annual pilgrimage. (updated Jul 2017) 3 Santuario Eucaristico (Sacred Heart Church), R.N. Pelaez Boulevard, Kauswagan (near the National Highway intersection), ☏ +63 88 880 2969, [email protected]. Formerly the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Holy Eucharist, Santuario Eucaristico is a shrine dedicated to St. Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist. Along the rear, semi-circular wall of the shrine are intricately-designed Mosaic Stations of the Cross, while above the secondary entrances/exits are stained glass windows depicting the Stations of the Eucharist. These stained glass windows are based on the Stations of the Holy Eucharist at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. They are the only one of their kind in the Philippines. (updated Jul 2017) 4 Carmelite Church, Seminary Hill, Camaman-an (next to Carmelite Monastery). The area surrounding the monastery is also the residence of several religious orders, including the Discalced Carmelites, as well as the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Carmelite Church contains an image of the Santo Niño, or Holy Child which is said to be miraculous. (updated Jul 2017) 5 Divine Mercy Shrine (Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy), Divine Mercy Hills, PSB-Ulaliman, El Salvador City (21 km NW of CDO). Its focal point is a statue of Jesus as the Divine Mercy overlooking Macajalar Bay. The site attracts many pilgrims every Divine Mercy Sunday, one week after Easter Sunday, as well as during solemnities and other feast days throughout the year. (updated Dec 2017)

Parks S

Do

Events

June Himugso (Cebuano for birth) is a week-long event in June commemorating Philippine Independence Day on June 12, Cagayan de Oro's Charter Day on June 15, and the birth of national hero Jose Rizal on June 19. The celebration, which started in 2015, is a time when Kagay-anons show civic and national pride, with a number of activities being held such as a Freedom Run, Flag Raising Ceremony on the three aforementioned dates, and a tour of the city.

August The Higalaay Festival (formerly the Kagay-an Festival) is held every August in honor of Cagayan de Oro's patron saint, Saint Augustine of Hippo. The highlights of the festival include the Agro-Trade Fair, Miss Cagayan de Oro, Higaonon Street Dancing, Civic-Military Parade, Fluvial Parade along the Cagayan River and Halad sa Lambagohan. There are also cultural shows, competitions, celebrity concerts, and sales in the city's malls.

Whitewater Rafting a 14 rapids along Cagayan de Oro River. The rainy months of September and October are good for intermediate and professional levels (rapids range from class 3 to 4). The rest of the year especially during the dry season is good for novice or amateur rafters. Macahambus Adventure Park rappel and zip-line across trees a hundred feet above ground. Mapawa Nature Park ideal for horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking. Cock-Fighting look for the arena along the National Highway in Gusa. The steep-walled concrete arena thunders with hundreds of shouting fans placing bets, as carefully bred and trained roosters in beautiful fighting form do what they're born to do. Warning: seeing these magnificent and spirited creatures transformed into a limp piece of chicken by the flash of a steel blade may make you become a vegetarian. If not, the losing birds are for sale by the kilo and are rumored to have a distinctive flavor. Videoke coin-operated video karaoke machines found in virtually every roadside bar in and around the city. Don't even come to the Philippines unless you know the words to at least one song you're willing to get up and sing like it's your one big shot at fame. The playlist is extensive (from Beatles to Nirvana with plenty of Bon Jovi and Gloria Gaynor in between) so no excuses.

Buy

Shopping malls & supermarkets Cagayan de Oro has a plethora of shopping malls and supermarkets catering to all types of shoppers, from cheap and cheerful to upscale. They are a hive of activity during Friday nights, weekends and holidays as family and friends spend quality time together at restaurants or just malling (window shopping and wondering around aimlessly in malls). Most of the malls are along Claro M. Recto Avenue.

1 Centrio Mall (Centrio), Claro M. Recto Avenue at Corrales Avenue (across the street from Gaisano Mall). Daily 10AM–9PM. From early November to early January, Centrio holds the Magical Nights of Lights, a music and light show located in the garden where thousands of strobe lights are synchronized to well-known Christmas songs. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Gaisano City Mall (Gaisano Recto), Claro M. Recto Avenue at Corrales Extension (across from Centrio Mall). (updated Aug 2017) 3 Limketkai Mall (Ketkai), Limketkai Drive (across from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines). Daily 10AM–8PM. (updated Aug 2017) 4 SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier (SM Premier), Claro M. Recto Avenue at Osmeña Street (former Coca-Cola plant). Daily 10AM–9PM. Has a large-screen format theater, a wide variety of restaurants, shops, an SM Supermarket, and a Sky Garden on the 5th floor. (updated Aug 2017) 5 SM City Cagayan de Oro (SM Uptown), Masterson Avenue at Gran Via Street (uptown CDO, before Primavera Residences). Every August and December, SM City Cagayan de Oro holds two Pyro Musical Fireworks shows. (updated Aug 2017) 6 Robinsons Cagayan de Oro (Robinsons), Rosario Crescent at Florentino Street, Limketkai Center (west side of Limketkai Center, near Malberry Suites). (updated Feb 2018) Savemore Market (Savemore). (updated Feb 2018) 7 Savemore Market Kauswagan (Savemore Kauswagan), Butuan-Cagayan-Iligan Road (across from McDonald's and near the Rodolfo N. Pelaez Boulevard intersection). 08:00–20:00 daily. (updated Feb 2018) 8 Savemore Market Capistrano (Savemore Capistrano), Capistrano Street. (updated Feb 2018) 9 Shopwise Hypermarket, 2nd Level New Expansion Wing, East Concourse, Limketkai Center. Daily 9AM–8PM. 10 Puregold Hypermarket, Claro M. Recto Avenue (site of the old Ororama Megacenter). Daily 9AM–9PM. Ororama. (updated Aug 2017) 11 Ororama Supercenter, Mayor J.R. Borja Street at Mortola Street (near Cogon Public Market and Xavier University), ☏ +63 88-8574481. Daily 8AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2017) 12 Ororama Carmen, Ipil Street, Carmen (across from Carmen Public Market). (updated Aug 2017)

Markets If you'

Eat

Bigby's Café & Restaurant. A restaurant chain that has its roots in Cagayan de Oro, Bigby's specializes in international cuisines, with each of its branches displaying memorabilia from around the world. (updated Aug 2017) 1 , G/F Centrio Mall (Centrio Garden), ☏ +63 88 880-0822. Daily 10AM–9PM. (updated Aug 2017) 2 , 4/F SM CDO Downtown Premier, ☏ +63 88 859-1204. Daily 10AM–9PM. (updated Aug 2017) 3 , G/F SM City Cagayan de Oro, ☏ +63 88 859-1358. Daily 10AM–9PM. (updated Aug 2017) Café Laguna- Robinsons Cagayan de Oro. Fine dining and Filipino cuisine. Country Side Steakhouse, Limketkai Center. Grilled beef or steak. 4 Kagay-anon Restaurant, Limketkai Center (across from the entrance to Limketkai Center's north concourse). Filipino cuisine and ostrich meat. (updated Aug 2018) 5 Sentro 1850, Don Apolinar Velez Street (near Divisoria), ☏ +63 88 854 1850. Daily 11AM–10PM. Great foods ranging from Asian to Western-style dishes. mid-price. (updated Aug 2017) Lugawan Bulaluhan Restaurant, Capistrano Street. Daily 8:30AM-5PM. Batchoy, Gato, Lugaw, Zeki, soft drinks. (updated Aug 2017) 6 Yakimix, G/F Cagayan Town Center, Captain Vicente Roa Street at Antonio Luna Street (near Centrio Mall), ☏ +63 956 876 9381. A Japanese, Korean and Chinese buffet restaurant with all you can eat promos. (updated Dec 2018)

Drink & nightlife

Coffee 1 Brewberry Café, Don Apolinar Velez Street at Toribio Chavez Street (beside Sentro 1850). (updated Aug 2017) Bo's Coffee - Don A. Velez St. A Cebu-based coffee shop.

Bars Pulse Formerly Xcite, it is in front of the Dynasty Court Hotel.

Sleep

Budget YMCA Hostel - 91 Julio Pacana St, from ₱300 a night Hotel Ramon, Tirso Neri, Burgos st, ☏ +63 926 278 7863. Air-con, W-Fi, laundry service. from 12 hours ₱200. Parkview Hotel, Tiro Neri St (overlooks Golden friendship park.), ☏ +63 935 112 4228, [email protected]. Fan double rooms with outside bathrooms. A/C double rooms with outside bathrooms. All rooms have cable TV, phone, free wifi. Can pay with Master Card or Visa Card. ₱350/₱420. GV Hotel, Corrales ext, ☏ +63 88 323 1547. A/C single and double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. 102 rooms. ₱450/₱575/₱620/₱700. King William Inn, Cruz Taal street cor Burgos street, ☏ +63 8822-712888. A/C rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. ₱330. (updated Mar 2015) Bed & Breakfast by Budgetel, Corrales Extension (beside Gaisano City Mall), ☏ +63 8822 726643. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. 16/18 bed dorm with A/C. ₱250 per person. (updated Aug 2017) Olive Suites, Mabini-Velez street, ☏ +63 88 850 3060. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. A/C single/double rooms with own hot water bathroom. cable TV. and free wifi. 41 rooms ₱500/₱600. (updated Aug 2016) Three Sisters Dorm and Transient, Yacapin Street, ☏ +63 88 8562612. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Dorm beds and A/C double rooms with own bathroom cable TV and free wifi. ₱390/₱600. (updated Aug 2016) Princeton Inn, Capistrano-Kalambaguhan Street, ☏ +63 8822 745774. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. A/C double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. Free WiFi in all rooms. ₱495. (updated Apr 2019)

Mid-range 1 Red Planet Cagayan de Oro (Red Planet), Claro M. Recto Avenue (surrounded by SM CDO Downtown Premier), ☏ +63 88 880 0888. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Free WiFi is available in all 159 rooms, as well as a computer station near the hotel's lobby. Circa 1850, a restaurant specializing in international cuisine, is located on the ground floor next to the main entrance. (updated Aug 2017) Ridgeview Chalets, Xavier Estates, Fr. Masterson Ave., Upper Balulang, ☏ +63 88 8587946. Located within the Xavier Estates complex, every room has air conditioning, pocket refrigerator, mini bar, cable TV, and high-speed Internet access. Some of its amenities are fitness room, game room, restaurant/café/bar lounge, and an outdoor swimming pool. From ₱1850. Miami Inn. Vamenta Blvd., Carmen. Middleton Aparttelle - Lirio Ext., Carmen. Philtown Hotel. Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen. KL Pads Apartments & Clubhouse, Kingston Lodge Rd (in Upper Carmen. 5 minutes from Lumbia Airport, it sits adjacent to Pueblo de Oro Golf Course

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