Tudela, Misamis Occidental

Founded by Padre Antonio Olleta as the visita of Tudela and by 1884 it was already a pueblo with four barrios.^[8] It was named after Tudela, Navarre, Spain, the hometown of Padre Olleta.^[9]

The present territory of Tudela was once part of the former municipality of Loculan.^[10] Through Act No. 951, issued by the Philippine Commission on October 21, 1903, the number of municipalities in the then-undivided Misamis province was reduced from 24 to 10, Loculan was effectively abolished after being joined with the municipality of Misamis.^[11]

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.^[10]

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.

Its territorial jurisdiction has been reduced in April 1924, by virtue of EO No. 20, Barrio Balicaocao was transferred to Clarin.^[12] In 1982, through Batas Pambansa Blg. 171, Barangays Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan were annexed to the newly created Don Mariano Marcos (now Don Victoriano)^[13][14]

The September 1972 declaration of Martial Law began a 14-year period historically remembered for its human rights abuses,^[15][16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18][19]

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.^[20][21]

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.

Tudela is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

In the 2024 census, the population of Tudela was 29,082 people,^[28] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

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

Poverty incidence of Tudela

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]}

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.

• 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.^[7]
• Araw ng Tudela - held every December 28
• Mount Malindang Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park
• Barra Beach, Barra
• Camarin Beach, Camarin, Cabol-anonan
• Tudela Market Place
• Bagsakan Center
• Tudela Highland Resort and Eco Park (formerly known as The Subanen Village), Sitio Tonggo, Namut

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

Air

Tudela is accessible by plane and is served by the Ozamiz Airport. There is a short tricycle ride to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal, where a local public utility vehicle known as a "balik-balik" provides transportation to Tudela.

Sea

Served by the Port of Ozamiz. From the port, travelers may take a tricycle to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal, where public utility vehicles provide transportation to Tudela.

Land

The public mode of transportation within this municipality is usually by tricycle and habal-habal, while the balik-balik is a means of transport to and from Ozamiz City, the nearest city.

Communication

Telecommunications and internet are available. Mobile phone networks (Smart, Globe, Sun Cellular (now part of Smart)^[37] 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).^[38] Rural barangays have their own water systems funded by the government.