“People of Oroquieta”, the Social Media Group of Misamis Occidental: The Story!
“People of Oroquieta” is a social media page managed by Local Tribe Social Media Group which is composed of 4 people who are enthusiasts about current events, tourism, digital marketing and local updates. This page primarily features the province-wide hospitality & scenery of Oroquieta City and Misamis Occidental and empowers local communities by providing news and information from all over the Province of Misamis Occidental, up to national and global audiences that interest the locals. It was created in 2014, as a Facebook page that was all about tourism and improvements of Oroquieta City but wasn’t maximized because of priorities and spare time of the first admin.
Only in March 2018 that the creator of the page started posting updates on the page that was mainly to promote the tourism industry of the province which was just starting to flourish and get noticed in the entire country. The launch was successful and every post on the page got viral and people really got hooked with the page.
The lone admin as a writer and digital marketing strategist spent his spare time just to give updates to the page followers. It saved him from his struggle on depression and in his quest to find his purpose in life. Last July of 2018, the lone admin got his biggest challenge in health and in life in general that made him decide to find other people to manage the page. He also started crusades that supported and promoted what is good in tourism and environmental matters. He was able to get two more admins who can really work voluntarily on giving updates but all still under his moderation and approval. The three of them carried the page with authority and sense of truthfulness as they followed certain rules in publishing online.
December 2019, a new admin was added who is now considered as the face of the page and is being considered to be known to people that he is the man behind the page. He is now the man behind the page but with the support of the main administrator and the other two editors. The 4 of them helped each other and were having fun in all of their endeavors because they believed that they helped the local community in terms of information and tourism.
2019 was the year that the page went full force in giving updates and really stood as the source of reliable local information. It happened throughout the year and the followers increased dramatically.
2020 was a different year and the courage to level up was started but the pandemic happened. The group decided to stop publishing because of the tough time for everyone and the tourism industry was deeply affected. But the clamor of the people to get timely and comprehensive updates challenged the admins, so they pool news and information to serve the locals; Oroquietanons and Misamisnons. Since then, the page has been updated 24 hours a day and been recognized by the people as their goto page for local news and information and inquiries. Few mainstream media have mentioned the page and its posts while few local executives keep an eye on their timely and relevant updates.
The admins were very thankful to everyone for the support and help to make their goal happen. As individuals, they have their own take of how to help people and they are thankful to those people who really appreciate what they do and help them improve their coverage and their way of giving out information.
People of Oroquieta as a Facebook page is independent and is not owned by any government agency or political organization. But as for the admins, as individuals, they have their own political biases and they support different causes. They respect everyone who has different ways of thinking and biases as they are but as admins of the page, they reserve the right to verify any post and promotions in accordance to the law and of Facebook community standards.
They try their best to be politically neutral but they cannot help it to feature a beautiful story about any politician who should be credited for doing something good to his constituents. They advise everyone to be open-minded about the opinions of others and really respect others for their affiliations.
The views and opinions expressed by the followers or commenters do not necessarily state or reflect those of the page and its admins. Furthermore, the views and opinions of the people in the videos or photos being posted do not reflect those of the admins, the page, and the entirety of Oroquieta City. They aim to promote a positive environment and awareness to every follower on this page. Negatrons will be banned and negative comments will be deleted without further notice. So, they encourage everyone to think twice, be kind, and be helpful.
IMPORTANT: For removal of photo or video requests, feel free to message us thru the message button with the link of the photo or video and your reasons why we need to take it down. Removal requests done on comments will not be honored. Thank you!
Oroquieta City Story — The City of Good Life
Layawan was the oldest name of Oroquieta, which was the barrio in the province of Misamis since 1861 until 1879. The early settlers then of the barrio were Boholano peddlers. They found so many stray animals along the river, thus they named the place Layawan, which means a place of stray animals. A little later, Misamis was divided into two provinces, Misamis Occidental and Oriental. Then in 1880, Layawan changed its name into Oroquieta when it became a town. Some sources revealed that the town got its name from a famous barrio in Spain where Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest here and General Domingo Mariones y Murillo, a hero in the battle of Oroquieta, were born.
Another version is that Oroquieta had derived its name from the word ‘ORO’ and ‘KITA’. The early inhabitants then had found gold along the river. Thus, the name ‘ORO’ which means Gold and ‘QUITA’ or ‘KITA’ which means to find.
Many years had passed; Oroquieta progressed by leaps and bounces until finally it became the capital town (cabecera) on January 6, 1930. As capital town, people of various neighboring provinces came and inhabited in the place where they earn their living through fishing, farming, merchandising and other forms of businesses. Soon afterwards its income increased simultaneously with increase in population.
It is worthy to note that sometime in 1942, Oroquieta was made the capital of the free Philippines by the guerillas. (Personal interview with the late Atty. Vicente Blanco, Municipal Mayor during the Japanese Occupation)
It must be remembered that during this time the late President Manuel L. Quezon together with the late Sergio Osmeña, Sr., a bodyguard and Major Manuel Nieto, Sr. landed in Oroquieta after their evacuation from Corregidor to Australia.
The seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitol. The Free Philippine Government was then issuing Misamis Occidental emergency notes. Late President Quezon, upon knowing that Oroquieta was made a capital of the Free Philippines and that the town was issuing emergency notes, authorized the Printing of the Mindanao emergency note.
Another noteworthy incident during the Japanese occupation was the visit of the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos and Major Manzano to Oroquieta. That time, the Commanding General of Mindanao was the late Col Wendell Fertig.
Oroquieta was created a City under R.A. 5518 and inaugurated as a chartered city on January 1, 1970. The charter converting the municipality of Oroquieta into a city are signed by President Marcos on June 25, 1969 in the presence of the then City Mayor, the late Ciriaco C. Pastrano, with the newly elected councilors and other city officials.
Oroquieta City is and will always be the home of hospitable and peace loving people.
