Oroquieta City is a 3rd class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. It is the capital city of Misamis Occidental. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 65,349 people.
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.
The Plaza - Jose Rizal Park
Located across the road from the City Hall and fronting Iligan Bay, the Plaza serves as the center for gathering and many social and cultural activities. It lies within the boundary of the Stella Maris College and The Holy Rosary Church.
The Seawall at the Plaza
The Seawall is part of the palza where people spend their time relaxing, while enjoying the beautiful and majectic Iligan bay.
Tuyabang Bajo River
Mobod
