Ozamiz City (Philippines) - A Ride Through Downtown - 12/23/2015 - Christmas Time

Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. In this video we take a ride through the downtown Ozamiz City area. Dakbayan sa Ozamiz (Cebuano), Lungsod ng Ozamiz (Tagalog), is located on the island of Mindanao which is in the southern part of the Philippines. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 131,527 people.

The city's origin goes back to the days of being an old Spanish town named Misamis. This is believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," which is a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources suggest that the name Misamis came from the word "Misa" after the Catholic Mass. The origin and growth of the old Spanish town, Misamis, is contributed to the presence of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named "Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo" (also known at Cotta Fort and Shrine). The fort was constructed some time in the 18th century for the purpose to control the pirate activities that originated in the nearby Lanao area. It was in the year 1850 when the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.

After World War II, Misamis became a chartered city as a result of Republic Act 321 on July 16, 1948. It was at this time that Republic Act 321 also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after José Ozámiz, a World War II hero who was from the province of Misamis Occidental and also served, at one time, as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental. He was also a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. José Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1941.