Gingoog marks golden jubilee

MANILA, Philippines –  Gingoog City has come a long way  from a Manobo settlement centuries ago, to a pueblo during the Spanish times, to a municipality under the American regime in 1903, then, by virtue of Republic Act 2668 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia, to a chartered city in June 1960.

In 1982, Gingoog, from a mere third-class city, was elevated to a first-class city. By 1984, it was judged the most outstanding component city throughout Region 10. But it retained its name as Gingoog, the Manobo word for good luck.

Gingoog is located in the northeastern coast of Misamis Oriental, 122 kilometers east of Cagayan de Oro City and 74 kilometers west of Butuan City. It is bounded to the east by the municipality of Magsaysay and the province of Agusan del Norte, to the south by Bukidnon, to the west by the municipalities of Claveria and Medina, Misamis Oriental, and to the north by Gingoog Bay. The city occupies an area of 769,88 square kilometers, or 76,988 hec-tares. As of 2000, its population numbered 102,379.

It is a quiet town, its income basically from agricultural enterprises, but increasingly vigorous commerce and trade activities are turning it into a bustling city, and the present government’s infrastructure projects, including development of its numerous natural resour-ces  like forests, waterfalls and major rivers  have turned it into a tourist destination.

A yearly attraction drawing visitors from near and far is the celebration of its fiesta and cityhood charter, both of which feature cultural and artistic activities. But in 2010, the celebration of the city’s 50th Charter Day or Golden Jubilee Year is by far the most festive and memorable.

Activities included mountain climbing, a trade exhibition and fair, basketball and tennis tournaments, beauty pageants, fashion shows, a dance competition by national high school students, a best float contest, medical and dental services, a photo exhibit, the 26th Grand Kaliga street dancing and tableau, a rigodon de honor staged by matrons and their escorts, and the coronation of Jennifer Elizabeth Robb and Jenden Jay Demetillo Cahilig Jr. as Little Ms. and Mr. Gingoog, and the Mrs. City Charter Queen and her court.

The crowning of Mrs. Gingoog City Charter 2010 climaxed this year’s activities. Crowned the most popular of the city’s prominent married women were Mrs. Gingoog Charter 2010 Myrna Reyes Valdevilla, and her royal court consisting of runners-up Erlina Micu, Sarah Jean Dael, and Geneza Tutu. They were crowned by Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona (herself a previous and remains a beauty queen) and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, with the assistance of Amalia Gomez Dainog, Mrs. Gingoog City Charter 2009.

Outstanding Gingoognons were also acknowledged for their contributions in various fields  Jude Edgard “Jed” Caballero Balsamo, for music; Rolando Toyogon, sports; Domingo Villafranca Samson, arts; Leonora Galleros Tinio, accountancy, and Philippine STAR columnist Domini Torrevillas, for journalism.

Plaques of recognition were given to Roberto Sanchez, lawyer Cenon Alaba, regional tourism director Catalino Chan III; Milagros Guanzon, of the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, and the Asia Pacific Timber and Plywood Corp.

The success of the golden jubilee celebration as well as of past city cultural activities was attributed to the city’s tourism council headed by retired Judge Potenciano del los Reyes Jr.

At the coronation rites held at the fully air-conditioned AS Lugod Convention Hall, Guingona, in her inspirational message, said she was happy that during the last four years, she had worked so hard to make the city proud of their mayor, and that efforts would continue to be made for the city to move forward and become a highly urbanizing center in the region.