Tudela is widely known for its colorful and interesting Binalbal Festival, where many revelers are clad in very gory costumes like a giant Halloween costume party.[5] It is held every New Year's Day (Jan. 1).[6] Close to the border of Tudela is the eco-tourism attraction Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), which is located in its boundary with Sinacaban, its neighboring town to the north.
History
Spanish colonial era
Founded by Padre Antonio Olleta as the visita of Tudela and by 1884 it was already a pueblo with four barrios.[7] Named after Tudela, Navarre, Spain, the hometown of Padre Olleta.[8]
During the American occupation, the inhabitants in Loculan petitioned to be separated from Misamis and organized into two independent municipalities. Thus, Governor-GeneralFrancis Burton Harrison (through the efforts of Senator Jose F. Clarin) issued Executive Order (EO) No. 61 on December 28, 1920, creating the municipality of Tudela, along with Clarin; Barrio Tudela became the seat of government. The organization became effective on the first day of 1921.[9]
The first appointed Municipal President was Primitivo Ninang and its 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.
Territorial changes
Its territorial jurisdiction has been reduced. In April 1924, by virtue of EO No. 20, Barrio Balicaocao was transferred to Clarin.[11] In 1982, through Batas Pambansa Blg. 171, Barangays Tuno, Lalud, and Lampasan were annexed to the newly-created Don Mariano Marcos (now Don Victoriano Chiongbian)[12][13]
A notable incident in Tudela during the Marcos dictatorship took place on Aug. 24, 1981, when members of a pseudo-religious paramilitary sect 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.[14][15]
In the 2020 census, the population of Tudela, Misamis Occidental, was 28,599 people,[3] with a density of 290 inhabitants per square kilometre or 750 inhabitants per square mile.
Religion
Places of worship:
San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Roman Catholic) - Purok 1, Upper Centro
United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Upper Centro
The majority hardly depends on agriculture and fishing. Commerce is also progressive in this municipality. There are many Tudelanhon businessmen. 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.
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 sanctuary for other endangered animals like the monkey-eating eagle and the tarsier, also found in the forests of nearby Mount Malindang National Park.
Binalbal Festival - held every January 1, one of the oldest and longest running festival in the municipality as it traced back its origin as early as the 1920s.[6]
Camarin Beach, Camarin, Cabol-anonan, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
Tudela Market Place
Bagsakan Center
Subanen Village, Tonggo, Namut, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
Government
The governance of the Municipality of Tudela was managed by elected, appointed and OIC Mayors from 1921 up to the present, as follows:
1921-1928 - Primitivo Ninang, first appointed
1928-1935 - Ulpiano Balazo, appointed
1935-1937 - Alberto Raagas, appointed
1938-1940 - Jose Singson, elected
1940-1943 - Alberto Raagas, elected
1943-1946 - Eladio Lagura, elected
1946-1947 - Eligio Dajao, appointed
Feb. 1947 - Dec.1947 - Antonio Enriquez, appointed
1948-1959 - Gregorio Gamotin, elected
1960-1986 - Antero Singidas, elected
1986-1988 - Bernadette P. Encinareal, OIC
Dec. 1988 - Feb. 1989 - Panfilo S. Olarte, OIC
Mar. 1989 - Apr. 1989 - Nilo Y. Obut, OIC
1989- 1992 - Bernadette P. Encinareal, elected
1992- 2001 - Felix L. Sarigumba, elected
2001-2007 - Nilo Y. Obut, elected
2007-2016 - Estela Obut-Estaño, elected
2016-to date - Samuel L. Parojinog, elected
Infrastructure
Transportation
Air
Tudela is accessible by plane and served by Ozamiz City Airport, a short ride of tricycle from the airport to the Ozamiz City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBJT) also known as "Agora Terminal" where a Tudela modified public utility vehicle called "balik-balik" awaits and bound to Tudela.:
Sea
Served by Port of Ozamiz City, then same as at the airport scenario which you have to ride a tricycle going to the Agora Terminal and another ride on a balik-balik bound for 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.:
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.
^ abTudela Binalbal Festival Official Souvenir, published January 1, 2003, (Local Government Unit of Tudela, Misamis Occidental); Panfilo S. Olarte, Secretary to the Sanggunian 1988-2003
^Naval, Lhem (2017). "Grand Old Northwest Foundation and Development of Towns and parishes in Misamis Occidental". Misamis Occidental: Historical Vignettes of Grand Northwest (2nd ed.). Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, Philippines: Synoptika Publishers. ISBN9781365724350.
^Naval, Lhem (2017). "Who is Apolinario Tudela? The Historical Beginnings of Tudela". Misamis Occidental: Historical Vignettes of Grand Northwest (2nd ed.). Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, Philippines: Synoptika Publishers. ISBN9781365724350.