When people think of Cagayan de Oro, they often think of the phrase we carry so proudly: “The City of Golden Friendship.”
But as an editorial team, when we began digging into the very bones of this project, we asked ourselves: What lies beneath that golden warmth? What is the true bedrock of this city?
We found that Cagayan de Oro’s history is very much like its famous river—it is wild, resilient, deeply carved into the landscape of Mindanao, and constantly moving forward. This morning , we aren’t just launching a book; we are charting that magnificent current.
The Editorial Vision & Shared Roots
This grand coffee table book would not have been possible without the visionary support of our publisher, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez. Rufus, as many of you know, was my classmate back in the Xavier Ateneo Grade School Class of 1967. Collaborating with an old friend to honor our shared home has made this journey incredibly personal.
As the Editor-in-Chief, working alongside our brilliant editorial consultant John Nery, our challenge wasn’t finding stories to tell; it was choosing which stories could possibly fit into these pages.
Cagayan de Oro is a place of beautiful contradictions. It is a booming metropolis that still tightly retains the soul of a close-knit community—the kind of deep, generational relationship that you can truly only find here. It stands proudly as the gateway to Northern Mindanao, a strategic hub of modern commerce.
Yet, its heart beats to the timeless rhythm of ancient folklore, the historic heroism of the Battle of Makahambus, and the quiet dignity of its cultural pioneers.
In this publication, we wanted to move far beyond a simple timeline.The Migrants , who have come from places as far away as north America, Europe, Asia and from Luzon and the Visayas and even other regions of Mindanao who and had have shared their knowledge and experience contributing to the progress of the city.
We wanted to capture the very texture of the city—the morning mist draped over the hills, the grit of our industrial boom, the vivid brushstrokes of our local visual artists, and the living voices of the people who built this city from a historic settlement into a shining beacon of growth.
Honoring the Tapestry of Collaboration
A monumental book like this is never the work of a single hand. It is a tapestry. I want to personally honor the brilliant creative minds who poured their hearts into this project.
First, my deepest thanks to our editorial consultant, John Nery, who walked with me from the very beginning, shaping our chapter outlines and sharpening our editorial direction.
Thank you to our tireless associate editor, Mike Baños, and to Achilles Mina. To our pool of gifted writers—Dennis Estopace, Albert Gamboa, Em Guevarra, Genevieve Matias, Louie Sanchez, and Melisa Bagamasbad—thank you for translating raw history into living prose.
Our visual narrative is equally breathtaking. Thank you to our principal photographers, Dr. Lesty Balighasay, Edwin Tuyay, and Tom Udasco, as well as our generous photo contributors: Aimee Valencia, Heide General, Dominador de Asis, Clement Dampal III, Francis Manaloto, Larry Howland, and Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ.
Together, you captured the luminous, cinematic beauty of CDO’s streets, its sweeping landscapes, and its vibrant flora and fauna. You have given this city a visual legacy that will stand the test of time.
Bringing this all to life on the page required immense artistic skill. Thank you to our graphic designer, Alona Martinez; our digital and pre-press graphic artists, Alex Dulay and Ferland Boborol; and our hawk-eyed proofreader, Bernie Lizardo.
To our institutional partners and co-publishers: thank you for trusting our vision and understanding that documenting a city’s history is an act of preservation—an act of pure love. And to the Jesuit Archives of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, Del Monte Philippines, Inc., Cherry Pelaez Salazar, and the late Tony Malferrari, Nene Arce, and Charlie Cepeda for sharing the archival photos of the old Cagayan de Oro.
Books have a unique, enduring power. Long after the speeches this morning are over, and long after the landscape of our changing city shifts once again, these pages will remain. They stand as a permanent testament to who we were, what we built, and where we are destined to go.
Whether you are a lifelong Kagay-anon looking to reconnect with your roots, an investor marveling at our city’s soaring trajectory, or a visitor discovering our legendary warmth for the very first time, this book is our invitation to you.
Turn the pages. Immerse yourself in the river of our story.
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