This week’s milestones: Oct. 27 to Nov. 2

Oct. 29, 2023

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker at Bell House and Bell Amphitheater in Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The structures were originally built as a vacation house for Philippine commanding generals in the early 1900s. Bell Amphitheater was constructed in 1913 by Igorot laborers under the orders of General James Franklin Bell. Named in his honor in 1929, the structures were later taken over by the Japanese during World War II. After the war, it became part of John Hay Air Station. It was in the 1990s when the United States transferred the management of these structures to the Philippines. After undergoing repairs and restoration in 2020, Bell House and Bell Amphitheater have been repurposed as major tourist attractions within the camp. Bell House now serves as a museum and library, while Bell Amphitheater is a venue for social gatherings, representing some of the few original structures from the American colonial period that have been maintained.

Nov. 2, 1929

By virtue of Legislative Act No. 3537, the province of Misamis was divided into two distinct provinces: Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental. Misamis Oriental is situated to the north of Bukidnon and bordered on the west by Agusan del Norte. The province has one highly urbanized city, Cagayan de Oro, which serves as the provincial capital and the regional center of Northern Mindanao, along with two component cities, Gingoog and El Salvador. The province comprises 23 municipalities, with nine in the western part and 14 in the east. Meanwhile, Misamis Occidental is bordered by the Bohol Sea to the north, Iligan Bay to the east, Zamboanga del Norte to the west and Zamboanga del Sur to the south. It has three cities, including its capital, Oroquieta City, and is home to 14 municipalities. According to the latest census, Misamis Oriental has a population of 956,900, while Misamis Occidental has 617,333 residents.

THIS WEEK’S FESTIVALS: Oct. 27 to Nov. 2

Lanzones Festival

Cimarrones Festival (Oct. 1 to Oct. 31)

The Cimarrones Festival, held in Pili, Camarines Sur, celebrates the town’s rich indigenous heritage through traditional dances and music. Coinciding with the Pili Town Fiesta in honor of St. Rafael the Archangel, this festival is also a time for the people of Pili to come together and celebrate their faith and their community. Spanning an entire month, the celebration features diverse cultural activities, including an agri-trade fair, street dancing competitions and civic parade. The festival also includes a variety of engaging activities such as Solo Parent Day, Buntis Congress, the Gay Olympics, PWD Day and a Youth Tournament.

Lanzones Festival (Oct. 20 to Oct. 27)

The Lanzones Festival is an annual celebration held in the island province of Camiguin. This vibrant festival serves as a thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest of lanzones—a fruit that made Camiguin known in the country. With a remarkable ratio of four lanzones trees per person, this fruit is recognized for both abundance and great quality, which owes its distinct sweetness to the potassium-rich volcanic soil of the province. During the festival, locals and tourists gather to experience this much-anticipated event, which features a variety of activities such as a food bazaar, a Thanksgiving mass, livestock and poultry forums, and an agro-industrial tourism trade fair. Among the highlights of the festivity are the Lanzones Festival Street Dancing and Grand Parade and the Lanzones Festival Extravaganza, where guests can enjoy an eat-all-you-can feast of lanzones. —Compiled by: Nathalie Grace Adalid, Inquirer Research

Source: Inquirer Research, LGU PILI TOURISM-PTCASO Facebook page, MIO LGU PILI Facebook page, Lanzones Festival Facebook page, nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com, tpb.gov.ph, sagay.gov.ph, philatlas.com, psa.gov.ph, pna.gov.ph, misamisoriental.gov.ph, elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph