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Genealogy of Jimenez Town: https://jo2x.tribalpages.com
A Brief History of Jimenez
Palilan was erected as a visita of Misamis during the parochial administration of Padre Francisco Jimenez de San Fermin in 1845 and it became an independent parish only in 1859 with Padre Roque Azcona as its founding parish priest and served the curacy until 1883. Palilan was named Jimenez in honor of Padre Francisco who preached the faith from Misamis to Baliangao. Jimenez comprised an immense parochial territory having five visitas: namely, Aloran, Finis (renamed San Vicente), Layauan (present-day Oroquieta), Daisog (Lopez Jaena) and Langaran (now Plaridel).
The old town of Jimenez that was located near Palilan river got flooded so heavily during this period that the parish priest and the town principalia decided to transfer the pueblo on a higher ground. The present-day site of the town and the church, then a jungle, was chosen to be the ideal place. In 1862, Padre Azcona contributed a lot for the improvement of the town. In 1882, He spearheaded the building of the church, casa tribunal, the cemetery and a school for boys and girls. He was given the task of leading the construction of roads linking Jimenez to Baliangao in the north and Loculan and Misamis in the south as commissioned by the Spanish governor of Misamis district. Padre Azcona taught the people the value of the land by encouraging them to plant not only palay but abaca and root crops as well.
During the Spanish era, Don Juan Durias was recorded as the first gobernadorcillo of Jimenez. The town was formally declared a municipality during the American occupation on 7 April 1900 with Senior Obaldo Abing as its first Presidente Municipal.
Jimenez is so rich in history and cultural heritage. The 150-year old church, the old Spanish houses and roads continue to vividly remind the people of its glorious past that is worthy of preservation for posterity. No doubt this town was recently declared a cultural heritage town by the national government.
By: Lhem Naval
Misamis Occidental: Historical Vignettes of the Grand Northwest
The Municipality of Jimenez
By: Dr. Vicente B. Porquis (Councilor)
On 7 April 1900, United States President McKinley promulgated a General Order to organize municipalities and bestowed powers and authorities to these public offices under the leadership of local leaders. It was during this time that municipal roads and bridges were built, and then the residential home of Don Thomas Hynzon was purchased and became the municipal hall. In 1918 during the administration of Municipal President Dampor the public school and the Rizal monument were erected. In 1920 the Puericulture Center was established. The municipal kiosk was built in 1925 during the term of Municipal President Policarpio. During the term of H. Dominguez the Aguas Potables (water system) were built. The metal bridge was erected under the auspices of Senator Jose Ozamiz. In 1938 the Purico Corporation was founded.
And now (1959) under the term of Mayor Francisco Paylaga, the public market and the hanging bridge in Sinara were built. He opened many roads leading to the barrios of the municipality. The Stanvic and Shell gasoline depots began their operations. Artesian wells and pre-fabricated school buildings were also constructed
Capitanes, Presidentes and Mayors
Spanish Period (1859)
Capitan Juan Durias
Capitan Feliciano Acompañado
Capitan Pedro Quilo
Capitan Doroteo Lata
Capitan Ignacio Lapinig
Capitan Ignacio Galay
Capitan Ignacio Tamarong
Capitan Miguel Madrangca
Capitan Anaclito Madrangca
Capitan Miguel Adorable
Capitan Alfonso Adorable
Capitan Raymundo Dura Maulas
Capitan Lucas Cuezon
Capitan Juan Galindo
Capitan Gregorio Tak-an
Capitan Vicente Olarte
Capitan Ponciano Maturan
Capitan Sebastian Cajate
Capitan Blas Regalado
American Period (1898)
Presidente Municipal Obaldo Abing
Presidente Municipal Timoteo Durias
Presidente Municipal Domingo Galindo
Presidente Municipal Manuel Guzman
Presidente Municipal Hilario Adorable
Presidente Municipal Justino Lusica Dampor
Presidente Municipal Angel Harayo
Presidente Municipal Ignacio Policarpio
Presidente Municipal Isidro Adorable
Presidente Municipal Eustaquio Tac-an
Presidente Municipal Ramon Bongabong
Presidente Municipal Hermegeldo Dominguez
Commonwealth Period (November 15, 1935)
Municipal President Graciano Putis Dano (1938)
Municipal President Rufino Lusica Talibong Sr. (1938—1941)
Municipal President Genaro Bomediano (1942—1945)
Third Philippine Republic (July 4, 1946)
Mayor Francisco Alfajardo (1946)
Mayor Sofronio Avanceña (1947)
Mayor Francisco Paylaga Sr. (1948—1951)
Mayor Norberto Rivera (1952—1955)
Mayor Francisco Paylaga Sr. (1956—1959)
Mayor Francisco Villamor Lusica (1960—1963)
Mayor Francisco Paylaga Sr. (1964—1967)
Mayor Eleuterio Azcuna Quimbo Sr. (1967)
Mayor Jose MaContreras (1968—1971)
Mayor Alfredo Jalandoni Apao (1971—1984)
Mayor Benhur Bautista (1984—1986)
Mayor Eleuterio Azcuna Quimbo Sr. (1987—1994)
Mayor Antonio C. Lim Sr. (1995—2003)
Mayor Ranulfo B. Limquimbo (2004—2013)
Mayor Rosario Kais Balais (2014— )
Ang Jimenez Sumala sa Gihulagway sa Tuig 1896
St. John the Baptist Parish (Jimenez, Misamis Occidental)
Gisugdan kini isip usa ka mission station sa Misamis ni Padre Francisco Jimenez de San Fermin, Recoleto, ug nahimong parokya sa tuig 1859 nga may gidgahanon nga 3,000 ka mga sakop. Nahimong unang Kura Paroko niini si Padre Roque Azcona, Recoleto. Niining tungora walay laing mga parokya nga duol niini gawas sa Misamis ug Dapitan. Nagdepende niini ang mga mission station sa Aloran, Finis, karon San Vicente (Pines), Layauan (karon Oroquieta), Manella (Lopez Jaena) ug Langaran (Plaridel).
Dako ra kaayo ang teritoryo niining maong parokya ug busa sa tuig 1861 aduna nay 3,366 ka kasakopan. Sa tuig 1882 mikabat kini ug 22,822 ang gidaghanon ug busa sa tuig 1887-1888 gibulag niini ug gihimo nga kinaugalingong nga mga parokya ang Layauan (Oroquieta) ug Langaran (Plaridel). Ug sa tuig 1894 pa gyod gibulag niini ug gihimo nga kinaugalingon nga parokya ang Aloran.
Sa pagsugod pagkakura ni Padre Roque Azcona niining parokyaha, ang lungsod didto pa mahimutang daplin sa baybayon duol sa baba sa suba. Sa pagsimang niinng maong suba nabahaan ang lungsod ug salamat sa mga lakang nga gihimo ni sa kura Paroko, walay tawo nga nadesgrasya, bisan tuod ug mga balay nga nangadaot ug mga hayop nga nangawagtang.
Ug busa kay nagtuo man si Padre Roque nga peligro kaayo nga magpadayon ang lungsod sa nahimutangan niini, gisugyot niya sa mga nag-unang mga lumulupyo ang pagbalhin niini sa laing dapit. Labot pa ang dapit nga nahimutangan niini mamahimong mga basakan, nga makita pa sa pagkakaron. Sa iyang pagpanlimbasog nabalhin ang dapit sa lungsod sa nahimutangan niini karon, tapos makuha ang pagtugot sa Hepe sa Lalawigan.
Ang dapit nga gipili alang sa balhinanan sa lungsod niining tungora usa pa ka lasang. Aron pagdasig sa mga sakop sa parokya, si Padre Azcona mismo mitabang matag adlaw sa pagpapatag tapos sa iyang mga buluhaton nga tinuuhanon. Sa dihang igo nga nga napatag ug diutay ang yuta, gibuhat ni Padre Roque ang pagpadagan sa mga dalan nga may mga 6 ka meros (brazas ?) ang gilapdon, ug dihadiha naghimo siyag 4 ka balay nga adunay lugar matag usa para sa lagwerta.
Sa mga tuig 1862-63, gisugdan ni Padre Roque ang pagtukod sa nindot nga simbahan nga adunay tulo ka nabe ug portiko nga makita pa karon. Mitukod usab siya ug usa ka kombento nga husto ang gilapdon alang sa mga panginhanglan niadtong higayona. Mihimo siya ug balay-lungsod ug usa ka balay ngabata nga gitunga para sa pageskuwela sa mga bata nga lalaki ug mga bata nga babaye. Mibuhat usab siya ug usa ka nindot nga menteryo nga giparil ug bato nga igo ang gidak-on alang sa mga panginahanglan niadtong higayona ug iya kining gitapos sulod lamang sa duha ka bulan. Tungod niini kining lunsora wala magbayad hangtod karon alang sa mga lubong. Sa katapusan iyang gikanalan ang mga basakan aron sa pagpatubig niini.
Tungod kay alang kaniya diutay ra ug abot alang sa iyang mga parokyano ang paghimo ug nipa ug adunay peligro ang pagdala niini ngadto sa Cagayan nga may 70 ka millas ang pagalawigon nga dagat, iyang gidasig ug giobligar pa gani ang mga tawo sa pagtanom ug palay, maiz, lubi, cafe ug cacao. Sa kinatibok-an ang teritoryo giokupahan niining maong parokya sa 1859 hangtod sa Baliangao, nakapahimulos na sa mga tuig 1889 ug 1890 sa 40,000 ka pico sa abaca, pipila ka libo ka kabanes sa palay ug mais, nga ilang gibaligya sa gawas; iapil niini ang daghang cafe ug cacao.
Ang kadasig ni Padre Roque wala lamang matanggong sa Jimenez; mibuhat siya'g susamang mga butang sa silingang mga dapit. Nagtukod siyag mga publiko nga mga bilding niining mga dapita nga napundok na ngadto sa pagkalungsod. Kining mga buhata wala maggasto ang gobierno.
Kay wala may mga dalan nga nagdugtong sa Misamis ngadto sa Jimenez ni gikan sa Jimenez ngadto sa Dapitan, ang Gobernador sa Distrito (niining tungora ang kapital sa Distrito didto na sa Cagayan) nagtudlo kang Don Domingo Resano, usa ka katsila nga natawo didto sa España aron sa pagbukas ug dalan (ubos sa pagbantay sa mga kura sa Misamis ug sa Jimenez). Ug tungod sa pagtabang sa mga Pari nataras ug naabli ang dalan nga anaa pa karon gikan sa Loculan (Clarin) ngadto sa Baliangao nga may distansiya nga 14 ka legua, uban sa daghan kaayo nga mga kasamtangan nga mga taytayan.
Misugo si Padre Roque sa pagtukod ug mga baluarte sa may baybayon sa mga dapit nga importante aron sa pagbantay batok sa mga pagdunggo sa mga moros ug midasig siya sa mga matuuhon sa pagpanalipod sa ilang kaugalingon batok niining maong mga pirata. Tungod niini mga duha o tulo lamang ang nangabihag sa mga tuig 1871 diha sa usa sa mga mission stations tungod sa walay pagbantay o kay nakuratan man sila.
Ang mga buhat ni Padre Roque Azcona gipadayon sa iyang mga sumusunod sila si Padre Jose Abad ug Padre Constacio Asensio, mga Recoleto, nga nakakab-ot nga ang Palilan (Jimenez) mamahimong susama ka maayo sa mga nag-unang mga lungsod sa Distrito sa Misamis.
Sa tuig 1886, gipadayon ni Padre Jose Abad ang paghimo sa simbahan, ang Coro, salog, kisame, ug ang mga dekorasyon, uban sa usa ka ngilngig nga retablo sa may altar mayor: ang pinakalisod mao ang pag-ilis sa halos tanan nga mga haligi sa tunga nga nadunot na ilawom sa yuta kay gikaon sa mga anay. Giilisan kini ug pinili nga mga molave nga miabot hangtod sa ibabaw sa kisame. Gibutangan usab kini ug altar nga plata ug usa ka nindot kaayo nga tumba o catapalco.
By: Archdiocese of Ozamiz
Senator Jose Ozamiz, The Forgotten Hero
By: Mario L. Cuezon
During the visit of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos to Ozamiz City, he said of the late Senator Jose Ozamiz as the “foremost but forgotten”. Nothing could be further from the truth. The hero remains unknown to his province mates. Only few know him as the first governor, congressional representative, and senator of Misamis Occidental. The Japanese killed him during the Second World War. He remains the only senator coming from the province.
Jose's parents were Jenaro Ozamiz from Navarre, Spain and Basilisa Fortich, a mestisa. Genaro left Spain at age sixteen and came to Moran, then ended up at the municipality of Jimenez and engaged in the business of abaca and copra trading which made him very rich, acquiring through the years 355 hectares in tile province and 1,000 hectares ranch in Bukidnon.
Jenaro and Basilisa’s son Jose was the oldest and the only boy among ten children. Jose was born on May 5, 1898 in Moran in a house near the “old bridge” His sisters are Pacita, Consuelo, Carmen, Pilar, Remedios, Nieves, Mercedes, Paulita, and Lourdes. Three of Jose's sisters Consuelo, Cannon and Nieves remained distinct and never got married. Two entered politics: one was Consuelo, who was a councilor for six terms in Jimenez and Remedios who became a Congresswoman in Bukidnon. Remedios’ son, Carlos Fortich became a politician also by becoming a governor of Bukidnon.
In 1904, the Ozamiz family transferred to a big house in Jimenez, where they engage themselves in the copra business and ship them off to other islands in the Philippines. It is a very historical house where great men like Douglas MacArthur and General Emilio Aguinaldo came. Jose's son, Julio believed that even former Philippine President Marcos had slept in the house. President Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos had visited the house, too.
At Ateneo, Jose Ozamiz attended high school graduated proceeded to take law school in the same prestigious educational institution and graduated with honors. After finishing law, he took up his masters in Columbia University in New York, U.S.A.
He came back to the Philippines and had a big law firm in Manila and was the retainer of Elizalde Group of Companies, and Madrigals, and De La Rama Shipping Lines.
Mr. Ozamiz was the first appointed governor of Misamis Occidental. Misamis used to include the present two Misamis provinces and the Lanao provinces. The two Misamis provinces were separated by sea. Mr. Ozamiz worked for the creation of a separate province of Misamis Occidental.
In the 1932 elections, he won as a governor. After that, he became a Congressman and in 1935, he became a constitutional convention delegate. While in Congress, he was a majority floor leader and was called the “Prince Carol of the Philippine Legislature” probably because he was handsome and tall. In 1940, he was elected “Senator of the Philippine Republic”.
During his time, he was responsible for the construction of Provincial Hospital, most of the bridges in Jimenez, Aloran, Clarin, and Oroquieta and some town halls.
The handsome Jose married Lourdes Hyndman from Cagayan de Oro in 1929. Her grandfather was a Canadian. Mrs. Lourdes H. Ozamiz was a graduate of music and commerce. She often engages herself in charity work. She and Hon. Ozamiz had four children namely: Leopoldo, Jose, Maria, Julio and Carmen. Jose Maria became the vice-president of Philippine CONSAT. Carmen worked for the Philippine Airlines. Only Julio followed the footsteps of his father in politics. He was elected as a Concon delegate then as congressional representative of the first district in 1987. In addition, their brother Leopoldo died at age 17 because of typhoid fever during the war.
During Senator Ozamiz’ term he rented two dormitories for boys and girls of Misamis Occidental studying in Manila. Lodging is said to be free on condition that report cards will be shown to him.
When the Japanese occupied the country during World War II, Jose was among those who accepted a post in the Japanese government with the blessings of the guerrilla movement who saw that his position would allow him to move discretely. He became chairperson of the Games and Amusement Board. Then in May 1943 he came to Mindanao to contact Fertig. He came by boat accompanied by Jose Maria and Pelong Campos of Aloran. During his arrival in Mindanao, he met Fertig and Parson, both major leaders of the guerrilla movement
On his way home, his family was under house arrest. Jose went back to Manila in February 1944. He was arrested on February 11 on his wife's birthday. Jose was condemned to be executed because there was a certain Filipino and nicknamed as a “makapili” who squealed on him along with twenty-nine other fellow Filipino who also got arrested at the same time. They were the core of the guerilla movement in Manila.
Jose Ozamiz’ private secretary Paxedes Beluno from the municipality of Lopez Jaena was also a guerilla member of the movement. When the Japanese intercepted a message from Philip of Bukidnon where the name of Mr. Beluno was mentioned as a member of the guerilla movement. During Mr. Beluno’s arrest his last words to his family was “This will be the last time you will see me”.
Every Sunday, the Ozamiz family goes to Fort Santiago bringing Jose his medicines, food and clothing but he was never shown to them. Two or three months before Jose Ozamiz’ execution, the Japanese called up and told them that Paxedes Beluno was dead. Julio recalls, “we went to the funeral parlor with Judge Durias. We couldn’t recognize his face because his face was burned with cigarettes and all his nails were pulled off”.
A month before Senator Ozamiz’ death, his oldest son, Leopoldo, died on July 29. Medicine was hard to come by then that became an obstacle in curing Leopoldo’s suffering from typhoid fever. When the Ozamiz family visited Fort Santiago, they were told not to come, as Jose was already dead. His ring of gold and diamond and a gold necklace with a round pendant marked March 1922 and with initials JO were returned by the Japanese. Julio decided to wear that necklace which was bought in Lourdes, France.
Jose Ozamiz’ family spent two long years looking for his body. In 1945-46, Richard, Sakakeda, a Japanese American interpreter told them where his remains were buried. Jose’ doctors identified him through his denture.
Jose was killed in the North cemetery with the twenty-nine other guerrilla members including the eldest sons of the Elizaldes and the Roceses and Captain Antonio Montalban. The position of their bones tells a story of how they were killed. They were made to kneel and while their heads were chopped off. Their heads fell to one-side and the bodies in the other part of the mass grave.
They were able to get only the skull and some bones as all the bones were already mixed up. “We wanted to bring him back to Misamis Occidental”, Julio said, “But because the bones were already mixed, a monument was built instead, with their names engraved on it.
“Had my father lived, he might have become a president of this country,” Julio said. He was number two to Roxas in the guerrilla movement organization. It should have been certain that he would been Vice-President to Roxas in the post war elections.
To honor Jose Ozamiz, a bill was filed to name the province after him, but some politicians were against it so it was only the city of Misamis which was renamed Ozamiz. Unfortunately, the people seemed to have forgotten the long lost hero of Misamis.