Ozamiz City Today: A Centuries-Old Fort Restored

For the first time in decades, the inhabitants in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, witnessed the transformation of their city where history took center stage.

On July 1, hundreds of Ozamiznons and visitors came to the opening of the reconstructed two centuries and a half old Cotta or fort - considered as the oldest structure in the province, built in the 1750s by the Spaniards.

The Cotta, also known as the Triunfo in the old days, stand witness to the many historical events in this area notably the wars that took place during the Spanish occupation against the Muslims inhabiting Panguil Bay and in the last days of the Japanese occupation in December 10, 1945.

Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. said that the rehabilitation of the Cotta was necessary to bring back the rich past for the present generation to appreciate.

The mayor added: "Aside from the tourists that the Cotta would welcome, it is important that we preserve this historical structure so we would be reminded and would have a picture of how our city was during and after the Spanish occupation."

Rebuilt to its likeness in the 1750s, the Cotta now stands as a welcoming structure for the passengers of vessels arriving at the Ozamiz port. It is now one of the major tourist attractions in Misamis Occidental, notwithstanding the old church in Jimenez town, which has been declared as a historical heritage by the National Historical Commission.

The 1955 intensity 7 earthquake that rocked this city destroyed important landmarks such as the century old Catholic Church and part of the Cotta.

Since late 19th century until now, Ozamiznons who are mostly Catholics, closely associate the Cotta with the shrine of the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary which is locally known as the Birhen sa Cotta and whose feast day is on July 16. The shrine is located outside the wall of the fort at the northeastern side, facing the city port.

The reconstruction of the fort was made possible through the Department of Tourism -10, the city government and other line agencies, which have coordinated their efforts, not only to rehabilitate the Cotta, but also to improve the image of the city as one of the tourist destinations in northern Mindanao.