Pasundayag sa Northern Mindanao

The Fuerte De La Concepcion y Del Triunfo, also known as the Cotta or the Fort, is one of the few surviving Spanish colonial fortresses in the Philippines. The 4,000 square-meter walled fort has withstood the ravages of time and has remained intact to this day.

As proof of that, it was the venue to its 250th anniversary celebration last July which coincided with the Pasundayag sa Northern Mindanao. The grand month-long event would have been unimaginable without the concerted efforts of the local government and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 10.

Daily street dancing and nightly cultural shows highlighted the celebration. The Pasundayag was the region's response to DOT's national program, WOW Philippines.

It was participated in by the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Valencia, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Tangub, Gingoog, Iligan and the provinces of Bukidnon, MisamisOriental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin and Misamis Occidental.

Culture and the arts took center stage. The revival of cultural songs, dances and the display of indigenous wares of the different tribesmen in northern Mindanao awed both local and foreign visitors.

Aside from the songs and dances, locally made products, various delicacies, novelties crafted by the indigenous people, pieces of furniture and plants were also showcased.

But it took more than the noble intentions of the local government of Ozamiz to transform their cultural heritage to make them as one of the significant tourist destinations in Mindanao. Political will made the difference.

Before the Cotta's splendor came into view, as it is today, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr and the city officials had to contend with the households that occupied the reservation area around the fort. Evicting the squatters was a task not done by the past city administration.

It was through Mayor Parojinog's resolve that more than 250 families were persuaded to finally relocate to an 11-hectare site. Each family also received P20,000 as cash assistance, along with lumber and other building materials from the city government.

"The experience of Ozamiz City has encouraged other local government units, especially here in Misamis Occidental, to look into and develop their tourism potentials. We are a historic province of which Ozamiz's Cotta is one of the many places that we should develop," said Gov. Leo Ocampos.

After the Spanish occupation, the Fort became the provincial headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) in Misamis during the American period and the barracks of the Japanese in World War II. In the post-war years, the Cotta was partly destroyed by the 1957 earthquake. Since then, the PC continued to occupy the Cotta such that during Martial Law years, its walls became witness to the alleged human rights violations committed by the Constabulary against those who opposed the government. The locals then refrained from going near the Cotta, because for them it was a garrison.

Now, instead of the Cotta as venue of violence, it became a venue for "Sagayan," the war dance or the showdown of cultural festivities and talents. Instead of gunfire exchange, it had fireworks display.

History has it that the Cotta was built in the 1750s by Fr. Josep Ducos, S.J. and Fr. Juan Nepomoceno Paver. The fort, with four bastions, namely: the Baluarte de San Fernando, Baluarte de San Josep, Baluarte de Santiago and Baluarte de San Ignacio, served as an outpost of the Spaniards against Muslims inhabiting Panguil Bay. The Cotta is described by historians and architects as the living testimony to the artistry, craftsmanship and ingenuity of its builders.

According to legend, the patron saint of the Cotta, the Nuestra Senora del Triunfo (Our Lady of Triumph), a name taken after the flagship of Fr. Ducos, the Triunfo, miraculously guided the Spaniards in their battle against the moors. Known as the Birhen sa Kotta, the patron saint has always been revered by the locals so that pilgrimage to its site, located outside the wall of the fort, is continually drawing thousands of devotees, both the sick and healthy.

"The Cotta now has become, not the fortress against enemies, but a refuge center for culture, history and the arts. Changing what was once a fearful place to what is now a must-see destination for every traveler that passes by Panguil Bay," said Catalino E. Chan III, DOT regional director, during the culmination ceremony of the month-long celebration.