(Source)

La Castilla was christened by the lady of the House, Mrs. Pelaez. Its grounds used to be part of a six-hectare property belonging to the Pelaez family; originally planned to corn and coconut along what was once a two-lane dirt country road that was known as Kauswagan Road. This thorough fare provided the only access to Kauswagan and the fishing community of Bonbon. In 1976, with the construction of the Marcos Bridge, part of the property was expropriated by the government to give way to the inexorable march of progress. Today, an abbreviated portion of the original grounds of La Castilla is all that remains of its landscaped gardens.

In 1968, six years after Atty. Pelaez transferred the campus of Liceo de Cagayan from its original site fronting Gaston Park across the St. Augustine Cathedral in downtown Cagayan de Oro to its present location at the junction of Patag and Kauswagan Roads (now Rodolfo N. Pelaez Blvd.), La Castilla also served as a guest house- until the magnitude six earthquake that shook Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro included, in July 1976 which precipitated the Founders’ decision to take up residence in La Castilla from the third floor of what has always been their residence in Rizal Street in the Poblacion. La Castilla then served as their home until the demise of Atty. Pelaez on August 10, 1980. (Source)

La Castilla was the summer residence of Atty. Rodolfo N. Pelaez and his wife Elsa Pelaez- Pelaez, and of vignettes in their lives that revolved around it.

For a tour at the museum, you can arrange with the curator Mr. Emmanuel Echem.

[table id=138 /]

Save

(Source)

In August 1967, Fr. Francisco R. Demetrio, S.J. started and founded the Xavier Folklife Museum, initially as an audiovisual aid in teaching Cultural Anthropology and Folklore, which eventually evolved into what is known today as Museo de Oro.

The newly renovated Museo de Oro Building Completed in September 2014, now exhibits the two most important sections: the Ethnohistory of Northern Mindanao and the Ethnology of Mindanao.

Entrance fees: PhP50.00 for adults and PhP20.00 for students.

They are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, while on Saturday they are open only in the morning.

[table id=136 /]

Save

Save

Save

(Source)

Built from 1921-1922, it originally served as a reservoir for water coming from Malasag Hills. It is now considered the city’s oldest known surviving public structure. It was renovated and improved into a museum in 2008.

All 3 floors mostly contain old photographs of famous Cagayanons with historical significance or with big contributions to the city, historical events and lifestyle events. You can only have your picture taken on the ground floor. There is an entrance fee of PhP20.00.

The City Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though it is closed on weekends and holidays. (Source)

[table id=135 /]

(Source)

Named after a pre-war Municipal Mayor of Cagayan de Oro, Segundo Gaston, the park is located near the St. Augustine Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. Gaston Park was the main plaza of Cagayan de Misamis  during  the  Spanish  colonial period. It served as the training ground of local patriots during the Philippine-American War. Later it became the site of the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis on April 7, 1900. A National Historical Institute marker was placed in the park  in 2000.

On one side of the park, the one near San Agustin Cathedral, a marker was erected in memory of Kagay-anons who lost their lives when Typhoon Sendong heaped its fury on the city back in December of 2011.

Another marker that you will find at Gaston Park is the Siete de Abril marker, which is a summarized account of the events that took place during the Labanan sa Cagayan de Misamis. (Source)

[table id=134 /]

Save

The Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village and natural reserve is owned and managed by the city government, it features a vast land filled with botanical gardens, diverse wildlife endemic to the mountains of Malasag, and other recreational amenities and accommodations. The Eco-tourism Village was established in order to teach and promote awareness about the lives and rich culture of the ethnic groups residing in Northern Mindanao. The Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village also shares the natural forest reserve of the Mapawa Nature Park, which is just a few kilometers from the village.

[table id=132 /]