A Brief History of CDO

The area of present Cagayan de Oro has been occupied by indigenous people for approximately 41,114 years. The first inhabitants were the Higaunons, and later on, the Visayan groups.
Two thousand years ago, there were already ancient Kagayanons living around the vicinity of the Huluga Caves. There were also ancient tools used by the ancient Kagayanons. When the Arab missionaries came, Kalambaguhan (or present Cagayan de Oro) was part of the sultanate of Tagoloan. Kalambaguhan was a small settlement of Bukidnons who lived along the riverbanks of Kalambaguhan River.

During this time, Sultan Kudarat would raid these places. Datu Salangsang, their leader, led the Bukidnons to transfer to the hills of Huluga. In 1622, Fray Agustin de San Pedro went to see Datu Salangsang and to transfer to present day Gaston Park. The raids of the Maguindanao warriors were repulsed by Fray Agustin de San Pedro.

Mindanao was divided into two districts. Cagayan de Misamis (or present Cagayan de Oro) became the capital of the district. Pope Pius XII created the first Catholic Archdiocese in Mindanao, which elevated the Diocese of Cagayan. During the American Occupation, revolutionaries fought with the Americans. However, the Americans gained victory. During the Japanese Invasion in 1942, many houses were burned. In 1945, Cagayan was liberated (Taken over) by the Americans.

It was from this settlement that the present Cagayan de Oro originated. In 1845, a stone church was built on the site, which later became the present San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral. The Church was destroyed during the American liberation in 1945. Later on, the church was reconstructed through the efforts of Archbishop James T.G. Hayes, Cagayan de Oro's first Archbishop.

Through the efforts of Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez, the town of Cagayan de Misamis became a city on June 15, 1950 and its name changed to Cagayan de Oro. Since then, Cagayan de Oro became one of the peaceful and progressive cities in the whole archipelago.