Iligan, officially the City of Iligan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Iligan; fil, Lungsod ng Iligan;
Maranao
The Maranao people (Maranao: mәranaw Filipino: ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranao, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern indigenous people who are the "people of the lake", a predomi ...
: ''Inged a Iligan''), is a 1st class
highly urbanized city
A city ( fil, lungsod/siyudad) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities ( fil, nakakartang lungsod), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own ...
in the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao ( tl, Hilagang Mindanao; ceb, Amihanang Mindanao; Maranao: ''Pangotaraan Mindanao'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region X. It comprises five provinces: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 363,115 people.
It is geographically within the province of
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte ( Cebuano: ''Amihanang Lanao''; tl, Hilagang Lanao; Maranao: ''Pangotaraan Ranao''), officially the Province of Lanao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod.
...
but administered independently from the province. It was once part of
Central Mindanao (Region 12) until the province was moved under Northern Mindanao (Region 10) in 2001. Iligan is approximately 90 kilometers away from the capital of the province,
Tubod, and approximately 800 kilometers from the capital of the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
,
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
.
Iligan has a total land area of , making it one of the 10 largest cities in the Philippines in terms of land area. Among the 33
highly urbanized cities of the Philippines, Iligan is the third-least dense, with a population density of 421 inhabitants per square kilometer, just behind
Butuan
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; fil, Lungsod ng Butuan), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Caraga, Philippines. It is the ''de facto'' c ...
and
Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa, officially the City of Puerto Princesa (Cuyonon: ''Siyudad i'ang Puerto Princesa''; fil, Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Mimaropa region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...
.
Etymology
The name Iligan is from the Higaunon (Lumad/Native of Iligan) word "Ilig" which means "to go downstream". However, some also claim that the name of Iligan was taken and inspired by the Higaunon term "iligan" or "ilijan", which means "fortress of defense", an appropriate term due to frequent attacks incurred by pirates as well as other Mindanao tribes.
History
Pre-Spanish colonial area
Iligan had its beginnings in the village of Bayug, four kilometers north of the present Poblacion. It was the earliest pre-Spanish settlement of native sea dwellers. In the later part of the 16th century, the inhabitants were subdued by the Visayan migrants from the island-nation called the Kedatuan of Dapitan, on
Panglao island
Panglao is an island in the north Bohol Sea, located in the Central Visayas region of the Visayas island group, in the south-central Philippines.
Geography
The island has an area of . It is within Bohol Province, and comprises two municipalit ...
.
In the accounts of Jesuit historian Francisco Combes, the Moluccan Sultan of Ternate invaded
Panglao. This caused the Dapitans to flee in large numbers to a re-established
Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte
Dapitan, officially the City of Dapitan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dapitan; Subanon: ''Gembagel G'benwa Dapitan/Bagbenwa Dapitan cbk, Ciudad de Dapitan''), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According t ...
.
Spanish colonial era
![Camp-overton-iligan-city](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Camp-overton-iligan-city.jpg)
In Dapitan, the surviving Datu of
Panglao Pagbuaya, received
Legazpi's expedition in 1565. Later, Pagbuaya's son Manook was baptized Pedro Manuel Manook. Sometime afterward in by the end of the 16th century after 1565 Manook subdued the ''higaunon'' (animist) village of Bayug and turned it into one of the earliest Christian settlements in the country. Although the settlement survived other raids from other enemies, especially Muslims from Lanao, the early settlers and converts moved their settlement from Bayug to Iligan, which the Augustinian
Recollects
The Recollects (french: Récollets) were a French reform branch of the Friars Minor, a Franciscan order. Denoted by their gray habits and pointed hoods, the Recollects took vows of poverty and devoted their lives to prayer, penance, and spiri ...
founded in 1609, thus establishing the oldest town in northern Mindanao.
The Jesuits replaced the Recollects in 1639. Iligan was the Spaniards' base of operations in attempting to conquer and Christianize the
Lake Lanao area throughout its history. A stone fort called Fort St. Francis Xavier was built in 1642 where Iliganons sought refuge during raids by bandits. But the fort sank due to floods. Another fort was built and this was named Fort Victoria or Cota de Iligan.
In 1850, because of floods, Don Remigio Cabili, then Iligan's gobernadorcillo, built another fort and moved the
poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippine city or municipality, which may take up the ...
of the old Iligan located at the mouth of Tubod River west of the old market to its present site.
Being the oldest town in Northern Mindanao, Iligan was already a part of the once undivided
Misamis Province by the year 1832. However, it did not have an independent religious administration because its diocese by then was based at
Misamis, the provincial capital. It was one of the biggest municipalities of Misamis Province.
The Spaniards abandoned Iligan in 1899, paving the way for the landing of the American forces in 1900.
American era
![Landing Fields - Philippines - Mindanao Island - NARA - 68160802](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Landing_Fields_-_Philippines_-_Mindanao_Island_-_NARA_-_68160802.jpg)
In 1903, the Moro Province was created. Iligan, because of its Moro residents, was taken away from the Misamis Province. Then, Iligan became the capital of the Lanao District and the seat of the government where the American officials lived and held office. Later in 1907, the capital of the Lanao District has transferred to Dansalan.
In 1914, under the restructuring of Moroland after the end of the Moro Province (1903–1913), Iligan became a municipality composed of eight barrios together with the municipal district of Mandulog. After enjoying peace and prosperity for about 40 years, Iligan was invaded by Japanese forces in 1942.
The liberation of Iligan by the Philippine Commonwealth forces attacked by the Japanese held sway in the city until 1944 to 1945 when the war ended. On November 15, 1944, the city held a Commonwealth Day parade to celebrate the end of Japanese atrocities and occupation.
Cityhood
Using the same territorial definition as a municipality, Iligan became a chartered city of Lanao del Norte on June 16, 1950. It was declared a first-class city in 1969 and was reclassified as First Class City "A" on July 1, 1977, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 465. In 1983, Iligan was again reclassified as a highly urbanized city.
Lone district
Republic Act No. 9724, an Act separating the City of Iligan from the
First Legislative District of the Province of Lanao del Nortebr>
was approvedby President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
on October 20, 2009.
Geography
Iligan is bounded on the north by three municipalities of
Misamis Oriental (namely
Lugait
Lugait, officially the Municipality of Lugait ( ceb, Lungsod sa Lugait; tl, Bayan ng Lugait), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 20,559 people.
It ...
,
Manticao
Manticao, officially the Municipality of Manticao ( ceb, Lungsod sa Manticao; tl, Bayan ng Manticao), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,469 peopl ...
and
Opol
Opol, officially the Municipality of Opol ( ceb, Lungsod sa Opol; tl, Bayan ng Opol), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,327 people.
Opol was cre ...
), to the south by three municipalities of Lanao del Norte (
Baloi,
Linamon
Linamon, officially the Municipality of Linamon (Maranao: ''Inged a Linamon''; ceb, Lungsod sa Linamon; tl, Bayan ng Linamon), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a po ...
and
Tagoloan) and two municipalities of
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur ( tl, Timog Lanao; Maranao and ilp, Pagabagatan Ranao), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of ...
(
Kapai
Kapai, officially the Municipality of Kapai (Maranao: ''Inged a Kapai''; tl, Bayan ng Kapai), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 20,581 people.
Geograph ...
and
Tagoloan II), to the north-east by the city of
Cagayan de Oro, to the east by the municipality of
Talakag
Talakag, officially the Municipality of Talakag ( Bukid and Higaonon: Banuwa ta Talakag; ceb, Lungsod sa Talakag; tl, Bayan ng Talakag), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has ...
,
Bukidnon
Bukidnon(), officially the Province of Bukidnon ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Bukidnon; fil, Lalawigan ng Bukidnon; hil, Kapuroan sang Bukidnon; Binukid and Higaonon: ''Probinsya ta Bukidnon''), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the ...
; and to the west by
Iligan Bay
Iligan Bay is a bay in Mindanao Island in the Philippines. The bay is part of the Bohol Sea, and curves into the northern coast of Mindanao Island.
A branch of the bay, Panguil Bay, forms a natural isthmus with Illana Bay and geographic bound ...
.
To the west,
Iligan Bay
Iligan Bay is a bay in Mindanao Island in the Philippines. The bay is part of the Bohol Sea, and curves into the northern coast of Mindanao Island.
A branch of the bay, Panguil Bay, forms a natural isthmus with Illana Bay and geographic bound ...
provides ferry and container ship transportation. East of the city, flat cultivated coastal land gives way to steep volcanic hills and mountains providing the waterfalls and cold springs for which the area is well known.
Climate
Iligan falls within the third type of climate wherein the seasons are not very pronounced. Rain is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. Because of its tropical location, the city does not experience cold weather. Neither does it experience strong weather disturbances due to its geographical location (being outside the typhoon belt) And also because of the mountains that are surrounding the city.
Barangays
![Echiverri Street in Iligan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Echiverri_Street_in_Iligan.JPG)
Iligan is politically subdivided into 44
barangay
A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolitan ...
s.
* Abuno
* Acmac-Mariano Badelles Sr.
* Bagong Silang
* Bonbonon
* Bunawan
* Buru-un
* Dalipuga
* Del Carmen
* Digkilaan
* Ditucalan
* Dulag
* Hinaplanon
* Hindang
* Kabacsanan
* Kalilangan
* Kiwalan
* Lanipao
* Luinab
* Mahayahay
* Mainit
* Mandulog
* Maria Cristina
* Pala-o
* Panoroganan
* Poblacion
* Puga-an
* Rogongon
* San Miguel
* San Roque
* Santa Elena
* Santa Filomena
* Santiago
* Santo Rosario
* Saray
* Suarez
* Tambacan
* Tibanga
* Tipanoy
* Tomas L. Cabili (Tominobo Proper)
* Tominobo Upper
* Tubod
* Ubaldo Laya
* Upper Hinaplanon
* Villa Verde
Demographics
Iliganons are composed of a Cebuano-speaking majority and local minorities, mainly Maranaos, and other cultural minorities and immigrants. It is not only rich in natural resources and industries but it is also the home of a mix of cultures: the Maranaos of Lanao, the
Higaonon
Higaonon is a Manobo language spoken on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is partially (80%) intelligible with Binukid.
Higaonon is spoken in the Butuan River basin of north-central Mindanao, comprising northwestern Agusan del Sur P ...
of Bukidnon, and many settlers and migrants from other parts of the country. It is known for its diverse culture.
Language
Cebuano is the most spoken language in the city, with 92.27% reporting it as their first language. Minor languages include
Maranao
The Maranao people (Maranao: mәranaw Filipino: ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranao, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern indigenous people who are the "people of the lake", a predomi ...
,
Hiligaynon,
Ilocano,
Chavacano
Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speaker ...
, and
Waray. The majority of the population can speak and understand
Tagalog (Filipino) and
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, the official languages of the country. Tagalog (Filipino) and English are taught in the city's schools.
Religion
![2010](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/2010.08.25_St._Michael%27s_Cathedral_II.JPG)
The majority of Iligan citizens are Christians (mainly Roman Catholics). The city is also the center of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Iligan which has 25 parishes in Iligan City and twelve municipalities of Lanao del Norte (Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Sapad, Salvador, and Magsaysay). It covers an area of 3,092 square kilometers with a population of 1,551,000, which 65.5% of the population are Roman Catholics.
Muslims
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...
are the largest minority, comprising 11.48% of the population. They are mainly
Sunnites.
Economy
Industrial
Iligan is known as the Industrial Center of the South and its economy is largely based on heavy industries. It produces hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region through the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), the site of the Mindanao Regional Center (MRC) housing Agus V, VI, and VII hydroelectric plants. Moreover,
Holcim Philippines' largest Mindanao cement plant is located in the city. It also houses industries like steel, tinplate, cement, and flour mills.
After the construction of Maria Cristina (Agus VI) Hydroelectric Plant by
National Power Corporation
The National Power Corporation ( fil, Pambansang Korporasyon sa Elektrisidad, also known as Napocor, NPC or National Power), is a Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation that is mandated to provide electricity to all rural areas o ...
(NPC, NAPOCOR) in 1950, the city experienced rapid industrialization and continued until the late 1980s. The largest steel plant in the country, National Steel Corporation (NSC), was also established in 1962.
During the
1997 Asian financial crisis, the city experienced a severe economic slowdown. A number of industrial plants were closed, notably the National Steel Corporation.
The city saw its economic revival with the reopening of the National Steel Corporation, renamed Global Steelworks Infrastructures, Inc. (GSII) in 2004. In October 2005, GSII officially took a new corporate name: Global Steel Philippines (SPV-AMC), Inc.
Agro-Industry
![Gazpacho's in Iligan City](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Gazpacho%27s_in_Iligan_City.JPG)
Aside from heavy industries, Iligan is also a major exporter and producer of various plants and crops.
Crops:
*Banana Plantations: 12,780.40 hectares
*Coconut Plantations: 11,036.95 hectares
*Corn Plantations: 4,193.86 hectares
*Coffee Production: 969.43 hectares
*Livestock: 28,992 heads
*Poultry: 17,728 heads
Finance
As of the fiscal year 2018, Iligan has a current operating income of ₱2,052.89 million. The income grew by 8% compared to the fiscal year of 2017 in which Iligan's operating income was ₱1,900 million. According to the 2017 Financial Report by the
Commission on Audit, Iligan's total assets amounted to ₱10.27 billion.
Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor
Iligan along with its neighboring city,
Cagayan de Oro, are the two major components for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor, the fastest developing area in
Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao ( tl, Hilagang Mindanao; ceb, Amihanang Mindanao; Maranao: ''Pangotaraan Mindanao'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region X. It comprises five provinces: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, ...
.
Culture
![Macapagal-Macaraeg Heritage House and Historical Marker](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Macapagal-Macaraeg_Heritage_House_and_Historical_Marker.jpg)
Diyandi Festival and Street Dancing is Iligan's month-long cultural celebration held every month of September and concludes on the feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel on September 29. The highlight of the event is Kasadya Street Dancing, a Comedia or ritual dance offered to the patron saint as thanksgiving.
The Kasadya Merry Making and Street Dancing has been renamed Sayaw Saulog in 2014.
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
, the Archangel is widely regarded as the patron saint of the beloved city. The city fiesta in devotion to him is considered one of the Largest Religious Fiesta All over Mindanao and rising being ranked as one of the Pilgrim Festivals in the Major Islands of the country such as Traslacion of the Black Nazarene held in Manila, Peñafracia Festival of Bicol Region in Luzon and the Sinulog Festival in honor of Señor Sto Niño of Cebu in the Visayas. it is held every September 29 the Actual Feastday of the Archangel.
He is locally known by the Spanish version of his name, Señor San Miguel. Devotion to him is common to Christians in Iligan as he is mentioned in all the sacred scriptures in the Bible.
Tourism
![Tinago-falls-1-768x512](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Tinago-falls-1-768x512.jpg)
Iligan is commonly known as the "City of Majestic Waterfalls" because of the numerous waterfalls located within its area. The many waterfalls in the area attract tourists from all over the world with their beauty and power. There are about 24 waterfalls in the city. The most well-known is the
Maria Cristina Falls
Maria Cristina Falls is a waterfall of the Agus River in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines. It is sometimes called the "twin falls" as the flow is separated by a rock at the brink of the waterfall. It is located 9.3 kilometers a ...
. It is also the primary source of electric power of the city, harnessed by the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant.
Other waterfalls in the city are
Tinago Falls
Tinago Falls is a waterfall on the Agus River, located in between the town of Linamon and Iligan City, Lanao del Norte in the northern part of the Philippine island of Mindanao. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Iligan, a city known a ...
, accessible through a 300-step staircase in Barangay Ditucalan. Mimbalut Falls in Barangay Buru-un,
Abaga Falls in Barangay Suarez, and
Dodiongan Falls in Barangay Bonbonon.
Limunsudan Falls in Barangay Rogongon about 50 kilometers from the city proper of Iligan. These are the highest waterfalls in the Philippines, at 265 m (870 feet).
Government
![Iligan city hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Iligan_city_hall.JPG)
Iligan is a highly urbanized city and is politically independent of the province of Lanao del Norte. Registered voters of the city no longer vote for provincial candidates such as the Governor and Vice Governor, unlike its nearby towns that make up the provinces as a result of its charter as a city in the 1950s.
Iligan's seat of government, the city hall, is located at Buhanginan Hills in Barangay Pala-o. The local government structure is composed of one mayor, one vice mayor, and twelve councilors. Each official is elected publicly to a 3-year term and can be re-elected up to 3 terms in succession. The day-to-day administration of the city is handled by the city administrator.
Mayors after People Power Revolution 1986
Vice Mayors after People Power Revolution 1986
Transportation
Seaport
The Port of Iligan is located along the northern central coastal area of Mindanao facing the Iligan Bay with geographical coordinates of approximately .
[PMO Iligan Website](_blank)
Retrieved April 18, 2013, from www.ppa.com.ph
It serves the port users and passengers coming from the hinterlands of the provinces of
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte ( Cebuano: ''Amihanang Lanao''; tl, Hilagang Lanao; Maranao: ''Pangotaraan Ranao''), officially the Province of Lanao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod.
...
,
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur ( tl, Timog Lanao; Maranao and ilp, Pagabagatan Ranao), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of ...
, parts of
Misamis Oriental, and the Cities of Iligan and
Marawi
Marawi, officially the Islamic City of Marawi (Maranao language, Maranao: ''Inged a Marawi''; fil, Islamikong Lungsod ng Marawi), is a 4th class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of th ...
.
Passenger and cargo shipping lines operating in the Port of Iligan serve the cities of
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and capital of the Cebu Province. Acc ...
, and
Ozamiz
Ozamiz, officially the City of Ozamiz ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Ozamiz; fil, Lungsod ng Ozamiz), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 140,334 people.
A ...
.
There are around seven private seaports in Iligan operated by their respective heavy industry companies. These private seaports can be found in Barangays Maria Cristina, Suarez, Tomas L. Cabili, Santa Filomena, and Kiwalan.
Airports
![Laguindingan International Airport main building](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Laguindingan_International_Airport_main_building.JPG)
The main airport is
Laguindingan Airport
Laguindingan Airport, also referred to as Laguindingan International Airport ( ceb, Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Laguindingan, fil, Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Laguindingan; ), is an international airport in Northern Mindanao that serves the citi ...
, located in the municipality of
Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental
Laguindingan, officially the Municipality of Laguindingan ( ceb, Lungsod sa Laguindingan; tl, Bayan ng Laguindingan), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population ...
, which opened on June 15, 2013, the airport replaced Lumbia Airport as the main airport of Misamis Oriental and Northern Mindanao. It has daily commercial flights to and from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga, Tagbilaran, Iloilo, Bacolod, Caticlan, Dumaguete and Clark via
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL), a trade name of PAL Holdings, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange, PSEPAL (Philippine Air Lines until 1970), is the flag carrier airline of the Philippines. Headquartered at the Philippine National Bank, PNB Financial Cen ...
and
Cebu Pacific
Cebu Air, Inc., operating as Cebu Pacific (), is a low-cost airline of the Philippines. Founded in 1988, it is Asia's oldest low-cost airline. It offers scheduled flights to both domestic and international destinations. The airline operates fl ...
.
Maria Cristina Airport
Maria Cristina Airport ( Cebuano: ''Tugpahanan sa Maria Cristina''; Maranao: ''Landing a Maria Cristina'') , also known as Iligan Airport, is an airport serving the general area of Iligan, located in the province of Lanao del Norte in the Philip ...
(Momongan Airport), is located in
Balo-i, Lanao del Norte
Balo-i, officially the Municipality of Baloi (Maranao: ''Inged a Balo-i''; ceb, Lungsod sa Balo-i; tl, Bayan ng Balo-i), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...
, and was the main airport of Iligan in the late 1980s.
Aerolift Philippines
Aerolift or Aerolift Philippines Corporation is a defunct inter-island airline based in the Philippines. It was established in 1982 and was chosen by the government in 1989 as the second flag carrier of the Philippines next to Philippine Airlin ...
, a now-defunct regional airline, ceased its services when its passenger plane crashed into some structures at the end of the runway of the Manila Domestic Airport in 1990 which resulted to its bankruptcy. Thus, it ended its service to Iligan's airport at Balo-i which also resulted in the closure of the airport.
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL), a trade name of PAL Holdings, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange, PSEPAL (Philippine Air Lines until 1970), is the flag carrier airline of the Philippines. Headquartered at the Philippine National Bank, PNB Financial Cen ...
served the city for many years before ending flights in 1998 due to the
Asian financial crisis
The Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East Asia and Southeast Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion. However, the recovery in 1998– ...
.
Bus terminals
![National Route 9 at Iligan City](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/National_Route_9_at_Iligan_City.jpg)
There are two main bus terminals in Iligan.
* The Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal (IBJT), caters trips to and from
Cagayan de Oro and various parts of Misamis Oriental.
* Southbound Bus and Jeepney Terminal caters trips to and from
Dipolog City
Dipolog, officially the City of Dipolog ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dipolog; Subanen: ''Gembagel G'benwa Dipuleg/Bagbenwa Dipuleg''; Chavacano: ''Ciudad de Dipolog''; fil, Lungsod ng Dipolog), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province o ...
,
Pagadian
Pagadian, officially the City of Pagadian ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Pagadian; fil, Lungsod ng Pagadian; Maguindanaon: ''Kuta nu Pagadian'', Jawi: كوتا نو ڤاڬاديان; Iranun: ''Bandar a Pagadian'', بندر ا ڤاڬاديان; Chavacano ...
,
Cotabato City
Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato ( Maguindanaon: ''Kuta nu Kutawatu'', Jawi:
كوتا نو كوتاواتو; Iranun: ''Bandar a Kotawato'', بندر ا كوتاواتو; fil, Lungsod ng Cotabato), is a third class independent c ...
,
Ozamiz City
Ozamiz, officially the City of Ozamiz ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Ozamiz; fil, Lungsod ng Ozamiz), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 140,334 people.
A ...
,
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano and es, Ciudad de Zamboanga, Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Dāira sin Sambuangan'', fil, Lungsod ng Zamboanga, ceb, Dakbayan sa Zamboanga), is a city in the Zamboanga Peninsula region ...
, and various parts of Lanao del Norte and
Marawi
Marawi, officially the Islamic City of Marawi (Maranao language, Maranao: ''Inged a Marawi''; fil, Islamikong Lungsod ng Marawi), is a 4th class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of th ...
.
Rural Transit (RTMI) and
Super 5 Transport are the dominant public bus companies with daily trips from and to Iligan. Passenger vans and jeeps also service various municipalities in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Misamis Oriental.
City transportation
The public modes of transportation within the city are Jeepneys, Taxis, and Pedicabs. "Tartanillas" service main roads in Barangay Pala-o and Barangay Tambacan.
Education
The City of Iligan has one state university and seven private colleges specialized in Engineering and Information Technology, Health Services, Maritime Science, Business and Administration, Primary and Secondary Education, and Arts and Social Sciences.
With a total of 181 schools (106 public; 75 private; 17
madaris) including vocational and technical schools, Iligan has an average literacy rate of 94.71, one of the highest in the whole Philippines.
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
The
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of t ...
(Iligan Tech) is one of the few autonomous external campuses of the
Mindanao State University
Mindanao State University, commonly referred to as MSU Main, is a regional state, coeducational, research higher education institution in the city of Marawi, Philippines. Founded in 1961, it is the flagship and the largest campus of the Mindana ...
(MSU) and "the light-bearer of the several campuses of the MSU System." It is considered one of the best universities in the Philippines with a standing of being within the top ten best universities in the country with excellence in Science and Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Information Technology, and Natural Sciences. The institution has also produced many top-notchers and rankers in multiple board exams.
Colleges
*
St. Michael's College, Iligan City, is known as the oldest school in the Lanao area, founded as a catechetical center way back in 1914 by Fr. Felix Cordova, S.J. It was formally established in 1915 as Escuela de San Miguel in honor of the patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel. Now on its active bid to become the city's first private Catholic university, Saint Michael's College of Iligan currently offers 8 disciplines: Business Administration, Accountancy, Hotel, and Restaurant Management, Engineering and Computer Studies, Nursing, Criminology, Education, Arts and Sciences and the Basic Education. It also offers the
TESDA
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA ; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Edukasyong Teknikal at Pagpapaunlad ng Kasanayan) serves as the Philippines' Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) authority. As a government a ...
Ladderized Courses and the education-related Graduate Studies Program.
*
St. Peter's College, Iligan City, is an engineering, accounting, and business administration school founded in 1952.
* Capitol College of Iligan Inc., more popularly known as Iligan Capitol College (ICC), is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational institution of learning which was established in 1963 by the late Engr. Sesenio S. Rosales and Madame Laureana San Pedro Rosales. It was registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 12, 1964.
[Iligan City Schools](_blank)
, City Development Strategies in the Philippines. In 1997, Iligan Capitol College established Lyceum Foundation of Iligan which is to become its sister college beside Corpus Christi Parish in Tubod, Iligan City.
*
Iligan Medical Center College, is a private and non-sectarian Medicine and Health Services school founded in 1975.
*
Adventist Medical Center College – Iligan, formerly Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital College, is one of the colleges of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is a medical school that focuses on healthcare courses like Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Technology, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, and Radiology.
* The Lyceum of Iligan Foundation, focuses on maritime and engineering courses. It also offers courses on Hotel and Restaurant Management, Nursing, Business Administration, and other allied Health Services.
* Other notable colleges and technical schools are
Iligan Computer Institute (ICI), Santa Monica Institute of Technology (SMIT),
STI College
STI College (formerly known as ''Systems Technology Institute)'' is a for-profit college network in the Philippines. They primarily cater to computer science and information technology education, but also offer other courses, such as business ...
, Picardal Institute of Technology (PISTEch), Saint Lawrence Institute of Technology, Masters Technological Institute of Mindanao, and ICTI Polytechnic College Inc. (formerly Iligan City Technical Institute (ICTI)).
Basic education
* Iligan City National High School, the largest high school campus in Iligan.
*
Lanao Chung Hua School
Lanao Chung Hua School is the first and only existing Chinese school in Iligan
Iligan, officially the City of Iligan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Iligan; fil, Lungsod ng Iligan; Maranao: ''Inged a Iligan''), is a 1st class highly urbanized city ...
, the first and only Chinese school in Iligan which was founded on November 12, 1938.
*
La Salle Academy
}
La Salle Academy is an American private, Catholic all-boys' high school in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York.
The school is run by the Eastern North American District of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. ...
is a Lasallian school. It is the first of the third generation of La Salle schools founded by the De La Salle Brothers in the country.
* Corpus Christi Parochial School of Iligan
*
Iligan City East National High School, formerly known as Regional Science High School for Region XII but was then transferred to Cagayan de Oro and was changed into Iligan City East National High School. The School was founded in February 1986. Specializes in research, sciences, mathematics, technology education, and others.
Integrated Developmental School founded as Iligan High School, was established in 1946. On July 12, 1968, the school was annexed to Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology under R.A. No. 5363.
*Del Carmen Integrated School
Notable personalities
![Arroyo with Xi and Sotto (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Arroyo_with_Xi_and_Sotto_%28cropped%29.jpg)
*
Tomas Cabili
Tomás Lluisma Cabili (March 7, 1903 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino lawyer, journalist, educator, and assemblyman from Lanao. He was also known as "Sultan Dimasangkay-ko-Ranao" for Maranaos.
Early life
He was born in Iligan, Misamis on ...
–
Former Senator (1946-1957), former Secretary of National Defense (1945) and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
veteran; died in a plane crash with President
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay Sr. (August 31, 1907 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino statesman who served as the seventh president of the Philippines, from December 30, 1953, until his death in an aircraft disaster on March 17, 1957. An automo ...
at
Mount Manunggal
Mount Manunggal is the third-highest peak in the island of Cebu after Osmena Peak and Lugsangan Peak. It is located in Barangay Magsaysay in Balamban, Cebu province, rising above sea level. It is the site of the crash of the presidential plane ...
in
Balamban,
Cebu
Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 16 ...
*
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
–
14th President of the Philippines
The president of the Philippines ( fil, Pangulo ng Pilipinas, sometimes referred to as ''Presidente ng Pilipinas'') is the head of state, head of government and chief executive of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of t ...
*
Cyrus Baguio
Cyrus Marata Baguio (born August 19, 1980) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He also formerly played in the Philippine Basketball Associati ...
– professional basketball player in the
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...
(2003–present)
*
Riego Gamalinda
Riego Meinardo Villa Gamalinda (born May 25, 1986 in Iligan City) is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 11th overall in 2010 by th ...
– professional basketball player in the
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...
(2010–present)
*
Nikki Bacolod
Nikki Bacólod (born Monique Echieverri Bacólod on August 18, 1989), is a Filipina singer, television host, swimmer and actress. She is best known for placing as first runner up in the 2005 season of ABS-CBN's Search for the Star in a Million ...
– 1st runner-up of
ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...
's ''
Search for a Star in a Million'' Season 1, Recording Artist of
Viva Records
Viva may refer to:
Companies and organisations
* Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator
* Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia
* Viva Air Dominicana
* VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company
* ...
,
QTV 11's ''
Posh
Posh is an informal adjective for "upper class". It may also refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Posh'' (album), a 1980 album by Patrice Rushen
*" Posh!", a 1968 song from the musical ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang''
* ''Posh'' (2006 TV series), a 2006 Philip ...
'' main cast member
*
Shamcey Supsup
Shamcey Gurrea Supsup-Lee (; born May 16, 1986) is a Filipino architect, beauty pageant titleholder and pageant director. She was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2011. She represented her country at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in ...
–
Miss Universe Philippines 2011, 3rd runner-up
Miss Universe 2011
Miss Universe 2011 was the 60th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.
At the end of the event, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico crowned Leila Lopes of Angola as Miss Universe 2011. It is the f ...
and current national director of
Miss Universe Philippines
Miss Universe Philippines is a beauty pageant and organization that selects the Philippines' official representative to the Miss Universe pageant.
The reigning Miss Universe Philippines is Celeste Cortesi of Pasay who was crowned on April ...
*
Kath Arado
Kathleen Faith Pepito Arado (born May 22, 1998) is a Filipino volleyball athlete. She was a member of the UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP. She was named the UAAP Season 77 Rookie of the Year alongside Ennajie Laure. She also bagged the Best Lib ...
– player for the
UE Lady Warriors Volleyball Team in the
UAAP
*
Junix Inocian
Junix Inocian (born Rufino Duran Inocian, Jr.; March 17, 1951 – June 13, 2015) was a Filipino actor and comedian. He starred in various plays, such as ''Miss Saigon'', '' Fiddler on the Roof'', the film version of the Swedish crime novel ''Tatue ...
– international theatre, TV, and film actor and comedian, best known as "Kuya Mario" of ''
Batibot
''Batibot'' is a Philippine television educational show produced by the Philippine Children's Television Foundation (PCTF). It debuted in 1984 as the replacement of ''Sesame'', a co-production of PCTV and the Children's Television Workshop (CTW ...
''
*
Jeson Patrombon
Jeson Patrombon (born March 27, 1993) is a Filipino tennis player.
On the junior tour, Patrombon had a career high junior ranking of 9 achieved in January 2011. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 Australian Open boys' singles event.
Pa ...
– international tennis player
*
Sheila Surban – international singer-songwriter
*
Pia Wurtzbach
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach ( ; ; born September 24, 1989), formerly known professionally as Pia Romero, is a Filipino model, actress and beauty queen who is known for being crowned Miss Universe 2015.
She joined Binibining Pilipinas pageant thre ...
–
Miss Universe 2015
Miss Universe 2015 was the 64th Miss Universe pageant, held at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on December 20, 2015. This was the first edition of the pageant to be held under the ownership of WME/IMG, whic ...
; briefly resided in Iligan as a child with her maternal grandparents before moving to Cagayan de Oro
Sister cities
Local
*
Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental
*
General Santos, South Cotabato
*
Makati
Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines.
Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...
, Metro Manila
*
Dipolog
Dipolog, officially the City of Dipolog ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dipolog; Subanen: ''Gembagel G'benwa Dipuleg/Bagbenwa Dipuleg''; Chavacano: ''Ciudad de Dipolog''; fil, Lungsod ng Dipolog), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province ...
, Zamboanga del Norte
*
Ozamiz
Ozamiz, officially the City of Ozamiz ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Ozamiz; fil, Lungsod ng Ozamiz), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 140,334 people.
A ...
, Misamis Occidental
*
Butuan
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; fil, Lungsod ng Butuan), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Caraga, Philippines. It is the ''de facto'' c ...
, Agusan del Norte
*
Tagbilaran
Tagbilaran, officially the City of Tagbilaran ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Tagbilaran), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 104,976 people.
Encompassing a la ...
, Bohol
See also
*
List of cities in the Philippines
This is a list of chartered cities in the Philippines. Philippine cities are classified into three groups: highly urbanized cities (), independent component cities (), and component cities ().
Classes
''Highly urbanized cities'' are local gove ...
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Iligan
*
Iligan Crusaders
*
Iligan Steel Mill
The Iligan Steel Mill was a steelworks in Iligan, Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, R ...
*
Mount Agad-Agad
Mount Agad-Agad is a mountain located in Iligan City in the Philippines which has an estimated height above sea level.
Mount Agad-Agad is very accessible and is good for mountain hiking and overnight camping. It affords a full view of Iligan C ...
*
Timoga Spring
References
External links
*
Iligan Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index*
Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>
Philippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control
Cities in Northern Mindanao
Populated places in Lanao del Norte
Highly urbanized cities in the Philippines
Port cities and towns in the Philippines
Populated places established in 1832
1832 establishments in the Philippines
Former provincial capitals of the Philippines
Spa towns in the Philippines