Mambajao

Mambajao, officially the Municipality of Mambajao, is a local government municipality in the province of Camiguin, Philippines. It functions as the province's administrative capital and is its most populous municipality. The town is located on Camiguin Island, a volcanic island in Northern Mindanao, and serves as an important center for public administration, commerce, education, transport, tourism activity, and provincial events. The name Mambajao is associated with the Visayan word “mambahaw,” an archaic form of “mamahaw,” meaning to eat breakfast. The expression is linked to “bahaw,” or leftover rice from the previous evening. This etymology reflects the area's Visayan linguistic and cultural heritage. Mambajao was separated from the municipality of Catarman on January 4, 1855, and was formally proclaimed a town on July 6 of the same year. Father Valero Salvo served as its first parish priest. During the nineteenth century, abaca was the town's principal commercial crop, while coffee and cacao were produced mainly for local consumption. The settlement also developed a relatively diverse population, including Camigueños and Boholanos as well as Spaniards, Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Leyteños, Samareños, and Ilocanos. Mambajao's development was strongly affected by volcanic and seismic events. Earth tremors were recorded in 1864 in connection with activity near an undersea volcano off Catarman. The eruption that began on May 1, 1871, devastated Catarman and prompted most of that town's inhabitants to relocate to Mambajao. In January 1872, Barrio Agojo was transferred from Guinsiliban to Mambajao. The town also experienced recurring fires between 1865 and 1881, reportedly associated with attempts to burn the settlement. Administrative changes during the American period expanded Mambajao's jurisdiction. Act No. 951, issued by the Philippine Commission on October 21, 1903, consolidated municipalities in the then-undivided province of Misamis; under that reorganization, Catarman, Sagay, and Mahinog became part of Mambajao. Japanese forces landed in Mambajao in 1942 during the Second World War. More recently, the municipality's old municipal hall was destroyed by a fire on November 19, 2018, after flames spread to its second floor. Mambajao is divided into 16 barangays. Its civic and tourism infrastructure includes the Camiguin Sports Complex, also known as the Cong. Pedro Palarca-Romualdo Tourism and Sports Complex. The complex has hosted regional athletic competitions and activities associated with the Lanzones Festival, a major cultural and tourism event in Camiguin. The main campus of Camiguin Polytechnic State College is also located in the municipality. According to the 2024 census figure cited by the municipality's Wikipedia reference material, Mambajao had 41,094 residents, making it the most populous town in Camiguin. As a municipality rather than a commercial brand, Mambajao does not have conventional consumer products, corporate ownership, stock-market listing, or brand-management executives. Its public identity is instead expressed through municipal administration, local services, heritage, agricultural activity, education, sports, and tourism.

Mambajao is a municipality and the capital of Camiguin Province in the Philippines. Its name is derived from the Visayan term “mambahaw,” an older form of “mamahaw,” meaning to eat breakfast. The term is connected with “bahaw,” referring to leftover rice from the previous night. The settlement became a separate municipality when it was detached from Catarman on January 4, 1855. It was proclaimed a town on July 6 of that year, with Father Valero Salvo identified as its first parish priest. Nineteenth-century Mambajao relied principally on abaca cultivation. Coffee and cacao were also grown, although the reference material indicates that these crops were largely intended for local consumption rather than broad external trade. The town's history was shaped by natural hazards and population movement. Earth tremors were felt in July 1864 amid volcanic activity near Catarman. On May 1, 1871, an eruption devastated Catarman, leading most of Catarman's inhabitants to move to Mambajao. This migration contributed to Mambajao's growth and importance within Camiguin. In January 1872, Barrio Agojo was transferred from Guinsiliban to Mambajao. The town also experienced a series of fires from April 1865 through 1881, reportedly caused by people attempting to burn parts of the settlement. By the 1880s, Mambajao had a comparatively cosmopolitan population. Alongside Camigueños and Boholanos were Spaniards, Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Leyteños, Samareños, Ilocanos, and others. This diversity reflected the town's expanding administrative and economic role within the island. During the American colonial period, the Philippine Commission reorganized local government in the province. Act No. 951, issued on October 21, 1903, reduced the number of municipalities in the then-undivided province of Misamis. As part of that restructuring, Catarman, Sagay, and Mahinog were incorporated into Mambajao. The municipality was also a site of wartime activity: Japanese forces landed there in 1942 during the Second World War. In the contemporary period, Mambajao has remained the administrative center of Camiguin. It is divided into 16 barangays and contains important provincial institutions and facilities. The Camiguin Sports Complex, also called the Cong. Pedro Palarca-Romualdo Tourism and Sports Complex, has hosted the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Meet and Lanzones Festival events. Camiguin Polytechnic State College's main campus is located in the municipality, reinforcing its role as an educational center. A major civic setback occurred on November 19, 2018, when fire destroyed the old municipal hall after the blaze spread to its second floor. Despite such disruptions, Mambajao continues to serve as Camiguin's principal center for local government, public services, tourism coordination, education, sports, and commerce. The 2024 census figure cited in the reference material places its population at 41,094, making it the province's most populous municipality.

• 2024

  Population reported at 41,094

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  The cited 2024 census population was 41,094, making Mambajao the most populous municipality in Camiguin.

• 2018

  Old municipal hall destroyed by fire

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  Fire destroyed the old municipal hall on November 19, 2018, after spreading to the second floor.

• 1942

  Japanese forces land in Mambajao

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  Japanese forces landed in the municipality during the Second World War.

• 1903

  Municipal reorganization under Act No. 951

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  An administrative reorganization placed Catarman, Sagay, and Mahinog under Mambajao.

• 1872

  Agojo transferred to Mambajao

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  Barrio Agojo was transferred from Guinsiliban to Mambajao in January 1872.

• 1871

  Catarman eruption drives migration to Mambajao

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  The May 1 eruption that devastated Catarman led most of Catarman's inhabitants to relocate to Mambajao.

• 1855

  Mambajao separated from Catarman

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  Mambajao became separate from Catarman on January 4, 1855.

• 1855

  Mambajao proclaimed a town

  [1]Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org

  The settlement was formally proclaimed a town on July 6, 1855, with Father Valero Salvo serving as its first parish priest.

Mambajao is positioned as the administrative, population, education, sports, and tourism center of Camiguin Province. Its civic identity combines municipal governance with volcanic-island heritage, agricultural traditions, cultural festivals, and access to provincial institutions.

• Lanzones Festival activities

  Camiguin · Philippines

  Mambajao hosts activities associated with the Lanzones Festival, a cultural and tourism event connected with Camiguin's agricultural and local heritage.

  Outcome. The municipality's sports complex serves as a venue for Lanzones Festival events, supporting the town's role as a provincial tourism and events center.

  Source

1. 1Mambajaoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official website of the Municipality of Mambajaomambajao-cam.gov.ph