Things You Will Adapt When You Move to CDO

Philippines is a multi-cultural country. One region adapts certain traits and culture that are different from the other region. So whenever you move from one region to another, you will certainly distinguish the differences. One obvious difference is the dialect/language each region is using. From Tagalog, Cebuano, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog, Maranao, Manobo, Surigaonon, Waray-waray and a lot more dialects around the country, I just mentioned few popularly known to me.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Cebuano is the primary language spoken by the majority, there are some Hiligaynon, but as the Maranao came to the city there are also a growing number of Maranao speaking individuals in the city. So when you move to CDO, these are the uniquely Cagay-anon things you will adapt:

Chada/Tsada/Chuy – Other people will laugh when they heard someone says “Chada kayo bai!”, Chuy kaayo, ngeee!” But when you move to CDO this Chada/chuy word will be your everyday word when you see something nice, beautiful, and awesome. Example: Watching the fireworks and you were awe in amazement and you said “Wow! Chadaha oi!” or “Chuy kaayo bai!” or “Grabe ka chuy!”.

Lugar lang! – When you commute a public transportation going somewhere around the city and wanted to stop, “Para lang” is so rare here, you will say “LUGAR LANG” and the jeepney driver won’t hesitate to step on the break pedal! Hahaha… yes, most jeepney drivers here in CDO don’t know what or where the Jeepney stops are, they don’t even know how to read traffic signs (Well, not all but majority of them). I don’t even know how they got their driver’s license at the LTO – Land Transportation Office.

Traffic Jam – Well, anywhere around the world, traffic jam is always the main problem within the city but when you move to CDO, you will get used to traffic not because of the large number of vehicles on the road but because of some jeepneys waiting for passengers on the corner congesting the traffic flow, jeepney drivers don’t mind that there are already a long line of traffic behind them, because they wanted to make their trip fully loaded first before they go to the next corner thus making every vehicle along the road run a slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. So when commuting a jeepney in CDO, expect to arrive 30 minutes or worst an hour to your 4-kilometer destination instead of a 10-15 minutes commute. Just don’t get confused about someone said they wanted to stop at “Agfa” and found out there’s no Agfa establishment in the area. That’s the famous jeepney stop in the city, next are Trendline in Cogon and KSY in Carmen, take note of those famous jeepney stops, you will surely use them sooner or later when you move to CDO.

Motorela – Aside from a jeepney, which is very common around the Philippines, Motorela is something a Cagayan de Oro’s unique transportation vehicle. It may be available in some cities but Motorela is known to have been originated in CDO and it is one of the main transportation in the city next to a Jeepney.

From Wikipidea: The Motorela, locally nicknamed as "the mini jeepney", is a variant of a motorized tricycle used in Northern Mindanao, particularly in Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon province. The motorela has 4 wheels, the two wheels of the motorcyle plus a 2-wheel sidecar attached to the back. It has the capacity to carry more passengers than the traditional tricycle. Motorela was invented by Raphael Floirendo, a mechanic from Cagayan de Oro, in 1964. Motorela comes from the words “motorized” and “caritela”.

Look for a Kasama Tsui Motorela and you will see a bunch of them running around the city.

Altis/Vios Taxi – Some cities are now having their nice Toyota Altis/Vios taxis, but few years ago, visitors in CDO are surprised to have found out that their car service in their hometown are just a Taxi units here in the city. Yes, CDO started using Toyota Altis as taxi cab units in the City thus making it the most luxurious taxi in the region/country. Commuters here are choosy when they hail taxis, they wanted a Toyota Altis or Vios taxi to bring them to their destinations.

Proven – its not about to demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument, but it is a local delicacy here that are being sold on the streets for 5 pesos per stick. It is the first part of a chicken’s stomach (Proventriculus), where the digestive enzymes are mixed with food before it goes to the gizzard. Mixed with flour and some secret ingredients (Maybe a little bit of Magic Sarap) and deep fried it into a boiling oil, stick it into a barbeque stick and dip it with a hot sauce, partnered with Puso or rice and your lunch or dinner is complete. This is a favorite of mostly students and some budget conscious individuals. You can see a lot of the vendors along Pabayo Street and near the schools and universities in the city.

Pastel – Pastel originated in Camiguin but being Cagayan de Oro as the nearest City in the region, it is now adopted as the Cagayan de Oro Delicacy, it is the favorite pasalubong by the tourists when they come to CDO and bring it back to their home town. You too will love the goodness and flavorful bun with fillings we called pastel in Camiguin.

Divisoria – It is not like the Divisoria in Manila where a lot of stores/vendors from clothes to kitchen wares has been sold, but the Divisoria here in CDO is a City Center, a business center where all sorts of businesses and establishments are located, including of course some stores and vendors of okay2x, DVD, fruit stand and a lot more. The center of Divisoria is called Plaza Divisoria (Golden Friendship Park) – (Wiki) it was built around 1900's as a town divider after a great fire that almost burned down the entire city. The park is dedicated to local and national heroes like former President Ramon Magsaysay, Andrés Bonifacio, Dr. José Rizal, and former Mayor Justiniano R. Borja. Most of the Kagay-anons soldiers who died during the Philippine-American War are buried beneath the monument and has survived the ravages of time including World War II.

Cagayan de Oro City Airport - If you are a frequent flyer, the Cagayan Domestic Airport is actually not located in Cagayan de Oro City, so don’t be confused if the flight stewardess will say that “We are about to land Cagayan de Oro Airport” or “Sa ilang minuto na lamang tayo ay lalapag na sa paliparan ng Cagayan de Oro, mangyari po lamang na ituwid ang lahat na mga upuan at ikabit ang inyong sinturong pangkaligtasan.” and found out you are 46 kilometers away from Cagayan de Oro City. They adopted it as Cagayan de Oro’s airport since it opened June of 2013 as a replacement of the original airport in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, the Lumbia Airport is now serves as a military air base for the Philippine Air Force. But I think some airlines are now using the Laguindingan Airport or Paliparan ng Laguindingan instead of Cagayan de Oro Airport or Paliparan ng Cagayan de Oro. Just a reminder to everyone, I would prefer riding the Shuttle available at the airport, it is a lot cheaper transportation to CDO than riding a taxi to and from the airport.

Kinilaw/Sinuglaw – If you enjoy your raw fish we called kinilaw in your area, wait until your have tasted the Kagay-anon’s Kinilaw. There’s something unique with Kinilaw in Cagayan de Oro, it is because of the not so secret ingredient we added in it. We called it Tabon-tabon. Well, you have to try it for you to know how delectable the CDO’s Kinilaw, almost every restaurant here offers Kinilaw or Sinuglaw so don’t forget to order it when you dine at any resto here in CDO.

Corrales Street - is the nightlife center of the city. After the bombing incident in Limketkai Rosario Arcade few years ago, the city nightlife halt for a while and then kick back again and is now booming along Corrales Street. So, when you are a party animal just remember Corrales Street and the Taxi driver or Motorela driver will drop you off on the most lively street in CDO during the night.

White Water Rafting - If you are into adventures such as water rafting, you will surely be used to Cagayan de Oro as the Rafting Capital of the Philippines. White water rafting adventure is the main tourist spot in the region attracting a lot  of tourists every year.

Those are just few of the things you will adapt that are truly Cagay-anons. But there are a lot more. If you know some of the things that somebody will adapt when they move to CDO, please comment below so I can add them here.

Tsada Cagayan!