From October 5 to November 6, the city government of Ormoc scheduled a calendar of activities for locals to celebrate the city’s 76th Charter Anniversary, also known as Adlaw sa Ormoc.
The festivities, to be held in various locations across the city, began with the celebration of World Teachers’ Day at the Superdome and will culminate with a concert and fireworks display at the city plaza on the 20th. However, Ormoc residents will still have more to look forward to after the culmination of the 76th Charter Anniversary as more events occur until November 6.
Looking back on history
Ormoc was used during the Spanish occupation and the migration of the neighboring towns to settle in the more fertile plains of Ormoc. Many of the settlers were Malayans, who constantly traded with the Chinese, Javans, and Indonesians.
During the Spanish period, Jesuit missionaries arrived in Leyte. In May 1507, the missionaries established a mission in Ormoc. Locals converted to Christianity that same year.
Eventually, Ormoc made its mark on Philippine history. It became a hotbed of revolutionaries seeking independence from Spanish rule during the Spanish Revolution. The revolutionary leader Faustino Alben inspired locals to join the Pulahan Movement.
After the Japanese Occupation and the rule of the Second Philippine Republic, Ormoc was a garrison of small divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army. With the Allies near the City, Japan began reinforcing the city and starting the Battle of Ormoc Bay. The city was liberated afterward.
Ormoc became a city under Republic Act No. 179 on October 20, 1947, becoming the fifteenth city in the Philippines and the first in the Eastern Visayas region.
Despite the natural calamities and other challenges that swept the city, Ormoc remained steadfast and continued progressing into modern society.
In 2022, Ormoc held its Diamond Jubilee Celebration, which earned praise from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) for its exemplary hosting.