El Salvador, officially the City of El Salvador, is a 6th class component city in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 58,771 people. The city serves as a pilgrimage site for Divine Mercy devotees. It is also known by its former name Tagnipa, which residents still refer to up to this day.

History

During Spanish colonial era, a soldier named Alejandro Acusar sailed with his family from Bohol to the area what is now El Salvador to seek a new life. From a distance while sailing, they sighted a place and decided to dock. They found a place to have abundant nipa huts, in which they named it Taganipa, Tagnipa or Taguipa. Acusar and his small family had then established themselves through farming and fishing. A wave of migrants from Bohol later followed as well as settlers from Luzon, other parts of Visayas and neighboring areas surrounding Taganipa settled in the area following years later, establishing themselves as farmers and fisherfolks. El Salvador was created from the barrios of El Salvador and Molugan with their sitios known as Sala, Sambulawan, Sinaloc, Lagtang, Talaba, Kalabaylabay and Hinigdaan, formerly part of Cagayan de Misamis, Misamis Oriental, in 1948.

Etymology

The municipality's name means "the savior" in Spanish, pertaining that Taganipa provided crops of corn and vegetables to the neighboring places struck by famine at some point in the municipality's history. Soon these places were saved by famine through continuous agricultural support from Taganipa, resulting to be renamed as El Salvador to people's approval.

Cityhood

On June 27, 2007, the municipality of El Salvador becomes a city in the province of Misamis Oriental after ratification of Republic Act 9435. The Supreme Court declared the cityhood law of El Salvador and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of El Salvador and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing El Salvador and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, El Salvador becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements. After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of El Salvador and 15 other cities.

Geography

El Salvador is located in the Province of Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao (Region X). It is bordered by the Municipality of Alubijid to the west, Opol to the east and Manticao and Naawan to the south. On the north, lies Macajalar Bay of the Bohol Sea.

Barangays

El Salvador is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios. One forms the center of the city (poblacion) whereas the other 14 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the city.

Climate

Demographics

Ethnicities and Religion

Local inhabitants of El Salvador, known as Salvadoreños/Salvadoreñas (also spelled Salbadorenyos/Salbadorenyas) or Tagnipan-ons, consists of Visayans who are the descendants of Christian migrants mostly from Bohol and Cebu; the indigenous Higaonons who first settled in the area; and the descendants of other Christian settlers from Ilocandia, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Mindoro, Bicolandia in Luzon and Panay and Negros Occidental in Visayas. Majority of Tagnipan-ons are Roman Catholic Christians, represented by about 85%, including charismatics. The rest belongs to other Christian denominations such as Evangelical churches, Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventist church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan church), Members Church of God International/Ang Dating Daan (MCGI, ADD), Iglesia ni Cristo, Pentecostal church and Presbyterian church.

Language

Cebuano is the main language of El Salvador spoken by the majority, though Higaonon is the native language spoken by eponymous Higaonons who are indigenous inhabitants of El Salvador and the rest of Misamis Oriental. The city has also sizeable speakers of Bohol dialect of Cebuano. Tagalog/Filipino and English are also spoken and used for business, government affairs and in local academe. Other languages spoken in El Salvador are Subanon, Hiligaynon, Ilocano and Kapampangan.

Economy

El Salvador hosts several companies, plants and factories west of Misamis Oriental. These are Asia Brewery, Tanduay Rhum, Virgin Cola Bottling Plant (Visayas and Mindanao region distributor), Highland Fresh Daily Products, Monark Equipment, Zest-O, WL Foods Corporation and Universal Robina Corporation. With regards to financial institutions, Rural Bank of El Salvador and lending institutions such as FICCO, Oro Coop, M Lhuillier and others are accessible at office hours in this place.

Attractions

Culture

Feast day: Charter day: June 27

Infrastructure

Transportation

El Salvador city can be reached via plane through Laguindingan Airport, then about less than 10 minutes bus ride east. Like any other place the national highway snakes through it. Visitors and locals can go around the city by just hailing a "sikad-sikad" or motorboat, "jeepneys" or motorcycles to the outlying barangays.

Communication

PLDT and MISORTEL are among the major phone lines, also transmitters or "cell sites" for all major "telecom" providers like Globe, Smart and Dito are serviceable in this city. Internet access is also available. Internet cafes can be found in various places in within the city. Broadband service is also available.