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MAMBAJAO
Mambajao is the capital of the province of Camiguin. The land area of this municipality is 89 square kilometers which is 37.4 percent of the total land area of Camiguin and it is also the biggest among Camiguin's five municipalities. It is a busy little town from early morning to night and is the place where you will find most of what you will need when in Camiguin. The town was established in 1855 and grew quickly to be the busiest part of northern Mindanao in the early 1900s.
Banking services in Mambajao are provided by the following 6 banks: Philippine National Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Camiguin Cooperative Rural Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Mambajao Community Rural Bank, and the Philippine Intercity Rural Bank. Mambajao's communication needs are provided by the Camiguin Telephone Company, LBC, RCPI, PT&T, SSB Radio Facilities, and the government owned Mambajao Post Office. About 50 percent of establishments engaged in wholesale, retail trade, and services in Camiguin that are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are found in Mambajao. Among the most frequented stores and commercial establishments are: V. Salcedo Department Store, Dychauco Commercial Center, Labial Store, Pasalubong Center, VJANDEP Paster and Pastries, La Salud Turrones De Mani, Maestrado's Pure Cocoa Tablea, and Soling's Pinato. Available at the Mambajao Public Market are a variety and abundance of seafood, poultry, and meat products. Popular dining establishments in Mambajao include Casa Grande Cafe, Arce's Kitchenette, Parola Canteen, Paradiso Restaurant, Viola Refreshments, and the Camiguin Island Grille. The concentration of these establishments has made Mambajao the center of business activities in the island.
An east-bound "Motorela" Fully loaded with passengers "Habal-habals" for hire It is also at Mambajao where you will find land transportation to almost about anywhere there are accessible roads in the island. There are, however, no rental cars and taxicabs and the most common forms of public transportation available are jeepneys, motorelas, and motorcyles. Jeepneys are jeeps similar to those used by the United States Army during the 2nd World War which have been converted to accommodate as much as 18 passengers. This is a typical form of public transportation found not only in Metro Manila but in almost all the provinces in the Philippines. The motorela is a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a motorcycle which normally takes in about 8 passengers. Motorcyles, locally referred to as "Habal-habal," are found near the public market of Mambajao which can be hired just like a taxicab. A passenger rides behind the driver and these motorcyles could take passengers about anywhere around the island.
Of the five municipalities in Camiguin, Mambajao is the largest in terms of population size. In 1995 the population of Mambajao was 27,770 or 40.8 percent of the total population of Camiguin. Mambajao accounts for a total of 5,376 households or 39.90 percent of the number of households in the province. With an annual growth rate of 1.83 percent, it has a population density of 312 persons per square kilometer. There are 15 barangays in the municipality of Mambajao and are mostly distributed in the northern part of the island.
Mambajao has its own airport which has connecting flights to Cebu every Monday and Saturday morning. Flights depart from Mactan, Cebu at 6:00 am and arrives in Mambajao at 6:35 am. Departure from Mambajao is at 6:55 am and arrives Mactan at 7:30 am. The town does not have its own wharf, however, there are ferry boats that regularly dock at the Port of Benoni in the Municipality of Mahinog which is just 17 kilometers away. These ferry boats originate from the Port of Balingoan in Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Gingoog City, and also from Bohol which is one of the nearby provinces.
During the month of October, local and foreign visitors congregate in Mambajao for the celebration of the Lanzones Festival. Queen Sofia of Spain was one of the foreign dignitaries who recently visited Mambajao to observe this popular festival. Mambajao and the whole province of Camiguin are the most peaceful and safest destinations in the country. It has a high tourism potential because of its rich natural tourism resources that include historical, cultural, educational, and scientific heritage. Mambajao lacks the population criteria for a large town, but it has most of the other indicators provided by a large town. Although it offers all the governmental services of a large town, Mambajao still lacks a full range of commercial and business services.
To learn and see more of the town of Mambajao, check out the Mambajao Photo Gallery.
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