Barangay Macasandig

History

Barangay Macasandig wa mentioned in the “Bautista Manuscript”, a local history

book that recounted the April 7, 1900 Battle of Cagayan de Misamis. It said that
General Nicolas Capistrano and his followers directed the battle at the edge of the
town at the opening road leading to Macasandig. This refers to this place clearly
indicated that the word “Macasandig” became a barrio (barangay) in this year
1928.

Long, long ago, Macasandig, a river side area, was not densely populated. It was a
large area of coconut trees, banana plants and thickly covered with cogon grasses
and there were only few houses. Barangay Nazareth on the north before it
became a separate barangay in year 1952. Means transportation was a horse
driven cart {tartanilia} although most people traveled by fought.

There was no record as to how Macasandig got its name. However, it was passed
from generation to generation by words of mouth by natives of this place that
there were two versions as to the legend of its name. The first was, the word
Macasandig got its name from the word Macasandig leans by hills. Another
version stated that the natives had no problems of foods. They were provided for
with the abundant harvest from the coconut, corn, fruits, and also reach with
aquamarine we catch from the Cagayan de Oro river. Thus, the native residents
just rest or “Sandig” as a supply of foods were plenty and inhabitants were only
few. When asked, where they were living, they will aptly reply, “Macasandig”
meaning place of relaxation.

It was Maria Vamenta de Chavez or Senora Totay, wife of Porferio Chavez, who
donated the lot of the Macasandig Elementary School who were existed in 1950.
There was a move to name the school in Macasandig in her memory. Senora
Totay and her husband were also the donors of the Jose Rizal Memorial in Plaza
Divisoria in this city. Don Porferio Chavez was a revolutionary of the rebel troop in
Cagayan de Misamis during Phil-Arm war in 1900-1901.

In 1016, there was a great flood in Cagayan de Misamis, Macasandig was covered
with water as the water from Cagayan de Oro river changed its course
overflowing the entire barangay. That catastrophe brought hundreds of people
died . Almost hundred years after, in December 2014, another disastrous
flashflood occurred killing almost a thousand of people and others remained
missing. One sitio (Kala-Kala) was totally erased from the map where all houses
totally wash out and it is now considered ground zero. People learnt from that
catastrophe occurred in the following year 2012 Typhoon Pablo, no one where at
the very vulnerable areas, people leaving near in Cagayan de Oro river.

In the 1970’s , Xavier University and Lourdes College extended their High School
campuses to Macasandig. Followed by other city’s well-known private schools,
like Corpus Christi, Oro Christian Grace School, St. Mary’s and lately, the opening
of Liceo de Cagayan University Senior High School.