Cagayan de Oro_

Mindanao's 'City of Golden Friendship' races with river rapids and misty Macajalar Bay views, fueling an upbeat Philippine vibe. Digital nomads score fast internet in riverside cafes, tropical downpours aside, and easy jumps to whitewater adventures or Dahilayan's pine forests. Lively night markets keep energy high post-work.

It serves as the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental wherein it is geographically situated and grouped under the province by the Philippine Statistics Authority, but governed administratively independent from the provincial government and also the largest city of that province. Cagayan de Oro is located along the north central coast of Mindanao island facing Macajalar Bay and is bordered by the municipalities of Opol to the west, Tagoloan to the east, and the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte to the south of the city. Cagayan de Oro is also famous for its white water rafting or kayaking adventures, one of the tourism activities being promoted along the Cagayan de Oro River. River of Gold) can be traced back to the arrival of the Spanish Augustinian Recollect friars in 1622, the area around Himologan (now Huluga), was already known as "Cagayán". Early Spanish written documents in the 16th century already referred to the place as "Cagayán".