Known to be dotted with ancestral houses, the town of Jimenez deserves as one of the best walking tours you can experience at the province of Misamis Occidental. Surviving various calamities and human-caused deterioration, one can easily spot antique houses dating back from the Spanish colonial period, noting the conspicuous architectural splendour that is unmistakably western influenced.
Bask on its past glory and spectacle trodding its crisscrossing streets that create a bespoke labyrinth of arteries connecting the antiquatedly lavish private dwellings and of local business entities with the San Juan Bautista Parish Church at its cultural and historical helm. Named the place after the first priest believed who provided livelihood to the first Catholic converts, the town of Jimenez is strategically located between the administrative capital of Oroquieta and the commercial centre of Ozamis. Visiting the heritage district will never be an arduous one thanks to the established route links which are actually less than an hour of drive from the Labo Airport in Ozamis. Vying its way to the heritage stardom of the Philippines, one cannot take away the sense of being pulled back in time once you marveled at its current state.
The magic starts as you saunter towards the monumental Baroque parish church of San Juan de Bautista, fronting a spacious yard with ample greeneries and an open lawn that can tell stories of the past. The tri-arched facade complemented by the tall bell tower and the walls of hewn coral stone exerts its prominence and unspoken influential power in the realm of the province’s heritage arm in tourism. And as the day turns to night, the warm tones of artificial light illuminate its exterior, an impelling romantic lustre form of beauty exudes. It was like a visual and silent lullaby truly dear to my senses.
I think the best way to experience its beauty is by daybreak. It is when the town slowly breathes to life from its deep slumber, as the streets are at their sleepy state and when the locals start to go on with their daily toil.
A few strides from the church lawn with natural green turf, it is evident of its rich heritage status with the culturally treasured houses unveiling themselves walking towards them. Surviving the usual wear and tear, and its immense surviving structures are what make this town challenge the ones from Vigan. With minimal retouching and renovation, its present face could tell the story of its past. The Shanghai Noodle House building is made unique with its seeming twin gable style extended roof and its wooden radial design detail on its upper window panes. The Tac-An-Olarte HOuse features a combined thatched and modern roofing material. The Yu-Larilin House is a picturesque facade that features equidistant square windows and longitudinal doors that creates a beautiful pattern. Fronting this structure is the Azcuna House which features a woven design placed below its window panes to improve its ventilation. One residence strongly influenced by Spanish Architecture is the Casa De Ozamiz. It features a two-storey building with added window shades and wavy wood carvings that seems to be buttress. The Upper windows match the doors on its lower level creating a dramatic pattern. Easily recognizable is the historic Aldren Tac-An Nacion Residence which could be the only three-story residence built on a corner lot. It was in the year 1914 when this charming plastered-in-white facade residence is finished. These are just a few of the hundreds mapped by Municipal Tourism up to the town’s upland portions. Surrounding the town center are 34 identified residential houses seemingly curated to create this one gigantic open-air museum.
More than of its antique architectural splendor, it is the warmth of Jimenez locals that truly captivates and sealed our experience of their place. Headed by their chief executive Mayor Jojo Chiong, we were given a taste of their local delicacies and their best version of hot cocoa right inside their modern tourism building.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO JIMENEZ
BY AIR
The Province of Misamis Occidental has daily direct flight routes to Manila and Cebu via Labo Airport in Ozamis City served by PHILIPPINE AIRLINES and CEBU PACIFIC. Alternative nearby airports are via Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte and via Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur.
BY SEA
Via Port of Ozamiz – via Manila with 2go, via Cebu with 2go, Cokaliong, Tran-Asia, via Kolambogan, Lanao del Norte by Daima.
By Port of Plaridel – via Cebu by Lite Ferries, via Tagbilaran by Lite Ferries and OceanJet, and via Larena, Siquijor by Lite Ferries.