The City of Iligan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Iligan; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Iligan) is a highly urbanized industrial

city north of the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately

795 kilometers southeast of Manila. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 318,040 people.

History

Iligan City had its beginnings in the village of Palao, north of the present Poblacion. It was the earliest

pre-Spanish settlement of native sea dwellers. The monotony of indigenous life in the territory was broken when

in the  later part of the 16th century, the inhabitants were subdued by the Visayan migrants from the island

kingdom of Panglao. In the accounts of Jesuit historian Francisco Combes, the Mollucan King of Ternate

invaded Panglao. This caused Panglaons to flee in large numbers to Dapitan City|Dapitan, Zamboanga del

Norte. In Dapitan, the surviving Prince of Panglao, Pagbuaya, received Legazpi's expedition in 1565. Later,

Pagbuaya's son Manook was baptized Pedro Manuel Manook. The Christianized Manook subdued the Higaunon village in Bayug and established it as one of the earliest Christian settlements in the country. The settlement

survived other raids from other enemies, and, because of their faith in God and in their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel, the early Iliganons moved their settlement from Bayug to Iligan. The name Iligan is from the

Higaonon word iligan or ilijan' meaning "fortress of defense" against frequent attacks by pirates and other hostile Mindanao tribes.

Geography

Iligan City is bounded on the north by the 3 municipalities of Misamis Oriental (namely Lugait, Manticao and

Opol), to the south by the 3 municipalities of Lanao del Norte (Baloi, Linamon and Tagoloan) and the 2 municipali

ties of Lanao del Sur (Kapai and Tagoloan II), to the northeast by Cagayan de Oro City, to the east by the municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon; and to the west by Iligan Bay. This is also the 2nd largest city in Northern Mindanao next to Malaybalay City, capital of Bukidnon Province.

Known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls, there are around 23 waterfalls in and around Iligan. Among them is

the Maria Cristina Falls, home of Mindanao's primary hydroelectric power station, and Limunsudan Falls.

Iligan is also the Industrial Center of the South. It produces hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region through

the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), the site of the Mindanao Regional Center (MRC) housing Agus IV,

VI and VII hydroelectric plants. It also houses industries like steel, tinplate, cement and flourmills. The National

Steel Corporation, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the Southeast Asian region, now Global Steelworks

International Incorporated was re-opened in 2003 after heavy setbacks resulting to its closure in 1999. Iligan along with its neighboring city, Cagayan de Oro City, are the two major components for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan

Corridor, the fastest developing area in Northern Mindanao.

To the west, Iligan Bay provides ferry and container ship transportation. East of the city, flat cultivated coastal l

and gives way to steep volcanic hills and mountains providing the waterfalls and cold springs for which the area is well known.

Climate

Iligan falls within the third type of climate wherein the seasons are not very pronounced. Rain is more or less

evenly distributed throughout the year. Because of its tropical location the city does not experience cold weather. Neither does it experience strong weather disturbances due to its geographical location (being outside the

typhoon belt) And also because of the mountains that are surrounding the city.

Economy

The economy of Iligan is largely based on heavy industries. After the construction of Maria Cristina (Agus VI)

Hydroelectric Plant by National Power Corporation (NPC, NAPOCOR) in 1950, the city experienced rapid industrialization and continued until the late 1980s. The largest steel plant in the country, National Steel Corporation (NSC), was also established during that period (Specifically in 1962).During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the city

experienced severe slowdown in terms of economic growth. A good number of industrial plants are closed,

notably the National Steel Corporation. Its closure also created a domino effect on its ancillary industries,

causing some companies to close shop while putting others in grave financial distress.