In the 17th century, when pirate attacks were so common, Cotta Fort, specifically Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo in Ozamiz City, stood as the protector of the Ozamiznons and Misamisnons.
How many lives were saved because of this? In one account, a one day of battle led to the deaths of about 5,000 men, said Michael E. Fuentes, Ozamiz City spokesperson.
Built in 1756, the fort was intended to repel the attacks of the Moro pirates, specifically for kidnapping people for slavery.
"Kidnapon ka, kwaon ka then you will be sold as slaves to other places, and since nag-rampant na siya sauna kaayo, a certain priest, a Spanish priest, ang nag-initiate nga mahimo gyud ni siya og fuerte [You will be kidnapped, taken away, then sold as slaves to other places, and since it has become rampant, a certain priest, a Spanish priest, initiated to make a fort]," said Fuentes.
Before the Spanish colonizers came, the Subanens were already in the area. Some of the structures, like the stones, were already stationed, but Spain had to fortify them because they had seen the place as very strategic, he said.
"They would not want other colonizers to come," Fuentes said.
As time marched forward, the fort assumed a character that resonated deeply with the hearts of Ozamiznons and Misamisnons alike. It symbolizes strength, solidarity, and unity, serving as a constant reminder that progress, or "Asenso," was not just an aspiration but a collective pursuit.
Fuentes speaks to the aspirations of the people, asserting, "Dili mi ganahan og dili muasenso [we don't want anything that does not contribute to progress]." Progress was not merely a wish; it was a shared endeavor that drove the community forward, he added.
