Did you know that Gaston Park, one of Cagayan de Oro’s most iconic landmarks, was not always the circular plaza we know today? This rare 1936 photograph shows the park across St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in a very different form—featuring landscaped gardens, concrete walkways, ornamental plantings, and even playground swings within a square or rectangular layout. Named after Segundo Gaston, a pre-war Municipal Mayor of Cagayan de Oro, the park has long been a central gathering place for the community. This historic image offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past and highlights how one of its most beloved public spaces has evolved through the decades.
The photo was published in an article by Filomeno Bautista and Fred Paradies at the American Chamber of Commerce Journal, on August 1936. Below is a snapshot of the front page.
Here’s the photo of the park.
The same article also featured a photograph of the original Cagayan Steel Bridge, now known as the Ysalina Bridge. Built at a cost of ₱236,000, the structure stretched 200 meters in length and 9.5 meters in width, with a load capacity of 12 tons. Construction began in July 1930 and was completed in August 1931, making it one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Cagayan de Oro during the American colonial period.
During World War II, the original Cagayan Steel Bridge was destroyed in 1942 when retreating troops of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) deliberately blew up the structure to slow the advance of invading Japanese forces. The bridge’s destruction formed part of the military’s defensive strategy as Japanese troops pushed through Mindanao during the early stages of the war. It was rebuilt in 1946. Read related post below.
