though it was not yet classified as a city at the time. President Manuel L. Quezon,
on his way to the United States via Australia, arrived in Oroquieta and set up the
war-capital government before he was picked up by USAFFE and Commonwealth
officials and departed by submarine to Australia.
After Japan's surrender and the establishment of the Republic of Philippines, the
government changed the status of Oroquieta from municipality to city in
recognition of its war period significance. In 1943, the Japanese forces occupied in
Oroquieta city. In 1945, the defenders of the Philippine Commonwealth forces
liberated Oroquieta city from the Japanese Imperial forces during the Second
World War.
