Wao, Philippines
Wao is a town of 17,845 people in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines.
Why visit Wao
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 46 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Mount Ragang.
Weather in Wao
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Wao
Wao, officially the Municipality of Wao (Maranao/Iranun: Inged a Wao; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Wao; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Wao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Wao), is a municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 51,081 people. Wao is the only Christian-majority municipality in its province. Wao is a diverse community, with different ethniolinguistic groups such as Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Iranun, Cebuano, Maranao, Talaandig, Ivatan, and Tagalog residing in the area.
From the Wikipedia article Wao, Lanao del Sur (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Museums and landmarks6
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes46
Baba Café
Cafe · Burger, Sushi · 8.1 km
Ernesto Guevarra street, Wao
Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
Frontyard Events Venue & Catering Services
Restaurant · Filipino · 8.1 km
Saint Jude Street
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00
BeanHur Coffee Shop
Cafe · International · 8.2 km
Benigno Aquino Jr. Street
Tu-Fr 09:00-15:00
Bites More Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 8.2 km
Benigno Aquino Jr. Street
Mo-Fr 08:00-15:30
34 more on the map.
History
The LASEDECO resettlement program of then-President Ramon Magsaysay made possible the foundation of Wao as a municipality in Lanao del Sur province on February 22, 1961. The first settlers in the area were sixty families of various ethnicities from the then-undivided Cotabato province. Only one person among the 1st batch of settlers, Elvino B. Balicao Sr., became one of the Municipal Mayors of Wao. Balicao, along with members of the 1st batch of 60 settlers that included the late couple Aludio and Sofia Emborgo, were welcomed by the native Muslim inhabitants of Wao led by Sultan Mamaco Saripada, the municipality's first appointed and elected mayor, Datu Tao Pagul and Datu Maki Saripada. They were treated to a sit-down meal in the house of Sultan Mamaco Saripada.
In the late 1970s, the town experienced intercommunal violence between its native Moro community and the Christian settlers. Tensions arose after Bumbaran (now known as Amai Manabilang) was created from Wao by President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree No. 1243 on November 17, 1977.
From the History section of Wao, Lanao del Sur on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Churches and places of worship13
Shopping12
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries50
Mindanao State University Wao Community High School
School · 8.3 km
Dr. Jose Rizal Street
Adiong Memorial Foundation Community High School
School · 8.1 km
Jose Carumba Street
Bukidnon State University - Kalilangan Extension Campus
School · 11.6 km
Maramag-Maradugao Road
Pagalongan National High School – Annex A
School · 8.4 km
Ferdinand E. Marcos Street, Wao
Healthcare17
Map of Wao
176 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Maramag Airport (XMA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 41 km away.
- Kalilangan 11 km northeast, about 11 min by car
- Don Carlos 37 km east, about 37 min by car
- Maramag 38 km east, about 38 min by car
- Quezon 48 km east, about 48 min by car
- Marawi City 55 km northwest, about 55 min by car
- Midsayap 57 km south, about 57 min by car
- Kabacan 67 km south, about 1 h by car
- Sultan Kudarat 68 km southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Iligan City 70 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Iligan 77 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- ISS053-E-203625 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS022-E-67152 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS059-E-66635 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-203624 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-205363 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-205364 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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