Wender·Vista
Cagayan de Oro
shown on ceramic, 12-inch tilePhilippines
on the northern coast of Mindanao, where the river meets the sea

Cagayan de Oro

— — a river city the rapids carry through.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.
— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand
— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines
— Beside the kettle, a 12-inch propped
— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall
— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround
— a note from the studio

“A coastal city on northern Mindanao where the Cagayan de Oro River runs out of the highlands and into Macajalar Bay. Locals call it the City of Golden Friendship. The river draws rafters to its rapids most weekends, and the old churches downtown still ring the hours. The plaza is busy by late afternoon, when the heat lifts and the breeze comes off the bay.

from the studio
Cagayan de Oro
— bring it home

Cagayan de Oro, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?
One tile — square or rectangle.
How big?
the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand
6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb
Surface finish
A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.
How it sits
A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.
$58
Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.
— size
6 × 6 in
15 cm
— weighs
1.6 lb
solid in the hand
— surface
ceramic, hand-finished
art rests beneath a thin glossy finish
— from
Knoxville, TN
our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies
— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Cagayan de Oro

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.
— the place

Cagayan de Oro is the regional centre of Northern Mindanao, on the island's north coast where the Cagayan de Oro River empties into Macajalar Bay. It is an independent component city and the capital of Misamis Oriental province, with a population of around 730,000 at the 2020 census. The city was chartered in 1950 and earned the nickname City of Golden Friendship for the hospitality of its people. The downtown grid sits a few metres above sea level; the surrounding province climbs quickly into the Kitanglad range.

— the water

The Cagayan de Oro River descends from the Kalatungan and Kitanglad mountain ranges and threads class two and three rapids through the upper barangays before reaching the city. Whitewater rafting has been a regional draw since the late 1990s, with most operators running put-ins about thirty kilometres upstream. The river also gives the city its identity; the colonial-era ferry crossings became the bridges that anchor the modern street grid, and the Rodelsa Park promenade follows the bank near the old Spanish kuta.

— the visit

The city is reached by daily flights from Manila and Cebu into Laguindingan Airport, about forty-five kilometres west, with shuttle buses running into the centre. The dry season runs roughly January through May, with March and April the hottest. The wet months bring heavy afternoon storms but rarely all-day rain. The Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral on Hayes Street and the Plaza Divisoria mark the historic core; the Gaston Park area carries the Sunday market.

— where
Philippines · Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao
— elevation
12 m · 39 ft
— position
8.4542° N · 124.6319° E
— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.
2 km N
Macajalar Bay
coastal bay
90 km NE
Camiguin Island
volcanic island
60 km S
Mount Kitanglad
mountain range
N
Cagayan de Oro
Macajalar Bay
Camiguin Island
Mount Kitanglad
— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Cagayan de Oro — and about bringing the piece home.
— about the place

Cagayan de Oro is a regional centre on the north coast of Mindanao, capital of Misamis Oriental province. It sits at the mouth of the Cagayan de Oro River on Macajalar Bay, with a population of around 730,000.

The nickname dates to the mid-twentieth century and reflects the hospitality the city is known for across the Philippines. It became part of official branding after the 1950 city charter and remains in use today.

Yes. The Cagayan de Oro River carries reliable class two and three rapids most of the year, with class four sections in the wet season. Outfitters run put-ins about thirty kilometres upstream of the city.

Daily flights from Manila and Cebu reach Laguindingan Airport, about forty-five kilometres west of the city. Shuttle buses and vans run the route into the centre in roughly an hour.

The dry season runs January through May, with March and April hottest. The wet months bring heavy afternoon storms but rarely full days of rain. Typhoons reach Northern Mindanao less often than the rest of the country.

Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral on Hayes Street and the adjoining Plaza Divisoria mark the historic core. Gaston Park nearby holds the Sunday market and a colonial-era fountain.

— about the piece in your home

Cagayan de Oro carries deep meaning for Mindanaoan families, university alumni, and the diaspora. A Small or Medium with a handwritten card from the studio reads warmly to anyone who calls the city home.

The piece sits well in tropical-modern rooms, warm coastal interiors, and rattan-and-linen spaces. The river and bay palette pair with bleached wood, terracotta, and unbleached cotton.

Yes. Tropical-modern and warm-coastal directions continue to grow, and place-specific work reads as collected rather than themed. The tile holds that quality without dominating the room.

A single Large above a console reads as a quiet anchor. Over a standard sofa, a four-tile Mural works well; for a long wall, the nine-tile Mural carries the river-to-bay sweep of the city.

Yes, in Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both resist scratching and humidity and suit backsplashes, vanity walls, and shower installations. The Glossy finish is reserved for framed display.

A microfibre cloth with water handles daily care. Mild dish soap is fine for kitchen installations. Avoid abrasive pads and citrus-based cleaners; the colour lives in the surface and rewards gentle handling.

Yes. Every WenderVista piece is original to our studio in Knoxville, Tennessee, curated by Reid Wender. We do not license imagery and do not reproduce work from other studios.

— if this one stayed with you

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