Surigao (province)

Last updated

Surigao was a province of the Philippines. [1] Originally a Spanish-era district, became a chartered province on May 15, 1901 ( Philippine Commission Act 127 ). The province was dissolved on 1960.

Contents

Surigao
Province of the Philippines
1901-1960
Province of Surigao in the Philippines.svg
Location of the historical province of Surigao.
Capital Surigao
History
History 
 Established
May 15 1901
 Some territories ceded to Moro Province
June 1 1903
 Politico-military comandancia of Butuan carved to form Agusan
August 20 1907
 Disestablished
June 19 1960
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Surigao (district)
Moro Province Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg
Agusan Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg
Surigao del Norte Flag of the Philippines (1936-1985, 1986-1998).svg
Surigao del Sur Flag of the Philippines (1936-1985, 1986-1998).svg
Today part of · Surigao del Norte
 · Surigao del Sur
 · Dinagat Islands
 · Agusan del Norte
 · Agusan del Sur
 · Davao del Norte
 · Davao de Oro
 · Davao del Sur
 · Davao Occidental

History

Territorial map of Mindanao in 1880 Philippine territorial map 1880 MINDANAO.PNG
Territorial map of Mindanao in 1880

Rajah Siawi and Rajah Kulambo, members of the nobility of the Surigaonon and Butuanon people, respectively, were encountered by the Magellan expedition in 1521 on the island of Limasawa (which was a hunting ground for the rulers). Antonio Pigafetta describes them as being tattooed and covered in gold ornaments. Pigafetta also records the name of the Surigao region as "Calagan".

The explorer Ruy López de Villalobos headed an expedition to Surigao in 1543, an attempt at subjugation which failed because of the resistance of the natives. At that time the island of Mindanao was given the name Caesarea Caroli, in honor of Carlos I of Spain. Jesuit missionaries visited Butuan in 1597 but did not make much progress in Christianizing the people. It was not until 1609, when a full-dress expedition was launched, that Spanish authority was imposed to Tandag. In 1622, the arrival of the Recollect missionaries in Tandag commenced the establishment of permanent mission in Surigao.

The area of Surigao was once part of an ancient district referred to as "Caraga" during the Spanish colonial period named after its chief inhabitants, the Caraga tribe or Caragans who were largely concentrated in a settlement called Caraga. The ancient district of Caraga was created in 1609. The seat of government was at Tandag until it was transferred to the town of Surigao in 1848.

Six Spanish military districts were established in Mindanao in 1860 and the areas of present-day Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur (collectively called Agusan back then), Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, including the territory lying between present day Butuan and Caraga bays, formed the third district called the "East District" which was changed in 1870 to "Distrito de Surigao". By the end of the Spanish rule in 1897, Agusan had been organized as a single politico-military comandancia named "Butuan", within the administrative jurisdiction of District of Surigao.

District of Surigao became a chartered province on May 15, 1901 (Philippine Commission Act 127). The territorial expanse of the Surigao province was further reduced in 1907 when the politico-military commandancia of Butuan, was created into a separate province and officially named it Agusan with present-day Butuan as its capital.

On September 18, 1960, through Republic Act 2786 dated June 19, 1960, the province of Surigao was divided into the present-day provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

See also

Related Research Articles

Mindanao Second-largest island in the Philippines

Mindanao is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of the same name that also includes its adjacent islands, notably the Sulu Archipelago. As of 2015 census, Mindanao has 25,700,000 inhabitants, while the entire island group has an estimated population of 27,021,036 as of 2021.

Agusan del Norte Province in Caraga, Philippines

Agusan del Norte, officially the Province of Agusan del Norte, is a province in the Caraga region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran with several government offices located in the city of Butuan. It is bordered on the northwest by Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental.

Agusan del Sur Province in Caraga, Philippines

Agusan del Sur, officially the Province of Agusan del Sur, is a province in Caraga region, Mindanao, Philippines. Its capital is the municipality of Prosperidad. It is bordered on the northwest by Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental; east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Davao Oriental; mid-south by Davao de Oro; southwest by Davao del Norte and, mid-west by Bukidnon. It is the fourth largest province in the country in terms of area.

Surigao del Norte Province in Caraga, Philippines

Surigao del Norte is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao. The province was formerly under the jurisdiction of Region 10. Its capital is Surigao City. The province comprises two major islands—Siargao and Bucas Grande—in the Philippine Sea, plus a small area at the northeastern tip of mainland Mindanao and other surrounding minor islands and islets. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte – between the Municipality of Alegria, Surigao del Norte and the Municipality of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; and Surigao del Sur, to the south.

Surigao del Sur Province in Caraga, Philippines

Surigao del Sur is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tandag City. Surigao del Sur is situated at the eastern coast of Mindanao and faces the Philippine Sea to the east.

Caraga Administrative region of the Philippines

Caraga, officially the Caraga Administrative Region and designated as Region XIII, is an administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of Mindanao. The region was created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 23, 1995. The region comprises five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur; six cities: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag; 67 municipalities and 1,311 barangays. Butuan, the most urbanized city in Caraga, serves as the regional administrative center.

Tandag Component city in Caraga, Philippines

Tandag, officially the City of Tandag, is a 5th class component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 62,669 people. 

Bislig Component city in Caraga, Philippines

Bislig, officially the City of Bislig, is a 3rd class component city in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 99,290 people. 

Surigaonon language Austronesian language of the Philippines

Surigaonon is an Austronesian language spoken by Surigaonon people. As a regional Philippine language, it is spoken in the province of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and some portions of Agusan del Norte, especially the towns near the Mainit Lake, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental.

Cantilan Municipality in Caraga, Philippines

Cantilan, officially the Municipality of Cantilan, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 34,060 people. 

Butuan Highly urbanized city in Caraga, Philippines

Butuan, officially the City of Butuan, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Caraga, Philippines. It is the de facto capital of the province of Agusan del Norte where it is geographically situated but governed administratively independent. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 372,910 people. 

San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Municipality in Caraga, Philippines

San Francisco, officially the Municipality of San Francisco, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 80,760 people. 

Surigao City Component city in Caraga, Philippines

Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao, is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 171,107 people. 

Dinagat Islands Province in Caraga, Philippines

The Dinagat Islands are a group of islands constituting a province in the Caraga region in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. The island of Leyte is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south. Its main island, Dinagat, is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) from north to south. Declared a province in 2006, the Dinagat Islands comprise the second newest province of the Philippines, with Davao Occidental (2013) being the newest.

The Surigaonon people are an ethnolingustic group who inhabited on the eastern coastal plain of Mindanao, particularly the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands. They are also present in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and in Davao Oriental. They are part of the Bisaya people, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group in the country.

Butuanon people

The Butuanon are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabited in the region of Caraga. They are part of the wider Visayan ethnolingustic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group in the country.

Administrative divisions of Mindanao

The southern island group of Mindanao in the Philippines is divided into six administrative regions. Each region is subdivided into provinces.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 13 (Philippines)

Caraga Region is located at northeastern part of Mindanao. It includes the five provinces of Dinagat Province, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. Caraga Region is now hosting several mining projects producing various mineral commodities particularly but not limited to gold, copper, chrome, nickel, iron and limestone for concrete cement production. This makes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Regional Office No. 13 with Office located in Surigao City plays important role in the region's economy, job generation, social and environmental enhancement and protection and ensuring government shares through royalties and taxes.

<i>24 Oras Northern Mindanao</i>

24 Oras Northern Mindanao, formerly Testigo Northern Mindanao is a Philippine television news broadcasting program broadcast by GMA Northern Mindanao. Originally anchored by Kenneth Ragpala, it premiered on February 5, 2013 replacing Isyu Karon. Joe Legaspina served as the final anchor.

COVID-19 pandemic in Caraga Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Caraga, the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic in Caraga is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached Caraga on April 6, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Butuan. The region was the last of the Philippines' 17 regions to confirm their first case. All provinces now have at least one confirmed COVID-19 case.

References

  1. Almeda, Fernando A. (1993). Surigao Across the Years: Story of a Province. Philippine National Historical Society. ISBN   9789718851012.