HISTORY OF SURIGAO..

   In 1538, Francisco de Castro, a Portuguese-born Spaniard in the expedition from Ternate in search of Loaisa, landed on what presently is Surigao del Norte province and baptized the inhabitants to Christianity.

     The Jesuit Missionaries in 1597 tried to evangelize the people of Butuan (Agusan) and Caraga (Surigao) with much difficulty and intermittent success. They were followed in 1622 by the Augustinian Recollects who established parishes in Tandag and Bislig in 1642. The Recollects stayed until 1875, then secular priests took over, followed by the Benedictine Monks from 1893 to 1908.

     In 1860, six military districts were established in Mindanao. Surigao and Agusan including the territory lying between Butuan and Caraga Bays, formed the third district called the East district or Provincewide Caraga which was changed in 1870 to "Distrito de Surigao."

        

          The Battle of Surigao Strait in 1944, which occured simulataneously with great naval engagement at the Leyte Gulf, was the turning point in favor of the Allied Forces. The Japanese fleet steaming east into Surigao Strait towards the American beachhead was destroyed by Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's Seventh Fleet in a night and day torpedo and surface bombardment action. 

     It was June 19, 1960 through Republic Act 2766 that Surigao province was divided to form Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte.

               

ARTS AND CULTURE 

      The province has one of the Philippines ethnic tribes-the Mamanwas. Surigao City's Bonok-Bonok Festival depicts the merry making and gratitude of these native folks to their pagan gods for a bountiful harvest and good health.

      The province is also working for the preservation of cultural artifacts. A collection of ancient archaeological diggings like burial coffins jars and antique Chinese kitchen wares unearthed in Panhutungan, Placer is on public display at the Surigaonon Heritage Mini-Museum located at the Boulevard, Surigao City.

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE 

         Mangrove is the major theme in the coastal areas of the province. The salt-water loving trees form interminable marine forests covering 17, 473 hectares along the coasts of the mainland and the islands of Siargao and Dinagat. The province also boosts a variety of marine ecosystems like the lush seagrass bed and coral reefs which are relatively healthy and intact, supporting a rich diversity of marine flora and fauna. 

Many who are interested in game fishing and spearfishing will enjoy its bountiful seas along the tuna route. Over 23 different species are caught the whole year round. Marlin, tuna, lapu-lapu, mollusks, crabs, even squids, stingrays and octupuses can be bought fresh and cheap from the fish vendors and fishermen. 

The unique "mancono" (ironwood) forests of Dinagat are still one of the watersheds most productive resources. By its nature, it is a slow growing and adapted to a mineralized soil. It must be carefully managed for sustained productivity.

The province also has many caves and tunnels in its islands. Some are half-submerged in water most of the time and could be accessed only during low tides like Suhoton Cave at Bucas Grande Island.

Its biggest islands are usually mountainous and rich in minerals. Nonoc island has one of the world's largest deposits of nickel, while Dinagat Island has the major reserves of chromite. The smaller ones either rest on sand and gravel or have a limestone base bonded by boulders, reefs and sandbars. Some islets like those in Del Carmen in Siargao Island are actually nothing more than a cluster of rock formations jutting out from the sea crowned with shrubs and coconut trees. There are also springs, lagoons, caves, waterfalls, mangroves, marshes and whirlpools which are more appealing to all nature lovers.