Cantilan, Surigao del

Sur

Cantilan, officially the Municipality of

Cantilan, is a 2nd class municipality in the
province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines.
According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 31,492 people.[3]
 Cantilan
Municipality

Municipality of Cantilan

Cantilan Harbour

Map of Surigao del Sur with Cantilan highlighted

 Cantilan

Location within
the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°20′01″N 125°58′39″E

Country  Philippines

Region Caraga (Region XIII)

Province Surigao del Sur

District 1st District

Founded 1782

Barangays 17 (see Barangays)

Government [1]

 • Type Sangguniang Bayan

 • Mayor Philip A. Pichay

 • Electorate 20,885 voters (2016)

Area [2]

 • Total 240.10 km2
(92.70 sq mi)

Population (2015 census)[3]

 • Total 31,492

 • Density 130/km2 (340/sq mi)

Time zone UTC+8 (PST)

ZIP code 8317

PSGC 166805000

IDD : area code  +63 (0)86

Climate type Tropical rainforest

climate

Income class 2nd municipal income

class

Revenue (₱) 134,415,610.40 (2016)

Native languages Surigaonon
Agusan language
Cebuano
Tagalog
Website www.cantilan.gov.ph

Cantilan is considered the "Cradle of

Towns" in Surigao del Sur. It originally
encompassed the whole area of
Carcanmadcarlan or the present towns of
Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and
Lanuza.

Geography
Cantilan is the second northernmost
municipality of CarCanMadCarLan and so
also the second northernmost municipality
of the province. The neighbouring
municipalities are Carrascal in the north-
west and Madrid in the south-east.

Barangays

Cantilan is politically subdivided into 17

barangays. Buntalid and Magasang were
constituted as barrios in 1956.[4]

Bugsukan
Buntalid
Cabangahan
Cabas-an
Calagdaan
 Consuelo
General Island
Lininti-an (Poblacion)
Lobo
Magasang
Magosilom (Poblacion)
Pag-Antayan
Palasao
Parang
San Pedro
Tapi
Tigabong

Climate
Cantilan, like the whole island of Mindanao
is considered having a tropical climate,
with an average monthly precipitation of
308.66 mm (12.5 inches). However, its
wettest season fall between the months of
November until March. Dry season starts
between April to September with brief
afternoon showers and thunderstorms
locally called sobasco.
 Climate data
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr Ma
Average 29 29 30 31 32
high °C (°F) (84) (84) (86) (88) (90
Average low 22 22 23 23 24
°C (°F) (72) (72) (73) (74) (75
Average
582.4 389.1 283.5 196 123
precipitation
(22.93) (15.32) (11.16) (7.7) (4.8
mm (inches)
Source: http://www.wunder

History
Cantilan existed as a settlement for more
than three centuries as early as 1622.

According to legend, the word Cantilan

originated from the big shell of a bivalve
locally called, "Tilang". A couple with
beautiful daughters lived close to the
location of the big shell. When suitors
came to visit the daughters and were
asked their destination, they would answer,
“Can Tilang” (meaning “to Tilang’s").
Eventually, "Can Tilang" became
"Cantilan".[5]

According to sources, it was created by

virtue of the Spanish Royal Decree of 1768
known as Maura Law. Another source
states however, that Fr. Valerio de San
Agustin implemented it in 1782 at "Daan
Lungsod," the old town in the coastal area.
It was populated with people from Bayuyo,
Ilihan and Calagdan. They constructed a
fortification, a "Kuta", (Fort) made of
limetones later named as Baluarte de
Señor San Miguel, located across the river
in the modern Cantilan.

Caraga is obviously named after the old,

historic Caraga, an extensive landmass
covering several provinces, in the
northeastern seaboard of Mindanao
whose existence outdated the arrival of
the Spaniards in this country.

The people of the old Calagan were

originally from Ilihan (now Panikian),
Calagan (now Calagda-an), Parasao (now
Palasao) and Bayuyo (now Union, Manga
and San Antonio).
1521 – For the first time, Antonio
Pigafetta, the chronicler of Magellan's epic
voyage around the world, called this region
Calagam or Calagan.

Calagan was among the three choices for

Ferdinand Magellan to dock for provisions
and trade. "Magellan was anxious to
resume his voyage and inquired which
were the best ports for provisions and
trade, wishing to turn of his many articles
of barter into gold and spices. He was told
that there were three – Ceylon (Leyte),
Zzubu (Cebu) and Calagan, but that Zzubu
was the largest and had the most traffic."
March 31, 1521 – The celebrated "Primera
Misa", an Easter Sunday Mass, was held in
the Philippine Territory on the order of
Ferdinand Magellan. Two of its prominent
attendees were the Butuan brother kings:
Rajah Kolambu of Butuan and Rajah Siagu
of Calagan.

January 25, 1571 – Garcia Sierras Chacon

was appointed to rule the district of
Surigao and Parasao (Cantilan), an
encomienda.

1574 – Andres Mirandaola wrote to King

Felipe II of Spain that "much gold is
found in the island of Mindanao, in the
 district of Butuan, Curigao (Surigao) and
Parasao (Palasao). Much gold is mined
there."
1609 – The conquistadores arrived in
Tandag and constructed a stone fort (a
military garrison) to strengthen their
conquest of the locals. This caused

the Northeastern portion of Mindanao to

be raised to the status of a province. This
"distrito" was called "Provincia de Caraga"
with Tandag as the capital.

1622 – The systematic evangelization

of Caraga Province began with the
arrival of eight Recoletos from Manila.
They arrived in Tandag and branched
out to outstations in the districts,
namely: Butuan, Surigao, Dinagat,
Gigaquit, Numancia, Calagdan
(Cantilan), Iranza and Bislig. They were
headed by their Superior Fray Miguel de
Sta. Maria, OAR.
1622 – According to Erectio Conventum
In Insuli Philippinis, the pueblos of
Calagdan and Parasao (Palasao) were
listed having 700 to 800 Christian
families.
1626 – The Recollect chapter of 1626
appointed Fray Juan de Nicolas as
priory of Tandag. Calagdan was among
the priories that year. On the same year,
6 more priories was established:
Bacuag, Tandag, Gigaquit, Butuan,
Calagdan, and Dinagat.
1629 – Calagdan disappeared from the
list of residential stations.
1700 – Two Spanish soldiers from the
fort of Tandag was assigned at Parasao
and Calagdan, namely Antonio Garcia
and Cristobal Moreno, respectively.
1740 – A map made by Italian
mapmaker Giambattista Albrizzi in
Venice, Italy mentioned the northern
part of Mindanao as "Manobos".
Described as a place near the ocean and
a river mouth.
1750 – A census copy now on display in
a museum in London mentioned the two
pueblos of Calagdan (Calagda-an) and
Bayuyo (now the present-day Union).
1752 – Bayuyo, I. St.Jean (an island
near Bayuyo ), I. De General and Bucas
are mentioned in a map made by French
cartographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin.
1752 – Moro raiders attacked and
burned the two barrios of Bayuyo and
Calagdan.
1761 – A concentrated resettlement of
Calagdan, Palasao and Bayuyo in one
place had been realized. The place is
located across the river later named as
Cantilang.
1767 – Padre Fray Valero de San
Agustin, visited Calagdaan (Cantilang)
and established a northern outstation
outside Tandag.
1767 – The Moro pirates attacked
Tandag Fort in 1758, 1761, 1767. But of
all these attacks, the worst casualties
suffered by the Moros was in 1767 when
Fray Valero de San Agustin brought a
reinforcement of 200 Calagdaan
(Cantilan) fighters led by valiant warriors
Francisco Arreza and Santiago Arizobal.
They rode on seven sailboats to Tandag.
After the fierce battle, many Moros were
killed and several of their boats were
sunk on Tandag river and sea.
1782: Cantilan became a regular parish
under Fray Valero de San Agustin, a
recollect.
1856: On October 14, a hurricane from
the north which turned over east and
south increased to an intensity that
storm surges changed the whole town
into a sea. Everything was swept away.
On October 15, Cantilan became a
wasteland. The survivors together with
the parish priest Fray Modesto Marzo y
Casabana then crossed the river and
started to build the new Cantilan.
1898: Cantilan total population had
reached 10,026.
1918: On December 10, Executive Order
No. 52 of American Governor-General
Francis Burton Harrison was issued that
divided Cantilan into three parts.
World War II – For much of the war
Cantilan was a place of refuge for those
escaping the Japanese occupation of
coastal areas of Mindanao. The convent
there was filled with refugees, including
nuns fleeing other areas. Even a few
American civilians who had been living
 in the Philippines before the war took
refuge in Cantilan.[6]
1960: Cantilan became part of the new
province of Surigao del Sur.

Cantilan has existed as a settlement for

more than three centuries on the two
barrios of Bayoyo and Kalagda-an which
was then included in the Spanish
administration of Tandag as early as 1709.
The settlement of Ilihan was also part of
the Cantilan area that time.

Prior to the Spanish regime, inhabitants of

Cantilan were Bagani Bankayan Sandigan
people, who descended from Malay
immigrants. At times the early settlers
were forced to join and fight marauding
bands who came for slaves and plundered.
In the process, they built stone walls and a
watchtower as can be shown on some
ruins of these structures which still exist
on the sea coast.

The Spanish arrived and established a

settlement at "Daan Lungsod" (Old Town)
in the early 1700s and (Cantilan was
separated from Tandag in 1791). The
Spanish introduced Christianity and a
governmental administration headed by a
priest.
Compulsory taxation was later featured
from Spanish rule. Other legacies of the
Spanish time were the Spanish name given
to the local inhabitants and the Spanish
words which were added to the local
language. The Jesuit fathers constructed a
church in Cantilan in the 1890s – part of
the walls still stands near the new church
constructed in 1959.

During the Spanish time, local people were

frequently attacked by Muslims and so a
fort was built at Daan Lungsod which
aided in repelling five attacks, ending once
and for all these raids. Other problems
were diseases (especially smallpox and
other epidemics) were on the rise added
with disasters like a typhoon.

In 1856, Daan Lungsod was destroyed by a

disastrous typhoon on the night of October
14. Beginning at midnight and continuing
through the entire next day. A typhoon and
series of storm surges rolled over the town
sweeping away all but one house and
killing 30 people as well as destroying
crops and livestock. The ruins of Daan
Lungsod can still be seen on the other side
of Cantilan River, but after the storm, it
was decided to rebuild the town on its
present site.
Before the storm, residents often crossed
the river to buy fish from a woman named
Tilang. When asked where they were
going, they replied, "Adto Kan Tilang"; and
the place gradually became known as
Kantilang (Cantilan to Spanish). After the
storm, the new town was built in this area,
across the river and was named Kantilang
or Cantilan.

Throughout the period, Cantilan remained

primarily a fishing and agricultural
settlement, as it is today. The area was
larger at that time because it comprised
the present municipalities of Cantilan,
Carrascal, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza
(CarCanMadCarLan)

The first Americans set foot in Surigao in

1904 and were met some active
resistance. But fighting died out after a
relatively short time. The main American
contribution to Filipino life was the
restructuring of governmental
administration and the public schools.
(Some early teachers were Mr. Bonnie, Mr.
& Mrs. Edward Taylor, and Mr. William
Hotchkiss).

During World War II, Cantilangnons were

very active as guerillas fighting against the
Japanese, who established a garrison in
Cantilan from June 1942 to 1944.

The Japanese were headquartered in the

present day Municipal Hall and formations
were often held at the plaza. The people
were afraid and forced to flee to the
mountains or to the outlying island to
avoid the Japanese. In some barrios, like
Barangay General Island, the population
increased on account of the mass
evacuation. Peacetime at last came when
the Japanese finally withdraw their troops
from Cantilan because of the invasion of
the Americans in Leyte.
Years rolled along after full Independence
was granted to the Philippines in 1946.
Cantilan became part of the new province
of Surigao del Sur in 1960. It had also
taken and fixed its present boundaries at
that time, with the creation of Madrid as a
new municipality.

Cantilan remains primarily a rural,

agricultural and fishing municipality, but its
residents are well known for their high
standing standard of education obtained
by a large number of professionals who
hail from Cantilan.
In more recent times, the logging and
timber industry has had an impact in
Cantilan, both logging and veneer
manufacturing plant operating in this
town. It has also a potential for mining,
although no large-scale operations have as
yet been undertaken.

Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church. Photo taken

last December 2011
The Cantilan Puericulture Center, constructed in 1915.
The main purpose of this is to establish a women's
club which aims to serve babies and mothers

The bust of Lino Triumfante Arreza. The first

Cantilangnon to set foot in the United States to study.
Among the few Filipino Pensionados
This wood marker fixed in the wall beside the entrance
of Tribunal tells the story of the buildings' construction
which started on 1878 under Fr.Marzo. After his death,
the construction continued and was finished in 1879.

Demographics
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1903 7,481 —    
1918 18,594 +6.26%
1939 18,408 −0.05%
1948 20,519 +1.21%
1960 11,793 −4.51%
1970 16,617 +3.48%
1975 18,192 +1.83%
1980 20,889 +2.80%
1990 24,868 +1.76%
1995 24,061 −0.62%
2000 26,553 +2.14%
2007 28,659 +1.06%
2010 30,231 +1.96%
2015 31,492 +0.78%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][7][8][9]

The inhabitants of Cantilan are called

Cantilangnons. Its unique dialect is called
Cantelangnon, a variant of the Surigaonon
language.

Coast Fishing in Cantilan

Economy
The main part is agriculture (rice, coconut
palms), animal breeding (water buffalos,
pigs and chickens/roosters) and coastal
fishing.

Tourism

Beach Resort at bay-bay

Points of interest:

Tinago Surf Break (Ayoke Island)

Baluarte Surfing Spot (Baybay II)
General Island wreck diving
 Tilang Beach
Malinawa Cool Spring (Parang Cantilan)
Blue Lagoon

Transportation
Town proper

Pedicabs roam around the streets of

Cantilan.

By Land

Buses ("Bachelor Express"), Vans and

Jeepneys ply from Cantilan to Tandag and
Surigao City v.v. on the coast-road of
Surigao-Tandag. Roads are semi-concrete.

By Sea
Inter-island vessels like 2Go ply the
Manila-Surigao City routes on regular
schedules. Cokaliong also has schedules
from Cebu-Surigao City routes on a daily
basis. The harbour in the Cantilan river can
be used by Pump boats only. On the east
side of the Capungan peninsula that
separates the Lanuza bay from Carrascal
bay exists "Consuelo Port" which is a
harbour for bigger ships.

By Air

The closest airports are Surigao Airport

(IATA: SUG, ICAO: RPMS) and Butuan
Airport (IATA: BXU, ICAO: RPME). The
Tandag Airfield (IATA: TDG, ICAO: RPMW)
has limited flights from Manila and Cebu
City which started on June 30, 2014.

Sirong Festival
The Sirong Festival is a mardi-gras parade
participated by different contingents from
other towns. A cash price and a trophy
awaits to the winner of the street dancing
competition and the final showdown (2009
Sirong Festival Champion (SURIGAO CITY,
SDN Contingent) ).

Education
Surigao del Sur State University

Cantilan has both public and private

schools from elementary, secondary and
tertiary.

Hotchkiss Learning Center

Cantilan East Central Elementary School
Cantilan Pilot School
Cantilan National High School
Saint Michael's College
 Cantilan Campus of the Surigao del Sur
State University

Notable Cantilangnons
Prospero Arreza Pichay, Jr. (Butch
Pichay) – Born on June 20, 1950 in
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. He is the son
of Provincial Treasurer Prospero Pichay
Sr. He became the Congressman of
Surigao del Sur 1st district from 1998
until 2007.
Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III – Born on
January 8, 1943 in Cantilan, Surigao del
Sur. He was a member of the famed
Blue Diamonds, a combat ready pilot. On
November 29, 1996, he became the 24th
 Commanding General of the Philippine
Air Force. Further, in line with
environmental protection, he is an ex-
officio member of the Philippine Eagle
Foundation. He is currently the CAAP
(Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines) Director General.
Lt. Gen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo Arreza
Iriberri, PMA Class "Matikas", 1983 –
became the Commanding General of the
Philippine Army (56th) and the retired
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.[10]

References
1. "Municipality" . Quezon City, Philippines:
Department of the Interior and Local
Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Province: Surigao del Sur" . PSGC
Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines:
Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved
12 November 2016.
3. Census of Population (2015). "Caraga" .
Total Population by Province, City,
Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved
20 June 2016.
4. "An Act Converting into Barrios Certain
Sitios in the Province of Surigao, and
Dividing the Barrio of Macalaya into Two
Barrios, Municipality of Placer, in the Same
Province" . LawPH.com. Retrieved
2011-04-12.
5. Historical timeline of Cantilan.
6. Virginia Hansen Holmes, Guerrilla
Daughter (Kent, Ohio: Kent State U. Press,
2009), pp. 119.
7. Census of Population and Housing
(2010). "Caraga" . Total Population by
Province, City, Municipality and Barangay.
NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
8. Censuses of Population (1903–2007).
"Caraga" . Table 1. Population Enumerated
in Various Censuses by Province/Highly
Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007 . NSO.
9. "Province of Surigao del Sur" .
Municipality Population Data. Local Water
Utilities Administration Research Division.
Retrieved 17 December 2016.
10. "BGen.Hernando Iriberri" . Appointed
commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade in
Abra province. Retrieved January 31, 2013.

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

Statistische Informationen des NSCB

The Official Website of Municipality of
Cantilan
 Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Local Governance Performance
Management System
kantilangini.multiply.com
eCarCanMadCarLan Portal

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