Surigao del sur

Reporter: Jean D. Andulana

 History
• Before the Spaniards came, the aborigines of the province
were the Mamanua and Manobo. Later, our Austronesian
brothers from the Visayas came to settle with the natives. It
was with the arrival of the immigrants that the province
acquired its name from one of the natives, Saliagao, who
lived near the mouth of the river.The name Saliagao was
later pronounced Surigao by the inhabitants.
• It is also said that long time ago, some Visayan fishermen
forced by the strong current of the Surigao Strait, sought
refuge in one of the huts somewhere in the province. The
Mamanua who thought that these fishermen wanted to
occupy the hut by force said “Agaw”, the term which was
later given a prefix “Suri” by an immigrant.
• Surigao formerly, was extended from what is known as Agusan, including the
islands east of it and the northern regions of Davao and the capital of the
province that time was Caraga and so the Spaniards called the people Caragas.
• The aborigines of Surigao del Sur were a conglomeration and mixture of
different racial types, namely: Mandaya, Mamanua, Mansaka and Manobo.
These racial groups were of Malayan-Indonesian ancestry which took place
thousand years ago. In the course of their migration, these primitive nomads
were believed to have separated their ways in some portions of the
archipelago in a spirit of adventure and search for food (i.e., during the pleisto
scene of the glacial ages). It was believed further that they first settled in the
northern island of the country who later took their bancas and reach the
shores of Mindanao particularly in the Provinces of Surigao and Davao. They
scattered among themselves in spots either in pairs or by family clans,
retaining their own customs, dialects and ways of life.
• There was no trace of exact dates and places of arrival. But it was known that this
group of people were very nomadic and were the remnants of the present Mamanua
and Manobo found in the wilderness of the northern part of Davao bordering the
Province of Surigao. Their migratory movement was said to have come from the
hinterlands of Agusan and along the foothills of western and southern part of Surigao
del Sur. It was pointed out that the cause of migration was due to famine and
occurrence of death from diseases believed caused by evil spirits.
• The Province of Surigao del Sur was created as the 56th Philippine province on June
19, 1960 by virtue of RA 2786 and was formally organized or separated from its
mother province, Surigao del Norte, on September 18, 1960.
• At the time of its inception, it was classified as 4th Class province with an annual
income of over P300,000.00. Seven years later, because of rapid increase of revenue
collection particularly from the logging ventures, it has been reclassified as Ist Class B
and in 1980 as Ist Class A with an estimated annual income of around P13,000,000.00.
Presently, it is reclassified as 2nd Class with a revenue adding up to P315,888,300.63.
• Honorable Recaredo B. Castillo was the appointed Governor
and subsequently elected Governor and Honorable Vicente L.
Pimentel as the first elected Congressman. Hon. Johnny T.
Pimentel is the ninth and incumbent Provincial Executive.
• Originally the province had 13 municipalities. In subsequent
years, six more were added raising the number to 19 with
Tandag as the capital. Now, two of its municipalities have been
elevated to cities; the first was Bislig City. In 2007 Tandag was
granted cityhood but it was nullified via a controversial
decision by the Supreme Court a year later. In 2009, Tandag
would get back its city status after the SC reversed its own
ruling on December 22, 2009.
 People and culture
• Surigao is home to the Mamanwa and Manobo
tribe. Their dances are showcased in a local festival
called "Sirong Festival", held especially during the
town fiesta of Cantilan. The Sirong Festival depicts
the early Christianization of the early Cantilangnons
(the Mamanwas and Manobos) wherein the natives
tried to defend their land against Muslim envaders.
• The Mamanwas and Manubo, the ethnic tribe of
Surigao, have been converted to Christianism long
ago, during the early times of the Spanish conqueror
 Economy

• Surigao del Sur is one of the supplier of

agricultural items like, rice, banana and some
tropical fruits. Copper, chromite and silver
are also found here.
 Languages

• Surigaonon is spoken in most part of Surigao

del Sur except in the City of Bislig,
Municipalities of Lianga, Barobo, Hinatuan,
Lingig and Tagbina which mostly speaks
Kamayo. The Indigenous people (Manobo)
speaks Manobo languages. Cebuano, Tagalog
, and English are also widely spoken.
 Geography

• The 56th Philippine province and is one of the sub-

regions of Caraga. It is located on the Northeastern Coast
of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean and is bounded on
the Northwest by the Province of Surigao del Norte, on
the Southeast by Davao Oriental, on its Eastern side by
the Pacific Ocean, and on the West and Southwest by the
Provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
• Surigao del Sur has two cities and 17 municipalities most
of which are located in the coastal areas, with Tandag
City as its capital. These municipalities are subdivided
into 309 barangays and has two congressional districts.
 Political

• Surigao del Sur is

subdivided into 17
municipalities and two
cities.
 Cities

• Tandag City
• Bislig City
Municipalities
• Barobo
• Bayabas
• Cagwait
• Cantilan
• Carmen
• Carrascal
• Cortes
• Hinatuan
• Lanuza
• Lianga
• Lingig
• Madrid
• Marihatag
• San Agustin
• San Miguel
• Tagbina
• Tago
Tinuy-an falls in Bislig
Enchanted river in Hinatuan
Hagonoy island, Bislig bay
Mawmawan ISLAND