Surigao City

Infobox City Philippines
infoboxtitle = City of Surigao
sealfile = SurigaoSeal.jpg
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_surigao del norte_surigao.png caption = Map of Surigao del Norte showing the location of Surigao City.
region = Caraga
province = Surigao del Norte (capital)
districts = 2nd district of Surigao del Norte
barangays = 54
class = 2nd class city
mayor = Alfonso Casurra (Lakas-CMD)
cityhood = August 31, 1970
areakm2 = 245.34
pop2007 = 132,151
popden2007 = 538.64
coordinates =
The City of Surigao is a 2nd class city in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Surigao del Norte. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 132,151 people. The total land area of the city is 245.34 sq. km.

Surigao City is a mosaic of islands that lies at the rim of the Asian continental shelf. It is perched at the northeastern tip of Mindanao, a southern island in the Philippines, and faces the Philippine Deep. The historic strait bound it on the north and east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the provinces of Agusan Del Norte and Surigao Del Sur and on the West. It is blessed with abundant mineral reserves, fisheries and aquatic resources, and tracts of fertile arable lands, which are the primary sources of its people's livelihood. Its location in the coast offered enough opportunities to enjoy its wide array of beaches ranging from white, grayish-sandy to the gravel smooth pebbled ones, as well as other places of interest. Its outlying islands fronting the Pacific further augment the fun and adventure, especially surfing.

Geography

The mainland and clustered islands of Surigao City has irregular or hilly topography with flat lands near the coast. It has an average elevation level of 19 meters or 65.5 ft. above sea level. The highest elevation in the mainland is the Kabangkaan Ridge situated along the border of the Municipality of San Francisco with a peak elevation of 465 meters above sea level. Along the border of Tagana-an is the Mapawa peak with an elevation of 245 meters above sea level with scattered descending slopes covering the barangays of Cabongbongan, Nabago and Capalayan.

In the islands, the highest range is the island of Nonoc with an elevation of 263 meters above sea level, overlooking the Cantiasay Channel and the Island of Hanigad with a peak elevation of 163 meters. The highest point in Hikdop Island is in Mt. Telegrapo with a peak of 250 meters. The island of Bayagnan located on the eastern part of Surigao City has a highest elevation of 242 meters.

History

What is now the city proper of Surigao was formerly known as "Banahao", which contained a good port for ships called "Bilan-Bilan". Banahao was part of the old district of Caraga, which later on became the politico-military district of Surigao with Tandag (presently the capital of Surigao del Sur) as its capital. Caraga derives from the word Calagan which means "Land of the Brave" or "fierce people". The Italian adventurer Francisco Giovani Careri, who published a book of travel in the country, cited Francisco Combes, S.J. as a source in saying that Calagan is derived from the two Visayan words: kalag or calag which means soul or people and for land.

Surigao officially became the permanent residence of the Recollects on February 1, 1752 when all the canonical books were moved from Siargao to Surigao. The first canonical books bore the signature of Fr. Lucas de la Cruz. Previously, the place was just a "vista" of the parish in Caolo (Siargao). This date may be considered as Surigao's foundation day.

It was through Surigao Strait that the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan after a brief stay at the island of Homonhon, sailed into the Philippine Archipelago during the epic voyage of discovery and eventual circumnavigation of the world in 1521.

It was this body of water that the Battle of Surigao Strait was fought in World War II, from October 24-25, 1944 between United States, Filipino and Japanese fleets.

Surigao is named after the old province (district) of the same name (Surigao). There are many versions regarding the meaning of Surigao; how this was derived. Like Sulo, which means sulog or current. Surigao probably came from the Spanish Surgir, meaning swift water or current. With the division of Surigao into two provinces, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte, the Municipality of Surigao became the capital of Surigao del Norte. It became a chartered city on August 31, 1970.

On September 10, 2007, the contingent from Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, was grand champion in the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival 2007 at the City Hall grounds in Surigao City. Bacuag defeated the other 6 contingents coming from Butuan City, Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS), Province of Misamis Oriental, Surigao City Pilot School (SCPS), Cabadbaran City and Municipality of Jabonga, by showcasing the Inuwak Festival, Bacuag's famous local festival. The contingent received P200,000 in cash and a trophy from the Bonok-Bonok Culture and Arts Association Inc., the organizer of the annual Bonok-Bonok festival. [ [http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070913.htm&no=15&r=&y=&mo= Pia.gov.ph, Surigao town's "Inuwak" flies high in Bonok-Bonok 2007 festival] ]

Barangays

Surigao City comprises 54 barangays. Of these, 33 are mainland 21 are island barangays. The city proper is divided into 5 urban barangays: Taft, Washington, San Juan, Canlanipa and Luna. There are 36 coastal barangays, of which 15 are from the mainland and 21 are in the islands.

* Alang-alang * Alegria * Anomar * Aurora * Balibayon * Balite * Baybay * Bilabid * Bitaugan * Bonifacio * Buenavista * Cabongbongan * Cagniog * Cagutsan * Canlanipa * Cantiasay * Capalayan * Catadman * Danao

* Danawan * Day-asan * Ipil * Jubgan * Libuac * Lipata * Lisondra * Luna * Mabini * Mabua * Manyagao * Mapawa * Mat-i * Nabago * Nonoc * Orok * Poctoy * Punta Bilar * Quezon

* Rizal * Sabang * San Isidro * San Jose * San Juan * San Pedro (Hanigad) * San Roque * Sema (Bad-asay) * Sidlakan * Silop * Sugbay * Sukailang * Taft (Pob.) * Talisay * Togbongon * Trinidad * Washington (Pob.) * Zaragoza

Telecommunications

Cell Sites available: Smart Communications, Globe Networks/Touch Mobile and Sun Cellular
Landlines: PhilCom and CruztleCo.
Internet Providers: PhilCom DSL, CruztelCo. PLDT Broadband, Smart Broadband and BayanTel Broadband

Transportation

Air

PAL Express has daily flights from Surigao to Manila and v.v. using Bombardier Q400 , a 76 seater plane.

Cebu Pacific will fly 4 times weekly from Surigao to Cebu and v.v. starting November 13, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.surigaocity.gov.ph Official Website of Surigao City Government]
* [http://surigao.info The Surigao Information Site]
* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]

References