Surigao (province)

Former province of the Philippines

Surigao

Province of the Philippines
1901-1960

Location of the historical province of Surigao.
Capital| Surigao
History|

• Established

| 15 May 1901

• Some territories ceded to Moro Province

| June 1 1903

• Politico-military comandancia of Butuan carved to form Agusan

| August 20 1907

• Disestablished

| 19 June 1960

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Surigao (district)

|

| Moro Province |

|

Agusan |
Surigao del Norte |
Surigao del Sur |
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

Surigao was a province of the Philippines.[1] Originally a Spanish-era district, became a chartered province on May 15, 1901 (Philippine Commission Act No. 127). The province was dissolved in 1960.

## History

[edit]

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, an indication that they are allies of the pintados of the Lakanate of Lawan. 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 by virtue of Act No. 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 No. 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

[edit]

* Surigao del Norte Province
* Surigao del Sur Province
* Dinagat Islands Province

## References

[edit]

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

* v
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Former Philippine provinces, sub-provinces, and cities

Provinces|

* Agusan
* Ambos Camarines
* Concepción
* Cotabato
* Davao
* Ilocos
* Kalinga-Apayao
* Lanao
* Lepanto-Bontoc
* Manila
* Maguindanao
* Mindoro
* Misamis
* Moro Province
* Morong
* Negros
* Negros del Norte
* Samar
* Shariff Kabunsuan
* Surigao
* Zamboanga

Sub-provinces*|

* Abra (1905–1917)1
* Amburayan (1902–1920)2
* Apayao (1907–1995)1
* Aurora (1951–1979)1
* Batanes (1907–1909)1
* Benguet (1908–1966)1
* Biliran (1959–1992)1
* Bontoc (1902–1966)3
* Bukidnon (1907–1914)1
* Butuan (1907–1914)4
* Camiguin (1956–1966)1
* Catanduanes (1905–1945)1
* Guimaras (1966–1992)1
* Ifugao (1908–1966)1
* Kalinga (1907–1995)1
* Lepanto (1902–1920)2
* Marinduque (1907–1920)1
* Masbate (1906–1920)1
* Quirino (1966–1971)1
* Romblon (1907–1917)1
* Siquijor (1907–1971)1

Cities|

* Basilan5
* Jaro
* Greater Manila
* Legazpi6
* Nueva Cáceres
* Nueva Segovia

* * All sub-provinces were temporarily abolished during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942–1945).
* 1 Converted to full-fledged province.
* 2 Dissolved and divided between neighboring (sub-)provinces.
* 3 Became the only sub-province left comprising Mountain Province in 1966, and therefore assumed the name of the mother province.
* 4 Became the only sub-province left comprising Agusan in 1914, and therefore assumed the name of the mother province.
* 5 Delimited to the downtown area of present-day Isabela City in 1973; dissolved in 1975.
* 6 Legazpi City from 1948 to 1954 consisted of the present-day territories of Legazpi City and Daraga; this city was dissolved in 1954 into its two former constituent municipalities. Legazpi became a city on its own in 1959.

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

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