The City of Surigao is a 2nd class city and the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. 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 100.05 meters. The island of Antoine Beltran located on the eastern part of Surigao City has a highest elevation of 3, 450 meters.

History

What is now the city proper of Surigao was formerly known as "Bilan-Bilan," a good port for ships. 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, J.C. 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 sailed into the Philippine Archipelago, reaching the island of Homonhon, in an 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.

The City was severely affected by Hurricane Ike (local code: Typhoon Nitang), which hit the City in September 1984. This extract from The Times on 6 September 1984 reports on the aftermath:

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 CruztelCo.

Internet Providers: PhilCom DSL, CruztelCo. PLDT Broadband, Smart Broadband and BayanTel Broadband

Schools

Elementary

Surigao City Central Elementary School

Surigao City Pilot School

Special Science Elementary School

High Schools

Caraga Regional Science High School

Surigao del Norte National High School

University

St. Paul University - Surigao (formerly San Nicolas College)http://www.spusurigao.edu.ph

Philippines Women's University (PWU)

Colleges

Surigao Education Center

Surigao State College of Technology

St. Jude Institute of Technology

STI College Surigao

AMA CLC

Transportation

Air

Philippine Airlines flies daily from Surigao to Manila and v.v.

Cebu Pacific flies 4 times weekly from Surigao to Cebu and v.v.

Sea

WG&A Super Ferry

Sulpicio Lines

Cokaliong Shipping linesFast Crafts:

Fortune Angel

Fortune Jet

Aska Queen

Ferry Boat

Asian Marine Transport Corporation

M/V Super Shuttle Ferry

M/V Maharlika

Land

Tricycle (Around the City)

Multi cab

Bachelor Express

LCI Express

VAN

JEEPNEYS

External links

• Official Website of Surigao City Government
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code

References

1. The Times, September 6, 1984