The Senate of the Philippines

Win Gatchalian Sonny Angara Ronald dela Rosa Robin Padilla

Risa Hontiveros Raffy Tulfo Pia Cayetano Migz Zubiri

Mark Villar Loren Legarda Lito Lapid Koko Pimentel

JV Ejercito Joel Villanueva Nancy Binay

Jinggoy Estrada Imee Marcos Grace Poe Francis Tolentino

Francis Escudero Cynthia Villar Bong Revilla Bong Go

Alan Peter Cayetano

 THE CABINET MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Executive Secretary Secretary of Finance Secretary of Justice
Enrique Manalo Lucas Bersamin Benjamin Diokno Jesus Remulla
Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Public Works and Highway Secretary of Education
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Manuel Bonoan Sara Duterte
Secretary of National Defense Secretary of Labor and Employment Secretary of Health
Carlito Galves Jr. Bienvenido Laguesma Maria Rosario Vergeire
Secretary of Trade and Industry Secretary of Migrant Workers
Alfredo Pascual Susan Ople
Secretary of Human Settlements Urban Development
Jose Rizalino Acuzar
Secretary of Welfare and Development Secretary of Agrarian Reform
Rexlon Gatchalian Conrando Estrella III
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
Maria Antonia Loyzaga
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Secretary of Tourism
Benjamin Abalos Jr. Maria Christina Frasco
Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Science and Technology
Jaime Bautista Renato Solidum Jr.
Secretary of Budget and Management Secretary of Energy
Amenah Pangadaman Raphael Lotillia
Secretary of Information and Communications Technology
Ivan John Uy
Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority and Secretary of
Socio-economic Planning
Arsenio Balisacan
Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office National Security Adviser
Cheloy Garafil Eduardo Ano
Secretary of the Presidential Management Staff Solicitor General
(Vacant) Menardo Guevarra
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
Juan Ponce Enrile
Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs and
Head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office
Mark Llandro Mendoza
Special Assistant to the President
Antonio Lagdameo Jr.

First District Congressman

Second District Congressman
Francisco Tinio Matugas
Robert “Ace” Barbers
President of the Philippines
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr.

Vice-President of the Philippines

Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio

Surigao is a diverse and unique province that is rich in culture and tradition, consists of twenty
municipalities and three hundred thirty five barangays all in all. The province of Surigao was
derived from two words “Sur” which means South and “Agao” common name or an alias in
visayan. Battle of Surigao Strait took place here on October 25, 1944, when the”cross the T”
incident took place as American battleships fired their guns over Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura’s
Southern Force; nearly all of which,including the battleships Yamashiro and Fusō and others were
sunk. Surigao was once a part of an old territory that existed in Northeasthern Mindanao and the”
Calagans ” who were said to be of visayan origin called the territory Caraga. Antonio Pigafetta an
explorer from the Republic of Venice by whom he has travelled with Ferdinand Magellan called
Surigao then as Calagan which indicates the soul ( kalag ) and also states the braveness of people
living in the particular land ( Gan ) . There were three existing versions on the naming of Surigao
and eventually became rooted in the tradition of the people. Among the three, one popular legend
brings out that Surigao is named after Rajah Solibao a Mamanwa chieftain who was searching for
sanctuary and was struck by storm while he was fishing together with his companion in the
sheltered waters of the place. Solibao and the others landed near the mouth of the river where the
city is located today. When they discovered that the land was fertile and the existence of gold in the
riverbanks washed down from nearby hills were present, they decided to stay and settle in the land.
When the Spaniards came, it was already a rousing Barangay and they were told that Rajah Solibao
was its king but due to native tongue they mistook this as the name of the village and called it
Surigao. Currently, in the shadow of Surigao Cathedral found the said heart of the City in
downtown. For over a hundred years the plaza still remains the centre piece of the City. In the Park,
acacia trees were enhanced due to the park’s laid back Spanish period.
This article development highlights the different festivals that are present in Surigao Del Norte mainly the
“Bonok-Bonok ” local festival which is performed once a year specifically held on September 10.
The said festival shows off the thankfulness of the people through street parties and traditional
ethnic dance rituals which they offer to God for abundance of harvest and a way of asking for
excellent health. Along with the festivals that were celebrated in Surigao , a native delicacy were
also shown like sayongsong, also other foods that are available in the province like kinilaw, and pot
pot ginamos. Exploring Surigao City is also discussed in this article. Like the famous Mabua
beach,Silop cave, Almont Beach resort in Lipata , Surigao City, and Dayasan floating
village .Through this tourist attractions , it will somehow create changes in economic structure
through tourism since culture and historical heritage have contributed a lot in attracting tourists. The
 use of culture as a tourist attraction actually increases support for traditional Surigao cultures and
displays of ethnic identity which is also a way to rejuvenate history, arts, and festivals. Surigao City
was considered the City of Island Adventures. As locals have shared, it was then mines after”Sulog”
which means current and may also be coined from the Spanish work” surgir” or swift current with
the waves, and winds coming for the Pacific. The official language in the City and province is
certainly unique among visayan dialects which is called Surigaonon. It is somewhat similar with the
language of Cebuanos but the people from Cebu would not fully understand the language of
surigaonon probably because of the differences in stress, and intonation; consonant, and vowel
sounds; and the distinctive rise, and fall in their conversations. There is no doubt Surigaonon
existed as pure and distinct,slowly pelted overtime by Visayan words as migrants settled in the area.
Surigao then was the Cabecera and the seat of government of the province of Caraga which had
jurisdiction over Surigao, Butuan and Cagayan de Misamis (Cagayan de Oro). Alejandro(Jantoy)
Gonzalez was the president of the Junta Provincial of Surigao during the time of the first flag
hoisting. There’s a big risk and possibility that the cultural heritage of one’s place could eventually
die out or disappear with our help. In able to safeguard these historical cultures and heritages, we
need to share and transfer the knowledge, skills, and meanings of stories and signs are
necessary.The current traditions, stories, beliefs, and rituals are preserved by which it is also part of
our history that we need to treasure. The preservation of one’s cultural and historical heritage is
very much important especially in identifying our identity and where we truly belong. It will
somehow shape our values and beliefs when it comes to defining our national identity. Valuing
traditions means we are capable of passing and inheriting the certain cultures and traditions to the
next generation to come and will create pride and integrity within us , considering the emotions we
feel if others appreciated the culture we possess and knowing that we belong to something. We
belong to a country, a province, a tradition, and a way of life we tend to choose.
Surigao city is also known as the city of island adventure, because of the clear and clean seas and high
waves that will make your mind to think about tsunami but it’s just normal waves, but Surigao is
not just know of their water adventure but instead they are more productive In terms of festivals,
festivals are the thing that our ancient ancestors give us and now we still recognize the value of
different festivals as well as the sources and histories. In Surigao city one of the festivals that truly
appreciate the God given blessings of their city, is the “kinilaw (raw fish delicacy) festival held one
very 2nd week of September at the center of Surigao city respectably. The celebration of kinilaw
festival is focusing on the deferent styles of preparing kinilaw and it also features the variety of fish,
sea foods, and other marineproducts in their locality.Another festival of Surigao city that represent
the cultural heritage their city is the “sakay-sakay Abayan festival” or Fluvial procession held in
every first day of the month of June. A procession as sea in honor of the patron saint of
BarangayTaft, virgen de la Paz Y Buenviaje. The patroness of good voyage is carried abroad
beautifully adorned lead vessel followed by colourful motorboats and bancas along the historic
Surigao Strait. Here some festivals that truly a heritage and given importance by the surigaonon
people.
Still in Surigao city,a meaningful and awaited festival of the surigaonons is the Lawigan Festival that held
on May 14-15. The meaning of Lawigan in English is voyage or non-stop journey. The festival is
celebrated by the Municipality of Loreto, Dinagat Island which is actually a Foundation day
 celebration. The highlights of the celebration are the Barangay Competition, Mutya Ng Loreto,
Dragon Race, Field Dance and Float Parade Competition. There are also Agro- fishing seminars and
trade fair.

Sto. Niño Shrine Barangay Serna, Is the historic sixteen (16) centuries old image of the SantoNiño,
which was handed from the previous generations of the Sembranos Chappell eat the Barangay
proper. 300 years old image has been lost yet mysteriously found

On January 14, 1996(the day of its feast during the Santo Niño Exhibit in Ayala center). The statue is
believed to be miraculous and lagan (wanderer) with amorceko found sticking to His clothes on
occasion.

Sto. Niño de Bad-asayFeast Day January 14 Barangay Serna Pilgrims and devotees from different places
of the country come to celebrate its feast day with a thanksgiving mass in honor of the miraculous
child Jesus followed with a “sirong” dance to offertheir prayers and petitions.

Bonok-Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival September 9 Surigao City A day-long Mardi grass marked
by street dancing festivities featuring the ethnic Mamanwa dance. The festival is done in celebration
of the annual fiesta honoring the city’s Patron Saint San Nicolas de Tolentino.
Aside from festivals, Surigao city has also a place that you feel relax and to be amaze the beauty of
islands and seas as you can look above the sea level, they also know this place as “Punta Baluarte”.
Punta Baluarte Barangay San Jose, It is a historical landmark which was the observatory point of
the Spanish friars and later, by the Japanese during the Second World War. It is a hill overlooking
the town of barangay. San Jose maroon castle replica marks it. Complementing the land mark are
the brightly colour kiosks along the beach which served as an ideal picnic and resting areas. Punta
Baluarte is in Barangay San Jose; about one hour ride from the city proper.

Surigao Strait, in Surigao City Water Channels The very witness to the liberation battle during the
Second World War which shed lives of our co-Filipinos as they were liberated by the American
troops from the Japanese occupation.

Sto. Niño Feast DayJanuary 15 Sto. Niño Shrine, Quano-Ceniza Heights A NINE (9) DAY Novena
culminates in a procession/parade of different Sto. Niño around the city followed by thanksgiving
mass and a celebration characterized by fireworks display and the Bonok-Bonok tribal dance.
Aside from its beautiful wonders of nature, Surigao also offers a wide range of delicacies forevery
certified foodie. The province of Surigao del Norte is actually promoting the One Town One
Product (OTOP) program of the government, offering a variety of locally produced handicrafts, and
yes, even delicacies! These are sold both here and abroad. And all of these, because of the
innovative and the love of Filipino to foods they come up in making this kinds of solution to
hunger. This foods is just as example of the wide range and numbers of their food, with respect
from their ancestors, allow me to give to some of this foods. Here are some of the best delicacies
that Surigao has to offer.

ARALING PANLIPUNAN
MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR OF SURIGAO CITY
SUBMITTED BY: ASHLEY NICOLE L. CALINAWAN
SUBMITTED TO: MA’AM JOJIE CONALES