in 1918|alt=An old map showing the current territories of the province as part of the province of Surigao
Spanish colonial era 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. 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 V 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 a permanent mission in Surigao. The area of Surigao del Norte 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, which was established in 1609 comprised all of the present day provinces of Surigao del Norte,
Dinagat Islands,
Surigao del Sur, the northern part of
Davao Oriental and eastern
Misamis Oriental. 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), 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 Distrito de Surigao.
Surigao during the Philippine Revolution On December 23, 1898, the last Spanish Governor of Surigao turned his authority over to a provisional Filipino "Junta Provincial" Peacefully. The Spanish Government along with the Spanish community soon left Surigao by the next day on December 24 leaving behind Spanish missionaries. They were sent off with the sound of music and goodwill by the locals. The Junta Provincial elected Jantoy Gonzalez to serve as the Provisional head while waiting for the arrival of the new authority from Luzon that was sent by Aguinaldo. The New Authority under Aguinaldo's Supreme Revolutionary Government arrived in Surigao by January 12, 1899, they were the brothers Simon and Wenceslao Gonzales, children of Jantoy Gonzales.
Confiscation of Church Estate Immediately after the arrival of the Gonzalez Brothers, they carried the orders of the Malolos Leadership which included the imprisonment of Spanish Missionaries, Confiscation of Church funds and other church properties.
American Occupation Garcia Coup By March 24, 1899, a new military and political figure appeared in Surigao. Don Prudencio Garcia staged a coup which resulted in the imprisonment of the Gonzalezes (Jantoy, Simon, and Wencaslao), and were killed shortly after in Cortez (now
Surigao del Sur).Finally, on April 2, 1899, at 12 midnight they were put in a boat, well handcuffed, and shipped out to the Pacific, and upon arriving at Cortes they shot them down. They had been guarded by soldiers and officials who were all personal enemies of the Gonzalezes. In Cortes they were put under the custody of a mestizo, Hilarion Marinez, whom the Gonzalezes had maltreated by words and deeds. He avenged himself by having them fusilated. That was the Tragic end of our enemies ("Apuntes..." p. 116)The news of what led to the deaths of the Gonzalezes did not reach Aguinaldo as they were given false information to their deaths. Aguinaldo was given a message from an "unknown correspondent" which stated"General Simon Gonzales and his brother Wencaslao, the Governor of Surigao has been assassinated for collecting excessive contribution in money for the war, and their successors have also been assassinated by the Moros who form a greater part of the population and who have revolted against Filipino rule" (Philippine Insurgent Record 1039.5 in Taylor)the letter stated that the Gonzales were assassinated, and that the Moros were blamed for the deaths of the predecessors despite having barely any Moros in Surigao by that time.
Narciso v. Garcia After the execution of the Gonzalezes, Hermenegildo Narciso (a former ally of Garcia) claimed the position of governor. By around July 1899, an estimated 400 men armed against Garcia took position outside the Provincial Capital (
Surigao City) with 80 men in the trenches near the exit of the town. On July 8, 1899, Garcia returned to Surigao from Banganga with all the honors befitting a general. Governor Narciso (who was still in Manila) was expected to return to Surigao to take full control of the Provincial Junta. July 6, 1899, Soldiers (Garcia) began defending the Government house and Military Quarters in Provincial Capital, and at 6 o'clock Garcia's Soldiers and Narciso's soldiers had a shooting exchange. By 7 o'clock Garcia prepared to leave Surigao via sea. The soldiers of Narciso began their offensive when the boat began embarking equipment. They took position behind Acacia trees, and once they were discovered both sides exchanged fire. Garcia's soldiers retreated to the port and those who were not able to embark the boat with General Garcia were forced into hiding or surrender. The area of the conflict is located at the present day Surigao Luneta Park and alongside the street of Borromeo. The Province of Surigao would then be engulfed in a military rivalry between Governor Narciso and General Garcia, with Surigao and Butuan held by Narciso while Placer, Cantilan, and Tandag being held by Garcia. This military rivalry would be put to a close by the American occupation of the province.
Division of Surigao Distrito de Surigao
became a chartered province on May 15, 1901 (
Philippine Commission Act 127). The territorial expanse of the Surigao province was further reduced in 1907 when the politico-military of Butuan, then a sub-province of Surigao, was created into a separate province and officially named it
Agusan with present-day
Butuan as its capital.
Philippine independence On September 18, 1960, through
Republic Act 2786 dated June 19, 1960, the province of
Surigao was divided into the present-day provinces of
Surigao del Norte and
Surigao del Sur. Agusan province was later dissolved and divided into the present-day provinces of
Agusan del Norte (retains present day Butuan as capital) and
Agusan del Sur in 1967 by
Republic Act No. 4979. The
town of Surigao became a city on August 30, 1970, pursuant to
RA 6134.
Contemporary Dinagat Islands had been a part of the
First District of Surigao del Norte until becoming a province on its own on December 2, 2006, with the approval of
Republic Act No. 9355, the Charter of the Province of Dinagat Islands, in a
plebiscite. Between February 2010 and March 2011, the islands were part again of Surigao del Norte after declaring
RA 9355 unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, then were reinstated as a separate province. ==Geography==