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Major Hubs 5 Major Destinations
Manila and Its Spokes
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Cebu and its Spokes
Laoag / Baguio and its Spokes
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Davao and its Spokes
Clark/Subic and its Spokes |
Others and its Spokes
Surigao Del Sur
THE PROVINCE AT A GLANCE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
One brochure describes Surigao del Sur as a "kaleidoscope of
superlatives... with... perfectly balanced natural resources
and breathtaking scenery."
Hilly ranges (about 46% of the province's land area) fall
from Diwata Mountain to an irregular coastline with bays at
Lanuza, Lianga, and Bislig. Mountains and highlands account
for 16%, uplands for 17%, and lowlands for 21%. Not far
offshore lies the "Philippine Deep," one of the world's
deepest ocean trenches at 10,057 m. Cave formations and
waterfalls dot the landscape.
The northeast trade winds prevail almost year-round with
stronger winds blowing during the season when rains are
heavier, from November to January. Although still outside
the typhoon belt, typhoons have historically strayed to
visit once every two or three decades.
BRIEF HISTORY
Old folks still like to recount how some Visayan
fishermen, forced by strong currents in what is now known as
Surigao Strait, sought refuge in one of the huts somewhere
in the province. The Mamanwas thought the fishermen wanted
to occupy the hut by force or agaw. This term was given the
prefix "suri" by an immigrant. Combined together, the word
Suri-Agaw was formed. In time, it was shortened to Surigao.
Still, another version recounts that before the Spaniards
came, Surigao del Sur was created as the 56th Philippine
province on June 29, 1960 by virtue of R. A. No. 2786 and
was formally separated from its mother province, Surigao del
Norte, on September 18, 1960.
Before the Spaniards came, the original inhabitants of the
province were the Mamanwas and Manobos. Later, our Malay
brothers from the Visayas came to cattle with the natives.
It was with the arrival of the immigrants that the province
acquired its name from one of the natives. Saliagao who
lived near the mouth of the river. This name Saliagao was
later pronounced Surigao by the inhabitants. It is also said
that long ago, some Visayan fisherman forced by the strong
current of the Surigao strait, sought refuge in one of the
huts somewhere in the province. The Mamanwas who thought
that these fishermen wanted to occupy the hut by force said
"agaw", the term which was later given a prefix "Suri" by an
immigrant.
LANGUAGE/DIALECT
Major dialect is Surigao-non although majority still
speak the Cebuano. Some tribes found in Surigao are the
Manobo, Ubo, Bilaan and Mandaya.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Surigao is known largely of its logging and wood
processing industries. There are important mineral deposits,
including iron ore reserves at Punta Tugas, said to be the
largest in the hemisphere, perhaps on the planet (an
estimated two to three billion metric tons)
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