Surigao City

Thursday, 10 January 2013

surigao city charter day drum and lyre corps competition 2012

typhoon pablo surigao city blvd with ateh chennai

Mabua - Looc Concrete Mountain Trail of Surigao City

Sajaw Surigao Festival 2012 - 2nd Placer and Best in Custome

Surigao City DLC Contest 2012 - Surigao City National High School DLC Part 1

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Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Norte (Filipino:Hilagang Agusan) is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga, a region in Mindanao. Its capital is Cabadbaran City and it borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west. It faces Butuan Bay, part of the Bohol Sea, to the northwest.
The population of Agusan del Norte (excluding Butuan City) was 314,027 at the 2007 census, making it the country's 64th most populous province. The population density is 115 per km².
The economy of Agusan del Norte is dominantly agricultural, and it is the nation's leading producer of rice.^{[citation needed]}
Agusan del Norte is divided into 11 municipalities. The highly-urbanized city of Butuan, being geographically located in Agusan del Norte, is traditionally grouped with the province, although it is governed independently from it. Cabadbaran City is the officially-designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811, which has a total barangays of 31, area of 311.02 km², population of 55,006 and population density of 177 per km².

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Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur (Filipino:Timog Agusan) is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Prosperidad and borders, from the north clockwise, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental.
In 2000 the province had a population of 559,294. This represented an increase of 44,558 persons or 7.96 % since 1995. The annual population growth rate was 1.79 %. There were 103,637 households with an average household size of 5.39 persons. The population density was 62 persons per square kilometer with a male to female ratio of 107:100.
The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism (79% of the population). Other major religions include the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Aglipay, Iglesia ni Cristo, United Pentecostal Church, Born Again and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Five tribal groups are found in the province: Aeta, Mamanwa, Bagobo, Higaonon, and Manobo. The Manobos live along the national highway and river towns towards the boundary with the Compostela Valley. The Higaonons live mostly on the western side of Agusan River, generally in Esperanza towards the boundary with Bukidnon.

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Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is in the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east. Aklan faces the Sibuyan Sea and Romblon Province to the north.
Aklan is considered to be the oldest province in the country and is believed to have been established in the 12th century by settlers from Borneo ruled by the chieftain Datu Dinagandan which traded with its neighbouring islands.
Towards the end of the 14th century, Datu Dinagandan moved the capital from what is now Batan. In 1433, Datu Kalantiaw's grandson and successor, Datu Kalantiaw III, was said to have formulated a set of laws known today as the Code of Kalantiaw. Well respected scholarly long-term Philippine resident historian William Henry Scott, proved these "laws" to be a total fabrication. In 1437, the short-lived dynasty of Datu Kalantiaw ended when Datu Kalantiaw III was killed in battle with the tribes of Datu Manduyog, the legitimate successor of Datu Dinagandan. When Datu Manduyog became the new chieftain, he moved the capital to Bakan (now known as Banga).

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Albay
Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon island. The capital of the province is Legazpi City, which is located in the southern foothill of Mayon Volcano, the symbol most associated with the province. This near perfectly-shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the municipalities and cities of Albay including the surrounding provinces.
Albay has a total land area of 2,552.6 square kilometres (985.6 sq mi), which makes it the 26th smallest province. The province is bordered by the provinces of Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. To the northeast, the province lies along Lagonoy Gulf, which separates it from the province of Catanduanes. To the southwest of the province, is Burias Pass with the island of Burias, Masbate located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) offshore.
The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. On the eastern part of the province is a line of volcanic mountains starting with the northernmost Malinao in Tiwi, followed by Masaraga and Mayon Volcano. Separated by Poliqui Bay is the Pocdol Mountains in the town of Manito.

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Antipolo
Antipolo (officially: City of Antipolo, Filipino: Lungsod ng Antipolo) is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population. It is also the seventh most populous city in the country with a population of 633,971 in 2007.
It was converted from a municipality into a component city of Rizal Province on April 4, 1998 under Republic Act No. 8508. A new provincial capitol building was inaugurated in the city in March 2009 to replace the old capitol in Pasig which has long been outside the jurisdiction of Rizal Province; after Pasig was included in Metro Manila in 1975. With the transfer of the provincial government to Antipolo, it is highly favored to be officially designated as the new capital of the province. On March 14, 2011, Antipolo was declared a "highly-urbanized city" by President Benigno Aquino; such proclamation however still needs to be ratified in a plebiscite.

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Apayao
Apayao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital town is Kabugao. Even during pre-Hispanic time when the provice was still the old Mountain Province, Kabugao was already the recognized as the capital of the then sub-province of Apayao. It borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao comprised a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, until they were split into two to better service the needs of individual native tribes in the provinces.
Apayao is devoted to agricultural production, particularly food and industrial crops such as palay, corn, coffee, root crops and vegetables. Main fruits produce are lanzones, citrus, bananas and pineapples. Rice production totals 42,602 metric tons annually, as food crops totals 96,542 metric tons.
Economic activity is also based on livestock and poultry breeding such as swine, carabao, cattle, goat and sheep. Other additional investment includes manufacturing, food processing, furniture, crafts and house wares making.

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Bacolod
Bacolod (Filipino: Lungsod ng Bacólod), is a highly-urbanized Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 531,943 inhabitants according to the LGPMS Census, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in the Philippines. It is part of a metropolitan area called Metro Bacolod, which includes the cities of Silay and Talisay. It is notable for its famous MassKara Festival held during the 3rd week of October. Known for being a relatively friendly city, it bears the nickname "City of Smiles". Bacolod City recently ranked no. 1 in a survey by MoneySense Magazine as the "Best Place to Live in the Philippines". Bacolod ranks 3rd among the top ten "Next Wave Cities" of the Philippines for the best location for business process outsourcing and offshoring according to the 2010 report of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology.
Bacólod (English: Bacolod), is derived from bakólod (Old Spelling: bacólod), the Old Hiligaynon or Old Ilonggo (Old Spelling: Ylongo and Ilongo) word for a "hill, mound, rise, hillock, down, any small eminence or elevation", since the resettlement was founded on a stony, hilly area, now the barangay of Granada. It was officially called Ciudad de Bacólod (City of Bacolod) when Municipalidad de Bacólod (Municipality of Bacolod) was converted into a city in 1938.^{[citation needed]}

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Baguio
The City of Baguio (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Baguio; Filipino: Lungsod ng Baguio) is a highly urbanized city located in northern Luzon island in the Philippines. The city has become the center of business and commerce as well as the center of education in the entire Northern Luzon thereby becoming the seat of government of the Cordillera Administrative Region(C.A.R.). According to the 2007 census, Baguio City has a population of 301,926.
Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway. The name of the city is derived from the word bagiw in Ibaloi, the indigenous language of the Benguet Region, meaning 'moss'. The city is at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in the Luzon tropical pine forests ecoregion conducive to the growth of mossy plants and orchids.
Because of its altitude, Baguio City was designated by the Philippine Commission as the Summer Capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903. It was incorporated as a chartered city by the Philippine Assembly on September 1, 1909, as authored by former Philippines Supreme Court Justice George A. Malcolm. The City of Baguio celebrated its Centennial last September 1, 2009.

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Basilan
The Province of Basilan (Lalawigan ng Basilan in Filipino/Tagalog; Provincia de Basilan in Spanish/Chabacano) is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. Its capital, Isabela City, is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
Basilan is home to three main ethnic groups, the indigenous Yakans, and the later-arriving Tausugs and Chabacano. The Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslim, while the Chabacano are mainly Christian. There are also a number of smaller groups. Although the official language is Filipino and English, the major language is Yakan, but other languages are well represented, including Tausug, Samal, and Chabacano.
Basilan, although classified as a 4th-Class Province in terms of gross provincial income, has one of the lowest incidence of poverty in the Philippines (26.19% of the general population), ranked 20 among the Philippines' 80 Provinces (in comparison, Maguindanao which is ranked last at no. 80 has a poverty incidence of 44.24%). More importantly, the gap between Basilan's rich and poor residents are among the narrowest in the country (ranked 3rd nationwide), pointing to one of the most equitable distributions of wealth anywhere in the country (GINI Coefficient 0.2826, which is slightly better than the Provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Cavite, Batanes and Batangas).

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Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north. The peninsula faces the South China Sea to the west and Subic Bay to the north-west, and encloses Manila Bay to the east.
The Battle of Bataan is famous in history as one of the last stands of American and Filipino soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese forces in World War II. The Bataan Death March was named for this province, where the infamous march started. This is also a location of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant located in the Municipality of Morong.
Bataan is politically subdivided into 11 municipalities and 1 component city.
The Bataan Peninsula is a rocky extension of the Zambales Mountains, on Luzon in the Philippines. It separates the Manila Bay from the South China Sea. The peninsula features Mount Natib 1,253 m in the north and the Mariveles Mountains in the south, which includes Mount Samat, the location of the historical marker for the Bataan Death March.

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Batac
Batac is a city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is located in the northwest corner of the island of Luzon, about 11.2 km from the eastern shores of the South China Sea. The municipalities of Banna, Currimao, Paoay, Pinili, Sarrat, Marcos and San Nicolas form its boundaries.
According to the latest census, it has a population of 50,675 in 9,882 households.
Batac is known as the "Home of Great Leaders", as it is the hometown of many significant figures in the history of the Philippines. Among them is the former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos. It is also the birthplace of Gregorio Aglipay, the founder of the Philippine Independent Church, better known as the Aglipayan Church, and Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the "Father of the Philippine Army".
Batac is well known for being the home of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), a high-degree granting university that has several branches throughout the province.
Batac is one of the oldest towns in Ilocos Norte. It was founded by the conqiustador Juan de Salcedo in 1577, shortly after he had consolidated Spanish rule in Vigan.^{[citation needed]}

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Batanes
The Province of Batanes^{[pronunciation?]} (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Batanes), also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan. It is the northernmost part of the Philippines and is also the smallest province, both in terms of population and land area.
The island group is located about 162 km north of Luzon and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province, Luzon, by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel.
The provincial capital is Basco on Batan Island and the only other inhabited islands are Itbayat and Sabtang. The northernmost island of the province, making it the northernmost island in the Philippines, is Mavudis (Yami) Island. Other islands in the chain are Misanga, Siayan, Ivuhos, and Dequey.
The province is officially in the region of Cagayan Valley.
The islands are part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc.
The ancestors of today's Ivatans are descended from Austronesians who migrated to the Batanes Islands 4000 years ago during the Neolithic period. They lived in fortified mountain areas called idjangs and drank sugar-cane wine, or palek. They also used gold as currency and produced a thriving agriculture-based industry. They were also seafarers and boat-builders.

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Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the island of Mindoro and to the west lies the South China Sea. Poetically, Batangas is often referred to by its ancient name Kumintang.
Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Metro Manila. The province has many beaches and is famous for excellent diving spots including Anilao in Mabini, Sombrero Island in Tingloy, Ligpo Island in Bauan, these areas more popularly known as Anilao. Matabungkay in Lian, Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Calatagan and Laiya in San Juan.
Batangas is also where Taal Volcano, one of the Decade Volcanoes is located. It is also where the Taal Heritage town lies, a small picturesque town that has ancestral houses and structures dating back to the 1800s.
The first recorded name of the Province was Kumintang, after the Datu who inherited the dominion from Datu Balensusa. Its centre, the present day Balayan, was the most progressive town of the Province and the traditional centre of governance. Later, as the eruption of the Taal Volcano destroyed a significant portion of the town, the provincial centre was transferred to Taal, which was then called Bonbon and the name of the province was changed after that of the town.

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Batangas City
Coordinates: 13°45′25.96″N 121°3′29.2″E / 13.7572111°N 121.058111°E / 13.7572111; 121.058111
Batangas City (Filipino: Lungsod ng Batangas) is the largest and capital city of the Province of Batangas, Philippines. Known as the "Industrial Port City of CALABARZON", Batangas City is currently classified as one of the fastest urbanizing cities of the Philippines. According to the latest census, the city has an approximate population of 295 231 people in 50 223 households.
The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City since 1572 due to group masturbation. Finally on 1581 Spanish authorities governing the Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill (now Hilltop) where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the formal end of the Coumintang Kingdom. The town was named "Batangan" because huge logs, locally called "batang", abounded in the place. The Spanish government appointed Don Agustin Casilao as Batangan's first gobernadorcillo. Said title of "little governor" as head of the pueblo or municipio was replaced in 1894 by "capital municipal." It is not clear who succeeded Casilao nor is it known whether there were subsequent appointments of capital municipal. Don Agustin Casilao is sometimes referred to as Agustino or Augustino in some sources. By 1870, its barangays were Balagtas, Bilogo, Bolbok, Bukal, Catandala, Konde, De La Paz, Kumintang Ibaba, Matuko, Mapagong, Paharang Kanluran, Pairang, Pinamucan, Patulo, Sampaga, San Agapito, San Isidro ang Talahib.

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Bayawan
Bayawan City is a 2nd class component city in the 3rd Congressional District of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,074 people.
Bayawan is located around 101 kilometers from the provincial capital Dumaguete City and near the provincial border with Negros Occidental. It is a coastal city with a land area of 699 km², the largest in the province. Mabinay bounds it to the north, Tanjay City and Bais City to the east, Sta. Catalina to the southeast and Basay to the west and it also shares a boundary with Kabankalan City of Negros Occidental on the northwest.
Bayawan used to be known as New Tolong, and only had its modern name starting 1952.
Bayawan City has two distinct climate seasons: the dry season, well pronounced in the months of January to May; and the wet season, in the months of June to December.
Bayawan became a chartered city in December 2000. It boasts its distinction as a "Character City" (International Association of Character Cities) and a pioneer "Healthy City" (DOH certified) in the Philippines. Recently, the Asian Institute of Management recognized the city as "one of the Top 10 Best Cities to Live In in the Philippines (Small Cities Category)" under its Competitive Cities Survey 2007.

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Baybay
The City of Baybay, (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Baybay, Waray: Syudad Han Baybay Filipino: Lungsod ng Baybay) is a component city located in the Province of Leyte, Philippines. It is situated on the western coast of the province of Leyte. It is bounded by Camotes Sea on the west, Albuera, Leyte on the north, Inopacan, Leyte on the south, Burauen, Leyte, La Paz, Leyte and MacArthur, Leyte on the northeast, Javier, Leyte on the east, and Abuyog, Leyte and Mahaplag, Leyte on the southeast.
It has a Type 4 climate, which is generally wet. Its topography is generally mountainous in the eastern portion as it slopes down west towards the shore line. Generally an agricultural city, the common means of livelihood are farming and fishing. Some are engaged in hunting and in forestal activities. The most common crops grown are rice, corn, abaca, root crops, fruits, and vegetables. Various cottage industries can also be found in Baybay such as bamboo and rattan craft, ceramics, dress-making, fiber craft, food preservation, mat weaving, metal craft, Philippine furniture manufacturing and other related activities.

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Bayugan
Bayugan is a city in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. It has a population of 99,361 according to the NSO Census of 2010. The City is classified as a third class city according to The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160). Being the only city in the 1st Congressional Disctrict and the only city in the province of Agusan del Sur, Bayugan serves as "The Growth Center" of the province.
Located at the northern part of Agusan del Sur, Bayugan is the "cutflower capital" of the province owing to its lucrative cut flower industry. The city's climate, especially in the highland barangays, is conducive to high yield cutflower production. The city is also one of the major producers of rice and vegetables in the province, even providing the needs of neighboring municipalities and provinces. In year 2008 Bayugan has a combined income and financial resources of approximately ₱405, 151, 000. And in the same year, Bayugans Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) amounted to ₱385, 000, 000.

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Benguet
Benguet [beŋˈɡet] is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya.
Baguio, a popular tourist destination in the country, is located in the interior of the province, however, the city is independent of the province.
Cordilleran, is an unofficial and relatively recent term for the people of the hill tribes of Luzon, Philippines, who are residing in the Cordillera region. This term is an attempt at political correctness, since a current term, Igorot, has caused controversy due to its perceived negative stigma.
Based on the May 2000 census, Benguet has a total population of 330,129, which makes it the most populous province in the region. This figure is up by 16,296 from 313,833 persons recorded in the 1995 census, giving an annual growth rate of 1.09% during the 5-year period—much, much lower than the national average of 2.43%. If this growth rate were maintained, Benguet would double its population in approximately 64 years.

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Biliran
Biliran is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. An island province, Biliran lies just a few kilometers north of Leyte Island. Its capital is Naval. Biliran is one of the country's smallest and newest provinces, being formerly a part (sub-province) of Leyte until achieving full-fledged provincehood in 1992.
During the early Spanish era, what is now called Biliran Island was known as Isla de Panamao. The term refers to an ethnic fishing net. The present name, believed to be adopted sometime between the late 17th century and the early 18th century, was, according to many publications, derived from a native grass called borobiliran which once grew abundantly on the island's plains. A contending theory states that the name came from the word bilir, which was defined in an old Visayan dictionary to be the “corner or edge of a boat, vase or anything protruding, like veins, or the furrow made by the plow.” The dictionary also gives biliran as an alternate spelling for bilir. This theory is supported by the fact that Biliran was site of the first large-scale shipyard, built in the 17th century. Galleons were built to support the Galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco in Mexico.

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Bislig
Coordinates: 8°12′47.29″N 126°18′57.38″E / 8.2131361°N 126.3159389°E / 8.2131361; 126.3159389
Bislig City is a 3rd class city in the province of Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. Bislig is approximately 208 kilometers northeast of Davao City, 152 kilometers south of Tandag City (the provincial capital) and 158 southeast of Butuan City. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 111,133 people in 20,402 households.
Barangay Mangagoy, the downtown area often dubbed as "the little city within the city", is the center of trade and industry of Bislig which has a population of 50,000. It is the largest barangay in the city and happens to be arguably the largest barangay in the entire Philippines in terms of land area. It houses national and local banks. Telecommunication such as Internet, cellular phones, cable televisions and leased data lines are well-available in the vicinity of Mangagoy. There are also accommodating inns and hotels, as well as motorized tricycles, jeepneys, and buses ply its concrete roads and highways.

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Biñan
The City of Biñan (In Filipino: Lungsod ng Biñan) is a first class component city in the Republic of the Philippines. It is located in the Province of Laguna, in the island of Luzon, and also accessible from Metro Manila via the South Luzon Expressway, Biñan City has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines' largest industrial estates and export processing zones. Before it was converted into a city, Biñan was the richest municipality in the Philippines with an annual gross income of ₱677 million and net income of ₱250 million, as of 2007 by the Commission On Audit. According to the latest census, it has a population of 283,396, making it the third largest in population in the province of Laguna, after Calamba City, and San Pedro.
Biñan City comes second in Laguna coming from Metro Manila next to San Pedro. The city is one of three comprising the first congressional district of Laguna (San Pedro and Santa Rosa City are the others).

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Bohol
Bohol is a first class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.26 square kilometres (1,589.68 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometres (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.
The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world. The Philippine Tarsier, considered the second-smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island.

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Borongan
The City of Borongan is a component city and the provincial capital of the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of San Julian, in the south by the municipality of Maydolong, in the west by the Samar municipalities of Hinabangan, Calbiga, Pinabacdao and Basey, and in the east by the Pacific Ocean. Its cityhood was settled by the Supreme Court of the Philippines when it decided with finality on April 12, 2011 the constitutionality of its city charter, Republic Act 9394, which conferred upon and elevated the status of the municipality of Borongan into a component city of the province of Eastern Samar.
The City of Borongan is located along the middle coastal part of the province of Eastern Samar. The city proper itself is situated along the northern banks of the Lo-om River and is set back a little distance away from the shoreline of Borongan Bay. The province itself comprises a part of the Eastern Visayas region (Region VIII) of the Republic of the Philippines.

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Bukidnon
Bukidnon (/buːˈkɪdnɒn/; Cebuano: Probinsiya sa Bukidnon; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Bukidnon) is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.
Bukidnon is considered by Filipinos to be the food basket of Mindanao. It is the major producer of rice and corn in the region. Plantations in the province also produce pineapples, bananas and sugarcane.
There are no seaports in the province, although there is an airport in Malaybalay City. The airport is currently closed. To get to Bukidnon, one must travel by land from Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province.
Bukidnon became a part of Misamis in the latter part of 1850. The whole area was then called Malaybalay (few houses) and the people were known as Bukidnons (mountain people). The Philippine Commission, then headed by Commissioner Dean C. Worcester, Secretary of Interior, proposed the separation of Bukidnon from Misamis Province. On August 20, 1907, the Philippine Commission Act No. 1693 was enacted the Province of Agusan and sub- province of Bukidnon. Bukidnon became a regular province on March 10, 1917 by virtue of the creation of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu under Act 2711.

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Bulacan
Bulacan (Filipino: Bulakan) (PSGC: 031400000; ISO: PH-BUL), officially called the Province of Bulacan (or Lalawigan ng Bulakan in Filipino) or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region (Region 3) in the island of Luzon, north of Manila (the nation's capital), and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. Bulacan was established 15 August 1578.
It has 569 barangays from 21 municipalities and 3 component cities (Malolos, the capital city; Meycauayan; and San Jose del Monte). Bulacan is located immediately north of Metro Manila. Bordering Bulacan are the provinces of Pampanga to the west, Nueva Ecija to the north, Aurora and Quezon to the east, and Metro Manila and Rizal to the south. Bulacan also lies on the north-eastern shore of Manila Bay.
Bulacan prides itself for its rich historical heritage. The province figures prominently in Philippine History. Many national heroes and political figures were born in Bulacan. The province was also one of the first to revolt against Spain. The province is honored as one of the 8 rays of the sun in the national flag. It is the home of the "Three Republics." These are the Republic of Real de Kakarong de Sili (1896) in Pandi, the Republic of Biak-na-Bato (1897) and the very first Philippine Republicin Malolos(1899–1901). In recognition thereof, these three republics established in Bulacan have been incorporated in the official seal of the province of Bulacan.

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Butuan
The City of Butuan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Butuan; Butuanon: Dakbayan hong Butuan) is the regional center of Caraga, serving as an administrative region of the Philippines; it is a highly urbanized city. It is located at the northeastern part of Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del Norte, to the east by Agusan del Sur and to the northwest by Butuan Bay. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 309,709 people.
The name "Butuan" is believed to have originated from the sour fruit, batuan. Other etymology sources say that it comes from a certain "Datu Buntuan", a chieftain who once ruled over Butuan.^{[citation needed]}
Butuan was the capital of Agusan del Norte until 2000 when Republic Act 8811 transferred the capital to Cabadbaran City. However many of the provincial government offices are still located there, including the provincial capitol, as are many the Caraga regional offices of the national government agencies.

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Cabadbaran
Cabadbaran is the capital city in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines. It has a population of 69,241 according to the NSO Census of 2010. Founded in 1894, the city rose from its Spanish period beginnings to become the premier town of Agusan del Norte. Its rich cultural heritage is evident in its preserved colonial period houses and its archaeological collections. Following its recent declaration as a city, it is also the officially designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811.
Cabadbaran is politically subdivided into 31 barangays.
CABADBARAN, as a community, is very old, so old that one could trace its existence back to 1200A.D. Traces of the existence of 12th century villages could be found along ancient waterways dissecting the territory now called Cabadbaran. Along the old creeks of Caasinan, Cambuayon and Capudlusan, pre-Spanish Cabadbaranons once lived, worked and died during the 9th -12th centuries, contemporaneous with the old archaeological sites in Butuan City. Artifacts from these pre-Spanish villages could be found today at the Cabadbaran City Artifacts Gallery now temporarily housed at the City Library.

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Cabanatuan
The City of Cabanatuan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Cabanatuan) is a first class, partially urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commercial, industrial and educational hub of the province. According to the latest census, it has a population of 259,267 people in 45,424 households which makes it the largest city in the province and fifth all over the region. In terms of income and economic growth, Cabanatuan is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It has a metropolitan population of +500,000. It's a bustling city home to many jeepneys and tricycles. It bears the title as the "Tricycle Capital of the Philippines", because it has about over 38,202 (as of September 2009) registered tricycles.
Cabanatuan City is situated about the middle of Nueva Ecija. It is bounded by the municipalities of Santa Rosa to the south, Palayan City and Laur to the east, General Mamerto Natividad and Talavera to its north and Aliaga at its west side. From Manila, Cabanatuan is about 111 kilometers by NLEX by Santa Rita exit and through the Pan-Philippine Highway along the length of Bulacan province. Since the opening of the SCTEX most motorists prefer travelling the whole of NLEX to SCTEX exiting in La Paz, Tarlac and on to Zaragoza and Santa Rosa in Nueva Ecija to Cabanatuan City.

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Cagayan
Cagayan (/kɑːɡəˈjɑːn/kah-gə-YAHN), the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao to the west, and Kalinga and Isabela to the south. Cagayan province is distinct from the city in Mindanao named Cagayan de Oro, and is far away from Cagayancillo of Palawan or Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island in the Sulu Sea.
Present day chroniclers say that the name was derived from the word “tagay,” a kind of plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. Thus, “Catagayan” which means a place where the tagay grows abundantly was shortened to “Cagayan,” the present name of the province.
In 1581, Captain Juan Pablo Carreon came to Cagayan with one hundred fully equipped soldiers with their families by order of Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñaloza, the fourth Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, to explore the Cagayan Valley and to force the conversion of the natives to Catholicism as well as to establish ecclesiastical missions and towns throughout the valley. This was the first batch of Spanish settlers in the Cagayan Valley who introduced Spanish culture and Latin civilization, subverting native culture, customs, and tradition.

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Cagayan de Oro
Cagayan de Oro; ( /kəˈɡaɪən deɪ ˈɔəroʊ/ kə-GY-ən day OHR-oh; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro), officially the City of Cagayan de Oro, is the provincial capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It lies along the northern coastline of the island of Mindanao in the country's southern portion.
It is the regional center of Northern Mindanao, and the metropolitan center of Metro Cagayan de Oro. According to the 2010 Census, the city has an estimated population of 602,088 inhabitants.
Cagayan de Oro is known as the "City of Golden Friendship" (Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigala-ay in Cebuano, as the phrase appears on the city's seal). The name Cagayan de Oro may appear abbreviated as CDO, CDOC, CdeO or Cag. de Oro.
There are also other places in the Philippines with a Cagayán name. One must distinguish Cagayan de Oro from Cagayan province in Northern Luzon and the Cagayan Islands in the Sulu Sea.
The name Cagayán de Oro can be traced back during the arrival of the Spanish Augustinian Recollect friars in 1622, the area around Himologan (now Huluga), was already known as "Cagayan".

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Calapan
Calapan City is a 2nd class component city in the Fist Congressional District in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines and serves as the provincial capital. It is known most distinctly as the "Gateway to the Golden Isle" but is also referred to with other different titles such as "The Discipline City", "The City of the Golden Grains", "The Acropolis of the South", and "The Provincial Capitol" . According to the 2010 LGPMS Census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households. Its citizens are called Calapeños.
The city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing. However, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the country for the last 10 years. Calapan City also serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island with ships that travels to and from the Batangas City International Seaport. Calapan City is 45 minutes away from Batangas City and is accessible by ferry boat and RORO ships.

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Calbayog
Calbayog City (Waray: Syudad san Calbayog, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Calbayog, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Calbayog) is a first class city in the province of Samar, Philippines. It lies along the coastal region of the province stretching about 60 miles (97 km) from the northern tip of the island and 180 miles (290 km) from southern boundaries. Calbayog comprises 157 barangays, 25 of which are urban and 132 are rural. According to the 2010 census, Calbayog has a population of 172,778 (37,395 households) making it the third most populated city in Eastern Visayas and the most populated city in Samar Island, the city alone makes up for 23.5% of the population of the province of Samar. Calbayog is one of the commercial trade centers in Eastern Visayas. And is the center of commerce in Samar. Its airport and a seaport make it an ideal gateway to Samar. Calbayog is subdivided into three major districts: Calbayog, Tinambacan, and Oquendo.
Calbayog's early history has been associated with the introduction and spread of Catholicism in the country. Calbayog started as one of the small settlements in the Island of Samar, an area assigned to the Jesuit missionaries. Jesuit chroniclers, as early as the 17th century, notably Fr. Ignacio Alcina, wrote many accounts about it and its people. Jesuit records and reports referred to the settlement initially as Ibatan and Jibatang (Hibatang). In the annual report of 1739 the name Calbayog appeared for the first time. Fr. de Huerta, a 19th century Franciscan writer, noted in his work Estado Geografico that in earlier times, Calbayog was called Tiayban for having been founded near a river of the same name. Then it was transferred due to a flood to the shore of the Hibatang River, whose name it took. Then again the settlers transferred to the place that they permanently occupied and took the name Calbayog.

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Caloocan
The City of Caloocan (official name: Makasaysayang Lungsod ng Kalookan, The Historic City of Caloocan) is one of the cities and municipalities that comprises the Metro Manila region (National Capital Region) in the Philippines. It is a major residential area inside Metro Manila. Located just north of the capital City of Manila, Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,378,856 as of the 2007 census.
Caloocan City is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City of Manila and is bounded by Malabon City and Valenzuela City to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila; it lies east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of San Jose del Monte City, and Marilao in the province of Bulacan. Northern Caloocan City is much larger than its southern counterpart.
Caloocan City is divided into 188 barangays. The city uses a hybrid system for its barangays - all barangays have their corresponding numbers but only a few - mostly in the northern part - have corresponding names.

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Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte (Filipino:Hilagang Kamarines) is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.
Camarines Norte has a population of 513,785 as of 2007, roughly 10% of the region's population of 5,109,798 and 0.62% of the country's population of 88,574,614. Bikol is the major language spoken, together with Tagalog and English as second or third languages.
The four major manufacturing and processing industries in the province are jewelry craft, gifts/toys/housewares, pineapple and coconut industry.
The province of Camarines Norte is found in the northwestern coast of the Bicol Peninsula, which form the southeastern section of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago.
One of the six provinces that make up Region V (Bicol), it is bounded on the north by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Pacific Ocean and San Miguel Bay, in the west of Lamon Bay, and in the south by Quezon province and the adjoining province of Camarines Sur.

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Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur (Tagalog: Timog Camarines) is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the island province of Catanduanes across Maqueda Channel.
Camarines Sur is the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region both in terms of population and land area. Its territory encompasses two cities: Naga City, the lone chartered city, is the province's and the region's most progressive city, also commercial, financial, and cultural center, while Iriga City, a component city, is the center of the Rinconada area and Riŋkonāda Language. Lake Buhi is where the smallest commercially harvested fish can be found, the Sinarapan or tabyos (Mistichthys luzonensis).
Population. According to the May 2010 census, there is a total of 2,693,821 residents in Camarines Sur, making it the most populous in the region and the 7th most populous in the whole country. The same census also states that Camarines Sur has 288,172 households with an average household size of 5.37 persons, significantly higher than the national average of 4.99. The annual growth rate is 1.86%, much lower than the national growth rate of 2.36%. This rate of growth will double the population of Camarines Sur in 8 years.

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Camiguin
Camiguin is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about 10 km (6.2 mi) off the northern coast of Mindanao. It is politically part of the Northern Mindanao Region of the country and formerly a part of Misamis Oriental province. Camiguin is the second-smallest in the country both in population and land area after Batanes.Mambajao is the capital of the province and its largest municipality both in area and population.
Camiguin is a pearl-shaped island with an area of approximately 238 km² (92 sq mi). The island measures about 23 kilometres (14 mi) at its longest and 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) at its widest breadth.. The island is mountainous with the highest elevation reaching over 5,000 ft (1,500 m). It is encircled by a national road with a total length of about 64 kilometres (40 mi). As of the August 1, 2007 census, the province has a 5th class income classification with a population of 81,293.
The province of Camiguin is divided into five municipalities, the largest of which is Mambajao. The towns are further subdivided into a total of 58 barangays. The five municipalities are:

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Candon
Candon City is a 4th class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 56,270 people in 10,257 households. Dubbed as the "Tobacco Capital of the Philippines" the city is the country's largest producer of Virginia-type tobacco. As the district center of southern Ilocos Sur, the city plays a vital role in the development of adjacent municipalities.
This once small resort town is known for making the heaviest and largest calamay, a sweet and sticky snack made from sticky rice, coconut milk and sugar, in the world. This City also has a rich historical background. In its legends, the name of the city is derived from the legendary "kandong" tree which is now but extinct in the area. Its patron saint is John of Sahagun and his feast day is celebrated every June 12.
Candon City is the center of the 2nd district of Ilocos Sur. Government District offices are all located in the city. The city plays an important part in the growth and development of the 2nd district of Ilocos Sur. The city supports more than 100,000 citizens in terms of commercial and industrial services.

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Canlaon
Canlaon City is a 4th class city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,627 people. Canlaon is located 168 km from the provincial capital Dumaguete. It is bordered on the east by Vallehermoso and on the south by Guihulngan.
Canlaon is home to the highest peak in the province, Canlaon Volcano, which is 2,465 meters above sea level at its highest point.
During the Second World War, the Japanese Imperial Army captured Canlaon City in April 1942 right after the Battle of Bataan. The Japanese occupation of the City ended in early 1945 when soldiers from the Eighth United States Army under Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger landed in Negros Island to drive out the Japanese. In liberating Negros Island, they were assisted by newly-formed Philippine Commonwealth military forces & Filipino guerillas who helped in clearing out Japanese pockets of resistance throughout the island. In fact, the honor of liberating Canlaon City from the Japanese went to Philippine Commonwealth soldiers belonging to the 7th, 71st, 73rd and 75th Infantry Regiments of the Philippine Army, the 7th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and Filipino Guerillas.

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Capiz
Capiz (Filipino:Kapis) is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north. Capiz is known for its mother-of-pearl shells that have the same name and are used for decoration, making lampshades, trays, window doors. Capiz is known as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.
There are two main versions of how Capiz got its name: 1) Akean and Kapid (meaning "twins") which Balingangan, Datu Bangkaya's eldest son, names his territories in honor of his twin daughters. 2) When the Spaniards established a settlement, they found an abundance of a mollusk called pios or kapid, the old native name which has also come to known as Capiz.
Historians and ethnologists narrowed down to three types of people known to have inhabited Capiz: Aeta, popularly known as Negritos; Indonesians descendants of the Mundo tribe in central Panay; and the Malays.

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Caraga
Caraga is an administrative region of the Philippines, on the northeastern portion of the island of Mindanao. It is the newest region in the Philippines and is also called Region XIII. The Caraga Region was created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 25, 1995. The region is composed of five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands; six cities: Bayugan, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao, Tandag, Bislig; 67 municipalities and 1,311 barangays. Butuan City is the regional center.
The "Kalagans", called "Caragans" by the Spaniards, occupied the district composed of the two provinces of Surigao, the northern part of Davao Oriental and eastern Misamis Oriental. The two Agusan provinces were later organized under the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao and became the independent Agusan province in 1914. In 1960, Surigao was divided into Norte and Sur, and in June 1967, Agusan followed suit. While Butuan then was just a town of Agusan, the logging boom in the 1950s drew business to the area. On August 2, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act 523, the City Charter of Butuan was approved.

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Carcar
Carcar is a city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 107,323 people.
In 2005, Metro Cebu's definition was expanded to include Danao City in the north, and the municipality of San Fernando and the then town of Carcar (made a city in 2007) down south.
Carcar is located approximately 40 km south of Cebu City. It is bounded on the north by San Fernando; on the south by Sibonga; on the west by Barili and Aloguinsan; and on the east by the Bohol Strait. It has a land area of approximately 116.78 km².
The land is generally level with less than 18% slope composing of 78.7% of the total land area. Areas with slopes ranging from 18 to 50% cover 19.3% of the total land area and those over 50% slope comprise approximately 1.9%. The highest recorded elevation is a little over 660 meters above sea level, located within the barangay of Napo.
The wet season occurs during the months of May to October and the dry season, from January to May.
The Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is home to various Spanish to American period structures. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several Heritage structures, the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand. Walking towards Sta. Catalina street one will surely be astonished with the quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details.

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Catanduanes
Catanduanes (Filipino:Katandwanes) is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.
"Isla de Cobos" was Catanduanes' first adopted name. It was earned as such during the early part of 1573 when Spanish conquistadores came upon several tribes living in the thatched huts called cobos.
Catanduanes, is a hispanized term derived from the word tandu, a native beetle and the samdong tree, which were both found in abundance throughout the island. Common reference to "katanduan" or "kasamdongan", meaning a place where the tandu or the samdong tree thrives in abundance, led to the coining of the word Catanduanes.
The scions of the then Bornean Datus who had moved on the island of Panay and then, spread out throughout the archipelago were the first settlers to have set foot in Catanduanes. The island was not spared from the adventurous raids of the Moros who came from the island of Mindanao. Because of these destructive raids, many records of the past were destroyed and lost.

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Catbalogan
Catbalogan City is the city capital of Samar Province, Philippines with a population of 94,317 (2010 Census). It is Samar's main commercial, trading, educational, political and financial center. It is also an important and major seaport serving inter-island vessels. Catbalogan City's central geographical location in Eastern Visayas makes it ideal as the gateway to the region's three Samar provinces.
Catbalogan City was founded or settled sometime in October 1596, by the priests of the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus). Friar Francisco de Otazo, S.J., who arrived in the Philippines in 1596, founded the Catbalogan mission and was thus the first missionary to bring the Catholic faith to the people of Catbalogan. In 1627, Catbalogan was raised to the status of residencia (residence or central house) and among its dependencies was Paranas where in 1629 Father Pedro Estrada actively evangelized the area. On October 17, 1768, Catbalogan was ceded to the Franciscans who took over from the Jesuits. The first Franciscan parish priest was Fray Jose Fayo, OFM.

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Cavite
Cavite (Filipino: Kabite) is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south. To the west lies the South China Sea.
The name "Cavite" comes the Hispanicized form of kawit or it is a corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words for "hook," in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting into Manila Bay. The name originally only applied to the peninsula (Cavite La Punta, now Cavite City) and the adjacent lowland coastal area (Cavite Viejo, now Kawit). Cavite City used to serve as the capital of the province until 1954, and as with many other provinces organized during the Spanish colonial era, the name of the capital was applied to the whole province.
Another theory proposes that the name is a Hispanicized form of kabit, Tagalog for "joined," "connected," or "attached," referring to the peninsula's topographical relation to the mainland.

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Cavite City
The City of Cavite (Caviteño Chavacano: Ciudad de Cavite) is a fourth classcity in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city occupies a hook shaped peninsula jutting out into Manila Bay. Cavite City used to be the capital of the province. The historic island of Corregidor and the adjacent islands and detached rocks of Caballo, Carabao, El Fraile and La Monja found at the mouth of Manila Bay are part of the city's territorial jurisdiction.
The city lies 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest from Manila by road. It borders the municipality of Noveleta to the south. The peninsula encloses Bacoor Bay to the southeast and Cañacao Bay to the northeast, both small parts of Manila Bay. The city proper is divided into five districts: Dalahican, Santa Cruz, Caridad, San Antonio, and San Roque. These districts are further subdivided into eight zones and a total of 84 barangays. The Sangley Point Naval Base is part of the city and occupies the northernmost portion of the peninsula. This used to be an American military naval base and has since been converted into a special Philippine military base.

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Cebu
Cebu (Cebuano: Sugbo) is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring, smaller islands, which include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands. Cebu has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus and coastal plains. It also has rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's highest mountains are over 1000 meters high. Flat tracts of land can be found in the city of Bogo and in the towns of San Remigio, Medellin and Daanbantayan at the northern region of the province. Its capital is Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines, which forms part of the Cebu Metropolitan Area together with four neighboring cities which include Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City and eight other municipalities. Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Mactan island, is the second busiest airport in the Philippines.

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Cebu City
The City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo) is the capital city of Cebu and is the "second city" in the Philippines with the second most significant metropolitan centre and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.
The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant centre of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Cebu City is the centre of a metropolitan area called Metro Cebu, which includes the cities of Carcar, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay. Metro Cebu has a total population of about 2 million people. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, the towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City and an aquarium attraction are located.

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Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga Sibugay. Its capital is Nabunturan. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao Gulf. Its first elected governor was lawyer Jose Caballero who used to be a lawyer for the mining group in the province.
Majority of the inhabitants are migrants from Cebu, Samar, Bohol and other Visayan provinces. The cultural minorities in the province include the Mansaka, Mandaya, Dibabawons, Mangguangans and Aeta groups such as the Talaingod, Langilan, and Matigsalug.
Arnold Bajo, is the most successful defender of the poor minorities, especially the Mandaya. He died in the battle while defending the poor. According to the legend, 40 days after his death, somebody reported that his spirit come from his body and infused in the statue of Ara-araba, their god of harvest. From then on, people worship him as god in the Mandaya tribe, which he refused as he confessed as follower of Rizal, the original defender of poor.

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Cotabato
Cotabato (also North Cotabato; Filipino:Hilagang Kotabato), is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Kidapawan City and borders Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon to the north, Davao del Norte and Davao City to the east, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat to the southeast, and Maguindanao to the south and west.
The Province of North Cotabato lies on the eastern part of Region XII and is strategically located in the central part of Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, on the east by Davao City and Davao del Norte, on the west by Maguindanao and on the southeast by Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur.
North Cotabato is strategically linked to the major "Arterial Road System" that traverses and connects the province to Davao City - SOCCSKSARGEN - Cotabato Corridor. The Cotabato via Kabacan - Maramag - Kibawe, Bukidnon Sayre Highway meanwhile serves as its link to the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan City Corridor.

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Cotabato City
The City of Cotabato (Malay: Kotabatu) is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province. Cotabato City is distinct from and should not be confused with the province of Cotabato. Cotabato's population was about 271,786 in 2010 census.
Cotabato City had witnessed more history than any other place in Mindanao. Its history dates back to the 15th century when Shariff Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary, landed along the banks of the Rio Grande de Mindanao and introduced Islam to the natives. Islam was the faith that moved the early settlers to communal life, and to establish the Sultanate of Maguindanao with its golden age ushered in by Sultan Dipatuan Qudarat during the 17th century the time when Cotabato City developed as the capital town of Maguindanao.
In the nineteenth century, when Sultan Makakua ruled, roads and wharfs were constructed which gave rise to the birth of modern day Cotabato. However, the then Municipality of Cotabato was first organized at the later part of the 19th century when the Spaniards established a military post at Barangay Tamontaka, one of the earliest Christian settlements.

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Dagupan
The City of Dagupan (Pangasinan: Ciudad na Dagupan) is a independent component city in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. According to the census of May 1, 2010, Dagupan City has a population of 163,676 with an income classification of 2nd class.
Located on the Lingayen Gulf on the island of Luzon, Dagupan is a commercial and a financial center north of Manila. Also, Dagupan is one of the center of medical services, media and communication in Northern Luzon.
Dagupan is among the top producers of milkfish in the province. From 2001-2003, Dagupan’s milkfish production totaled to 35,560.1 metric tons (MT), contributing 16.8 percent to the total provincial production. Of its total production in the past three years, 78.5 percent grew in fish pens/cages while the rest grew in brackishwater fishpond.
The city's name is derived from the local Pangasinense word pandaragupan, meaning "gathering place" as the city has been a regional market center for centuries.
Dagupan City covers a total land area of 3,723 hectares (9,200 acres), bounded by the Lingayen Gulf in the north, San Fabian in the northeast, Mangaldan in the east, Calasiao in the south and Binmaley in the west. Land use is primarily for agriculture with 35.98% of the total land area, fishpond, cropland, residential with 22.88%; others uses are commercial, industrial, institutional, government private, parks, and roads.

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Dapitan
The City of Dapitan (Subanen: Gembagel G'benwa Dapitan/Bagbenwa Dapitan, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dapitan, Spanish/Chavacano: Ciudad de Dapitan) is a 6th class city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 77,441 inhabitants. It is historically significant as being the place where the national hero, Jose Rizal was exiled by the Spaniards and is known as the "Shrine City in the Philippines." The city also boasts of Fantasyland, the first amusement park in the Visayas-Mindanao region. Dapitan is notoriously known as the principal base of the infamous Jalosjos political clan.
Dapitan City is politically subdivided into 50 barangays. In 1955, the sitios of Sipalok, Barcelona, and Potungan were converted into barrios.
Taguilon is home to the Dakak Park and Beach Resort. It is a producer of coconut and agar (based on sea weed) as well as a fishing port. The pier in Taguilon is a secondary/alternate port to the main passenger/cargo port in Dapitan City. Additionally, during severe storms at sea, ferries and other ships find shelter in the Taguilon cove. One can find the mount Lalab overlooking the islets of Silinog and part of Balyangaw.

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Dasmariñas
The City of Dasmariñas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Dasmariñas) is a first class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. It is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Manila. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 556,330 people, making it before the most populous municipality in the Philippines before it was converted into a city. Dasmariñas is now the 11th largest city in the country in terms of population. It has a land area of 90.1 square kilometers (34.8 sq mi).
Dasmariñas City used to be part of Cavite's second congressional district until June 30, 2010. The city has now its own legislative district, although that district is still part of the representation of Cavite (Cavite's 4th legislative district will also be known as the Legislative District of Dasmariñas. It is also the second largest component city in terms of population (556,330 as of 2007), next only to Antipolo. Such population is enough to warrant Dasmariñas another congressional district, and by then deem it independent from the representation of Cavite if the move prospers.

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Davao City
The City of Davao, the de facto capital of Mindanao (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dabaw ; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Dabaw ; Spanish: Ciudad de Davao) is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines.
Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center of Davao Region (Region XI) and the metropolitan center of Metro Davao. It has a population of 1,449,296 according to 2010 NSO Census, making it the country's largest city outside Metro Manila and the second overall with the cities of Metro Manila combined. In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the financial-capital, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The City Mayors Foundation ranks Davao City as the 87th fastest growing city in the world, and it has been listed by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine as the 10th "Asian City of the future".

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Davao del Norte
Davao del Norte (Filipino:Hilagang Dabaw), and once known simply as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south. Davao also includes Samal Island to the south in the Davao Gulf. The province of Compostela Valley used to be part of Davao until it was made into an independent province in 1998. Before 1967, the four provinces—Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley—were once a single province named Davao. The Davao Region covers this historic province.
Davao del Norte has a population of 910,784 as of 2010 LGPMS Census. The population density is 248 per km². Main languages spoken are Bisaya and Davaoeño.
Davao del Norte is a primarily agricultural, but also engages in mining, forestry, and commercial fishing.
The principal crops of the province include rice, maize, banana, coconut, abacá, ramie, coffee, and a variety of fruit and root crops. Davao del Norte is the country's leading producer of bananas, with many plantations run by multinationals Dole and Del Monte, and local producers such as Lapanday, TADECO, and Marsman. Davao del Norte is also one of Mindanao's leading producer of rice.

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Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur (Filipino:Timog Dabaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf. It also shares a water border with the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi to the south.
The beginnings of both Davao Region and Davao del Sur was associated with that of the foundation of Davao, which is the first town to be founded south of the island of Mindanao in 1848, following the conquest of the area by Don Jose Uyanguren of Guipuzcoa, Spain. In 1849, Nueva Guipuzcoa province is founded in the region conquered by Don Uyanguren in what is now Davao Region, with Davao, then called Nueva Vergara, as the provincial capital. Don Uyanguren, then the provincial governadorcillo, made some efforts to develop the areas he conquered, although he failed.
Just thirty-six years after the foundation of Davao, the town of Sta. Cruz was founded in the 5th day of October, 1884, the first town to be founded south of Davao; the town is now the oldest town in the province.

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Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental (Filipino: Silangang Dabaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost location. The Philippine Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, faces Davao Oriental to the east. Part of the province lies on an unnamed peninsula that encloses the Davao Gulf to the west.
The native (and official) language spoken in this province are Kamayo(also knowna as Mandaya). Cebuano is also spoken here, and Chavacano de Davao being spoken by the people from Compostela Valley and Davao City.
Even some of the natives adhere to Christian faith (mostly Catholics), they are syncretic in some of their beliefs. Folklore beliefs include fairies (diwatas).
Homes are usually made out of wood, with bamboo figuring prominently in many rural abodes.
Davao Oriental is the copra (dried coconut meat) producer capital of the Philippines.

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Digos
Digos City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Digos/Siyudad sa Digos; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Digos) is an affluent suburban city in the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. The city strategically lies on the eastern shores of Davao Gulf and southern foothills of Mt. Apo in the island of Mindanao and it is the center city between the two major cities in Mindanao, Davao City and General Santos City . It serves as the seat of the Provincial Government. It shares common boundaries with the municipalities of Hagonoy on the South, Bansalan on the North and Northwest by Siranagan and Miral Creek and with Sta. Cruz on the Northeast. It is bounded on the East by the Davao Gulf. It has a population of 159,569 people in 32,700 households according to the 2010 LGPMS Census.
Digos City is a 1st Class city in the province of Davao del Sur and now a part of (Metropolitan Davao) Metro Davao. Digos City is the capital city in the province of Davao del Sur. It is known for its sweet-juicy 'carabao variety mango' exported for abroad.Thus, dubbed as the Mango Capital City of the Philippines and The Gate City Of The South.

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Dinagat Islands
Dinagat Islands (Filipino: Mga Isla ng Dinagat) (PSGC: 168500000; ISO: PH-DIN) is a province in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. Leyte Island is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south. Its main island, Dinagat, is about 60 km from north to south.
Dinagat Islands had been a part of the First District of Surigao del Norte Province 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.
On February 11, 2010 the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the creation of Dinagat Islands Province null and void on grounds of failure to meet land area and population requirements for the creation of local government units. Dinagat Islands then reverted to Surigao del Norte Province. On March 30, 2011, however, the Supreme Court reversed its ruling from the previous year, and upheld the constitutionality of RA 9355 and the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province.

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Dipolog
The City of Dipolog (Filipino: Lungsod ng Dipolog, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Dipolog, Spanish/Chavacano: Ciudad de Dipolog) (Subanen:Gembagel G'benwa Dipuleg/Bagbenwa Dipuleg) is a 1st class city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Geographically, the city is surrounded by rolling hills to the southeast and the Sulu Sea to the north.
Dipolog is known for its wild orchids and its sardine industry which stems from the rich fishing area off its shores. It is known as the "Gateway to Western Mindanao" through the Western Nautical Highway and has also been called the "Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines."
Dipolog can be reached by plane via Dipolog Airport or by ferry at the nearby Pulauan Port in Dapitan City. The construction of a Roll-on Roll-off facility at Barangay Galas will allow for the eventual transfer of the service to Dipolog while retaining inter-island operations at Pulauan, which is soon to become a base port.
In 2006, a study by the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) found Dipolog City to be the wealthiest city per capita in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Within Dipolog, 23.15% of the population was estimated to be living below the poverty line (households with a per capita expenditure of under $1 a day). In comparison, the NCSB estimated Zamboanga City and Pagadian City as having poverty incidences of 23.81% and 27.15%, respectively. In startling contrast, the poverty rate for the entire province of Zamboanga del Norte (with individuals in both rural and urban settings) was estimated to be 40.36%. Zamboanga del Norte is one of the Philippines's poorest provinces with a poverty incidence rate of 64.6% in 2003, an increase from 47% in the 2000 statistical figures.

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Dumaguete
The City of Dumaguete is a city in the Philippine province of Negros Oriental. It is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city of the province. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 120,883 people. A person from Dumaguete is called a "Dumagueteño". The city is nicknamed The City of Gentle People.
Dumaguete is referred to as a university town because of the presence of four universities and a number of other colleges where students of the province converge to enroll for tertiary education. The city is also a popular educational destination for students of surrounding provinces and cities in Visayas and Mindanao. The city is best known for Silliman University, the country's first Protestant university and the first American private university in Asia. There are also 12 elementary schools and 9 high schools. The city's student population is estimated at 30,000.
The city attracts a considerable number of foreign tourists, particularly Europeans, because of easy ferry access from Cebu City, the availability of beach resorts and dive sites, and the attraction of dolphin and whale watching in nearby Bais City.

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Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar (Filipino:Silangang Samar) is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Borongan. Eastern Samar occupies the eastern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the north is the province of Northern Samar and to the west is Samar province and to the east is the vast Pacific Ocean. Off the coast of Leyte Gulf, the province faces the province of Leyte.
The province of Eastern Samar was created from Samar by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221 on June 19, 1965.
The province occupies a total land area of 4,470.75 km².
The province has a population of 461,300 as of the 2010 census. The common language is Waray.
Eastern Samar is subdivided into 22 municipalities and one city.
The province has two airports; Guiuan Airport and Borongan Airport. Currently, no airline operates out of Borongan Airport in Borongan City while upstart Mid-Sea Express started serving the Guiuan Airport in the town of Guiuan. Mid-Sea Express plies Cebu-Guiuan route to serve tourists going to Calicoan Island.

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Gapan
Gapan City is a 4th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Gapan is nicknamed the "Footwear Capital of the North", and it is an inseparable part of the Rice Granary of the Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,795 people in 18,200 households. It has a land area of 164.44 km².
Gapan City is located in the southern part of the province. It is bounded to the north by Peñaranda and San Leonardo, to the east by the Gen. Tinio, to the south by San Miguel in neighboring Bulacan province, and to the west by San Isidro.
Old records called the town Ibon. How it came to be known as Gapan is an interesting legend: When the place was still wilderness, Spanish soldiers came there on a mission when they saw natives crawling through the thick bushes. The soldier stopped them and, not knowing the local language, asked in Spanish for the name of the place. The natives knew nothing on the Spanish language and, thinking that the Spanish were asking what they were doing, answered in Tagalog, a local language "Gumagapang gapang kami". The Spanish took it as a name and henceforth called The Pueblo Gapang. In time, the letter "g" was dropped and the name Gapan sticks to this day. Another legend stated the name came from the climbing and crawling plants that were so numerous in the locality.

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General Santos
The City of General Santos (known as Dadiangás, and abbreviated G.S.C. or GenSan.; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa General Santos) is the southernmost port city of the Philippines. Being a highly urbanized first class city, GenSan is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 538,086 as per census data of 2010. The city is bounded by municipalities of Sarangani Province namely Alabel in the East of the city, and Maasim in the South. The city is likewise bounded by South Cotabato municipality of Polomolok and Sarangani Province municipality of Malungon in the north, and the municipality of T'boli in the west of the city. General Santos City is the center of commerce, trade, and logistics of Region XII and the South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) growth area.
Organized under the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) of the Commonwealth Government headed by President Manuel L. Quezon, General Paulino Santos led the relocation of 62 Christian settlers from Luzon to the shores of Sarangani Bay aboard the steam ship “Basilan” of Compania Maritima on February 27, 1939. The 62 pioneers (mostly agricultural and trade graduates) were the first big batch of settlers to land in GenSan with the mission to industriously cultivate GenSan's fertile expanse of land. After this first influx of pioneers, thousands more from Luzon and the Visayas have subsequently migrated into the area. This started the displacement of some native B'laan tribe to the mountains and lost their livelihood.

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George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731] – December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States of America, serving from 1789 to 1797, and the dominant military and political leader of the United States from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787. Washington became the first president, by unanimous choice, and oversaw the creation of a strong, well-financed national government that maintained neutrality in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion, and won acceptance among Americans of all types. His leadership style established many forms and rituals of government that have been used since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. Washington is universally regarded as the "Father of his country."

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Gingoog
The City of Gingoog (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Gingoóg; Filipino (Tagalog): Lungsod ng Gingoog) is a 2nd class city in the Province of Misamis Oriental. Pronounced as Hingoog due to Spanish accent of G to H. According to the 2007 Philippine census, the city has an estimated population of about 112,247 people.
The city was founded by Spanish missionaries in 1750. It was the oldest city in Misamis Oriental Province, even older than the province's capital and economic hub, Cagayan de Oro, which was founded in 1871.
The term Gingoog originally came from the word "Hingoog", which means "Goodluck", from a Lumad tribe of Manobo who settled in the area. The word implies good fortune, thus Gingoog City means the City of Good Luck. The natives of this place are the ones with the family names of "Gingco", and "Gingoyon".
In 1957, the sitio of Binuangan was converted into a barrio known as Talisay.
Gingoog is located in the Province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. Situated in Mindanao island, the second giant of the archipelago of all the landmass of the Philippines. The city is approximately 122 kilometers east of Cagayan de Oro City and 74 kilometers west of Butuan City. It is bounded on the east by the Municipality of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, the Province of Bukidnon; the Municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental on the south; and on the north by Gingoog Bay. Its total land area is 744 km².

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Guihulngan
Guihulngan is a city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 93,675 people.
There are several versions how the city derived its name. The first, according to old tales, was attributed to a river flowing directly to the town proper from the main spring in sitio Anahaw, Barangay Nagsaha, hence the name "GUIPADULNGAN" which means the point where the river flows to an end.
The second is associated with the gruesome incident in the 19th Century when the Philippines was a colony of Spain, men, women and children where said to be captured, beheaded and thrown into the sea, now known as Tañon Strait, by the Moros. Other accounts claim that the moros dropped a bell into the sea when they found out that was used by the lookout warn the townsfolk of the coming. Since that time the place was called "GUIHULUGAN" which means, "Place where a thing was dropped". But in the Spanish writing, "U" and "N" are similar that’s why it became and commonly known as GUIHULNGAN.

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Guimaras
Guimaras [ɡimaˈɾas] is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental.
The province includes the islands of Guimaras and Inampulugan and many smaller islands.
Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992.
About 1581, Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñaloza, Spanish governor and captain-general of the Philippine Islands, established a settlement in Guimaras for the purpose of the Christianization of the natives of the island. He and his subordinates organized the pueblicitos or villages of Nayup, with San Pedro Apostol as the patron saint, and Igang, with Sta. Ana as the patroness.
Evangelization of Guimaras occurred around the same time the friars were making inroads in Panay. The Augustinians established the visitas of Nayup and Igang dependent on Oton, Iloilo. Gov. Gen. Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas 20 June 1591 report to the king noted that the friars of Oton made regular visits to the island.

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Hectare
The hectare ( /ˈhɛktɛər/ or /ˈhɛktɑr/; symbol ha) is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres (100 m by 100 m), and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the 'are' was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare ('hecto-' + 'are') was thus 100 'ares' or 1/100 km². A hectare of land is about 2.47 acres.
When the metric system was further rationalised in 1960, resulting in the International System of Units (SI), the are was not included as a recognised unit. The hectare is one of the non-SI units accepted for use with the SI units.
The metric system of measure was first given a legal basis in 1795 by the French Revolutionary government. The law of 18 Germinal, Year III (7 April 1795) defined five units of measure:
Although the law defined the length of the metre, there was no practical way of accurately measuring the metre (and hence the are) until 1799 when the first standard metre was manufactured and adopted.
The standard metre remained in the custody of successive French governments until 1875 when, under the Convention of the Metre, its supervision passed into international control under the auspices of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (GCPM). At the first meeting of the GCPM in 1889 when a new standard metre, manufactured by Johnson Matthey & Co of London was adopted, the are and hectare were automatically redefined.

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Himamaylan
Himamaylan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 88,684 people in 16,878 households. Himamaylan is 83 kilometers south of Bacolod City, the provincial capital. Due to its coastal location, it is a rich source of fish, oysters and mussels.
Himamaylan became a city on March 5, 2001 through a proclamation by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under Republic Act No. 9028. It is the only city in the 5th District of Negros Occidental.
In 1795, Himamaylan became the capital of Negros. At that time, the city served as a garrison for occupying Spanish forces. Today, the old Spanish-built fort constructed as a lookout point for frequent Muslim raids is one of the historical attractions found in the city.
The term "Himamaylan" is a portmanteau of the Hiligaynon words hima and babaylan. It is alleged that the settlement's early Malay inhabitants suffered from a foot malady called hima, and their employment of witch doctors called babaylan caused the Spanish occupiers to call them Himamaylan.

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Homonhon
Homonhon Island is an island in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. It is about 20 km long.
During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. After landing on Homonhon, his crew managed to gather some food. He landed on the island of Homonhon March 16, 1521, when Homonhon was uninhabited. However, he was detected by the boats of Rajah Culambu of Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu, on April 7. Thus Rajah Calambu was an ally of the Rajah of Cebu.
Montoconan, is an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon.It is also the chain of 7,000 islands.
Coordinates: 10°44′N 125°43′E / 10.733°N 125.717°E / 10.733; 125.717

There was no sultanate political structure in the Visayas. Humabon carried the title Datu and not Raja. Raja or Raha is another title for a sultan.

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Ifugao
Ifugao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Covering a total land area of 262,820 hectares, the province of Ifugao is located in a mountainous region characterized by rugged terrain, river valleys, and massive forests. Its capital is Lagawe and borders Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south.
It is named after the term "i-pugo" which means "i" (from/people) and "pugo" (hill), thus people of the hill.
The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras and Banaue Rice Terraces are the main tourist attractions in the province. These 2000-year-old terraces were carved into the mountains, without the aid of machinery, to provide level steps where the natives can plant rice. In 1995, they were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During Spanish occupation, government was established in Kiangan. The Spanish occupation ended with the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. Ifugao used to be part of the former Mountain Province prior to its split into four separate and independent provinces. In 1905, Ifugao was made a sub-province of the old Mountain Province. Captain Pedro Bulan became the first native to become the first provincial governor.

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Iligan
The City of Iligan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Iligan; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Iligan) is a highly urbanized industrial city north of the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately 795 kilometers southeast of Manila. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 322,821 people.
Iligan City had its beginnings in the village of Bayug, four (4) kilometers north of the present Poblacion. It was the earliest pre-Spanish settlement of native sea dwellers. The monotony of indigenous life in the territory was broken when in the later part of the 16th century, the inhabitants were subdued by the Visayan migrants from the island kingdom of Panglao. In the accounts of Jesuit historian Francisco Combes, the Mollucan King of Ternate invaded Panglao. This caused Panglaons to flee in large numbers to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte. In Dapitan, the surviving Prince of Panglao Pagbuaya, received Legazpi's expedition in 1565. Later, Pagbuaya's son Manook was baptized Pedro Manuel Manook. The Christianized Manook subdued the Higaunon village in Bayug and established it as one of the earliest Christian settlements in the country. The settlement survived other raids from other enemies, and, because of their faith in God and in their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel, the early Iliganons moved their settlement from Bayug to Iligan. The name Iligan is from the Higaonon word iligan or ilijan' meaning "fortress of defense" against frequent attacks by pirates and other hostile Mindanao tribes.

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Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte (Ilokano:Amianan nga Ilocos; Filipino:Hilagang Ilokos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.
Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.
In the 330-page The Ilocos Heritage (the 27th book written by Visitacion de la Torre), the Ilocano legacy and the life of the Ilocano – are described as - "the browbeaten, industrious, cheerful, simple soul who has shown a remarkable strain of bravery and a bit of wanderlust." The Ilocano history reveals his struggles and victories – in battles for colonial independence from Spain and America, to Philippine leadership. The new Ilocano searched for greener pastures towards new lands local and foreign - Palawan, Mindanao, Hawaii, the United States and Greece. The Ilocano material culture and spirituality can be seen in the past - images of Spanish santo (saints), antique but intricate wooden furniture and quality local fiber. The native Ilocano is a weaver, wood carver and pottery expert. The Ilocano cuisine – ranges from the exotic "abu-os" (ant eggs) to vegetable broth "dinengdeng," and "pinakbet" the sticky "tinubong" to the "poqui-poqui" (eggplant salad). Ilocandia is filled with colonial churches, the legacy of Spanish Catholicism.

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Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur (Ilokano: Abagatan nga Ilokos, Filipino:Timog Ilokos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital. Ilocos Sur is bordered by Ilocos Norte and Abra to the north, Mountain Province to the east, La Union and Benguet to the south, and the South China Sea to the west.
The historic city of Vigan, which was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in November 1999, is found in this province. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture combines cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Its Kamestizoan District has examples of typical houses with tiled roofs, hardwood floors, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.

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Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province, once part of Iloilo Province but now a province in its own right. Across the Panay Gulf and Guimaras Strait is Negros Occidental. Iloilo's capital is Iloilo City though the city itself is independent and not governed by the provincial government of Iloilo.
According to the 2007 national census, the population of province excluding Iloilo City is 1,691,878. If Iloilo City is included, the population is 2,110,588.
At the time of the Spanish conquest, writing was a new import and the use of organic medium such as leaf and bamboo, and no pre-Hispanic written accounts of Iloilo exist today. Oral history, in the form of recited epics, has survived to a small degree, with a few recordings made from the last known surviving binukots.

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Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo (Filipino: Lungsod ng Iloilo, Hiligaynon: Syudad sang Iloilo or Dakbanwa sang Iloilo) is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area. In the 2007 census, Iloilo City had a population of 418,710 with a 1.8% population annual growth rate. It is bordered by the towns of Oton in the west, Pavia in the north, Leganes in the northeast and the Iloilo Strait in its eastern and southern coastline. The city was a conglomeration of former towns, which are now the geographical districts, composing of: Jaro, Molo, La Paz, Mandurriao, Villa Arevalo, and Iloilo City Proper. The district of Lapuz, a former part of La Paz, was declared a separate district in 2008.
The history of Iloilo City dates back to the Spanish colonial period, starting out as a small and incoherent grouping of fishermen's hamlets from the Iloilo River by a large swamp which after 1855 became the second most important port of call in the colony due to transhipment of sugar products from the neighboring Negros Island. It was later given the honorific title of "La Muy Noble Ciudad" (English: The Most Noble City) by the Queen Regent of Spain . At the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was second to the primate city of Manila, with stores along Calle Real selling luxury products from all over the world, an agricultural experimental station established at La Paz in 1888, a school of Arts and Trades which opened in 1891, and a telephone network system operating in 1894.

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Iriga
The City of Iriga (Bikol: Ciudad nin Iriga; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iriga) is a 4th class city in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is located about 400 kilometers south of Manila, 37 kilometers south of Naga, and about 61 kilometers north of Legazpi City. It is bounded by the town of Buhi in the east, by the municipalities of Baao, Nabua and Bato in the west, by the province of Albay in the south, and by the municipalities of Ocampo and Sangay in the north.
According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 105,919 people in 117,061 households.
Iriga, from a phrase in the language “I raga” which means "there is land", grew from the settlement by the bank of the Bikol River called Bua (Nabua), who^[vague] were looking for higher grounds due to the perennial and disastrous flooding of the town during the rainy season.
Bua was a low marshy terrain easily flooded during the rainy season. Because of this some people including some farmers, upon the advice of Father Felix de Huertas, then parish priest of Nubua, moved to I-raga where they could plant their crops without fear of being flooded.

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Kabankalan
Kabankalan City is a 1st class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 166,845 people in 27,851 households. It is also considered the second most significant and progressive city in Negros Occidental next to Bacolod City.
Kabankalan is over an hour's drive south of Bacolod City by private car while public utility vehicles reach the place in about two hours. The city, which serves as the center of economic activities in southern Negros, is also the take-off point for various destinations down south, and links the province to Dumaguete City, capital of Negros Oriental via the Kabankalan-Mabinay Highway.
The Kabankalan City Domestic Airport will be the second active airport in the province (after the Bacolod-Silay International Airport) and the scheduled completion of the said airport will be on 2014.
The city hosts three major festivals: the Kabankalan Sinulog every third Sunday of January (celebrated together with Cebu City), Udyakan sa Kabankalan and the Charter Anniversary. Kabankalan is also known for its world renowned Mag-aso Falls and the Balicaocao Resort.

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Kalinga
Kalinga (Tagalog pronunciation: [kɐˈliŋɐ]) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, until they were split into two to better service the needs of individual native tribes in the provinces.
Kalinga is subdivided into 1 city and 7 municipalities. Tabuk was proclaimed a component city in 2007, but in November 2008 the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that its cityhood was unconstitutional. However, Tabuk had its city status reinstated by the Supreme Court on December 22, 2009.
The topography of Kalinga province is rugged and sloping with mountain peaks ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 metres (4,900 to 8,200 ft) in elevation. The province’s geographic feature on the western portion is characterized by sharp crested interlinking peaks of steep slopes, isolated flatlands, plateaus and valleys. The eastern portion is generally rolling and gradually sloping foothills.

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Kidapawan
Kidapawan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Cotabato, Philippines per Department of Finance Order No. 20-2005. It is the capital city of Cotabato Province. It is a favorite tourist destination in the late October to December and in the summer, where thousands of tourist climb the majestic Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak.
Kidapawan, the city hailed as “The Spring in the Highlands”, comes from the words “TIDA” which means spring and “PAWAN” meaning highland. The city is found at the bottom of the majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s tallest mountain making it a great spot and first-rate tourist attraction. Kidapawan is situated at the southeastern section of Cotabato province, placed in the middle of three other major cities of Davao, Cotabato, General Santos, Koronadal, and Cagayan de Oro.
Its first settlers were predominantly Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas has resulted in the evolution of the word Tidapawan to Kidapawan. Strategically located at the foot of Mount Apo, the Philippines' tallest peak at 10,311 feet above sea level, Kidapawan City bustles with renewed energy as it opens its doors to the world. Mount Apo and its other scenic attractions make the province of Cotabato a potential world-class tourist destination.

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Koronadal
City of Koronadal, popularly known as Marbel, is a 1st class component city in the Philippines. It is the capital of the province of South Cotabato and regional center SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII). According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,074.
Koronadal became a component city of South Cotabato by virtue of Republic Act 8803 dated October 8, 2000. In 2003 and 2005 the city was recognized as "Most Competitive City" in the small-city category, and in 2005 and 2006 as the most business friendly city in Mindanao. Koronadal also hosted several national activities such as the Palarong Pambansa in 1996 with GenSan and solo in 2008, Mindanao Business Forum, and National Schools Press Conference.
Koronadal is one of the cities in Mindanao which its native speakers are Ilonggos, the other being Tacurong. 80% of the Population are Hiligaynon Speakers while 20% are Cebuanos, due to its proximity in GenSan and Davao City, and Ilocanos. Koronadal, together with its big brother GenSan are not sectarian cities thus Christians and Muslims live harmoniously in the city. Today, Koronadal is small bustling city that moves to the progress of all people in South Cotabato.

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La Union
La Union is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region or Region 1 in Luzon, whose capital is San Fernando City and borders Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, and Pangasinan to the south. To the west of La Union is the South China Sea.
Ninety-three percent of the population is Ilocano and is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. There are communities of Pangasinense in the south, Igorots in the Cordillera foothills, and Chinese in the city.
La Union is highly literate, with San Fernando City as the administrative, educational, and financial center of the region.
The economy is diversified with service, manufacturing, and agricultural industries spread throughout the province. The Port of San Fernando operates as an increasingly active shipping point, and the former American airbase Wallace Air Station, having been converted into a business and industrial area, helps to facilitate such commercial activity.
Tourism to the province is driven by airlines and passenger coach bus lines like regionally owned Farinas Transit Company,Viron Transit,Dominion Bus Lines and Partas.

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Lamitan
Lamitan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Lamitan) is a 5th Class city in the province of Basilan, Mindanao, Philippines. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 82,074.
The City is bounded on the east by the municipality of Tuburan, on the south by Tipo-Tipo, on the west by Isabela City and on the north by Basilan Strait.
The terrain is relatively plain along the coastal areas and hilly in some areas. The urban area is 2.5 meters above sea level and gently sloping to 300 meters toward the hinterlands.
The climatic condition is the same with other areas in the entire Basilan Island. It has a "D" type of climate and rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
On June 18, 2007 voters in Lamitan ratified Republic Act 9393, An Act Converting the Municipality of Lamitan in the province of Basilan into a component City to be known as the City of Lamitan.
According to Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, 26,636 voted "yes" while only 177 voted against the ratification of RA 9393. Lamitan has 34,909 registered voters.

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Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Norte (Filipino: Hilagang Lanaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod. The province borders Lanao del Sur to the southeast, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Illana Bay to the southwest, Iligan Bay to the north, Iligan City to the northeast, and is separated from Misamis Occidental by Panguil Bay to the northwest. According to the 2007 census, the province has a total population of 538,283.
Republic Act No. 2228 divided Lanao in to two (2) provinces giving birth to Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur. The new province was inaugurated on July 4, 1959 making Iligan City as the capital. Salvador T. Lluch was the first Governor of Lanao del Norte. Second was Mohammad Ali Dimaporo, from January 1960 to September 1965 when Governor Dimaporo ran and won the congressional seat of the province. By operation of the law of succession, Vice Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza became the third Provincial Chief Executive of the province. By the mandate of the inhabitants, Governor Quibranza was elected Governor in 1967 and almost unanimously re-elected in 1971 and again in 1980.

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Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur (Filipino:Timog Lanaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao.
Maranao is the most commonly spoken language in the province. Also spoken are Tagalog as well as English and Arabic.
Points of interest in the province include:
Lanao del Sur is subdivided into 39 municipalities and 1 city.
Lanao del Sur forms the western portion of Northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Lanao del Norte, on the east by Bukidnon, on the west by Illana Bay, and on the south by Maguindanao and Cotabato. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills and valleys, placid lakes and rivers.
The climate in the province is characterized by even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, without a distinct summer season. The province is located outside the typhoon belt.

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Laoag
The City of Laoag (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Laoag; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Laoag) is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte, and the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub. It is the location of the Ilocos region's only commercial airport. The municipalities of San Nicolas, Paoay, Sarrat, Vintar, and Bacarra form its boundaries. The foothills of the Cordillera Central mountain range to the east, and the South China Sea to the west are its physical boundaries.
Laoag experiences the prevailing monsoon climate of Northern Luzon, characterized by a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October, occasionally visited by powerful typhoons.
According to the latest census, it had a population of 102,457 people in 19,751 households.
"Laoag" (Ilocano for "light or clarity"), is an old, flourishing settlement known to Chinese and Japanese traders when the Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo arrived at the northern banks of Padsan River in 1572. Augustinian missionaries established the Roman Catholic Church in the area in 1580 and designated Saint William, the Hermit as its patron saint.

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Las Piñas
The City of Las Piñas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Las Piñas) (population: 532,330, 2007 Census) is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It is bounded on the north and northeast by the Parañaque City; on the east and southeast by Muntinlupa City; on the south by the Municipality of Imus, Cavite; on the southwest and west by the Municipality of Bacoor, Cavite; and on the northwest by the scenic Manila Bay. Half of its land area is residential and the remaining half is used for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The present physiography of Las Piñas City consists of three zones: Manila Bay, coastal margin and Guadalupe Plateau.
The city is bisected by Real (Spanish for Royal) Street, also known as the Alabang-Zapote Road . It forms part of the Maharlika Highway which spans the whole country. The Alabang–Zapote Road connects the South Luzon Expressway which passes through Muntinlupa City in the east to the Coastal Road along Manila Bay.
The Coastal Road, despite its name, is a major tollway which runs the southern length of Metro Manila's shoreline with Manila Bay. It is an important artery for people commuting to and from Las Piñas City and Cavite to Manila.

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Luzon
Luzon (/luːˈzɑːn/) is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name of one of the three primary island groups in the country centred on the island (the other two being the Visayas and Mindanao). Luzon as an island group includes Luzon proper, the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands to the north, and the outlying islands of Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro. Luzon is the economic and political center of the Philippines, being home to the country's capital city, Manila.
The island of Luzon contains 8 of the 17 administrative regions of the Philippines. These regions are not political entities, but merely serve as administrative groupings of provinces. They are:
Ilocos Region (Region I) is on the northweast side of the island and faces South China Sea. The region is well known for its white sand coastline and rich history. Its provinces are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. The region's administrative centers is San Fernando City, La Union.

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Maasin
Maasin City is the provincial capital and a 4th class city in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Southern Leyte. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 79,737.
On August 10, 2000 Maasin was converted into a city.
The island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte carved a very significant place in Philippine history. In 1521, a Portuguese-born Spanish explorer and navigator, Ferdinand Magellan and his crew came ashore and celebrated the first Roman Catholic Mass on the island. Incidental to the historic event, Magellan made peace with two Filipino rulers, Rajah Kolambu and Rajah Siani who subsequently were converted to Christianity. A marker notes the spot on Limasawa where their blood compact of frienship and alliance was sealed.
Southern Leyte, for centuries, was actually an integral part of the island of Leyte. During the Spanish period, the region was sparsely populated. Continued Moro slave raiding discouraged the establishment and stabilization of other large towns. In the 19th century, immigration from the provinces of Cebu and Bohol increased the population of the region and opened the land towards farming.

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Maguindanao
Maguindanao (Filipino: Magindanaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.
Maguindanao is composed of 36 municipalities, which are further subdivided into 506 barangays. Cotabato City is often grouped with Maguindanao, but it is actually independent from the province.
The province is divided into two congressional districts. In October 2006, the first congressional district was split off into a new province, Shariff Kabunsuan. However, the ARMM's Act creating the province was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2008, on the basis that creation of a province is a function of the Philippine legislature. The area has since reverted to the province of Maguindanao.
Maguindanao is divided into two congressional districts, which elect members to the House of Representatives. For the brief period that the province of Shariff Kabunsuan existed, Maguindanao became a lone-district province. Since the appointment of a new set of provincial officials for the reunified province of Maguindanao by the ARMM Governor in January 2009, the provincial government has reverted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan setup (coterminous with the restored 1st and 2nd Congressional districts of Maguindanao) from before Shariff Kabunsuan was created.

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Makati
The City of Makati (/məˈkɑːtɪ/ mə-KAH-tee; Filipino: Makati), in the Philippines, is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines. As the host of various embassies, it is also an important center for international affairs.
With a population of 510,383, Makati is the 16th largest city in the country and ranked as the 44th most densely populated city in the world with 18,654 inhabitants per km².
Makati was founded by Spaniard Miguel López de Legazpi, who dismissed Makati as a worthless swamp. According to folklore, Legazpi asked for the name of the place but, because of the language barrier, was misinterpreted by the natives. Pointing to the receding tide of Pasig River, the natives answered, “Makati, kumakati na,” literally meaning ebbing tide.
Makati became the financial center of the Philippines during the 1950s. Makati is home of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Makati Business Club.

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Malabon
The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 363,681 as of 2007. It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis. It has a total land area of 19.714 square kilometers.
Malabon is part of the sub-region of Metro Manila informally called CAMANA VA. CAMANAVA consists of Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City. Caloocan lies to the south and east, Navotas to the west, and Valenzuela to the north. Malabon also borders the town of Obando in the province of Bulacan to the northwest.
Malabon, per legend, came from the words maraming labong which means "plenty of labong", the edible bamboo shoots. Originally called the town of Tambobong, Malabon was founded as a “Visita” of Tondo by the Augustinian friars on May 21, 1599 and remained under the administrative jurisdiction of the province of Tondo from 1627 to 1688.

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Malaybalay
The City of Malaybalay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Malaybalay; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Malaybalay), dubbed as the "South Summer Capital of the Philippines", is a first class component city and the capital and administrative center of the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. The city is bordered north by Impasug-ong; west by Lantapan; south by Valencia City and San Fernando; and east by Cabanglasan and Agusan del Sur. According to the 2010 Census of Population by the National Statistics Office (NSO) the city is inhabited by 153, 085 residents.
When Spanish explorers came to the central portion of the province in the late 18th century, they inquired as to the name of the town. The people replied in Cebuano "walay balay", which means "no house". The Spaniards mispronounced the name and repeated it as "Malaybalay".
It was formerly part of the province of Misamis Oriental as a municipal district in the late 19th century. When the special province of Agusan and its sub-province (Bukidnon) was created in 1907, Malaybalay was designated as the capital of Bukidnon. It was then formally established as a municipality on October 19, 1907 and was created into a city on February 11, 1998 by virtue of R.A. 8490.

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Malolos
City of Malolos (mälō'lōs) (Filipino: Lungsod ng Malolos) is a first class urban component city in the Republic of the Philippines. Malolos is considered as the 115th city in the country. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the seat of the provincial government. It is also the seat of the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos.
The city is 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Manila. It is one of the major suburbs conurbated to Metro Manila, situated in the southwestern part of Bulacan, in the Central Luzon Region (Region 3) in the island of Luzon and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. Bordering Malolos are the municipalities of Bulakan, Bulacan (the former capital of the province) to the southeast, Guiguinto to the east, Plaridel to the north, Calumpit to the northwest, and Paombong to the west. Malolos also lies on the north-eastern shore of Manila Bay.
Malolos was the site of the constitutional convention of 1898, known as the Malolos Convention, that led to the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, at the sanctuary of the Barasoain Church. The convent of the Malolos Cathedral served as the presidential palace at that time. Malolos gave birth to the first constitutional republic in Asia.

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Mandaluyong
The City of Mandaluyong (Filipino: Lungsod ng Mandaluyong) is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located at the approximate geographical centre of Metro Manila, it is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south. Its nicknames are "Tiger City of the Philippines", "Metro Manila's Heart", and the "Shopping Mall Capital of the Philippines".{cn}
Among the many attractions in the city is the western half of the Ortigas Center, one of the major centers of business and commerce in the metropolis (the eastern half is in Pasig City). Found within the Mandaluyong portion of the Ortigas Center^{[citation needed]} is the main headquarters of the Asian Development Bank,Banco De Oro, and the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage company. One of the most prominent pharmaceutical laboratories and factories, Unilab, is located here.^{[citation needed]}

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Mandaue
The City of Mandaue is a city in the province of Cebu in the Philippines. It is one of the three urbanized cities in the island and forms a part of the Cebu Metropolitan area. Mandaue City is located on the middle eastern coastal region of Cebu, bordering to its right-side are Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City is located. Mandaue is connected to Mactan Island via two bridges which includes the Mactan-Cebu Bridge and Marcelo Fernan Bridge And is bounded south and the west by the Provincial Capital, Cebu City and north by Consolacion which is linked with Cansaga Bay Bridge. The city has an area of about 34.87 square kilometres and has a total population of about 346,693 people.
A community was established in Mandaue by a flourishing group of Indonesian, Malayan and Chinese merchants in what was called the barangay. The Venetian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta wrote a settlement called Mandani existed in the area with a chieftain who was named Apo Noan then a few decades later another ruler named Lam Busan, probably Lakan Busan . Mandaue natives were forced into a town as decreed by the Spanish authorities. This may have started off as a mission village (which included present day Consolacion, Liloan and Poro) serving as a bulwark for the church in the northern Cebu and was managed by the Jesuit in 1638 then a century later by the Recollects. The Philippine revolution in 1898 gave the town a new form of administration in accordance with the organic decree of the Central Revolutionary Government. The short lived revolution was overthrown by the American Troops and a battle nearly destroys the town on 1901 and killing Presidente Benito Ceniza. Mandaue was Independent from being an American Commonwealth and a Japanese Garrison on July 4, 1946 along with the entire nation. Mandaue became a chartered city on June 21, 1969 by Mayor Demetrio Cortes Sr. The city was recognized as a HUC (Highly Urban City) on 1991.

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Manila
Manila (English: /məˈnɪlə/; Tagalog: Maynila, [majˈnilaʔ]) is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities (along with the smaller municipality of Pateros) that comprise Metro Manila.
Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north; Quezon City to the northeast; San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east; Makati to the southeast, and Pasay to the south.
Manila has a total population of more than 1,652,171 according to the 2010 census. Manila is the second most populous city in the Philippines, behind its neighbor, Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only 38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in the world.Metro Manila is the most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines and the 11th in the world with an estimated population of 16,300,000. The greater urban area is the fifth-most populous in the world and has an estimated metropolitan population of 20,654,307 people.
The city is divided into six legislative districts and consists of sixteen geographical districts: Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and Tondo. Bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country, as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government are to be found in the city; and it is also home to many scientific and educational institutions, numerous sport facilities, a variety of other culturally and historically significant venues. As a primary transportation hub and with the larger capital region bearing its name, there is very little of a general nature to be found in cities anywhere that Manila is lacking.

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Marawi
Marawi City is a Muslim city and capital of the province of Lanao del Sur on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The people of Marawi are called the Maranaos and speak the Maranao language. They are named after Lake Lanao, which is called Ranao in the language, whereupon its shores Marawi City lies. The city is also called the Summer Capital of the South because of its higher elevation and cooler climate.
Marawi City has a total land area of 8,755 hectares (21,630 acres). It is located on the shores of Lake Lanao and straddles the area where the Agus River starts. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of Kapai and Saguiaran; to the south by Lake Lanao; to the east by the municipalities of Bubong and Ditsaan Ramain; and to the west by the municipalities of Marantao and Saguiaran.
The rolling hills of Marawi
Along Lake Lanao
Lake Lanao from Marawi
Beautiful mountains, rolling hills, valleys and a large placid lake dominate the city's landscape. Angoyao Hills (Brgy. Sogod) served as natural viewpoint over the water of the Lake Lanao. Signal Hill (Brgy. Matampay), Arumpac Hill (Brgy. Saduc) and Mt. Mupo (Brgy. Guimba) are considered beautiful but mysterious. Mt. Mupo, located within Sacred Mountain National Park, is known for its untouched trees and beautiful perfect cone.

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Marikina
The City of Marikina, in the Philippines, is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Marikina was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence. The city divided into two districts and composed of 16 barangays. Marikina is one of the top 20 largest cities in terms of population and one of the wealthiest local government unit in the country.
Marikina was given the title the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" because of its notable shoe industry, being the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoe production in the country. Shoemakers in the city recently finished creating the "World's Largest Pair of Shoes" and it was only recently that the Guinness World Records recognized this feat. The Shoe Museum is home of the famous shoe collection of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, shoes of the world leaders, past presidents, famous people, and shoes of different countries around the world, and making it the largest collection of pair of shoes in the world.

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Marinduque
Marinduque (Filipino: Marinduke pronounced [mɑrinˈduke]) is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and Sibuyan Sea to the south. It is located south and west of Quezon, east of Mindoro, and north of Romblon.
Legend has it that the island of Marinduque was formed as a consequence of a tragic love affair between two people: Mariin and Gatduke. Mariin's father, a local chieftain, did not approve of this affair and ordered the beheading of Gatduke. Before this could be done, the couple sailed out to sea and drowned themselves, forming the island now called Marinduque.
During the Spanish and early American occupations, Marinduque was part of Balayan Province (now Batangas) in the 16th century, Mindoro in the 17th century, and had a brief period as an independent province in 1901, when the Americans arrived.
During the Philippine-American War, Marinduque was the first island to have American concentration camps. Marinduque is the site of the Battle of Pulang Lupa, where 250 Filipino soldiers under Colonel Maximo Abad, defeated a smaller force of 54 American Infantrymen.

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Masbate
Masbate (Tagalog pronunciation: [masˈbate]) is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.
When Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman anchored on the shores of Masbate in 1569, he found tiny settlements spread along the coasts engaged in flourishing trade with China. Chinese traders visited Masbate and founded small settlements during the Shri-Vijayan and Madjapahit periods. Ruins of cave-like dwellings resembling "kiva" (possibly built by Indians who accompanied the Chinese traders), were found along the coasts of Aroroy, Palanas, and Masbate. Porcelain jars dating back to the 10th century were excavated at Kalanay (Aroroy) in the 1930s.
Historical accounts show that the Christianization of the Bicol Region actually began in Masbate in 1569:
Father Alonso Jimenez was the first missionary to the islands of Masbate, Burias, Leyte and Samar. Then he went to Ibalon (Bicol) in Camarines Province, where he resided many years, and made many religious incursions into Albay Province and Sorsogon Province. Fray Jimenez is considered the apostle of the island of Masbate

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Masbate City
The City of Masbate (Bikol: Syudad nin Masbate; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Masbate; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Masbate; Ilonggo: Syudad sang Masbate or Dakbanwa sang Masbate) is a 3rd class city in the province of Masbate, Philippines. It is the capital city of Masbate province. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 81,585 people in 13,400 households.
The account that "Masbate" was coined after the words "masa" and "bate" remains anecdotal, rich with a mixture of facts and folklore.
The islands of Masbate, Ticao and Burias were explored by Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman in 1569. This exploration work was continued by Captain Andres de Ibarra, Ibalon(Albay) Province assumed jurisdiction over Masbate Islands, and Masbate was named the town's capital village for security reasons, the seat of government had to be moved time and time again. It was first moved to Mobo and then again, to Guiom. It was later transferred to Palanog near the mouth of Lumbang River to make it more accessible to Bicol Mainland and to the islands of Burias and Ticao. However, government records were kept inland in Cagay.

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Meycauayan
The City of Meycauayan is a first Class, highly urbanized city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The city is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of Manila and about 22 kilometres (14 mi) south of Malolos City, the provincial capital city. It is bounded by the town of Marilao to the north, Valenzuela City to the south, Caloocan City (North) to the east, and the town of Obando to the west. It encompasses an aggregate area of 22.1 square kilometres (8.5 sq mi), representing 1.17% of the total land area of the province of Bulacan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 196,569 people in 34,882 households.
Meycauayan City is known for its jewelry and tanning industry. It is also home to several industrial parks, mostly located at Barangays Iba, Camalig and Pantoc.
Meycauayan City is administratively subdivided into 26 urban barangays.
Meycauayan City is generally surrounded with plain land and gentle rolling hills. Comfortably above sea level, this terrain is an interweaving of greenery and concrete road network. The slope of the land dips towards a west to north westerly direction. River, natural lake and drainage waterways envelope and criss-cross the area.

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Mindanao
Coordinates: 8°00′N 125°00′E / 8°N 125°E / 8; 125
Mindanao ( /mɪndəˈnaʊ/ min-də-NOW) is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. Mindanao is the only area of the Philippines with a significant Muslim presence. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao.
Mindanao has been the site of a separatist movement by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), caused by religious differences and widespread poverty. Fighting between MILF and Philippine forces has displaced over 100,000 people.
Mindanao is named after the Maguindanaons who constituted the largest Sultanate historically, and evidence from maps made during the 17th and 18th centuries suggests that the name was used to refer to the island by natives at the time. Evidence of human occupation dates back tens of thousands of years. In prehistoric times the Negrito people arrived. Sometime around 1500 BC Austronesian peoples spread throughout the Philippines and far beyond.

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Misamis Occidental
Misamis Occidental (Filipino:Kanlurang Misamis)(Subanen:Sindepan Mis'samis) is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Oroquieta City. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Panguil Bay to the south and from Misamis Oriental by Iligan Bay to the east. The province of Misamis was originally inhabited by Subanons whose an easy target by the sea pirates from Lanao. Misamis is taken from the early settlement of the Spaniards at the entrance to the Panguil Bay.
The name "Misamis" is believed to have been derived from the Subano word "Kuyamis" which is a variety of sweeto coconut - the staple food of the early settlers in this place. During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word "kuyamis" easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word "Misamis".
Misamis Occidental comprised the original nine towns of Baliangao, Lopez Jaena, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Aloran, Jimenez, and Misamis. The original nine municipalities of the province of Misamis Occidental grew into the present three cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta, and Tangub and the 14 municipalities of Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Concepcion, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Lopez Jaena, Panaon, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban, and Tudela

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Misamis Oriental
Misamis Oriental (Filipino:Silangang Misamis, abbreviated Mis. Or.) is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital and provincial center is Cagayan de Oro City. The province borders Iligan City and Bukidnon to the south, the Agusan del Norte to the east, and to the north is Bohol Sea with the island-province of Camiguin just off its northern shore.
The earliest known settlers of the territory were the Negritos. Centuries later, Austronesian colonists fought the natives for the control of the rich coastal plains by the Cagayan River, and the Visayans won the struggle for possession over the Bukidnons.
In the 16th century, most of Mindanao was under the control of Muslims, and the inhabitants were converted into Islam. As part of Mindanao, the people of the territory were obliged to pay tribute to Muslim rulers.
Legislative Act. No. 3537 approved on 2 November 1929, divided the province of Misamis into two due to the lack of geographic contiguity. It was not until ten years later on 28 November 1939 that the division between Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental was implemented by Act. No. 3777. When Misamis Oriental separated, Don Gregorio Pelaez became its first governor.

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Mountain Province
Mountain Province (Filipino:Lalawigang Bulubundukin) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc.
Mountain Province is bounded in the east by Isabela, in the north by the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra, in the south of Benguet and Ifugao, and in the west by the province of Ilocos Sur. It has an area of 229,231 hectares with 83% mountainous while 17% make up hills and levels. The province has plenty of rivers, waterfalls, mountains, and caves.
Mountain Province is sometimes incorrectly named Mountain in some foreign references. The name is also incorrectly shortened by locals to Mt. Province, which in turn is read by native Anglophones as "Mount Province". The province was named so for being in the Cordillera Central mountain range found in the upper realms of Luzon island.
Mountain Province was also the name of the historical province that included most of the current Cordillera provinces. This old province was established by the Americans in 1908 and was later split in 1966 into Mountain Province, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao and Ifugao.

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Muntinlupa
The City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa) is the southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas City to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor, Cavite; by the city of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country. It is classified as a Highly Urbanized City with a population of more than 400,000 and is given the nickname "Emerald City of the Philippines" by the tourism establishment.^{[citation needed]}
Muntinlupa was once notoriously known as the location of the national insular penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, where the country's most dangerous criminals were incarcerated. Consequently, Muntinlupa or "Munti" became synonymous with the national penitentiary although it has largely shaken-off this negative image to become one of the most progressive cities in the country.
Muntinlupa is also home to some of the best commercial establishments in the metropolis and is the location of Ayala Alabang Village, one of the country's biggest and most expensive residential communities, where many of the wealthy and famous live.

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Navotas
The City of Navotas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Navotas) is a 1st class city in Metro Manila, Philippines. The city occupies a narrow strip of land along the eastern shores of Manila Bay. Navotas is directly north of Manila, west of Malabon City, and south of Obando, Bulacan.
Dubbed as the "Fish Trading Capital of the Philippines", Navotas is considered to be a very important fishing community with 70% of its population deriving their livelihood directly or indirectly from fishing and its related industries like fish trading, fish net mending, and fish producing having marginal percentage of inter-Island fish producers. Navotas occupies a portion of the Metropolitan Manila bound in the west with shoreline of Manila Bay, which is a strategic coastal front and suitable for all kinds of vessels.
Navotas is part of the informal subregion of Metro Manila called CAMANAVA. This subregion, aside from Navotas, includes the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela. Navotas is perceived to be prone to flood especially during the rainy season and during high tide, but the national and local government are trying to alleviate the problem. Pollution and overpopulation are other problems that the government is trying to solve. Navotas is famous for fish sauce and shrimp paste (patis and bagoong in Tagalog respectively).

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Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental (Filipino: Kanlurang Negros) is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half. Across the Panay Gulf and the Guimaras Strait to the northwest is the island-province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo on Panay island. Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines", Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation's sugar output.
Negros Island was originally known to the natives as "Buglas". When the Spaniards arrived in April 1565, they named it "Negros" because of the dark-skinned natives they found. Two of the earliest native settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog which later became towns in 1572 and 1584, respectively. Other settlements were Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Bago, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and Candaguit (a sitio in San Enrique).
Ilog was made the first capital of the province in 1743. This was later transferred to Himamaylan. Bacolod became the capital in 1849.

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Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental (Cebuano: Sidlakang Negros) (also called Oriental Negros, "Eastern Negros") is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists. Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the south east. The primary spoken language is Cebuano, and the predominant religious denomination is Roman Catholicism. Dumaguete City is the capital, seat of government, and most populous city.
From 2013 onwards, Negros Oriental will have a nickname called "The Bukuvu of the Philippines."
Negros Island, the third largest island in the Philippines, is believed to have once been part of the island of Mindanao, but was cut off—either by continental drift or the rising waters at the end of the ice age.
Among the early inhabitants of the island were black people, as well as Han Chinese and Malays. They called the island "Buglas", a native word which is believed to mean "cut off".

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Northern Samar
Northern Samar (Filipino:Hilagang Samar) is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar. To the northwest, across the San Bernardino Strait is Sorsogon; to the east is the Philippine Sea and to the west is Samar Sea.
The People
The people of Northern Samar were previously called the "Ibabaonons". Generally, they are members of the "Waray" or "Waray-waray" or "Waraynon", the people of Eastern Visayas or Samar-Leyte region. To distinguish themselves from the Westehanon (people from Samar) and Estehanon (from Eastern Samar) when Samar Island was split into three provinces in 1965, and the Leyteños (the people from the Leyte Island), they now call themselves as "Nortehanon".
Languages/Dialects Spoken
Majority of the people in the province of Northern Samar speak the Norte Samarnon, a variation of Waray-Waray. About 4.5 percent of the population, especially in the island towns, speak Cebuano, while a minority speaks Inabaknon, a unique dialect said to be one of the most preserved languages to date. This is the native tongue of the populace in the island town of Capul.

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Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija (PSGC: 034900000; ISO: PH-NUE) is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City. Nueva Ecija borders, from the south clockwise, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora.
The sprawling and varied geological features of the land we now know as Nueva Ecija, includes plains, mountains and rivers, all the requisites for the birthing and sustenance of life itself. This must have been obvious to the land's very first settlers, who found themselves nestled by three mountain ranges on the East, North and West and vast southern plains. All these were sustained by a great flowing river, one whose earliest name was spoken in a now lost tongue, and which was called the Rio Grande de Pampanga by the Spaniards later on. The Great Pampanga River nourished wild, fruit-bearing trees, served as home to an abundance of fish and made possible lush, teeming woodlands that sheltered animals. All these combined must have been paradise in whatever language for the land's earliest settlers, who were able to not only survive but thrive in the surrounding abundance, all within easy reach.

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Nueva Vizcaya
Nueva Vizcaya is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Bayombong. It is bordered by, clockwise from the north, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Benguet.
The name was derived from the Spanish province Vizcaya in the Basque Country. The province of Nueva Vizcaya used to be a territory of the vast Cagayan Valley which was once an integral political unit with one governor. In 1839, then-Governor Luis Lardizabal issued an order transforming Nueva Vizcaya into a politico-military province upon the advice of the alcalde mayor of Cagayan. The order was approved by a Royal Decree on April 10, 1841. The province had its first taste of civil governance in 1902 when it was organized by the Philippine Commission.
The present territory of Nueva Vizcaya was the result of changes emanating from the formal creation of the province of Isabela in May 1865, wherein a great portion of its northern territory was ceded to the newly-born province. In 1908, the organization of the province of Ifugao further reduced the area of Nueva Vizcaya which was forced to give up its northwest territory. The survey executed by the Bureau of Lands in 1914 further caused the diminution of its area and reduced again upon the enactment of the Administrative Code of 1917.

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Occidental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro (Filipino: Kanlurang Mindoro, "Western Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Occidental) is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. "Home of the Indigenous Mangyans". Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the south by the Mindoro Strait; Oriental Mindoro is at the eastern half. The South China Sea is to the west of the province and Palawan is located to the southwest, across Mindoro Strait. Batangas is to the north, separated by the Verde Island Passage.
Occidental Mindoro has two distinct weather types: rainy season and dry season. Rains begin to fall in the province in late May, intensifying through June, July, August, September and October, then gradually subsides in November. The months of August and September are the wettest period, with storms directly passing through the area.
On the other hand, the dry season starts in November, with rainfall subsiding in intensity, and altogether ceasing in January, February, March and April. March and April are the driest period, with cloudless skies and parched earth characterizing the general area.

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Olongapo
The City of Olongapo (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Olongapo; Sambal: Syodad nin Olongapo) is an independent highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 50,300 households. Along with the town of Subic, it comprises the Metro Olongapo, one of the twelve Metropolitan Areas in the Philippines.
According to popular legend, there once was a group of warring tribes who lived in the area in and around what is now the modern city. A wise old man, seeing the perils of disunity, exerted great effort toward uniting the warring tribes. There were, however, some who bitterly opposed his idea, and one day the old man just disappeared.
After a long search, the old man's body was found, but with the head missing. It is said that the tribesmen launched search parties to locate the severed head of the man. (To the Sambal, decapitation was the only permissible form of assassination.)
These efforts proved to be futile, and the search was eventually called off. A boy, however, vowed to himself that he would not stop searching until he found the elder’s head. He searched for weeks, but found nothing. Then, one day, he chanced upon what appeared to be the old man’s head, resting on top of a bamboo pole. The boy ran back to his people crying, “Olo nin apo! Olo nin apo!” (“head of the elder” in Sambal; translates as “ulo ng apo” in Tagalog), running hysterically from village to village. The phrase stuck, and that, according to legend, is how the area got its name, Olongapo.
To this day, the old man’s head acts as a symbol of the unity of the people of what is now a modern city.

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Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro (Filipino: Silangang Mindoro, "Eastern Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island Passage and the rest of Batangas to the north, by Marinduque, Maestro del Ocampo Island, Tablas Strait and the rest of Romblon to the east, by Semirara and the rest of Caluya Islands, Antique to the south, and by Occidental Mindoro to the west. Calapan City, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.
Oriental Mindoro is touted as the country's emerging eco-tourism destination. In 2005, the Philippines was found to be the center of marine fish biodiversity and the home of the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world, by American biologists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springer. Most of the endemic species in the Philippines are found in the Verde Island Passage between Mindoro island and the main island of Luzon. The passage houses 2,983 individual species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, based on a study conducted by scientists Carpenter and Springer in 2005.

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Ormoc
The City of Ormoc is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. The city's name is derived from ogmok, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain. It is the first non-provincial city of the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 191,200 people. Ormoc is the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of western Leyte.
Ormoc City is an independent component city, not subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Leyte. However, the city is part of the congressional district IV of Leyte together with Albuera, Kananga, Merida, and Isabel towns.
In November 1991, the Ormoc region was inundated by Tropical Storm Thelma (local name: Uring). Flash floods and landslides killed more than 6,000 people, mostly in Ormoc itself.
In 1950, Kananga was created in 1950 from the barrios of Lonoy, Kananga, Rizal, Tugbong, Montebello, Aguiting, Tagaytay, Montealegre, Libungao, Naghalin, and Masarayao which all used to be part of Ormoc City.
Ormoc City is a port city and is the largest city by land area in Leyte and second largest in Eastern Visayas after Calbayog City in Samar. Fronting Ormoc Bay, the city's terrain is mostly of gently rolling plains. It is bounded on the northwest by the towns of Matag-ob and Merida, in the north by Kananga, in the northeast by the towns of Jaro, Pastrana and Dagami, and in the south by the town of Albuera. High mountain ranges separate Ormoc from the eastern portion of Leyte. Numerous rivers and streams traverse Ormoc. Among them are the Bao River in the north, Pagsangahan River in the west, the Bagong-bong River in the south, the Panilahan River also in the south and the Anilao and Malbasag Rivers which border the eastern and western flanks of Ormoc City Proper.

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Oroquieta
Oroquieta City is a 3rd class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. It is the capital city of Misamis Occidental. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 65,349 people.
Some sources reveal that the town got its name from a famous barrio in Spain where Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest here, and General Domingo Mariones y Murillo, a hero in the battle of Oroquieta, were born.
Layawan was the oldest name of Oroquieta, which was the barrio in the province of Misamis since 1861 until 1879. The early settlers then of the barrio were Boholano peddlers. They found so many stray animals along the river, thus they named the place Layawan, which means a place of stray animals. A little later, Misamis was divided into two provinces, Misamis Occidental and Oriental. Then in 1880, Layawan changed its name into Oroquieta when it became a town. Some sources revealed that the town got its name from a famous barrio in Spain where Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest here and General Domingo Mariones y Murillo, a hero in the battle of Oroquieta, were born.

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Ozamiz
The City of Ozamiz is a 3rd class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 131,527.
The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," a variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from "Misa" after the Catholic Mass. The origin and the growth of the old Spanish town, Misamis, was due to the presence of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort named Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo which was constructed sometimes the 18th century in order to control the piratical activities originating in the nearby Lanao area. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.
After the Second World War, Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321 on July 16, 1948. RA 321 also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz after a WW-II hero José Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José F. Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate. Through City Resolution 251-05, Ozamiz is officially spelled with a "Z" in its last letter rather than with an "S".

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Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.
At 165.2 million square kilometres (64.1 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World Ocean – and, in turn, the hydrosphere – covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The equator subdivides it into the North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific. The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft).
The eastern Pacific Ocean was first sighted by Europeans early in the 16th century. Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and named it Mar del Sur (South Sea). The ocean's current name was given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation in 1521, who encountered favourable winds as he reached the ocean and called it Mar Pacifico in Portuguese, meaning "peaceful sea".

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Pagadian
The City of Pagadian (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pagadian, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Pagadian, Spanish: Ciudad de Pagadián, Iranun: Bandar Eng'd a Pagadian, Subanen:Gembagel G'benwa P'hagadi-an/Bagbenwa P'hagadi-an),is the capital of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and regional center of the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 1X).
The city had its beginnings as a stopover for traders who ply the road between the Spanish town-fort of Zamboanga on the southern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and other bigger towns to the north of the old province of Zamboanga. Apart from its sheltered bay and good fishing grounds, it was not a place where anyone envisioned a city would be founded upon it, as it is situation on rolling terrain. In the course of its local history, steady waves of different kinds of people came to stay and eventually called among themselves "Pagadianons."
The iconic symbol of Pagadian is its uniquely designed tricycle built to adopt to the city's hilly terrain. The locals claim with pride that it is the only place in the Philippines one can see a public transport inclined at about 25-40° angle.

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Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island (09°30′N 118°30′E / 9.5°N 118.5°E / 9.5; 118.5), measuring 450 kilometres (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide.
Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group of Islands, to the northeast consists of Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

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Palayan
The City of Palayan (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Palayan; Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning Palayan/Siudad ning Palayan; Pangasinan: Siyudad na Palayan/Lunsod na Palayan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Palayan) is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 33,506 people in 6,279 households.
The City of Palayan was created in 1965 by the Congress of the Philippines and one of the 6 cities of the Philippines whose creation was specifically planned (the other five cities are Manila, Baguio, Quezon City, Trece Martires, and the Island Garden City of Samal). Palayan City is located in the heart of Nueva Ecija.
The new provincial capitol of Nueva Ecija is located here.
When the Japanese Imperial armed forces has did not entered and occupied in Palayan in 1942 during the Japanese Invasion through they the using of the built and re-established of the local military camps, bases and military GHQ of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines in the town of Palayan stated the Japanese Insurgencies and Occupation.

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Pampanga
Pampanga (PSGC: 035400000; ISO: PH-PAM; Kapampangan: Lalawigan ning Pampanga; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Pampanga) is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast. Pampanga also lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay. Angeles City, although within the geography of Pampanga, is classified as a first-class, highly urbanized city and has a government independent of Pampanga.
The name "La Pampanga" was given by the Spaniards who found the early natives living near the river banks. It also served as the capital of the archipelago for two years from 1762-1764 during the British invasion of Manila. However, history shows evidence of the province of Pampanga itself being a descendant of what was known back then as the Kingdom of Tondo, or the Luzon Empire. The word pampang, from which the province's name originates, means river bank. Its creation in 1571 makes it the first Spanish province in the Philippines. The Province of Pampanga is the culinary capital of the Philippines.

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Panabo
Panabo City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Panabo, Filipino: Lungsod ng Panabo) is a 3rd class city near Davao City in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines. The city has an area of 249 square kilometers. According to the 2010 LGPMS Census, it has a population of 164,035 people in 32,807 households.
Long before the rich lowland was discovered by civilization, a group of stocky-haired aborigines called Aetas have already staked a claim and declared this place their own. Far from being civilized, these people led nomadic life and co-existed with the living creatures of the wilds. They have few wants and were easily satisfied. With the use of their bow and arrow "pana-sa-boboy" as they call it - they hunted for food which primarily consisted of rootcrops and meat of wild boars. "Pana-Sa-Boboy" was their most essential tool and it became part of their life.
Even the Christian settlers came at the onset of the century, the place was already a thriving trading community; thus, the place was already knwn as Taboan, which means "trading center". After the Cristian settlers began pioneering the region, these friendly natives moved further to the hinterlands along with them their "pana-sa-boboy". These later evolved into present day name Panabo.

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Panaon Island
Panaon Island is a small island in the Philippines, in the province of Southern Leyte. It lies south of Leyte, separated from Dinagat to the east, and Mindanao to the southeast by Surigao Strait. The Mindanao Sea lies to the southwest.
Panaon is about 30 km long from north to south. The largest town is Liloan, which is connected by a bridge called the 'Wawa bridge' to the main Leyte Island.
Panaon Island is composed of the towns Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo. The basic form of living are harvesting coconut, rice, fish and edible green leaves.
Scuba diving and whale watching (referred to locally as 'Tikitiki') are popular tourist activities.

Coordinates: 10°03′N 125°13′E / 10.05°N 125.217°E / 10.05; 125.217

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Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers (3336.030 sq mi). According to the latest census, it has a population of 2,645,395 people in 477,819 households. The total population is projected to rise to 3,039,500 in 2010. According to the 2007 Philippine general elections, Pangasinan has a voting population of 1,360,807, which is the second highest in the Philippines.
Pangasinan is the name for the province, the people, and the primary language spoken in the province. Indigenous Pangasinan speakers are estimated to number at least 1.5 million. Pangasinan is spoken as a second-language by many of the ethnic minorities in Pangasinan. The most significant minority ethnic groups in Pangasinan are the Ilocano, Bolinao, and Tagalog.
The name Pangasinan means "land of salt" or "place of salt-making"; it is derived from the words Pang, meaning for and asin, meaning "salt”, or For Salt in the Pangasinan language and other related languages. The province is a major producer of salt in the Philippines. Dagupan City is known for its Bangus festival named after the fish they widely produce and made the city famous.

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Parañaque
The City of Parañaque (Filipino: Lungsod ng Parañaque), or simply Parañaque (pop. 552,660; 2007 Census), is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is located at 121’01” longitude and 14’30” latitude and is bordered to the north by Pasay, to the northeast by Taguig, to the southeast by Muntinlupa, to the southwest by Las Piñas, and to the west by Manila Bay.
Like the rest of Metro Manila, Parañaque experiences a tropical climate with only two distinct seasons, wet (July to September) and dry (October to June). The city enjoys an annual rainfall of 1.822 mm and an average temperature of 34.4° C.
Due to its proximity to the sea, Parañaque is one of the major trade and business centres in the Philippines.
Palanyag, as Parañaque was then known, is loosely translated to mean "my beloved", referring to the residents' affection for their hometown. The name could also come from the combination of the terms "palayan" and "palalayag", the former pertaining to the city's once-abundant rice fields, and the latter pertaining to the sailing and fishing occupation of many of its residents. The name was a sign of cooperation and goodwill between the two major working sectors of the town, the farmers and the fishermen.^{[citation needed]}

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Pasay
The City of Pasay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.
Pasay City was one of the original four cities of Metro Manila. Due to its proximity to Manila, it quickly became an urban town during the American Period.
There are many^[which?] conjectures as to the origin of the name "Pasay".
In one version, the name of the municipality came from the wail of a brokenhearted swain. Jose and Paz were in love with each other and were intent on a life together, but Jose's father was a mere tenant of the hacienda of Paz's father. For this reason, their love was forbidden and Jose was ordered to stay away from Paz. Unable to bear her misfortune, Paz died.^{[citation needed]}
At her funeral, the elite came to mourn and pray as Jose watched from a distance. As soon as everyone left, Jose dug a tunnel into the earth to be with Paz. Once joined, he let out a sharp and anguished cry "Paz-ay!" In sorrow and regret, the parents of Paz named their hacienda Paz-ay. In time, the town came to be known simply as Pasay.^{[citation needed]}

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Pasig
The City of Pasig (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasig) is one of the city-municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region. Located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, Pasig is bordered on the west by Quezon City and Mandaluyong City; to the north by Marikina City; to the south by Makati City, Pateros, and Taguig City; and to the east by Antipolo City, the municipality of Cainta and Taytay in the province of Rizal.
Pasig is primarily residential and industrial but has been becoming increasingly commercial in recent years. The old provincial capitol lies off of Shaw Boulevard, outside the city. Pasig is one of the three municipalities appointed by the diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines (as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig), making the Pasig Cathedral (formerly The Immaculate Conception Cathedral) the landmark coincide to its township in 1573.

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Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated surface area of 2 million mi² (5 million km²) on the western part of the North Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by the Philippine archipelago (Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao) on the southwest; Palau, Yap, and Ulithi (of the Carolines) on the southeast; the Marianas, including Guam, Saipan, and Tinian, on the east; the Bonin and Iwo Jima on the northeast; the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyūshū on the north; the Ryukyu Islands on the northwest; and Taiwan in the west.
The sea has a complex and diverse undersea relief. The floor is formed into a structural basin by a series of geologic faults and fracture zones. Island arcs, which are actually extended ridges protruding above the ocean surface due to plate tectonic activity in the area, enclose the Philippine Sea to the north, east and south. The Philippine archipelago, Ryukyu Islands, and the Marianas are examples. Another prominent feature of the Philippine Sea is the presence of deep sea trench, among them the Philippine Trench and the Mariana Trench, containing the deepest point on the planet.

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Philippines
The Philippines ⁱ/ˈfɪlɨpiːnz/ FI-lə-peenz (Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas) is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.
With an estimated population of about 98 million people, the Philippines is the 7th most populated Asian country and the 12th most populated country in the world. An additional 12.5 million Filipinos live overseas. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences which remain to this day.

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Puerto Princesa
The City of Puerto Princesa (lit. City of Princess Port, Filipino: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa) is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines. Though the provincial seat of government for Palawan, the city itself is one of 38 independent cities within the Philippines not controlled by the province in which it is geographically located and is therefore an independent area located within Palawan.
As of 2007, Puerto Princesa had a population of 210,508 people making it the most sparsely populated city in the Philippines. In terms of land area, the city is the second largest geographically after Davao City with an area of 919 mi² (2,381 km²).
Puerto Princesa is located in the mid-section of Palawan. It is bound to the east by the Sulu Sea, to the west by the South China Sea, to the north by the municipalities of San Vicente and Roxas, and to the south by the municipality of Aborlan. It is approximately 306 nautical miles (567 km) from the Philippine capital of Manila, 205 nautical miles (380 km) from Panay Island, and 250 nautical miles (460 km) from Zamboanga City on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

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Quezon
Quezon (Tagalog pronunciation: [keˈzon]) is a province of the Philippines in the CALABARZON region of Luzon. The province was named after Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, and its capital is Lucena City.
Quezon is southeast of Metro Manila and is bordered by the provinces of Aurora to the north, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas to the west and the Camarines provinces to the east. Part of Quezon lies on an isthmus connecting the Bicol Peninsula to the main part of Luzon island. The province also includes the Polillo Islands in the Philippine Sea.
A major tourism draw to the province is Mt. Banahaw. The mountain is surrounded by spiritual mysticism with many cults and religious organizations staying on the mountain. Numerous pilgrims visit the mountain especially during Holy Week.
Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces.

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Quezon City
Quezon City (Filipino: Lungsod Quezon) is the former capital (1948–1976) and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City (popularly known to Filipinos as QC) is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, who founded the city and developed it to replace Manila as the country's capital. Quezon City is not located in and should not be confused with Quezon province, which was also named after the president.
Having been the former capital, many government offices are located in the city, including the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the seat of the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber in the Philippine Congress. The main campuses of two noteworthy universities, the Ateneo de Manila University and the country's national university, the University of the Philippines Diliman, are located in the city.
Before Quezon City was created, it was composed of small individual towns. These were San Francisco del Monte, Novaliches, and Balintawak. On August 23, 1896, the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio declared a revolution against Spain in the house of Melchora Aquino in Pugad Lawin (now known as Bahay Toro, Project 8). In the early 20th century, President Manuel L. Quezon dreamt of a city that would become the future capital of the country to replace Manila. It is believed that his earlier trip to Mexico influenced his vision.

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Quirino
Quirino is a land-locked province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Cabarroguis and was named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines. The province borders Aurora to the southeast, Nueva Vizcaya to the west, and Isabela to the north. Quirino used to be part of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, until it was separated in 1966.
The population of the province as of the year 2010 census of population was 176,786 with a density of roughly 51 persons per square kilometer of land. The major language is Ilocano, which is widely spoken in the lowlands by 71.46 percent of the total populace. Ifugao is predominant in the uplands. Other languages are Bungkalot, Pangasinan, Kankana-ey, Tagalog, and English.
Agriculture is the main industry in Cagayan Valley, together with rice and corn as major crops. These supply the demand of neighboring provinces and the metropolis. Banana as well as banana chips are major products sold in Metro Manila and Pampanga. Small scale industries like furniture making, basketry, rattan craft, and dried flower production are prevalent.

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Rizal
Rizal is a province located in the CALABARZON, just 16 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal Governor Dr. Casimiro Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building, constructed in Antipolo by Ortigas & Co., owner thereof, was completed by December of that year. Built on 5-hectare lot at the Ynares Center, it employs 2,008 employees. The New Capitol was successfully inaugurated on March 4, 2009, bringing back the Capitol Building inside the provincial territory, from which it was absent for 33 years (when Pasig was incorporated into Metro Manila).
Rizal is bordered by Metro Manila to the west, the province of Bulacan to the north, Quezon to the east and Laguna province to the south. The province also lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.
Rizal is a mountainous province perched on the western slopes of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Antipolo City boasts of a wonderful view of Metro Manila and it is where Hinulugang Taktak, a waterfall popular with tourists, can be found.

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Romblon
Romblon /rɒmˈbloʊn/rom-BLOHN is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon. According the August 2007 Philippine census, it has a total population of 279,774.
The province of Romblon got its name from the word Lomlom (an act of a hen warming her eggs in the nest). According to local folklore, when the Spaniards first set foot on the province, one of the Spanish soldiers rambled along the beach. Tired of strolling, he felt thirsty and went to a house to ask for a drink. Inside it was a hen's nest somewhere on of a post near the window. The soldier inquired if he could get the chicken for free. The house occupant, a young woman, did not comprehend what the visitor said so she answered in the dialect "Nagalomlom", meaning the chicken was brooding. Perplexed, the Spanish soldier left the house muttering in disgust the word "Nagalomlom". When he returned to the ship he was asked where he had been and he answered mockingly: "Nagalomlom". Thus, when the Spanish left, they named the island "Lomlom", until it was corrupted to "Domblon", and later on modified to Romblon.

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Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar Island as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland. Catbalogan City and Calbayog City, two of the three cities on Samar Island, are located in the province of Samar. The province is bordered by Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. Samar is connected to island and province of Leyte via the San Juanico Bridge, which spans the San Juanico Strait, the narrowest strait in the country. To the south is the Leyte Gulf.
Residents of Samar are mostly Waray, the sixth largest cultural-linguistic group in the country. 90.2% of the household population speaks the Waray language while 9.8 percent also speak Cebuano; 8.1% speak Boholano; 0.07% speak in Tagalog and 0.5% speak other languages. There are two types of Waray spoken in the province, Waray Lineyte-Samarnon which is spoken from the southernmost tip of the province up to the municipality of Gandara and Waray Calbayog which is an intermediate between the Waray of Northern Samar and the Waray of Samar and is spoken in Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, and in some parts of Tagapul-an, Santo Niño and Almagro. Cebuano on the other hand is spoken in some parts of the first district of Samar, mainly in Calbayog City, Almagro, Santo Niño and Tagapul-an English and Chinese languages are also spoken.

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San Francisco
San Francisco (/ˌsæn frənˈsɪskoʊ/), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.6 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland. The only consolidated city-county in California, it encompasses a land area of about 46.9 square miles (121 km²) on the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, giving it a density of about 17,179 people per square mile (6,632 people per km²). It is the most densely settled large city (population greater than 200,000) in the state of California and the second-most densely populated large city in the United States after New York City. San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 13th most populous city in the United States, with a population of 805,235 as of the 2010 Census. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metropolitan area has a population of 4,335,391.
In 1776, colonists from Spain established a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named for Francis of Assisi a few miles away. The California Gold Rush of 1849 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth, increasing the population in one year from 1,000 to 25,000, and thus transforming it into the largest city on the West Coast at the time. After three-quarters of the city was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt, hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition nine years later. During World War II, San Francisco was the port of embarkation for service members shipping out to the Pacific Theater. After the war, the confluence of returning servicemen, massive immigration, liberalizing attitudes, and other factors led to the Summer of Love and the gay rights movement, cementing San Francisco as a center of liberal activism in the United States.

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San Jose del Monte
The City of San Jose del Monte (CSJDM) (Filipino: Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte) is a suburban city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is bordered by Caloocan City and Quezon City in the south; by Rodriguez, Rizal, in the east; Santa Maria and Marilao, both of Bulacan, in the west; and Norzagaray, Bulacan in the north. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 439,090 inhabitants, making it the 19th most populated city in the Philippines.
San Jose del Monte has experienced major economic growth, evidenced by the presence of major commercial banks, fast food chain outlets, real estates, and wide coverage of landline and cellular phone services.
The city's mayor is Reynaldo S. San Pedro, while Vice-Mayor Eduardo S. Roquero heads the Sangguniang Panglungsod. The city is represented in the House of Representatives by Congressman Arthur B. Robes.
Major agricultural crops are leafy vegetables, root crops (cassava as its OTOP^{[clarification needed]}), pineapple, mango and coffee beans.

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Sarangani
Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east.
Sarangani is part of the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-Gen. Santos City (Soccsksargen) development cluster, and is linked by paved roads to the international airport and world-class fish port of Gen. Santos City. Good roads and regular flights through Gen. Santos City allow the province easy access to Manila, Cebu, Davao City, as well as the rest of the Soccsksargen areas. Gen. Santos City’s airport has one of the country’s longest runways.
The province is situated as the country’s major gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines - East Asean Growth Area. With its proximity to its regional counterparts, Sarangani is in a unique position to marshal its resources, entice tourists and investors, and compete in an international market under a borderless trade regime.
Strategically located at the southernmost tip of Mindanao, the province is protected by the resource-rich Sarangani Bay. Beyond this is the Celebes Sea, which is the province’s access to the rest of the world.

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Silay
Silay City is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it had a total population of 120,365 people. It has a sizable commercial and fishing port and is the site of the new Bacolod-Silay International Airport, which replaced the Bacolod City Domestic Airport.
Silay is often referred to as the "Paris of Negros" due to its artists, cultural shows and large collection of perfectly preserved heritage houses. More than thirty of these houses have been declared as historical landmarks. Silay is the second Philippine city to have been declared a museum city, next to Vigan in Ilocos Sur.^{[citation needed]}
The appellation Silay is derived from the name of a tree which grew abundantly in the area. The Kansilay is the city's official tree.
A local legend tells of how Silay City got its name. It is said that in the days of the datus and rajahs, there once lived a princess named Kansilay. An attack on the settlement by pirates was thwarted when the princess bravely led the people in the village's defense. The fight was furious and the princess fought like a seasoned warrior. Murals that used to grace some of the city's public buildings depict her as a fierce fighter wielding a huge talibong, a short native single-edged sword. The pirates were routed, but at the cost of the princess' life. Her paramour arrived in time to see her die. In grief, the people lovingly buried her. To their surprise, a tree grew right over her grave, the first Kansilay tree, a final gift from the brave princess.

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Sipalay
Sipalay City is a 4th class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 62,063 people in 11,955 households.
Sipalay City is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.
Coordinates: 9°45′7″N 122°24′15″E / 9.75194°N 122.40417°E / 9.75194; 122.40417

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Siquijor
Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the northwest of Siquijor are Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is Mindanao.
Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country, in terms of population as well as land area (after Camiguin and Batanes). For a time it was part of Negros Oriental.
Called Isla del Fuego or the "Island of Fire" during the Spanish colonial period, Siquijor is commonly associated with mystic traditions that the island's growing tourism industry capitalizes on.
According to the 2000 census, there are a total of 21,150 Siquijodnons, as the residents of Siquijor call themselves. The same census also states that Siquijor has 17,351 households with an average household size of 4.70 persons. The annual growth rate is 2.19%, lower than the national growth rate of 2.36%.
The main language spoken in Siquijor is Cebuano. English, Spanish and Tagalog languages are also spoken by Siquijodnons.

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Sorsogon
Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. It is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities (towns) and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon) and borders the province of Albay to the north. Sorsogon is at the tip of the Bicol Peninsula and faces the island of Samar to the southeast across the San Bernardino Strait and Ticao Island to the southwest. Sorsogueños is how the people of Sorsogon call themselves.
In 1570 two Augustinian friars, Alonzon Jiménez and Juan Orta, accompanied by a certain captain, Enrique de Guzmán, reached Hibalong, a small fishing village near the mouth of Ginangra River, and planted the cross and erected the first chapel in Luzon. It was from this village that Ibalong, referring to the whole region, came to be. Moving inland with a northwesterly direction they passed by the territory now known as Pilar, before they reached Camalig, Albay. The establishment of the Abucay-Catamlangan Mission later was ample proof of this route.

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Sorsogon City
Sorsogon City is a 1st class city in Sorsogon, Philippines. It is the capital city of the province of Sorsogon The city is located at southernmost tip province of Luzon. This city was formed by merging the Bacon and Sorsogon towns. The city serves a trans-shipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao provinces. The city is also dubbed as "Gateway to Southern Philippines". Sorsogon City is one of the region’s leading cities in urbanization, Bicol's largest city in terms of land area and one of its most populous cities.
Sorsogon City was created by virtue of Republic Act 8806 which was enacted on August 16, 2000 and ratified in December 2000.
Prominent politicians of the locality behind its creation were former Sorsogon 1st District Representative and now Senator Francis Escudero and former Bacon Municipal Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda. Former Bacon Vice-Mayor Aurelio Destacamento, joined by former Sorsogon councilors Antonio C. Detera, Azel Diesta and Telo Mella fought before the two local legislative chambers, for the approval of appropriation ordinances providing budget for the holding of its plebiscite.

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South Cotabato
South Cotabato (Filipino:Timog Kotabato) is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east. To the southeast lies Sarangani Bay.
General Santos City, on the shores of Sarangani Bay, is the largest and most important city in the region, and is a major seaport. The province of Sarangani used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.
Centuries ago, the area that would be the South Cotabato was sparsely inhabited by Malay Pioneers which later evolved into various ethnic groupings that still exist in the Province today. Settlers, who would lay the foundation of what would become a progressive province, started trooping down 1914.
The significant thrust occurred during the term of President Quezon in late 1930s. Gen. Paulino Santos, a man whose undaunted pioneering spirit inspired thousand, led the first of wave of settlers that time. After World War II, the final exodus of settler from Luzon and Visayas poured into the virgin land of promise.

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Southern Leyte
Southern Leyte (Filipino:Timog Leyte) is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Maasin City is the capital of the province. Southern Leyte was once a sub-province of Leyte before it was divided from the latter. Limasawa, an island to the south is part of the province where the first Christian Mass was held and is said to be the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines.
The province ranks as the second least populated area in the region. According to 2007 census, the province has a population of 390,847 a 1.13% growth compared to last 2000 census with a population record of 360,160.
Southern Leyte's geological features created several issues in the province after the flooding of Subangdaku River and the awful mudslide in Guinsaugon. Organizations warned the province as susceptible to natural occurrences like landslides and floodings.
Southern Leyte contributes to the economy of the country. It forms an important part of the inter-island transportation system of the country, with ferries transporting people and goods between Liloan and Surigao del Norte in Mindanao. The province is well known for its quality abaca products and the country's major producer of abaca fiber.

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Spain
Spain (ⁱ/ˈspeɪn/ SPAYN; Spanish: España, pronounced: [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a sovereign state and a member of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north and north east by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llívia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory. With an area of 504,030 square kilometres (194,610 sq mi), it is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France.

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Sultan Kudarat
Sultan Kudarat is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Isulan and borders Maguindanao and Cotabato to the north, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south, and Davao del Sur to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the west.
Sultan Kudarat was once a part of the former empire province of Cotabato. It was created as a separate province along with Maguindanao and North Cotabato on November 22, l973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341 signed by former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos.
The purpose of dividing Cotabato into three (3) smaller provinces is clearly stated in Presidential Decree No. 341, which pertinently provided, to wit: “Whereas, the province of Cotabato is one of the largest and richest provinces of the Philippines;
Whereas, the potentials of the province have not been fully developed due to the magnitude of the task of provincial development and troubles that have long plagued the area;
Whereas, the many conflicting political, social and economic interests that have limited the progress of the province must be resolved in order to promote the stability and accelerate the development of Cotabato; and

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Surigao
The City of Surigao (Filipino pronunciation: (sů-rēh-GAŮ) (Filipino: Lungsod ng Surigao; Surigaonon: Siyudad nan Surigao) is located at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao Island in the Philippines and the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a total land area of 245.34 km² which is roughly 1.4% of Caraga region. According to the 2010 census, 140,540 people live in the city with an annual growth rate of 1.52%. An average of 573 persons live per square kilometer, the most densely populated urban area in Caraga region. The demonym for a Surigao resident is Surigaonon or Surigueño.
The absence of a fort in Surigao belies its significance and sphere of influence during the Spanish period. It was the capital of the expansive province of the same name from 1750 until its dissolution in 1911, covering a third of Mindanao Island's total land area. It is one of the oldest port towns in Mindanao, founded by Spanish colonizers in 1655. Today, Surigao is among the most important seaports in the country. Asian Institute of Management ranks it as among the most competitive smaller cities, with an estimated total income of 500 million pesos in 2010.

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Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Surigao City. The province consists of two major islands—Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island—in the Philippine Sea, and a small region at the northernmost tip of the island of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Sur to the south.
Surigao del Norte is the second northernmost of the Mindanao provinces and is an important transportation hub between Visayas and Mindanao. Numerous ferries cross the Surigao Strait between Surigao and the island of Leyte carrying vehicles and passengers between Liloan in Southern Leyte and Surigao City.
On September 18, 1960, pursuant to the Republic Act 2736 dated June 19, 1960, the province of Surigao was divided into Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. The town of Surigao became a city on August 30, 1970 pursuant to RA 6134. Atty. Pedro R. Espina became the first City Mayor.
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 but were reinstated as a separate province.

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Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the CARAGA region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tandag City and borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur to the west, and Davao Oriental to the south. Surigao del Sur is located at the eastern coast of Mindanao and faces the Philippine Sea.
Before the Spaniards came, the aborigines of the province were the Mamanua and Manobo. Later, our Austronesian brothers from the Visayas came to settle 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.The name Saliagao was later pronounced Surigao by the inhabitants.
It is also said that long time ago, some Visayan fishermen forced by the strong current of the Surigao Strait, sought refuge in one of the huts somewhere in the province. The Mamanua 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.

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Surigao Strait
Surigao Strait is a body of water in the Philippines located between the islands of Mindanao and Leyte. This strait connects the Bohol Sea with Leyte Gulf and is regularly crossed by ferries that transport goods and people between Visayas and Mindanao. The ferries stop at Liloan, Southern Leyte and Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.
The Battle of Surigao Strait took place here on October 25, 1944 when the "cross the T" incident took place as American battleships fire their guns over Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura's Southern Force; nearly all of which, including the battleships Yamashiro and Fusō and others were sunk. Admiral Nishimura was killed in action when his flagship Yamashiro sank following actions against Jesse B. Oldendorf's battleships, all but one of which had been at Pearl Harbor.
Coordinates: 9°50′N 125°20′E / 9.833°N 125.333°E / 9.833; 125.333

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Tacloban
The City of Tacloban (Waray: Syudad han Tacloban, Tagalog or Filipino: Lungsod ng Tacloban) is a city approximately 360 miles southeast of Manila. It is the first in Eastern Visayas to be classified as a Highly Urbanized City. It is the capital of the Philippine province of Leyte and is the largest city in terms of population in Eastern Visayas. It is also considered as the regional center of the Region VIII. Tacloban was briefly the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government, from October 20, 1944 to February 27, 1945.
In an extensive survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center and released in July 2010, Tacloban City was ranked among the top ten most competitive cities in the Philippines. Tacloban ranked fifth overall, and second in the emerging cities category.
Tacloban was first known as Kankabatok, an allusion to the first inhabitants of the place – Kabatok. They established their dwelling in the vicinity of the present day Sto. Niño Church. Others who came later were Gumoda, Haraging and Huraw who erected their own settlements in nearby sites. Huraw’s domain is the hill where the city hall now sits. The combined settlements acquired the name Kankabatok, meaning Kabatok’s property.

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Tacurong
Tacurong City is a 4th class city in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 90,477. Tacurong now has a total land area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in land area among the 12 municipalities that compose the new province of Sultan Kudarat, created on November 22, 1973 by Presidential Decree No. 341. Tacurong became a component city of Sultan Kudarat in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act 8805 in September 2000.
The place which later became the city of Tacurong was once a barangay of the municipality of Buluan of the then empire province of Cotabato. The place was originally called “Pamansang”, after a creek that flows from south to north of the area. In the 1940s, the place became the way station of the 19-C Survey Team due to is strategic location and suitability for the purposes of the survey team. During those years, the place also became a stopover point for travelers and the Oblate missionaries on their way to the different points of Cotabato Province.

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Tagaytay
The City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay) is a component city in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations because of outstanding scenery and cooler climate provided by its high altitude. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides one of the iconic views of the Philippines, the view of Taal Volcano Island in the middle of the lake, viewable from several vantage points in the city.
Tagaytay is relatively close to the capital city of Manila, only 55 km (34 mi) away via Aguinaldo Highway, providing an easy escape for the locals from the heat of the big city.
Tagaytay City has a total land area of 66.1 km² (26 sq mi) which represents about 4.37% of the total area of the Province of Cavite. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay to the North, Taal Volcano and Lake to the south and Laguna de Bay to the east.
The southern and eastern portions of Tagaytay City are covered by hills and mountains which is generally forests and open grasslands. The city lies along Tagaytay Ridge, a ridge stretching about 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Mount Batulao in the west to Mount Sungay (now People's Park in the Sky) in the east with elevations averaging about 610 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level. Mount Sungay, in Tagaytay, is the highest point of the province of Cavite at 709 metres (2,326 ft).

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Tagbilaran
Tagbilaran City is a 2nd class component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines and serves as its capital. Tagbilaran lies on the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area of 32.7 km², with about 13 km of coastline. The city is on the south of Cortes, southwest of Corella west of the town of Baclayon and is about 630 km southeast of Manila and 72 km south of Cebu City.
It is the principal gateway to Bohol and is known as the "City of Friendship". Tagbilaran is considered by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia as one of the eight Philippine Dream Cities, along with Samal, San Fernando, La Union, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Marikina, Naga, Calbayog City and Surigao City. It was also recognized as one of the 20 "Most Competitive Cities in the Philippines" and "Pinoy Cities on the Rise" in 2005 and 2007, and first in the Quality of Life Category for the same two years, awarded by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.
A hundred years before Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, the settlement of which eventually became Tagbilaran City was already involved in trading with China and Malaysia. This early settlement had contact with the Spaniards in 1565, when the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi and the native chieftain Datu Sikatuna pledged peace and cooperation through the famous blood compact.

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Taguig
The City of Taguig (formerly spelled as Tagig; Filipino: Lungsod ng Taguig) is a highly urbanized city located in south-eastern portion of Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center. The recent construction of the C-5 highway and the acquisition of the Fort Bonifacio development area has paved the way for the cityhood of the municipality. It will also be accessed by the future C-6 Road.
Taguig City lies on the western shore of Laguna de Bay and is bordered by Muntinlupa City to the south, Parañaque City to the southwest, Pasay City to the west, Cainta and Taytay on the northeast and Makati City, Pateros, and Pasig City to the north. Taguig River, a tributary of the Pasig River cuts through the northern half of the municipality and Napindan River, also a tributary of the Pasig forms the common border of Taguig with Pasig City.
The city ranked first among Philippine cities in the Ease of Doing Business Index, conducted by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation.

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Tagum
Tagum City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Tagum/Siyudad sa Tagum, Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagum) is a First Class City of the 1st Congressional District of the Province of Davao del Norte, Philippines and serves as its provincial capital. It is also the center of commerce and trade.
Cited as one of the 20 most viable and most competitive business sites in the Philippines in 2005 by the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project, Tagum City is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mindanao and in the Philippines. Tagum has become a bustling center of culture, commerce, health services, and entertainment in the Davao Region, in Mindanao and in the southern Philippine region.

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Tandag
Tandag is a city and the provincial capital of the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 44,327 people in 8,449 households.
Tandag is politically subdivided into 21 barangays.
Surigao formerly, was extended from what is known as Agusan, including the islands east of it and the northern regions of Davao and the capital of the province that time was Caraga and so the Spaniards called the people Caragas.
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Type II Climate characterized by no dry season and with a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January. The City enjoys steady weather condition being outside the typhoon belt.
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Tandag along with the other 15 towns recently regained its citihood after the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision.
Recently Tandag lost its cityhood, along with 15 other cities, after the Supreme Court of the Philippines granted a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines, and declared the cityhood law (RA 9392) which allowed the town to acquire its city status, unconstitutional. The said cities, the court ruled, did not meet the requirements for cityhood.

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Tangub
Tangub City is a 5th class city in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 49,695 people in 9,480 households. It is known as the Christmas Capital of Mindanao for its display of the holiday's famous symbols.
The city was formerly called Regidor until 1930 when it was given its modern name.
Tangub City is politically subdivided into 55 barangays.
Tangub City through its Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe is a regular participant of Sinulog Festival, a festival held in Cebu City. Sinulog is the country’s biggest and most anticipated festival is set to take center stage every year. . This festival is the pageantry of sights, sounds and colors as it honors and pays homage to the patron saint of Cebu, Sr. Sto. Niño-the child Jesus.The highlights of the festival is from January 9–18, yearly. Tangub City has won ten grand champion streak in the Sinulog-Based Category of said festival.
Tangub City is the Christmas Symbol Capital of the Philippines.

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Tanjay
Tanjay City is a 4th class city in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines.
It was created by virtue of Republic Act 9026 otherwise known as "An act converting the Municipality of Tanjay, province of Negros Oriental into a component city to be known as the City of Tanjay". The Act was approved and signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 5, 2001. This act, which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 8880 and Senate Bill No. 2256, was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 8, 2001. Tanjay was finally proclaimed a component city on April 1, 2001 after a plebiscite was conducted for the purpose.
According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 79,098 people. It has a land area of 478.30 km².
The city is part of the 2nd Congressional District of the Negros Oriental and is located 30 kilometers north of Dumaguete City. It is bounded on the north by Bais City, on the south by the Municipality of Amlan, on the east by the Tañon Strait and west by the Municipality of Pamplona.

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Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west. It is a part of Central Luzon, which is also composed of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales.
As of the 2000 census, Tarlac has a population of 1,068,783. Its population density is 350/km².^{[citation needed]}
In the southern half of the province Kapampangan is the spoken language whereas Ilocano and Pangasinan dominate the northern half. Tagalog, being the country's national language, is widely understood throughout the province.
The economy of Tarlac is dominantly agricultural. Principal crops are rice and sugarcane. Other major crops are corn and coconut; vegetables such as eggplant, garlic, and onion; and fruit trees like mango, banana, and calamansi. It is among the biggest producers of Rice and Sugarcane notably grown in Hacienda Luisita in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City which is owned by the Cojuangco Family.

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Tarlac City
The City of Tarlac is a first class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac provincial capitol building is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. According to the latest census, Tarlac City has a population of 314,155 people in 51,703 households. The Land in Tarlac City is among the few portions of the province which surfaced before the beginning of the Pinatubo eruptions.
The city has been proclaimed as one of the recently declared Highly-Urbanized cities in the Philippines under the power of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but the decision was opposed by the provincial government.
The city is situated at the center of the province. To its north is Gerona, west is San Jose, south is Capas and Concepcion and eastern boundaries are Victoria and La Paz. This is also the location of Tarlac River. Tarlac City is approximately 24 meters above sea level on some parts but reaching even 50 meters on large western portions. Tarlac City was historically a part of what is now Porac, Pampanga. Parts of Tarlac city are claimed to be among the few portions of land in the province which was not created by ancient eruptions from Mount Pinatubo.

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Trece Martires
The City of Trece Martires (Filipino: Lungsod ng Trece Martires) is a third-class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city serves as the seat of government of the Cavite, where many of the provincial government offices are located. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 90,177 people in a land area of 49.10 square kilometers.
It is named after the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, who were executed by the Spaniards on September 12, 1896.
Trece Martires City is strategically located at the heart of the Province of Cavite. Its major source of income is real property taxes. Agriculture has long been neglected in favor of commercialism and industrialization. With its 14.75% growth-rate due to immigration from other municipalities, especially from Metro Manila, the projected population by 2010 is 110,000. The major cause of this ballooning population is in-migration (which is gladly facilitated by the LGU even though it is not sustainable, in order to support the incumbents for the upcoming 2010 elections).

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Tuguegarao
Coordinates: 17°37′0″N 121°43′0″E / 17.616667°N 121.716667°E / 17.616667; 121.716667 Tuguegarao City (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tuguegarao) is the city capital of Cagayan, Philippines and the regional capital of Region 02 (Cagayan Valley Region). Tuguegarao is the economic center of the Cagayan Valley Region; it is located on a peninsula in the Cagayan Valley. It is sheltered by the Sierra Madre Mountains in the East; Cordilleras in the West; and, the Caraballo Mountains in the South. It grew on the banks of the Cagayan River and the Pinacanauan River, near the southern border of the province.
Tuguegarao City is a Center of Excellence in Education, Commerce, Trade and Culture and as the Economic Center of Region 02, Tuguegarao City continuously aims for outstanding performance and competence in administration, citizen participation, community and economic development, cultural arts, education, fiscal management, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, planning, public safety, recreation and leisure services, social services, and technology.

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United States
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km²) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.

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Victorias
Victorias City is a 4th class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 81,743 people in 15,361 households.
Victorias is notable for being the site of Victorias Milling Company, the Philippine's largest sugar refinery and sitting on a 7,000 hectare compound is the world's largest integrated sugar mill. Within the VMC chapel is the world famous mural of the Angry Christ painted by international artist Alfonso Ossorio. The mural has been featured in various publications like Life Magazine
Victorias City is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.
Coordinates: 10°54′N 123°05′E / 10.9°N 123.083°E / 10.9; 123.083

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Vigan
The City of Vigan (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Bigan; Tagalog: Vīgân; Chinese: 美岸; pinyin: Měi'àn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Bîgá) is a 5th class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The city is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.
It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines, and is well known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine and Oriental building designs and construction, with colonial European architecture.
According to the latest Philippines census, it has a population of 47,246 people in 9,193 households.
Former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines, was born in Vigan, at the current location of the Provincial Jail (his father was a warden); and resided in the Syquia Mansion.
The area of Vigan was originally a settlement of traders coming from the Fujian Province, China. At the time of Spanish colonisation, the Chinese settlers, whose language was Southern Fujianese (Min Nan, often referred to as "Hokkien" by most Filipinos), referred to the area as "Bee Gan" (Chinese: 美岸; pinyin: Měi'àn), which means "Beautiful Shore." Since the Castillian and Basque Spanish conquistadors interchanged V and the B to refer to the B sound, they spelled the Hokkien Chinese name "Bee Gan" as "Vigan", which is the name used to this day.

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Visayas
The Visayas /vɪˈs[unsupported input]jəs/ və-SY-əz or Visayan Islands (Visayan languages: Kabisay-an, Tagalog: Kabisayaan), is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea. Residents are known as the Visayans.
The major islands of the Visayas are Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Samar. The region may also include the islands of Romblon and Masbate, whose population identify as Visayan.
There are three administrative regions in the Visayas: Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
The early people in the Visayas region were Austronesians and Negritos who migrated to the islands about 6,000 to 30,000 years ago. These early settlers were animist tribal groups. In the 12th century, settlers from the collapsing empires of Srivijaya, Majapahit and Brunei, led by the chieftain Datu Puti and his tribes, settled in the island of Panay and its surrounding islands. By the 14th century, Arab traders and their followers, venturing into the Malay Archipelago, converted some of these tribal groups into Muslims. These tribes practiced a mixture of Islam and Animism beliefs. There is also some evidence of trade among other Asian people. The Visayans were thought to have kept close diplomatic relations with Malaysia and Indonesian kingdoms since the tribal groups of Cebu were able to converse with Enrique of Malacca using the Malay language when the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521.

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Zambales
Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, Bataan to the south and the South China Sea to the west. With a land area of 3,700 km², Zambales is the second largest among the seven provinces of Central Luzon. It has a population density of 150 people per square kilometer², one of the lowest in the country. The province is noted for its mangoes, which are abundant from January to April.
Zambales is served by the Subic Bay International Airport, which is located in Cubi Point in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The Freeport Zone is host to many tourist attractions which include casinos, beach resorts, parks, beachside huts and cottages and historical sites. The Scarborough Shoal is internationally recognized as a part of Zambales Province.
Zambales lies on the western shores of Luzon island along the South China Sea. Its shoreline is very ragged, and features many coves and inlets. The Zambales Mountains, the mountain range on the eastern part of the province occupies about 60% of its total land area. Subic Bay, in the southern end of the province, provides a natural harbor, and was chosen as the location of the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay. The peak of Mount Pinatubo lies near the tripoint of Zambales, Pampanga, and Tarlac provinces. This volcano, once considered dormant, erupted violently in 1991 blowing off its summit, leaving a caldera (now filled with Lake Pinatubo), on the mountains of Botolan, Zambales. A vast portion of the province acquired desert-like features after being buried by more than 20 feet (6.1 m) deep of lahar.

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Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga (Zamboangueño Chavacano/Spanish: Ciudad de Zamboanga; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Zamboanga; is a highly urbanized city located in Mindanao, Philippines. It is currently ranked as the 6th most populous city (807,129 population as of 2010 NSO Census) and the 3rd largest by land area in the Philippines (1,483.3849/km² (572.738/sq mi)).
It is the seat of one of the largest number of military and police bases in the country. It is also home of the 3rd Air Division of the Edwin Andrews Air Base, which handles the Air Force of the Philippines in the city; and the 6th Naval District in Camp General Basilio Navarro also known as Western Mindanao Command, the main headquarters of Armed Forces of the Philippines in Western part of Mindanao; the Philippine Army, Philippine Marines, and Philippine Navy are assigned to that command. The "Camp Enrile" and other three military camps can be found in the city.
It is the former capital of Moro Province, now Mindanao Island, from 1903 to 1913. On September 15, 1911, the Municipalidad de Zamboanga was converted into a city by the legislative order Act. No.272. It is known as Ciudad Latina de Asia in Zamboangueño Language or Asia's Latin City in English for its strong Hispanic/Latin influence.^{[citation needed]}

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Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte (Tagalog; Hilagang Samboanga, Standard Subanen:Utara Sembwangan) or simply known as ZANORTE is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east. The Sulu Sea lies to the northwest of Zamboanga del Norte. Zamboanga del Norte is the Largest province of Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of land area.
Zamboanga del Norte has a population of 957,997 according to the 2010 census. Its population density is 130/km². It is ranked 26th among the provinces both in terms of population and population density.
The main language spoken is Cebuano.
About half of the province's land area is devoted to agriculture. Corn, coconut, and rice are the major crops. The province being rich in marine and mineral sources, its fish production has accelerated through the development of fishponds. Commercial fishing has likewise steadily increased through the years, with the yellow fin tuna as the primary species.

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Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur (Cebuano:Lalawigan sa Habagatang Zamboanga, Spanish/Zamboangueño/Chavacano:Provincia del Zamboanga del Sur, Tagalog:Timog Zamboanga, Standard Subanen:S'helatan Sembwangan/Sembwangan dapit Shelatan) is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga Sibugay to the west, Misamis Occidental to the northeast, and Lanao del Norte to the east. To the south is the Moro Gulf.
As of the 2000 census, Zamboanga del Sur had a population of 836,147, making it the 16th most populous province. The population density was 3,480/km², the 20th most densely populated province.
The most commonly spoken language is Cebuano. Also spoken, although in small percentage, are Zamboangueño/Chavacano, Tagalog, English, Hiligaynon, Maguindanao, Iranun, Subanun, and Ilocano.
The economy is predominantly agricultural. Products include coco oil, livestock feed milling, rice/corn milling, including the processing of fruits, gifts and housewares made from indigenous materials like handmade paper, roots, rattan, buri, and bamboo; wood-based manufacture of furniture and furniture components from wood, rattan, and bamboo; marine and aquaculture including support services; construction services and manufacture of marble, concrete, and wooden construction materials. There are also mining areas in the province, such as found in the Municipality of Bayog managed by TVI, a Canadian-based mining firm which concentrates on gold mining, and the Cebu Ore Mining which is handling the Ore-Copper-Steel mines. There are also small-scale mines in the Municipality of Dumingag.

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Zamboanga Sibugay
Zamboanga Sibugay is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and it borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga City to the southwest. To the south lies Sibuguey Bay in the Moro Gulf. Zamboanga Sibugay was created in 2001 when the third district of Zamboanga del Sur was carved out of that province. Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province created in the Philippines.
As of the 2000 census, Zamboanga Sibugay has a population of 497,239 people, and a population density of 161/km². It is ranked 29th among the provinces of the Philippines in terms of both population and population density. The annual population growth rate is 16.09%.
The vast majority of the people of Zamboanga Sibugay speak Cebuano. Other languages such as Hiligaynon, Subanen, Zamboangueño/Chavacano, Tagalog and other ethnic tongues are also spoken, so is English.
The leading industries are in the areas of bakery, rice and corn milling, food processing, and rattan and wood furniture production. New industries include concrete products, garments, wax and candle factory, and other cottage industries.

wn.com/Zamboanga_Sibugay

Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869 – February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played an instrumental role during the Philippines' revolution against Spain, and the subsequent Philippine-American War or War of Philippine Independence that resisted American occupation.
Aguinaldo became the Philippines' first President. He was also the youngest (at age 29) to have become the country's president, the longest-lived president (having survived to age 94) and the president to have outlived the most number of successors.
Emilio, nicknamed Miong was born on March 22, 1869 at Cavite El Viejo (now Kawit). The seventh of the eight children of Kapitan Carlos Aguinaldo y Jamir and Kapitana Trinidad Famy y Valero.
He was the seventh of eight children. His parents were of Chinese and Tagalog descent. His father, Carlos, died when Aguinaldo was just nine years old. After graduating from the University of Santo Thomas and at the San Juan de Letran College in Manila, Aguinaldo returned home to Kawit, where he developed a growing awareness of Filipino frustration with Spanish colonial rule.

wn.com/Emilio_Aguinaldo
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese: Fernão de Magalhães, IPA: [fɨɾˈnɐ̃w ðɨ mɐɣɐˈʎɐ̃jʃ]; Spanish: Fernando de Magallanes, IPA: [ferˈnando ðe maɣaˈʎanes]; c. 1480 – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" (modern Maluku Islands in Indonesia).
Magellan's expedition of 1519–1522 became the first expedition to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean (then named "peaceful sea" by Magellan; the passage being made via the Strait of Magellan), and the first to cross the Pacific. It also completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth, although Magellan himself did not complete the entire voyage, being killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. (For background see Exploration of the Pacific).
Magellan also gives his name to the Magellanic Penguin, which he was the first European to note, and the Magellanic clouds, now known to be nearby dwarf galaxies.

wn.com/Ferdinand_Magellan
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731] – December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States of America, serving from 1789 to 1797, and the dominant military and political leader of the United States from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787. Washington became the first president, by unanimous choice, and oversaw the creation of a strong, well-financed national government that maintained neutrality in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion, and won acceptance among Americans of all types. His leadership style established many forms and rituals of government that have been used since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. Washington is universally regarded as the "Father of his country."

wn.com/George_Washington
Sulo
Sören "Sulo" Karlsson is a swedish vocalist most known for being the frontman of the rock band The Diamond Dogs.
Sulo co funded The Diamond Dogs in Katrineholm along with Anders Lindström, throughout the years the bands line up has changed several time and Lindström left the band in 1996 to join The Hellacopters. In 2007 Sulo reunited with Lindström with the musical project The Bitter Twins, the duo's released their debut album Global Panic in 2008 which featured many high profiled guest musicians. Besides his work with The Diamond Dogs and The Bitter Twins Sulo has recorded as a solo artits, most recently he interpreted poetry by the Swedish author and poet Ernst Brunner.

wn.com/Sulo
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the 27th President of the United States (1909–1913) and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930). He is the only person to have served in both of these two offices.
Before becoming President, Taft was selected to serve on the Ohio Superior Court in 1887. In 1890, Taft was appointed Solicitor General of the United States and in 1891 a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War in an effort to groom Taft, then his close political ally, into his handpicked presidential successor. Taft assumed a prominent role in problem solving, assuming on some occasions the role of acting Secretary of State, while declining repeated offers from Roosevelt to serve on the Supreme Court.
Riding a wave of popular support for fellow Republican Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency.

wn.com/William_Howard_Taft

surigao city charter day drum and lyre corps competition 2012

...

published: 01 Sep 2012

author: john kelly ytac

Surigao City - Earth Quake (Gaisano Capital Entrance) -143dodz subscribe

Other Video - www.youtube.com March 16. 2012 . . .the 5.9 earth quake in Surigao Del Norte...

published: 16 Mar 2012

author: 143dodz

UPSTARTS @Gaisano Capital, Surigao City

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published: 25 Mar 2012

author: coffeeprinces17

Surigao City Tour 2

This is a comparison of my previous video entitled Surigao City Tour. This video was taken...

published: 02 Jul 2011

author: joaquinville

Motorcycle ride to Surigao City

Video of Jessica driving from our house towards Surigao City. I still marvel that I get to...

published: 30 Mar 2012

author: HodgkinsonMike

typhoon pablo surigao city blvd with ateh chennai

typhoon...

published: 05 Dec 2012

author: gresam07

Mabua - Looc Concrete Mountain Trail of Surigao City

It was a steep climb but the breathtaking view was worth it :) How to get there: Just go t...

published: 19 Aug 2012

author: FlipVideosGalore

RICHARD GUTIERREZ in SURIGAO CITY! :)

...

published: 22 Jun 2012

author: doreblis

Surigao City Earthquake March 16, 2012

...

published: 17 Mar 2012

author: gnshiconnect

Surigao City home

Video tour of our house in Surigao City (Mindanao Island, Philippines)...

published: 30 Mar 2012

author: HodgkinsonMike

Sajaw Surigao Festival 2012 - 2nd Placer and Best in Custome

Contingent no.6 Bonok Bonok Marajaw Karajaw Festival of Surigao City Choreographer Harold ...

published: 22 May 2012

author: jay son

Surigao City DLC Contest 2012 - Surigao City National High School DLC Part 1

Sorry for the Shaky Video......

published: 05 Sep 2012

author: Darren Adtoon

Typhoon Pablo at Surigao City

Typhoon PABLO Attack at Boulevard Surigao City......

published: 04 Dec 2012

author: anthony deniega

Surigao City

Vlogging along Borromeo St. up to Navarro St. Finally, the sun appeared after 2 days of ra...

published: 07 Feb 2012

author: joaquinville

The day of the dead

November 1, 2010. Tandag city, Surigao del Sur - Philippines. Today is a very important d...

published: 03 Nov 2010

author: jeriko1kenobi

surigao city of island adventures

music is from stephen anderson....

published: 18 Feb 2012

author: surigao tv

Surigao City Wedding SDE

EVENT: A&J; Surigao City Wedding SDE DATE: 22nd October 2009 PREPARATION: Gateway Hotel, S...

published: 11 Jun 2010

author: Cebu Wedding

Cris and Charlene (Surigao City)

published: 21 Jun 2012

author: Marklester

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photo: AP / Menahem Kahana

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he addresses the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem

Netanyahu takes on the world in Israeli election campaign

The Star

08 Jan 2013

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - It's Bibi against the world on a campaign trail that took the combative Israeli prime minister to a Jewish settlement on Tuesday. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 9, 2012. REUTERS/Ammar Awad ... Tweaking his message to match the locality, Netanyahu said ... The danger comes from Iran, which is building nuclear weapons." ... CHEMICAL WEAPONS ... ....(size: 3.8Kb)

photo: AP / Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

This artist rendering released Monday Jan. 7,2013 by Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows the different types of planets in our Milky Way galaxy detected by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft.

Our Galaxy May Host Billions of Earth-Size Planets – Study

Novosti

08 Jan 2013

MOSCOW, January 8 (RIA Novosti) – At least 17 billion Earth-size planets may inhabit the Milky Way galaxy, SPACE.com reported citing a new study by US astronomers ... That translates to a minimum of 17 billion planets as there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way ... Over a hundred of candidates have been confirmed as planets so far, NASA said....(size: 1.7Kb)

photo: AP / Channi Anand

An Indian army soldier patrols near the line of control, the line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, after a reported cease-fire violation, in Mendhar, Poonch district, about 210 kilometers (131 miles) from Jammu, India, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013.

India lashes out at Pakistan after deadly Kashmir encounter

The Star

09 Jan 2013

JAMMU, India (Reuters) - India slammed arch-rival Pakistan on Wednesday over a fire fight in the disputed territory of Kashmir in which two of its soldiers were killed, and said the mutilation of one of the bodies was "inhuman". India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony waits to speak at a plenary session of the 11th International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit ... REUTERS/Tim Chong ... ....(size: 2.6Kb)

photo: AP / Richard Drew

New York City firefighters remove an injured passenger of the Seastreak Wall Street ferry, in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013.

New York Ferry Crash: More Than 50 Injured

Skynews

09 Jan 2013

A commuter ferry has crashed into the dockside in Lower Manhattan in New York during the morning rush hour, injuring between 30 and 50 people.. The Seastreak Ferry, which provides daily services from Atlantic Highlands in New Jersey, struck Pier 11 in the East River not far from Wall Street at about 8.45am ET (1.45pm GMT).. Officials say at least two of the passengers were in a critical condition, one with confirmed head injuries. ... ....(size: 4.5Kb)

photo: US Army / Sgt. Christopher Bonebrake

File - U.S. Army Pfc. Caesar Pimentel, an infantryman attached to 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the security forces element for Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktiya, keeps a watchful eye on his surroundings in the Sayed Karem District market, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012.

War and Any 'Vanity' Necessary

WorldNews.com

07 Jan 2013

Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. When Congress granted President Lyndon B. Johnson absolute powers to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression," Congress could have also included "all necessary vanities." The 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which greatly escalated a foreign imperial war in Vietnam, added fuel to the bonfires of vanity....(size: 5.2Kb)

timeline:
2012
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2003
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Doppler Radar in Guiuan soon to be operational

Sun Star

10 Jan 2013

THE P450-million Doppler Radar project in Guiuan, Eastern Samar will be operational in March 2013, patching holes in weather radar coverage across the country ... The three new doppler radars are expected to help the seven existing US-made Doppler radar systems located in Baguio City; Baler, Aurora ; Subic, Zambales; Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Tagaytay City; Mactan City, Cebu; and Tampakan , South Cotabato ... (Leyte Samar Daily Express) ....(size: 2.8Kb)

Hoary tale

The Daily Tribune

09 Jan 2013

That’s a hoary tale the United States weaves about its drone that was found in the sea off Masbate, of all places, while claiming that the drone, which is a spy plane merely drifted into Philippine territory after crashing at sea four months ago ... “It is not a spy plane. It is unarmed ... Arnulfo Burgos said ... He is mouthing the US line ... Really? Floating over the Pacific Ocean and floating all the way through the Surigao Strait? ... ....(size: 4.1Kb)

PHILIPPINES: Crop-based livelihoods hit by Typhoon Bopha

IRINnews

09 Jan 2013

FEEDBACKEMAILPRINTREADER MODE ...  . "People need livelihoods ... . "Many are left without sources of income,” he said. ... ... . Worst affected was the eastern part of the island, particularly the provinces of Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Compostela Valley - all inhabited by coastal and mountainous communities with an economy largely based on agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining. ... ... ....(size: 11.6Kb)

SSS-Baguio opens clinic

Sun Star

08 Jan 2013

SSS Medical Services Division director Dr ... “Sickness and disability claimants are often within hearing distance of other transacting members ... “Our branches in Cebu, Lapu-lapu, Tacloban, Ormoc, Calbayog, Maasin, Bohol, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Valencia, Butuan, Surigao, Davao, Kidapawan, Tagum, General Santos, Dipolog and Zamboanga also have PE Centers for our members in the south,” Ong said. (JM Agreda) ....(size: 2.5Kb)

DTI lists projects to boost local investments this year

The Daily Tribune

08 Jan 2013

... protected landscape in Quirino Province, Mount Siburan in Oriental Mindoro, Malampaya Sound in Palawan, Northern Negros Natural Park in Negros Occidental, Lake Mainit in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, Mount Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental, and Central Panay Mountains in the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan and Capiz....(size: 3.2Kb)

Happy Birthday to me!

Sun Star

08 Jan 2013

Those are the fastest way of telling the person that you remember him on the day he was born ... Atty. Edwaldo Legaspina (who had to join us even though he had just arrived from a long trip from Surigao City), Sean Stephenson (Kenneth Dong’s representative from Asuki Weighing System, Inc.), Rudolph Ian Alama (a film director and fellow columnist at Sun Star Davao), and Dashiel Indelible (city tourism officer of Mati City) ... Atty ... D ... ....(size: 5.1Kb)

Environment office to survey Basey peatland

Sun Star

07 Jan 2013

SEVEN years after the validation of the Leyte Sab-a Basin as the country’s second confirmed peatland, the government will complete the survey of another peatland in Barangay Dolongan, Basey, Samar this year ... The area became known as peatland area citing the 1975 soil survey in Samar. The ongoing assessment, which started in 2010, also covers swamp forests in Upland Peat, Northern Luzon; Ultramafic Hills, Surigao; Ligawasan Marsh, Brgy....(size: 3.0Kb)

Happy Birthdaty to me!

Sun Star

07 Jan 2013

Dissemblers

The Daily Tribune

06 Jan 2013

In fact, her being a caretaker is unprecedented since historically the one designated as such is the district representative of an adjoining district, in this case any of the Surigao del Norte representatives, not a party-list representative. Again, Bag-ao and her cohorts managed to get around this by claiming that she was born in Loreto, Surigao del Norte even as she has long left the place and settled in another part of Mindanao....(size: 5.7Kb)

Akbayan solon gets flak for getting new appointment, ‘campaign funds’

The Daily Tribune

05 Jan 2013

Militant youth group Anakbayan howled yesterday over the P140 million given to party-list Rep ... Bag-ao, in an earlier statement, defended her appointment as caretaker of the Dinagat Island congressional district, saying she was appointed because she grew up in the province and that none of the other lawmakers was familiar with Dinagat, including any of the representatives of Surigao del Norte to which the province was once attached ... ....(size: 3.3Kb)

Pork barrel politics

The Daily Tribune

05 Jan 2013

Kaka Bag-ao ... Ruben Ecleo whose name was removed from the roster of congressmen after he was convicted last year of killing his wife Alona in 2002, and also after the Supreme Court upheld the guilty verdict handed down by the Sandiganbayan against him in connection with irregularities in several infrastructure projects in the town of San Jose, Surigao del Norte where he was mayor from 1991 to 1994 ... Such is the hatred for her. q q q....(size: 5.2Kb)

Electric coops learn lessons from 'Pablo'

Sun Star

04 Jan 2013

He said that Dinagat province has an existing provincial ordinance which bans the planting of trees and shrubs near electric lines or posts ... Joceler Moralda, general manager of the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative, describes the calamity as two-in-a-row after Sendong which also hit their area last year. He said the last visit of the typhoon was way back in 1981 when Typhoon Atang ravaged Surigao del Sur ... ....(size: 2.3Kb)

Update on hunger relief in Philippines after Typhoon Bopha

The Examiner

04 Jan 2013

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said today that 239,000 families victimized by Typhoon Bopha have received food packs ... An emergency school feeding program is set to start in the four affected provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Sur ... Suggested by the author. ... ....(size: 1.7Kb)

timeline:
2012
2011
2010
2009
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For the provinces, see Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

City of Surigao
Siyudad nan Surigao

— City —

Surigao City aerial view

Official seal of City of Surigao
Seal

Map of Surigao del Norte showing the location of Surigao City.

City of Surigao

Location in the Philippines

Coordinates: 9°47′N 125°29′E / 9.783°N 125.483°ECoordinates: 9°47′N 125°29′E / 9.783°N 125.483°E

2nd district of Surigao del Norte

Founded

June 29, 1655

Cityhood

August 31, 1970

Barangays

Government

• Mayor

Ernesto Matugas (Liberal Party)

Area

• Total

245.34 km² (94.73 sq mi)

Population (2010)

• Total

140,540

• Density

573/km² (1,480/sq mi)

Time zone

PHT (UTC+8)

ZIP Code

8400

Website

http://www.surigaocity.gov.ph/

The City of Surigao (Filipino pronunciation: (sů-rēh-GAŮ) (Filipino: Lungsod ng Surigao; Surigaonon: Siyudad nan Surigao) is located at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao Island in the Philippines and the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a total land area of 245.34 km² which is roughly 1.4% of Caraga region. According to the 2010 census, 140,540^[1] people live in the city with an annual growth rate of 1.52%. An average of 573 persons live per square kilometer, the most densely populated urban area in Caraga region. The demonym for a Surigao resident is Surigaonon or Surigueño.

Surigao town as shown on a historical Mindanao map

The absence of a fort in Surigao belies its significance and sphere of influence during the Spanish period. It was the capital of the expansive province of the same name from 1750 until its dissolution in 1911, covering a third of Mindanao Island's total land area. It is one of the oldest port towns in Mindanao, founded by Spanish colonizers in 1655. Today, Surigao is among the most important seaports in the country. Asian Institute of Management ranks it as among the most competitive smaller cities, with an estimated total income of 500 million pesos in 2010.

The city has abundant mineral reserves including gold, iron, manganese, silica, cobalt, copper, chromite and among the world's largest nickel deposits in Nonoc Island. Diverse species of fish and aquatic life can be found within its territorial sea boundaries. The city falls under the tropical climate type and prone to brief afternoon downpours and thunderstorms. Its location makes it an ideal jump off point for adventure-seeking tourists who visit nearby islands of Siargao, Dinagat and Bucas Grande. It is also Mindanao's closest landmass to the Visayas region, separated 11 nautical miles by Surigao Strait and a 40-minute ferry ride to Panaon Island. Surigao is the center of politics, commerce, industry and education for the entire province as well as parts of neighboring provinces of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Bohol and Southern Leyte.

1 Etymology
2 History
3 Culture
- 3.1 People
- 3.2 Language
4 Geography
- 4.1 Location
- 4.2 Topography
5 Climate
6 Government
- 6.1 Administrative divisions
7 Education
- 7.1 Universities
- 7.2 Colleges
8 Economy
9 Healthcare
10 Infrastructure
11 Media
12 Telecommunications
13 Tourism
- 13.1 Notable Beaches
- 13.2 Places of Interest
14 Annual Events
15 Gallery
16 See also
17 External links
18 References

Etymology [link]

According to local historians, there are many versions regarding the meaning of Surigao and how this was derived. Like Sulo, which means sulog or current, the name Surigao may have been originally coined from the Spanish word surgir, meaning swift current.

There is also a popular legend about Visayan fishermen who went adrift on a stormy day at the mouth of today's Surigao River. With boats wrecked, they were unable to sail back to sea. They were met by a docile village chieftain named Solibao who offered them his abode. The fishermen helped the chieftain procure food for the village's daily subsistence in exchange for his hospitality. One day, with much luck, they were able to paddle back home after other fishermen came close to the village they now named after Solibao. Some of the men eventually returned and settled in the area, lured by their fortunate experience with Solibao. Years later during the 15th century, the Spanish galleons dropped anchor near the settlement and came ashore. The Spanish historian, worn from the long transpacific journey misheard the people when he asked for the name of the place, and wrote in his diaries Surigao instead, referring to the land at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao Island.

The town was renamed Caraga after its founding, derived from the word calagan which means "land of the brave" or "fierce people". The Italian adventurer Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri, who published a book of travel in the country, cited Francisco Combes, S.J. as a source in saying that Calagan is derived from the two Visayan words, kalag for soul and an for people. Today, Caraga is the official name referring to the entire Region XIII, created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 25, 1995, making it the newest region in the Philippines.

History [link]

Surigao Province 1898

The site around Surigao was settled early on, even before the Spanish conquest. Fishing villages dotted along the coast facing the Hinituan Passage while Mamanwa tribes inhabit the interior highlands. The confluence of three major bodies of water- Pacific Ocean, Surigao Strait and Mindanao Sea, kept the area inhabited continuously for many centuries, although its historical importance waxed and waned as other parts of the archipelago were explored and developed. Nearby archeological digs attest early influences by Chinese, Hindu and Moro traders.

Spanish Era [link]

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. Magellan's fleet proceeded to Limasawa through Surigao Strait, a notch northwest of the city's pelagic boundaries, before dropping anchor on the waters off the island of Cebu, ushering the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

Present day Surigao originated from a site in the city proper formerly known as Bilang-Bilang where it served as a port of call for inter-island vessels. Later, it was renamed Banahao which became an integral part of the old district of Caraga, a town founded on June 29, 1655. After Caolo, present day Siargao, burned in 1750, Surigao became the capital of the expansive geopolitical, eclessiastical and military district of Surigao which reached the fringes of Davao and would include today's provinces of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, parts of Compostela Valley, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental. It officially became the permanent residence of the Augustinian Recollects on February 1, 1752 when all the canonical books were moved from Caolo 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. Its strategic location and new status as the seat of government was costly. Surigao witnessed violent territorial struggles as it suffered ultimately from relentless Moro raids. In 1752, the town was devastated. Most of its 2,000 inhabitants were either killed or taken as slaves by the Moros.

First and Official Flag Raising in Mindanao. Father Alberto Masoliver, S.J., during his stint as the parish priest of Surigao in 1898, kept a compilation of his diaries, entitled Diario de la Casa de Surigao. His diaries are currently stored in the Jesuit archives at Centro Borja, Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain. He thus wrote in December 26, 1898, “Before 10:00 AM, the tri-color was hoisted from Casa Real ( seat of provincial government) and the Tribunal … without any formalities … without anybody’s attention being drawn…..these people have no idea of what it is all about, and if they have… how peaceful and without malice they are.". 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 City). Alejandro ( Jantoy) Gonzalez was the president of the Junta Provincial of Surigao during the time of the first flag hoisting.

Controversy about the location of the First Philippine Flag Raising in Mindanao. The Philippines' National Historical Institute carries the mandate to decide on historical matters and to erect national markers. In a roundtable held on January 2000, the historians decided that the raising of the flag on December 26, 1898 by Alejandro Gonzalez in Surigao was duly sanctioned by Emilio Aguinaldo's government. The installation of the NHI marker marker in Surigao City followed suit.[1]

American Period [link]

At the turn of the century in 1901, the American colonizers established a civil government in the province of Surigao, keeping the town of Surigao as its capital. Surigao was then among the largest municipalities in land area with a jurisdiction of 949.90 square kilometers, larger than today's Butuan. During this period, there was only one main road, the Old Spanish road. The commercial area, market and plaza ( Luneta) were all situated in one small area. In 1930, the Old Spanish road was abandoned and a new provincial road was constructed. The Casa Real was built where municipal administrators would hold their official functions. Surigao's core barrios- Taft and Washington, were named after United States presidents William Howard Taft and George Washington.

World War II [link]

Further information: Battle of Surigao Strait

Surigao featured prominently in World War II's Pacific theater. On May 23, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army under Colonel Yoshie occupied Surigao after arriving from Butuan. They formally took over on May 28, 1942 under Lieutenant Ichichara, taking control from Mayor Amat. Filipino guerrilla units based in Surigao continued to operate in the hinterlands. Liberation from the Japanese rule dawned on September 9, 1944. American planes started their campaign by bombing the town in the early morning. It was followed by a strafing of all Japanese warships docked at the Surigao wharf, which came to transport fresh troops and supplies to their forces in Leyte. No less than fifty warships were sunk by the raiding American bomber planes. After the attack, not a single Japanese ship was seen afloat. The following month, on October 24–25, the famous Battle of Surigao Strait, the final line battle in naval history, was fiercely fought by allied forces against the Japanese fleet. By April 12, 1945, the whole province of Surigao was liberated from Japanese occupation.

Post War Reconstruction [link]

Surigao Provincial Capitol

Massive reconstruction followed the destruction brought by the war. The Surigao Provincial Capitol was completed in 1946 atop the hill overlooking the city. Other facilities were built including schools, athletic field and municipal jail. In 1948, the first election of municipal officials was held. In the same year, construction of the Surigao Provincial Hospital commenced. Six years later in 1954, construction of the first municipal building started and was completed in 1955. Economic activities continued to flourish with the launching of gold mining operations by Mindanao Mother Lode Mines in Mabuhay, 10 kilometers away from the city. Rapid economic growth and immigration resulted to losing some of its fishing and agricultural barrios as they were converted into towns of Malimono (July 31, 1956), Anao-aon (May 24, 1957) and Sison (September 15, 1959). During the same year, settlements including Capalayan, Libuac, Catadman, Mat-i, Lipata, Dakung Patag, Bunyasan, Cantapoy, Balite, and Bambanon were elevated into barrios, the forerunner of modern day barangays.^[2] At that time, Surigao was classified as a 1st Class B municipality with an annual income of P160,000.00 and a population of nearly 50,000. It was primarily an agricultural town producing mainly copra and basic staples including rice, corn, bananas and rootcrops. Fishing was also a major source of livelihood. On September 18, 1960, pursuant to the Republic Act 2786 dated June 19, 1960, the province of Surigao was divided into Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.^[3] The town of Surigao remained as a capital, this time for the province of Surigao del Norte.

Surigao was on a rapid growth path. Already, it had a domestic airport, three movie houses, three hotels and two hospitals. However, on November 19, 1964, tragedy befell the town as it saw its most massive destruction yet. It was in the direct path of supertyphoon Ining, internationally code- named Louise [2], with peak winds at 240 kilometers per hour. The wrath of the storm was severe and devastation wide, both in infrastructure and human lives. Just as they overcame the destruction of war, the locals tenacity was again proven in the town's rebuilding. In a short time, after three years in 1967, Pacific Cement Corporation [3] started commercial operations in Mabuhay, producing among the highest quality cement in the country. In 1969, Marinduque Mining Industrial Corporation started nickel exploration in Nonoc Island with an initial capitalization of Php1.0 billion pesos, ushering a new era of prosperity.

Cityhood [link]

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 6134, Surigao was converted to a chartered city on August 31, 1970 with Pedro Espina as its first city mayor.

Culture [link]

People [link]

The demographics of Surigao City are evidence of an ethnically diverse city. Throughout its history, Surigao has been a point of entry for immigrants from other regions of the Philippines, enticed by the city's political significance, attractive natural setting, abundant resources and during the last century, increased mining operations. Butuanons, Boholanos, Tagalogs, Ilonggos, Warays, Cebuanos and various Mindanao ethnicities found home in Surigao and eventually learned how to speak the language. Some of their descendants now hold prominent positions in the city and provincial governments. Migrants from China also found home in Surigao; their direct descendants now comprise the bulk of successful merchants of the Surigao business community.

Surigao is home to one of the country's oldest and most colorful tribes, the Mamanwa. They are similar to the Negritoes of Luzon Island in features and stature. They are generally short, dark-skinned with a crop of short kinky hair. Forced to settle in the hinterlands due to development, they continued to practice their customs and traditions. The faith about Kahimunan, one of their many tribal festivities, highlights music and graceful dancing. Revelers chant and play while accompanied by native musical instruments including the gimbar (drum), gong and bamboo percussion called kalatong and katik. Wild pigs, chicken and indigenous fruits including the rare kayape are among the offerings. A baylan ( priest) presides the celebration as a tribute and invocation to their god Magbabaya and departed ancestors for good health and abundant harvest.

Bonok Bonok Festival revelers

Mamanwas are also known for their creative patterns, brass jewelries and indigenous crafts, displayed proudly on their costumes as they fill the streets at the height of the Bonok Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival every September 9, celebrated on the occasion of the feast of San Nicolas de Tolentino, Surigao City's patron saint. Bonok-bonok and its prehistoric origins was another ritual to thank their gods, presided by various village chieftains and their wives. Happiness and friendship are expressed through dancing, chanting and singing. They wave scarves of banay as symbols of goodwill, wealth and blessings for all tribal villages.

Today, majority of the Mamanwas still live in the hinterlands, occasionally descending to town to sell or barter handicrafts and fresh harvest. Their numbers are unknown as some groups still practice nomadism. Bands still subsist on foraging even as they have adopted a more modern lifestyle over the years.

Folklore. The Diwata mountain range and wilderness is a formidable backbone emerging from Mindanao's northern tip in Surigao to its southernmost end in Davao. Locals believe these mountains are alive and home to nonhuman elements roaming its vastness. They warn hikers to keep an eye for the Tikbalang or demon horse, a patchwork of a creature with a head and hooves of a horse and a body of a man. Legend tells how they trick travelers as they lose their way in the dense forest, never finding their way out. Thinking of a refreshing swim in one of Surigao's swift rivers or immerse in Lake Mainit's serene waters? Beware of the Bakunawa, a giant winged serpent with a red tongue, saw- like teeth and bulging eyes peering above the water. It is known to swallow small children and babies at the snap of its wide fleshy mouth. While these mysterious creatures presence are unpredictable and often lurk nearby only when kids misbehave, a stop at the foothills will certainly tempt the adventurous to hear stories. If one would ask, he will be almost guaranteed to hear firsthand accounts of close encounters with these creatures. The stories are told by elders, usually as the sun sets and darkness falls, the sound of the leaves rustling and branches breaking as the wind forces its way through the dense underbrush, as the full moon shimmers at waters edge, foreboding the arrival of impending danger as children gather close to home, away from the shadows of the cunning Tikbalang and Bakunawa.

Language [link]

Surigaonon, the official language in the city and province is unique among the Visayan dialects. It is also spoken by the majority of the population in the province of Surigao del Sur and around Lake Mainit in Agusan del Norte. Similarities with the Cebuano language is undeniable, however, staunch Cebuano speakers can hardly understand people who speak Surigaonon. There is no doubt Surigaonon existed as pure and distinct, slowly pelted overtime by Visayan words as migrants settled in the area. Today, Surigaonon is the most widely spoken dialect inherent in the entire Caraga region.

Surigaonon has similar consonant and vowel sounds, stress, intonation patterns to the Cebuano language and Boholano languages. Surigaonon underwent certain morphophonemic processes, such as assimilation, deletion, alternation and metathesis (Dumanig, 2005). In the study conducted by Dumanig (2005) on Descriptive Analysis of Surigaonon language it was found that there are 18 consonants (b,d,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,ng,p,r,s,t,w,y,o,?) with 18 sounds and 3 vowels (a,i,u) with 5 sounds. It has also 25 noun clusters (br, bl, bw, by, dr, dy, dw, gr, gw, kr, kl, kw, mw, my, nw, pr, pl, pw, py, sw, sy, tr, tw, ty, hw) and 4 diphthongs (aw, ay, iw, uy), which are similar to the Cebuano language (Rubrico, 1999). There are Surigaonon words that are spelled similarly but they differ in meaning depending on how each syllable is stressed (Dumanig, 2005). Surigaonon language follows two intonation patterns like the rising and falling intonation. The rising intonation is common in asking yes or no questions and the falling intonation occurs in ending declarative and imperative statements (Dumanig, 2005)[4]

Geography [link]

Location [link]

Basul Island

Surigao City is geographically situated 9°47′0″N 125°29′0″E / 9.783333°N 125.483333°E / 9.783333; 125.483333 (9.783333, +125.483333).^[4] at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao Island. It is bounded by Municipalities of Dinagat and Basilisa to the north, Philippine Sea and the Municipality of Cagdianao to the east, Municipalities of Sison and Tagana-an to the south, Mindanao Sea and the Municipality of San Francisco to the west and the historic Surigao Strait to the northwest.

Topography [link]

Surigao City is marked by rolling hills that gently buffers its eastern and western boundaries. To the southwest towers the Kabangkaan Ridge which divides the city from the municipality of San Francisco ( formerly Anao-aon). Kinabutan River ( otherwise known as Surigao River) meanders Surigao valley before it empties to the Surigao tidal basin, a shrinking mangrove swamp fast overtaken by the city's expansion. It has an average elevation of 19 meters or 65.5 ft. above sea level. The highest elevation on the mainland at the Kabangkaan Ridge has a peak elevation of 465 meters above sea level. Along the border of Tagana-an is Mapawa Peak with an elevation of 245 meters above sea level. Barangays Cabongbongan, Nabago and Capalayan are at the foot of its slopes.

More than two dozen islands and islets make up two fifths of the city's total land area. They are separated from the mainland by Hinituan Passage, which connects Mindanao Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The largest island of Nonoc is marked by a rusty-red weathering mantle of lateritic nickel ore, visible from any vantage point on the mainland coast. Its highest elevation at 263 meters above sea level typifies most of its hilly terrain. Across the channel at Hikdop Island, the highest point is Mt. Telegrapo at 100.05 meters. Hinituan Island is similar to Nonoc's bare and rusty-red hilly appearance. Other notable islands of Hanigad, Sibale, Bayaganan and Awasan are generally flat, covered mostly with coconut trees and assorted hardwoods. Large swaths of mangrove and nipa palm forests cover its brackish waterways and shallow fringes of its coastlines.

Climate [link]

Like most of the country, Surigao is officially considered a tropical rainforest climate type, Köppen class Af with an average monthly precipitation of 308.66 mm (12.5 inches). The city is normally spared of destructive annual typhoons that visit the northern parts of the archipelago, however, it is distinctly wettest between the months of November until March. During the drier season between April to September, brief afternoon showers and thunderstorms locally called sobasco, are commonplace.

Climate data for Surigao City, Philippines
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (89)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (89)	31 (87)	29 (85)	30.92 (87.66)
Average low °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (74)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (74)	23 (73)	23 (74)
Precipitation mm (inches)	582.4 (22.93)	389.1 (15.32)	283.5 (11.16)	196 (7.7)	123.4 (4.86)	114 (4.5)	137 (5.4)	115.1 (4.53)	122.4 (4.82)	216 (8.5)	378.2 (14.89)	429.5 (16.91)	1,015.5 (39.98)
Source: http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayIntlNORMS.asp?CityCode=98653&Units=english

Government [link]

Surigao City is governed via the mayor-council system. The city council, nationally called Sangguniang Panlungsod, consists of the vice mayor and 12 council members. The mayor is elected directly every three years.

Administrative divisions [link]

Surigao City is subdivided into 54 barangays, 34 in the mainland and 20 in the islands. Of the 36 coastal barangays, 15 are in the mainland and 20 are in the islands. The urban area covers 15 barangays or approximately 20% of the total land area. These include barangays Taft, Washington, San Juan, Sabang, Canlanipa, Cagniog, Luna, Togbongon, Rizal, Ipil, Mabua, Lipata, Punta Bilar, Mabua and Ipil.

Surigao City zoning map

Alang-alang
Alegria
Anomar
Aurora
Balibayon
Baybay
Bilabid
Bitaugan
Bonifacio

Buenavista
Cabongbongan
Cagniog
Cagutsan
Canlanipa
Cantiasay
Capalayan
Catadman
Danao

Danawan
Day-asan
Ipil
Libuac
Lipata
Lisondra
Luna
Mabini
Mabua

Manjagao
Mapawa
Mat-i
Nabago
Nonoc
Orok
Poctoy
Punta Bilar
Quezon

Rizal
Sabang
San Isidro
San Jose
San Juan
San Pedro (Hanigad)
San Roque
Serna (Bad-asay)
Sidlakan

Silop
Sugbay
Sukailang
Taft
Talisay
Togbongon
Trinidad
Washington
Zaragoza

Education [link]

Surigao traces its roots to formal schooling in the year 1906 when the last group of Spanish Benedictine Missionaries, who had worked zealously to have founded the Cartilla or Doctrina School ( Escuela Catolica de San Nicolas), vacated Surigao. Soon after their departure, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart also known as the Dutch Fathers, succeeded them, created the parish of Surigao, and made the Escuela Catolica de San Nicolas a parochial school which later became San Nicolas College. In 2002, Surigao became the first urban center in the entire Caraga region to host a university after San Nicolas College changed its nomenclature to become part of the Saint Paul University system.

In 1969, Surigao School of Arts and Trades was established on 1.2 hectares of land donated by the provincial government. It focused on curricula geared towards technology at a time the city saw rapid transformation with the onset of nickel exploration at the Nonoc island refinery. While the school was built, it initially held classes at the Provincial Sports Complex with a core census of 14 teachers and 103 students. In 1998, the school was renamed Surigao State College of Technology after it merged with Malimono School of Fisheries. Today, it has 3 major campuses including the former Siargao National College of Science and Technology in Siargao Island.

In 1996, Caraga Regional Science High School was established in San Juan, providing students in the entire region opportunity to join an academe of reputable standards, now nationally recognized. Students undergo a rigorous highly accelerated 4- level curriculum which includes two years of general studies and two years of a chosen major. With much success as it garnered consistent topnotchers in the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT), students also have opportunities to carry out independent research and compete in Intel Science Fairs.

San Sebastian College Institute of Law- Surigao Extension located in Taft opened in 1997.

Universities [link]

St. Paul University Surigao (formerly San Nicolas College) [5]
Philippine Women's University

Economy [link]

Surigao City underwent rapid economic growth that spanned nearly two decades beginning in the late 1960's. Pacific Cement (PACEMCO) started commercial operations manufacturing Portland cement and the Canadian- owned company Marinduque Mining and Industrial Corporation ( MMIC) also started extracting nickel and iron ore in Nonoc Island. This was a boon to the city as it generated more commerce to meet an increasing demand for goods and services. At the end of the decade in the 1970's, within a short period from cityhood, Surigao attained first class status. Likewise, mining activities increased by a manifold in other parts of the province, primarily extracting gold and copper. The city became the nexus of mining operations for the entire Region X, at the time among Philippines' largest regions encompassing nearly half of Mindanao Island. Philippines' Bureau of Mines and Geosciences moved its regional headquarters in the city at Km. 1. In 1983, MMIC stopped commercial operations due to financial losses and heavy debt as a result of plummeting prices of nickel and high operating costs. Commercial activities in the city slowed, relying on basic services, small scale industries, agriculture and fishing. Even the copra processing plant Surigao Coconut Development Corp. ( SUCODECO) in Lipata folded, another casualty from the weak prices of commodities in the world market. Added blow to Surigao's already weak economy came when typhoon Nitang ( internationally codename Hurricane Ike) struck the city in September 1984. The devastation was severe and wide. There were lots of casualties numbering close to 2000 human deaths. This extract from The Times on 6 September 1984 reports on the aftermath:^[5]

While more than 300 people are now known to have died, Mr Salvador Sering, the deputy governor, believes 1,000 died in the provincial capital Surigao City alone. The city has run out of coffins and people are being buried in mass graves. Some 200 residents of the town of Mainit were reported to have drowned when a lake burst its banks. As the clearing up continues, cholera and typhoid vaccines have been flown to the devastated areas.

From the mid 80's until the turn of the 21st century, Surigao's economic woes mirrored the rest of the nation, returning to a bedroom community as it saw some of its original families leave looking for opportunities in other places, both local and overseas.

Surigao Mining Map 2011

Surigao City Port

During the last decade, the city saw gradual economic resurgence. As its population increased, more businesses moved in. The city's potential as a major port was boosted with increased handling capacity after its port expansion was completed in 2009. Today, it is one of the country's top seaports for gross registered tonnage handled [9], also posting the highest cargo and passenger traffic in Region XIII.

A tuna canning factory is also planned, a first in the Caraga region.

Banking [link]

Approximately two dozen national and local bank branches operate in the city including Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Allied Bank, Banco De Oro, Philippine National Bank, Equitable PCI Bank, One Network Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, United Coconut Planters Bank, China Bank, East West Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, First Consolidated Bank, Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation ( SRBC), Green Bank [10], Alegria Bank, Surigao Evergreen Rural Bank, Siargao Bank, Rural Bank of Dapa, Rural Bank of Cantilan, Enterprise Bank [11], and Rural Bank of Placer. Automated teller machines (ATM) are widely used in the city, connected to interbank networks BancNet, Expressnet and MegaLink.

Retail [link]

For many years retail activity in Surigao is centered around its park, Luneta and are almost all located along the streets of San Nicolas, Borromeo and Rizal. In recent years, although more department stores were built, the city's main shopping area remained here. Among the major stores are Metro Surigao, Palma, Absolute Essentials, Unicity, Eduhome, WSS, Asialink and TT & Company. A new uptown shopping district is fast shaping up in the city's Barangay Luna. Gaisano Capital Mall and Citihardware opened in early 2012. Puregold Price Club [12] is slated to open in September 2012. Major mall chains like SM, Robinson's Place and Gaisano Grandmall are mulling branches in the city.

Mining [link]

The once prosperous Nonoc Island has been identified as a special economic zone ( Ecozone) by the national government, a boon older residents are quite familiar not too long ago. Once fully realized, this project will put the island's existing infrastructure, including a 1300-meter concrete airstrip and two 60,000 dwt seaport, back in operation. In 2005, China's Jinchuan Group Ltd. submitted a proposal to invest approximately USD 1.0 billion for the rehabilitation and revival of the Nonoc nickel refinery. In 2010, Jinchuan renewed its interest in Nonoc, offering a bigger investment at USD 1.5 billion. However, its insistence for another feasibility study and disagreements over the operating structure shuttered the deal with Philnico who owns the mining rights for the island. In January 2012, San Miguel Corporation of the Philippines entered into a memorandum of agreement with the city government to rehabilitate and operate the Nonoc mines for USD 2.5 billion, the single biggest investment in the country yet.

The recent entry of major international mining company Sumitomo with USD 1.3 billion investment in the province sparked renewed interest of its vast mineral reserves and has helped spur secondary economic activities in the city. Other mining companies like Philex Mining Corporation [13], Mindoro Resources Ltd. and Anglo Ashanti are in various stages of exploration.

Tourism [link]

Tourism helped spur the city's economy during the last decade. Local tourism receipts have benefited from Siargao Island's increasing exposure to the international tourist market. This burgeoning industry is attracting adventure seeking tourists from every corner of the globe making Surigao the unofficial tourism capital of Caraga. Latest figures showed 145,739 foreign arrivals in the city in 2010, registering a 31.21 % growth. Every year, more hotel rooms are added, many in the 2 and 3 star bracket supplementing the proliferation of pension houses and apartelles. Among the notable hotels in the area are Hotel Tavern, Philippine Gateway Hotel [14], Grand Suites [15], E.Y. Suites, Almont Hotel and Beach Resort and Daydream Laguna Resort [16].

Healthcare [link]

In February 11, 1997, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act 8244 converting Surigao Provincial Hospital into a regional training hospital and renamed it Caraga Regional Hospital [17], effectively expanding its scope and services that would include the entire Caraga region with a catchment population of nearly 2 million people. Today, this 150- bed tertiary hospital, a core referral facility, is rapidly expanding with intensive care units that includes Coronary, Pediatric, Surgical and Burn.

In October 2010, the city opened a PP35 million Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Anomar. Established under the aegis of the Department of Health, it is the first and only facility in the entire Caraga region solely focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of substance abuse.

Other hospitals in the city include Miranda Family Hospital and Surigao Medical Center.

Infrastructure [link]

Transportation [link]

Lipata Port

Multiple modes of transportation in the city are all privately-owned. The tricycle, a motorcycle with locally made sidecar that can accommodate as many as six passengers, is the main taxi that ply the city streets. Buses and jeepneys follow fixed routes to outlying barangays, towns and neighboring provinces. The city is also served by outrigger water taxis called pump boats that follow scheduled sea routes to island barangays. Larger vessels called Lantsa have scheduled trips to Siargao, Dinagat and Bucas Grande. Regular ferry service connects the city to ports in Southern Leyte, Cebu, Manila and Agusan del Norte. There are direct flights to Manila and Cebu originating from the city's airport with occasional chartered flights to Siargao, Butuan and Tandag.

Senator Verano Port [link]

This historic port completed a PP414 expansion and upgrading in 2009 to meet world standards and increasing cargo demand from a revitalized mining industry in the province. Additional 2000 square meters of reclaimed area and 120 meters of berthing space were added, enhancing its role as one of the major ports in the region. This serves as a port of call for numerous local and international shipping lines including Cokaliong Shipping Lines [18], Sulpicio Lines [19], Montenegro Lines [20], Cebu Ferries [21] and 2GoTravel [22].

Lipata Port and Ferry Terminal [link]

Touted as the Gateway to Mindanao, Lipata Port serves as the entry point to Mindanao Island forming part of the extensive Pan Philippine Highway also called Maharlika Highway AH26 that originates from Laoag City to its southern terminus in Zamboanga City. The port has ro-ro capabilities that provides regular service to the ports of Liloan and San Ricardo, both in Southern Leyte.

Surigao Airport [link]

Classified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines as a principal domestic airport, Surigao Airport ( IATA code SUG), is one of the two airports that serve the province of Surigao del Norte and northern parts of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte. It has a 1708 meter concrete runway and handled an estimated 100,000 passengers in 2010. Plans are underway for the airport's expansion and runway extension to accommodate bigger aircraft and increased passenger volume. Philippine Airlines [23], Cebu Pacific [24] and Air Philippines [25] have regular scheduled flights from Surigao to Manila and Cebu. Small private planes operate chartered fights to Siargao's Sayak Airport.

Distances to other Philippine Airports
Destination	Airport	Distance (Km)	Distance (Miles)	Est.Travel Time (TPE)
Siargao	Sayak Airport	58	36.03	18 minutes
Butuan	Bancasi Airport	90.14	56.01	25 minutes
Tandag	Tandag Airport	107.76	66.96	30 minutes
Tacloban	Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport	170.35	105.85	40 minutes
Cebu	Mactan-Cebu International Airport	175.34	108.95	45 minutes
Davao	Francisco Bangoy International Airport	293.55	182.4	1 hour
Manila	Ninoy Aquino International Airport	717.42	445.79	1 hour 45 minutes
Angeles	Clark International Airport	805.82	500.72	2 hours

Surigao del Norte Provincial Sports Complex

Surigao Provincial Gymnasium

Surigao Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal [link]

Pan- Philippine Highway AH26's northernmost terminus in Mindanao winds up in this city, dissecting the Surigao Valley before the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road spurs at Bad-as, Placer town. Surigao is a vital stopover in the highway system, often preferred by travelers because of its laid-back appeal. An integrated bus and jeepney terminal serves companies with routes that reach major destinations including Ormoc, Tacloban, Legazpi, Manila, Butuan, Tandag, Davao, Bislig, and Cagayan de Oro. Bus companies serving this terminal includes Bachelor Express, Philtranco [26], PP Bus Line and Surigao Express.

Sanitary Landfill and Waste Treatment Facility [link]

Cashing in on a 21-ton average daily collected garbage in the city, the local government of Surigao, with a PP150 million grant from the Swedish government and assistance from the Land Bank of the Philippines, built a sanitary landfill in Sitio Looc in 2009. It is considered a model for solid waste management through its P45 million-worth Waste Treatment Facility, the first in Mindanao. Likewise, it has a Material Recovery Facility, which treats recyclables, and a Leachate Collector, which extracts and treats liquids from garbage.

Surigao Provincial Sports Complex/ Surigao Provincial Gymnasium [link]

This historic sports complex hosted numerous national and regional events in the past. It underwent several renovations, the most recent in 2009 at a cost of PP320 million. The latest renovations are state-of-the-art, among a few in the entire country. The complex is situated on the 2- hectare Vasquez field and includes a 3500 person capacity grandstand, a fully airconditioned 3500 seating capacity gymnasium, a brand new amphitheater, an olympic-size swimming pool and a fully rubberized track and field oval.

Surigao Provincial Convention Center [link]

Located at the provincial capitol complex, the Surigao Provincial Convention Center had hosted various national and regional conventions held in the city. It has a seating capacity of approximately 2500 persons.

San Juan- Lipata Coastal Road [link]

Completed in 2007, it connects the Port of Lipata to downtown Surigao, cutting the travel time in half. It includes a series of bridges across coastal barangays San Juan and Sabang. The longest, Banahaw, spans the Surigao tidal basin.

Media [link]

Eight radio stations, frequency modulated (FM) stations and amplitude-modulated (AM) band cover the broadcast media. There are also five regular and cable TV stations- UNTV Channel 39, ABS-CBN Channel 12, GMA Channel 10, Studio 23 Channel 23, GMA News TV Channel 27. Two local publications, Surigao Today[27] and Periodico Surigao cover the print and World Wide Web media containing news of city's current events.

Telecommunications [link]

Leading telecommunication companies built facilities in Surigao paving way for clear connections to other parts of the country and the rest of the world. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Bayan Telecommunications ( Bayantel), Sun Cellular, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications operate vital transmission towers in the city.

Tourism [link]

Dining in a Surigao resort

The city has a variety of natural attractions, however, most of these are undeveloped or at its early stage of development; visits to places of interest are usually arranged with locals. Beyond its boundaries, Surigao is in the midst of increasingly popular spots including Sohoton National Park, Bucas Grande Island, Guyam Island, Daku Island and Siargao Island. Activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, mangrove canoeing and game fishing are increasingly popular among visitors in the city and province.

Notable Beaches [link]

Mabua Pebble Beach

A Surigao resort

Surigao Tourism Points of Interest

Exotic Surigao fruit Kayape

Mabua and Ipil Pebble Beaches. A contiguous beach of smooth grayish pebbles are its most unique feature. Popular among locals, rental picnic cottages and resorts abound in the area.

Berok Island. Surrounded by vast mangroves as far as the eye can see. This small shell beach is accessible only by motorboat. There is a choice to snorkel in the adjacent reef or explore the labyrinthine mangrove forest.

Basul Island. Visible from any vantage point in Surigao City, this tiny island appears like a lone sentry at the entrance of Hinituan Channel. Fine white sand beach mixed with assorted shells rims a grove of coconut trees.

Panomboyom Beach. Horseshoe shaped white sand beach at the southern tip of Hikdop Island. Beautiful panorama and visible swift currents.

Danawan Island. Straddling in the periphery of Surigao Strait just across Hikdop Island. This unspoilt white sand beach is rich in rare sea shells.

Sumilom Island. Remote island in the middle of Surigao Strait with white sand beaches.

Sibale Island. A mile strip of coconut tree- fringed white sand beach 45 minutes by pumpboat from the city.

Sagisi Island Beach. A three kilometer stretch of white sand beach with a fringing coral reef that abounds with diverse marine life. This beach is about an hour ride by boat from the city proper.

Places of Interest [link]

Surigaonon Heritage Center/ Rock and Mineral Museum. A small collection of ancient burial coffin jars and antique Chinese kitchenwares are showcased in this museum. Some of the artifacts were unearthed at an archeological dig in Panhatungan, Placer. It also contains a significant collection of various rocks and minerals found in the province.

Luneta Park. The heart of downtown Surigao for over 100 years, this plaza remains the centerpiece of the city, hosting annual events, gatherings and concerts. A few pre-war acacia trees survive, enhancing this park's laid back Spanish appeal in the shadow of Surigao Cathedral.

Surigao Strait. Site of the famous naval battle of Surigao Strait which took place on October 24, 1944, between the fleet of Admiral Oldendorf of the US Seventh Fleet and that of Admiral Nishimura of the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Buenavista Cave. A three kilometer cave with three entrances located in Hikdop Island. From the main entrance in Pagkawasan, Buenavista, visitors wiggle through a collapsed boulder into a grand chamber complete with what locals call the Kings Throne. A knee- deep pool culminates the subterranean trek approximately 100 meters from the main entrance. It has an array of impressive stalactites and stalagmites and is home to some unique species of cave bats and snakes.

Zaragoza Rock Formations. Exquisitely unique rock formations that appears to float in the sea. This collection of gray dagger-like formations aprroximately 20 feet high stands out against a backdrop of dense coconut trees and nipa palms ( Nypa fruticans) and covers an area of one hectare. Historically a known burial ground of ancestors. Not too far is another rock island called Tamulayag that resembles a giant vase with trees perched on top. Both are accessible thirty minutes by pump boat from Surigao City docks.

Raza Island. The island has among the world's rarest phenomenon- a simultaneous interplay of high and low tides. The alternating tides occur roughly every six hours. Locals are adaptive, taking advantage of this occurrence by picking sea shells on one side of the island during low tide and continue doing so on the other as the tide reverses.

Bitaugan Whirlpools. These maelstroms of various dimensions are almost all occurring during ebbtide. They have a characteristic behavior to pull, twirl, and suck into their vortices anything that comes near them. They are called magic whirlpools due to their peculiar behavior to appear and disappear at certain nature-designated time intervals. The appearance of Pahibongan, as locals call them, are usually followed by almost inaudible explosions and just as quickly vanish after the explosions. The whirlpools are scenic spectacles to behold at close range with their enthralling spinning water.

Day-asan Floating Villages. Dense forest of mangroves dominate these cluster of villages built at the edges of shallow water channels. Instead of tricycles, locals, mostly fishermen, use small wooden boats as their prime mode of transport. Two foot bridges traverse across swift moving channels. These villages are about two miles from the city proper.

Mapawa Cave. Accessible only by foot, it is a 30 minute trek from Mapawa village. It is characterized by small entrances that lead to larger chambers.

Silop Cave. A unique cave with 12 entrances. Stalagmites and stalactites dominate the chambers. It is approximately 7 kilometers from the city proper.

Manjagao Mangrove Forest. This vast mangrove forest situated in the coastal tidal waters around Manjagao Island is a sanctuary to various species of fish, marine life, birds and bats. The city plans to introduce boat cruises to encourage awareness of this unique ecosystem which is crucial to the sustenability of the environment.

San Pedro Cantiasay Footbridge. This wooden footbridge is one of the country's longest at 391 meters. Originally conceived to ease movement and interaction among families in Sibale and Nonoc Islands, locals transformed the bridge into a promenade, providing a unique and relaxing experience as one is met with cool sea breezes while viewing the marine life under this wooden bridge.

Sukailang Waterfalls. A cascading 50 feet waterfalls which is 20 meters away from the barangay proper. It can be reached by a tricycle in 30 minutes from the city proper.

Annual Events [link]

January 14 . Sto. Niño de Bad-Asay Feast Day. Catholic devotees from different parts of the province celebrate a thanksgiving mass followed by a dance (sirong) as offer to their prayers and petitions.

May 29 . Santacruzan. Celebrated during the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honour of Helena (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine finding the True Cross in Jerusalem. During the procession, Reyna Elena and her escort follow a coterie of participants in traditional costumes as she holds a small crucifix to the tune of Hail Mary ("Dios Te Salve") as played by a rondalla. A dinner feast is usually served by the host after the procession.

August 25–31 . Charter Day Celebrations. Weeklong festivities marked by a sportsfest, grand parade, evening gala affairs and the crowning of Mutya ng Surigao in commemoration of the city's founding (charter) on August 31, 1970.

Mutya ng Surigao Pageant

September 9 . Bonok- Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival. A day long parade marked by street dancing and festivities featuring the ethnic Mamanwa tribal dance, Bonok-bonok commemorating thanksgiving after a bountiful harvest, worship of gods and tribal wedding. Contingents from various private and government institutions in and out of town participate showcasing creative costumes, floats, dances and chants of Viva Señor San Nicolas! and Viva Maradjao Karajao! The dance rhythm starts with a slow beat as it pulsatingly goes faster, prompting snappy body movements to pace with the music. Colorful ceremonial costumes includes an elaborate beaded headdress or tubaw, bracelets and anklets. Prices are awarded to outstanding contingents in different categories at the culmination of the event held at the Surigao Provincial Sports Complex. The festival coincides the celebration of the annual fiesta honoring the city's patron Saint Nicolas de Tolentino.

September 10- 11 . Pasayan Festival. Pasayan, the local word for shrimp, and its bountiful harvest is celebrated with an annual cook-off. This culinary cookfest uses large quantities of shrimp prepared in a variety of recipes. Other highlights of this festival includes shrimp- eating contest, senior citizen backward marathon, palm wine, locally called tuba drinking contest, and threading- the- needle contest.

October 2 . Kinilaw Festival. The Kinilaw Festival showcases different styles in preparing Kinilaw, a dish consisting of raw fish marinated in citrus, vinegar or coconut milk mixed with spices and served as an appetizer, similar to the South American ceviche. It also features other seafoods and marine products found in the area.

October 25 . Battle Of Surigao Strait. Held every 25 October, in commemoration of the Second World War's Greatest Naval Battle, highlighted by a pre-dawn memorial service, civil-military parade and a memorial cruise along the Surigao Strait.

December 26 . Commemoration of the First Hoisting of Philippine Flag in Mindanao. The Philippine Flag in Mindanao was first raised in Surigao in the morning of December 26, 1898 at the Casa Real ( town hall). The event was recorded in the diary of Fr. Alberto Masoliver, now kept in the Jesuit Archives in Spain [28].

Gallery [link]

Surigao Cathedral
Surigao City Hall
Downtown Surigao City
Northeastern Mindanao Colleges
Pumpboats at Surigao City Boulevard
Sagisi Island Beach
Holiday season in downtown Surigao

External links [link]

References [link]

^ http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/2010/2010CPH_caraga.pdf
^ "An Act Converting into Barrios Certain Sitios in the Province of Surigao, and Dividing the Barrio of Macalaya into Two Barrios, Municipality of Placer, in the Same Province". LawPH.com. http://lawph.com/statutes/ra1543.html. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
^ "An Act to Create the Provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur". LawPH.com. http://lawph.com/statutes/ra2786.html. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^ The Times, September 6, 1984

v t e Component local government units of Surigao del Norte

Municipalities	Alegria Bacuag Burgos Claver Dapa Del Carmen General Luna Gigaquit Mainit Malimono Pilar Placer San Benito San Francisco San Isidro Santa Monica Sison Socorro Tagana-an Tubod

Component city	Surigao

v t e Cities of the Philippines

Highly-urbanized Cities	Angeles Bacolod Baguio Butuan Cagayan de Oro Caloocan Cebu Davao General Santos Iligan Iloilo Lapu-Lapu Las Piñas Lucena Makati Malabon Mandaluyong Mandaue Manila Marikina Muntinlupa Naga, Camarines Sur Navotas Olongapo Parañaque Pasay Pasig Puerto Princesa Quezon City San Juan Tacloban Taguig Valenzuela Zamboanga

Independent Component Cities	Cotabato Dagupan Ormoc Santiago

Component Cities	Alaminos Antipolo Bago Bais Balanga Batangas Batac Bayawan Baybay Bayugan Biñan Bislig Bogo Borongan Cabadbaran Cabanatuan Cadiz Calamba Calapan Calbayog Candon Canlaon Carcar Catbalogan Cauayan Cavite Danao Dapitan Dasmariñas Digos Dipolog Dumaguete El Salvador Escalante Gapan Gingoog Guihulngan Himamaylan Ilagan Iriga Isabela Kabankalan Kidapawan Koronadal La Carlota Lamitan Laoag Legazpi Lipa Maasin Malaybalay Malolos Marawi Masbate Mati Meycauayan Muñoz Naga, Cebu Oroquieta Ozamiz Pagadian Palayan Panabo Passi Roxas Sagay Samal San Carlos, Negros Occidental San Carlos, Pangasinan San Fernando, La Union San Fernando, Pampanga San Jose San Jose del Monte San Pablo Santa Rosa Silay Sipalay Sorsogon Surigao Tabuk Tacurong Tagaytay Tagbilaran Tagum Talisay, Cebu Talisay, Negros Occidental Tanauan Tandag Tangub Tanjay Tarlac Tayabas Toledo Trece Martires Tuguegarao Urdaneta Valencia Victorias Vigan

v t e Provincial capital cities and municipalities of the Philippines

Luzon	Antipolo (de facto), Rizal · Balanga, Bataan · Baler, Aurora · Bangued, Abra · Basco, Batanes · Batangas, Batangas · Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya · Boac, Marinduque · Bontoc, Mountain Province · Cabarroguis, Quirino · Calapan, Oriental Mindoro · Daet, Camarines Norte · Iba, Zambales · Ilagan, Isabela · Imus (de jure), Cavite · Kabugao (de jure), Apayao · Lagawe, Ifugao · Laoag, Ilocos Norte · La Trinidad, Benguet · Daraga, Albay · Lingayen, Pangasinan · Lucena, Quezon · Luna (de facto), Apayao · Malolos, Bulacan · Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro · Masbate, Masbate · Palayan, Nueva Ecija · Pasig (de jure), Rizal · Naga, Camarines Sur · Puerto Princesa, Palawan · Romblon, Romblon · San Fernando, La Union · San Fernando, Pampanga · Tabuk, Kalinga · Tarlac, Tarlac · Trece Martires (de facto), Cavite · Tuguegarao, Cagayan · Santa Cruz, Laguna · Sorsogon, Sorsogon · Vigan, Ilocos Sur · Virac, Catanduanes

Visayas	Bacolod, Negros Occidental · Borongan, Eastern Samar · Catarman, Northern Samar · Catbalogan, Samar · Cebu, Cebu · Dumaguete, Negros Oriental · Iloilo, Iloilo · Jordan, Guimaras · Kalibo, Aklan · Maasin, Southern Leyte · Naval, Biliran · Roxas, Capiz · San Jose de Buenavista, Antique · Siquijor, Siquijor · Tagbilaran, Bohol · Tacloban, Leyte

Mindanao	Alabel, Sarangani · Bongao (de facto), Tawi-Tawi · Butuan (de facto), Agusan del Norte · Cabadbaran (de jure), Agusan del Norte · Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental · Digos, Davao del Sur · Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte · Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay · Isabela, Basilan · Isulan, Sultan Kudarat · Jolo, Sulu · Kidapawan, Cotabato · Koronadal, South Cotabato · Malaybalay, Bukidnon · Mambajao, Camiguin · Marawi, Lanao del Sur · Mati, Davao Oriental · Nabunturan, Compostela Valley · Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental · Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur · Panglima Sugala (de jure), Tawi-Tawi · Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur · San Jose, Dinagat Islands · Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao · Surigao, Surigao del Norte · Tagum, Davao del Norte · Tandag, Surigao del Sur · Tubod, Lanao del Norte

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Richard Gutiérrez
Born	Richard Kristian Rama-Gutiérrez (1984-01-21) January 21, 1984 (age 28) Beverly Hills, California, United States
Occupation	Actor, Commercial model
Years active	1987-present
Website
http://www.richardgutierrez.org

Richard Kristian Rama Gutiérrez, popularly known as Richard Gutiérrez (born January 21, 1984 in Beverly Hills, California), is a television actor and commercial model who works in Filipino productions.

1 Biography
2 Filmography
- 2.1 Television
- 2.2 Films
3 Awards & Nominations
4 References
5 External links

Biography [link]

Gutiérrez is the son of Eduardo P. Gutiérrez and Talent Manager, Annabelle Rama and the brother of Ruffa, Raymond (twin) Rocky, Elvis, and Ritchie Paul, he also has half-brothers Tontón & Ramón Christopher who are also actors. He is of Spanish and American descent.

Gutiérrez began acting as a child with his twin brother Raymond. He has worked in many movies with his father and his brothers.

Richard Gutiérrez appeared on the GMA-7 show Click. Gutiérrez starred in the TV fantasy series Mulawin which aired from August 2, 2004 until March 18, 2005, where he played the lead character Aguiluz. The series' led to a feature-length film of the same name (Mulawin: The Movie). Since then, Gutiérrez has played the lead roles in other GMA-7 shows including Sugo, Kamandag, Codename: Asero, Zorro, Lupin, Full House, and Captain Barbell.

In 2012, Gutierrez headlined GMA Network's upcoming Heavy Drama & Action Series entitled Makapiling Kang Muli. He is also headlined for his first documentary for this year 2012 entitled, Pinoy Adventure hosted again by him.

Filmography [link]

Television [link]

Year	Title	Role	Network
2001	Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin	Iñigo Zeñorosa	GMA Network
	Click	Enzo
	Beh Bote Nga	Peter
2002	Habang Kapiling Ka	Basilio Malvarosa
2003	Love to Love:Maid for Each Other	Ralph
	Nuts Entertainment	Co-Host
	Love to Love: My 1, 2 Love	JM Rodriguez / Tomas
2004	Mulawin	Aguiluz / Julian
2004	SOP Gigsters	Host
2005	Sugo	Miguel / Amante
2006	Captain Barbell (TV Series)	Potenciano "Teng" Magtanggol / Arell / Captain Barbell
2007	Lupin	André Lupin de Dios
2007	Kamandag	Vergel / Kamandag
2008	Codename: Asero	Grecko Abesamis / Agent Phoenix / Agent Asero
	Signos: Banta ng Kalikasan	Host / Narrator
	Full Force of Nature	Host
	Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown	Host
	A Handsome Journey	Himself
2009	Zorro	Antonio Dela Cruz Peláez / Zorro
	Planet Philippines	Host
	Baha, Bahay, Buhay	Host
	Full House	Justin Lazatín
2010–present	Party Pilipinas	Himself
2010	Diz Iz It	Guest Celebrity Judge
	Bubble Gang	Guest
	Anatomy of a Disaster	Host
	Puso ng Pasko: Artista Challenge	Host
2011	Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik	Teng / Captain Barbell / Roberto
	Oras na (Documentary)	Host
	Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Doubles Showdown	Host
	Spooky Nights Presents: KaLAbit	Miguel
2012	Pinoy Adventures	Himself/Host
2012	Makapiling Kang Muli	Martin Caballero

Films [link]

Year	Title	Role	Company
1987	Lahing Pikutin	Himself	Regal Films
1987	Takbo, bilis... takboooo!	Himself	Regal Films
1988	Kambal Tuko	Kokoy	Regal Films
1989	One Two Bato Three Four Bapor	Himself	Seiko Films
1990	Juan Tanga, super naman, at ang kambal na tiyanak	Ting	Regal Films
1990	Feel Na Feel	Himself	Regal Films
1992	Takbo Talon Tili!	Tito	Seiko Films
2002	Bakit Papa	Dong	Regal Entertainment
2003	Mano Po 2	Erickson Tan
2004	Kuya	Ted
	I Will Survive	B.J.
	Sigaw	Marvin
2005	Pinoy: Blonde	cameo	Unitel Pictures
	Let the Love Begin	Eric	GMA Films
	Mulawin: The Movie	Aguiluz
2006	I Will Always Love You	Justin
2006	Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di	Jonathan Ramírez	Regal Entertainment
2007	The Promise	Daniel	GMA Films
2008	My Bestfriend's Girlfriend	Primitivo "Evo" Gonzales
	My Monster Mom	Young Waldo
	For the First Time	Seth Villaraza	Star Cinema
2009	When I Met U	Benjie	GMA Films
2009	Patient X	Dr. Lukas Esguerra	GMA Films, VIVA Films, and RGUTZ Productions
2010	In Your Eyes	Storm	GMA Films and VIVA Films
2011	My Valentine Girls	Arvin/Oslec/Zach/Aidan	Regal Films

Awards & Nominations [link]

FAMAS Awards

1988 : ['Nominated] Best Child Actor for the film, Takbo, bilis... takboooo! (1987 Film')
2009 : [Nominated] Best Actor for his film under Star Cinema entitled, For the First Time (2008 Film)

German Moreno Youth Achievement Award

2004 : [Won] German Moreno Youth Achievement Award

40th Box-Office Entertainment Awards

2009 : [Won] Valentine Box-Office King^{(with Marian Rivera as Valentine Box-Office Queen)}

Persondata
Name	Gutiérrez, Richard
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 21, 1984
Place of birth	Beverly Hills, California, United States
Date of death
Place of death

This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gutierrez

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.

Make changes yourself !

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