Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Butuan City – ‘The Historic City’








The City of Butuan is the regional center area of the Caraga Region located at the Northeastern part of Agusan Valley sprawling across the Agusan River is Butuan City, known for its archaeological sites. BUTUAN is a term believed to have originated from the sour fruit “Ba-tu-an”. Others opined, it came from a certain “Datu Buntuan”, a chieftain who once ruled Butuan. Scholars believed, it came from the word “But-an”, which literally means a person who has sound and discerning disposition. Whichever theories appear credible depends on the kind of people residing in Butuan, for whatever is said about them, Butuan continues to live on.
Butuan’s history, culture, arts and people date back to the 4th century as showcased in museums which makes Butuan an exciting source of cultural artifacts in Mindanao.
As early as the 10th century, according to the Chinese Song Shi (history), people from Butuan had already established trading relations with the kingdom of Champa in what is now South Vietnam.

By the 11th century, Butuan was the center of trade and commerce in the Philippines. The best evidence to prove this fact is the discovery of 9 balangays (The BUTUAN BOAT) and other archeological finds in the vicinities of Butuan City, particularly in Ambangan, Libertad near the old EL RIO de BUTUAN and MASAO River.

Welcome to a City that has seen over 1,683 years of recorded history! The original site of the First Easter Mass in Philippine Soil, here, the present nurtures the past and vice-versa. While the future waits promisingly in the wings.

Area
81,728 hectares
27 Urban Barangays
59 Rural Barangays

Dialect
Multi-lingual predominantly Butuanon, Cebuano and English

Climate
Dry – March to September
Wet – October to February

Holidays
May 19 – City Fiesta (in honor of St. Joseph)
August 2 – Adlaw Hong Butuan (Charter Day Anniversary)

What to Wear
Lightweight clothing is recommended. Informal clothing is acceptable when visiting churches or offices. For formal occasions, the traditional barong tagalong is accepted for men. Bars, restaurants and hotels have no dress code but it is considered improper to wear shorts and slipper.

How to get there
Butuan is accessible by plane or boat from Manila and Cebu. Land transportation to any point of Mindanao is available.

Air
Butuan has one domestic Airport, the Bancasi Airport proper with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific flights. It has various food outlets within the vicinity and souvenir items.

Sea
Butuan is easily accessible by boat from Manila, Cebu and Bohol. Fares vary according to accommodations.

Land
Oranged colored tricycles are common in Butuan. They go around and even outside the city proper. Multicab jeeps or AC’s (auto calesa) are used in the main city streets, with corresponding route numbers. Cars for rent are available upon request in most hotels and at the airport, but all are not metered, so remember to agree on the fee before boarding. Few metered taxes are also available in the city. Bus Company plies the routes from Butuan to other municipalites in the region.

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