Located at the Northeastern part of Agusan Valley sprawling across the Agusan River is Butuan City known for its colorful history and culture. Butuan is believed to have originated from the sour fruit ‘Batuan”. 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 a 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 and festivals, makes Butuan an exciting source of cultural artifacts an Mindanao.
As early as the 10th century, according to the Chinese Soong Shi (history), people from Butuan has 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 the City that has seen over 1,678 years of recorded history! The original site of the first Easter Mass in the Philippines soil.
