Butuan City is spread across the Agusan
River. This highly urbanized city previously held the distinction as the
capital of Agusan del Norte until that was transferred to Cabadbaran. Still, it
has retained its status as the regional center of the CARAGA Region where it
belongs.
There are different interpretations as to
the origin of its name. Some sources claim that it came from a former ruler,
chieftain Datu Buntuan. Other sources refer to the batuan (Garcinia morella)
sour fruit known to be abundant in the area. Others claim that is the natural
disposition of the people to be kind or but-an.
No matter what the exact reason may be, its name had always been Butuan in the
history books. It was even known as the Kingdom of Butuan before the Spanish
colonization.
TRIVIA
· Butuan City is known as the “Home
of the Balangays”.
· The balangay, a form of ancient
boat, is an iconic symbol of Butuan City especially because of its status as a
port city and because these boats were excavated just across Masao River.
· The original balangay, dubbed
as Balangay 1, was dated to be from 320 A.D. and now lies in the Balangay
Shrine Museum in Butuan City. This became the source of inspiration of the
Balangay boats which are part of the historic Balangay Voyage by Kaya ng Pinoy,
Inc. The recreated balangay has set sail across the country and in other areas
of Southeast Asia. It is the goal of the Balangay Voyage to sail across the
world.
· The city is the educational hub
of the CARAGA Region.
Province: Agusan del Norte
Region: Region 13 - CARAGA
Country: Philippines
Coordinates:
Area
Code: 9600
Zip
Code: 085 (+6385)
Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP 1= US$ 0.02)
Language: English| Tagalog | Cebuano | Butuanon
Local
Dialect: Butuan City actually has a language of its
own called the Butuanon but Cebuano is the prevailing dialect used across the
city. In fact, even if most adults are fluent and still use the language, a
study by Fred S. Cabuang revealed that less than 500 youngsters can speak it.
Such a sad plight makes the Butuanon language an endangered one. This is based
on the rule by international linguistics experts of classifying any language
with less than 300,000 speakers as endangered. The Butuanon has major
influences from the Surigaonon language and Tausug language but also features
words and grammar rules from the Cebuano language.
The Cebuano language is prevalent not just
in Butuan City but in many areas of Visayas and Mindanao. Much like other languages,
there are words that are spelled the same but are read or used in a different
manner. There are 16 consonants (b,d,g,m,n,ng,s,h,w,l,r,y,p,t,k,ʔ) and 5 vowels
(a,e,i,o,u). The language also offers a rule of verb–subject–object in most
cases. The word “nga” is used as connector between a noun and an adjective.
EMERGENCY
NUMBERS
·
Butuan City Mayor’s Office: (085)342-3074
| (085)225-5737 (fax)
· Butuan City Fire Department: 160 | (085) 342-8217 | (085) 815-0160 | 09106670623
· Butuan City Water District: (085) 342 3145
· Department of Foreign Affairs: (085) 342 7822
·
Butuan City Police Office: 166
o
Station 1: (085) 342-2160
o
Station 2: (085) 345-5245
o
Station 3: (085) 342-2825
o
Station 4: (085) 342-5321
o
Station 5: 0921-3473998
WHERE
TO STAY
- Almont Inland Resort. J.C Aquino Avenue, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342-7414, (085) 341-2103, (085) 342-9524 (fax) | email: fo.inlandresort@almont.com.ph | website: www.almont.com.ph/inland_resort.
- Almont City Hotel. San Jose Street, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342-5263, (085) 815-4174, (085) 341-5010 (fax) | email: fo.cityhotel@almont.com.ph | website: www.almont.com.ph/city_hotel.
- Balanghai Hotel & Convention Center. Bacolod Street, Doongan, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342-3064, (085) 815-1193, (085) 225-5559, 0920-9540705 | email:info@BalanghaiHotelAndConventionCenter.com |website:www.BalanghaiHotelAndConventionCenter.com.
- VCDU Prince Hotel & Convention Center. South Montilla Boulevard, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342-7587, (085) 342-6610, (085) 342-7567, (085) 225-9275, (085) 345-5850 | email: vcduprincehotel@gmail.com | website: http://www.vcduprincehotel.com/.
- The Red Palm Suites & Restaurant. Villa Kananga Road, (behind Capitol Grounds) Butuan City. Contact: (085) 341-2000 loc. 121, (085) 342-4242, (085) 225-9265, (085) 816-2338 (fax), 0915-296-8791 (Globe), 0999-785-5888 (Smart), 0922-815-6052 (Sun)| email:redpalmsuites@yahoo.com | website: http://redpalmsuites.webs.com/.
- Wayfarer Pension House & Dormitory. T. Calo St. Extension, Brgy Limaha, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342-8827, (085) 342-8828, 0946-971-1243, 0946-971-1244 | email:wayfarerpensionhouse@yahoo.com | website: http://wayfarerpensionhouse.webs.com/.
- Gloreto Guest House. Ilang-Ilang St., Langihan Road, Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342 9351 | email: info@gloretoguesthouse.com | http://www.gloretoguesthouse.com/index.php.
- Gloreto Guest House and Dormitel. T. Calo St., Butuan City. Contact: (085) 342 9350 | email: info@gloretoguesthouse.com | http://www.gloretoguesthouse.com/index.php.
WHERE
TO EAT
·
Buffet: Han's R Diner "Eat All U
Can" | Mom's Eat-all-you-can | Roldan's | Manay Maling
·
Fine Dining: Embassy Hotel and
Restaurant | Margies Kitchen | Island Seafoods Restaurant | Uncle Sams Burger
and Steak House
· Fastfood Chains / Budget Restaurants / Barbeque Places / Grills: Rosario's Grillhouse | O'Henry's Grill | Big Daddy's Grill | RIBS |
Nennette's Paboritos | Red Apple | Weegol's Grill House | Budget Foods And
Restaurant | Lutong Bahay ni Aling Cora 1 and 2 | Mister Donut Lucky Bamboo | New
Narra Restaurant | Weegool's Garden | Hans Noodles & Dimsum House | Pizza
Hut | VJ's Sports Bar and Ihaw-ihaw | Vanch Bar and Grill Hauz
WHAT
TO DO
· Celebrate City Festivals. Kahimunan
Festival (in honor of Sto. Niño) | Adlaw Hong Butuan (Charter Day Anniversary)
celebrated every August 2 | Balangay Festival/City Fiesta (in honor of St. Joseph) celebrated
every May 19 | MAZAUA DISCOVERY DAY (landing of Ferdinand Magellan) celebrated
every March 31
· Visit. Nipa Wine Distillery | Magellan's
Landing Site | Butuan Regional Museum | Balangay Shrine Museum | Banza Church
Ruins | Guingona Park formerly Rizal Park
· Outdoor Fun: Mountain climbing and
hiking at Mount Mayapay | Agusan River
· Explore: Bood Promontory 1st Easter Mass
Eco Park
· Shop. Robinsons Place Butuan | Unitop
General Merchandise | Unicity | Gaisano Mall Butuan | Asialink Central Mall | SM
City Butuan (Proposed) | Puregold Priceclub (Proposed)
TRANSPORTATION
· Airport. Butuan National Airport
formerly Bancasi Airport | Served by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines/PALexpress | Major
commercial airport with 5 to 10 flights daily | Largest airport in CARAGA |
Only airport in Agusan del Norte
· Sea port. Sea travel to Butuan City is
currently limited to the Nasipit Port located 18 km away | Plans for
construction of its own seaport to be called Port of Masao are already under
way | Served by major shipping lines: 2Go Travel, Cokaliong Shipping and Sulpicio Lines | Weekly trips to Jagna
(Bohol), Cebu, Dumaguete, and Manila
· Inland transportation. Transport
terminals: Butuan City Integrated Bus Terminal, New Integrated Van Terminal,
Jeepney Terminal | Modes of public transport include: rental vehicles, bus,
V-hire (hired van), taxis, orange-colored tricycles
MUST
TRY
· A trip to Butuan City is never
complete without tasting the palagsing.
This native delicacy is a tasty treat, chewy and moist. It is made from young
coconut, brown sugar, and what is locally known as unaw (lumbiya starch) which comes from palm trees.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ Let's #explore7107islands
I think the Buffet food establishments is the way to go when you are craving for some local menus.
ReplyDeleteat mura lang dito ang eat all you can Chubs :) usually less than 200 pesos :)
Deletethanks for sharing all these information about Butuan...hopefully someday our family can visit this beautiful place! happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou should Cheerful :) dami pwedeng i explore sa Butuan :)
DeleteI wish to visit that place. I have relatives there from my dad's side and I have yet to meet them in person. Thanks for the very informative post about Butuan.
ReplyDeletewelcome and thanks for dropping here Ria :)
DeleteNapaka timely naman sir! will be there in Nov firstweek. =)
ReplyDeletewow! enjoy ur stay in Butuan Christeen :)
DeleteWelcome to Home of the Balangays! Indeed! My best friend lives in Butuan and I have only been there a couple times but I always feel like going back. Hopefully, I can someday soon!
ReplyDeleteThis place takes a great place in our history for its "balangays". I also love the suman.
ReplyDeleteThis is great information, I've heard so many great things about that place and yes we indeed pass it by whenever we go to another province.
ReplyDeleteLet me think it over, I have lots of relatives there. no worry where to stay. Sige, add ko sa wishlist ko.
ReplyDeleteI always go to Butuan so I know some of the travel basics. Thanks for sharing this list :)
ReplyDeleteI have been to Butuan once before but I forgot how old I was :-) Maybe I was in high school and it is one of the booming city in Mindanao :-) I miss our island too :-)
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Cagayan de Oro, but I never realized that Butuan is a nice place. If I should have know, I probably would have visited this place.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit this city someday and eat in those restaurants you mentioned here :)
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting place to visit in the Philippines. Thanks for this guide. We can definitely use this when we decide to travel there.
ReplyDeleteSo detailed and informative. Buffet would be my first choice.
ReplyDeleteI got lots of relatives in Butuan and Agusan. Makakatipid na pala my family where to stay. Even back 1990's my late dad kept on promoting the place. Maganda raw talaga.
ReplyDelete