Butuan Delicacies

"Kusilba"

   Kusilba is a native delicacy of Butuan City. It is a sweetened coconut pulp made by the lumad Butuanons long time ago. We often see this dessert in any occasion particularly in Banza but it is not found in restaurants for reasons that it is exquisitely prepared by Butuanons only.

Ingredients:

1 ¼ kilo brown sugar or kinugay

1 gallon coconut pulp

2 tablespoon vanilla

2 calamansi

1 liter coconut milk

Procedure:

Cook the scraped coconut pulp with water until tender. Add the coconut milk and sugar and cook until sticky. Add kalamansi and vanilla for flavoring when it is almost done. When it is finally sticky, turn off the fire. Let it cool and serve.

"Kayam"

     Kayam is also known as Polynesian nut. It was believed by the elders in Banza that the tree was brought here in the locality by the Polynesian traders. It usually grow along the river or near the river. Some of the elders also reiterated that during World War II , as they were hiding from the enemies they used the kayam tree as a landmark. If certain items or treasures are hidden from the enemies, they will bury it near a kayam tree. On the late 70’s to early 80’s, when it was rumored within Butuan that there are treasures buried in the area, a lot of diggings were found in the Banza area. No one can reveal whether there were treasures found or none.

   "BINANIHAN NGA MANOK "

    Ingredients:

¼  kg. native chicken chopped bite sizes

3 pcs. Pepper, diced

1 med size onion, diced

6 gloves garlic, minced

1 pc med. Size tomatoes, diced

¼ cup vinegar grated turmeric

2 cups first grated coconut milk

2 cups second grated coconut milk

5 – 6 small ball sized bani

Procedure:

Gather bani or banana core (flourest bulb – like)(4 – 6 banana stands). Slice thinly into rounds. Using the hands or barbecue sticks, remove filaments or threadlike strands in between slices. Add 4 – 5 tablespoons of salt and knead. Extract water from the bani, forming them into small sized balls. Be sure water is extracted until dry. Set aside.

Sautee onions, garlic, tomatoes. Add chicken. Let simmer. Add pepper.  Add chicken and 1 cup water to boil. When chicken is cooked, spread bani slowly. Add 2 cups second coconut milk. Add turmeric leaf. When bani are cooked, add seasoning, salt to taste, and then pour ¼ cup turmeric liquid. Simmer. Pour in 2 cups first coconut milk. Close the lid and remove from fire. Open only when ready to serve.

Amazing Butuan :)

Punta Diwata

(Brgy. Vinapor Carmen Agusan Del Norte, Butuan City)

It is located in Brgy. Vinapor Carmen Agusan Del Norte, Punta Diwata is a 48 kms. from Butuan City and a 45-minute drive from Carmen Public Market. The entrance is 15.00 per head.

Carmen is still creating marks to the heart of every tourist who comes into this humbly beautiful town, indulge yourself to become one of the most Premier guests to enjoy the gifts of nature Proudly, Carmen offers you the indulging experience as this is the only destination in the province that offers numerous spots specially if you are a diving enthusiast or simply just to relax and do nature atonement.

"Delta Discovery Park – The Asia’s Longest Zipline, Butuan City"

Delta Discovery Park (Butuan Highlands Adventure) which holds the current longest zip line record in whole Asia. Delta Discovery Park is located at Purok 7, Brgy. Bonbon, Libertad Butuan City, Philippines – 1.3 KM of thrilling zip ride, the newest attraction in Brgy. Bon-Bon Butuan City and it it considered as the longest zip line in Asia. Aside from outdoor zipline they also have Zorb ball that adventure seekers will surely like.

"Mangroves and beach forest plantations"

Mindanao (Caraga region). Butuan City — The initial amount of P400 million intended for the rehabilitation and establishment of more mangroves and beach forest plantations in identified areas in Caraga region was recently released to areas affected by the killer typhoon “Yolanda” in the northeastern seaboard of Northeastern

The city is endowed with swamplands near its coastal area. These swamp areas are interconnected with the waterways joined by the Agusan River. Most of the swamplands are actually mangroves that served as habitat to different marine species.

The boom of the logging industry from the 1950s to the middle of 1970s made Butuan the "Timber City of the South" and led to an influx of business and fortune seekers from other provinces. The flourishing logging industry inspired and prompted Congressman Marcos M. Calo to file a bill converting Butuan into a city and on August 2, 1950, Butuan became a city.

"The motorcycle of Butuan"

This local motorcycle is an ingeneous creation of the Filipinos where it is cheap and easy to maintain.

In the beginning there was no Philippines but there was Butuan.

   

Butuan City is a place full of mystery yet a place you  will surely enjoy. With its  ancient  history, one can  really say  that  in the  beginning, there was no Philippines but there  was  BUTUAN. It is a place full of  smiles, full of enthusiasm and joy.Come  and visit Butuan, Ato ini Kadyawon ta!

"Butuan is not an ordinary place you have visited in a trip.Its rich history has been preserved but it has already evolved industrially. As you witness the different stories of how great Butuan is, you will surely end up looking for flights towards Butuan City. Enjoy!"

"THE HISTORIC BUTUAN CITY: HOME OF THE BALANGAYS"

"MAGELLAN’S ANCHORAGE"

Barangay Masao

       The fleet of Ferdinand Magellan anchored near an island that lit up with a radiant quality of light and that island is called Mazaua (it is derived from the native word Masao). In Mazaua, the two Butuanon brother kings attended the first Mass in the Philippines and the Magellan crew planted a cross on a hill. A memorial was built in Masao near the site where it represents the site that Magellan’s fleet have made an anchorage. Masao is also a popular beach where people go to swim, eat and rel

"BALANGAY DIG SITE"

Barangay Libertad

This museum is the repository of archaelogical and cultural materials and artifacts found in Butuan and the Caraga region. It functions as a show window of the history and culture of the ancient kingdom of Butuan. Specimens of stone, metal and woodcraft, pottery, goldsmithing, burial coffins, and other important archaeological finds are exhibite

16AUG2013 The largest sailing vessel of its kind yet discovered is being unearthed in Butuan City in Mindanao, and it promises to rewrite Philippine maritime history as we know it.

Estimated to be around 800 years old, the plank vessel may be centuries older than the ships used by European explorers in the 16th century when they first came upon the archipelago later named after a Spanish king, Las Islas Felipenas.

"Diosdado Macapagal Bridge"

  Diosdado Macapagal Bridge

Crosses over the Agusan River, this state-of-the-art bridge is the longest in Mindanao and even said as the longest road span in the world and Asias first. Its span has a roadway width of 11.4 meters with its main stream ends northeast in Butuan Bay and its southeast upstream reaches as far as the two Davao provinces in Mindanao. The bridge is built for better transportation connecting the bypass roads of the existing Iligan-Cagayan

                            " Laksoy"

LAKSOY” is local wine made out of indigenous Nipa Palm that abound in Butuan. It goes through the process of fermentation from a crudely made vat only a native Butuanon can ingenuously produce. Laksoy is definitely one of the local wines in best tasting the Island.

"Agusan River"

Agusan River is the longest river in Mindanao. Its source is Tagum, Davao del Norte, while its mouth is at Butuan Bay, with a total length of 350 kilometers.

This is the biggest and longest river in Mindanao. A cruise along the river barangays reveals so much in Butuan`s history, culture, art, and people, and as a tribute to the Patroness of the Agusan River Senora Sta. Ana, the Abayan Festival was born – a day long celebration of baroto races and fluvial procession at the Agusan River.

"Golden tara"

This photo of the golden tara was taken at Balanghai Hotel, the real image which weighs approximately 4 pounds, and is a 21 carat gold figurine, is now located at Chicago museum

       If you visit Butuan, you can also view the replica at Butuan regional museum. This artifact was found in 1917, southeast of Butuan at an Agusan river tributuary. It is as the experts say, an evidence of the early indian influence, as it was dated as early as 850-950 AD.

        A source also says that In 1917 after a storm and flood, a 21-carat golden figurine of a female deity of Hindu was found by a Manobo woman on a muddy bank of Wawa River, a tributary of the large Agusan River. This ancient figure seated in lotus position weighs nearly 4 pounds which is the earliest known image identified to be an Indian in origin. The image corroborates a single cultural sphere that developed in the archipelagic regions of Southeast Asia during the height of trade between Butuan and the rest of the Sri Vijaya Empire.

        The Golden Tara of Butuan is a metaphor of the City's Glorious history and its journey to a progresive future. I even had my classmates painted with a gold paint and they wore a gold suit. They portrayed the Golden Tara and they danced in Baguio City representing Butuan City.

"BUD PROMONTORY & ECO-PARK"

The place believed to be where the cross of the first mass was planted.

“Bud”, which means hill in the Butuanon language, is the commemoration site of the first planting of the cross by Ferdinand Magellan and his crew after celebrating the Mass  on the afternoon of  Easter Sunday March 31, 1521. A cross and a memorial depicting the event have been erected on the site. On this hill that overlooks the Masao River, people would once have observed the Butuan trading center, where traders from China and Southeast Asian kingdom brought their wares to barter for gold and other produce.  The park provides a scenic view of the surrounding countryside and has many Teak trees (called Hadlayati in Butuanon) growing on it. It is a good place to spend a leisurely time.

Nilusak (or nilupak)

Nilusak (or nilupak) is cassava (or "balanghoy" inButuanon, the local dialect) that is mashed ("nilusak") with sugar and margarine, sprinkled with grated mature coconut, and rolled into ping-pong sized balls. The yellow color of the cassava, speckled with the white coconut, makes nilusakballs, for lack of a better term, cute--just the way I think all small pastries should look. This "balanghoy" is sweeter than its suman and puto counterparts, and because it is "nilusak" with margarine, it is naturally softer and creamier. Sometimes, "nilusak na saging" or mashed plantain bananas is also available in the market. We call this "tinupukan," and this is considered to be more Butuanon.

"Bolihon Beach Resort" 

Bolihon Beach Resort was a hidden beach actually. We have climbed the mountain and turned right we go down to a still ongoing constructed muddy road dissecting the mountain to give way for beachgoers. Without this road, the path to Bolihon Beach Resort could be difficult to reach. 

But someone has the spirit to find real treasure in life you have to move on and see how God created masterfully in His hand the art of nature by crossing the hardships and difficulties. Imagine the mountain at top and below the white curve line seeing the little bay of Caraga. If you witness the giant bays like Butuan and Bislig, well you can picture the cute little curve in a distance. Walking from the tip to other tip of a curve and you are done.

"Palagsing:A Local Delicacy from Butuan"

Palagsing is a delightful delicacy from Northern Mindanao that shouldn't be missed. Palagsing is made from the combination of brown sugar, coconut and  unaw (the rich starch obtained from the bark of this palm) as the main ingredient. After mixing coconut milk with unaw, it is then rolled using banana leaves as wrapper. The rolled unaw is arranged in a big cauldron to be boiled for about an hour.

Palagsing is usually eaten with sugar over coffee. Palagsing making is very popular in Brgy. Banza, Butuan , one of the oldest communities in the area. To have a taste of authentic palagsing, you need to take a habal habal to reach the place. The rich starch obtained from the bark of this palm has become the staple food of the indigenous people. With its unique yet mouth-watering flavor, Palagsing  truly is a pride of Butuan.