It has abundant mineral reserves including gold, iron, manganese, silica, cobalt, copper, chromite and among the world's largest nickel deposits in Nonoc Island.

[8] Another popular legend tells the story of Visayan fishermen, who survived a sudden windstorm that capsized their banca at the mouth of Surigao River.

[9][10] 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 north-west of the city's pelagic boundaries, before dropping anchor on the waters off the island of Cebu, ushering the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

He thus wrote on 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.".

Rapid economic growth and immigration lead to losing some of its fishing and agricultural barrios as they were converted into towns of Malimono (July 31, 1956), Anao-aon (San Francisco) (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.

On November 19, 1964, the town was on the direct path of supertyphoon Ining (internationally code-named Louise), with peak winds at 240 kilometers per hour, considered among the strongest in the city's recorded history.

In 1969, Marinduque Mining Industrial Corporation, a Canadian company subsidiary, started commercial operations and export of vast nickel ore deposits in Nonoc Island, with an initial capitalization of Php1.0 billion pesos, ushering a new era of prosperity.

To the east along the border with Tagana-an, Mapawa Peak, with an elevation of 245 meters above sea level, rises above barangays Cabongbongan, Nabago and Capalayan.

Other notable islands like Hanigad, Sibale, Bayaganan, Sumilon, Danawan, and Awasan are generally flat, and primarily covered with coconut palm trees.

These include Taft, Washington, San Juan, Sabang, Canlanipa, Cagniog, Luna, Togbongon, Rizal, Lipata, Punta Bilar, Mabua and Ipil.

Throughout its history, Surigao has been a point of entry for migrants 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.

Revelers chant and play while accompanied by native musical instruments, including the gimbar (drum), gong, and bamboo percussion called kalatong and katik.

A baylan (priest) presides over the celebration as a tribute and invocation to their god Magbabaya and departed ancestors for good health and abundant harvest.

Today, some Mamanwas have acquired typical trappings of society, as they live in permanent communities, subsist on backyard farming, and occasionally descend to town to sell or barter handicrafts and fresh harvest.

It has also 25 consonant 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).

At the turn of the 21st century, the city saw improvement of its key macroeconomic indicators, partly benefiting from the booming tourism in the province, primarily in Siargao, and the prospect of new large-scale mining investments in Claver.

There are 47 finance cooperatives, 52 pawnshops and 51 money changers/foreign exchange dealers, remittance centers, microfinancing institutions and savings and loans associations that maintain business offices in the city.

The entry of major international mining company Sumitomo with $1.3 billion investment in the province sparked renewed interest of its vast mineral reserves and has helped spur economic growth in the city.

During the last two decades, Surigao's retail activity expanded beyond its historical core near Luneta Park, transforming residential areas into newly built low rises.

The city is also served by outrigger water taxis called pump boats that follow scheduled sea routes to island barangays.

Buses from its integrated Land Transport Terminal provide direct trips to Ormoc, Tacloban, Legazpi, Manila, Butuan, Tandag, Davao and Bislig (Mangagoy).

Completed in 2007, the San Juan-Lipata Coastal Road connects the Port of Lipata to downtown Surigao, cutting travel time in half.

A new diversion road, connecting Sabang to National Highway AH26, will help decongest the main access to the city once completed, although it remained unfinished indefinitely.

PLDT (formerly PhilCom), Bayantel, Dito Telecommunity, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications (including formerly Cruztelco) operate cell towers in the city.

Today, this 150- bed tertiary hospital, a core referral facility, is rapidly expanding with intensive care units that includes Coronary, Pediatric, Surgical and Burn.

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.

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.

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.