Booming City by the Bay

In line with the aforementioned festival, the legendary allusions as to how Bislig got its name could be traced back to the era prior to the coming of the Spanish conquistadors. The town got its name from a forest vine of the rattan family that grew in abundance along the banks of its rivers. This vine was noted for its strength and became known for saving a royal couple who crossed the swollen river in one of their hunting expeditions and who almost died as they were carried downstream by the rushing current. The legend has it that these hunters had already lost hope of surviving until they were able to cling to a vine which was about 1/4 inch in diameter called Bislig. As a sign of thanksgiving, the ruler named this place Bislig.

Thus, Bislig derived its name from the word “bizlin”, a kind of gold, “which is worth two pesos a tael. The weight of a tael is one and one-eight ounces” in the 16th century, which the natives used for trade and barter. Prior to the coming of Spaniards, this terminology was understood in Luzon and in Mindanao. In the report of the Administrator of Royal Properties Andres Mirandaola dated 8 September 1573 sent to King Philip of Spain that “much gold found in the island of Mindanao, District of Butuan, Surigao ...” It is believed that this kind of gold found in the rolling hills and mountains of the southernmost portion of Bislig and Agusan Province.

In addition, the first inhabitants of Bislig were believed to have come from the Agusan Valley in the hinterlands of Mindanao beyond the Magdiwata Mountains. These people used spears, bows and arrows and lived a semi-nomadic life and were called Manobos. They were ruled during the later part of the seventeenth century by a native leader called “Bagani”, meaning a formidable leader. They were very brave, tough and war-like. They also introduced edible crops such as rice, corn and root crops to the area. At the turn of the century, Spanish Colonizers and Missionaries imposed the rule of Spain and brought with them Tagalogs, Ilongos, and Visayans from the North as members of their expeditionary forces.

Altogether, it is still a vibrant and livable city geared towards producing agricultural and aquamarine products and becoming a leading eco-tourism destination in Southeastern Philippines. It has had its rich, turbulent and bloody, but dynamic transition that had eventually led to its present social, economic, physical and political structure. As equal say, it persistently aims to give the visitor, or new resident, all the facts they would need to know more. Including information about the gist of Bisliganon’s customs, some other festivals being celebrated, civic services, nightlife, dining out, tourist attractions, sports and recreation facilities that will surely enlighten sightseer’s young mind.