Caraga

Caraga, officially known as the Caraga Administrative Region or simply Caraga Region and designated as Region XIII, is an administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of the island of Mindanao. The Caraga Region was created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 23, 1995. The region comprises five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands; six cities: Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao City, Tandag, Bislig and Bayugan; 67 municipalities and 1,311 barangays. Butuan is the regional administrative center.EtymologyThe etymology of Caraga is said to have originated from the native word Kalag which means "spirit of soul". Hence, the whole Provincia de Caraga of AD 1622 was called region de gente animosa, that is "region of spirited men". Another fictional etymology of the name flows from a local legend as coming from the word Cagang, a numerous small crabs matting the beach of Caraga, which is also known as katang to the native inhabitants. Legend goes that the town was named as such because the first Spanish missionaries who came in the early years of 1600 found numerous small crabs matting the beach.