Facing History:

This narrative essay presents a comprehensive account of my observations and experiences during our history class field trip in Butuan City last 22-23 March 2019. Such undertaking was considered significant since the subject matter was not just tackled within the four corners of the classroom.

This field exposure approach therefore was a welcome contribution to our learning as Master of Arts in History students since it presented some interconnections between historiography and fieldwork. Our goal was to know the historical significance and value in the national history in general and local history in particular of discovered artifacts displayed in selected museums in Butuan City. With this kind of activity, we gained more knowledge on the importance of history aside from the conceptual/theoretical aspect learned from the classrooms.

The Master of Arts in History students of the Mindanao State University Main Campus, Marawi City visit the selected museums and historical places in Butuan City as part of our course enrichment activity. There were 30 student-participants who joined in the study tour. We visited the following places:

1. BUTUAN NATIONAL MUSEUM - Barangay Doongan

2. MUSEO DE BALANGHAI - Barangay Doongan

3. BALANGAY SHRINE MUSEUM - Paradise, Barangay Libertad

4. MAGELLAN’S ANCHORAGE – Barangay Masao

5. BOOD (BUD) PROMONTORY & ECO-PARK - Barangay Pinamanculan

After the field visit, we were able to: (1) familiarize with the different historical sites in Butuan City; (2) expose ourselves to the historical significance of Butuan in relation to Mindanao, the Philippines and Asia; (3) enrich our knowledge of the study of Mindanao history through archaeological and ethnological evidence; and (4) enhance our experiential, observational and research skills.

Officially referred as the City of Butuan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: Dakbayan hong Butuan), or simply as Butuan City is a 1^st class “highly urbanized city” and regional center of the Caraga Region, Philippines. The 2015 census reports a population of 337, 063 people. It is located in the Philippines on the following coordinates: 8̊ 57 N 125̊ 32 E and has a total land area of 816.62 km² which is roughly 4.1% of the total land area of the Caraga region. Butuan City is located at the northeastern part of the Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del Norte, to the east by Agusan del Sur and to the northwest by Butuan Bay.

The name “Butuan” is believed to have originated from the sour fruit locally called batuan. The city is endowed with swamplands near its coastal area. These swamp areas are interconnected with the waterways joined by the Agusan River. Butuan City is the commercial, industrial, and administrative center of Caraga region. It is a strategic hub in Northeastern Mindanao and hosts one of the busiest airports in the country, the Bancasi Domestic Airport. The nearby Nasipit International Port and in-city Masao Port are providing for its shipping and cargo needs.

Historically, it was the capital of the so-called Rajahnate/Kerajaan of Butuan before 1001 until 1756. The city used to be a center of gold and boat manufacturing in the classical times, having trade relations with as far as Champa, Ming, Srivijaya, Majapahit and the Bengali coasts. At present, Butuan is a thriving agro-industrial hub in northeastern Mindanao. The city is also known for their cultural festivities such as the Kahimunan Festival (celebrated every third Sunday of January), the Balangay/Balanghai Festival (celebrated every 19^th of May), and the Adlaw Hong Butuan (celebrating the charter day of Butuan). 

22 March 2019

6:00 A.M.

MSU Main Campus

It was an exciting and fine day. The graduate school history classes of Dr. Ben J. Kadil was about to go to Butuan City for our much anticipated educational field trip. We converged at the Aga Khan Museum grounds where the van picked us up. It was past seven already when we left from MSU Main Campus for Butuan.

9:30 A.M.

The van had stop overs along the way to Cagayan de Oro City. We picked up Professor Kadil at Tambo, Iligan City and at Lugait we stopped over at a gas station to purchase some food and drinks and to relieve ourselves from personal necessities as we were going to venture for a long travel.

12:00 NN.

We arrived at Cagayan de Oro around lunch time. It was decided that we forego our lunch meal and just continue with our travel so that we could save time. We took the Villanueva-Claveria-Gingoog road. The route could save us as much as three hours. We took our lunch at the Jollibee Fast food along the highway in Gingoog City. It was already two in the afternoon.

3:00 P.M.

Butuan City

I felt relieved when we reached already the province of Agusan Del Norte. A few minutes later we were at the Balangay Shrine Museum in Barangay Libertad, Butuan City. A representative/staff from the national museum welcomed us and shared to us some highlights and background information on the excavated Balangay boat, the area where the boats were discovered, and the wooden coffins dug in the site.

We tried to visit the Butuan National Museum (regional office) but it was closed already. Since the museum closes at 4:30 P.M. we opted to visit the national museum the next day.

5:00 P.M.

Museo de Balanghai

The next museum we visited was the private museum of antique enthusiast Dr. Potenciano Malvar situated in his hotel, the Balanghai Hotel in Barangay Doongan, Butuan City. The Museo de Balanghai was indeed a treasure trove of several archaeological and ethnological artifacts found in Butuan, Caraga region, and from other parts of Mindanao and the Philippines. The curated collection included ceramics, pottery, statues/images, preserved parts of the Balanghai boat, war materiel, and implements, among others. I was personally mind blown and awestruck by such size of personal collection. On the other hand, I was saddened to know that much of the display were part of “irregular finds” sold to the collector by treasure hunters.

7:00 P.M.

Having checked-in already at Flor-Al Inn, we proceeded to Weegols along Montilla Boulevard to eat our dinner. A sumptuous meal of Chicken Inato nourished our hungry stomach and weary bodies. At around eight in the evening, after our meal, we retired to our respective rooms for our much needed bed rest. All is well that ends well!

Figure 1. 23 March 2019: Some of the student-participants with Prof. Kadil. Photo taken at the Magellan’s Anchorage, Barangay Masao, Butuan City.

23 March 2019

6:00 A.M.

Butuan City

I woke up thanking the Almighty for the restful night and uttered a simple prayer for our safety and guidance on the second day of our field trip. A few minutes before seven in the morning we took our breakfast meal at the nearby Jollibee Fast food. By 8:00 A.M. we proceeded to Barangay Masao to visit the so-called Magellan’s Anchorage. Butuan City laid claim to the still controversial Mazzua historiography.

9:00 A.M.

Butuan National Museum

By nine in the morning we entered the grounds of the museum. My classmates and I took some token photos for memento and documentation of our educational tour. A few minutes later the doors of the museum were opened for us. We were welcomed by the personnel of the venue. Ms. Plaza, the museum personnel, gave us a short orientation of the museum rules and subsequently guided us in our knowledge-enriching and eventful visit.

Figure 2. 23 March 2019: The student-participants at the entrance of the museum.

Before we left the museum, some documentation photos were taken. As the adage goes: “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Keep nothing but memories.”

Figure 3. 23 March 2019: Posterity photo taken in the lobby of the museum. With Prof. Kadil, Ms. Plaza, and the student-participants of the field trip.

10: 00 A.M.

Pinamanculan Hill

The last site we visited to cap our successful Butuan tour was the Pinamanculan Hill or the Bood Promontory and Eco-Park. This site was symbolically selected as the venue of the still debatable First Mass. Accordingly, this site used to be an island when Magellan anchored at Mazzua. But due to years of sedimentation the Pinamanculan-Bancasi Island now became part of the main Butuan Delta. Every 31^st of March, the Catholic church held a mass here to commemorate the historical first mass.

Figure 4. 23 March 2019: Photo of a landmark at the Pinamanculan Hill.

10:30 A.M.

Homeward Bound

I felt honor and pride of my past as a Filipino and a Mindanaoan. The field trip provided me with a strong socio-cultural grounding on my identity. The seeming cultural vacuum was replaced with a solid grasp of our historic past and our historicity as a nation and people.

Figure 5. 23 March 2019: The author with the Flight 387 Shrine at the background.

Before we turned towards the Claveria-Villanueva road, we first passed the Jollibee drive-thru in Gingoog City to buy our lunch. The sight of mountains and other natural structures amazed me as our van glided the curvaceous road. Upon reflection, I realized that the choice of this route has two advantages:

1) it cut our travel time by half from Butuan to Cagayan de Oro, and most importantly

2) it exposed us to the vast agricultural landscape of this landlocked area.

I hope my Mranao classmates took note of this, since the potential of Lanao del Sur for agro-industrial development and innovations is vital and important. It is said: “A hungry man is an angry man.” The future of Lanao del Sur (and BARMM) is not in armed revolution but in agricultural-industrial revolution.

We stopped at the Cebu Pacific Flight 387 Shrine around past 12:00 noon. Before we took our lunch, we got off from our van and paid our respects to the departed of the said flight. The incident resulted in the death of 104 passengers and flight crew. One of the casualties was Dr. Felina Madrid of MSU Main Campus on that fateful day of 2 February 1998.

After our quick meal inside the van, we continued our homeward journey. However, there was one place in the Claveria-Villanueva road exit that we were not able to stop on our way to Butuan.

On our return trip, we kept a watchful eye so that we will not missed the opportunity of seeing this place. A viewing deck to a breathtaking mountainous scenery. It was a sublime sight to behold. I thought it must be that sublime feeling that our ancient ancestors felt when they saw these natural structures. A possible reason why they would worship or assign spiritual value to mountains, rivers, trees, etc.

Figure 6. 23 March 2019: A sublime sight to behold. The view deck at the Claveria-Villanueva road. A must stop-over for travelers.

Figure 7. 23 March 2019: The author had his photo taken at this breathtaking mountain scenery for posterity purposes.

Bolos Kano!

6:30 P.M.

MSU Main Campus

I thanked the Almighty for the safe and smooth return trip to the equally stunning MSU Main Campus. The travel to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City was tiring but entertaining as the driver of the van played some Mranao songs. We stopped at Tambo, Iligan City as our guide and mentor Prof. Kadil alighted from the van. We eventually arrived at MSU Main Campus around 6:30 in the evening. Well, safe, and sound. All is well that ends well! Thanks God.

Overall, the field trip was successful. However, due to the long distance we have to travel some discomforts were encountered brought by sitting for long hours. Normal eating hours such as lunch was moved to later time so as to make the most of our travel and make it to Butuan City before the museum closes.

We did not make it to the Butuan National Museum (regional office) since it closes at 4:30 p.m. We have to stay overnight in Butuan in order to continue our site visits the next day.

There were some discussions with the student-participants whether we just return to Mindanao State University Main Campus after visiting the Museo de Balanghai that same day. It was decided that it would be prudent if we stay overnight in Butuan. We stayed at the Flor-Al Inn to minimize our expenses in the said field trip. All is well that ends well!

This field trip provided a hands-on experience for students of history. The method of writing history relies on the data gathered whether through archival documents, oral interviews or artifactual evidence. Visiting the selected museums allowed us to be interconnected and interwoven into the dynamics of the historical process rolled into one: past, present and perhaps the future.

I considered the educational tour to be of great importance since it provided insights on some realities of ethnological and archaeological dimensions in the historical study on Mindanao and the Philippines.

Aside from being a requirement, I considered the activity very important since it provided an experience doing an investigation or an inquiry about such events that occurred in the past.

As a Master of Arts in History student, the activity helped to determine my capacity to examine and weigh facts after obtaining them. The activity being timely and significant provided additional experience and knowledge to me as a future professional historian.