Bislig History, Philippines

The vagueness of the oceans, the seas and the mountains gives us a point-blank answer that Mother Earth has planned on giving us limitless possibilities since the beginning of time. Bislig, for one, has timeless masterpieces of nature that entice environmentalists and tourists from the different parts of the world.

In pre-Spanish years, it was accounted that Bislig was named after a forest vine called “bislig” that saved the life of a royal couple who got stuck in a river while hunting. Early settlers were believed to be semi-nomadic Manobos from Agusan Valley in Mindanao. They used arrows, spears and bows in everyday encounters. Their bravery was handed down to their descendants, thus the locals at present are tough ones. Root crops are largely raised on wide stretches of lands.

Centuries went by until Spanish groups invaded in 17th century, along with some forces comprised by Visayans, Ilonggos and Tagalogs. In January 1, 1921, the place became a town with Primitivo Castillo as municipal president. After a period of forced labor, the Casa Real had to be constructed, and so did a church. There were also years when the Politico-Militar brought the town under double governance—the church and the crown. The political struggles never discouraged the leaders to elevate from having P3,000 annual income in 1921 to P77.3 million pesos in 1999. The socio-economic status was up after the emergence of big firms like Bislig Bay Lumber Company, Inc., in 1950 and Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines in 1965. A merger was done in 1970, thereby shaping the largest paper mill in Asia and had to be renamed as PICOP Resources, Inc. (PRI) in 1994.

The prestige inspired another industry player to do well. In 1981, the PNOC Coal Mining Operations started providing employment to locals. Giant firms have certainly sprouted that later made a rapid boom, and so, it was made into a major city of Surigao del Sur in Mindanao on September 18, 2000. Just close to Davao City, Tandag, Butuan City, Bislig has been eventually introduced to the world as a big industry player. It now has 97,860 people whose common vision is to maintain its many natural resources while supporting trade and commerce.

Nature calls for the city’s boom. After keeping its promise of an unlimited adventure, Mother Earth urges its advocates to get the best deal of a lifetime to be in Bislig. After all, the human beings are supposed to be its caretakers.