Surigao Del Norte

In 1538, the eastern coast of Mindanao which included the present province of Surigao del Norte was visited by a Portuguese explorer named Francisco de Castro, who found the place inhabited by the Caraga tribe who were believed to be of Visayan origin. Jesuit missionaries arrived in 1597 to evangelize the people of Butuan which was Agusan and Caraga but with much difficulty and intermittent success. Augustinian Recollects followed and established parishes in Tandag and Bislig in 1642, secular priests took over before the Benedictine monks arrived in 1893.