Photo taken by Tom Magedanz in 1979

Cantilan existed as a settlement for more than three centuries as early as 1622. According to legend, the word Cantilan originated from the big shell of a bivalve locally called, “Tilang“. A couple with beautiful daughters lived close to the location of the big shell. When suitors came to visit the daughters and were asked their destination, they would answer, “Can Tilang” (meaning “to Tilang’s”). Eventually, “Can Tilang” became “Cantilan“.

According to sources, it was created by virtue of the Spanish Royal Decree of 1768 known as Maura Law. Another source states however, that Fr. Valerio de San Agustin implemented it in 1782 at “Daan Lungsod,” the old town in the coastal area. It was populated with people from Bayuyo, Ilihan and Calagdan. They constructed a fortification, a “Kuta”, (Fort) made of limestone later named as Baluarte de Señor San Miguel, located across the river in the modern Cantilan.

Caraga is obviously named after the old, historic Caraga, an extensive landmass covering several provinces, in the northeastern seaboard of Mindanao whose existence outdated the arrival of the Spaniards in this country.

The people of the old Calagan were originally from Ilihan (now Panikian), Calagan (now Calagda-an), Parasao (now Palasao) and Bayuyo (now Union, Manga and San Antonio).

• 1521 – For the first time, Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of Magellan’s epic voyage around the world, called this region Calagamor Calagan.

Calagan was among the three choices for Ferdinand Magellan to dock for provisions and trade. “Magellan was anxious to resume his voyage and inquired which were the best ports for provisions and trade, wishing to turn of his many articles of barter into gold and spices. He was told that there were three – Ceylon (Leyte), Zzubu (Cebu) and Calagan, but that Zzubu was the largest and had the most traffic.”

• March 31, 1521 – The celebrated “Primera Misa“, an Easter Sunday Mass, was held in the Philippine Territory on the order of Ferdinand Magellan. Two of its prominent attendees were the Butuan brother kings: Rajah Kolambu of Butuan and Rajah Siagu of Calagan. January 25, 1571 – Garcia Sierras Chacon was appointed to rule the district of Surigao and Parasao (Cantilan), an encomienda.
• 1574 – Andres Mirandaola wrote to King Felipe II of Spain that “much gold is found in the island of Mindanao, in the district of Butuan, Curigao (Surigao) and Parasao (Palasao). Much gold is mined there.”
• 1609 – The conquistadores arrived in Tandag and constructed a stone fort (a military garrison) to strengthen their conquest of the locals. This caused the Northeastern portion of Mindanao to be raised to the status of a province. This “distrito” was called “Provincia de Caraga” with Tandag as the capital.
• 1622 – The systematic evangelization of Caraga Province began with the arrival of eight Recoletos from Manila. They arrived in Tandag and branched out to outstations in the districts, namely: Butuan, Surigao, Dinagat, Gigaquit, Numancia, Calagdan (Cantilan), Iranza and Bislig. They were headed by their Superior Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, OAR.
• 1622 – According to Erectio Conventum in Insuli Philippinis, the pueblos of Calagdan and Parasao (Palasao) were listed having 700 to 800 Christian families.
• 1626 – The Recollect chapter of 1626 appointed Fray Juan de Nicolas as priory of Tandag. Calagdan was among the priories that year. On the same year, 6 more priories were established: Bacuag, Tandag, Gigaquit, Butuan, Calagdan, and Dinagat.
• 1629 – Calagdan disappeared from the list of residential stations.
• 1700 – Two Spanish soldiers from the fort of Tandag was assigned at Parasao and Calagdan, namely Antonio Garcia and Cristobal Moreno, respectively.
• 1740 – A map made by Italian mapmaker Giambattista Albrizzi in Venice, Italy mentioned the northern part of Mindanao as “Manobos“. Described as a place near the ocean and a river mouth.
• 1750 – A census copy now on display in a museum in London mentioned the two pueblos of Calagdan (Calagda-an) and Bayuyo (now the present-day Union).
• 1752 – Bayuyo, I. St.Jean (an island near Bayuyo ), I. De General and Bucas are mentioned in a map made by French cartographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin.
• 1752 – Moro raiders attacked and burned the two barrios of Bayuyo and Calagdan.
• 1761 – A concentrated resettlement of Calagdan, Palasao and Bayuyo in one place had been realized. The place is located across the river later named as Cantilang.
• 1767 – Padre Fray Valero de San Agustin, visited Calagdaan (Cantilang) and established a northern outstation outside Tandag.
• 1767 – The Moro pirates attacked Tandag Fort in 1758, 1761, 1767. But of all these attacks, the worst casualties suffered by the Moros was in 1767 when Fray Valero de San Agustin brought a reinforcement of 200 Calagdaan (Cantilan) fighters led by valiant warriors Francisco Arreza and Santiago Arizobal. They rode on seven sailboats to Tandag. After the fierce battle, many Moros were killed and several of their boats were sunk on Tandag river and sea.
• 1782: Cantilan became a regular parish under Fray Valero de San Agustin, a recollect.
• 1856: On October 14, a hurricane from the north which turned over east and south increased to an intensity that storm surges changed the whole town into a sea. Everything was swept away. On October 15, Cantilan became a wasteland. The survivors together with the parish priest Fray Modesto Marzoy Casabana then crossed the river and started to build the new Cantilan.
• 1898: Cantilan total population had reached 10,026.
• 1918: On December 10, Executive Order No. 52 of American Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison was issued that divided Cantilan into three parts.
• World War II – For much of the war Cantilan was a place of refuge for those escaping the Japanese occupation of coastal areas of Mindanao. The convent there was filled with refugees, including nuns fleeing other areas. Even a few American civilians who had been living in the Philippines before the war took refuge in Cantilan.
• 1960: Cantilan became part of the new province of Surigao del Sur.