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: Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao and Tandag; 67 municipalities and 1,311 barangays. Butuan is the regional administrative center.
Caraga, Davao Oriental
The etymology of the word "Caraga" is said to have originated from the native word ""Kalag"" which means "spirit of soul". Hence, the whole "Provincia de Caraga" of 1622 was called ""region de gente animosa"", that is "region of spirited men". This being "spirited men and women" is grounded on its cultural, religious and political background. With culture, Caragans were spirited in view of their closeness to nature and attitude towards the creation. With religiosity, Caragans were spirited as to their belief on the spirits of nature (like the trees "balete tree", the rivers and mountains, sun and moon); in fact, they have "anito worship" and "ancestor worship" led by the dancing priestess ("balyan") and the singing priestess ("catalunan"). With primitive politics, Caragans were spirited as they invited a "bagani system" of governance. A ""bagani"" is like a "warrior" kinglet or datu" who ruled by banditry and by occupation.