Trade Winds and Foreign Shores
Surigao’s Ancient Connections to Asia and Beyond
Interact with the book through Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Visit the customized GPT by Open AI HERE
and the Book Section of the Surigao Historical Society HERE
Embedded Files
Trade Winds and Foreign Shores
Trade Winds and Foreign Shores
4 August 2025 Feature | Surigao Historical Society | Local History
Surigao’s Ancient Connections to Asia and Beyond
Before the Spanish ever dropped anchor in the Philippines, Surigao was already abuzz with the hum of commerce. The story of this northeastern Mindanao province stretches far beyond the shores of the archipelago—it echoes through the bustling markets of Mecca, the bazaars of Egypt, and the royal courts of the Orient.
A Port in the Stream of Civilization
Surigao’s geography—facing the vast Pacific Ocean and near strategic sea passages—made it a natural participant in early trade routes. Long before European ships crossed the strait bearing the cross and the crown, vessels from China, the Malay world, and even as far as the Arabian Peninsula were already navigating these waters.
According to Surigao Across the Years, early Filipino seafarers were already present in Mecca, Egypt, Macedonia, and the Balkans. Surigao, with its deep harbors and skilled mariners, was likely among those participating in this dynamic maritime culture.
Gold: Surigao’s Lustrous Offering
Surigao was once a major source of gold in the Philippines. Local communities extracted gold from riverbeds using traditional panning methods. Traders from China and India came to barter for this precious metal, often exchanging it for ceramics, porcelain, and textiles.
This was no small-time barter system—gold from the Philippines, including Surigao, found its way to Egyptian bazaars via desert caravans. The province may have been obscure in imperial records, but it quietly contributed to the wealth that passed through the arteries of Asian trade.
Jars and Jewels: Artifacts of Contact
Burial jars, earthenware bowls, and imported porcelain found in Surigao point to centuries-old cultural exchange. These artifacts, uncovered in sites across the province, affirm that Surigaonons were not isolated but part of a larger network of material and spiritual exchange.
Some of these jars may have even been used to store goods for export—pearls, gold dust, woven sinamay, or medicinal herbs.
Balanghais and Sea-Lords
Surigao’s seafaring legacy is embodied in the famed balanghai—a large wooden vessel built for long voyages. While the oldest balanghai was found in Butuan, its design suggests a common maritime culture across northeastern Mindanao.
As ancient geographers like Ptolemy noted, traders from the East regularly exported gold, silver, pearls, and sinamay cloth. A museum scholar once wrote that it was the “little brown sea-lords of the great East,” not the Chinese or Arabs, who connected Asia to the Roman world.
A Legacy That Preceded Colonization
When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they encountered a society already engaged in long-distance trade, using its own systems of value, faith, and diplomacy. These ancient economic exchanges laid the foundation for cultural hybridity in Surigao—one that merged local ingenuity with global links.
Five Questions to Spark Your Curiosity
What goods were Surigaonons trading long before the Spanish arrived?
How did ancient sea routes shape the identity and economy of Surigao?
What kinds of foreign artifacts have been found in Surigao, and what do they reveal?
Who were the "little brown sea-lords" that connected Asia with the West?
Could Surigao have been part of the same network as the Silk Road, via the sea?
Explore Further, Engage Deeper
This story is just one of many hidden within the pages of Surigao Across the Years. To explore more: Interact with the book through Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Visit the customized GPT by Open AI HERE and the Book Section of the Surigao Historical Society HERE
Click here to know the Editorial Team, Copyright and Authorized Digital Use Statement
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse