Unlike other parts of the country, when you’d say “historic,” you’d see traces right on the streets of the place. But in Butuan, nothing “historic” would greet you as you enter the city or even some landmarks that would really prove why it should be called “Historic City of Butuan.”

Coming from Davao City, only the  familiar steel bridge and murky Agusan River would remind travelers that  they are already in Butuan City.

On Tuesday, we were able to visit the National Museum  in the historic city of Butuan. A staff of the museum named Boy Mitra, served as our tour guide  in the small but history-laden in the museum. I was amazed on the black and white photographs on the unearthing of the remnants of the balanghai in barangay Liberatad. Aside from the photographs, displayed on the museum were ancient tools of our ancestors, kitchenwares and even trading goods from Chinese merchants.

Unfortunately, no photographs allowed.

Listening to Mitra, slowly we understood why Butuan is such a historic place.  He also suggested to visit the archeological sites in Barangay Liberatad, some five kilometers away from downtown area.

We ran out of time, so we opted to visit the archeological site next time around.

“Given these archeological artifacts, there is no direct evidence that the Spaniards really conquered Butuan the first time the set foot here,” Mitra said while referring to the evidences that were traced only to early Filipinos.

He said the Spaniards may have only conquered other portions of Agusan del Norte on the later part of 17th to 18^th century.

Anyway, Mitra only means one thing, as I understood it: Butuan City was not easy to conquer during those days.

As I also understood it, Butuan was a trading center in the past based on the artifacts recovered.

The problem is that, it seems the local government, including the provincial government, is not really that aggressive in promoting what really makes city historic. Even the local residents don’t know so much of their place and what can be found in their place.

For first time visitors in Butuan City, a visit at the National Museum is a must for you to understand why it’s called “Historic City.”

Outside Butuan City, many historical landmarks were indentified in the internet and have been identified as “historical structures” were already defaced. But that’s another story.