Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, Philippines

Kitcharao is a fourth class municipality in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 17,377 people.

History

The Municipality of Kitcharao was created under Republic Act No. 3842, sponsored by Congressman Guillermo R. Sánchez. It was once a barrio of Jabonga. Through the initiative of the then Vice Mayor Francisco M. Tuozo of Jabonga, a resolution was sponsored petitioning Congress for the creation of the Municipality of Kitcharao.

The inhabitants of the municipality came from various regions in Luzon and the Visayas, hence the presence of Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Leyteños, Ilongos, Warays, Cebuanos, Boholanos, and a few indigenous groups known as the Mamanwa or Kongking.

On August 29, 1963, the first Municipal Officials were inducted to the office by then Governor Democrito O. Plaza. Félix Q. Basadre, Sr. was the appointed Mayor, Marceliano Morada as Vice Mayor and all the councillors were: Mariano M. Napalan, Sr., Gaudencio Pojas, Pencionico Bermúdez, Juan Tidalgo, Agustín Patagan and Uldarico Atuel.

The same set of Municipal Officials was elected in the ensuing regular election on November 1963.

In 2005, Barangays Crossing and Songkoy were created.

Legend

Legend has it that two powerful kings once ruled Kitcharao, Mangipikan, who ruled the north and Busaylan, who ruled the south. A dispute over their respective hunting territories eventually broke out into an open war where each side fought furiously until the subjects of King Busaylan were driven to the hills. The victorious King Mangipikan ordered his mighty hoard to uproot crops and other plants on their way, crushing, biting and scattering their stems on the ground to show their victory. Kit-kit ug Isarao (bite and Scatter the Plants), the King’s order, thus became associated with the name of the unsettled plain of abundance.

Time has shortened this famous battlecry to Kitcharao, the name by which the same place is known today.

Tourist Attractions

Lake Mainit:Situated 80 ft. above sea level with a mean depth of 128 meter, the lake is a confluence of 28 rivers. Its area of 17,430 hectares with a total shoreline of 50 kilometers covers part of Agusan del Norte (Jabonga, Kitcharao, Santiago) and Surigao del Norte (Mainit,Alegria and Sison). It is known for its pidjanga, gabot, banak, haw-an, gi-ngaw,igi and kasili and is natural habitat to some endangered Philippine flora and fauna. Migratory birds from Russia and Japan and native flowers –pagosi and tabukali are its unique attractions.