THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL TREE



Calophyllum inophyllum

The Giant Bitaog Tree in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.



Big Tree in Agusan Norte Wins Search Title
For National Centennial Tree

Butuan City - The colossal tree at the entrance gate of Magallanes town East of this city has won the National search for Centennial Tree conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The tree locally known as � Bitaog � (Calophyllum inophyllum) is located in Barangay Caloc-an, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Its circumference measures about 305.585 centimeters. Folk say that the tree is about 500 years old.

Local historian Florante A. More said the tree has been in that place for centuries. It has witnessed several historical events among them, the initial evangelization of Mindanao by Spaniards, the departure of the Christianized Butuanons to Bohol, the increasing attack of the pirates against the natives of Butuan and the struggle of the Agusanons against the Americans.

Former DENR Caraga Director, Elias Seraspi, Jr. and More who submitted the entry to the DENR in March 1998, were invited by the National Committee to receive the award at a ceremony held at the Plaza San Luis Complex in Intramuros, Manila last June 5, 1998.

The search is in line the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Philippine Independence on June 12. The project gives recognition to the manifold contribution of trees to our nation�s history, culture and socio-economic development. The winning entry from Magallanes has been rated on its historical and cultural significance (35%), accessibility (10%), diameter size (20%), crown form (10%), and vigor and health (25%). By ERIC GALLEGO





THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE BITA-OG TREE FOUND IN CALOC-AN,
MAGALLANES, AGUSAN DEL NORTE

Titanic. Massive. Awesome. Just few of the many superlatives one can attribute to the arboreal giant belonging to the Guttiferae family, genus calophyllum that now stands majestically as a natural landmark in the North Agusan province, the 500-year old Bitaug.

What is so special about this tree can be traced to the local history and culture of the region specifically the place where it is located - the present municipality of Magallanes, the Butuan Viejo of Agusan history.

The following maybe eyebrow-raising but integer history has this for us: the region was not always named 'Butuan'. This, of course, can be found in a set of maps in the possession of this writer which are photocopies of the original ones now extant in Biblioteca Real, Turin, Italy. The first shows the island of Mindanao with its northeasterners side named 'Bitau", undoubtedly referring to what comprised of the ancient Butuan region, i.e. from the rivermouth and coastal areas to the interior and far up to Talacogon. This 1523 Nuno Garcia de Torreno map was made based on the sketch two years earlier by the Venetian chronicler Signor Antonio Pigafetta who also had the privilege of meeting the first natives.

Another is that one by Fernao Vaz Duorado. It was made in 1568 based on reliable accounts of the Legazpi Expedition members. The map show Mindanao with the northern side labeled as 'Betauo' referring to the same region. The two names are in general obviously phonetically and morphologically reconciled with 'bitaug', only that the final ug is absent as it has been also observed absent in both Italian and Portuguese phonetics. The 500-year old Calophyllum inophyllum giant at Barangay Caloc-an, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte or its like must have been, based on exiting documentation, the tree referred to by the European cartographers as it was the custom of Filipino of naming places after trees.

However, Bitaug population on shore areas dwindled due to the practices of using its lumber as ship planks notably in the large Spanish galleons during the Colonial era.

This surviving specimen has also been witness of the many historic events that occurred within what is now the present Municipality of Magallanes (so named on in 1909). Among these are:

  1. The initial evangelization of Mindanao.
  2. The departure of the Christianized Butuan to Bohol.
  3. The many piratical raids of the Moros.
  4. The birth of Caraga as a region during the Spanish colonial period.
  5. The twilight of Spain's power on Caraga.
  6. The advent of the Americans on the region.
  7. The struggle of the Agusanons against the Americans.
  8. The second world war.
  9. The Quadricentennial of the Evangelization of Mindanao with Papal legato H.E. Jose T. Cardinal Sanchez visiting in person at Magallanes, September 7, 1997.
And to be witnessed again by this tree is the forthcoming centenuary of the Philippine Independence of which an episode is here accounted.

"For one whole month, forced labor had to gather the biggest rocks that could be found in the area (Magallanes - Butuan Viejo) and dump then into the passage between the islet of the Pungtod and the shore to prevent big ships from entering the Agusan river."

From this account, Cabadbaran Katipunan force participation under Capt. Andres Atega cannot be discounted as the effort at the rivermouth was a supreme exercise of the whole Agusan Katipunan command to keep the enemies out of the region. Thus, the revolutionaries could have rested under the shade of this giant Bitaug on their way to and home.

Today , this gargantuan green giant stands proudly watching beyond the horizon for whatever events to unfold in the next century.

It has remained a silent but a patient witness of our past, our companion in the present and one inevitable survivor in the future.

FLORANTE A. MORE
Magallanes, Agusan del Norte


Sources:

  1. 1523 Map by Nuno Garcia de Toreno
    Courtesy: Biblioteca Real, Turin, Italia
  2. 1568 May by Fernao Vaz Duorado, Archiovo General de Indias, Sevilla-Espana
    Caraga Antigua (First Edition) P. Schreurs, MSC
  3. Angry Days in Mindanao, P. Schreurs
  4. Bayang Magiliw: Instructional Materials Corp. Philippines



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