Although the island of Mindanao is often associated with violence, kidnappings by bandit groups and the ongoing war between separatists and the Philippine Government troops, it is also home to a very diverse group of people, valuing peace and harmony above anything else. Catholic settlements are largely spread within and alongside the Muslim communities. Mindanao is considered a unique melting pot of religions, different cultures, customs and traditions that make a captivating contribution to the island's ethnic image and original charm. On this idyllic Island traditional art forms, music and dance are well preserved.

Butuan City is considered as one of the historical place in Mindanao. The Butuan Regional Museum is considered as one of the most inviting and impressive tourist sites in Butuan City. Butuan Regional Museum features artifacts that are important to the culture and history of the place. To organize the collections in this tourist destination, the museum divided into two parts, which are Ethnological Hall and Archaeological Hall.

Iligan City Higaunon TribePeople and Culture.Iliganons are a mixture of the Muslim and Cebuano stock with a bit of Tagalog and some other cultural group minorities and emigrants from other places.
Area Profile
Iligan City is located at the northwestern coast of Mindanao facing Iligan Bay, 795 kms. south of Manila. It is centrally located in the Visayas-Mindanao domestic market and proximate to the BIMP East AEAN Growth Area. A major component of the Cagayan-Iligan Corridor, the fastest growing regional growth center in Mindanao and one of the priority investment areas in the Philippines. It is the home of the country's steel industry and Mindanao's electric power source.
Commerce and Industry
Iligan is the industrial, commercial and education center of the province of Lanao del Norte. The city has 14 major manufacturing industries benefiting 6,412 semi and highly skilled workers are producing different products such as oxygen and acetylene, pipes and fitting, coco oil, cement, assorted biscuits, caustic soda and polyvinyl chloride, calcium carbide, recapped tires, cold and hot rolled coils, flour and burned and unburned bricks. It is also hosts the Mindanao Regional Center of the National Power Corporation in Mindanao because of the number of hydroelectric plants located in the city.

You cross a cheerful countryside with many orchards and plantations, notably the immense Dole pineapple plantation. Etched from a distance is the imposing silhouette of the Matutum Volcano (2,293 meters). The last part of the route from Surullah onwards takes you up on the mountain trail. The atmosphere changes as soon as you leave the agricultural plain—the air gets cooler and the light becomes brighter. Finally, about two-and-a-half hours trip from General Santos, you arrive at Lake Sebu where you will notice the tilapia fish-breeding enclosures.

"Once known as the monkey-eating eagle; it is endemic(found only) to the eastern portion of the Philippine comprising the Sierra Madre mountains in Eastern Luzon and the heavily forested area of Mindanao." "The largest eagle, standing to about three and a half feet (3 1/2) may be recognized by its powerful bill, strong legs and claws. The general body color is grayish brown in the back and wings, whitish front neck and belly with shafts of gray brown streaked feathers on the head, which when erect forms a crest."

The Lanzones fruit is a major source of the Camiguin Islands' livelihood and it is for the annual harvest that they celebrate this thanksgiving day. Houses, carriages, street poles and even people are decorated with lanzones and lanzones leaves. townsfolk dance in joy abandon in commemoration of the legend that a beautiful, unknown maiden took from the its former bitter flavor to leave only its luscious, sweet taste. Lanzones festival is held during the third week of October in time for the season of the tropical fruit lanzones. The province of Camiguin is known for having the sweetest lanzones among the abundant sources of the fruit along the north-central coast of Mindanao.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao region was first created on August 1, 1989 through Republic Act No. 6734 otherwise known as the Organic Act in pursuance with a constitutional mandate to provide for an autonomous area in Muslim Mindanao. A plebiscite was held in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur; and in the cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga to determine if the residents would want to be part of the ARMM.
Of the areas where the plebiscites were held only Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi voted favorably for inclusion in the new autonomous region. The ARMM was officially inaugurated on November 6, 1990 in Cotabato City, which was designated as its provisional capital.
In 2001 a new law was passed for the expansion of the ARMM to include the areas which initially rejected inclusion and the provinces which were carved from them, however only Marawi City and Basilan with the exception of Isabela City opted to be integrated in the region.

Manila, the somewhat daunting capital and pulsating hub of the Philippines, is situated on the east coast of Luzon, the most northerly island, also the largest and the most developed. The city was founded in 1571 on the site of a Muslim settlement. The city is made up of 16 areas which were once towns in their own right, and its major tourist attraction is the old Spanish walled city known as Intramuros, which contains some historic buildings and ruins.

In Northern Mindanao lies a small island with a big reputation. It has been dubbed as the ultimate surfing destination in the Philippines. Foreigners and out-of-town locals alike have traveled to Siargao to experience for themselves the waves that have lured many surfers to stay in this island for good. For many, what was once a weekend of surfing has become a lifelong pursuit. Many dedicated American and Australian surfers now call this island home. It is not hard to see why...

"The Chocolate Hills placed Bohol on the tourist map long before the beautiful white beaches of the island became major tourist destinations. The most famous and signature tourist attraction of Bohol, it is a prime tourist destination in the Philippines. This is because the Chocolate Hills are incomparable and is one of the country's most spectacular sceneries. Bohol is a major tourist province. The fame of the Chocolate Hills is not only known in the country but worldwide. The national government has chosen the Chocolate Hills as one of its flagship tourist destinations.