Surigao, Philippines

Capital City

Surigao may look picturesque on the surface, but the reality is a persistent bureaucratic headache. With a population of 177,333, the city serves as the capital of Surigao del Norte province, but its isolated location and heavy rainfall make it a challenging place to call home. The region's mining operations have brought some economic growth, yet the destruction wrought by Typhoon Nitang in 1984 took nearly a decade to recover from. For those undeterred by the climate and willing to navigate the bureaucracy, Surigao could offer an authentic taste of Philippine provincial life.