Surigao City has been celebrating the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival for over 40 years. The annual celebration is rooted in deep history for Surigaonons. It is offered as thanksgiving to their patron saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino, as well as a symbol of development, honor, and resilience in the community. The Bonok-Bonok festival continues to drive tourism in the city, uniting locals and tourists to commemorate the people’s tradition and welcome a downpour of blessings for the months to come.
If you’re looking for a reason to visit Surigao del Norte, this is your sign. Here’s all you need to know before joining the Bonok-Bonok Festival in Surigao City.
All You Need to Know About the Bonok-Bonok Festival in Surigao Del Norte
What is the Bonok-Bonok Festival?
The Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival is celebrated annually every September 9th in Surigao Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. It is also one of the biggest and most anticipated festivals in the CARAGA region.
In 1984, the province was swept by Typhoon Nitang, leaving a trail of severe destruction on houses, infrastructure, agriculture, and the people. In an effort to lift everyone’s spirits, the Bonok-Bonok Festival emerged as a tribute and thanksgiving.
Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival: A Symbol of History and Resilience
Bonok is a word that means “heavy downpour”, referring to blessings from the heavens. Maradjaw karadjaw means “very good”. Its roots can also be traced back to the indigenous practices of the Mamanwa tribe, the early settlers of Surigao City. Back in the day, dance rituals were done to ask for rain amidst the challenging dry season. The Bonok-Bonok Festival is celebrated today to honor patron saint San Nicolas de Tolentino, as well as celebrate the continuous resilience of the region and to bring its diverse, vibrant culture to light.
5 Things to Look Forward to During the Bonok-Bonok Festival
1. Vibrant Street Dances
Graceful and energetic street dances are the highlight of every Filipino festival. Dances are not just for entertainment, but also carry profound meaning for the people. In Surigao City, Bonok-Bonok festival holds a grand showdown every year, featuring talented performances by contingents from the city and neighboring provinces. Spectators can expect special showcases based on Bonok-Bonok tradition, as well as theatrical portrayals of environmental and social advocacies.
2. Bonok-Bonok Festival Costumes
Performers flaunt colorful, spectacular costumes showcasing indigenous culture. Common Bonok-Bonok Festival costume elements consist of a beaded headdress called the tubaw, bracelets, anklets, and elaborate ceremonial dresses woven with intricate native patterns.
3. Festive Chants and Songs
Join in on rhythmic chants like Viva Señor San Nicolas de Tolentino! and Viva Maradjaw Karajaw! when you visit during festival season. The celebration unites voices shouting to declare gratitude, religious devotion, and call for change. Each unique song is performed to honor, strengthen, and unify the Mamanwa and Surigaonon identity.
4. Local Food, Art, and Cultural Showcases
Surigao City also celebrates the Bonok-Bonok festival as a way to recognize the creative scene. The local government organizes art and photo contests, float parades, and musical competitions to bring diverse arts into the spotlight. If you plan to buy pasalubong during the event, don’t miss out on the craft stalls and support local artists.
5. Food and Local Delicacies
The Bonok-Bonok festival overflows with flavor each year. Expect plenty of food options, like famous Pinoy foods and authentic local delicacies like sayongsong and various kakanin. This event is the perfect place to get familiar with the region’s mouthwatering cuisine.
How to Travel from Cebu to Surigao del Norte
Chelsea Logistics offers daily trips to Cebu to Surigao del Norte via Starlite Ferries and various local airlines. You can conveniently schedule your ferry or flight online through our dedicated travel portal.
Ferry Schedule (Starlite Ferries)
Trips from Cebu to Surigao depart twice a day at 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, five times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday). The trip takes approximately 10 hours.
Return trips from Surigao to Cebu are also scheduled twice a day, 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, five times a week
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday).
Flight Schedule
Chelsea Travel now offers airline flights from any point in the country to Surigao Airport. You can select flight schedules from any domestic airline and fly at your convenience. Join the ongoing Fly Now, Sail Next promo to get a Php 100 voucher for your next ferry booking.
How to Book Tickets Online?
- Visit Chelsea Travel website (chelseatravel.ph) or download the mobile app on Google Play or the App Store.
- Select your travel type (“Flights” or “Ferries”).
- Input your Origin and select Surigao or Surigao Airport for your Destination.
- Click your desired Travel Date, input the number of passengers, and hit Search.
- Choose a schedule and input the passenger details.
- Proceed to the online payment portal. Bills payment via e-wallet (Gcash, Maya. ShopeePay, GrabPay), credit cards, and debit cards are accepted.
- Receive your ticket e-voucher via email and present this on the day of your departure, along with a valid photo ID.
Where to Stay During the Bonok-Bonok Festival
The Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw festival is typically held in downtown Surigao City. Festivalgoers from outside the city have diverse options for budget and mid-range hotels in the city center. Refer to this list for your next trip.
TIP: Book in advance to secure a room. Festival period is peak season for nearby hotels and room reservation can get tricky as the feast day approaches.
- Bay View Inn
Address: 3rd Flr., Albeann Bldg., Boulevard, Pantal 2, Brgy. Taft, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0930 619 8612
Facebook Page: Bay View Inn
- Surigao Royal Regency Suites
Address: Vasquez Street, Brgy. Washington, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0963 614 1266
Facebook Page: Surigao Royal Regency Suites
Website: https://surigaoroyalregency.com/index.html
- Hotel Tavern Surigao & The Annex Hotel Tavern
Address: Borromeo Street, Brgy. Washington, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0998 953 1722
Facebook Page: Hotel Tavern Surigao
Website: Hotel Tavern (https://hoteltavern.com/index.php), The Annex (https://www.annexhoteltavern.com/)
- Casa Domingo de Surigao Hotel & Suites
Address: Borromeo Street, Brgy. Washington, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0912 227 2480
Facebook Page: Casa Domingo de Surigao
- The Grande Suites
Address: Ramon Kaimo Street, Purok 6 San Juan, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0908-860-6512 or 0908-818-7439
Facebook Page: The Grande Suites
- Lix Hotel
Address: 3rd Floor, SLB Bldg., Amat St., Brgy Washington, Surigao City
Contact Number: 0970 498 1813
Facebook Page: LIX HOTEL
Add the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw festival to your bucket list, where you can immerse yourself in a celebration of local culture, tradition, and thanksgiving in the heart of Surigao City.
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Embark on an exciting journey with Chelsea Travel, the dedicated booking platform of Chelsea Logistics and its subsidiaries. Enjoy the convenience of online booking for our ferry services like Starlite Ferries, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, and SuperCat. We also now offer flight bookings for domestic airlines like AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines, so you can fly and sail to any point in the country! Click here to book now.
