The Butuanon, also known interchangeably by the endonym Lapaknon, are an ethnolinguistic group who primarily inhabit the region of Caraga, Philippines. They are part of the wider Bisaya ethnolinguistic group.

Area

Butuanons live in the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. Some live in Misamis Oriental or in Surigao del Norte, all of which are in the northeastern corner of Mindanao.

Demographics

Butuanons number about 1,420,000. They are the descendants of Austronesian-speaking immigrants who came from South China during the Iron Age. The native language of Butuanons is the Butuanon language, but most Butuanon nowadays primarily speak the Cebuano language, because of the mass influx of Cebuano settlers to Mindanao, and Filipino and English as second or third languages. They founded the Butuan Kingdom in the 10th century. While historically Hindu, Buddhist and animist, today most are Roman Catholics due to missionary activity under Spanish colonization.