Alegria, Surigao del Norte

Alegria, officially the Municipality of Alegria (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Alegria; Lungsod sa Alegria; Bayan ng Alegria), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 16,184 people.

History
Alegria was created by Republic Act No. 5239. It was originally the sitio of Anahaw founded by immigrants from the municipality of Bacuag. Sitio Anahaw was situated near Lake Mainit, and would often be flooded due to heavy rains. During rainy seasons, the local families transferred to a place now called Alegria.

The name Alegria was derived from the Spanish word which means "lively". Its name was given by Judge Sixto Olga who happened to spend a night in the place. The people offered him a party dance. Because their affair was lively he told the people to change the name Anahaw to Alegria.

Alegria became a barrio in 1927. It was formerly one of the biggest barrios in the municipality of Mainit. The municipality extends from the boundary of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, to Pungtod and Dayano that is the boundary of the mother municipality of Mainit.

Barangays
Alegria is politically subdivided into 12 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
 * Alipao
 * Anahaw
 * Budlingin
 * Camp Eduard (Geotina)
 * Ferlda
 * Gamuton
 * Don Julio Ouano
 * Ombong
 * Poblacion (Alegria)
 * Pongtud
 * San Juan
 * San Pedro

Demographics
The Surigaonon language is the common local language, while Cebuano, Filipino, and English are also spoken.

Railway station (proposed)
There are plans for a Mindanao railway network with a railway station in Alegria which would be an intermediate station on a branch line between Surigao and Davao

Education
The following are schools in the center of Alegria:
 * Alegria Central Elementary School
 * Alegria National High School
 * Global Competency Based Training Center
 * Marajaw na Magbalantay Learning Center
 * Alegria Stand Alone Senior High School